"The Redbreast" by Jo Nesbo (2000)

"Harry cast his eyes around.  At the tidy, well-organized shelves of ring-binders neatly displayed in chronological order.  At the walls where diplomas and distinctions from a career in smooth ascent hung.  A black and white photograph of a younger, uniformed Kurt Meirik, with the rank of major, greeting King Olav hung behind the desk and caught the eye of everyone who came in.  This was the picture Harry sat studying when the door opened behind him."

This is the third of Jo Nesbo's books to be reviewed here.  I've also read The Snowman, his most famous work, and The Jealousy Man, a more recent collection of his short stories.

The Redbreast represents a much earlier effort from the same author.  It was the third of his novels to see publication, and also the third of his novels to feature protagonist Harry Hole.  It's a far less mature work than the universally acclaimed The Snowman, revealing an author less ready to cut down a story to its essential details.

The novel opens with Harry Hole's failed assignment in support of the U.S. Secret Service, and from there moves into a murky plot involving Norwegian neo-Nazis, actual Norwegian Nazis fighting on the front lines during World War II, and a series of inexplicable murders centered around an illegally imported rifle.

To be honest, I had trouble getting through The Redbreast.  It's very obtuse at times, and I had a lot of difficulty telling one Norwegian ex-Nazi from another.  The parts of the novel set in the modern day are alright, but they're never successfully tied to the parts of the book taking place near the end of WWII.  The "twist" at the end really comes out of left field, and seems more an attempt to bring a narrative that's going nowhere fast to a desperate close.

In my opinion it's a mediocre book by a writer who'd go on to do much better things.  It's not terrible, but it does suffer in comparison to his most famous work.

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Hey Kids!! Comics!!

1. Gideon Falls Volume 1: The Black Barn by Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino and Dave Stewart

Of the three comic books discussed here Gideon Falls is my favorite by far.  Jeff Lemire has a great ear for dialogue, and he adds enough exposition without crowding the story.  Andrea Sorrentino's art is by turns beautiful and eerie, and the way she (he?) uses panels in this book is a wonder to behold.

A Catholic priest assigned to the Gideon Falls parish stumbles into some mysterious happenings around town, while a psychiatrist treating a "schizophrenic" discovers that there's more to his "delusions" than meets the eye.  From that point on the weirdness only escalates, and I'm looking forward to reading the other five volumes in this series if and when I come across them.

There's been a TV adaptation of this comic book series in the works for a while, but no news on its progress since 2019.  It would seem that COVID derailed it.

2. Tokyo Ghost: The Atomic Garden by Rick Remender, Sean Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth

My second favorite of these three comic books.  It's got that early 80s Frank Miller/Neuromancer/Martial Law vibe, and although it's somewhat derivative I'm thinking the second installment is probably much better.  Yes, first impressions are important, but sometimes you have to give writers time to set up a story.

In the distant future two lovers, one of them hopelessly addicted to technology, journey to Japan to fulfill a contract.  Rick Remender's dialogue is well done, and Sean Murphy's art has a kinetic quality that jumps off the page.

A movie adaptation was in development, but no news since 2021.

3. Night of the Ghoul by Scott Snyder and Francesco Francavilla

My least favorite of these three comics.  The art is suitably spooky, but Scott Snyder needed to slow things down and explain the plot better.  What's going on with that basement beneath the retirement home?  And why does the son character randomly leave the car and start exploring a sewer during a rainstorm?  And what does the mom character having early onset Parkinson's have to do with anything?

A film adaptation could work, but whoever wrote the screenplay would need to flesh out the the story elements better.  As it is this is more of an outline than an actual horror comic in itself.

When I think about it, Scott Snyder does this kind of thing a lot.  He'll start out with an interesting premise and then laze his way through the rest of the story he's set up.  Dark Knights: Metal is probably the worst example of this tendency.  Cool idea, but it went nowhere fast.

