light reading

The TARDIS Handbook 

by

Steve Tribe 

at the library 17

tribute

Today would be Douglas Adams 61st birthday. Coincidentally I received my copy of Shada (the book) in the mail. Written by Gareth Roberts, it's the novelization of the only lost episode of a Doctor Who series during the Tom Baker era. An episode written by Douglas Adams and partially filmed but never finished, due to a strike at the BBC. Originally $26.95 (hardback), I ordered mine used from Amazon for around $5. The DVD is now available for about 30 bucks. It's on my wishlist.

A Big Hand for the Doctor

reading out loud

end of summer reading

Doctor Who and the Genesis of the Daleks

by

Terrance Dicks

at the library 8

nerd alert

Happy Easter sunday. The mall was closed today but B&N was open. Today is the day we celebrate that magic man that came back from the dead. That's right, I'm talking about Doctor Who. I don't have Uverse anymore or else I'd be watching it right now. At least I've got an old Tom Baker episode on DVD. A six-part story co-starring Elisabeth Sladen (RIP) as Sarah Jane. I also got a couple of books today:
The Essential Enthusiast's Handbook - Architecture A Spotter's Guide - Classical Temples to Soaring Skyscrapers by Sarah Cunliffe, Sara Hunt, Jean Loussier. It was on sale, plus, being really in to Minecraft and the Sims, I've kind of developed an interest in architecture.
Sooner Dead by Mel Odom. Post-Apocalyptic Mayhem in Gamma, Oklahoma! This is a Gamma World book. Gamma World is like futuristic Dungeons & Dragons. I had to check it out. Boomer Sooner.

used books

Went shopping yesterday. Bought some books at Gardner's. Kind of inspired by the young adult stuff I've been reading lately, I ended up wth four YA titles and another Dr. Who book. It ended up being a Sleator bonanza. Here they are, with descriptions from the back covers:

1. Doctor Who and the Leisure Hive by David Fisher: The Leisure Hive on the planet Argolis is an entertainment centre for galactic travellers. At the heart of the hive is the Tachyon Recreation Generator, a machine with a most extraordinary performance capability and vital to the continued existence of the Argolin after their devastating war with the reptilian Foamasi... While visiting the Hive, the Doctor and Romana are sucked into a whirlpool of treachery and deceit, and are eventually arrested on suspicion of murder...
2. This Can't be Happening to Macdonald Hall! by Gordon Korman: Bruno and Boots are always in trouble. So the Headmaster, aka "The Fish," seperates them. Bruno must now room with the ghoulish Elmer Drimsdale. And Boots is stuck with nerdy, preppy, paranoid George Wexford-Smyth III. This means war. Because Bruno and Boots are determined to get their old room back, no matter what it takes. And the skunk was only the beginning. (I used to own this one. I can't believe he was only 12 when he wrote it.)
3. The Boy Who Reversed Himself by William Sleator: When Laura finds her homework in her locker with its writing reversed, she is totally baffled. Until she learns an unbelievable secret: her weird neighbor, Omar, has the ability to travel to the fourth dimension. Against his wishes, Laura forces him to take her there - and then, a novice in terrifying "four space," she goes there on her own, with her boyfriend Pete. There's only one problem. She doesn't know how to get them back...
4. Others See Us by William Sleator: It's summer vacation, and Jared's family is making their annual trip to his grandmother's beach house. He'll finally get to see Annelise, the gorgeous cousin he's been dreaming about all year. But almost as soon as they arrive, Jared wrecks his bike, falling into a swamp filled with toxic waste. Later, he begins to notice voices in his head. Strange voices- almost like other people's thoughts. He is horrified to discover what his family is really like. Soon Jared finds himself locked in a murderous battle of wills- because once someone else can enter your mind, there is no turning back.
5. The Boxes by William Sleator: When Uncle Marco goes on one of his mysterious trips, he leaves Annie in charge of two exotic, sealed boxes on one condition: she must not open either one while he is away. But of course she is tempted... and soon she has unleashed the unspeakable. The creatures inside the box are crablike and grotesque. And they possess a power Annie could never have imagined.

at the library 6

shopping spree

Yesterday was my day off and I bought a half dozen books at the used book store. Here they are:

1. Wonder Boys - Michael Chabon. Recently read Maps and Legends by this author. Tried to find the one that he won the Hugo and Nebula for, but they didn't have that one.
2. Ender in Exile - Orson Scott Card. I read Ender's Game and War of Gifts last year. Now I have Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon as well as this one. They're all thick-ass books.
3. Losing Joe's Place - Gordon Korman. This guy was one of my favorite YA authors growing up. I used to have a bunch of his books, now I'm trying to collect them all again. I'd never even heard of this one before.
4. Singularity - William Sleator. Another favorite from my youth. I still have 3 of his books sitting on my shelf: Fingers, Into the Dream and The Green Futures of Tycho.
5. Doctor Who & the Talons of Weng Chiang - Terrance Dicks. Did I mention that I love Dr. Who? Nerd Alert! This was a 6 part story starring Tom Baker (my favorite Doctor) and Leela (my favorite companion).
6. Doctor Who and the Android Invasion - Terrance Dicks. Another book based on a Tom Baker story, but one which I don't have on DVD yet. I vaguely remember seeing the episode on PBS back in the mid 70s. I seem to recall Sara Jane's face falling off to reveal fake eyes and computer circuits inside. Probably traumatized thousands of Brittish boys and girls for life.
7. Anthrax - Return of the Killer A's. Not a book. Gardner's also sells music, videos and toys. I was a little disappointed to learn that the version of I'm the Man on this CD was the censored version.

farewell february

It has been a slow month here at uym. I've been busy at both my jobs, which is good, but it has also provided enough distraction that I'm barely halfway through my current read, Rainbows End. Also not helping is my current addiction to collecting and watching old Dr. Who episodes on DVD. I've also been stocking up on books as well, visiting B&N and Gardner's Used Books frequently.
Here's some of the stuff I bought that I might be reading later on this year:
The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson
Ender's Shadow and Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card
Ruby and the Stone Age Diet by Martin Millar
M*A*S*H Goes to Maine by Richard Hooker
M*A*S*H Goes to Miami/ New Orleans/ Paris by Richard Hooker and William E. Butterworth
And Another Thing... Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy part 6 of 3 by Eoin Colfer
This list will continue to grow, providing a small glimpse into the future...