tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372001732024-03-12T19:31:56.458-05:00Random Stuff and WhatnotWhatever thoughts and observations float through my mind.Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-38553207771367269742012-12-12T19:31:00.002-06:002012-12-12T19:32:53.528-06:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with L<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I haven't reviewed all of the titles beginning with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">L</i>, but here are a few I wrote way back in September.
Then I got busy with schoolwork and work-work, and I didn't have time for
recreational reading. And now that I have a little time between semesters, I'm
finding myself wanting to read other things. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So even though I didn't even make it halfway through the
alphabet, I'm ceasing this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Skyrim</i>
book review project. If anyone has actually been reading these, I'm sorry to abandon
you midstream, but I hope you've enjoyed reading these.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are the last few I completed: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lady Benoch's Words
and Philosophy</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think when you find this book in the game, it is only
titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Words and Philosophy.</i> The lady
in question was a warrior of renown, and this book was the summary of three
interviews with her conducted by the anonymous author. The text could have
benefited from some careful editing. There were multiple tense-shifts, which
are one of my pet peeves. (For example, one quotation is marked with "she
said" and the next with "she says," when they are quoting the
same interview.) However, the stories told by Lady Benoch were rather
entertaining, especially her recounting of her first face-to-face kill, so the
book is worth reading.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Last King of the
Ayleids, </i>by Herminia Cinna.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This history text is on the dry and dull side,
unfortunately. It's a general overview of the decline of Ayleid power in
Cyrodiil during and after the time of Alessia. Only the last paragraph mentions
"the last king," and then with so little detail that the reader can
not even imagine his role in the battle linked to his name.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Last Scabbard of
Akrash</i>, by Tabar Vunqidh.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A blacksmith receives daily visits from a veiled lady. An
unknown vigilante dispatches slave-traders. The suspense and mystery may not be
strong, but the story is engaging and well-written, with clear and vivid
descriptions. It's the details, and the nice way the author brings the tale
full circle with no loose ends, that makes this great.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Four stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Legendary City of
Sancre Tor</i>, by Matera Chapel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sancre Tor was Alessia's holy city, which was apparently
poorly situated for defense, as it was repeatedly conquered by various enemies.
It's a decent overview of the history of this city, but a little on the boring
side.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Legendary Scourge</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A disjointed fragment tells of a mace named Scourge, an
ebony weapon of Malacath. This seems like it ought to be part of a larger work,
and it does not stand well on its own. It does harbor a few nicely turned phrases,
though.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Legend of Red
Eagle</i>, by Tredayn Dren, Archivist of Winterhold.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This book provides more information about Red Eagle than the
player would learn just through completing that subquest. It's also one of the
relatively few stories about the native people who lived in Skyrim before the
Nords took over. So even though it's just a brief overview, roughly on par with
an encyclopedia entry, it's a nice supplement to the game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Legend of the
Krately House</i>, by Baloth-Kul.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This ghost story is presented in script format, requiring a
two-story set. The stage directions--especially the lighting directions--create
a vivid, spooky ambiance. The sense of suspense holds until the end. I would
pay real-life money to see this performed live on stage. Too bad it's so short
(well, long for a Skyrim book, but short for a play) that it would be
cost-prohibitive to produce. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Five stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Light Armor Forging</i>,
by Revus Sarvani.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I expected this to be as bad as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavy Armor Forging</i>--it certainly started off just as poorly,
seasoned with a smattering of grammar errors. However, this text surprised me
with an interesting little story about how the crafting of Elven armor came to
be known to non-Elves, which actually made this book worth reading beyond the
skill point it awards.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two and a half stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one
asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time
allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I
panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you
thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're
entitled to your own.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder ScrollsPages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-84703100239674537792012-09-07T18:20:00.000-05:002012-09-07T18:20:55.107-05:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with K
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Keepers of the Razor:
Current Descendants of the Inner Circle</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This book has some useful information if you're doing the
Daedric quest to restore Mehrune's Razor. If you're not doing this quest,
however, the book isn't worth the time to read. It really is just a list of
non-player characters in possession of the various fragments of the weapon. The
text does not stand alone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing--Before You're
Killed</i>, by Eduardo Corvus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some game-related battle tactics for melee fighting. Nothing
but contempt is given with regards to magic, and nothing whatsoever is given
with regards to archery. The advice on using bladed weapons is applicable
within the game-world, but probably not in real life. This is the kind of book
you open so you can collect the skill point, but you gain little from the
actual reading of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Kiss, Sweet Mother.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another quest-related tome, this time for the Dark
Brotherhood quest. This very brief text instructs the reader on the sacrificial
ritual for summoning the Dark Brotherhood. It is creepy, but offers little
substance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Knights of the
Nine</i>, by Karoline of Solitude.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This book can be summarized as, "The Knights of the
Nine were awesome. Then they fell from grace and weren't awesome anymore. Then
everyone forgot about them." What the book lacks is any particular
description of what the Knights of the Nine actually did in order to be held in
high regard during their heyday. In other words, the author never explained why
the reader should care about the Knights.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One star.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kolb & the Dragon:
An Adventure for Nord Boys.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's a choose-your-own-adventure-style book! Each page sets
the scene, with a list of different pages you could turn to next depending on
the choice you make. I loved this style of interactive adventure tale when I
was a kid, so reading this book was like having a huge corner slice of birthday
cake with extra buttercream frosting. The epub version doesn't work so well, even
though the compiler was careful to preserve page numbers. However, reading this
book in-game was delightful. I had to go through it multiple times, choosing
different paths so I could see all the endings. It's a very short and simple
tale, of course, but that doesn't lessen the delight. Props to the game
developers for even thinking to include a book like this. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Five stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one
asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time
allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I
panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you
thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're
entitled to your own.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder ScrollsPages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>.</div>
Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-31206575241430722052012-09-03T13:20:00.000-05:002012-09-07T18:18:34.053-05:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with I and J<style>
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<br />
I haven't played Skyrim in months. I was craving the
wasteland, and made a fresh tour through Fallout 3, and now I'm back in New
Vegas. But, after reading quite a lot of nonfiction for work and school, I'm
back to reading the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Books of Skyrim</i></a>
on my Nook.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ice and Chitin</i>, by
Pletius Spatec.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Set in the time of Tiber Septum, this tale of a daring
escape from an enemy army lacks the strong sense of suspense that could have
made it truly great. However, it is still a decent story, and competently
written. From the title, you might have expected Falmer or Charrus to be a
factor, but it actually refers to the scavenged chitin armor that the main
characters wear as they flee across the icy landscape.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Immortal Blood</i>, by
Anonymous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You find a copy of this book in just about every vampire
nest in the entire game. It's capably written and enjoyable, and offers the
origin story of Morvarth, whose lair the player may find near the town of
Morthal. It's certainly not necessary to read this book to enjoy the quest that
starts in Morthal, but it does make the game world richer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three and a half stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Incident at Necrom</i>,
by Jonquilla Bothe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This tale about four adventurers taking on an enclave of
vampires suffers from mediocre writing and awkward sentences. It's a shame,
because the story is good, and the illusionist is a memorable character. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Interviews with
Tapestrists, Volume Eighteen: Cherim's Heart of Anequina</i>, by Livillus
Perus, Professor at the Imperial University. (Note: the display title of this
book when you find it in the game is just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cherim's
Heart of Anequina</i>.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sounds boring, right? An interview with a weaver of
tapestries? Yet Cherim was a warrior in his younger days, and the tapestry
named <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heart of Anequina</i> depicts a
battle. The description of the tapestry is so vivid that the reader can clearly
envision the battle scene. The discussion of light versus heavy armor was also
quite interesting. This book was a delightful surprise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Four stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Invocation of Azura</i>,
by Sigillah Parate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A Dunmer priestess of Azura describes her religious journey.
She started off following her family's worship of Molag Bal, lost her faith and
moved on to Boethiah, and then on to Nocturnal, and finally found her faith
again in Azura. This short book gives a glimpse into the practices of four
Daedric Princes and their worshipers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three and a half stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Journal of Gallus
Desidenius.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This journal describes Gallus's pursuit of Mercer Frey. The
text mentions characters contemporary with the game, such as Karliah and Maul,
so I gather that this is tied in with the Thieves Guild questline, which I've
never played through. As I lack the game context, I can only judge the book on
its literary merit. The author did a nice job of making this seem like a real
journal. There is a sense of temporal disconnect between each paragraph, so
that even without any dates or other notation of time lapse, the reader can
infer that each entry was written on a different day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one
asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time
allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I
panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you
thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're
entitled to your own.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder ScrollsPages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-89837176132493956542012-07-11T17:51:00.002-05:002012-07-11T17:59:13.905-05:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with H<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hallgerd's Tale</i>, by Tavi Dromio.<br /><br />Here is another two-layered story. The frame story features three guys chatting about their favorite warriors, and the nested story is the tale told by one of them. Although the setting is completely undefined, from the tone of their banter, I picture these young men hanging around in an alehouse. They seem kind of like frat boys. Do they have beer and pizza in Skyrim? Maybe they're downing mead and sweet rolls.<br /><br />Because the nested story is presented entirely within Hallgerd's dialogue, it is frequently interrupted with commentary by his two buddies. The tale of a warrior who could move faster in heavy armor than out of it is a bit on the ridiculous side, not to mention rather bawdy, but it is quite entertaining. If you like tall tales spiritedly told, don't miss this one.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Hanging Gardens of the Wasten Coridae.</i>These are presented as fragments of an old Dwemer book. Most are not even complete sentences. The phrases are nicely turned, but too disconnected to give a clear impression of anything.<br /><br />One and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Harvesting Frostbite Spider Venom</i>.<br /><br />This seems more like a letter than a book, as the unidentified author is clearly addressing a specific individual he or she has recruited to collect frostbite venom. It's casual, but informative, and it includes a lovely drawing of a frostbite spider biting a warrior's head off.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Heavy Armor Forging</i>, by Sven Two-Hammers.<br /><br />Collect this book for the smithing skill point, but don't bother reading it. It's just a list of what types of ingots are needed to craft various types of armor. It's well written, but terribly dull. If you really want to read about smithing, read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Forge, Hammer, and Anvil</i>.<br /><br />One star.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Herbalist's Guide to Skyrim</i>, by Agneta Falia.<br /><br />Here's a rarity in Skyrim: a book filled with full-color illustrations. These well-done drawings of various alchemy ingredients are accompanied by narrative descriptions of their properties. So you could learn a handful of alchemy recipes from this text. For being both beautiful and practical, this book gets . . .<br /><br />Five stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Herbane's Bestiary.</i><br /><br />There are three unnumbered volumes in this set: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Ice Wraiths</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Dwarven Automatons</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hagravens</i>. Herbane seems to be a big game hunter. When he hears a tale of a fearsome beast, he is compelled to seek it out and kill it. Though he seems a braggart, he has the mettle to match his mouth. These texts are reasonably informative, as tips useful for gameplay are mixed with some interesting lore. However, awkward sentences, lack of apostrophes in possessives, and a misspelling of Herbane's own name (Herebanes) detract.<br /><br />Three and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Holds of Skyrim: A Field Officer's Guide.</i><br /><br />These brief, uninspired descriptions of the nine holds and their capitols add no information that you wouldn't learn from even the most cursory playthrough of the game.<br /><br />One star.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Hope of the Redoran</i>, by Turiul Nirith.<br /><br />This might have been an interesting story in the hands of a writer with the ability to create suspense and craft action scenes. Unfortunately, the tale falls flat. What little action is shown is muddled with awkward sentences, and the climactic fight scene is glossed over with, "The less said about the end of the battle, the better," which I took to mean, "I didn't feel like writing this scene."<br /><br />Two stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Horror of Castle Xyr: A One Act Play</i>, by Baloth-Kul.<br /><br />This tale is told in script format, which is a refreshing change from narrative prose. Despite the fact that the gruesome horrors chiefly occur off stage and are relayed through dialogue, this is a rather enjoyable tale. One passage gave me a genuine chill, and there is a nice twist to the plot.<br /><br />Four and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />How Orsinium Passed to the Orcs</i>, by Menyna Gsost.<br /><br />Overall, this is an enjoyable story about a duel between a Breton and an Orc over ownership of a large parcel of land. The focus is more upon the preparation for the duel than the duel itself. There are a few minor grammatical errors, one strange lore error (namely, the Breton refers to Orcish armor as "beastly steel," but anyone who has played the game knows that Orcish armor is made of orichalcum), and a couple of questionable aspects of the plot (which I won't spoil here). Even so, the story is entertaining.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />A Hypothetical Treachery: A One Act Play</i>, by Anthil Morvir.<br /><br />The script format works well for this story, as it is more dialogue than action. Four adventurers find a treasure, and no one wants to share. After a betrayal, only two are left standing. The treasure is heavy enough that neither can carry it alone, so they cooperate in transporting it. As they walk, however, they have a "hypothetical" conversation about the particular strategies each might use to betray the other. It is a game of wits, and the reader's uncertainty about which of these two devious battlemages will emerge as the victor elevates the suspense.