Quicksilver
Quicksilver, "Volume One of the Baroque Cycle", backtracks to another time of high intellectual ferment: the late 17th century, with the natural philosophers of England's newly formed Royal Society questioning the universe and dissecting everything that moves. One founding member, the Rev John Wilkins, really did write science fiction and a book on cryptography—but this isn't history as we know it, for here his code book is called not Mercury but Cryptonomicon. And although the key political schemers of Charles II's government still have initials spelling the word CABAL, their names are all different... While towering geniuses like Newton and Leibniz decode nature itself, bizarre adventures (merely beginning with the Great Plague and Great Fire) happen to the fictional Royal Society member Daniel Waterhouse, who knows everyone but isn't quite bright enough for cutting-edge science. Two generations of Daniel's family appear in Cryptonomicon, as does a descendant of the Shaftoes who here are soldiers and vagabonds. Other links include the island realm of Qwghlm with its impossible language and the mysterious, seemingly ageless alchemist Enoch Root. As the reign of Charles II gives way to that of James II and then William of Orange, Stephenson traces the complex lines of finance and power that form the 17th-century Internet. Gold and silver, lead and (repeatedly) mercury or quicksilver flow in glittering patterns between centres of marketing and intrigue in England, Germany, France and Holland. Paper flows as well: stocks, shares, scams and letters holding layers of concealed code messages. Binary code? Yes, even that had already been invented and described by Francis Bacon. Quicksilver is crammed with unexpected incidents, fascinating digressions and deep-laid plots. Who'd believe that Eliza, a Qwghlmian slave girl liberated from a Turkish harem by mad Jack Shaftoe (King of the Vagabonds) could become a major player in European finance and politics? Still less believable, but all too historically authentic, are the appalling medical procedures of the time—about which we learn a lot. There are frequent passages of high comedy, like the lengthy description of a foppish earl's costume which memorably explains that someone seemed to have been painted in glue before "shaking and rolling him in a bin containing thousands of black silk doilies". This is a huge, exhausting read, full of rewards and quirky insights that no other author could have created. Fantastic or farcical episodes sometimes clash strangely with the deep cruelty and suffering of 17th-century realism. Recommended, though not to the faint-hearted. —David Langford Ape and Essence
Interface
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
The Big U
Conspiracy of Paper
The Book Thief
Nine-year-old Liesel lives with her foster family on Himmel Street during the dark days of the Third Reich. Her Communist parents have been transported to a concentration camp, and during the funeral for her brother, she manages to steal a macabre book: it is, in fact, a gravediggers’ instruction manual. This is the first of many books which will pass through her hands as the carnage of the Second World War begins to hungrily claim lives. Both Liesel and her fellow inhabitants of Himmel Street will find themselves changed by both words on the printed page and the horrendous events happening around them. Despite its grim narrator, The Book Thief is, in fact, a life-affirming book, celebrating the power of words and their ability to provide sustenance to the soul. Interestingly, the Second World War setting of the novel does not limit its relevance: in the 20th century, totalitarian censorship throughout the world is as keen as ever at suppressing books (notably in countries where the suppression of human beings is also par for the course) and that other assault on words represented by the increasing dumbing-down of Western society as cheap celebrity replaces the appeal of books for many people, ensures that the message of Marcus Zusak’s book could not be more timely. It is, in fact, required reading — or should be in any civilised country. —Barry Forshaw Death of the Scharnhorst
The White Rabbit: The Secret Agent the Gestapo Could Not Crack
Futurama - Into The Wild Green Yonder [DVD] [2008]
Into The Wild Green Yonder continues the environmental theme that has underpinned many of the specials, with the plan this time surrounding Amy’s dad, Leo Wong, and his desire to sweep away part of the galaxy so that he can build a golf course (the biggest of its type in the universe, naturally). As this plan unfolds, Fry manages to pick up some mind-reading abilities and Bender embarks on an affair, amongst other events. And while Into The Wild Green Yonder does focus tightly on a handful of characters, leaving some of the others a little short-changed, the star attractions here all get plenty of time. And that’s been one of the strengths of these DVD spin-offs. Running to the best part of 90 minutes, they’ve taken their time to set things up, and made the most of the extended running time. Into The Wild Green Yonder is no different, and really benefits—albeit at the cost of one or two slower moments—from having a bit more space. The end result is a very funny, enjoyable way to spend 90 minutes, and one of the best of the spin-off movies, too. Here’s hoping though that for Futurama, this isn’t actually the end⦠—Jon Foster Brief Candles.
