Quick Avengers Primer

Marvel’s The Avengers continues to pack them in at the theaters, so I thought it might be a good idea to provide folks new to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes a quick, three title reading list of some key (and by “key” I mean my favorite) stories in the team’s long existence.

Avengers. Legion Of The Unliving

This sweet collection offers stories from the late Silver Age (1970′s) to the post Iron Age (early 2000′s) and features creative giants like Steve Englehart and George Perez.  The stories focus on ex-Avengers and Avenger foes returning from the dead to plague the current team. Before it was fashionable to make superheroes into zombies, these stories blazed the trail!

The Avengers. Kree/Skrull War

Nothing embodies the essence of the 1970′s era Avengers tales like this magical pairing of writer Roy Thomas and artist Neal Adams.  The Avengers find themselves embroiled in an interstellar war between two alien races who both see the Earth as little more than a pawn in some grand cosmic game.  Adams’ layouts and colors on these issues will blow you away.

Avengers Forever

This one ranks as one of the greatest epics in Avengers history!  Writer Kurt Busiek and artist Carlos Pacheco take seven time-crossed Avengers from different eras of the book’s long run and throw them into a war for time itself!  Classic foes, plenty of plot twists, and gorgeous artwork made this one  an instant classic when it was released as a twelve issue limited series from December 1998 to November 1999.

Picking only three Avengers collections was not easy, but that assures a return engagement for this topic sometime in the not too distant future!

–Scott

May The 4th Be With You!

Today (May 4th) marks Star Wars Day! Yes, a while back some ardent fans got together and decided that this clever play on words would make an excellent day upon which to honor the seminal works of George Lucas. Many people hold very strong opinions on Mr. Lucas’ prequel trilogy films, and I am among them, but in the interest of civility on this august day, I will simply state that they were not to my liking and move on.

   The Star Wars marketing juggernaut has spawned a host of side stories and products in dozens of different formats. Check them out in the catalog here. I am quite partial to the Dark Horse Omnibus edition that collects the first twenty-seven issues of the old Marvel Comics Star Wars series.  This post may jog your memory and cause you to dig out some of your old Star Wars stuff.  If so you might also want to check out Stephen Sansweet’s excellent book  entitled Star Wars : 1,000 Collectibles : Memorabilia And Stories From A Galaxy Far, Far Away.

Setting all feelings of Nerd Rage on the prequels aside, sci-fi fans do owe Mr. Lucas and his formidable franchise a huge thank you for so many years of amazing entertainment.  I’ve come a long way from the halcyon days of 1978 and standing in line outside of old Mt. Oliver Theater waiting for my chance to see movie magic.  I’ve consumed a lot of Star Wars product during that time, and while not all of it was great, much of it was, and it served to stoke the fires of my imagination and make me the sci-fi fan I am today.

So if you’ve got any Star Wars favorites please share them in the comments section!  And may the 4th, er, the Force, be with you!

–Scott

Exploring Homer’s Odyssey Is A Journey All Its Own

According to many scholars, today, in 1178 BC, Odysseus arrived home from what could be the longest detour in the history of literature.  Reading Homer’s Odyssey, and reading about it, can become epic adventures themselves.  A piece of literature this old has naturally spawned hundreds of versions across all sorts of media.  I am no expert, but I can talk about a few of my favorite versions of The Odyssey.  

The Robert Fitzgerald translation has long been my favorite “classic” version of Homer’s epic.  I’ve read that many experts find the translation to be pretty clean and accessible, and hey, if you need help with it, you could also grab Ralph J. Hexter’s A Guide To The Odyssey: A Commentary On The English Translation Of Robert Fitzgerald.  You can also find Mr. Hexter’s book on Overdrive in either Kindle or ePub format.

If you find yourself fearing the commitment required to read a traditional translation of the Odyssey, you could check out Alexander Aciman’s Twitterature : The World’s Greatest Books In Twenty Tweets Or Less.  This wryly humorous collection also includes The Iliad.  Bonus!

Knowing my posting history I am sure regular readers will not be surprised that I was smitten with  the early 1980′s Ulysses 31 cartoon. It’s available  in a DVD collection, but alas, CLP does not yet have it.  I’ll have to settle for Gareth Hinds’ excellent graphic novel adaptation, appropriately titled The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel.

You’ll also find no shortage of love for Homer on the Internet. The online information project Chain features an interesting, short, and very readable article entitled “The Myth of Odysseus in Popular Culture” that is well worth reading.

This post merely scratches the surface when it comes to The Odyssey’s penetration into literature, pop culture, and other media. If you’re interested in finding more, doing a simple Keyword search in the library catalog will get you started on an odyssey of your own!