<br /><br />Four and a half stars.<br /><br />--<br /><br />Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.<br /><br />Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">o</span>r on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>.Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-5370892784581949332012-06-24T14:24:00.001-05:002012-06-24T14:27:12.190-05:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with G<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Galerion the Mystic</i>, by Asgrim Kolsgreg.<br /><br />This is the tale of a peasant who trained with the Psijics and became the first Archmagister of the Mages Guild. Born into a social strata where literacy was forbidden, he fled his master's estate as a child, later to be found, half dead, by a group of troubadours who recognized his intelligence and sent him to Artaeum for schooling. It's a reasonably interesting tale, told in an unremarkable style. It might have benefited from more detail.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />A Game at Dinner</i>, by an Anonymous Spy.<br /><br />Prince Helseth, son of Barenziah, has more than a few spies in his court. At a banquet, he attempts to suss them out with poison. The story is presented as a letter written by a surviving spy to his employer. Although the story is predictable, it manages to be fairly entertaining.<br /><br />Three and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />A Gentleman's Guide to Whiterun</i>, by Mikael the Bard.<br /><br />This is probably the skeeviest book in the game, written by Mikael, that bard you can beat up for harrassing Carlotta. He lists most of the women in Whiterun--contemporary with the time of the game, so these are characters the player will encounter--along with his opinions on their physical charms and bed-ability. It's functionally a catalog for promiscuous men. Eew.<br /><br />Two stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Ghosts in the Storm</i>, by Adonato Leotelli.<br /><br />The author, while traveling with a Khajiit caravan, was beset by creatures unnamed, but described so well that the reader can readily identify them as Falmer. Given the author's mention of Ri'saad, the Khajiit leader, it is apparent that this is a recent text, reasonably contemporary with the game. It is well written, with nicely detailed descriptions.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Glories and Laments Among the Ayleid Ruins</i>, by Alexandre Hetrard.<br /><br />This text is rich with lush descriptions of scenery. It's more or less a travelogue or explorer's guide, but it also touches on ancient High Elf religion. There isn't much to it, but what is there is nicely written.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Gold Ribbon of Merit</i>, by Ampyrian Brum.<br /><br />Two young men, who had been friends as boys, have a reunion. The braggart, prideful of his awards, offers an archery lesson to his quiet friend, who is perhaps not so unskilled as his modest demeanor suggests. This tale was predictable, and not nearly as satisfying as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Black Arrow</i>, but it was enjoyable.<br /><br />Three and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Great Harbingers of the Companions</i>.<br /><br />This is a history of the Companions, who are, in effect, the warriors guild of Skyrim. While the writing is not stellar, the brief biographies are interesting. Unfortunately, non-Nords, particularly elves, seemed to have short tenures as Harbinger, with sad endings. The same can be said of the one woman Harbinger mentioned. It is apparent that Nord chauvinism is not new to Skyrim, or to the Companions.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<br /><br />Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.<br /><br />Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>.Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-69976466106589809782012-06-22T18:20:00.002-05:002012-06-22T18:25:23.287-05:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with F<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Fall from Glory</i>, by Nithilis Lidari.<br /><br />The very concept of this book is critically flawed. The author talks about the decline of the Thieves Guild, and then admits to having infiltrated the guild to find out why, promising to publish a second volume when the secret is learned. If you're going to infiltrate a criminal organization, you don't publish a book saying, "Hey, I've infiltrated this criminal organization," before your investigation is complete. This is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">blowing your cover</i>. It's also tantamount to telling every guard in every hold, "Hey, I've been engaging in criminal activity. Come arrest me."<br /><br />One star.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Fall of Saarthal</i>, by Heseph Chirirnis, Mages Guild Scholar assigned to Imperial Archaeologist Sentius Floronius.<br /><br />An underworked assistant pursues his own sideline of research. He is either passive-aggressive, or he has astonishingly low self-esteem. Even as he flatters the archaeologist he works for, it is clear that his own research focuses on the big picture of how Saarthal was destroyed and rebuilt, while his boss's research focuses on the minutia of the bathing habits of the people who had lived there. Actually, I consider both the historical big picture and the small cultural details of day-to-day life in ancient times to be interesting and valuable paths of research. Together, they can paint a comprehensive portrait of the culture and times. However, it seems that this assistant and his boss are unlikely to ever collaborate in any meaningful way.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Fall of the Snow Prince: an account of the Battle of the Moesring as transcribed by Lokheim, chronicler to the chieftan Ingjaldr White-Eye.</i><br /><br />This beautifully-written account gave me a strong, almost cinematic visual impression of the last great battle between the Nords and the Elves in the time of Ysgramor. This truly has an epic feel, in the classical sense of the word, both in the cadence of the story telling and in the narrative flow of the tale. This also offers a rare glimpse of the Snow Elves, who degenerated into the Falmer after this defeat, when they were still glorious.<br /><br />Five stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Falmer: A Study</i>, by Ursa Uthrax.<br /><br />This text references <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Fall of the Snow Prince</i>, and I would recommend you read them back-to-back. Together, they are like bookends on the history of the Falmer: then and now. Uthrax claims to have personally visited Blackreach, and this book represents the summary of his what he learned about the history of the snow elves who survived the Battle of the Moesring, how they sought refuge with the Dwemer, only to be blinded and enslaved, and how the toxic fungus they consumed underground warped their bodies into the Falmer of present times. This work reads less like a textbook and more like a primary source document, and it greatly enriches the game world by elevating Falmer above mere monsters.<br /><br />Five stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Father of the Niben</i>, translated and with commentary by Florin Jaliil.<br /><br />This is an interesting academic text. As the title implies, four surviving fragments of an ancient epic poem are presented in translation with extensive commentary by the translator. The fragments tell of the voyage of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Niben</i> and the failed mission to find the lost Aldmer homeland of Old Ehlnofey. Along the way the crew encounters groups that may or may not be the ancient Orcs/Orsimer, the ancestors of the Khajiit, and a group of feathered people otherwise lost to history. The scholarly analysis of the fragments is detailed, with multiple interpretations presented. This is one of the more readable accounts of ancient Tamriel history.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Feyfolken</i>, by Waughin Jarth.<br /><br /><br />This three-volume set features a story within a story. In the frame story, the Great Sage teaches lessons to his two students. In the nested story, a mute scribe purchases an enchanted quill. However, the quill is possessed by the soul of a daedra, and it has a mind of its own. There are a couple of typos marring an otherwise well-written narrative, including one misspelling of the main character's name. Both stories wandered a bit, and neither strongly held my interest, which makes me wonder if this was one of Waughin Jarth's earlier works, before he got good, or one of his later works, after he was burned out.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Final Lesson</i>, by Aegrothius Goth.<br /><br />Despite having a different author, this story features the same Great Sage with the same two students from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Feyfolken</i>, and the writing style is very similar. Perhaps Aegrothius Goth and Waughin Jarth are the same person.<br /><br />This is another story within a story. The Great Sage tells his students that it is time for them to leave their apprenticeship, but they don't want to go. So he tells the tale of a sage from ages past, who had two students. One of these students of old went out into the world and found his own way, and the other stayed with their master. Those two students met again as old men, where they discovered how differently their lives had turned out. It's not a bad tale, but not particularly dynamic.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Fire and Darkness: The Brotherhoods of Death</i>, by Ynir Gorming.<br /><br />This is a tale of two assassins guilds, the Dark Brotherhood and its predecessor the Morag Tong. It contains much history and speculation about the two organizations, and so will likely be of interest to those playing assassin characters. The mediocre writing, spangled with grammatical and punctuation errors, rather put me off.<br /><br />Two stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Firmament</i>, by Ffoulke.<br /><br />It's the Tamriel astrology handbook! What's your sign, baby? This text is an interesting piece of game lore, describing the thirteen constellations and the personalities typical of people born under their signs. The only thing that bugs me is the Serpent constellation, which "wanders about in the sky." Constellations don't wander. The "wandering stars" of the ancient world were what we today know as planets. Based on my admittedly rudimentary knowledge of astrophysics, I would have to say that the movements of several planets together would not maintain a coherent constellation-like formation. Of course, if you want to make a big enough mental stretch, you could imagine that the technologically-advanced Dwemer had a space program, and that the Serpent is actually a collection of satellites that orbit in formation. But that's certainly quite a divergence from the actual game lore. Back to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Firmament</i>--it's a fun little book. Fluffy and not essential reading, but charming nonetheless.<br /><br />Three and a half stars, mostly because it made me speculate about the possibility of space-faring Dwemer.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Firsthold<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Revolt</i>, by Maveus Cie.<br /><br />A fictionalization of pseudo-historical events, this tale tells of a battle of wits between two women, played large with armies as their pawns. The queen, a daughter of Barenziah, rightfully commands the royal forces. The king's concubine colludes with the revolutionaries. The ending, while predictable, was satisfying. The writing is not strong, but it is adequate. Overall, a decent read.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Five Songs of King Wulfharth</i>.<br /><br />The title is misleading, as these tales are not presented as songs. They read like the kind of first-rush-of-inspiration notes an author might scrawl on the back of an envelope or whatever other scrap of paper might be at hand, had such notes been published without any revision or editing. Some parts are in past tense, others in present. Furthermore, the writing seems disjointed, incomplete and unpolished. There might be a good story there, if someone were to take the time to write it. The only positive takeaway I have from this text is that I now know who Ysmir is.<br /><br />One and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Flight from the Thalmor</i>.<br /><br />Perhaps the errors and misused words can be excused, as this is presented as the diary of a fugitive who anticipates that his death is near at hand. The author is purported to be a bard, and this does not require any suspension of disbelief, because the writing displays a certain natural talent for wordsmithing. The types of errors I saw are of the sort that even good writers make, and then clean up during editing. The tenor and tone of the writing are consistent, and in a very few pages do a fine job of conveying the personality of the condemned man.<br /><br />Three and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Forge, Hammer and Anvil</i>, by Adolphus Eritius.<br /><br />Terrible grammar and poor spelling are completely in-concept for this text, which was dictated by an illiterate blacksmith to some unknown assistant, who added his own parenthetical commentary, some of it quite insulting toward his master. Even though this is mainly a catalog of what types of ingots are required for creating particular types of weapons and armor, this brief text bubbles with character and humor. The prefatory and concluding scholarly commentary are superfluous, but not detracting. Call to mind your favorite cranky-old-man voice when reading this book.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Fragment: On Artaeum</i>, by Taurice il-Anselma.<br /><br />This is a brief piece on the Psijic Order of mages and Isle of Artaeum, where they live. The island vanished from the world for five hundred years, and the Psijics offered no explanation to the world or to the author of this book. The text is well crafted and capably written, but it failed to hold my interest. Read this if you'd like to know more about the Psijics than you see in the game.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Frontier, Conquest and Accommodation: A Social History of Cyrodiil</i>, University of Gwylim Press 3E 344.<br /><br />This text describes the spread of humans across Tamriel. In most areas, humans and elves learned to coexist peacefully, but in Skyrim, humans pushed the elves back through military conquest. Although the writing is not particularly inspired, this book does provide some nice background to illuminate the racial tensions apparent in the game.<br /><br />Three and a half stars.<br /><br />--<br /><br />Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.<br /><br />Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>.Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-6647236107171639192012-06-06T20:44:00.002-05:002012-06-06T20:50:31.491-05:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with E<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Effects of the Elder Scrolls</i>, by Justinius Poluhnius.<br /><br />Here is a bit a lore about the Elder Scrolls for which the game series is named. The author describes the terrible fate that befalls a person who reads an Elder Scroll without preparation, and then describes the different, but also terrible, fate that befalls one who undergoes years of preparation prior to reading. The disciplines followed by the Cult of the Ancestor Moth are explained.<br /><br />I must confess: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i> is the only Elder Scrolls game I've played, and I have never finished it. Whenever I get to level 50 or so, I start a new character and try a different play style. But I've never finished the main plot, I've never even started the civil war plotline, and I've never actually encountered an Elder Scroll, so I have no experiential knowledge to verify or refute the accuracy of the content of this book. However, the text of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Effects of the Elder Scrolls</i> is well-written and informative, and the book serves to flesh out the game world in a very satisfactory way.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Eslaf Erol</i>, by Reven.<br /><br />You won't find a book titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Eslaf Erol</i> in the game, but the name of the main character serves as a series title for the four books: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Beggar</i>,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Thief</i>,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> Warrior</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">King</i>. This story about five siblings with unpronounceable names is absurd. Even the opening paragraph contains multiple physical impossibilities. It was all too ludicrous for my tastes, but I grew used to the style, and I eventually embraced the ridiculous and enjoyed the story for what it was. As you might guess from the titles of the four books, they follow the progression of Eslaf's life, from birth through poverty to eventual kingship. While <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Beggar</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Thief</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">King</i> are aptly named, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Warrior</i> seems a bit of a stretch, as he never weilds a weapon, but only cowers behind a shield.<br /><br />It's hard to rate this series, because you'll either love it or hate it, and I don't perceive much room for ambivalence. I really can't decide if it's stupid or funny, or stupid-funny.<br /><br />Two stars OR four stars. In this case, they do not average to three.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Exodus</i>, by Waughin Jarth.<br /><br />After reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Argonian Account</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A Dance in Fire</i>, I've become a bona fide Waughin Jarth fan. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Exodus</i>, however, is not one of his better works. A husband and wife journey far in the hopes of finding someone who can save the life of their sickly daughter, and they find a small enclave of cheerful, friendly mages living in the middle of an expansive graveyard. The writing bursts with lush and vivid descriptions. However, unusual for Jarth's work, there is one glaring tense shift, they type of error that should have been cleaned up in editing. The worst error, however, is a matter of dramatic timing. A particular piece of information was revealed to the reader at the midpoint of the story. Had it been saved until the last page, the ending of the tale would have had more punch.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Experimentation in the Physicalities of the Werewolf</i>, by Reman Crex.<br /><br />A sociopath describes in detail the horrifying techniques by which he tortures captured werewolves to death and documents them for science. It's well-written and enriches the game world, but it is one of the darkest, most disturbing things I have yet encountered in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>. Your mileage may vary.<br /><br />Three and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />An Explorer's Guide to Skyrim</i>, by Marcius Carvain, Viscount Bruma.