Lars referred to rumors or news–maybe articles, stories, reports, youknowwhatImean–about a new movie on Robin Hood. I’ve seen that it will be called Nottingham, but more importantly, I have uncovered a teaser trailer for this film. It looks a bit rough, but maybe it’s a viral marketing idea. Don’t worry about the name change on Robin Hood. Hollywood feels they have to come up with something original on occasion.
The sub-saga of Saul
In the comments on my post yesterday, I was reminded of the story of King Saul of Israel. And I thought I’d talk a little about him as an example of a story antagonist.
“Antagonist” is the right word for the role played by Saul in the Saga of David. Saul isn’t a villain. In fact, for a large part of the story, he’s a hero. But he fails where David succeeds, and his choices put him on a collision course with his former protégé. Like a character in a Greek tragedy, he’s brought down by his fatal flaw, but throughout the story he continues to have his sympathetic moments. Continue reading The sub-saga of Saul
Cover Your Ears, Emma Lou!
The Art of Manliness is asking readers to vote on whether swearing is manly. A rousing discussion has ensued.
Denny Denson, Reconciler
I did not know this man, and I’m sure it my loss. Denny Denson, a pastor in Franklin, Tennessee, for several years, has gone home to the Lord at age 68. He had been a Black Panther in the 70s and left it behind in ’79. Since then, he founded several non-profits and became a pastor.
One of his friends said, “Denny did have a gift of being able to encourage the leadership around him to step up. We realize that it’s impossible to fill Denny’s shoes. We’ve got to step up in our own way.”
Another friend said this:
“Denny Denson had an impact on my life in small ways and in profound ways. I met Denny 12 years ago through the Empty Hands Fellowship,” Bousquet said. “I was in awe that he was a member of the Black Panthers. I once told him I wished I was older so I could have participated in the civil rights movement, but he quickly shattered my idealistic dreams by sharing what a rough time it was.
“I love a quote Denny said that exemplified his life, ‘When nobody stirs up the pot, those at the bottom gets burned,’” Bousquet said. “Denny was always an advocate for the poor and the marginalized in our society. He was the founder and architect of Hard Bargain Mt. Hope Redevelopment. It was so important to him to preserve and revitalize this historic neighborhood because it is a significant part of Franklin’s history. His passion for workforce housing in our community was contagious. He cared deeply for low-income families and sought to be an advocate and a part of the solution to this titanic problem in Franklin.”
Convicted Murderer of ‘Curious George’ Writer
Alan Shalleck, who brought Curious George to TV and helped edit 30 books with the character’s co-creator, Margret Ray, was horribly murdered at his home in Boynton Beach, Florida, two years ago. The first man confessed; the second was convicted this week.
Heroic fiction: Building bridges
Here’s something I meant to include in my recent review of Poul Anderson’s Mother of Kings, but left out because the thing was long enough. This way I can make another whole post out of it, which saves me thinking up a new idea.
(By the way, it just occurred to me, how come it’s “Poul Anderson” and not “Poul Andersen?” He was Danish, and the standard ending for Danish patronymics is “sen.” I suppose it can be traced back to some culturally insensitive immigration official, like the one who made the Kvalevaags into Walkers).
Anyway, I wrote that I found Mother of Kings kind of dull. I gave a couple reasons, but left one out. It involves what I consider a common problem in novels about Vikings and in heroic fantasy in general.
The book was clunky. Continue reading Heroic fiction: Building bridges
What Would Thomas Blog?
Will is blogging Aquinas now.
The further conclusion is evident that God is eternal. For everything that begins to be or that ceases to be, is affected in this way through motion or change. But we have just shown that God is absolutely immobile. Consequently He is eternal.
That’s what Thomas would blog, if he had been so blessed. I’ll stop before I get sacrilegious.
Peters writes of “Iraq fairy tales”
I just had to link to this column in the New York Post by Ralph Peters (who, if you’ve been paying attention, is also Owen Parry, author of the Abel Jones mysteries). It harmonizes so well with my own attitude toward my generation, that I have to (metaphorically) wave it around, yelling, “See! See! I’m not the only one who thinks this way! An actual smart guy agrees with me!”
The real reason for my scorn for my fellow Boomers is, of course, founded in my deep, seething resentment over the fact that they got a lot of sex in the ’60s and ’70s, and I didn’t. (Also in the ’80s, ’90s and ’00s.) But that doesn’t make me wrong. If you despise Dan Brown, for instance, not because he writes lousy, heretical novels, but because he once gave you a wedgie in high school, your contempt is nonetheless well placed.
Auralia’s Colors and Christy Awards
Jeffery Overstreet’s fantasy Auralia’s Colors (which I swear I want to spell with a ‘u’ as in Colours–why?) has been nominated twice for Christy Awards this year. Be it either the First Novel and Visionary categories, Overstreet’s strong work likely win one of them. Bravo. I intend to review it here and have already submitted a positive review of it to Mallorn, the journal of the Tolkien Society in England. His next book, Cyndere’s Midnight, will be released this September.
Writing Out Indiana Jones
Writer James Rollins, whose real name is Jim Czajkowski, is going to be novelizing the latest Indiana Jones movie. “A lot of my books have been compared to Indiana Jones in the past and they just approached me,” he said. “It was a blast. I read the script almost a year ago and security was major issue. I wasn’t allowed to take it home.”
He says his first book was rejected 49 times. “I still am shocked that I am at this stage and one of the reasons that I still practice as a vet once a month is that when people realize I can’t write I have my old profession to fall back on!”
And advice for would-be writers? “There is that old adage to write every day to be successful. I also believe it is important to read every night. By writing every day and reading every night my writing got stronger and stronger.”