Dan Simmons' Endymion - A Wild Water Ride Across The Universe

Today I finished Dan Simmons' brilliant third book of his Hyperion Cantos: Endymion. I devoured this probably even more eagerly than the previous two books. So, why not summarize a few thoughts about the book while they're still fresh?

The group travelling the River Tethys nearing the final confrontation on God's Grove.

Endymion, as third book in the series, continues the story of Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion in a loose way: The story takes place nearly three centuries after The Fall. 'The Fall' is understood in this new world as the end of the Hegemony of Man, FORCE, the TechnoCore and its Farcaster network in the final battle against the space-mutant-barbarians called the Ousters (remember, they were not the real enemies) - the cumulation of events that lead to the climax in The Fall of Hyperion.

Endymion, like Frank Herbert's God Emperor of Dune, introduces the reader to a second, connected series in the Hyperion universe. The world is familiar, yet changed. Endymion, in the previous two books just briefly mentioned as a large city on Hyperion, is here actually the name of the hero protagonist through whose eyes much of the story is told. Raul Endymion is a young man from Hyperion who is saved from execution by an old (very old thanks to the Poulsen Treatments) acquaintance - the poet/ drinker Martin Silenus. He, the android A. Bettik (who played a minor role in the first book) and The Consul's ship (formerly known as A.I./cybrid Joseph Severn) are sent on a mission to save the prophet child of Brawne Lamia, one of the previous cycle's pilgrims, from the clutches of the Pax - the Catholic Church, previously a forgotten religious cult, now ruling the galaxy from their vatican world of Pacem.

Throw in the mysterious killing machine The Shrike making surprise appearances and you have the ingredients for a great journey-novel. The journey follows the River Tethys - until The Fall a gift from the TechnoCore to the Hegemony, a river connected by farcaster technology over a plentitude of worlds. With Anea's evolving abilities as The One Who Teaches the unlikely band is able to traverse through the inactive farcaster portals - and face terrifying challenges that they can only master together.

The group trapped on the ice world of Sol Draconis Septem.

By this Simmons further elaborates the universe he created in the first two books, now seen under new circumstances and sometimes cut off from galactic civilization. His imaginary power leads to vivid impressions, believability and empathization with the characters, be they friends or foes. And speaking of foes, nothing here is as it seems.

As with Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion I found Endymion to be an excellent read. Released in 1995 - which was twenty years ago canyoubelieveit, I don't want to compare it to its predecessors as the third book in the series is for me just that - another brilliant iteration in the author's magnum opus. I will start reading the final entry in the series, The Rise of Endymion, tonight and hope for a conclusion of the ambitious story and answers to questions that Endymion left open.

James Bond 007 Spectre can be recommended

Spent my my friday night at the local cinema to see the new James Bond. Spectre is worth it. The action scenes are amazing - don't want to spoiler anything here, but that scene where the plane chases the SUVs, just wow. The story is Orwellian, yet a little forseeable. Christoph Waltz plays his role of a sadistic psychopath in his usual cynical style. Daniel Craig is once again the cold blooded Bond type he is known for. Hope this is not his last James Bond.


Not sure if it's on par with the brilliant Skyfall, but damn close.

The Long Way To Episode VII: Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi

I cried when Vader died.

The Long Way To Episode VII: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back. Fans still argue whether Episode IV or this one, its sequel, is the best Star Wars movie of all times.

The Death Star is destroyed and the Rebell Alliance pissed off the Galactic Empire. Without remorse the forces of evil search and destroy rebel bases. This leads to the battle on the ice planet Hoth, that has become such an iconic scene. And there's more nostalgia hidden here: the asteroid field in which the Millenium Falcon hides, just to find out it's the lair of a giant space slug, the sky city of the gas mining planet Bespin and, of course, the famous 'I'm your father' words.

Besides the fantastic soundtrack I was amused how Yoda, here as a puppet and not a cgi-character, here looks. Old school, but more to my liking, I admit.

Looking forward to see (again) how Leai and Luke save Han in Episode VI (that Leai costume...).


Is that trailer really narrated by Harrison Ford?