<br /><br />Many books in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i> do something when you open them--increase one of your skills or launch a quest. This one adds a location to your map. Unlike every other book I've encountered, though, this isn't a single-use bonus. Open this book multiple times, and you'll receive multiple map markers. You can add every single one of the Stones of Fate to your map if you have the patience to sit there and keep opening and closing the book for a couple of minutes.<br /><br />The actual text of this travelogue is better than I expected. An Imperial with a generally low opinion of the people of Skyrim, but a high opinion of the landscape, describes four locations with lovely detail.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<br /><br />Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.<br /><br />Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>.Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-50011787854615950552012-06-04T20:04:00.003-05:002012-06-04T20:10:49.036-05:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with D<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A Dance in Fire</i>, by Waughin Jarth.<br /><br />Another well-written multi-volume set by Waughin Jarth featuring the adventures of the hapless clerk Decumus Scotti. This story is a prequel to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Argonian Account</i>. Poor Scotti has just been laid off from his job, in favor of a younger man with a winning smile, and he makes his way to Valenwood in the hopes of securing a lucrative contract to entice his former employer to rehire him. However, Scotti's bad luck never fails him, and just as he arrives, Valenwood erupts in war, with the Khajiit attacking on one side and the Altmeri on the other.<br /><br />This rollicking tale rarely stops to take a breath, as Scotti is plagued by monsters, magic, cannibalism, and chaos. The reader learns quite a lot about the Bosmer and Khajiit, in the most fun way possible. The seven volumes of this set have continuity, so read them in order.<br /><br />Five stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Darkest Darkness</i>, by Anonymous.<br /><br />This text provides some background information about various Daedra, their internal ranks and allegiances, and their relation to the Dunmer. It's not written in a particularly exciting manner, but it offers enough information beyond what one sees in the game to remain interesting. Read it if you're really interested in Daedra; skip it if you're not.<br /><br />Two and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Death Blow of Abernanit</i>, with Explains by the sage Geocrates Varnus.<br /><br />The faux-archaic style of this epic poem makes for difficult reading. It was difficult to follow, despite the slow pacing. A holy warrior battles a Daedra-worshipper purported to be undefeatable, and defeats him. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't hold my interest.<br /><br />Two stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Death of a Wanderer.</i><br /><br />An anonymous author records the end-of-life thoughts of an old Argonian adventurer. The Argonian was in possession of one of the claw-shaped keys from one of the many Draugr-infested Nord barrows. There wasn't a lot of substance to this story, but it was well written, with many nicely-turned phrases. An answer is offered to the question many players may have about these claws: "Why even have a combination if you're going to write it on the key?"<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />De Rerum Dirennis</i>, by Vorian Direnni.<br /><br />An Altmer from one of the great families, himself of little achievement, talks about a particular ancestor of his, renowned for turning alchemy into a science. This ancestor defeated a vampire and then went on to develop the first practical invisibility potion. A large and hostile force repeatedly attacked his village, eventually taking him prisoner. His clever use of alchemy was the key to his salvation. This story would have been better without the first couple of pages, but if you can get past the overly-long and dull intro, the main story is decent.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Report of the Imperial Commission on the Disaster at Ionith</i>, by Lord Pottreid, Chairman.<br /><br />Okay, I know this title begins with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">R</i>, but it appears in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">D</i> section of the Dovahkiin Gutenberg, presumably filed on the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Disaster</i>. I'm going to review it now because I absolutely do not want to reread it once I reach the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">R</i>s. This report possesses the dreaded combination of long plus boring. I fell asleep multiple times, and I was well-rested and alert when I started reading. My pervasive thought was, "How many pages are left? Will this ever end?" The historical events described should have been interesting, but this was written in the dryest, most overblown style possible.<br /><br />One star.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Doors of Oblivion</i>, by Seif-ij Hidja.<br /><br />Of course, my strongest in-game impression of this book came from finding a skeleton that would yield a copy of this book with every single search. I kept clicking on the skeleton until I had enough copies of the book to reach my encumbrance limit, and then hauled them off to town to sell.<br /><br />Lucrative glitch aside, this book is actually quite interesting. In fact, it's probably the most interesting textbook about Daedra that I've read yet. An apprentice remained in this plane of existence while his master traveled into Oblivion. The two maintained psychic contact, and the apprentice transcribed the master's running commentary on his exploration of the Daedric lands. It's rather long, but well worth the read.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Dragon Break Reexamined</i>, by Fal Droon.<br /><br />This is an interesting exploration of how the use of different calendars with different methods of measuring years can result in distortions of the historical record. This is a very short piece, and rather like an article from an academic journal.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Dragon Language: Myth No More</i>, by Hela Thrice-Versed.<br /><br />This book more than makes up for its scattering of typos by presenting passages of the dragon's language in its original form (marks similar to cuneiform), romanizing them, and then translating them into English (or whatever Tamrielian language that English is supposed to represent). The inscriptions are taken from word walls, and this book goes a long way toward explaining what the walls are and why they exist, which makes them truly meaningful, instead of just places to go to pick up new shouts. That alone makes this book a must-read. The Dovahkiin Gutenberg does not show the dragon language, so to see it, you will need to find an in-game copy of the book or look at the <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_Language%3a_Myth_no_More">Elder Scrolls Wiki</a>.<br /><br />Four and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Dragon War</i>, by Torhal Bjorik.<br /><br />This book talks about ancient history, back in Ysgramor's day, telling of how the dragons ruled "as god-kings over men," and of how men rebelled against the dragons and their priests. This text provides only the most cursory overview of the war, and that chapter of history probably deserved a longer and more detailed treatment. Even so, this was an interesting little book.<br /><br />Three and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />A Dream of Sovngarde</i>, by Skardan Free-Winter.<br /><br />Written by a Nord warrior on the eve of one of the most significant battles of the Great War, this text describes a vision of the afterlife sought by Nord warriors who die with honor in battle. Skardan dreamed himself in the company of great Nord heroes, and he sought council from Ysgramor himself. Upon waking, he related his dream to the other Nords, raising their morale and whipping them into a battle-frenzy as they rushed toward their deaths.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Dreamstride</i>, the Mysterious Alchemists of Vaermina.<br /><br />This book is cool simply for being the largest and most impressive book I've yet seen in the game, and for having awesome cover art. This is definitely one to leave lying on or near your alchemy bench, to serve as home decor.<br /><br />The content of this book serves simply to explain how the potion Vaermina's Torpor works, just before you have to use that potion as part of the Waking Nightmare quest. Treat this book as an instruction manual if you are doing that quest.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Dunmer of Skyrim</i>, by Athal Sarys.<br /><br />The Dunmer author apparently read a travelogue written by Nords and thought that Skyrim would be a nice place to live. After emigrating from Morrowind, he discovered that the Nords were not at all hospitable toward his people. A victim of racism, he responded with a virulently racist screed of his own, proclaiming that the Dunmer ("higher beings") will eventually rise up and slaughter all Nords ("white-skinned, jaundice-haired apes"). He doesn't come across as threatening so much as angry and impotent. All he's doing by publishing this is reinforcing the bad opinion many Nords have of Dunmer.<br /><br />Two stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Dwarves: The Lost Race of Tamriel</i>, by Calcelmo, Scholar of Markarth.<br /><br />This three-volume set uses a lot of words to say that little is known about the Dwemer, and to obliquely attempt to discredit all other Dwemer scholarship. Calcelmo, a character you can interact with in the game, is just as condescending, arrogant, and pompous in print as in conversation. In that aspect, these books are very successful in fleshing out Calcelmo's character. But don't expect them to tell you anything especially useful about the Dwemer, despite Calcelmo's self-reported expertice.<br /><br />Two and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Dwemer History and Culture: A Scholar's Review of the Dwemer Essays Written by Marobar Sul</i>, by Hasphat Antabolis.<br /><br />(Alternate title from the Dovahkiin Gutenberg: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Collected Essays on Dwemer History and Culture, Chapter 1: Marobar Sul and the Trivialization of the Dwemer in Popular Culture</i>.)<br /><br />This text is so similar in tone, style, and content to the uncredited publisher's notes at the end of each volume of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient Tales of the Dwemer</i> that at first I thought it was merely a compilation of those notes, but upon comparing them, I can verify that the text is actually different. It is probably safe to assume that Hasphat Antabolis is the author of the publisher's notes in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient Tales</i>. If you are hardcore into the Dwemer, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Dwemer History and Culture</i> is a must read. If you're ambivalent toward Dwemer history, you can probably skip this book.<br /><br />Despite the "Chapter 1" label, there appears to be only one volume of this series.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Dwemer Inquiries: Their Architecture and Civilization</i>, by Thelwe Ghelein, Scholar.<br /><br />Now this is the three-volume set to read if you actually do want to learn something about the Dwemer. Even if the author strays into speculation on occasion, this text demonstrates more real scholarly inquiry than Calcelmo's work. It's quite interesting, and it's written in an engaging style. Beware if you're reading from the Dovahkiin Gutenberg as I mostly do--the second and third volumes are missing part of the text. Read this particular series in-game or on one of the wikis.<br /><br />Three and a half stars.<br /><br />--<br /><br />Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.<br /><br />Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>.<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-51697791865177029602012-04-19T09:38:00.002-05:002012-04-19T09:45:39.229-05:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with C<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Cabin in the Woods, Volume II</i>, as told by Mogen Son of Molag<br /><br />Despite the title, there is no Volume I to be found in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>. This had the potential to be an excellent ghost story. Instead, passive writing, awkward sentences, punctuation errors, and a derth of description make this tale fall flat.<br /><br />Two stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Cake and the Diamond</i>, by Athyn Muendil<br /><br />This story is told in first person, and does an excellent job of staying in the point-of-view character's head. He is part of a group of thieves in possession of a magnificent diamond. An old alchemist offers to trade them some invisibility potions, in the form of cakes, in exchange for some small fragments of the diamond. They agree to her proposition in order to get the potions, never intending to part with the gem. But she has a scheme of her own. This tale was delightful in every way.<br /><br />Four and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Cats of Skyrim</i>, a report by Aldetuile<br /><br />I love cats, but this is just about the most useless book I've encountered thus far. This book could have been an opportunity for the game developers to provide a little supplemental information about sabrecats, perhaps something about their territorial behavior, mating habits, or even the average number of cubs in a litter. Instead, this report tells absolutely nothing that wouldn't be obvious from your first encounter with one. And as sabrecats are more common in Skyrim than copies of this book, it is a safe bet that the player will have killed dozens of them before reading the book.<br /><br />One star.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Chance's Folly</i>, by Zylmoc Golge<br /><br />Ah, now here's a worthy story, both intriguing and clever. A thief known as Chance recruits a madman to be her muscle on a particularly risky tomb raid. But as they progress, some of the madman's nonsensical ramblings begin to seem prophetic. Does he know things he shouldn't? Or is it just a coincidence? A wealth of subtle details enrich the texture of this short tale.<br /><br />Five stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Charwich-Koniinge Letters.</i><br /><br />This four-volume set represents an exchange between two men who are seeking Azura's Star in different locations. Overall, the writing style is quite good, however there are a few glaring errors, such as improperly conjugated verbs, incorrect words, and one sentence so broken as to be incomprehensible. (Note: I am not referring to the part of the story where the quality of writing deteriorates for a plot-related reason, but to other areas of the story where such errors are glaring because they contrast so strongly with the otherwise good writing.)<br /><br />In spite of these few technical errors, the tale is actually quite good. It is another one that you should read as a single story. Don't read the volumes out of order, or you'll miss out on the delightful switchbacks in the plot. For the first part of the first volume, I felt like I was reading a bad horror story, the kind where you yell at the characters. "Don't go to the cemetery at night! Listen to the townspeople's warnings!" But the story quickly departed from genre stereotypes, and turned into something quite wonderful. I won't say any more, because I do not wish to ruin the surprise.<br /><br />Four stars. (Yes, even with the technical errors.)<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Charrus Pie: A Recipe</i><br /><br />This book was written by a character you'll likely meet in the game--Nils, the guy who chops firewood for the inn in Windhelm. The writing captures his voice and personality perfectly. The text contains not just a simple recipe, but also tips for hunting charrus, glimpses of Nils' life, and a few disparaging comments about Imperials and Bretons. It's not especially helpful in terms of advice you can actually use in the game, and it certainly doesn't tell anything resembling a story, but it made me laugh several times during it's few short pages. A delightful little book that would make a nice addition to the kitchen area of any of the houses in the game.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Children of the Sky</i><br /><br />This is a brief overview of the legends and mythology of the Nords, told by someone who is clearly not a Nord. Some of it seems to match up to Nord beliefs as revealed through character interactions in the game, but other parts seem to be out of left field. (I certainly haven't encountered a rope woven from the severed tongues of enemies anywhere in the game so far.) Perhaps these things were true at some point in history, or perhaps they are misunderstandings recorded by someone who hear things second- or third-hand. It kind of reads like an outdated encyclopedia entry about a third-world country.<br /><br />Two and a half stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />A Children's Anuad: The Anuad Paraphrased</i><br /><br />This is the origin story for the world of Nirn. The myth is reasonably interesting, but not dynamic in the telling. The weak, flat writing render the tale unmemorable. Read it if you want to know how Mer and Men came to be, but it's not as enthralling as it ought to have been.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Chronicles of the Holy Brothers of Marukh, Volume IV, or, The Cleansing of the Fane</i><br /><br />This is presented as the only surviving fragment of an ancient tale, so although it is labeled volume four, there are no other volumes to find. It is very brief, providing only the most cursory overview of what could have been a very exciting story about an infestation of devils upon the land. Except for the appropriately archaic language, it reads like a tenth-page newspaper article.<br /><br />Two stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Chronicles of Nchuleft</i><br /><br />This history piece on the Dwemer describes some rivalries and plots among and against several Dwemer nobles. It lacks the cultural context that could have made it comprehensible. Whenever Bluthanch became angry at the other nobles, I couldn't quite understand why she was upset. They had a meeting and didn't invite her? Why is this considered treason? More information is needed to make the story meaningful. As it was, I found it confusing.<br /><br />Two stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The City of Stone: A Sellsword's Guide to Markarth</i>, by Amanda Alleia, Mercenary<br /><br />The title pretty well says it all. A world-weary, sarcastic mercenary explains a few basic rules for navigating Markarth, both in the literal sense of navigating the steep cliffs and in the figurative sense of knowing who to talk to (that is, those who might offer employment) and who not to talk to (that is, whoever will cause you trouble with no reward). There really isn't much advice that the player couldn't easily figure out independently, but it's a reasonably fun read. However, the use of honorific "Ms." in a pseudo-medieval fantasy setting seems terribly anachronistic and out of place to me, particularly given that term's 20th-century origins.