The Human Machine
George B. Bridgman
Dover
Nonfiction, Art
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: The art of drawing the human figure is often taught as a series of bones and muscles to be memorized and replicated, without consideration of the dynamic kinetics that make a body truly live. Bridgman presents human anatomy in terms of its remarkable mechanical structure.
REVIEW: Yet another part of my ongoing efforts to improve my dubious artistic skills... With many illustrations, Bridgman demonstrates the hidden mechanics of joints, muscles, and bones. The text makes for occasionally interesting reading, as well. It is similar to the previous Bridgman book I've read (Constructive Anatomy, reviewed previously on this blog here), but with a different angle of presentation to avoid being a complete retread. I'd like to believe I learned something from its pages, though this kind of book takes more than one pass-through to fully appreciate.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Ring of Solomon (Jonathan Stroud)
The Ring of Solomon
(A Bartimaeus novel)
Jonathan Stroud
Disney Hyperion
Fiction, YA Fantasy
****+ (Good/Great)
DESCRIPTION: As the glory of Egypt's pharaohs wane, a new power rises near the shores of the Great Sea. From his mighty capital in Jerusalem, the influence of the famed King Solomon spreads across the ancient world, fueled by his legendary wisdom, his political savvy... and a powerful ring, with which he can summon ten thousand demons in the blink of an eye, should the wisdom and savvy fail. With it, he has brought peace and prosperity to his nation and many others, and attracted the greatest magicians in the known world to his service. No fewer than seventeen powerful mages labor under King Solomon's command - each and every one of them with a covetous eye on the ring. All attempts to steal the ring, by rivals or magicians or angered spirits, have ended terribly... thus far.
Asmira serves the glorious Queen of Sheba, a prosperous Arabian nation, with her body, mind, and soul. Like her mother before her, she has risen far in the hereditary guard of Queen Balkis, her silver blades ever ready to defend her liege against attacks mundane and magical. When messengers from Solomon demand tribute, lest the Ring's demonic armies lay waste to the realm, the queen sends Asmira to kill the Israeli king and steal his ring - for a lone assassin might slip close enough to succeed where others have failed, especially one with a beautiful, young face like Asmira's.
Bartimaeus of Uruk has suffered many indignities in the two thousand years since he was first named and summoned to Earth from beyond, but his slavery in Solomon's Jerusalem is by far his worst incarnation ever. Tortured and humiliated daily by the sadistic mage Khaba, the djinni has long since lost hope of being dismissed from service before his overtaxed essence dwindles out of existence. He cannot even vent his frustration with his usual pithy remarks and petty disobedience, with the threat of the Ring of Solomon hovering over the head of every man, woman, and spirit in Jerusalem's walls.
On a long and dusty desert road, in the aftermath of a devastating bandit raid, Asmira and Bartimaeus meet. Each has a vested interest in the destruction of the Ring of Solomon... but can either afford to trust the other?
REVIEW: Technically a prequel of sorts, taking place some three thousand years before Stroud's Bartimaeus trilogy (reviewed previously on this blog), one needn't be familiar with Bartimaeus's previously published adventures to enjoy this book, though a few passing remarks here and there foreshadow events in the trilogy. As in the previous books, the sparkling wit enhances a truly interesting story, rather than distracting from it. Also as before, the characters all have important lessons to learn, and apply them in ways I didn't always anticipate. It lost half a star for the intrusion of modern terminology into the ancient world setting, but otherwise it fully lived up to the standards set by Stroud's previous stories. I'd happily read more stories of Bartimaeus if this level of quality endures.
(I admit I'm still concerned about the Disney Hyperion publisher switch, and the implied attempts at a Bartimaeus movie franchise...)
(A Bartimaeus novel)
Jonathan Stroud
Disney Hyperion
Fiction, YA Fantasy
****+ (Good/Great)
DESCRIPTION: As the glory of Egypt's pharaohs wane, a new power rises near the shores of the Great Sea. From his mighty capital in Jerusalem, the influence of the famed King Solomon spreads across the ancient world, fueled by his legendary wisdom, his political savvy... and a powerful ring, with which he can summon ten thousand demons in the blink of an eye, should the wisdom and savvy fail. With it, he has brought peace and prosperity to his nation and many others, and attracted the greatest magicians in the known world to his service. No fewer than seventeen powerful mages labor under King Solomon's command - each and every one of them with a covetous eye on the ring. All attempts to steal the ring, by rivals or magicians or angered spirits, have ended terribly... thus far.