Movie Monsters By Decade

Stumbled across this on imgur. Worth sharing. Did anyone doubt that this decade is crazy about Zombies? Truly, with three shows simultaneously running in the TV that's the confirmation of the obvious. With a show like The Walking Dead bringing the Zombie apocalypse that great to the screen, I can only welcome that first place. As the pic shows slashers, ghosts and vampires all had their peaks. Even creatures in the 1950s - must have something to do with the dawn of the nuclear age. Have a look for yourselves and Happy Halloween everyone!

Click link above. This one is too damn small.

The Long Way To Episode VII: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

What a great movie that was once again. The most 'complete' episode of them all. Meaning one that can be watched in its own right without worrying about the before and after. But if you're like me, you watch them all.



What really got me again was the fantastic soundtrack. It brings back so many memories.

Star Wars IV starts with one of the most iconic scenes in science fiction. Princess Leia Organa's diplomatic vessel is fleeing through space. In a scene without cuts the small ship speeds past above the viewer's perspective and then the screen is filled by an never ending Star Destroyer. You instantly get it - the space nazis have arrived. The Star Destroyer is under command of Grand Moff Tarkin and the infamous Darth Vader.

The Imperial Forces manage to capture Princess Leia. But she saved an SOS call in R2D2 who then along with C3P0 is shot to Tattooine in an escape pod. To find Obi Wan Kenobi, the last Jedi Knight. On the way the androids make company with young Luke Skywalker and later, with mercenary-smuggler Han Solo and his hairy companion Chewbacca. The rest is history.

Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo

These are the ingredients which made the first Star Wars in 1977 such a hit - adventure, camaradery and romance. What I especially appreciated were the clean camera shots and timeless design of uniforms and interior. It still stands the test of time. Light sabers are as cool today as ever, probably even more so.

Episode IV: A New Hope is a classic space opera with a clear black and white idea of good and evil. Empire troops remind me of the Nazi devils in their appearance, attitude and ruthlessness whereas Luke is the innocent young hero (another fantasy trope) while Leia and the Rebel Alliance stand for the civilized, democratic good of the galaxy. Everyone wants to see them succeed in their fight against the Empire. And at the end, by destroying the ultimate weapon in the galaxy, the planet crushing Death Star, it feels like the whole Galactic Empire is shattered to pieces. That feeling of victory is probably what makes this movie feel so 'complete'. Yet, as demand topped all expectations, sequels were made. And these two classics - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi are the next on my list to watch.

The Long Way To Episode VII: Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Just watched Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith this evening. So I better write this down now while my impression is still fresh.

The Galactic Republic headed by Chancellor Palpatine is in brutal war with the secessionist movement (publically) lead by Count Dooku, played by the brilliant Christopher Lee. It's clones vs. androids.

The movie starts with a fantastic space battle for which Star Wars is so famous for. An android army took Palpatine hostage and it requires the Jedi Obi Wan and Anakin Skywalker to rescue him from the clutches of Count Dooku. Quite early in the movie it comes to the death of Dooku by hands of Anakin. He was commanded by Palpatine to execute Dooku after he beat him in single combat. Anakin's passing to the Dark Side is getting accelerated in this movie. Matter of fact, this movie is less about the fall of Anakin, the annoying youngster, and more about the rise of Darth Vader, coolest villain in the history of science fiction.

Wookies, everyone loves them.

And there's more fan service: Yoda travels to the planet of the Wookies and fights alongside Chewbacca! The Deathstar is developed and build. Mace Windu with his ridiculous purple laser sword get thrown out of a Coruscant skyscraper!

The visuals and the story climax in this Episode released in 2005, three years after Episode II. I really feel that this was by far the best movie out of the prequel trilogy. Much is explained to make the smooth transition to Episode IV: A New Hope. Like the birth of Luke and Leia, the heroes of the original trilogy.

It's master vs. apprentice in The Revenge of the Sith

Episode II and III really put my mind at ease. While Episode I was too weird, II was a respectable Star Wars movie and III a good Star Wars movie with many emotional moments for fans. I look forward to watching the original trilogy in the coming days, which serve more romance and fairy tale and no diplomacy at all. And I am getting really intrigued to delve deeper into the Star Wars lore - I'd love to know more about the origin of the Jedi and Sith conflict. While Wikia is quite big I'd be interested in a kind of expanded universe reading list. 

Here's the trailer for the aptly title Revenge of the Sith.