The Devil Came To Collect

While the war started by Hitler was knocking on his doors, the three most powerful men in the world met at Yalta from 4th February to 11th February 1945, to discuss the future of the post-war Europe, and the world. The third novel in the Churchill’s War series by Michael Dobbs, Churchill’s Triumph: A Novel of Betrayal is the story of those 8 days which plotted the course of many years to come.

The Boy from The Stars

In memory of Sir Arthur C. Clarke, I would like to introduce you to one of the first sci-fi novels I have ever read, “Preshit” (Preshit: Marathi - A man sent, by someone or from something) by Dr. Jayant Narlikar.

The War of Playwrights

The defeat of Spanish Armada is one of the major turning points in the history of Europe, indeed the world. But what would have happened if the Armada would have reached the shores of Britain?

RIP Arthur C. Clarke

Being a Science-Fiction author is not an easy thing (and I know that because I have tried). Being counted as one of the greats in Sci-Fi genre, indeed any genre is definitely not a matter everyone can achieve (incidentally, does anyone remember Jules Verne now?). Sir Arthur C. Clarke (16 December 1917 – 19 March 2008 ) deservedly was such an author.

Movie review: The Spiderwick Chronicles

Based on the book series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, “The Spiderwick Chronicles” is one more fantasy movie on the premise that the world around us is not exactly what it looks to be.

Jared Grace, his twin brother Simon and elder sister Mallory have shifted with their mother to their great-aunt’s house. Young Jared is unhappy about his parents’ divorce and his anger gets him in trouble.

7 Things I Learnt in 2007

Statutory notice: This post is not a book review. Neither is it directly related to books.

I know that first week of 2008 is already over, and I seem to have missed my bus for “2007 roundup” season. But then, did you expect anything else which proudly puts “Lazy” in the title?

So, 2007 was a good year for me, from blogging perspective, at least. In sad news, Talons… proved short-lived, even after getting 131 posts in just 1 year. But then, in good news, I decided to take my book reviews seriously, and started this blog. I moved all the reviews from Adlergedanke to this blog, and decided to be a bit structured in my hobby (I know that doesn’t make much sense).

A Bit Spooky…

I picked up “Everything’s Eventual” by Stephen King to read the story “1408“, as part of “Book to Movie challenge”. Then I realised that I have reviewed almost no story collections, and this is my second “King”. So, I put this down for “2nds Challenge“.

Movie Review: The Golden Compass

If the deadline for “Book to Movie challenge” was even a week later, this would have been my unhesitating choice.This seems to be the year of movies based on books. Considering the popularity of corresponding books, The Golden Compass (based on the novel by Phillip Pullman) is perhaps the most awaited after Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

A Week at The Museum

Museums, with their ancient and often half-known artifacts are always a place of mystery for everybody. Add a basement and a sub-basement storing millions of uncatalogued artifacts, and you have got yourself a thriller.

The first book in the Pendargast series, “The Relic” by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child takes full advantage of the setting.

Dry as Desert

I know I am going to get a lot of hate-mail over this one, and people might start looking for my photos to put on effigies (I am well aware of the irony).

If there ever was a book which came highly recommended, it was this one. But for me, the “Dune” by Frank Herbert was the book which showed the dangers of hype (over-hype, even).