The Hobbit: A Review

I don't often review books, and I never review movies, but in this case, I'm going to make an exception.

I give Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey five stars, two thumbs up, an A+, or whatever uber-positive rating you wish. Tolkien's work has always been near and dear to my heart, and I've read it all, from the Simarillion to the Lost Tales. I first read The Hobbit when I was seven. At the time, I enjoyed it for the adventure story it was, taking little thought to the larger picture of Tolkien's intricate, richly detailed world.

If Peter Jackson had stuck to just the words contained within The Hobbit, he would have ended up with a kid's movie that seemed barely related to the events of The Lord of the Rings. But he didn't contain his vision of Tolkien's world, for which I am profoundly grateful. Instead, he drew on other sources, such as the Simarillion, The Lord of the Rings, The Unfinished Tales, and the many reams of notes and thoughts that Tolkien left behind that were never published. He took this matieral and presented The Hobbit to us in the context of the greater whole. Much more was going on in Middle Earth than Bilbo's adventure, and Jackson brought this to light and life.

 
Purists might argue that he should have stuck to the book, and nothing but the book. That's already been done, and the cartoon version of The Hobbit is laughable. What Peter Jackson gave us was The Hobbit grown up and as spectacular, in its way, as his version of The Lord of the Rings. I highly recommend this movie, and I can't wait until next December.

Chaos and Flies

Chaos and blackmail and lust, oh my.

 

Honor. Duty. Love. Blackmail. Intrigue. Lust. Flies. Yes, flies. Killer blood-seeking flies have been the bane of Koilatha since the founding. They’re rumored to live in the ruins of an ancient temple of evil, not that anyone has ever gotten close enough to find out for certain. As a high priest, Rak is duty-bound to investigate these flies. The sun priest attempting to purify him and the palace functionary blackmailing him complicate matters, as does his brother’s near death at the hands of an ambitious woman and the king’s continued attempts to force him to accept the position as heir to the throne.

The worst thing of all is that, while sober, Jisten won’t settle for lust—he wants it all. And never mind that Rak has seduced him twice already. Where does honor lie when intrigue, duty, and love conflict?

http://www.extasybooks.com/chaos-and-flies-2/

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PG Excerpt:

Once Jisten was safely re-fastened with new straps, Rak directed Scorth across the river. The temple is supposed to be north and east of the city, closer to the inland sea.

Scorth adjusted his course. Are you sure this is wise? It’s the middle of the day. Shouldn’t we be doing this at night, when you’re stronger?

The time of day should not matter for this. Why? Are you afraid? Rak asked.

Hardly. Scorth snorted, incinerating a bird midair that he then snapped between his jaws and swallowed. Tastes like chicken.

Eat later. We have work to do now. Rak was focusing on the heavily wooded landscape beneath them. This looks like the impenetrable forest I was told about. That means the ruins are close.

They told you that the forest is impenetrable?

Ai.

And they told you what was inside the impenetrable forest?

Ai.

And you believed them?

I have an advantage that they lack.

Oh? And what might that be?

I have a dragon.

Scorth laughed, mollified by Rak’s obvious, but sincere, flattery. Jisten also laughed, having followed the entire exchange, and Rak graced him with a smile. The forest ended too abruptly for the border between tree and grass to be natural. The meadow beneath them was perfectly circular, and at the center, there was something that did not fit.

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