A new month and a new year beckons, with plenty of exciting new opportunities. I have just started a new job, so it’s quite likely my writing output will be limited in the coming months as I get up to speed with things.

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As mentioned above, I’ve just started a new job so my writing opportunities will be somewhat limited as I get myself settled and my feet under the table. That said, despite having a slew of possible projects to pick up and run with, the universe provided me with a new idea. And being me, I descended down the rabbit hole looking things up. It’s lead to an idea for a collection of short stories all centred on a single shared theme. I’ll be sharing more with you all on this in time, but right now it’s in the early stages.

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Alchemised by SenLinYu

They say never judge a book by its cover, so I did just that and bought it for that reason. But the content didn’t disappoint either. Expanded from an online serial Harry Potter fan-fic, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. What I found was a dark fantasy world filled with war, alchemy and necromancy, factions fighting one another and a dark, troubling “romance” underlying it all. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, and could definitely see the Potter connections.

Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany

This made for my first proper foray into the world of classic sci-fi, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. On the surface, Babel-17 is a classic story about deciphering the mysterious transmissions to prevent hostile attacks from an unknown aggressor. Following a spate of previous attacks, it’s a matter of when rather than if, so the need to uncover the plot, its time and location is great.

But on a deeper level, it’s a story about language, the similarities and differences, and the importance of language. While being sci-fi, it’s not in your face, but the story it does tell is pretty thought-provoking, and it makes for an accessible read.

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Nuremberg

As a lover of history, this film was a must for me. It chronicles the process leading up to and the conclusion of the post-World War 2 Nuremberg trials. It’s a fascinating, and seemingly accurate, portrayal of the events that saw key figures of the Third Reich put on trial for their crimes. While it took certain creative liberties for the sake of cinema, these did not detract from the historical truth. And the casting was fantastic all around, with major props going to Russell Crowe as Goring.

The Long Walk

I’d been looking forward to this film since I saw it announced. I’m a huge fan of Stephen King’s work, though I’ve never dipped into the catalogue of Richard Bachman works. Despite a seemingly simple premise, with an equally simple setting, the story it tells is dark. It follows a group of young men seeking to make it out of a tough life in a dystopian world by taking part in The Long Walk. Quite simply, keep walking above 3 three miles per hour, do not stray from the path, and be the last competitor standing. On a deeper level, this is a dark form of entertainment that is shown on TV. Any competitor that drops below the speed or strays from the path is executed for all to see. It all made for a deliciously dystopian story, while also showing the camaraderie that the contestants seemed to develop throughout the journey.

Girl Taken

My wife and I binge-watched this one over three or four sessions. It was dark and tense. Dealing with a damaged family that suffers further following the abduction of one of a pair of twin sisters by their English teacher. As the narrative unfolds, revelations come out about his past indiscretions, the reality of his young daughter and the lengths he will go to to protect himself. There were a few plot holes that led to frustration, but with a cast including Jill Halfpenny and Alfie Allen and the talents of sisters Tallulah and Delphi Evans, these were quickly forgiven in a dark and unsettling series.

Hijack (Season 1)

Another binge watch this month, having seen it advertised a lot. In no way is it challenging or the kind of show to make you think, but it’s damned fine entertainment! It’s packed with action and plenty of drama and maintains the tension over the course of the season. It definitely has the feel of the right person in the right place at the wrong time. But it didn’t seem to detract from the story.

I look forward to seeing how the second season plays out.

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The writing might have been a bit lean this month, along with the gaming, which focused mostly on older games, but that’s okay. I’ve got some plans for writing that I’m starting to explore, and it’s still the beginning of a new year.

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