Asmira serves the glorious Queen of Sheba, a prosperous Arabian nation, with her body, mind, and soul. Like her mother before her, she has risen far in the hereditary guard of Queen Balkis, her silver blades ever ready to defend her liege against attacks mundane and magical. When messengers from Solomon demand tribute, lest the Ring's demonic armies lay waste to the realm, the queen sends Asmira to kill the Israeli king and steal his ring - for a lone assassin might slip close enough to succeed where others have failed, especially one with a beautiful, young face like Asmira's.
Bartimaeus of Uruk has suffered many indignities in the two thousand years since he was first named and summoned to Earth from beyond, but his slavery in Solomon's Jerusalem is by far his worst incarnation ever. Tortured and humiliated daily by the sadistic mage Khaba, the djinni has long since lost hope of being dismissed from service before his overtaxed essence dwindles out of existence. He cannot even vent his frustration with his usual pithy remarks and petty disobedience, with the threat of the Ring of Solomon hovering over the head of every man, woman, and spirit in Jerusalem's walls.
On a long and dusty desert road, in the aftermath of a devastating bandit raid, Asmira and Bartimaeus meet. Each has a vested interest in the destruction of the Ring of Solomon... but can either afford to trust the other?
REVIEW: Technically a prequel of sorts, taking place some three thousand years before Stroud's Bartimaeus trilogy (reviewed previously on this blog), one needn't be familiar with Bartimaeus's previously published adventures to enjoy this book, though a few passing remarks here and there foreshadow events in the trilogy. As in the previous books, the sparkling wit enhances a truly interesting story, rather than distracting from it. Also as before, the characters all have important lessons to learn, and apply them in ways I didn't always anticipate. It lost half a star for the intrusion of modern terminology into the ancient world setting, but otherwise it fully lived up to the standards set by Stroud's previous stories. I'd happily read more stories of Bartimaeus if this level of quality endures.
(I admit I'm still concerned about the Disney Hyperion publisher switch, and the implied attempts at a Bartimaeus movie franchise...)
Friday, July 1, 2011
ABC of Lettering (Carl Holmes)
ABC of Lettering
Carl Holmes
Walter Foster Books
Nonfiction, Art
*** (Okay)
DESCRIPTION: Since the development of written language, the creation of letters has been as much about art as about clear communication. In modern times, the demand for unique, artistic, yet readable fonts is as high as ever. This book describes how to create various versions of the English alphabet to convey various emotions and ideas, for the hobbyist or jobbing artist.
REVIEW: I've long had a peculiar fascination with fonts, as my bulging Windows Font folder attests, and though I've never had the time or guts to attempt designing any myself, I still enjoy browsing them. This book, which was free to me, seemed to fit in with that interest. To a certain degree, I found it interesting. Holmes touches on the four basic font families and their origins, then goes on to discuss some basic tools and design considerations. Unfortunately, that's about it so far as instructions go. Only a couple fonts had anything resembling a how-to when it came to layouts and inking/brushing. Though the pages are packed with examples of various fonts - literally, beyond the point of crowding out the text - only a handful are actually labeled, which seemed like a bit of an oversight. While the information - what there is of it - still seems valid, despite the publication date (I couldn't find a specific year, though it was before household computers were anything but a science fiction prop), I felt like there were reams of useful information that were cut to make room for the overwhelming clutter of advertising typeface examples. Less visual clutter and more clear instructions would've been nice. Considering the price, and the overall age of the book, I don't feel inclined to judge it too harshly... and, though most of the examples were visually distracting, I admit I kinda liked seeing the many different moods fonts could express.
Carl Holmes
Walter Foster Books
Nonfiction, Art
*** (Okay)
DESCRIPTION: Since the development of written language, the creation of letters has been as much about art as about clear communication. In modern times, the demand for unique, artistic, yet readable fonts is as high as ever. This book describes how to create various versions of the English alphabet to convey various emotions and ideas, for the hobbyist or jobbing artist.