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"Material World" by Ed Conway (2023)

"In those periods when supply chains work and materials can flow freely from one part of the world to another, it hardly seems to matter where things come from, where they are made or how they are made.  They simply turn up and feed into an industrial machine we have stopped attempting to map or understand.  But on those rare occasions when these supply chains break down, most obviously in the face of war and trade battles, all bets are suddenly off.  The Material World rapidly becomes all-important.  Those cheap, ubiquitous materials we could once source very easily from the other side of the world take on a new, urgent dimension.  And given the degree of complexity in product manufacture is greater today than in any previous generation, the potential impact of countries around the world choosing autarky -- trying to survive without imports -- could be severe."

Ed Conway, to quote the author's introduction at the back of this book, "is an author and broadcaster.  He is the Economics and Data Editor of Sky News and a regular columnist for The Times and The Sunday Times.  He has written two critically acclaimed and bestselling books."

The Material World is divided into six sections, these being: Sand, Salt, Iron, Copper, Oil and Lithium.  In each of these sections the author discusses how these materials are mined and their various industrial uses, both high tech and low.  He also delves into the history of how these materials first came to be used, and how the acquisition or present use of these materials either contributes to or potentially alleviates climate change.  

And not to bring politics into it too much, but yeah, The Material World is a very Biden-era book.  Some of the author's optimism with regard to alleviating climate change and reaching certain goals hits differently during the Trump administration.  Yes, the author's heart was in the right place, but some of the "solutions" posited near the end of this book seem very impractical now.

That, however, isn't my biggest problem with The Material World.  My biggest problem is that it's rather boring, and often comes across as a list of semi-interesting factoids that one have just as easily found on Wikipedia.  This book needed some kind of argument to bring its various strands together, and lacking that argument it's best considered as a sometimes amusing, sometimes boring detour through the industrial side of modern society.

I enjoyed the last chapter of this book, but otherwise I can't recommend it.  Those already interested in modern materials science would be better served elsewhere, and those new to the topic will find easier approaches in the popular science section of any local bookstore.

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"Leviathan Wakes" by James S.A. Corey (2011)

"Holden paused a moment.  Miller had killed someone who had been trying to kill them, and that certainly helped make the case that he was a friend, but Holden wasn't about to sell out Fred and his group on a hunch.  He hesitated, then went halfway."

James S.A. Corey is the pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck.  Both authors have science fiction and fantasy books to their credit, though nothing they've written individually approaches the Expanse series in terms of popularity.

Leviathan Wakes is the first book in The Expanse series.  I also bought the second book, Caliban's War, which will be reviewed here eventually.  The Expanse was adapted into a TV series by the Syfy Network and later Amazon.  I haven't seen the show, so I can't comment on how it compares to Leviathan Wakes.

The novel's plot is straightforward space opera, with just enough "science" thrown in to make the thing seem plausible.  In the relatively near future mankind has colonized a zone which extends from roughly Earth's moon to the asteroid belt on "the other side" of Jupiter, with different geographical factions developing alongside successive waves of colonization.  There's the home planet, Earth, a Martian federation and a newer, less regulated area known as The Belt.  Near the beginning of Leviathan Wakes a brisk trade relationship exists between Earth, Mars and The Belt, though political tensions cause this relationship to deteriorate over the course of the story.

Against this backdrop we meet a crew of ice haulers and sometime scavengers operating in The Belt.  This crew is led by Holden, a man of rigid principals who happens to be hopelessly in love with a member of his crew.  Holden's ship comes into contact with an abandoned spacecraft, and the circumstances surrounding this abandoned spacecraft reveal a web of conspiracy threatening to engulf the entire solar system.

Within this novel there's also a dialogue concerning people's right to be informed.  On one side of this argument is Holden, who believes that everyone should know everything, and that withholding information is wrong.  On the other side of this argument is Miller, a seasoned detective who's more worried about the harm unrestricted access to certain facts can cause.  This disagreement between Miller and Holden is the book's real strength, and it adds a lot of weight to what would have otherwise been an enjoyable if forgettable side quest into space travel, space politics and shape-shifting space monsters.