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Code of Malacath: A Sellsword's Guide to the Orc Strongholds</i>, by Amanda Alleia, Mercenary<br /><br />"Ms. Alleia," as she calls herself, turns her attention to Orcs, explaining the code they live by, and how strict adherence to the code makes Orcs from strongholds different from "city Orcs." She doesn't really describe the strongholds themselves in any particular detail, and she implies that she's never actually been inside one, instead having gained all of her information from listening to drunk Orcs rant. Again, it's nonessential reading, imparting nothing the player wouldn't learn on their own, but Alleia's voice is entertaining.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes</i>, by Mankar Camoran<br /><br />I presume this four-volume set is meant to be an aid to a quest that I have not yet encountered in the game, as the text speaks of four keys to be found. I can't speak to the usefulness of the text to the quest, but it's not the most enjoyable read. The text contains the semi-coherent ravings of a cult leader. After a few pages, all I saw was "blah, blah, blah," with the occasional bit of implied incest or cannibalism rousing me to disgust. If you like listening to madmen and zealots rant in public spaces, you'll love these books. The author refers to a source book called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Mysterium Xarxes</i>, but I don't think it can be found in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>.<br /><br />Two stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Complete Catalogue of Enchantments for Armor</i>, by Yvonne Bienne, Synod researcher<br /><br />And<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />Complete Catalogue of Enchantments for Weaponry</i>, by Yvonne Bienne, Synod researcher<br /><br />I'm reviewing these two together because there is really little to distinguish them. Open these books to collect you skill points in the game, but there's really no good reason to actually read them. The text is bland and uninspired, and pocked with a few grammatical errors. They provide no information beyond what you can learn by experience in the game.<br /><br />One star.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />A Concise Account of the Great War Between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion</i>, by Legate Justianus Quintus<br /><br />It's very textbookish, but more enjoyable than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A Brief History of the Empire</i>. Perhaps that's because it deals with more recent historical events, namely the war that ended with the White-Gold Concordat, which in turn caused the civil war that features in the main plotline of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>. The player encounters many characters who fought in the war described in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A Concise Account</i>, and so perhaps for that reason, the information it imparts seems directly relevant to the choices the player makes. The writing is respectably decent, if a bit dry. I was especially pleased to learn about the Redguard and Khajiit roles in the war. I had previously thought both groups were disinterested outsiders as far as the conflict between the Stormcloaks and the Empire went, but now I understand how they fit into the political structure of the gameworld. This book enriched the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i> experience for me.<br /><br />Three and a half stars.<br /><br />--<br /><br />Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.<br /><br />Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>.<a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/"></a><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-28248137505018514732012-03-20T21:27:00.002-05:002012-03-20T21:45:29.827-05:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Ancient Tales of the Dwemer<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">It has come to my attention that I missed the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient Tales of the Dwemer</i> when I reviewed the titles beginning with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A</i>. For some reason, in the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a> they are listed under <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">T</i> for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Tales</i> instead of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A</i> for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient</i>. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">There are seven volumes of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Ancient Tales of the Dwemer</i> that you can find in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>, although gaps in the numbering imply that more exist. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Although they differ widely in storytelling style and quality of writing, one thing they all have in common is that they are purported to have been recorded by Marobar Sul, and each of them includes a publisher's note analyzing Marobar Sul's scholarship, or rather lack thereof, and whether or not the tale presented was actually Dwemer in origin. The majority of them are determined to have been from other cultures, and that Marobar Sul slapped some Dwemer-sounding names on the characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This scholarly analysis of each text makes the set so much more interesting than each volume might have been individually. If you read all seven books together, the unnamed editor's seven notes together tell their own kind of story about Marobar Sul's shenanigans. Because these publisher's notes provide a unifying thread for these seven otherwise loosely-related books, the set as a whole merits it's own rating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Four stars for the "complete" set (seven volumes, numbered 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, and 10). Ratings for individual volumes follow. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">-- </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part I: The Ransom of Zarek</i>, by Marobar Sul </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is an interesting tale told indirectly, as a son relates his escape to his mother. Of course, there can be no suspense in a story told this way, because the reader already knows the son is home safe. However, curiosity about how he managed to get away from his captors keeps the reader's interest. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The jarring use of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">thy</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">thou</i> as one might see in formal, archaic language, when the rest of the dialogue was modern and somewhat variable in formality, grated on my nerves. However, the boy's method of escape was reasonably clever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Two and a half stars. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">-- </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part II</i>, by Marobar Sul </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is the only book in the set that lacks a unique title. If I were to give it one, it might be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Woodsman and the Hist</i>, or perhaps, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Argonan's Revenge</i>. The publisher's note refers to the source tale as "The Seed." Despite its inclusion in the Dwemer series, this story prominently features Argonian lore and culture. An old Argonian woman wins the friendship of a young Dwemer (probably actually Dunmer) girl, and gives her a seed to plant. The story is engaging and well-written. It flows smoothly and reaches a satisfying conclusion, which I shan't spoil for you. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Four and a half stars. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">-- </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part III: The Importance of Where</i>, by Marobar Sul </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">While each of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient Tales</i> is told in a distinctive voice, this one has perhaps the most unique flavor. It is the tale of a warrior who must contend with a priest and a healer who attempt to steal the credit for his deeds. The writing has a particular cadence, which makes it seem very much like an ancient epic handed down through an oral tradition, and the story is clever, involving a delightful play on words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Five stars. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">-- </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman;"><br /></span></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part V: The Song of the Alchemists</i>, by Marobar Sul </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This story is told in a painful, sing-song rhyme. The meter is inconsistent, and many of the rhymes are contorted. The tale is of a contest between two alchemists to brew an invisibility potion, and the conclusion did not strike me as nearly so clever as it tried to present itself. The saving grace is the publisher's commentary, which slams the poem hard. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Two and a half stars. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">-- </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part VI: Chimarvamidium</i>, by Marobar Sul </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is the first of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancient Tales</i> that might actually represent Dwemer culture accurately. It also prominently features the Chimer, who were the ancestors of the Dunmer. The plot is a variation on the story of the Trojan Horse, and thus familiar and predictable. The writer was inconsistent with tenses, a clumsy error that could have been fixed with better proofreading. Nonetheless, this was overall an enjoyable story. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Three stars. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">-- </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman;"><br /></span><i style="font-family: times new roman;">Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part IX: Azura and the Box</i><span style="font-family: times new roman;">, by Marobar Sul</span><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Another actual Dwemer tale, this one also featuring a Chimer and a Daedra. This is a tale of how a mortal tricked a goddess, with consequences implied but unshown. It presents science and skepticism in opposition to faith. The writing is decent, but unmemorable. This is another story made better by the publisher's commentary at the end, where the Dunmer and Aldmeri versions of the story.</span><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Three stars.</span><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">--</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman;"><br /><br /></span><i style="font-family: times new roman;">Ancient Tales of the Dwemer, Part X: The Dowry</i><span style="font-family: times new roman;">, by Marobar Sul</span><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This is the story of a wealthy father who establishes stringent conditions to be met by any suitors who might pursue his daughter, and the clever suitor who bests those challenges through trickery. The writing is solid, if unremarkable. It's not the most original story, but it is an enjoyable read. </span><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"></span><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Three stars. </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">--</span><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite </span><i style="font-family: times new roman;">Skyrim</i><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.</span><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><br style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Read these books within the game </span><i style="font-family: times new roman;">Skyrim</i><span style="font-family: times new roman;">, on </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> or on the </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">, or download the </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">. </span></span>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-52608851774337826322012-03-18T16:56:00.002-05:002012-03-18T17:09:55.599-05:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with B<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><p class="MsoNormal">Well, my PlayStation 3 has succumbed to the infamous Yellow Light of Death. Dead, dead, deadsky. My <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i> disc is trapped inside, so I will have to disassemble the machine to rescue my disc. (Before you say, "but that will void the warranty," I'll just mention that I bought the PS3 used and so I have no warranty.) My save files are, of course, toast. Nothing survives the YLOD. Rest in peace, Sekhmet the Khajiit Warrior Librarian, Level 51, and Wemi the Dwemer-Obsessed Argonian Mage, Level 32. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For now, reading the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a> on my Nook will have to satisfy my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i> cravings.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On to the latest batch of reviews . . .</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Battle of Red Mountain and the Rise and Fall of the Tribunal</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is an interesting history of how the Chimer became the Dunmer, and how the Dwemer came to vanish from the face of Nirn. It is presented a transcript of a historic speech by Vivec (a familiar name in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>, and one of the main characters of the 2920 series), with commentary added by an unknown scribe. It provides a fair amount of worthwhile backstory in a decently readable package. It's not one I'd go back to re-read often, but it's worthwhile.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Three stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Battle of Sancre Tor</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is a brief account of one of the great victories of Talos, aka Tiber Septim. It reads like a textbook, albeit a decently well-written one. It's the kind of story that would have done nicely if expanded into a multi-volume epic like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Real Barenziah</i>, but as it is, it's not the most dynamic telling. It's enjoyable enough, though, even as is.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Three stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Bear of Markath: The Crimes of Ulfric Stormcloak</i>, by Arrianus Arius, Imperial Scholar</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The title and author's affiliation make the bias of this text readily apparent. The primary aim is to cast a shadow over anything positive the reader may have heard about Ulfric Stormcloak, and generally to make the Forsworn seem like they weren't really all that bad. The secondary aim is a sort of apology, presumably directed at the Aldmeri Dominion and their allies, for the Empire having granted Ulfric's people permission to worship Talos, in violation of the treaty between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion. In the end, this book comes across as a "CYA" move on behalf of the Empire.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Two and a half stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Beggar Prince: The Story of Wheedle and his Gifts from the Daedric Lord Namira</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Ah, here's the kind of story that reminds me of why I'm reading all of these <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i> books. It is the kind of tale that should be told around a roaring campfire or in an alehouse. It is a cautionary tale against making deals with demons--er, Daedra. It is also the story of how a blessing can turn out to be a curse, and a curse can turn out to be a blessing. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Four and a half stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of Barenziah</i>, see <a href="http://randomstuffandwhatnot.blogspot.com/2012/02/skyrim-book-reviews-barenziah.html">here</a>.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of the Wolf Queen</i>, see <a href="http://randomstuffandwhatnot.blogspot.com/2012/03/skyrim-book-reviews-wolf-queen.html">here</a>.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Black Arrow</i>, by Gorgic Guine</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This two-volume set is a delight, a lovely tale of cruelty rewarded with rogue justice, with a little mystery on the side and an ending satisfying both in terms of content and storytelling technique. My only quibble is a reference to "a single black bolt of ebony," meaning the arrow for which the story is titled. Bows shoot arrows. Crossbows shoot bolts. Since the weapon in question was not a crossbow, referring to the missile as a bolt is an error. But that's a minor flaw in an otherwise highly engaging story. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Four and a half stars. Would have been five if it had said "shaft of ebony" instead of "bolt."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Black Arts On Trial</i>, by Hannibal Traven, Archmagister of the Arcane University, Imperial City</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Another veiled critique of academia, in the vein of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy</i>. This is a well-handled debate over the merits versus the impropriety of the study of necromancy. The arguments and counter-arguments swing back and forth very smoothly, making this an enjoyable and interesting read.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Four stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Black Star: An Achievement of Magic over Daedra</i>, by Malyn Varen, Master Enchanter</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I have little to say about this short text, as it is merely an informational supplement to one of the game's quests. If you're doing The Black Star quest, you'll want to read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Black Star</i> book. If not, probably not. It doesn't really have a story; it's the journal of a coherent, articulate madman.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Two stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Boethiah's Glory</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I'm not certain, but at 88 words this might be the shortest book in the game. Those 88 words are creepy in the extreme. This is one of the few books I've come across in the game that has a unique picture on the cover, and so it looks great laying on a table in your in-game house. It's worth acquiring just for that, even if you have no intention of doing the Bothiah's Calling quest.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Three and a half stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Book of Daedra</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If, like me, you have trouble keeping all those pesky Daedric Princes straight, this is the book for you. It's like a Who's Who list, or perhaps a field guide. Either way, it's a handy reference tome to have around.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Four stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Book of the Dragonborn</i>, by Prior Emelene Madrine, Order of Talos, Weynon Priory</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">You find this book during the opening sequence of the game, in the torturer's room. Pick it up and hang on to it until your character can afford to buy a house, because with the unique cover, this book makes a cool decoration.