REVIEW: I've long had a peculiar fascination with fonts, as my bulging Windows Font folder attests, and though I've never had the time or guts to attempt designing any myself, I still enjoy browsing them. This book, which was free to me, seemed to fit in with that interest. To a certain degree, I found it interesting. Holmes touches on the four basic font families and their origins, then goes on to discuss some basic tools and design considerations. Unfortunately, that's about it so far as instructions go. Only a couple fonts had anything resembling a how-to when it came to layouts and inking/brushing. Though the pages are packed with examples of various fonts - literally, beyond the point of crowding out the text - only a handful are actually labeled, which seemed like a bit of an oversight. While the information - what there is of it - still seems valid, despite the publication date (I couldn't find a specific year, though it was before household computers were anything but a science fiction prop), I felt like there were reams of useful information that were cut to make room for the overwhelming clutter of advertising typeface examples. Less visual clutter and more clear instructions would've been nice. Considering the price, and the overall age of the book, I don't feel inclined to judge it too harshly... and, though most of the examples were visually distracting, I admit I kinda liked seeing the many different moods fonts could express.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Accidental Sorcerer (K. E. Mills)
The Accidental Sorcerer
(The Rogue Agent trilogy, Book 1)
K. E. Mills
Orbit
Fiction, Fantasy
***+ (Okay/Good)
DESCRIPTION: When Stuttey's Superior Staff factory exploded during a visit from Department of Thaumaturgy probationary inspector Gerald Dunwoody, it wasn't his fault... but who would take his word over the irate factory foreman's? Gerald's just a lowly Third Grade wizard, after all, trained by correspondence course, with little ancestry and an unremarkable employment record, while Stuttey's manufactures the best and priciest wizard staffs in all of Ottosland. A factory with that reputation would never, as Gerald claimed, overload faulty thaumaturgical equipment just to boost profits. Besides, if the accident happened the way he described, any Third Grade wizard would be a smoking pile of cinders on the factory floor from the energies unleashed. Gerald himself can't explain what happened, or how he survived, but with the powerful company crying for blood it wouldn't matter if he could. Defamed, unemployed, and broke, he figures he might as well pack in the wizard gig, crawl back to his parents' house, and see if it's not too late to get started in the family trade of tailoring - until he chances upon a job offer halfway across the world.
The kingdom of New Ottosland occupies a small oasis in the vast Kallarapi desert, surrounded by camel-riding heathens. Founded centuries ago and subsequently forgotten by most of the world, they live and die by Tradition. The young King Lional has bold plans for the future of New Ottosland, and try as she might, his practical, headstrong sister Melissande can't talk him out of them... nor can the emissaries of the Kallarapi sultan, whom Lional antagonizes by refusing to pay the traditional tariffs for vital desert trade routes. But the king foresees a day when New Ottosland won't need to kowtow to the desert people, when they will be a force worthy of international respect and attention. All Lional needs to realize his plans is a Court Wizard, and it's up to Melissande to find him one.
The day Gerald Dunwoody accepted the job of Court Wizard of New Ottosland, he thought his troubles were over. Instead, they're just beginning... and before they're through, the factory explosion at Stuttey's will seem as insignificant as a pop cap in a playground.
REVIEW: This book starts out light, meandering towards goofy. Gerald, his friends and enemies, and his magic-dominated world feel clunky and caricatured. Time and again they act in ways that defied their own characters and general logic, just to get one more sarcastic line in or further the slow-building story. I found it difficult to sympathize with them for quite some time. By the time I reached the part where the emissaries of the desert nation were introduced - as infidel-hating grovelers to their triad gods - I wasn't sure I'd have the mental stamina to push through to the end. A few chapters later, the story starts taking some interesting turns. Shades of depth and darkness begin revealing themselves. Even the desert dwellers bring far more to the game board than their inauspicious introduction hints at, becoming far more than pseudo-Arab stereotypes. By the end, Gerald has visited many dark places and done many things he hadn't thought himself capable of... in good ways and bad. The very ending is pretty much foreshadowed by the title, but otherwise the story came to an unexpectedly satisfying conclusion. Unfortunately, the earlier clunkiness held it down in the ratings, as did some of the characters, who retained several of their more annoying traits long past the point where things went in an otherwise original direction. The worst offender was Gerald's sort-of-girlfriend Reg, a witch cursed centuries ago into a bird's body; not only was her personality so shrewishly annoying that I found it hard to understand how anyone could be friends with her, but she kept contradicting her own desires not to reveal her sentient nature by firing off her ever-loaded tongue at the drop of a proverbial hat. I don't expect I'll follow the rest of the trilogy, but I wouldn't rule the possibility out if I found a cheap enough copy of Book 2.