–Scott

This Reader Abhors A Vacuum

Even with a reader as slow as I am, it was bound to happen.  I finished the latest book in George R. R. Martin’s Song Of Ice And Fire series, A Dance With Dragons.   I know he’s got a novella that acts as a prequel of sorts to the Song Of Ice And Fire  called The Bastard Stepchild. It’s available in this collection, and I am working on getting hold of a copy.  But after reading the 1,090 page fifth book, that novella won’t hold me long.  So what next?

I’m a habitual genre fiction reader–anything fantasy, science fiction, pulps, etc.  Now that I stand with most other Martin fans awaiting an uncertain release date for book six in the series, I need to find a new huckleberry.  I was talking with a colleague, and we uncovered a huge hole in my geek-reading résumé:  Stephen King’s Dark Tower series!

Now I could get that snazzy collection, but I decided to go the electronic route and read them one at a time through the library’s Overdrive service.  So I’ve got The Gunslinger on my Sony Reader Wi-Fi and I am really enjoying it so far.  Patiently waiting for Winds of Winter to arrive will not be easy, but Mr. King should help ease the pain at least a bit.

–Scott

John Carter Vivid Example Of Sword And Planet Stories

I’d like to begin this blog post with a brief, but simple, rant.  Many film critics do not understand the pulps.  They do not know the origins of the material which they so casually lampoon.  If they did understand pulp sci-fi stories like Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess Of Mars, then they would understand what a faithful, accurate, and inspired take on the stories Disney’s John Carter actually is.  Instead a meme has now formed that the film is a “bomb” and that it is not worth seeing.  Rubbish.  If you like the Sword and Planet genre, or even just adventure stories, then you need to see this movie.

Seeing the movie myself this past Friday night got me to thinking about a lot of the great books it was built on.  Here’s a short list:

  A Princess Of Mars / Edgar Rice Burroughs  — Published way back in 1912, this is the tale that started it all.  Virginia gentleman and Civil War veteran John Carter finds himself transported to a planet Mars brimming with aliens, strange cultures, and unfettered action!

The Gods Of Mars: A Tale Of Barsoom / Edgar Rice Burroughs — The second book in Burroughs’ Barsoom cycle, this tale kicks the series into high gear, and further expands the lore and cultures of Mars.

Almuric / Robert E. Howard — One of the many amazing talents inspired by Burroughs work was Robert E. Howard, and his Almuric tales are just one example of the great titles you can find in the awesome Planet Stories Library series CLP has been acquiring the last couple of years.

These sorts of pulp tales are not for everyone, and not without their faults.  A touch of racial insensitivity, lack of strong female protagonists, and over-reliance on coincidence and chance to move the story will raise some eyebrows, but the overall energy, innocence, and power of these tales will win through if given the chance.  Like 1980′s Flash Gordon feature film, John Carter is not a perfect movie, but it’s darn good fun, and seems destined to become an under-appreciated  torch bearer for the Sword and Planet genre.

–Scott

It’s All About The Opening

I like a book that grabs me with a really riveting opening.  I’m not the most patient fellow, so an author needs to make a good first impression in those opening pages, or I might pull the ripcord and jump to something else.  Re-reading Andre Norton’s Witch World brought this notion rushing back to me.  It’s got one of the best opening scenes of any fantasy or sci-fi book I’ve ever read.  Sucks you right in.

Allow me to elaborate.  Witch World tells the story of Simon Tregarth, a desperate, war-haunted man hunted by assassins and forced to choose escape by the most desperate of measures, the Siege Perilous. In passing through it the person incurs its judgment and travels to another place worthy of his or her character and standing.  Tregarth gets the Witch World, but in the moments leading  up to that fateful passage Norton paints a vivid picture of her lead character’s desperation.  Hunted to the ends of the earth and now cornered, Tregarth’s character and bearing remain noble and engaging.  When he makes that passage to the next world you simply must read on to see what happens next.

Here are three other titles with dynamic openings:

Setting The East Ablaze: Lenin’s Dream Of An Empire In Asia / Peter Hopkirk — This book isn’t fiction, but it reads like it.  Hopkirk’s prologue immediately sets the table for intrigue, “Great Game” style, in this gripping historical account of England’s attempts to foil the rising tides of Bolshevism in Asia.

A Game Of Thrones / George R.R. Martin — A looming winter that threatens to envelop the world? A macabre massacre? Killer wights? Martin lets you know right away that this will not be elves singing in sylvan glades.

