The Imam of Tawi-Tawi (2018) – Ian Hamilton

There’s nothing like starting a new year, with an old friend. And hitting book shelves this week, is my friend Ava Lee, returning in her latest adventure, her tenth novel, by Canadian author, Ian Hamilton. This tale picks up shortly after the last, The Courtier of Milan, with forensic accountant Lee’s love life coming to…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – The Nth Degree, and Qpid

Captain’s log: stardate 44704.2 Airing on 1 April, 1991, The Nth Degree, written by Joe Menosky, brought back fan favourite Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz). Barclay is slowly finding his way out of his shell, working with Crusher (Gates McFadden) on some theatre workshops. He’s slowly finding his way. The Enterprise arrives at the Argus Array…

Coraline (2002) – Neil Gaiman

It’s always a delight to dig into a Neil Gaiman story, and I have come to this one after seeing the movie a number of times. I knew going in it would be slightly different, so I was eager to see what the original text would bring me. And what it brought me was a…

Time Bandits (1981) – Terry Gilliam

Back in 1981 or 1982, on a free Super Channel or First Choice weekend I received my first introduction to the cinematic stylings of Terry Gilliam with Time Bandits. An odd, decidedly British science fiction adventure film, it is also one of the recommendations (following T2) as I return to the Action genre of the…

Star Trek: Battlestations! (1986) – Diane Carey

The Star Trek novel on the Book Shelf this week is the last one to feature an author created character in the lead role. Commander Piper, previously appearing in Dreadnought! is back in this follow-up that is set only weeks after the first novel. Told in the first person, Piper’s story is exciting, and fits…

Finding Nemo (2003) – Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich

Finding Nemo, the final recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of The Lion King was the Pixar film that cemented my love for them. Yes, I totally enjoy Toy Story 1 & 2 as well as A Bug’s Life, but Finding Nemo made my affection for Pixar…

A Wind in the Door (1973) – Madeline L’Engle

This week, I dove into the second adventure of the Murry children first begun in the childhood classic (which I had never read) A Wrinkle in Time. I was curious to see where both characters and story would go as the adventure continues, so I devoured the book eagerly. This story feels both larger and…

A Wrinkle in Time (1963) – Madeleine L’Engle

Somehow this was a book that slipped though the cracks of my childhood, and it never found its way home from the school library with me. I figured I am long overdue to review this one, and considering it’s considered a classic of both the science fiction and fantasy genres it was time to dig…