Leviathan Wakes reminded me a bit of Adrian Tchaikovsky's Shards of Earth, which was also reviewed here recently, but where Tchaikovsky's book revels in zoological details, Corey's book is more  a character study, populated by more memorable personalities and situations.  I appreciated the horror aspects of Tchaikovsky's novel, but I think Leviathan Wakes is the kind of book guaranteed to have a wider appeal.

I'll be reading Caliban's War in a few weeks and I'm really looking forward to it.  James S.A. Corey (both of them) are good writers, and I'm curious as to how they develop the ideas set forth in Leviathan's Wake.

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Still More 80s Movies 4

Liked It

1. Flashpoint (1984)

Two U.S. Border Patrol officers discover a lot of money in the desert.  The script was well written, and anchored by standout performances by Kris Kristofferson and Treat Williams.  If you can overlook a couple plot holes it's very good.

Bonus points for the Tangerine Dream soundtrack.

2. Shaolin Drunkard (1983)

Hong Kong kung fu cinema at its weirdest.  Sometimes the comedy in this type of movie is too "Chinese" to be accessible to Western audiences, but this one is right on the money.  Fight choreographer Yuan Woo-ping would go on to choreograph Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the Matrix films and Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2.

For me the highlight of this movie was the practical effects, which are extremely inventive.  It's silly, sure, but doing things like the magic battles on a smaller budget isn't easy.

3. Angel (1984)

Prep school student by day, streetwalker by night.  Angel treads a thin line between exploitation and a heartfelt story of a girl's lost innocence, and even though it doesn't always walk this line successfully it's definitely entertaining.  In my opinion the scenes that venture into John Waters territory make up for the parts of the movie that don't quite work.

4. Tough Enough (1983)

Dennis Quaid stars as an aspiring musician who enters the Toughman competition.  It's a solid sports drama, though I get why it wasn't a big hit at the time.  In many ways it's very backward-looking, with the soundtrack and working class cowboy theme recalling several hits of the late 70s.

5. Wildcats (1986)

Goldie Hawn coaches varsity football in an inner city school.  With the NFL preseason underway I was happy to stumble upon this one.  Good performances, a solid story, and its heart in the right place.

Critics hated this film.  It's far from perfect, but I think that those revisiting it will find a lot to like.  Sure, Hawn had kind of done this role in Private Benjamin years before, but she did it well in both movies.

Fun Fact: This was Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes' first film.

6. Tuff Turf (1985)

James Spader contends with school bullies.  I like to imagine this movie happening somewhere in the background of the Double Dragon video game, with the Lee Brothers advancing through the various levels as James Spader and Kim Richards' characters attempt to realize their star-crossed love in a nearby alley.

Fun Fact 1: Robert Downey (Jr.) is also in Tuff Turf.  At one point Spader leaves "The Warehouse" and you can see "The New Avengers" spray painted on the wall next to the exit.

Fun Fact 2: Kim Richards and her sister Kylie are now better known for their roles on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

7. Hawk the Slayer (1980)

Hell YES Hawk the Slayer!  It's got:

• A brooding hero with Members Only hair.
• Bad guys who look like they're surfing a New Wave of British Heavy Metal.
• A synth-driven disco soundtrack.
• A sweet, sweet sword.
• A villain played by none other than Jack Palance, who'd already played this same character in countless Westerns.

Is it Conan the Barbarian?  Perish the thought!  Is it Excalibur?  Not even close!  But just the same Hawk the Slayer has a lot to recommend it, and I think if you're in the right mood it'll put a smile on your face.