Imajica / Clive Barker — The mysterious Mr. Chant prowls the damp, dark streets of London well past dark in search of a very special assassin. What he finds is more than he ever bargained for.

Now it’s your turn.  Care to share a book title that ropes the reader in and leaves him or her unable to put it down?

–Scott

The Taxman Cometh

We’re fast approaching the fever pitch of what’s become known in this country as Tax Season.  Just as with baseball season, football season, hunting season, or any other finite period of time that involves high emotion and some level of competition (hey, it’s you vs. Uncle Sam, right?), tax season produces winners and losers.  The definition of what it means to “win” or “lose” for normal folks during tax season can get a bit blurry.  The unquestioned winners in all of this are tax preparation services.  They make a lot of money getting you your money (or helping you pay less).

A quick search of the library’s ReferenceUSA database found 73,034 businesses currently engaged in Tax Preparation Services (NAICS 541213) across the United States.  According to the 2007 Economic Census (containing slightly older, but deeper, data than RefUSA), this industry employs over 215,000 workers, and boasts annual payroll numbers approaching $3 billion.  That’s a whole lot of W2s, my friends!

CLP staffers have created a handy list of our locations offering free tax preparation assistance.  The site also contains links to other non-CLP sites offering tax help, downloadable forms, and other related services.  Following those prompts you can find a link to one of my favorite tax-related documents, Publication 17.  Just like a good comedian can find comedy in tragedy, so too can our friends at the IRS wring a laugh or two out of our tax code.  Case in point, bribery income.  On page 92, under the Other Income section, Pub 17 says:

Bribes. If you receive a bribe, include it in your income.

Interesting, eh?  But Pub 17 does not stop there!  Income from all sorts of illegal activities happens to be taxable.  Page 94 lays it out quite clearly:

Illegal activities.  Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity.

If you do find yourself with income to report, whether legal or not, you might feel at a loss for where to begin.  In addition to the links above, a number of excellent books will help you come to grips with this sometimes thorny topic.  Here we present just a few examples:

How Taxation Works

J.K. Lasser’s 1001 Deductions And Tax Breaks

Taxe$ For Dummie$

Working For Yourself : Law & Taxes For Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants

Also, beware of predatory operations offering usurious “refund anticipation loans.”  While not instantaneous, filing with a reputable e-filer will get you your refund in short order, especially if you file early.

This year’s tax deadline is Tuesday, April 17.  If you haven’t done so already, take a little time to prepare your taxes early and you will save yourself from a lot of stress and discomfort!

–Scott

If At First You Hate Them, Wait A While…

Good authors know how to pull a reader’s strings.  For example, they make you hate a character, then later on they show you a side of him or her that gives you pause.

This brings me directly to Mr. George R. R. Martin and his Song of Ice and Fire.

Through the first two books, Mr. Martin made me hate Jaime Lannister.  I mean I absolutely despised him!  For those who have not read the series, Jaime Lannister is a knight.  While handsome and supremely skilled in the ways of war, he’s also a ruthless, child-killing (well, almost) villain. And there’s even more to it, but I don’t want to spoil it for those who have not read the series yet.  In the third book, A Storm of Swords, Mr. Martin springs his trap!  He actually made me respect this villain, even like him a little!  I almost feel guilty even writing this knowing what this guy has done!  And that’s what makes Mr. Martin great.

It’s the same feeling I got when reading Jack London’s brilliant deconstruction of the Nietzschean Superman in his amazing novel The Sea Wolf.  London makes you loathe the implacable sea captain Wolf Larsen, but in his ultimate destruction you learn to pity him.  It’s the swing of emotions the writing engenders that helps make the story great.

Plenty of other examples of this surely abound.  Care to share a few of your own? Any characters you’ve given up for total louses, but then had to re-think?

Let’s hear about them!

–Scott

Sony Reader Wi-Fi Delivers Features, Library Content

After nearly 12 months of rigorous use, my Kobo eReader’s e-ink display failed.  Kobo’s customer care has been very responsive and I have sent the device back for replacement.  In the meantime, I’ve learned a little more about the Kindle Fire tablet in using it as a replacement of sorts for the Kobo.  First and foremost, as an eReader, the Fire makes an excellent tablet alternative to the more expensive iPad. In other words, I ultimately found the back-lit, computer screen display of the Fire does not lend itself to lengthy eReading sessions.  My eyes quickly became irritated by the glare from the screen.