Fallen Dragon
Centuries hence, despite faster-than-light travel, human interstellar exploration is stagnating. There's not enough money in it for the vast controlling companies such as Zantiu-Braun, now reduced to extracting profits via "asset realisation"—plundering established colonies that can't withstand Earth's superior weapons tech. Lawrence Newton's childhood dreams were all about space exploration. Now he's just another Z-B squaddie, trained to use the feared, half-alive "Skin" combat biosuits, which offer super-muscles, armour and massive firepower, all queasily hooked into the wearer's bloodstream and nervous system. Commanding a platoon in Z-B's raid on planet Thallspring, Lawrence has secret plans to make off with a rumoured alien treasure. But Thallspring resistance is unexpectedly tough, thanks to locals such as Denise Ebourn who have mysterious access to neuro-electronic subversion gear far subtler and perhaps more dangerous than Skin. Meanwhile, how fictional are the stories Denise tells her school pupils, about a fabled Empire that ruled our galaxy for a million years before becoming... something else? Hamilton excels at violent action, but not with the dreadful simplicity of space opera. Despite his role in the explosive Thallspring situation, Lawrence genuinely hopes to avoid bloodshed—while Denise's lofty idealism results in chilling atrocities, and even Z-B may be less cruel and monolithic than it seems. A breakneck interstellar chase leads to a satisfying finale and an unexpected romantic twist. This is solid, meaty SF entertainment. —David Langford Generation Kill - Complete HBO Series [DVD] [2008]
Generation Kill, spread over seven episodes, follows the opening 40 days of the Iraq war, as viewed through the eyes of Marines’ First Recon Batallion. From there, the show pans out to give a snapshot of the horrors, dramas and sheer brutality of war. It does it though with genuinely three-dimensional characters, who have frailties, moments of humour, friendships and backgrounds. And the show allows space to genuine explore these, much to its credit. Much like The Wire, Generation Kill doesn’t concern itself with cliffhangers, big action sequences or gimmicks. This is solid, grown-up drama, that treats its viewers as adults and is all the better for it. Granted, it’s not going to be to some tastes, and there are periods of inactivity that may test the patience of some viewers, but this is just the kind of television that people tend to complain that companies don’t make enough of. Well, they just have, and Generation Kill very much deserves success as a result. —Jon Foster Earth Vs. Everybody
The Iron Heel
Shakespeare Wrote for Money
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance-now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!
Modern Classics The Death Of Grass
Playing Hard Ball: County Cricket and Big League Baseball
The Terror
Dead Set [DVD] [2008]
Monty Python's Flying Circus - The Complete Boxset [DVD] [1969]
What Sport Tells Us About Life
What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character
Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
The Resistance
Greatest Show on Earth
Retribution
Juliet, Naked
Generation Kill
Hoggy: Welcome to My World: The Peculiar World of Matthew Hoggard
Pavilion to Crease... and Back
Wii Sports Resort (Wii) with Wii MotionPlus Accessory
This sequel to the popular Wii Sports makes use of the Wii Motion Plus accessory, which gives players the most responsive and realistic experience possible. The Wii Motion Plus accessory, which is included with Wii Sports Resort, plugs into the base of the Wii Remote controller and, combined with the accelerometer and sensor bar, provides an experience that gives players an even greater sense of immersion. Just as with Wii Sports, people will love competing against friends and family. As the competition heats up, Wii Sports Resort is as much fun to watch as it is to play. First-time players will find it easy to pick up a Wii Remote and jump into the action. Wii Sports Resort takes place on the tropical island of Wuhu. This great new game will whisk players away to a resort thats full of action, offering more than 12 sports to participate in from, Archery to Frisbee, basketball, cycling, canoeing, Power Cruising, Table Tennis, Air Sports, Swordplay, Bowling, Golf and wakeboarding. Wii Sports Resort takes the inclusive fun and intuitive controls of the original Wii Sports to the next level, offering a beach resort environment and many more sports to get to grips all using Wii MotionPlus. Wii Sports resort is easy to pick up and play, but comes coupled with deeper levels of play that are sure to challenge even the most experienced gamer. The inclusion of Wii motion plus in this game will guarantee, that veteran Wii users and newcomers alike can enjoy unprecedented gaming precision as they cruise on a water scooter, duel with swords, toss a flying disc and much more. Wii Sports Resort takes the inclusive fun and intuitive controls of the original Wii Sports to the next levelA whole new set of entertaining and physically immersive activities includi Spitfire: The Illustrated Biography
The Iron Giant
Yellow Blue Tibia: A Novel
The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-city Neighbourhood
Simpsons - Season 11 - Complete [DVD]
The Inbetweeners - Series 1-2 - Complete [DVD] [2008]
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