8. Force: Five (1981)

An elite team of martial arts badasses take on a cult.  It's basically Enter the Dragon remade for the 80s, and the karate/kung fu mayhem it represents made me nostalgic for the days of throwing stars, nunchucks and Inside Kung Fu.  The most famous guy in Force: Five is probably Benny ("The Jet") Urquidez, who appeared in two of Jackie Chan's films.

Fun Fact: The character "Ken" in the Street Fighter video game series was modeled on Joe Lewis, the star of Force: Five.

9. Silent Rage (1982)

Small town sheriff Chuck Norris squares off against an unkillable maniac.  Silent Rage isn't nearly as good as The Delta Force, that height of 80s action cheese, but as Chuck Norris movies go it ranks near the top.  Ramping up the sex and violence was the right move, and the story works without needing Norris to emote.

10. Demons (1985)

Just what you'd expect from anything stamped "Argento," though he only wrote the screenplay.  In Demons several people attend a film screening wherein all hell -- literally -- breaks loose.  Those who enjoy giallo's trademark gore, stunningly beautiful women and dreamlike chase sequences will find plenty to like in Demons.

Fun Fact: This was directed by Lamberto Bava, Mario Bava's son.

11. Demons 2 (1986)

Demons or Demons 2?  It's a close race between them.  Demons takes place in a movie theater, while Demons 2 takes place in a high-rise.  Demons 2 is more inventive in some ways, while Demons has a more cohesive plot.

Actress Asia Argento, Dario Argento's daughter, was only 10 when they filmed this movie.  From #MeToo, to allegations of sexual assault, to signing a petition on Roman Polanski's behalf, to a doomed relationship with Anthony Bourdain -- she's had quite a history.

12. Gregory's Girl (1981)

Young and extremely Scottish people search for love.  It feels a lot like something that would have aired on the BBC at some point, but the characters' pointed awkwardness will probably remind you of yourself at that age -- assuming you're not that old right now.

Warning to North Americans: You'll need the subtitles on for this one.  Those are some thick accents.

It Was... OK

13. Irreconcilable Differences (1984)

Sure, Shelley Long, just invite Sharon Stone to live with you and your movie husband, Ryan O'Neal.  I'm sure he won't bang her.

The biggest problem with this movie is that after the first ten minutes the remainder is a foregone conclusion.  Ambitious young white people fall in love, have a kid, pursue careers, become estranged, etc., etc., etc.  There's no room left to be surprised by this movie, tongue in cheek as it is, and thus no dramatic tension.

Add to this the fact that there's almost zero chemistry between the two leads, and what's worse their relationship (or lack thereof) with their child, played by Drew Barrymore, is never really demonstrated in the movie. 

No, Irreconcilable Differences isn't terrible, but it is deeply unsatisfying.  If they'd leaned into the comedy more it could have been good, but instead they chose "dramedy," and that path didn't work at all.  Weirdly enough, Ryan O'Neal makes this point in the very film that demonstrates it.

14. Deep Space (1988)

Equal parts The Blob and Alien, this horror confection is formulaic enough to be fun, and nonsensical enough to be interesting.  Gotta love how various individuals just remove biological material (i.e. "space monster eggs") from a crash site without really thinking about the implications.

Deep Space is similar in some respects to 1979's The Dark, which was also reviewed here recently.  Was psychics warning detectives about future events some kind of thing in the late 70s/early 80s?  Maybe so.

15. Mortuary (1982?  1983?)

Bonus points for Bill Paxton, but this slasher film is fairly derivative.  It would have been better if they hadn't shied away from the sex and violence so much, and instead doubled down on the more disturbing elements in the story.

What would have happened to "Christy" if she'd been injected with that embalming fluid?  Could have been a memorable scene...

Didn't Like It

16. Intruder (1989)

Slasher movie set in a supermarket.  Given the number of people working in the store, you wouldn't think that the killer would be such a problem, but hey, slasher movie logic.

Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi and Bruce Campbell all make brief appearances in Intruder.  Don't think that's some kind of seal of quality, however.  In 1989 Sam Raimi wasn't the hot commodity he would later become.

