Just finished 'Cruel Provocations' by @golgaloth and I wish it wasn't over - so much so that I stopped myself reading the last few chapters last night, just to draw the enjoyment out a little longer.
An intriguing tale that combines an ostensibly fantasy setting with proto-electric technology (lightning-punk?) its twists and turns take you to unexpected places, and does "the fey" with a unique approach that I loved.
A very impressive debut novel that cries out for a sequel!
For those in Oz with a penchant for folk-horror, I noticed last night that SBS On Demand currently has the classic 1973 original of 'The Wicker Man' available.
It expires a month from now, so be sure to take a trip to Summerisle before then, otherwise their apple crops may fail once more... 😉
Apparently it actually arrived yesterday - I've been in "bedroom isolation" away from rest of the fam this week while I have Covid again (yay...) but was apparently asleep when the post came and then my partner got distracted and only remembered to bring it in to me this morning.
Will be sure to let you know - I'm just finishing off another book so hopefully will get to start it tonight! 😁
Not a patch on some of the amazing shots I'm seeing, but as I'm laid up with Covid this is the best shot I've managed of the #AuroraAustralis looking out onto the street from my front porch tonight.
Just insane colours. (3 second exposure, handheld on iPhone 13 mini.)
It's Star Wars Day once again, so with that in mind, here's a bit of minor Star Wars gaming history for the three people who might be still interested, haha - an interview I did with Jack Yarwood for Time Extension last year, about developing NES Star Wars for Lucasfilm/JVC back in the day.
Despite having a movie watch list long enough that I will clearly never get to the end in this lifetime, tonight (at least partially because I still can't play 'Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story' yet on my Switch), I found myself rewatching Hudson Hawk for at least the third time in my life so far.
Here's a quick review I just banged out, on Letterboxd. (Spoiler: Against the prevailing wisdom/party line, this movie gives me joy.)
@psychicparrot42@imalcolm Well I have to add in this list "of this type of things" what I consider MAYBE one of the ( most underrated ? ) best martial arts movies EVER done ! "Game of death 2" ( the one with Bruce Lee ). I think Tong Lung is just incredible in that role, but so all the other characters. To me it contains one of the MOST EPIC battle scenes with the flashback "Chin Ku deadly sword ! I'll have to use Billy's Jeet Kune Do style !" EPIC !
Walking to the station I just passed the Iron Maiden tram, so taking this as a sign to break out a bottle of Fear of the Dark stout when I get home. 🤘🍺
Parked under a shady tree waiting for partner and youngest to finish shopping - perfect opportunity for a quick run (or ten) in Porklike on my phone.
Only discovered this minimalist Pico 8 roguelike with ZX Spectrum-esque graphics last week, but it’s now my current fave “just one more go” five-minute filler.
Normally I play on Mac, but nice to see on phone it adds virtual touch controls. Goal is to reach the 10th floor - my current best run ended on the 6th…
@witewulf@imalcolm “Listen ‘ere slags. This apartment benefits from a reception room, a sarf facin’ aspect for all day fackin’ sunlight, and is in walkin’ distance of a nice, rough boozer where you can smash some fackin’ ‘eads of a weekend”
A pretty warm one here today, so we took the doggo out for a walk earlier before it got too uncomfortable for her.
It was 24 C when we left and 31 when we got back two hours later, but an hour of that was spent with all of us lying under a shady tree in a park, where our girl found a very satisfying stick to chew. 😉
(Expected top of 37 today, so now inside for the foreseeable, with cool drinks being order of the day. 🍻 )
Interesting article about the ongoing demise of videogame magazines in the Grauniad.
The stuff about feeling part of a club really hit home, as that's exactly how it felt as a teen reading Crash, Zzap!64 and especially Amiga Power, with their in-jokes, shared sense of belonging and often anarchic approach.
A new monthly issue out was cause for rejoicing in ways my kids can never understand with on-tap 24/7 gaming news.