Monday, March 16, 2009

Watch that Man, Honey, Watch that Man!

My review of Watchmen up at Tor.com.

13 comments:

ces said...

So, what is all the hipe about Watchmen (both the comic & the movie)? I never heard of it till a couple of months ago. I'm willing to be persuaded, especially since hubby is hot to see it.

And on an entirely different note - I just ordered a "Best of ..." book & it got me to thinking how editors decide what to put in such a book, especially if the author is deceased or has been publishing for 80+ years. (Lou - fyi the book I bought was by Pablo can'tspellhislastnamesowon'teventry)

Lou Anders said...

Alan Moore's Watchmen was one of two comics (the other being Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns that came out in the 80s and garnered comic books unprecedented mainstream attention for their level of sophisticated storytelling. It was recently named one of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century by TIME magazine. This adaptation is remarkably close to the book.

No idea who Pablo is.

Jeff Doten said...

You mentioned Samuel Delany and I hunted around but couldn't find a review from him, is he blogging ?

And the title, Watch that Man - Bowie ?

Tim Akers said...

She probably means Paolo Bacigalupi.

Lou Anders said...

Venusian - on his Facebook page.
Tim - I thought so, but she said it was a "best of".

ces said...

Tim got it! The book is PUMP SIX AND OTHER STORIES & is described as a "best of."

(I didn't even spell his first name right. :-(

Lou Anders said...

A best of? At the time, I think it was an "all of"! But Paolo is GREAT. How are you finding it?

ces said...

I don't know yet - the book arrives tomorrow from Amazon.

Currently I'm reading STEAMPUNK, ed by the VanderMeers. I am not impressed. I've read 3 stories - 2 were way too long. And none of them seem "steampunking" to me, provided I have the right idea of what steampunk is.

Lou Anders said...

You might contrast it with Nick Gevers Extraordinary Engines or get George Mann's The Affinity Trap when that is out from Tor.

Paul Wargelin said...

Hi Lou,

I have yet to see Watchmen, but am please to read your favorable review.

I also hope that this comment--"I’ve got a lot to say about trying to make an ambitious film and not pleasing everyone verses shooting for the LCD and staying comfortable. "--means a future post about this topic. :-)

Best,
Paul

Lou Anders said...

I didn't intend it that way, but it could... I am really tired of people bitching that he even attempted to film it. I want more ambition in Hollywood, not less.

ces said...

Lou,

Thanks for the suggestions! I certainly intend on reading the entire book & seeing how the others strike me.

I was just wondering though - could Mieville's IRON COUNCIL be considered steampunk with the train?

Lou Anders said...

Yes! Only it's so many things, and steampunk is just one of them!