The Fire has become an excellent entertainment delivery system, streaming Netflix, old radio dramas, providing access to a host of excellent apps, and in a pinch acting as second computer.  Still, I needed something to fulfill my eReader needs.  Would a dedicated Kindle be the answer? In talking with a colleague about the various options, he reminded me that Sony offers a product that features wireless content delivery that circumvents the complexity of Adobe Digital Editions.  It’s the Reader Wi-Fi, and when I went to Sony’s site to check it out it was on sale for $99.  What can I say?  I’m a sucker for a sale, so I bought it.

Two things sold me on the Reader Wi-Fi: direct downloads and active support for libraries.  From a user’s perspective, downloading library content from Overdrive on this device could not be easier.  Once you establish an account within the Sony store feature on the reader, you simply go to the Library button on the second page of the device’s default menu and tap it.  You’ll get the option to find CLP’s Overdrive site.  Once you’re logged in with your library card number, you can search for content and access your Overdrive account in a simplified version of the package available on our web site.  You can either search and check out the items from your PC or tablet device, then move over to the Reader Wi-Fi for quick and easy downloading, or do everything on the Reader’s interface.  It also includes a plastic stylus for easy data entry, and once you enter your card number it will remember it for each visit.

The folks at Sony thought enough of public libraries to build specific features for them right into the Reader Wi-Fi.  That’s the second reason I made this move.  There’s even a menu option that allows you to easily tag materials en masse  and return them early. When reading a book the navigation features include the ability to swipe to the next page (or a previous one) with the tip of a finger, or you could use the handy buttons below the screen.  Font sizes can be adjusted with the simple touch of a button as well.

Now lest you think I am completely smitten to the point of blindness, the Sony is not perfect!  Browsing online with it can be dicey, as the wireless does not provide lightning fast response time.  Also, the touch screen offers some tablet-like functionality, but “pinching” to expand the content on the 6″ display can result in unintentionally traversing links as the thumb and finger brush by them.  These issues aside, an eReader that recognizes the value of easy access to public library content merits consideration when navigating through the growing sea of devices now on the market.

If you think you might like to meet the Reader Wi-Fi in person, or any of the other popular eReaders on the market today, visit one of our upcoming Gadget Labs where we offer individualized instruction and hands-on experiences with these devices.

Now if only my hold on Song of Ice and Fire Series, Book 4, A Feast For Crows would come in, I’d be golden!

–Scott

The Many Faces of Dickens’ Christmas Carol

This time of year I like nothing better than popping in my DVD of A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Since Charles Dickens first published his famous holiday novella in 1843 the story has taken on a life of its own, and enjoyed hundreds of re-publications, re-interpretations, and reimaginings.  Since I’ve shared my love of my favorite version of A Christmas Carol, I thought I might spend the rest of this post sharing some other favorite versions, both print and video, of this timeless tale.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: With 45 Lost Gustave Doré Engravings (1861) And 150 Other Victorian Illustrations ; introduction by Dan Malan

I love this edition for the Gustave Doré illustrations, and the loads of other great period drawings. It’s a very handsome book!

The field of children’s books has enjoyed dozens of dynamite re-tellings of Dickens’ tale of Christmas redemption, but none carry greater artistry and impact than artist Brett Helquist  and writer Josh Greenhut’s brooding yet ultimately hopeful adaptation.

Helquist’s evocative artwork (seen on the above cover) and Greenhurt’s tight, but faithful adaptation of Dickens’ text earned the pair great praise from School Library Journal and other sources. It’s suitable for grades 3 and up.

Plenty of animated versions exist, but the one I remember most fondly from my childhood remains Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol  directed by Abe Levitow.

With Mr. Magoo in the Scrooge role the story manages to be a bit more whimsical while  maintaining those scary, supernatural moments. The animation might seem crude by today’s lofty standards, but it does the job!

This post would not be complete without a mention of Bill Murray’s Scrooged.  Director Richard Donner turns Mr. Murray loose on Dickens’ classic, and this modern (1988) re-telling possesses plenty of spirits (David Johansen among them)  and fun.

Carol Kane turns in a hilarious performance as a ghost who quite literally beats the Christmas spirit  into mean-spirited TV executive Frank Cross (Murray). Although ragged in places, Mr. Murray does his level best in this one, and delivers a performance as edgy as it is fun.

One cannot end any discussion of A Christmas Carol without mentioning the Muppet version!  The Muppet Christmas Carol features Jim Henson’s famous creations re-telling the classic tale.

Michael Cain as Scrooge?  Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit?  Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit?  Sign me up!  If you dig the Muppets and you haven’t seen this one yet, I can’t think of a better time to check it out!

I could go on and on listing further versions, but instead I’d like to ask folks what their favorite treatments of A Christmas Carol are. Well, got any notable ones I’ve missed?

Lets us know!

–Scott