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">As for the content of the book, it's informative and provides a lot of useful background information on the gameworld, and what it means for your player-character to be dragonborn. The prophecy at the end is interesting, and I am certain that it will be important to the plot by the end of the game. (I don't know, because I never finished the game. I enjoyed tromping all over Skyrim, exploring caves and keeps, and scrupulously avoiding anything that might trigger the progression of the main plotline. Whenever I get a new PS3, I'll be starting over with a new character, so I expect it will be a long, long time before I see the end of the game.) It seems to me that this book serves a useful function in the game, but doesn't stand alone outside of the context of the game. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Three stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bravil: Daughter of the Niben</i>, by Sathyr Longleat</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is a narrative of the history of the town of Bravil, a particular statue there, and the woman who became the town's legendary Lucky Old Lady. It's the kind of thing one might read in a travel guide. It's actually quite interesting and well written. Not essential reading, but worthwhile and enjoyable.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Three and a half stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Breathing Water</i>, by Haliel Myrm</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is a great story horribly marred by one recurring error, and that is the frequent and consistent use of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">breath</i> as a verb. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Breath</i> is a noun. The verb is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">breathe</i>. One may <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">breathe</i> and one may <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">take a breath</i>. Every time I ran across the phrase "to breath water" I wanted to take a red pen to my screen (which of course would have damaged the screen horribly).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you can get past that error, the tale told is actually quite good. It is engaging and clever, with a nice zinger at the end. I do recommend reading it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />Three stars. (Would have been four if someone had simply corrected <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">breath</i> to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">breathe</i>.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A Brief History of the Empire</i>, by Stronach k'Thojj III, Imperial Historian</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This four-volume set is as advertized, a history textbook about the Empire from its founding by Tiber Septim until the reign of Uriel Septim VII. That means it is a few centuries out of date, as far as the current events in Skyrim are concerned. If you are interested in the history of the gameworld, do read this text. It's your best one-stop-shopping place for all of the Pelagiuses, Uriels, and other Imperial rulers. If you're having trouble keeping them straight, and if you care enough to want to, this is your essential text.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">That said, it is written like a textbook. It is well edited and coherent, but deathly boring. Although it covers several exciting historical events, it does so in that history-textbook way of glossing over the interesting stuff in favor of bombarding the reader with names and dates. I'm sure that's exactly what the author (the real author, not Stronach k'Thojj III) intended: to create the textbook that schoolchildren all over the Empire would be forced to read and despise.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Two and a half stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Brothers of Darkness</i>, by Pellarne Assi</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This brief history text provides a little background on the Dark Brotherhood's ascent (or descent, if you prefer) from obscure cult to untouchable assassins guild. There's really not much to say about this book. It's decently written, but not especially exciting. If you're playing an assassin, you might find it interesting. If you're not, you might not. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Two and a half stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Buying Game</i>, by Ababael Timsar-Dadisun</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is general advice on buying, selling, and negotiating prices, much of which can't actually be used in gameplay because trade happens automatically based on your speech skill. However, it is very interesting, and it highlights some of the cultural differences between the races in Skyrim. It's a short book, but worth reading.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Three stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">--</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>. </p>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-74112836354709983622012-03-03T19:27:00.002-06:002012-03-03T19:31:24.366-06:00Skyrim Book Reviews: The Wolf Queen<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style>As with the books about Barenziah, I decided that it would be best to treat the two Wolf Queen titles together.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Wolf Queen</i>, by Waughin Jarth<br /><br />This eight-volume set tells an engaging and interesting story about a woman who is unredeemably evil. It reads like historical fiction, because it occasionally contains speculation about events that there wouldn't have been any survivors to record. It has a well-plotted story cycle, with an ending that links back to the beginning. A few scattered typos and misused words detract from otherwise fine writing.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<br /><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of the Wolf Queen</i>, by Katar Eriphanes<br /><br />I wish all of the good things I said about the multi-volume set <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Wolf Queen</i> could be set about the single volume <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of The Wolf Queen</i>, but alas, this book is dreadful. It is presented as a historical account (that is, lacking dialogue or other traits typical of fiction), however much of the text is lifted verbatim from narrative passages of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Wolf Queen</i>. This wouldn't be a problem, except that they abridged the story too much, compressing things to the point at which they made no sense.<br /><br />For example, in one paragraph, Uriel is born. The next paragraph begins, "Two years later, Pelagius II died . . ." The following paragraph begins, "Mantiarco King of Solitude, died the springtide after Pelagius II. Uriel ascended to the throne, ruling jointly with his mother. Doubtless, Uriel had the right and would have preferred to rule alone . . ."<br /><br />I read those paragraphs over and over again, to see if I missed any indications of the passage of time. As it stands, the text implies that a three-year-old child "would have preferred to rule alone." That's sloppy writing, or at least sloppy editing. It's all the worse because it would have been so very easy to fix, simply by adding a phrase such as, "Once he reached the age of majority . . ."<br /><br />Throughout the whole <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of the Wolf Queen</i>, I<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>had a great deal of trouble identifying how much time passed between events. That meant I spent far too much time asking, "Huh?" and flipping back to previous pages.<br /><br />Skip this book. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of the Wolf Queen</i> doesn't contain one single piece of information not included in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Wolf Queen</i>. It is completely and absolutely worthless.<br /><br />Zero stars. Yeah, that's right. Zero.<br /><br />--<br /><br />Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.<br /><br />Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>. <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-50707153014126845702012-02-28T19:11:00.002-06:002012-02-28T19:19:17.639-06:00Skyrim Book Reviews: Barenziah<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal">Working my way through the <span style="font-style: italic;">B</span>s, after I finished <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of Barenziah</i>, I felt a great compulsion to immediately read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Real Barenziah</i>. Since I didn't want to drop an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">R</i> title into the middle of my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">B</i> list, and I didn't want to wait until I reached the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">R</i>s to talk about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Real Barenziah</i>, I decided to pull these two out and treat them together. I'll probably do the same for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of the Wolf Queen</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Wolf Queen</i>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of Barenziah</i>, by Stern Gamboge, Imperial Scribe. (Three volumes.)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sniff, sniff. What's that smell? It reeks of propaganda. There are two multi-volume sets about the life of Barenziah, and this is the terrible one. It's kind of worth reading as a companion to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Real Barenziah</i>, but on its own . . . it's a little bit awful.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Real Barenziah</i>, by Anonymous. (Five volumes.)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unless "Anonymous" is intended to be Barenziah herself, this can't be considered a historical account, but rather historical fiction. There are too many details that only Barenziah herself could have known. (Yes, I know she wasn't a real person. Stay in character here, okay?) That said, the story is very good.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After reading about the "innocent" and "chaste" Barenziah in<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Biography of Barenziah</i>, I expected <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Real Barenziah</i> to present the opposite extreme. I anticipated a tale of a wicked, evil woman. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find her here depicted as a well-rounded character who did some bad things and who also did some good things. She was a thief and a queen and so many other things, and she had to figure out for herself who she really was. Her feelings and deeds were complex, and I found myself liking the character. I have a few quibbles with typos, misused words, and inconsistencies in the spelling of Riften/Rifton (I don't care which, but each author should pick one and be consistent), but overall I can overlook such small flaws in the face of a well-told story.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br /></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of Barenziah</i>, as a companion to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Real Barenziah</i>: two and a half stars<span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Biography of Barenziah</i>, alone: One star.<i style=""><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Real Barenziah</i>, with or without the other set: Four stars.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29"></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>or on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>. </p>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-5664284815006027542012-02-16T18:35:00.004-06:002012-03-03T19:54:17.457-06:00Skyrim Book Reviews, Titles Beginning with A<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><span style="font-size:100%;">Read these books within the game <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>, on <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a>, on the <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a>, or download the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a>.<br /><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">An Accounting of the Elder Scrolls</i>, by Quintus Nerevelus, Former Imperial Librarian.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Since Skyrim is the first Elder Scrolls game I've played, I really wasn't familiar with the lore surrounding the titular Elder Scrolls. This was my introduction to the Elder Scrolls and the Moth Priests, as told by a librarian who sought to catalog these artifacts of arcane wisdom.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Of course, considering that I have worked as a cataloger for well over a decade and am presently working toward a Master's degree in library science, I am predisposed to favor a story that features a cataloging librarian. But even setting aside my bias, I do think this is an excellent story. It is tight, well-written, well-paced, and interesting. The narrator's voice is consistent and strong, and the story has a nice, if not completely surprising, twist at the end.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Four stars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Ababal-a</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I believe it is meant to emulate the great epic tales of history, such as Beowulf, however the writing is convoluted and disjointed. Interesting ideas are presented in fragments that flit by with no connection to one another.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Two stars and a half stars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Advances in Lock Picking</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The author admits up front that he is not a good writer, and he is right. However, despite the purposely terrible writing, there was one piece of information worth opening this book for, beyond the skill point you earn for reading it: holding a torch near the lock makes it easier to pick. I have no idea if this is true in real life, and I can't imagine why it would be, but it has helped my lockpicking in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Two stars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ahzirr Trajijazaeri</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A Khajiit explains the Khajiit mindset and customs to outsiders who are allies in their struggle against the Imperial oppressors. I felt more like I was listening to an oratory than reading a text. The narrator's voice is perfect, and I can envision him speaking these words with sweeping gestures of his hands and sly flicks of his ears and tail. If this were our modern world, I can imagine this Khajiit on stage, perhaps with a witty and clever PowerPoint presentation displayed on a screen behind him. Perhaps I'm just partial to Khajiit, but I found this book absolutely delightful in every way.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Five stars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy</i>, by Alexandre Simon, High Priest of the Akatosh Chantry, Wayrest, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Alduin is Real, and He Ent Akatosh</i>, by Thromgar Iron-Head, prowd Nord</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Although these are two separate books and you will likely find them in separate places around <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>, they should be taken as a set. When I first found <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Alduin is Real</i>, I was put off by the painfully bad spelling and grammar, and I almost dismissed it as a junk book. But reading it back to back with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy</i>, I formed a very different opinion.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy</i>, the pompous priest Alexandre Simon has a theory about the Great Dragon Akatosh being known by different names in different regions, and he insists that the Nord stories of the great dragon Alduin are just corruptions of the Akatosh myth, and he dismisses any evidence to the contrary. In fine academic writing, he builds his case and dismisses contrary opinions from "the primitive peoples of Skyrim."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Alduin is Real</i> is clearly intended to be a rebuttal of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Alduin/Akatosh Dichotomy</i>, and the barely-literate "prowd Nord" makes his case with a treatise that a third-grade teacher would bleed five red pens dry correcting. Of course, the real author is an anonymous employee of Bethesda, who did a rather impressive job of creating the voice of Thromgar Iron-Head, despite a few occasional lapses into almost-correct standard English. The "prowd Nord" makes his case rather convincingly, actually, and I am inclined to believe his interpretation of Alduin over the analysis made by the priest from Wayrest.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Taken together, these two books present a very interesting commentary on cultural hegemony, local wisdom, and academia versus common sense.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Taken individually, neither of these books would have earned above three stars, but together, as perfect point and counterpoint, I give them five stars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Amongst the Draugr</i>, by Bernadette Bantien, College of Winterhold</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Oh, those crazy mages. Who else would think to live in a crypt to study the undead? Her observations on draugrs are actually very interesting, and they serve to elevate the draugr above the average video game zombies. And her explanation of the connection between the rank-and-file draugr and the dead priest in the central tomb is positively chilling.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Four and a half stars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Amulet of Kings</i>, by Wenengrus Monhona</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is full of good historical information for the world of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>, but it's a little dry. I really don't have much say about it. I can't decide if it's interesting in a boring way, or boring in an interesting way.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Three stars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ancestors and the Dunmer</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This provides a very interesting description of how the Dunmer once treated the bodies of their dead, with a particular focus on the Ghost Fence, which was made from the bones of their ancestors to anchor the ghosts to this world, so that the ghosts might protect the living. I didn't find this as creepy as some readers might, because I've seen with my own eyes the <a href="http://www.sedlecossuary.com/">Ossuary at Sedlec</a> in the homeland of my ancestors, and I felt it to be a holy and wonderous place. So building structures of human bones (or in the case of the Dunmer of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>, elven bones) doesn't really creep me out. I thought it was a neat custom, and it made the Dunmer seem much more interesting to me. This probably isn't required reading, but I thought it enriched the game world greatly.