TV Miniseries: Andromeda Strain

Perhaps it is the indication of how little known Michael Crichton’s first novel (as Michael Crichton) “The Andromeda Strain ” is – the 2-part A&E TV miniseries came and went without making much of a splash. Although, there may be other reasons for that (see below).

The King Speaks

First off, I don’t like to read “business” books. Secondly, I love books which have chess as a theme (though not core chess books). Fortunately for me, Garry Kasparov’s “How Life Imitates Chess” definitely falls in the second category, though not rigidly belonging to the first one.

Movie Review: Angels and Demons

Once again, it’s time for lost religious treasures, Secret Societies and Harvard Symbologist Prof. Robert Langdon to the rescue.

Personally, I think “Angels and Demons”, the book is much better than “Da Vinci Code”, the book. The same holds true for the movies, if you ask me.

When Mary Russell came to town

In what is turning out to be a (mostly) Sherlock Holmes-themed month (not that I am complaining), I decided to check out the latest stop in the author Laurie R. King’s book tour.

Holmes of The Opera

The Great Hiatus of Holmes’ life has always been a source of endless speculation, and inspiration to authors. “The Canary Trainer ” by Nicholas Meyer (published as ‘a lost manuscript by John H. Watson, M.D.’) is third in the series of his books explaining the absence of Holmes from his homeland.

Interview with Helen Hollick – Part II

Continued from Part I.

Author Helen Hollick “never enjoyed the ‘traditional’ Arthurian stories”.

King Arthur and his Knights of the legend are closer to fantasy than history. Plus, there is no proof either way of Arthur’s existence. So, can we call “The Kingmaking” historical fiction?

Interview with Helen Hollick – Part I

Turned out longer than I planned, so you get to enjoy it in two parts.

 

In “The Kingmaking”, Helen Hollick has presented the story of Arthur Pendragon, who although a gifted general and warlord, is completely different from the King Arthur of Camelot.

The Story of Once and Future King

The title ‘Once and Future King’ is not lightly given, and there are very few kings (or queens) in history of the world who have so permeated into the psyche of a nation.

But in Helen Hollick’s “The Kingmaking ” (first of her Pendragon’s Banner trilogy), the story of Arthur is separated from its mythical aspects of magic and chivalry.

TV Miniseries: The Last Templar

The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon are notorious for their meteoric rise and equally sudden demise. “The Last Templar ” by Raymond Khourie (on which the NBC miniseries is based) is one of the novels which revolve around the famous (and famously lost) Templar treasure.

Clash of Legends

When I first started reading about WW II outside of history syllabus, the first hero who emerged was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Later, Commando comics introduced me to the other side: The legendary Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). “Killing Rommel” by Steven Pressfield is the story of the wars between these two groups.