17. Black Eagle (1988)

America's favorite ninja master Sho Kosugi struggles mightily with the English language while Jean-Claude Van Damme panders to the female gaze.  The real issue with this movie is that the first 3/4 of it are crushingly boring, and the showdown between Kosugi and Van Damme near the end is a huge letdown.

This film was released the same year as Van Damme's breakthrough movie Bloodsport, but just the same it's JCVD before his career really got going.  In this respect Black Eagle's a lot like the following year's Cyborg, in that JCVD's particular formula hadn't been discovered quite yet.  Post-Kickboxer?  Yeah, that's when he was more of a presence in the industry.

Fun Fact: Sho Kosugi's first screen appearance was as an extra in The Godfather Part II.

18. Dreams Don't Die (1982)

Higher production values in this TV movie, but it's really boring.  A graffiti artist tries to win his girlfriend back from the local drug dealer, and you can probably guess the rest.  None of the actors/actresses are especially convincing in their roles, though Paul Winfield does a good job as a beat cop who tries to teach the kids the error of their ways.

I... Have... Regrets...

19. Zone Troopers (1985)

Somehow this movie makes even less sense than Intruder (above).  Some World War II types (the least soldierly soldiers to ever soldier) run into aliens behind enemy lines in Italy.  You might recognize Tim Thomerson or Art LaFleur from other movies they've done since, but this one is very, very boring.

Why go all the way to Italy to film this nonsense?  Was someone laundering money?

20. Terminus (1987)

Some dude with a robot hand drives a supertruck around the more rural parts of France.  Oh, and Karen Allen's in this one for a bit, until she's not.

The most annoying part has to be the supertruck's onboard computer, which chatters on without adding much to the plot.

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"Humankind" by Rutger Bregman (2020)

"Though harmless in this instance, research shows that the effects of pluralistic ignorance can be disastrous -- even fatal.  Consider binge drinking.  Survey college students on their own, and most will say drinking themselves into oblivion isn't their favorite pastime.  But because they assume other students are big fans of drinking, they try to keep up and everyone winds up puking in the gutter."

Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian and author.  He's written several books on the subject of making the world a better place.  He's often hailed for his "new ideas," though I'm not sure if the ideas expressed in Humankind are all that new.

Not to put words into the author's mouth, but I think the crux of his argument would go something like this: in the deepest, darkest heart of Western culture lives a disagreement between Hobbes and Rousseau over human nature, and in our favoring of one side of this disagreement over the other lie the beginnings of many modern problems.

What was this disagreement?  It was, primarily, a difference of opinion regarding human nature, and whether it's essentially good or essentially evil.  Hobbes, as is well known, believed that people are inherently selfish, and otherwise apt to do one another a bad turn, while Rousseau believed that people are inherently good, and best left to their own devices.  Hobbes regarded human institutions (i.e. his "leviathans") as a means of correcting for our sinful natures, while Rousseau viewed such institutions as largely unnecessary, and what's more stultifying with respect to what is good within us.

On the one hand you've got the "realist" point of view, while on the other the "idealist," though as Bregman emphasizes "realism" and "idealism" can mean very different things in the context of a more measured understanding of human nature.

So are humans essentially bad or good?  The author of this book asserts that they are good, and that a calculated response to this inherent goodness implies a rethinking of our institutions and how these institutions tackle societal ills.

I tend to agree with him.  I think that most people are good, at least from their own point of view, and very, very few people intentionally commit malice without extraordinary reasons for doing so.  In our click-driven society it's easy to form a pessimistic or "pragmatic" opinion of other human beings, but such a line of thinking is often more owing to the way in which information is presented to us, and to faults in our own psychology.

Did I need to read all 400 pages of Humankind to arrive at this conclusion?  No, but it was, to some extent, my conclusion already.  If YOU haven't arrived at this conclusion, maybe you could give it a look?

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