Book Review - The Time Ships

Author: Stephen Baxter
Year: 1995

As mentioned before in my review of The Time Machine, I reread it in order to refresh my memory so that I could read The Time Ships, a sequel written exactly 100 years after H.G. Wells' classic.  I enjoyed the original very much; it was a quick, exciting, and interesting read.  I expected the second in the series to be equally interesting, but I was not prepared for the philosophic depth that Baxter's novel would bring, going far beyond the story that birthed it.

The Time Traveler, as the protagonist is called, is off on another adventure.  After his trip to the far future and his return to London, he sets off again to visit humanity's descendants.  However, the Earth he discovers is unaccountably different, and time, it appears, is more complicated than he could have ever imagined.  With a very strange companion, our hero journeys through space and dimension, attempting to unravel the truth and history of his own invention.

A much longer and more complicated novel, The Time Ships does justice to its predecessor.  It takes the idea of time and twists it, examines it, and ultimately breaks it down in a way that is more philosophical than scientific.  Baxter does an excellent job writing his book in a very similar style to Wells, using the same catch-phrases and tone, just in a different setting.  These novels should be read as one book, as each makes the other better, and together they create one of the best sci-fi stories of all time.

My rating: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰

Movie Review - Prometheus

Director: Ridley Scott

Starring: Noomi Repace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron

Year: 2012

Ridley Scott is a director with one of those pedigrees that speaks for itself: Alien, Blade Runner, Legend, White Squall, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven.  When he is involved in a film it will be well made, high-octane, and deeper than an action movie ought to be.  Such is the case with Prometheus, a sci-fi-action-alien thriller with never a dull moment, but with a story that goes beyond a single film into a dark depth that will surprise you.

Credit to Justin Pyle for letting me in on the well-known "secret" of the movie; it is basically a prequel to the Alien trilogy, setting the scene for one of the best sci-fi franchises of all time.  On a mission to discover the origins of humanity, a group of scientists, pilots, and corporate heads travel across space in order to find the Engineers, a race theorized to have created human life on Earth.  Of course, all does not go as planned, and the crew is soon fighting for survival; their own and that of mankind.

If the plot seems manufactured, it can be forgiven.  Prometheus was created to be the quintessential sci-fi roller-coaster, as well as a vehicle for later films.  It is everything you would expect from an action blockbuster, and yet it upheld the standard of its Alien legacy.  The plot was interesting, the special effects were incredible, and the acting was respectable.  The only actor to break mediocrity was Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds, A Dangerous Method), playing David the robot assistant to perfection.  For a film in a series, Prometheus holds its own, and excels as a homage to sci-fi.

My rating: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰

Sports - NFL Picks, Week 9

Here are my NFL Week 9 picks:

(I was 11-3 last week)

Bye teams: NE, NYJ, SF, STL

KC @ SD - Only one team scores fewer points per game than the Chiefs.  The Chargers have their own issues, but their embarrassing loss last week should motivate them enough for a home win.

Den @ Cin - Coming off their bye, the Bengals will look to stop a three game losing streak.  Too bad they have to face the red-hot Broncos, who have scored a total of 69 points in their last two games.

Bal @ Cle - The Ravens are hurting, literally, and the Browns are improving, but I can't really believe that the outcome of this game will be surprising.  Ravens.

Ari @ GB - After a hot start, the Cardinals have lost their magic.  And after a slow start, the Packers are back to normal.  This isn't a 1 vs. 16 seed match-up like last week, but the Pack should cruise.

Buf @ Hou - After a little hiccup vs. the Packers, the Texans showed that they are the most complete team in the NFL.  Coming off their bye, they look to smash an inept Bills team.

Mia @ Ind - Colts games have been consistently hard to call this year.  Both teams have a 4-3 record, but the Dolphins D is dominant and good on the road.  Tannehill or Moore, shouldn't matter.

Det @ Jax - The Lions might not be stellar, but the Jaguars are just plain awful.  They did keep up with the Packers last week, but they will remain winless at home.

Chi @ Ten - The Bears have the best defense if football, allowing only 14 points per game.  The Titans have the WORST defense, allowing 32 points per game.  You do the math.

Car @ Was - The Redskins can score with anyone, but their defense is sad.  But the Panthers whole team is sad.  The Skins & Obama will win.  No joke, check it out.  95% Presidential Accuracy.

TB @ Oak - The Jon Gruden Bowl!  Neither team is that good, but the Bucs are statistically better in all categories.  Freeman is hot and should light up the Raiders D.

Min @ Sea - Both teams have lost whatever momentum they created after fast starts, but the Seahawks D is for real, and that 12th man advantage hasn't failed them yet.

Pit @ NYG - The Giants dodged a bullet last week, but have played consistently well.  However, the Steelers are the more desperate team, and I have a feeling Eli is in for a rough day.

Dal @ Atl - Talk about desperate; the Cowboys entire team might be fired if they don't win soon.  I've been saying that the Falcons will lose soon, but perhaps they have one more week of perfection.

Phi @ NO - Obviously, both of these teams have major problems.  The Eagles can't score and Saints can't stop anyone.  I believe Brees will shoulder his team this week and come away with a victory.