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Four stars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Apprentice's Assistant: Advice from Valenwood's Most Prestitious Spellcaster</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The pompous narrator reminds me a lot of Guilderoy Lockhart from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Harry Potter</i> books. Next comparison: The Great and Powerful Trixie, from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic</i>. In short, Aramril, the narrator, is incredibly annoying. She gives useful advice on spellcasting, but probably not anything that the average player wouldn't have figured out on their own.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Two and a half stars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Arcana Restored: A Handbook</i>, by Wapna Neustra, Praceptor Emeritus<br /></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Written in stilted, archaic language, this book repeatedly tells you that you must have it in hand, "so that thou might speak the necessary Words straightaway, and without error." The Words here being an incantation for restoring power to depleted magic artifacts with the Mana Fountain. The author also repeatedly lambasts the work of Kharneson and Rattor, who presumably are his rivals. I haven't learned who they are yet. Perhaps they are the authors of another book that I haven't encountered. In any case, the Words of which Wapna speaks are not actually present in this book.<br /><br />Three stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Arcturian Heresy</i>, by the Underking, Ysmir Kingmaker<br /><br />This book wanders back and forth between present and past tense, sometimes within the same paragraph, making it painful to read. It has a lot of plot, and the poorest possible execution of that plot. It's almost like the author wrote an outline of the book they wanted to write, then though, "eh, good enough," and didn't bother to actually write the book. It reads like an awful first draft that never went through any kind of editing process.<br /><br />Half a star, and I'm tempted to give it zero.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Argonian Account</i>, by Waughin Jarth<br /><br />This is a four-volume set, and from the title, I expected it to be dull. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the well-written story and excellent pacing. It was neither too long nor too short, but exactly the perfect length without a wasted sentence. The protagonist is a well-paid civil engineer who has somehow managed to get by without ever doing any actual work. His boss, thoroughly deceived into believing that this man is actually one of his best employees, gives him a challenging assignment, one that might force him to work after all. The engineer journeys to the Black Marsh, where he is to improve the roads and bridges in an environment that is exceedingly harsh and hostile. I won't say anything more, because I don't want to spoil the many delightful surprises this story has to offer. Get all four books and read them in order. This is possibly the best <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i> book I've read so far. Even people who don't play <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i> might enjoy this story.<br /><br />Five stars, solid.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Armorers' Challenge</i>, by Mymophonus<br /><br />This is an enjoyable, if rather predictable, tale about two blacksmiths competing for a military contract. One is famous, has a magnificent forge, and has access to the highest quality materials. The other has next to nothing in terms of facilities and materials, however, he has the advantage in knowledge and experience. There is nothing new in this little parable, but the writing style is clean, and it's a pleasing read.<br /><br />Four stars.<br /><br />--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /><br />The Art of War Magic</i>, by Zurin Arctus, with Commentary By Other Learned Masters<br /><br />The title fairly well sums it up. This is full of tactical advice for battlemages. How useful any of it is, I can't say. I found several pieces of advice to be contradictory. One passage recommends allowing your enemy to win before striking, while another suggests not engaging the enemy unless your own victory is secure. The anecdote about the Chimer sorcerer's ice demon was reasonably entertaining, though, and the book is worth reading just for that.<br /><br />Two and a half stars.<br /><br />--<br /><br />Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I panned your favorite <i>Skyrim</i> book, sorry. If I gave five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.</span>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-6147918758410590712012-02-11T14:39:00.002-06:002012-02-11T14:56:56.253-06:00Skyrim Book Reviews: 2920<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal">It's time to dust off this moldering, old blog and start posting again. Why? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>, of course. In my spare time, late in the evening after I finish my grad school homework, I like to play <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim </i>on my unpatched, offline PS3. People talk about how horrible and unplayable the unpatched <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i> is, but honestly, I haven't had any game-breaking problems yet. Sure, I've had crashes, poor refresh rates, and distracting lags, but it hasn't been nearly as bad as it was with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Fallout 3</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Fallout: New Vegas</i>, and I made it through both of those games.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But I'm not going to talk about the game, not really. No, I'm going to talk about the books. The world of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i> is enormous, diverse, and gorgeous. You have ten races to choose from for your character, five houses you can own, more than forty followers you can recruit, and about three different types of enemies. Okay, there are more enemy types than that, but sometimes it feels like all I ever get to fight are bandits and draugrs and bears, oh my! And the occasional random dragon. But my favorite part of the game world is the books. There are hundreds of them, all with unique content. Translated into real-world pages, most of these books are actually short stories. However, they provide quite a lot of backstory to enrich the game-world.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">My character, Sekhmet the Khajiit warrior-librarian, is filling her Breezehome house with books. Breezehome doesn't have a lot of bookshelves, but it's the only house she has, so she's also using end tables and other storage containers for books. She's established a distinct reference collection, along with separate serials, history, and fiction sections. (Yes, I'm a little OCD.) Sekhmet accumulates books in-game faster than I, in real life, can read them. (Sometimes, when you're running through a dungeon and you have to shut the game off soon, you just don't have time to read the six new tomes you found.) So imagine my delight when I discovered the <a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/">Dovahkiin Gutenberg</a><a href="http://capane.us/2011/11/24/dovahkiin-gutenberg/"></a>, where a kind bibliophile-gamer has compiled all of the books into a single, downloadable, 1064-page EPUB document, which I was able to load on my Nook. Now I can read the books of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim </i>on my breaks at work and while sitting in waiting rooms.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I'm reading these books, I'm finding some of them to be delightful, and other to be flat-out terrible. And so I have decided to launch a series of blog posts reviewing the books of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Skyrim</i>. I'm going to follow along with the order in which they are presented in the Dovahkiin Gutenberg, because it'll be easier for me to keep track of. You can also see the full text of these books at both <a href="http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Books_%28Skyrim%29">The Elder Scrolls Wiki</a> and <a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books">The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages</a><a href="http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Books"></a>. And, of course, you can find the books laying around all over <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>, to collect, read, sell, or decorate your character's home with. But if your reading time is limited, my goal with these reviews is to tell you, without spoilers, which books are worth spending your time on.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Note: I am not connected to Bethesda in any way, and no one asked me to do these reviews. I am doing this purely for my own fun, as time allows. I don't have an agenda, other than the joy of reading and writing. If I pan your favorite <span style="font-style: italic;">Skyrim</span> book, sorry. If I give five stars to one you thought was awful, also sorry. These are my opinions and mine alone. You're entitled to your own.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And so, finally, we come to my first review:</p> <br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920: The Last Year of the First Era</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is a massive twelve-volume set, and reading it represents no small time commitment. Don't try to read them out of order; the story is far too convoluted. If you're collecting them in the game, wait until you have all of the volumes to read them. (By all means, though, open them to collect your skill points, and then set them on a shelf for later.) The volumes, in order, are:</p> <br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, Morning Star, v1</i> (Boosts your One-Handed skill)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, Sun's Dawn, v2</i> (Boosts your Illusion skill)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, First Seed, v3</i> (No skill bonus)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, Rain's Hand, v4</i> (Boosts your Restoration skill)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, Second Seed, v5</i> (Boosts your Speech skill)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, MidYear, v6</i> (Boosts your Heavy Armor skill)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, Sun's Height, v7</i> (No skill bonus)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, Last Seed, v8</i> (Boosts your Sneak skill)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, Hearth Fire, v9</i> (Boosts your Conjuration skill)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, Frostfall, v10</i> (Boosts your Conjuration skill)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, Sun's Dusk, v11</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(No skill bonus)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">2920, Evening Star, v12</i> (No skill bonus)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Conveniently, the book titles in order also serve as a handy reference guide for the naming system for the twelve months of the year. (Unfortunately, they won't show up in order in your inventory or on your bookshelf--they sort alphabetically.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Within the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Skyrim</i>-verse, 2920 would be considered a historical novel. It took me a couple of volumes to really get into it, because there are so many characters that it was hard to keep track of them all. But the series is long enough to eventually make good use of all of those characters. If anything, I wish it were longer. Not that I wish for more story, but that I wish that the story that is present were told in much greater detail. Given the detailed plot, 64 pages really isn't enough to flesh it out properly, and so it felt cursory and abrupt. It also could have used some editing, as there were a few distracting typos and wrong words used in place of a homonym. But overall, this series is worth reading, just for the twisting intrigue and political backstabbing. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Three and a half stars.</p>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-25694725149319717032011-03-17T21:30:00.000-05:002011-03-17T21:32:46.075-05:00Achievement Unlocked: Fifth Novel, First Draft CompleteTonight I finally finished the novel I began during National Novel Writing Month. I wrote every single day, from the first of November through today, as a personal challenge. The first draft weighs in at 40 chapters and a staggering 120,234 words.<br /><br />This has been quite a learning experience. I do not think I will write another novel by these rules. My usual style involves taking breaks from writing while I think things through, and it often involves backing up a few chapters and restarting from wherever the plot derailed. I did not do that with this story. As part of my challenge, I had to move the story forward every time I wrote. I could not go back and tinker with earlier chapters. That meant no fixing of errors that I knew to be present. That meant continuing to the end of the story with several characters who I already knew would disappear completely in the rewrites.<br /><br />It has been a rough haul, especially since January 1, when one of my favorite aunts had a heart attack; she passed away four days later. My father, who has severe osteoporosis, fell on January 3 and shattered his hip. He is still unable to stand or walk a single step. So between my grief and worry, 2011 has provided me with a lot of dark days so far, and the year isn't even a quarter over. But I still wrote. I still made myself sit down at the computer and add to the story every day, even when it was the very last thing I wanted to do. On some of the worst days, I was lucky to produce two sentences. But still, I did it. I wrote a novel in four and a half months, instead of four and a half years. <br /><br />I can honestly say that the majority of what I have written since January 1 has been flat terrible. But, as one of my friends often says, "Get it writ, then get it right."<br /><br />And now, I have a complete first draft and, with the challenge officially over, the freedom to rip it apart and edit the living bejezzus out of it. The last half of the book might end up being entirely new. But that's all right. This should be the fun part.Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-64624434653725467882011-01-22T10:28:00.006-06:002011-01-22T10:48:35.784-06:00Fail All OverHere are a few fails I've spotted around Omaha over the last few years.<br /><br />1) In the Arts & Sciences Hall at UNO:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TTsGcBhpE5I/AAAAAAAAAuc/-j1u2AM_9oA/s1600/signage-fail-in-UNO-ASH.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TTsGcBhpE5I/AAAAAAAAAuc/-j1u2AM_9oA/s400/signage-fail-in-UNO-ASH.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565048843062023058" /></a><br />So, if you're looking for room 303, which way do you go?<br /><br />2) At the intersection of Farnam St. & and Turner Blvd.:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TTsGUYqliGI/AAAAAAAAAuU/aznY-h3eLFg/s1600/crossing-light-fail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TTsGUYqliGI/AAAAAAAAAuU/aznY-h3eLFg/s400/crossing-light-fail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565048711834601570" /></a><br />Walk? Don't walk? Hard to tell when there's a pole right in front of the crossing signal.<br /><br />3) In the Old Market:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TTsGw5YwioI/AAAAAAAAAu0/DBKxjoNmTlk/s1600/meter-fail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TTsGw5YwioI/AAAAAAAAAu0/DBKxjoNmTlk/s400/meter-fail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565049201654532738" /></a><br />Three hour parking . . . two hour maximum.<br /><br />4) At PetCo:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TTsGp6-QAXI/AAAAAAAAAus/X9Bib0NWruM/s1600/redundancy-fail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TTsGp6-QAXI/AAAAAAAAAus/X9Bib0NWruM/s400/redundancy-fail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565049081821135218" /></a><br />Brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department.<br /><br />5) At Borders:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TTsGgwZYMWI/AAAAAAAAAuk/mBHNxIMV3YA/s1600/leisure-reading-fail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TTsGgwZYMWI/AAAAAAAAAuk/mBHNxIMV3YA/s400/leisure-reading-fail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565048924363305314" /></a><br />I don't know about you, but test prep guides aren't exactly my idea of leisure reading.Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-74808272587407214272010-12-24T10:13:00.003-06:002010-12-24T10:22:30.341-06:00The Christmas DemonThis season, I've seen articles on Krampus on both <a href="http://waypastnormal.blogspot.com/2010/12/beware-krampus-christmas-demon.html">Way Past Normal</a> and on <a href="http://www.toplessrobot.com/2010/12/10_fun_facts_about_krampus_the_christmas_demon.php">Topless Robot</a>. Krampus, if you haven't heard of him, is the Christmas demon who accompanies St. Nicholas on his rounds, punishing the bad children with something far more horrific and traumatic than a mere lump of coal. Krampus, a folkloric figure in Austrian, Bavarian, and other alpine areas, seems to be enjoying an internet-driven surge in worldwide popularity lately.<br /><br />Lesser known to Americans is the Czech version of St. Nicholas (Mikuláš), who is accompanied by both a devil and an angel. St. Nicholas comes on the eve of his name day, Dec. 6. Although the devil bears a resemblance to Krampus, with the disturbingly long tongue, I don't think he's actually the same demon. I've never seen names ascribed to the Czech devil or angel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TRTHYaw1qiI/AAAAAAAAAuM/r6ec3GevXY8/s1600/Josef-Lada-Zima.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TRTHYaw1qiI/AAAAAAAAAuM/r6ec3GevXY8/s400/Josef-Lada-Zima.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554283462769617442" /></a><br />This illustration by Josef Lada comes from the book <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/detem/oclc/36509026">DÄ›tem</a></span>, and it depicts the scenes of winter (Zima). Note St. Nicholas in the center, robed as a bishop, with the angel at his right hand with a basket of good things (probably fruit and nuts) for good children, and the devil on his right hand, carrying what looks like a whip or a chain. Note the children on their knees, pleading with St. Nicholas for something good, or perhaps praying that the devil won't whip them.<br /><br />Other details I'd like to draw your attention to include the man playing the dudy (Czech bagpipe), seen just behind and to the right of the devil; the carp in the lower right corner, which is the traditional Czech Christmas meal; and the ominous raven on the right-hand side of the picture. I have no idea what the raven is about. Can anyone enlighten me?Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-28873009457212426392010-12-23T10:13:00.005-06:002010-12-23T10:21:11.296-06:00Lunar EclipseSorry I'm a little late in posting this, but here are a couple of pictures I took during the total lunar eclipse on the winter solstice, three nights ago.<br /><br />1:56 am, CST: Totality.