boreders

Following ‘Demons‘ episode 2, it occurs to me that while the series has the money to spend on CGI and fine location, they seem to lack any decent fight choreography. When I could wrestle free of my own personal demons (manifest in Philip Glenister’s accent), it seemed that both set pieces in Episodes 1 and 2 seemed more wooden than Professor Yaffle.

In the first episode, Luke fought the Noisy Boys with all the finesse of a post-accident physiotherapy session. I guess this might have something to do with the age and experience of the combatants, and possibly the timeslot. Can kids (and that’s what the Noisy Boys are) grasp the complexities of fight work on the limited budget and timescales of a TV series? Perhaps not.

However, the same excuse doesn’t seem to stand up for Episode 2, where Luke squared off against Gilgamel. Here was an adult sweltering under a pile of cosmetics and prosthetics… so, is that the excuse here for a battle with less zip than a Velcro factory? Gilgamel’s needle arms had a sort of flap of flesh extending into the chest of the actor, so I imagine they were an absolute bugger to move around. Nice makeup is pointless if the damned stuff prevents fluid and realistic movement in a fight…

So, a ‘No Score’ situation as of Demons episode 2. Yes, it isn’t diabolical (There’s probably a pun in there), but head-to-head against Doctor Who, it wouldn’t stand a chance…

Yesterday, I started reading ‘Dreamsnake’ by Vonda N. McIntyre. My reading this book presents all sorts of personal firsts.

Firstly, despite her success and science fiction literary awards, this will be the first time I have ever read a book by McIntyre. I like the idea of coming to an author for the first time, with the hope that it won’t simply be a one night stand. Reading my first Kathy Reich book was much the same – and I have gone on to read more. I also read more Dan Brown after finishing ‘The Da Vinci Code’, almost entirely because the sheer readability of the book took me completely by surprise.

Secondly, in buying this book, this is my first 1p purchase from Amazon Marketplace. I have associates who wouldn’t consider spending more on a book these days, despite the fact – in truth – the standard postage associated with the purchase means you never pay less than £2.76… Nevertheless, I found the process painless and relatively cheap.

Finally, this will be the first time I have ever read a book because a calendar told me to. Yes, you read that right. The excellent Futurama Calendar not only serves up some superb spoof images of movies with a Futurama twist (like January’s ‘Clone Alone’, with Cubert Farnsworth filling the Macaulay Culkin role in the classic poster image with the hapless criminals in the background and Cubert wide mouthed in shock) and an incredible breadth of information (it includes International Talk Like A Pirate Day on September 19th – how complete is that?!), it also tells you what to read. Every few weeks, the little calendar square says ‘Read so-and-so book’, starting with ‘Dreamsnake’ on 9th January. I’m all for new experiences in reading, so I intend to do my level best keeping up with the recommendations and expanding my horizons.

I wonder how they make commission out of it?

This morning, I woke to what might best be described as a heavy frost. I’m not sure it warrants the description ’snow’, as it seemed largely to involve rock hard ice with a deceptively thin sprinkling of loose material on top. Having fallen over 6 weeks ago and sprained my foot, I didn’t fancy going anywhere – but, today was my first day back at work and I’m not sure I have an option to not come in because it’s a bit icy.

As it happens, the journey proved largely calamity free. The motorway was pretty loose and free flowing. I spotted a couple of distraught drivers and their ruined cars in the opposite lane, but nothing on my route… until I reached work…

The site I work on has a barrier controlled entrance, but in the morning – to sooth congestion, users of the fourth car park (a temporary gravel affair) can access it from a side entrance through a rusty metal gateway. A small slip road cuts away to the left from the main road, and as I approached I saw a security guard walking over towards the gate, a few scattered orange cones, and a sign warning ‘Icy’. Icy… fur sure. Before the guard could do much to stop me, I drove on to the slip road and proceeded to hit a sheet of ice. Brake and hand brake instantly applied, I slid for a good 9 or 10 yard, before coming to a stop with a cone pressed against the front of the car.

To travel around 35 miles and suffer a nearly accident in the final few yards… How embarrassing is that?!

Rupert Galvin… Philip Glenister… Demons… American accent… WHY???

Seriously, Philip has a perfectly decent accent all of his own. I don’t mean DCI Hunt’s gruff tones, I means his own accent. So, why make him speak with a faux American accent, likely to put me off watching the series?

The house is quiet, except for the scuffling of various small animals in the dining room and the vague nattering of the boys in their bedroom. New Year was 40 minutes ago, and I’ve done most of the washing up. We spent the evening with friends nibbling on a buffet of snacks, and played a few party games. Now, it’s time to go to bed.

Resolutions for the New Year, anyone? I plan to:

• Secure and complete business for at least three web sites
• Write one Maelstrom supplement
• Write one PARANOIA supplement
• Enter a short story into this years SFX short story competition
• Lose a stone

That seems like a fair set of aims. How about you?