The Interconnectedness of All Things

I started off Spring by cleaning out some old books. Sadly they don’t always age well in heat and humidity. But I quickly got distracted by some good stories!

Books I replaced included Micheal Kurland’s Ten Little Wizards and Lord Darcy: A Study in Sorcery. The original Lord Darcy stories by Randall Garrett are considered classics in the development of sci-fi/fantasy and while some of the inside jokes are now lost to time, the adventures themselves have held up well, bringing the reader into an almost modern industrial world but one that is still rooted in 12th century England and governed by magic law instead of science. Kurland’s later installments are worthy editions.

One series I did not replace was the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, also considered a sci-fi classic. I started rereading Douglas Adams after seeing the TV series Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. While not true to the books, this BBC America version was entertaining enough, but went in a whole weird Muppets take over Middle Earth direction in the second season. There’s a better BBC TV series, Dirk Gently, that’s a closer adaptation of the book and characters. But whether I’ve gotten old or the world has changed, the Hitchhiker series struck me as cruel, casually blowing up world after world throughout. The Buena Vista movie is entertaining though and maintains a less cynical optimism.

Fun new installments to excellent series:

Death at the Drive-in by Angie Fox – Verity Long accidentally traps the ghost of a 20s gangster when she tries to clean an old vase. They form a sometimes reluctant partnership in solving mysteries both physical and supernatural. In this installment, the pair tackles a cold case from the 50s that has lingering repercussions for both the living and the dead. A funny twist on traditional who-dun-its as Verity balances the challenges of persistent ghosts and an equally stubborn Southern small-town.

Royals on the Galactic Tunnel Network by E.M. Foner – Another funny, insightful look at humanity through the eyes of the aliens who can’t quite believe we were invited to join the intergalactic community! EM Foner has a deft, entertaining touch that turns science fiction into endearing stories laced with gentle satire. If you eve thought the US should have stuck with the kings of England, see what happens when the ladies of Earth try to adopt an alien princess! It’s the latest in a series that’s split into 3 branches. Read them all – you’ll love ‘em!

The House Witch by Delemhach – A charming story about a man with limited talents. His witchcraft only extends to his house. While this makes him an ideal chef for his liege, it doesn’t make him particularly noteworthy to either government or magically authorities except as an oddity. But with a knack for disrupting the status quo and an unconscious ability to win friends, the House Witch becomes the incongruous champion of the kingdom, his home!

Really Good Actually by Monica Heisey – When Maggie’s marriage falls apart, she descends into the hysterical, awkward flailings familiar to all who’ve been through the dissolution and disorientation that comes from having your relationships suddenly turned on end. A funny, blunt exploration of one woman’s attempt to make sense of her world and herself while navigating today’s balance of life, love, friends and everything else that makes up your world!

Bob Meyer and Jennifer Cruisie released The Liz Danger Series which lived up to expectations. It  took a while to get the names and relationships straight in this story as everyone in one crazy family is madly in love with the color blue. Liz Danger, infamous for high school antics, returns to her home town in Ohio for her cousin Lavender’s wedding. Of course,it would have gone much better without her murder. The series has all the mayhem and humor, entertainingly depicted, you’d expect from a large, involved family and an ungodly number of teddy bears. I can’t wait to see what’s in store with the new series from this noted wiring team coming this summer!