Ron loaned me a hard copy of Mike Reiss‘ 2018 book on his years working on The Simpsons. He was one of the first writers when the show started in 1989.
Hilarious. I recommend it.
I stopped watching The Simpsons back when every episode was controversial. They made fun of everyone and everything.
But I’m still a big fan. My Facebook avatar is Lugash, Lisa Simpson’s Gymnastics coach.
Ten years in … Family Guy launched.
Peter Griffin was fatter and dumber. Family Guy mocked topics sacrosanct to The Simpsons.
Surprisingly, many on The Simpsons writing team were offended.
Book #3 in her excellent Cormoran Strike series. Rowling writes under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.
Unlike most books I read, in this one are only two important characters: Robin Ellacott and her boss Cormoran Strike.
Both are damaged individuals. Both are flawed. Both are complex.
The relationship between the two drives the plotline.
In this one a killer (who loves Blue Öyster Cult) stalks Robin, whom he sees as part of his plan to exact revenge against private investigator Cormoran Strike.
… The team uses unorthodox “fringe” science and FBI investigative techniques to investigate a series of unexplained, often ghastly occurrences, which are related to mysteries surrounding a parallel universe.
If you claim Dune is the greatest Science Fiction novel of all time, I’d not argue.
Recently I reread the first 3 books in the series.
Written 1965, it’s superb. Not at all dated.
Dune was rejected by more than 20 publishers—before being published by Chilton Books, a little-known printing house best known for its auto repair manuals.
Frank Herbert wrote 6 books before his death. As I recall from past readings each sequel was less compelling.
Book 2 is Dune Messiah 1969. I again found it slow, dark and overly philosophical.
Book 3 is Children of Dune 1976. Better than Messiah, but still too slow paced. In fact hardly anything happens in books 2 and 3. It’s mostly interpersonal intrigue.
When his son took over for the 7th book they got even worse.
I actually found things to like about both the 1984 film and the 2000 TV miniseries. Sting was excellent, for example.
Still … it’s time for another version of Dune. Happily we can look forward to that December, 2020. Jason Momoa plays Duncan Idaho.
Liet Kynes will be played by a woman.
Click PLAY or watch a teaser on YouTube.
In June 2019 it was announced that Legendary Television will be producing a spin-off television series, Dune: The Sisterhood, for WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming service, HBO Max. The series will focus on the Bene Gesserit and serve as a prequel to the 2020 film.
