I’m about halfway through the Hitchhiker series, which is very different from my usual preferred reading. For starters, it’s not a continuous story so much as it’s a series of skits. Yes, there’s an overall story and goal for most of the characters, but the novels aren’t really interested in getting you to the end. Hitchhiker, as one might guess from the title, is about the journey.
The novels make many points about the subjective insanity of the universe and the struggle of sentient beings to find meaning where there may be no meaning at all. Mostly, however, it’s a chance to comment on aspects of human life and culture (in this case British culture). One would think this would make the novels very accessible to a foreign audience; this isn’t the case. Hitchhiker requires a well rounded knowledge of British culture that few non-British peoples will possess. This is a shame because the novels are very clever in that dry, absurd way that’s so typical of British humor.
While everyone will get something out the novels, I suspect it takes a very particular person to appreciate them. If you’re naturally drawn to British literature, you’ll probably love it, especially if you’re a Dr. Who fan.
Published on May 19, 2009
in TV by Mythophile
I confess, I hadn’t seen this anime despite being a long time anime fan. First, Geneon’s price tags were expensive for an old anime and second, it was hyped. Recently, I’ve had some time to sit down and watch the entire series and here are a few reflections on it.
Originally, I was convinced that an old series like this one was popular only because there was a shortage of anime released state-side at the time. This is a logical assumption since the anime I tend to like isn’t the kiddie fair that’s so popular in many main stream circles. I’m happy to say that Trigun earned it’s reputation because it really IS good.
Vash is surprisingly Mary-sueish, but managed to work without falling into the Mary-sue trap. The humor is actually funny, something I find rare in anime because slapstick and juvenile humor do not appeal to me. I would say this series is more accessible to an english speaking audience than your regular anime, and that this is a good starter anime for your friends.
While it starts as a comedy, Trigun gets very serious long before the midway point of the show. This is bound to throw some people for a loop, but the entire show is certainly worth watching, and the rewatch value in this title is high.
Rating: 5/5
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Published on April 5, 2009
in Movies by Mythophile
What an underrated anime! Basically it’s the Island of Dr. Moreau with some Little Mermaid twists. Very good over all, though it suffers from lack of character development and some weak dialogue. It’s a mere 4 episodes long, so that accounts for a lot of the problems.
Rating: 3/5
After coming back from seeing Hellboy II (which is excellent), and started thinking about fairies in modern fantasy novels. It seems like most of the stuff published today is some sort of White Wolf style fantasy universe where humans live unknowingly by various supernatural beings. I’ve noticed fairies/fae seem to be at the bottom of the food-chain in these stories. Vampires are always the lords and kings, werewolves are the bandits or warriors, wizards are the scientists, yet all of them function as part of society. Fairies, on the other hand, are truly outsiders. Bound by morals that limit them, they are lawful to their own detriment and always seem to end up dead or enslaved.
I think I can understand why wild beings are shown as more honorable and honest than any other group. Faeries show genuine compassion for things and people that are antagonistic towards them, understanding and accepting their natures rather than seeking to alter them. In part fairies are symbolic of wild, untamed nature. They get screwed because they’re honorable and respectful when the other groups are not.
They’re also endlessly diverse in form and function. Even male characters end up feminized, which strikes me as a bit odd since Vampires are more sexual in nature than fairies. Vampires, if anything, are always very masculine in their roles, even the ladies. They want power and love competition. Most fairies don’t particularly give a fig about that. They just want to live peacefully, or genuinely want to help someone else.
And where are the fairy novels? Why are they usually only pulled out as a last resort in a series dealing with some other supernatural? Are these tragic beings not worthy of their own stories?
