Feb 2016 update and Sun Storm

Hi guys

Hope everyone is alright and busy reading or writing or both.

So far this year I've written a couple of pieces - mainly for competitions and sent them off.  I want to write alot more this year though as 2015 was a poor year - I only wrote about two short stories,  a poem and started a novel, although I did blog more for Cleckheaton Literature Festival.

This year I want to finish that novel and by 31st March send 5000 words of it to Good Housekeeping magazine.
I've also sent a poem to Writing Magazine on the theme of the Northern Lights to win a trip to see them though I didn't win.  I wrote it last minute again so wasn't great - ha.
I also entered the Writers and Artists site competition on the theme of age - fingers crossed!

Anyway as the poem didn't win here it is - Sun Storm - enjoy!

Sun Storm

There is a storm a coming
The most powerful one
This Storm is coming
From a million miles gone
The storm is coming from our Sun

There is a storm a coming
It is all around
Invisible to the eye
Except in the northern sky
Yet you can see it from the ground

There is a storm a coming
Such a beautiful sight
The Northern Lights that shine so bright
The green, purple and reds
There is a storm a coming

Deadpool - Film Review

Hi guys

Went to see Deadpool film last night and have to admit it's the funniest and crudest Superhero movie that's come out so far.

It's even funnier than Ant-Man which had good gags in yet this goes beyond that with gags about other superhero movies including Wolverine, the X Men films (which this is now part of thanks to the time travelling shenanigans of Days of Future Past.)  Plus Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds own films including taking the piss out of his stint as Green Lantern as he asks the guys who are going to awaken his mutant genes not to put him in an animated green suit.

The film starts taking fun at the superhero genre right at the beginning with the titles including 'English man as the villain'.

It also starts with a great action scene on the motorway with plenty of gags and plenty of violence  (some bit cartoony) and has two X Men join Deadpool to try recruit him - these are Colossus - now all metal CGI and older than the character was in the X Men films plus now with a Russian accent and new mutant Negasonic Teenage Warhead.  

At this point one of my favourite gags is said as Colossus trys to get Deadpool to Professor X, Deadpool says "is it Stewart or McAvoy?".

Here the film goes back to tell how Wade Wilson  (Ryan Reynolds) became Deadpool and meets his girlfriend  Vanessa played by the sexy Morena  Baccarin  (Gotham).

After dating her for a year he proposes but collapses.  After being diagnosed with terminal cancer he accepts an offer from a sinister "Agent Smith" type that can cure his cancer.

He leaves Vanessa to join this secret treatment and told he will become super human.  He meets Ajax  and Angel Dust - two mutants and bad guys who inject him with a mutant serum and torture him to get the gene working.

As Wade near death it works and he develops healing abilities but is greatly scarred by the procedure.  Ajax informs him will be a super slave and if works for him can get his looks back.

To cut a long story short Deadpool goes after Ajax to get his looks back so he can see Vanessa again but after the highway pursuit Ajax kidnaps her which leads to a fun packed show down.

Overall   -  A great tongue in cheek film with loads of Easter Eggs and gags about other movies as well as some gory action and a maximum effort performance from Ryan Reynolds and the rest of the crew.

Go see it!

Score  -  9/10

The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend by David Gemmell - Book Review

Hi folks.   Sorry I haven't blogged for about a month but have had my head in the above book - David Gemmell's First Chronicles of Druss the Legend which has been a fantastic read and now my favourite David Gemmell novel although I have a few more to read.

David Gemmell is still my favourite author and I had the privilege of seeing him in Leeds Waterstones back in 2006 shortly before his premature death.  This is a shame as I would have liked more books about his most famous character Druss.

Druss first featured in David Gemmell's debut novel Legend  (score 9/10).

Here this book tells the tale of Druss earlier live from a simple young farm man in love with his wife Rowena to a hardened warrior and legend he becomes.

The novel is split into four novellas which made it easier to read.  The first two are about his search for Rowena after she is taken by slavers and his training into a warrior and his relationship with his grandfather's old cursed axe - Snaga.
The third novella is set a few years later when he has lost his axe Snaga and tells of his search and struggles getting it back and (SPOILERS) his wife.
The forth story is set years later as Druss is in his forty fifth year and getting weary and old, now living with Rowena who is in borrowed time and tells of his last call to battle.