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TRN1tbmDcqI/AAAAAAAAAuE/CvlzqC2N-vk/s1600/total-eclipse-12-21-2010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TRN1tbmDcqI/AAAAAAAAAuE/CvlzqC2N-vk/s400/total-eclipse-12-21-2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553912188839883426" /></a><br /><br />3:18 am, CST: Emerging from the Earth's shadow.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TRN1otzNmrI/AAAAAAAAAt8/sQU5p3mYVpw/s1600/lunar-eclipse-late-stage-12-21-2010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TRN1otzNmrI/AAAAAAAAAt8/sQU5p3mYVpw/s400/lunar-eclipse-late-stage-12-21-2010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553912107827567282" /></a>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-71935258507541028412010-11-30T22:43:00.001-06:002010-11-30T22:49:20.220-06:00NaNoWriMo VictoryToday concludes National Novel Writing Month. This was my first year actually doing it, and I did indeed meet my goal. <br /><br />I didn't officially sign up on the NaNoWriMo site because I didn't want another login and password to remember, nor another website that I'd have to check in with. As it was, I unsubscribed from a substantial number of RSS feeds to cut down on the amount of time I spent screwing around online.<br /><br />I did, however, abide by the NaNoWriMo rules:<br /><br />1) I started a new story from word one, not using any previously written material.<br /><br />2) I wrote every single day. Sometimes I only made a couple hundred words, but I never skipped.<br /><br />3) I reached the NaNoWriMo target goal of 50,000 words in the month. In fact, when I stopped typing forty-five minutes ago, I was at 52,515 words. <br /><br />The story is not complete. I feel like I'm at about the halfway point, or a bit past it. I'll keep going, possibly not at the same exhausting pace, but hopefully at a faster pace than was my habit prior to this month, until I reach the end. It normally takes me three to five years to finish the first draft of a novel, so I feel nothing short of stupefied when I look at how much I've generated in these thirty days. <br /><br />My perception of what I am capable of has shifted.<br /><br />It's good to challenge oneself on occasion.<br /><br />Congratulations also to any of you who tackled NaNoWriMo and met your personal goal.Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-29079854863591089212010-10-10T13:30:00.028-05:002010-10-10T14:29:11.365-05:00Vacation in Washington, D.C.I went to Washington, D.C., with my friend Katherine in late September. I've finally gotten around to sorting through my pictures.<br /><br />The U.S. Capitol building itself is very impressive. Here's the dome as seen from the steps of the Library of Congress. As you can see, there is some construction going on. I don't know whether they were cleaning or repairing the dome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLINn9_J1NI/AAAAAAAAAto/xAw3PxuC2iM/s1600/capitol-dome-outside.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLINn9_J1NI/AAAAAAAAAto/xAw3PxuC2iM/s400/capitol-dome-outside.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526494673042527442" /></a><br /><br />Inside the dome, looking up. Note George Washington draped in a plum-colored blanket.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLINenRRKnI/AAAAAAAAAtg/uThAB8ubPgk/s1600/capitol-dome-inside.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLINenRRKnI/AAAAAAAAAtg/uThAB8ubPgk/s400/capitol-dome-inside.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526494512325667442" /></a><br /><br />For every state in the union, there are two statues representing significant deceased personages from that state, life-sized in bronze or marble. For Nebraska, big surprise, we have William Jennings Bryan and J. Sterling Morton.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLINN5XmvEI/AAAAAAAAAtY/p2tY6unu9jc/s1600/capitol-bryan.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLINN5XmvEI/AAAAAAAAAtY/p2tY6unu9jc/s400/capitol-bryan.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526494225126308930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLINNE8dHrI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/jD3PwTxfjqk/s1600/capitol-morton.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLINNE8dHrI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/jD3PwTxfjqk/s400/capitol-morton.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526494211053788850" /></a><br /><br />And here is the Capitol at night. I felt a great, stirring awe pressing on my chest at the sight of the Capitol building, because I wasn't expecting it. We just happened to drive by on the way to the hotel after visiting friends. I just looked out the car window and there it was. Beautiful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIMk6qlsAI/AAAAAAAAAtI/o6n0uwgPfMQ/s1600/capitol-night.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIMk6qlsAI/AAAAAAAAAtI/o6n0uwgPfMQ/s400/capitol-night.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526493521099730946" /></a><br /><br />For me, the Library of Congress was a major highlight of the trip. The library is comprised of three buildings, with the Jefferson Building being the oldest and most beautiful. These pictures are of the Jefferson Building. Everywhere you look, from floor to ceiling, you are treated to something beautiful--paintings, mosaics, sculptures, and other architectural details. It is like a cathedral for knowledge and scholarship.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIMYP4QjLI/AAAAAAAAAtA/-6o1uAWYyuM/s1600/loc.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIMYP4QjLI/AAAAAAAAAtA/-6o1uAWYyuM/s400/loc.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526493303455911090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIMX_mWbtI/AAAAAAAAAs4/rMNynD2gGdU/s1600/loc-painting.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIMX_mWbtI/AAAAAAAAAs4/rMNynD2gGdU/s400/loc-painting.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526493299085831890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIMXPSdo8I/AAAAAAAAAsw/l1P-2d_V0wI/s1600/loc-mosaic.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIMXPSdo8I/AAAAAAAAAsw/l1P-2d_V0wI/s400/loc-mosaic.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526493286117516226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIMW3DB-XI/AAAAAAAAAso/8G8360Uimhg/s1600/loc-hippocampi.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIMW3DB-XI/AAAAAAAAAso/8G8360Uimhg/s400/loc-hippocampi.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526493279610337650" /></a><br /><br />I didn't get to explore too much of the Smithsonian, but I did get to visit the outdoor portion of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Even though it was insanely hot that day (early in the morning and already over 90 degrees), I really enjoyed all of the bronze works. I have a thing for bronze sculpture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIL8RlJA7I/AAAAAAAAAsg/daTw5VRlkro/s1600/hirshhorn-rabbit.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIL8RlJA7I/AAAAAAAAAsg/daTw5VRlkro/s400/hirshhorn-rabbit.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526492822876259250" /></a><br /><br />I love the stamp tree! We used to use these (real ones) at work until a few years ago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLILwhmVmZI/AAAAAAAAAsY/FfWVLYRVAeo/s1600/hirshhorn-stamp-tree.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLILwhmVmZI/AAAAAAAAAsY/FfWVLYRVAeo/s400/hirshhorn-stamp-tree.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526492621017815442" /></a><br /><br /><br />The Air and Space Museum was wonderful. I had seen it before, back in 1986, when I was in junior high school. Some of the things I remembered were still there. One of my favorites, namely the remote-controlled flying model of the Quetzalcoatlus northropi, was gone. <br /><br />However, it was awesome to see SpaceShipOne, the X-Prize-winning spacecraft that proved you don't need heat shields to return from orbit. If you go slow enough, friction doesn't burn up the ship. What amazed me most about SpaceShipOne was how tiny it was--about the same size as the Spirit of St. Louis, which it was hanging next to. (You can see the engine and wing of the Spirit of St. Louis in the upper right corner.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLILmPvqG1I/AAAAAAAAAsQ/-26LJZWrVUs/s1600/air-and-space-spaceshipone.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLILmPvqG1I/AAAAAAAAAsQ/-26LJZWrVUs/s400/air-and-space-spaceshipone.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526492444426378066" /></a><br /><br />And I was amused to see Patty Wagstaff's plane hanging upside-down. I thought that was a wonderful acknowledgement of her aerobatic talents.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLILcfdi2fI/AAAAAAAAAsI/Zcvwa2tH1Qc/s1600/air-and-space-wagstaff.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLILcfdi2fI/AAAAAAAAAsI/Zcvwa2tH1Qc/s400/air-and-space-wagstaff.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526492276846680562" /></a><br /><br />At the Natural History Museum, I saw a Chocobo! Okay, it was a Diatryma steini, but it sure looks like a Chocobo to me. Wark!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIK7BMakYI/AAAAAAAAArw/9701z5Tn48o/s1600/natural-history-chocobo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIK7BMakYI/AAAAAAAAArw/9701z5Tn48o/s400/natural-history-chocobo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526491701786087810" /></a><br /><br />One day I went out alone, and I walked the long circuit around the monuments, starting and ending at the Washington Monument.<br /><br />After walking around the tidal basin, my first stop was the Jefferson Memorial. It was undergoing renovations, so part of it was blocked off. I did eventually find my way around to the entrance, and I got to go inside. However, I like the way you can see the statue's profile between the pillars in this shot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIKu6lWbGI/AAAAAAAAAro/Q16J7R9ep-Q/s1600/jefferson-memorial.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIKu6lWbGI/AAAAAAAAAro/Q16J7R9ep-Q/s400/jefferson-memorial.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526491493853195362" /></a><br /><br />After that, I continued on to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. It's a sprawling, ground-level, outdoor structure of red granite with many waterfalls and bronze sculptures. Carved into the granite are numerous quotations from FDR. It's meant to show the four terms of his presidency in chronological order, but I started at the wrong end, and I went back in time from World War II into the Great Depression. Still a very nice monument, though. Looks like it would be a really nice place to sit and read.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIKli6vpsI/AAAAAAAAArg/cI14UwdFrmU/s1600/fdr-memorial.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIKli6vpsI/AAAAAAAAArg/cI14UwdFrmU/s400/fdr-memorial.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526491332881655490" /></a><br /><br />As I continued on toward the Lincoln Memorial, because I was on foot, I noticed a few things I might not have seen if I were on a tour bus. One was this little monument to John Ericsson, inventor of the screw propeller. It was planted on the center island that divided lanes of traffic. Such a nice monument to someone I'd never heard of before.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIKb6xjMfI/AAAAAAAAArY/FvMrp0M8E4E/s1600/john-ericsson.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIKb6xjMfI/AAAAAAAAArY/FvMrp0M8E4E/s400/john-ericsson.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526491167486849522" /></a><br /><br />And as I came in sight of the Lincoln Memorial, I got distracted by these colossal bronze horses on the bridge. There were four of them, two wingless and two winged. I was able to get close to one of the wingless ones, but I couldn't find a way to cross the tangled web of extremely busy streets to get close to the others. But my camera has a decent telephoto, so I was still able to enjoy the winged horses.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIJ_KzMb2I/AAAAAAAAArQ/W7pr4dEIauc/s1600/italian-bronze-horse.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIJ_KzMb2I/AAAAAAAAArQ/W7pr4dEIauc/s400/italian-bronze-horse.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526490673572507490" /></a><br /><br />Finally, I made it around to the Lincoln Memorial. I have seen so many movies (and even a video game) featuring the statue come to life in various ridiculous situations that I was relieved to find I could still be impressed and awed by the reality of it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIJvGIthRI/AAAAAAAAArI/Mixne8yKS4I/s1600/lincoln-memorial.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIJvGIthRI/AAAAAAAAArI/Mixne8yKS4I/s400/lincoln-memorial.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526490397442671890" /></a><br /><br />From there I made the obligatory detours to the Vietnam War Memorial, where three bronze soldiers look toward the wall of names.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIJjI8I6RI/AAAAAAAAArA/qA3PmfTC23E/s1600/vietnam-war-memorial.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIJjI8I6RI/AAAAAAAAArA/qA3PmfTC23E/s400/vietnam-war-memorial.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526490192036817170" /></a><br /><br />Across the way, the Korean War Memorial is equally impressive. A highly-polished black granite wall, etched with faces and scenes of the war, reflects the ghostly images of the ash-gray sculptures of soldiers trudging through knee-deep foliage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIJWQSvelI/AAAAAAAAAq4/zxbCqzaI97c/s1600/korean-war-memorial.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIJWQSvelI/AAAAAAAAAq4/zxbCqzaI97c/s400/korean-war-memorial.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526489970672368210" /></a><br /><br />I took many pictures of the Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool, but this ended up being my favorite, because it's the least obvious. The Reflecting Pool is barely visible through the stand of trees that runs parallel to it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIJBZ6_pVI/AAAAAAAAAqw/s21CTvci7eI/s1600/reflecting-pool-and-washington-monument.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIJBZ6_pVI/AAAAAAAAAqw/s21CTvci7eI/s400/reflecting-pool-and-washington-monument.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526489612479866194" /></a><br /><br />The World War II Memorial is both somber and triumphant, and it was one of the most moving for me. There were many old veterans in wheelchairs at the site. There seemed to be a ceremony at the South Dakota pillar, where a folded flag had been placed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLII3qOXJ2I/AAAAAAAAAqo/1lSAziVYdzA/s1600/wwii-memorial.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLII3qOXJ2I/AAAAAAAAAqo/1lSAziVYdzA/s400/wwii-memorial.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526489445057374050" /></a><br /><br />Last but not least, this Masonic Temple was very near the hotel where we stayed. I never went any closer to it than this, but I did develop a certain affection for it as one of my landmarks for knowing when we were near "home." One morning, the clouds were so beautiful and pink, and the moon was still high in the sky. It was so beautiful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIIrd7pliI/AAAAAAAAAqg/d_u-1X7h5ZQ/s1600/masonic-temple-moon-clouds.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TLIIrd7pliI/AAAAAAAAAqg/d_u-1X7h5ZQ/s400/masonic-temple-moon-clouds.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526489235599234594" /></a>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-70424959435448258062010-10-01T05:31:00.003-05:002010-10-01T05:42:32.932-05:00Last Month for "Stay"This is the last month to read my short story "Stay" in <a href="http://crossedgenres.com/archives/012/">Crossed Genres Issue 12</a>. At the end of October, my contract expires, and the issue will no longer be available in print or on the website. So please read "<a href="http://crossedgenres.com/archives/012/stay-by-angela-kroeger/">Stay</a>" before it's gone!Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-37489143785525350302010-08-21T15:38:00.012-05:002010-08-21T16:38:46.206-05:00Welcome to THE FUTUREIt's no secret that I love vintage science fiction. I love seeing how people in the past imagined the future, especially when their future is my present.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA6DDAu7UI/AAAAAAAAApQ/6dQ2oiS5GKY/s1600/tomorrows-home-cover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA6DDAu7UI/AAAAAAAAApQ/6dQ2oiS5GKY/s400/tomorrows-home-cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507966168296516930" /></a><br /><br />I found such a gem at the library, a children's book called <span style="font-style:italic;">Tomorrow's Home</span> by Neil Ardley, published in 1981. I was nine years old in 1981, dreaming of the future. <br /><br />How does 2010 stack up to what we envisioned back then?<br /><br />Right in the foreword, we are told that "in the future the members of a family will spend more time together in their home than they do now. The reason is that computers and robots should give us more leisure time in which to be together . . ."<br /><br />Ah-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaa! Yes, that's true. This "leisure time" is called "<span style="font-weight:bold;">unemployment</span>." <br /><br />(If you think I'm making a joke, check out <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2010/04_jobs_autor/04_jobs_autor.pdf">"The Polarization of Job Opportunities in the U.S. Labor Market"</a> by David Autor of MIT. The report suggests that the decline of the middle class is due, in part, to automation. In other words, the jobs that used to provide a decent middle class living are now predominantly done by computers and robots.)<br /><br />But enough about the depressing side of life in 2010. We're looking at THE FUTURE. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA7XU_ADXI/AAAAAAAAApY/bPvbIIEmuvM/s1600/vacuum-terrorizes-cat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA7XU_ADXI/AAAAAAAAApY/bPvbIIEmuvM/s400/vacuum-terrorizes-cat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507967616230100338" /></a><br /><br />Well, they got the little robot vacuums right. The artist even imagined the robo-vac terrorizing the cat. I may not have a Roomba, but evidence on YouTube suggests that cats are not particularly alarmed by them.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LQ-jv8g1YVI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LQ-jv8g1YVI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />But as for the rest of the household robots--well, that didn't pan out so much. Look at this little robot bringing this hardworking rancher a drink (while other robots tend his cattle). Where's my robot maid to bring me root beer and M&M's? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA7uD8BRvI/AAAAAAAAApg/gWIXLOZzNf0/s1600/robot-servant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA7uD8BRvI/AAAAAAAAApg/gWIXLOZzNf0/s400/robot-servant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507968006791186162" /></a><br /><br />But sometimes they take the robot servant thing too far. I mean, look at this. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA-u24U4NI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/fCBP4K9nSBw/s1600/lazy-person.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA-u24U4NI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/fCBP4K9nSBw/s400/lazy-person.