Booklog 3/2018 - Elizabeth Bear: The Stone in the Skull - Lotus Kingdoms #1

This starts off well. The two main characters, mercenaries, are currently signed on as caravan guards to get to where they are going (to deliver something important). What immediately sets them apart is that one is a Dead Man, the one-time bodyguard of a now-dead caliph who hides his face behind a veil (only revealing his face to someone he's about to kill). The other is a Gage, a metal man created by a now-dead wizard. The Gage used to be a human, but physically there's nothing organic left. The Gage and the Dead Man have formed a good working relationship that has become a friendship.  Mrithuri, the young rajni of the Lotus Kingdom is beset my enemies. The message the two mercenaries carry is supposed to help her. In the meantime, in the kingdom next door, Mrithuri's cousin Sayeh is regent for her young son, and in an even more dangerous predicament as volcanic activity, and an army led by the Boneless and both vying to destroy her kingdom.

This book doesn't quite end on a cliffhanger but it's obvious that the biggest battle is yet to come, but the characters are all in place now and their relationships established. The world-building is rich and detailed with a strong flavour of southern Asia and a completely weird 'day-is-night' vibe going on with the 'cauled sun'

This is in the same world as Ms Bear's Eternal Sky trilogy, but set fifty years later with new characters. I haven't read the previous trilogy and I would say this easily stands alone.

Booklog 4/2018 - Diana Wynne Jones: Deep Secret - Magids #1

This is a re-read of one of my favourite Diana Wynne Jones books. The first time I read it, I'd never been to a science fiction convention. Now I have and there are plenty of familiar things in here.

Rupert Venables is a magid charged with selecting a new magid-in-training after his mentor, Stan dies. Stan (as a ghost) is allowed to help in the selection process. What's a magid? Good question and even having read the book I'm not sure I can tell you succinctly. A magid is a magic user who protects and corrects matters any number of alternate worlds, guided by (sometimes very obliquely) entities 'above' who are supposed to know what's going on in the multiverse and guide it along. Confused? Not surprised, but just go along with it. Rupert is the youngest earth-based magid with only a couple of years' experience. Both his older brothers are magids too, which gives him someone to call on when things get sticky. And they're about to get very sticky very fast. The magids mostly keep magic away from ordinary people and there are 'deep secrets' which are for magids only. Some worlds have more magic than others. Earth is on the negative side. Rupert is designated to look after the Koryfonic Empire which is on the cusp of the magic positive/negative divide, but politically unstable. With the death of the emperor it seems to be open season on his heirs and Rupert is caught up in events there, while at the same time trying to hunt down the potential candidates for the new magid. In the end he hits on a plan to get them to come to him... at a science fiction convention. The only one he tries to keep away is Maree Mallory whom he has already crossed off his list because she's weird and they seem to hate each other on sight. But since the fate lines have all become twisted together, Maree turns up anyway together with her aunt, uncle (a writer) and her cousin, Nick. It all gets very complicated because it turns put that there are other magic users playing with the 'nodes' so the rooms in the hotel are never where they were left. it's a plot that ties events on earth with the problems in the Koryfonic Empire.

There's a lot to like in this book. Rupert is an appealing character, Maree and Nick grow on you, and the twisty plot keeps you on your toes. I didn't notice the first time I read it (I wasn't a writer then) but there's a section where Nick and Maree are on their own doing something extremely perilous while Rupert waits for them to return. They return and the plot continues, but for some reason Ms Jones chooses to tell that segment of the story at the end from Nick's point of view, which seems a bit out of place, though it has a nice little reveal at the end.

Movie of the Week: The Greatest Showman

If, like me, you thought La La Land was an insipid piece of fluff with no plot to speak of and unmemorable tunes, the Greatest Showman might restore your faith in Hollywood musicals. It's the Barnum story again, completely reimagined and with a set of great new songs. The cinematography is lush and the cast of characters (from Tom Thumb to the Bearded Lady) is larger-than-life while remaining sympathetic.

The personal story fits well alongside the public one

Hugh Jackman must be one of the most versatile actors on the planet. From Logan to Barnum -  from gritty action to stylish set pieces - he always seems to hit the right note, musically and theatrically. Zac Efron has grown up from his High School Musical days, and perfectly balances Jackman as ringmaster-in-training. Michelle Williams remains serene as Mrs Barnum, and special kudos to Keala Settle who plays the Bearded Lady with tremendous verve. There are so many charismatic performances in this movie, it's hard to pick one out as being the best.

This was tremendous fun. A good-hearted musical with memorable songs, terrific set pieces and a genuine feelgood factor.  I might go and see it again!