Luckily, we haven’t seen the scorching 30-plus degree temperatures of June. That said, we’ve had a few hot days lately, and the dry weather and higher temperatures have continued this month. It’s got me ready for the arrival of autumn and winter!
I’ve made a small start on the second story in the new collection. It’s feeling good so far. I can see how the thread will work between this and the first while allowing it to feel very different. Happy days!
The Quiller Memorandum by Adam Hall
Another fantastic read from a new author for me, The Quiller Memorandum takes place in Berlin in the years following the Second World War. It follows a secret agent tracking down ex-Nazi officials who have found themselves in positions of power, and attempting to thwart a potential threat from a wounded beast. It’s filled with political intrigue, post-war suspicion and plenty of gritty twists and turns. Finding out it was part of a series certainly made it all the better.
Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
Another fantastic adaptation, this time helmed by Indira Varma, Equal Rites is the first outing for the witches, more specifically the indomitable Granny Weatherwax. Tradition dictates that the eighth son of a eighth son is destined to become a wizard and attend Unseen University to learn their craft. But what happens when rather than the eighth son of a eighth son, we get a daughter? In a world where wizards are male, and witches are female, turmoil ensues. Step forward, Granny Weatherwax, to guide this young girl through her blossoming powers and her steadfast determination to join the UU. It’s a fantastic listen filled with all the wonderful humour Pratchett is so well known for, a fantastic adaptation.
Mort by Terry Pratchett
Another Discworld audiobook, another miniseries, this time narrated by Sian Clifford. Mort puts the focus squarely on Death, an iconic figure who has a deep interest in the human condition. Death decides to take on the hapless Mortimer, the only person not given an apprenticeship at his village job fair. After all, even Death needs a break. He teaches Mort the tricks of the trade and introduces him to his adopted daughter Ysabell. Setting him loose alone, chaos, unsurprisingly, ensues. And at its centre is Death’s grumpy manservant, Albert. This one might be one of my favourite books in the series, as it really introduces Death, who became one of my favourite characters throughout the series.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
I saw someone reading this on the train some time ago, and the cover really caught my eye. Very much a case of judging a book by its cover, and this really didn’t disappoint. Darrow comes from the Red colour caste – the lowly miners of society, sent ahead to Mars to mine and terraform the planet ahead of the rest of humanity making the journey from an ailing Earth. Following a series of tragedies, he discovers that humanity is already on Mars, living in vast sprawling cities filled with excess. He is drafted into a plot to overthrow the hierarchy by becoming that which he despises the most, the god-like Golds. The story mixes Greek mythology, sci-fi with a Hunger Games-like battle royale that is filled with brutality, plots and political machinations to become the best. For the first part of a wider series, it beautifully sets the scene.
Dead Man’s Wire
Our movie of the month this month was Dead Man’s Wire. It follows the story of a wronged man played by Bill Skarsgård, who is shafted by an unscrupulous mortgage broker played by Al Pacino. In an effort to be heard and get what’s his, Skarsgård takes the banker’s son (Carey Elwes) hostage. He tries to get his story out through a radio host he has an unhealthy obsession with. It’s a madcap film that seems too far-fetched to be real, and yet transpires to be the real-life story of Tony Kiritsis, if a bit dramatised for the screen. It’s bonkers, over the top, and brilliantly entertaining.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
The original version of AC Black Flag came out in 2013, and fast became one of my favourite games. I got to sail the Caribbean aboard the Jackdaw as Captain Edward Kenway, pirate captain and grudging Assassin. It fused high-sea battles, parkour action and fast-paced, violent fights with stealth and guile. It was a beautiful game. So when Resynced was announced, I was excited. Think reworked visuals in a game built from the ground up for current-generation consoles. It’s visually stunning and plays so well. I’m living my best pirate life as I command a crew of degenerates through the oceans while we sing ridiculously catchy sea shanties. I am loving this game all over again.
With yet another, albeit slightly cooler, heatwave, July has been pretty hot again. As I write this, we’ve had the first bits of rain my part of the country has seen in months, so a bit more balance next month please! I’m hoping to get a bit more reading done, a bit more writing, and maybe even a few more movies watched too!
You can keep up with what I’m up to on Instagram, Facebook, The StoryGraph, Threads, and sign up for my Newsletter to get my blog posts delivered directly to your inbox!
Steven Smith 