A substantially shorter novel than the first book in the series, Dune Messiah is on the Book Shelf this week. Published four years after Dune, Messiah is set twelve years after the events that saw Paul Atreides become Emperor, marry a princess in name only, and his Fremen launched their jihad on the galaxy. Paul…
Tag: trouble
Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973/1974) – The Slaver Weapon, The Eye of the Beholder, and The Jihad
Captain’s log: stardate 4187.3 Larry Niven adapts his story The Soft Weapon to become a Star Trek episode in this tale that first aired 15 December 1973. The race is on when Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) and Sulu (George Takei) discover an ancient weapon. The come up against the cat-like Kzinti who want…
Broken Blossoms (1919) – D.W. Griffith
I continue to explore some of the key works of D.W. Griffith with DK Book’s The Movie Book, and this time I dive into a fascinating tale that is perhaps best told through the silent format that marked Griffith’s time. Be warned there is a lot of racism in this film. It’s in the title….
Doctor Who (Christoper Eccleston) – Boom Town and Bad Wolf
The Doctor (Eccleston), Rose (Billie Piper) and Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) encounter the last surviving member of the Slitheen family, Margaret (Annette Badland) on what was supposed to be a quick recharge of the TARDIS on the rift in Cardiff. Boom Town was written by Russell T. Davies and originally aired on 4 June,…
Mostly Harmless (1992) – Douglas Adams
It’s time for one last adventure with Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect as I opened the pages of the fifth book in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy. Within moments I was laughing as I plunged into the familiar world that Adams created. He brings the story full circle and plays with other science…
Doctor Who (Sylvester McCoy) – Ghost Light
A spooky house, strange wait staff, secrets, monsters, aliens… Ghost Light is a lot of fun, and the Doctor (McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) have a heck of a time, as the Companion confronts a bit of her past. Written by Marc Platt, and encapsulated in a tightly paced and enjoyable three parts, Ghost Light…
Superman: The Animated Series (1998) -Little Girl Lost Parts I & II, and Where There’s Smoke
Season 2 of Superman’s (Tim Daly) animated adventures comes to a close this week, with the two parter, Little Girl Lost, which introduces the DC Animated Universe to Kara (Nicholle Tom), better known as Supergirl. The story aired as a whole on 2 May, 1998. The first part sees Superman rescuing the sole survivor of…
Doctor Who (Sylvester McCoy) – Dragonfire
The final story of Season 24, and McCoy’s first comes to a close this week, with the three part tale, Dragonfire. Written by Ian Briggs, this serial ran from 23 November to 7 December, 1987. This was Mel’s (Bonnie Langford) last adventure with the Doctor, and a new companion, Ace (Sophie Aldred) joins the Time…
Quantum Leap (1991) – Private Dancer and Piano Man
Sam (Scott Bakula) finds himself in the body of a male stripper, Rod ‘The Bod’ in Private Dancer. Written by Paul Brown this episode first aired on 20 March, 1991. As Rod, Al (Dean Stockwell) informs Sam that he is there to help a young, deaf, waitress, and hopeful dancer, Dianna (Rhondee Beriault) and stop…
Superman: The Animated Series (1997) – Action Figures, Double Dose and Solar Power
On 20 September, 1997, Metallo (Malcolm McDowell), last seen lost in the depths of the ocean, strides ashore in Action Figures. And that could spell trouble for Superman (Tim Daly). However, it seems the cyborg is suffering from some sort of amnesia when he shows up on a remote island, where he is cared for…
The Mind Reels 