(The Rogue Agent trilogy, Book 1)
K. E. Mills
Orbit
Fiction, Fantasy
***+ (Okay/Good)
DESCRIPTION: When Stuttey's Superior Staff factory exploded during a visit from Department of Thaumaturgy probationary inspector Gerald Dunwoody, it wasn't his fault... but who would take his word over the irate factory foreman's? Gerald's just a lowly Third Grade wizard, after all, trained by correspondence course, with little ancestry and an unremarkable employment record, while Stuttey's manufactures the best and priciest wizard staffs in all of Ottosland. A factory with that reputation would never, as Gerald claimed, overload faulty thaumaturgical equipment just to boost profits. Besides, if the accident happened the way he described, any Third Grade wizard would be a smoking pile of cinders on the factory floor from the energies unleashed. Gerald himself can't explain what happened, or how he survived, but with the powerful company crying for blood it wouldn't matter if he could. Defamed, unemployed, and broke, he figures he might as well pack in the wizard gig, crawl back to his parents' house, and see if it's not too late to get started in the family trade of tailoring - until he chances upon a job offer halfway across the world.
The kingdom of New Ottosland occupies a small oasis in the vast Kallarapi desert, surrounded by camel-riding heathens. Founded centuries ago and subsequently forgotten by most of the world, they live and die by Tradition. The young King Lional has bold plans for the future of New Ottosland, and try as she might, his practical, headstrong sister Melissande can't talk him out of them... nor can the emissaries of the Kallarapi sultan, whom Lional antagonizes by refusing to pay the traditional tariffs for vital desert trade routes. But the king foresees a day when New Ottosland won't need to kowtow to the desert people, when they will be a force worthy of international respect and attention. All Lional needs to realize his plans is a Court Wizard, and it's up to Melissande to find him one.
The day Gerald Dunwoody accepted the job of Court Wizard of New Ottosland, he thought his troubles were over. Instead, they're just beginning... and before they're through, the factory explosion at Stuttey's will seem as insignificant as a pop cap in a playground.
REVIEW: This book starts out light, meandering towards goofy. Gerald, his friends and enemies, and his magic-dominated world feel clunky and caricatured. Time and again they act in ways that defied their own characters and general logic, just to get one more sarcastic line in or further the slow-building story. I found it difficult to sympathize with them for quite some time. By the time I reached the part where the emissaries of the desert nation were introduced - as infidel-hating grovelers to their triad gods - I wasn't sure I'd have the mental stamina to push through to the end. A few chapters later, the story starts taking some interesting turns. Shades of depth and darkness begin revealing themselves. Even the desert dwellers bring far more to the game board than their inauspicious introduction hints at, becoming far more than pseudo-Arab stereotypes. By the end, Gerald has visited many dark places and done many things he hadn't thought himself capable of... in good ways and bad. The very ending is pretty much foreshadowed by the title, but otherwise the story came to an unexpectedly satisfying conclusion. Unfortunately, the earlier clunkiness held it down in the ratings, as did some of the characters, who retained several of their more annoying traits long past the point where things went in an otherwise original direction. The worst offender was Gerald's sort-of-girlfriend Reg, a witch cursed centuries ago into a bird's body; not only was her personality so shrewishly annoying that I found it hard to understand how anyone could be friends with her, but she kept contradicting her own desires not to reveal her sentient nature by firing off her ever-loaded tongue at the drop of a proverbial hat. I don't expect I'll follow the rest of the trilogy, but I wouldn't rule the possibility out if I found a cheap enough copy of Book 2.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
June Site Update, Reviews Archived
The previous six book reviews are now archived at Brightdreamer Books, with cross-links to related titles.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
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