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507971319000785106" /></a><br /><br />Is it really all that hard to pour a bowl of cereal? Do you really need two robots to do it for you? No wonder we have an obesity epidemic in the 21st century. We don't get off our butts to do a darned thing. (The book didn't mention that part. I don't think anyone in the past saw the obesity thing coming. If anything, futurists of the past imagined we'd all be skinny and starving from massive food shortages.)<br /><br />The book hit pretty close on video games. Our games aren't 3D like this one yet (although the explosion of 3D CGI movies in theaters in the last year or so makes me think video games will follow sooner rather than later), but they did correctly predict that the games would be played online with many other players. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA8EClpVHI/AAAAAAAAApo/VzWiAz59XBs/s1600/video-game.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA8EClpVHI/AAAAAAAAApo/VzWiAz59XBs/s400/video-game.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507968384386028658" /></a><br /><br />Then again, their view of technology was surprisingly limited in other ways. Check out this videophone computer. It's HUGE! This monster would take a whole room of someone's house! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA8PYbcEZI/AAAAAAAAApw/bRa6K2VCJ2Q/s1600/videophone-computer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA8PYbcEZI/AAAAAAAAApw/bRa6K2VCJ2Q/s400/videophone-computer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507968579227357586" /></a><br /><br />Aren't you glad we got laptops and smartphones instead?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA8qWuqfNI/AAAAAAAAAqA/caKUCTgFc9A/s1600/computer-and-phone.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA8qWuqfNI/AAAAAAAAAqA/caKUCTgFc9A/s400/computer-and-phone.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507969042627591378" /></a><br /><br />(Yes, I know that's just a static image of me on the computer screen. I don't have wireless internet in my apartment, so it's not like I could connect to Skype without going to the library. But you know what a videoconference looks like. Don't pretend you don't. And if you really don't, then just go watch a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niOCmIuts90">commercial</a> for the iPhone 4.)<br /><br />Overall, the predictions in that 1981 book were not entirely unreasonable. I was surprised at how close some of them came. I suppose the real barrier to every household having the things they describe is cost. That's one thing these futurist books never really seem to address, that some people will have these things, and others will be left wishing they could afford them.<br /><br />I'm going to leave you with one of the more improbable things described in the book, the ability to watch a movie in your living room AND to act the lead role yourself, replacing the actor who originally starred in the role.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA9RcQtYwI/AAAAAAAAAqI/-ARHPFFsXUo/s1600/interactive-movie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/THA9RcQtYwI/AAAAAAAAAqI/-ARHPFFsXUo/s400/interactive-movie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507969714127463170" /></a><br /><br />Wow, that sounds pretty farfetched . . . oh wait, it we have that. <a href="http://www.yoostar.com/index.html">Yoostar</a> is supposed to do exactly that. I've never had the opportunity to try it, so I don't know how well it works, however it does exist.<br /><br />I think this pretty well proves that anything you can imagine will eventually come to pass. And I honestly do believe that many inventors are driven to create the sci-fi gadgets that inspired them as children. In fact, the website <a href="http://technovelgy.com/">Technovelgy</a> connects sci-fi ideas of the past with the technologies of today. Everything we have started out with someone saying, "What if . . ."<br /><br />There are many more predictions in <span style="font-style:italic;">Tomorrow's Home</span> than I actually scanned or mentioned. If you'd like to read it or see the rest of the pictures, check it out at <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/tomorrows-home/oclc/8518448">a library near you</a>.Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-68470299900579136752010-07-19T20:46:00.027-05:002010-07-19T21:44:07.830-05:00Vacation in BransonI went to Branson, Missouri, with my mom and stepdad last week. We stayed in a condo right on Table Rock Lake, so we had an amazing view. I would take walks in the morning and enjoy views like this . . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUGB1L5JuI/AAAAAAAAApA/9j2dP1kyHjg/s1600/view-from-big-hill.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUGB1L5JuI/AAAAAAAAApA/9j2dP1kyHjg/s400/view-from-big-hill.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495805548802156258" /></a><br /><br />And close encounters with weeping rock faces, like this . . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUGVrVDYQI/AAAAAAAAApI/S8Kp46M-XIc/s1600/dripping-moss.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUGVrVDYQI/AAAAAAAAApI/S8Kp46M-XIc/s400/dripping-moss.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495805889753604354" /></a><br /><br />And every evening after we came home from whatever we were doing, we got to witness glorious sunsets across the lake. (These two pictures were taken on different nights.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUFpPzjemI/AAAAAAAAAo4/nvlypRnJoHo/s1600/sunset-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUFpPzjemI/AAAAAAAAAo4/nvlypRnJoHo/s400/sunset-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495805126451100258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUFo6mKVXI/AAAAAAAAAow/zLvyimx04Mc/s1600/sunset-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUFo6mKVXI/AAAAAAAAAow/zLvyimx04Mc/s400/sunset-2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495805120757781874" /></a><br /><br />At Branson Landing, every hour on the hour, they do a "fire and water" show. Fountains and fire jets are timed to shoot along with a musical selection that is played over the intercom. The angle of the sun was just right to produce a rainbow when the water jets shot high. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUE6b7LOTI/AAAAAAAAAog/gmNl1JLMb7Y/s1600/Branson-Landing-rainbow.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUE6b7LOTI/AAAAAAAAAog/gmNl1JLMb7Y/s400/Branson-Landing-rainbow.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495804322250438962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUE6g82tLI/AAAAAAAAAoo/_HXfSVidh2I/s1600/Branson-Landing-fire-and-water.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUE6g82tLI/AAAAAAAAAoo/_HXfSVidh2I/s400/Branson-Landing-fire-and-water.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495804323599660210" /></a><br /><br />Of course, when one thinks of Branson, one thinks of shows. We went to only two shows, but they were both stellar. We saw Six, a group of six brothers who sing without instrumental accompaniment. All of their percussion and other sounds are produced with their own voices. They are a very talented bunch.<br /><br />We also saw Cassandre' (yes, that's an apostrophe, not an acute--no, I don't know why), a singer from Nebraska (yay!). Turns out, she and my folks have some acquaintances in common from Nebraska music education circles, so they had a nice chat after the show. Cassandre' has a fantastic voice, and she was supported by an excellent ten-piece orchestra, each musician of which played two or more different instruments, depending on the needs of the song (except the pianist, because every song called for the piano). I expected a nice concert (and was not disappointed), but I did not expect the hilarious musical comedy of Cassandre's "Aunt Irma" who took the stage a couple of times. I absolutely adored Auntie's antics.<br /><br />At dinner one evening at the condo clubhouse, performers from various shows came in to do brief skits or single songs, like commercials. So I suppose that counts as a show, too.<br /><br />Now, I know it's a requirement that every show in Branson includes a minimum of one hymn and one patriotic tune. No problem there; that's all good. But what I don't get is why all three shows (including the thing at the clubhouse) included the song "Pretty Woman." Is that the new Branson anthem? It's probably just a coincidence, but it was just bizarre hearing three different live renditions of "Pretty Woman" in the space of one week. I could do without hearing that song again for a couple of years.<br /><br />One day, Mom and I went down to Arkansas to see the Ozark Medieval Fortress and to visit some caves. On the way, we passed through Omaha, Arkansas, population 166. This was tremendously amusing to me, as I live in Omaha, Nebraska, population 454,731.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUEpX5Wc2I/AAAAAAAAAoY/uc4UFz0tadc/s1600/Omaha-Arkansas.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUEpX5Wc2I/AAAAAAAAAoY/uc4UFz0tadc/s400/Omaha-Arkansas.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495804029111268194" /></a><br /><br />The Ozark Medieval Fortress is quite amazing, easily my favorite thing that I saw on this trip. They are building a 13th-century-style fortress from locally-quarried stone and local timber, using only 13th-century technology. (The exceptions being modern concessions required by OSHA, such as steel-toed boots and protective eyewear.) Some of the tools they are using are antiques imported from Europe. Many of these tools are no longer made. For example, they are using a stone-splitting tool that is over 700 years old. It was found inside the walls of an old castle in Europe, where apparently some stonemason back then got tired of his job and buried his tools on the site. The fortress is a new attraction, in its first year of construction. It will take them 20 years to complete it, but people are invited to visit the site, observe the progress, and talk to the workers. If I lived within an hour of the site, I'd probably go several times a year just to watch the walls grow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUEcUrJFgI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/RQCAnQkJ3kY/s1600/Ozark-Medieval-Fortress.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUEcUrJFgI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/RQCAnQkJ3kY/s400/Ozark-Medieval-Fortress.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495803804908066306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUEbyNVryI/AAAAAAAAAoI/uCkwJP67KBw/s1600/Ozark-Medieval-Fortress-inside.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUEbyNVryI/AAAAAAAAAoI/uCkwJP67KBw/s400/Ozark-Medieval-Fortress-inside.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495803795656257314" /></a><br /><br />And check out this medieval crane for lifting heavy stones. Looks like a lot of work for the man in the hamster wheel!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_xT3CMowm98&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_xT3CMowm98&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />My second favorite site was the caves. We visited two caves which were located on the same grounds, Mystic Cavern and Crystal Dome. We had a fantastic tour guide who provided a lot of the history behind the caves.<br /><br />The large structure in this picture is called the "Pipe Organ." The reason should be obvious.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUEMfLeEeI/AAAAAAAAAoA/K5w9xZsT4qE/s1600/Mystic-Cavern.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUEMfLeEeI/AAAAAAAAAoA/K5w9xZsT4qE/s400/Mystic-Cavern.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495803532850106850" /></a><br /><br />Mystic Cavern was home to an illegal still during the Prohibition Era. Soot from the still stains the ceiling and walls of the cavern to this day. Back in the deepest room of the cave, where the bootleggers were operating, the heat from the still permanently damaged the rocks, making them brittle and stopping the growth of the formations. The cave later sustained heavy damage from vandalism, and most of the stalactites, stalagmites, and other formations were broken off. Even so, the cave remains beautiful.<br /><br />I was fortunate enough to see a salamander in Mystic Cavern.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUEAvNXDnI/AAAAAAAAAn4/HuBWwxwu4_w/s1600/Mystic-Cavern-salamander.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUEAvNXDnI/AAAAAAAAAn4/HuBWwxwu4_w/s400/Mystic-Cavern-salamander.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495803330994572914" /></a><br /><br />Only a few hundred feet away, but not actually connected to Mystic Cavern, is Crystal Dome, which was discovered only a few decades ago. This cavern has been protected since it was discovered, and thus it is as close to pristine as any non-geologist is likely to ever see. Some of the crystal formations are pure white, and there are delicate soda straws hanging from the ceiling. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUDldKFc_I/AAAAAAAAAno/Hroyyo80VGE/s1600/Crystal-Dome-soda-straws.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUDldKFc_I/AAAAAAAAAno/Hroyyo80VGE/s400/Crystal-Dome-soda-straws.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495802862292530162" /></a><br /><br />The most stunning feature of this cavern is its namesake: the eight-story dome. Looking up from the bottom fills one with awe and wonder, and makes one just a little dizzy. The picture doesn't begin to do it justice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUDln7vkcI/AAAAAAAAAnw/5Aia0sTkplY/s1600/Crystal-Dome.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUDln7vkcI/AAAAAAAAAnw/5Aia0sTkplY/s400/Crystal-Dome.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495802865185165762" /></a><br /><br />And Crystal Dome also contains a funny little ribbon that, from the side, looks just like a delicious slice of bacon. Mmm, bacon. You could almost hear the sizzle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUDXd8y4YI/AAAAAAAAAng/s599KAfx0TY/s1600/Crystal-Dome-bacon-rock.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUDXd8y4YI/AAAAAAAAAng/s599KAfx0TY/s400/Crystal-Dome-bacon-rock.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495802621987053954" /></a><br /><br />On another day, we visited the Butterfly Palace in Branson, which is exactly what the name implies--a pretty indoor garden where you can stroll around in the company of hundreds of butterflies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUCYtMF0CI/AAAAAAAAAnY/H2U1mTnY3AU/s1600/green-butterfly.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUCYtMF0CI/AAAAAAAAAnY/H2U1mTnY3AU/s400/green-butterfly.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495801543745982498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUCYUuCd-I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/183D86COxqY/s1600/butterfly.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUCYUuCd-I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/183D86COxqY/s400/butterfly.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495801537177483234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUCYPxS5sI/AAAAAAAAAnI/oDMJe4Txn88/s1600/butterfly-feeding.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUCYPxS5sI/AAAAAAAAAnI/oDMJe4Txn88/s400/butterfly-feeding.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495801535848965826" /></a><br /><br />The last exhibit I visited was Ripley's Believe It Or Not Odditorium, which was a very entertaining collection of bizarre artifacts from around the world. The one that actually made me say "unbelievable" out loud was the glass case containing objects found inside the stomach of a single shark, including multiple anchors, horseshoes, large bones, bathing suits, and piles and piles of other stuff. Must have been one ginormous shark!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUCELi2bPI/AAAAAAAAAnA/o1NRqeR7Y_0/s1600/shark-banquet.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUCELi2bPI/AAAAAAAAAnA/o1NRqeR7Y_0/s400/shark-banquet.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495801191117253874" /></a><br /><br />Something I saw in passing, and snapped a picture of as we drove by, was this herd of driftwood horses. I would have loved a closer look at those, but we just never got the chance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUB4qAOyiI/AAAAAAAAAm4/tEQ6ZAUnsoU/s1600/driftwood-horses.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUB4qAOyiI/AAAAAAAAAm4/tEQ6ZAUnsoU/s400/driftwood-horses.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495800993135118882" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of driftwood, we also stopped by the College of the Ozarks (aka Hard Work U) a couple of times. Their furniture is student-made, and it is beautiful. If you ever have the opportunity to dine at the College of the Ozarks, do. Their student-run restaurant is superb. I had trout there that I think was the most delicious meal I had on this trip, and I had quite a few delicious meals all over.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUBsaNFIRI/AAAAAAAAAmw/2JN_9i0RPmM/s1600/College-of-the-Ozarks.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUBsaNFIRI/AAAAAAAAAmw/2JN_9i0RPmM/s400/College-of-the-Ozarks.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495800782735614226" /></a><br /><br />One of the other lovely meals I had was at the Altenhof Inn, a German restaurant and pizzaria overlooking Table Rock Lake. The place was difficult to find, but the view was top notch. The Jägerschnitzel was quite tasty, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUBh680aZI/AAAAAAAAAmo/k_kupMMBXao/s1600/Altenhof-view.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUBh680aZI/AAAAAAAAAmo/k_kupMMBXao/s400/Altenhof-view.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495800602547218834" /></a><br /><br />One thing about the whole Branson/Table Rock Lake area--there are vultures. In town, out of town--almost anytime you look up, you see vultures. Good thing I like vultures. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUBMeTmiFI/AAAAAAAAAmY/fy9blWrD4gI/s1600/vulture.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUBMeTmiFI/AAAAAAAAAmY/fy9blWrD4gI/s400/vulture.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495800234080897106" /></a><br /><br />The weather for the week was either uncomfortably hot and humid, or raining. We had quite a few thunderstorms. But sometimes they brought rainbows.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUBWlPFcSI/AAAAAAAAAmg/LxHRcbsLp5M/s1600/rainbow.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TEUBWlPFcSI/AAAAAAAAAmg/LxHRcbsLp5M/s400/rainbow.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495800407739691298" /></a>Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37200173.post-16409395465641292982010-07-01T16:37:00.004-05:002010-07-01T16:51:32.446-05:00You're Registration Form FAILOn the wild, wild web today . . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TC0LBA8A8MI/AAAAAAAAAmI/rO077VmCkjM/s1600/you%27re+registration+form.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrgjNBy1zew/TC0LBA8A8MI/AAAAAAAAAmI/rO077VmCkjM/s400/you%27re+registration+form.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489055632893997250" /></a><br /><br />"You're Registration Form has Been Submitted."<br /><br />AAAAARGH!<br /><br />You'd think a big company that makes such wonderful eyeglass lenses would be able to hire an English major to catch things like this.<br /><br />Judging when to use "your" versus "you're" is so easy that it makes this error all the more grating. "You're" is a contraction of "you are." If you can't substitute "you are" in the sentence, then the word you're looking for is "your."Anjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12247612996397058730noreply@blogger.com0