The characters are well written in particular Druss as you can see his change through the novellas from a young hot headed man to a battle hardy and wiser warrior.  His wife Rowena is well drawn too who struggles with her talent.  Druss close friends Sieben the Saga master and Bodesen are good too and one even ends up on the opposite side.

I love David Gemmell's novels as there are no simple black and white characters and there are large shades of grey - Gorben the Emperor is good at the beginning but power corrupted him and he becomes the enemy in the last novella.

This and other novels of David Gemmell's have plenty of action,  bloodshed, gore, fantastic characters and a few creatures to whip the reader along at a quick pace.  Plus there is plenty of romance and redemption in there too.

The only fault with this novel is that it is too short and I want more Druss and Drenai novels.  I think I may write some Drenai fan fiction soon!

Overall  - a rip roaring page turner and now (for the time being) my favourite David Gemmell novel.

Score  -  10/10

2016 is here

Happy New Year guys

After a lacklustre and under productive 2015 I am starting afresh.

Although there were some highlights last year including Cleckheaton Literature Festival and the CLF Blog (which is still ongoing).  I hardly did any writing for myself and only wrote about two short stories,  a poem and first three chapters of a novel.  Plus I still was reading Wizards First Rule all year.

This year I'm going to push myself to write and read more.

I am determined to finish a first draft of a novel and write at least five short stories and maybe some freelance writing, including more blog posts.

I want to read alot more too.

So far this year I've written a poem for a competition to win a writing retreat in Iceland and to see the Northern Lights.

I've also read a quarter into the excellent blood soaked novel - The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend by David Gemmell.

I've also given the blog a quick makeover - hope you enjoy?

Well happy writing.

Neil

Happy New Year

Hi guys

Hope you have a great night and an even better 2016!

Hope to write and read more in 2016 and push myself more!

Anyhow best get drinking.

Neil x

Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind - Book Review

Imagine the scene:

January 2012 and I had just watched the excellent series of Legend of the Seeker.  I find the two series are based on The Sword of Truth books by fantasy author Terry Goodkind.  So I decide to buy the first seven books in the series.

I start reading Wizards First Rule.

Last night and nearly four years later I finished reading that book.

Yes it's took me a while.  In between I have read a couple of other books both printed and on Kindle.  Plus I have also written quite a bit myself and helped organise this year's Cleckheaton Literature Festival.  Also I was in a bad state when I started the novel so maybe I should have started it a few months later.  Through persistence I have now completed it.

The verdict - following the adventures of Richard Cypher, his Wizard friend  Zedd and their companion the mother Confessor Kahlan as they search for a box of Orden which can stop the evil Wizard Darken Rahl who is trying to use the boxes of Orden to rule the lands.

The characters of the novel are three dimensional especially the main players Richard and Kahlan as they must push aside their love for the mission of stopping Darken Rahl and also because of a secret Kahlan hides that could harm Richard who becomes the Seeker - the holder of the Sword of Truth.

The Wizard Zedd us also a well rounded character.

Other characters fair well too.

I was surprised at how the series on television had not followed the novel in alot of ways but I have to say the novel is better as it delves into the thinking if the characters better as the go through the story.

The story is usual fantasy fare with magic, a dragon, medieval type setting and a quest.  But Terry Goodkind is a good writer who writes detail into the scenes and gives a good mental image.

I am annoyed at how long it as took me to read the novel as I have enjoyed it for the most part.   The middle where the heroes are with the Mud People did drag a bit and lacked action.  Also in some parts the story is repeated and not needed, for example when Richard meets Zedd after a big chunk of the book then describes what has happened to him which felt like reading it twice.

Overall  -  A detailed novel with a rich believable world and characters but could have have done with a trim.  The last quarter of the book is the strongest and a real page turner.  A very enjoyable novel.

Score   -   7/10   - Hope to read the next one faster!

Merry Christmas

Would just like to say a big Merry Xmas for my followers and readers of my blog. 

Hope your all having a great day.

Neil x