literature | St. Gallen's Scribblings

A Christmas Carol (1984)

Posted on December 23 by Remy St. Gallen

Charles Dickens’s classic novella A Christmas Carol likely sets the record for having the most film and television adaptations, among them the 1984 live-action made-for-TV version directed by Clive Donner, starring the late George Campbell Scott as the misanthropic Ebenezer Scrooge, who considers his payment of taxes to the British government his main contribution to society, being a thrifty businessman and not a people-person. Scrooge displays apathy towards the Christmas season at his nephew Fred Hollywell, son of his deceased older sister Fanny, and his current business partner Bob Cratchit, who replaced the long-dead Jacob Marley.

On Christmas Eve, the earthbound specter of Marley visits Scrooge and admonishes him that he will meet a similar fate if he doesn’t change his ways, warning that three spirits will come after midnight. First is the Ghost of Christmas Past, which shows Scrooge in his youth, beginning with his abandonment by his father at a boarding school after his mother died in childbirth. The Ghost of Christmas Present shows him the Cratchit family’s celebration of the holidays, with the disabled Tiny Tim vulnerable to early death, and his married nephew’s festivities. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge that nobody misses him after his demise, some even purloining his possessions, which makes him change his ways.

Overall, I believe this to be the definitive adaptation of Dickens’s story, which is one of few pieces of literature I would term a masterpiece, given that despite being written in the mid-nineteenth century, it’s still readable by contemporary standards (more so than the author’s other works), and has a timeless message that the well-to-do should be more compassionate towards the lesser-privileged and of high character. I have a minor issue with Fred not mourning or bequeathing his uncle’s property in the alternate future where Scrooge dies. However, the central theme, “God Bless Us, Everyone,” is one of the most beautiful pieces of seasonal music ever composed and had me cry happy tears. Very highly recommended.

Listen to the main theme yourself:

Extremist

Posted on December 4 by Remy St. Gallen

Extremist by Craig Martelle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The third installment of Craig Martelle and Brad R. Torgersen’s science-fiction Zenophobia series, which they describe as a cross between H.G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau and Indiana Jones in Outer Space, opens with the main antagonists, headed by the female Tigroid Arbai, yearning to stop Sankar, another Tigroid declared as a heretic for seeking the true origins of his kind and other space roaming animal races, from accomplishing his goal. The main chapters begin with Sankar conferring with his companions, the Ursoids Breon and Akoni, the Wolfoid Bayane, Gwarzo the Goroid, and fellow Tigroid Junak, all visiting an unknown planet and civilization.

On the said planet, a soldier named Evaria acts as Defense Minister of the Golongal Peoples Revolution, recalling her past, with her and her people’s exact species and appearances deliberately left initially undescribed due to twists later in the story. Another soldier of the same race, Coak, receives significant attention during the chapters occurring on the planet. Sankar eventually takes the Four-Claw from the larger vessel Bilkinmore and lands on the world, noticing combat among these less-advanced aliens. On first contact, Sankar attempts communication with Evaria. Meanwhile, Arbai’s vessel, the Direwolf sets down elsewhere on the planet.

Sankar traverses the planet and ultimately meets a mystic called the Abbot, who reveals their race’s backstory and that of the zenos, with the Four-Claw and Arbai’s Blood Moon engaging during their departure. The story concludes with the Abbot beginning to relay his knowledge to a war college of zenos. Overall, while it has some of the same issues as its precursors, such as the difficulty at times of keeping track of the species of the various characters (although reading its predecessors somewhat cemented their races in my mind), the third book does have some good revelations and action, and I will continue reading the series.

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Dune Messiah

Posted on November 19 by Remy St. Gallen

Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Newer editions of the first Dune sequel have a foreword from its author’s son, Brian Herbert, who indicates that it’s perhaps the most misunderstood entry of the original series, given its antithetical nature to its predecessor, with protagonist Paul Atreides, the Muad’Dib, becoming a “fool saint.” Frank Herbert intended the first follow-up to evoke the lesson that governments often lie to their people, with citizens needing to question their leaders. As in the first entry of the original Dune Chronicles, new chapters open with philosophical quotes, indicating things such as the lack of separation between gods and men.

The second book occurs twelve years after its predecessor, with Paul’s Jihad raging for that intervention. The Muad’Dib controls the flow of the spice melange, with his sister Alia also a religious icon. Meanwhile, Scytale, a Tleilaxu Face Dancer, and Jadacha, a hermaphrodite able to change his gender at will, conspire to assassinate Paul. The Sisterhood also believes that Paul’s Jihad has somewhat gone out of control. Furthermore, a love triangle develops among Paul, Irulan, and the Fremen Chani, with the Muad’Dib contemplating siring an heir and arguing with the two women about doing so.

There are occasional surprises in the second installment, such as the return of a character thought dead in the book’s predecessor, not to mention a sequel hook for the third book in the Dune Chronicles, with Brian Herbert indicating that Dune Messiah arose with the intent of being a bridge between the first and third entries rather than a standalone story. The first sequel accomplishes its goals well, although, like the original, it’s somewhat more human interest than hard science fiction. Even so, those who enjoyed the original Dune will likely appreciate its sequel.

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Dune (novel)

Posted on November 3 by Remy St. Gallen

Dune by Frank Herbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first written installment of the late author Frank Herbert’s Dune franchise opens with Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam visiting Jessica on the Atreides homeworld of Caladan. Her son Paul is the prophesized Kwisatz Haderach, with the Reverend Mother upset Jessica didn’t birth a girl, and she tests Paul with the gom jabbar, a needle with poison on its tip. The Houses of Atreides and Harkonnen have been bitter enemies for generations, with the latter holding the desert world of Arrakis in fiefdom for fourscore. Family patriarch Baron Vladimir Harkonnen plots with his nephews to lure the Atreides into a trap in the desert world.

The Atreides prepare to move to Arrakis, with an assassination attempt upon Paul. His father, Duke Leto, informs his son of a plot by the Harkonnens to have Paul distrust his mother. The Atreides are targeted by the Harkonnens on Arrakis, with Paul ultimately discovering his true lineage. The spice melange, found exclusively on Arrakis, is considered valuable as water and key to defeating the Harkonnens. Paul and Jessica ultimately take refuge with the world’s native inhabitants, the Fremen, with the Atreides son learning skills like how to ride sandworms.

The Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe, Shaddam IV, is eventually involved in the plot against House Atreides, shortly after which the narrative ends. Herbert follows the main text with appendices explaining things such as the ecology and religion of Arrakis. He also includes a helpful dictionary on terminology exclusive to his Duniverse, with newer incarnations of the novel adding an afterword by his son Brian Herbert. Overall, the first written tale of the Duniverse is enjoyable, with good action and its influence on future science-fiction franchises such as Star Wars, even if it sometimes delves into human interest.

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Heretic

Posted on October 25 by Remy St. Gallen

Heretic by Craig Martelle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The first installment of the Zenophobia series by Craig Martelle and Brad R. Torgerson opens with the mention that two extraterrestrial races, Tigroids and Ursoids, the former being tiger-like and the latter being bear-like, have been conducting underground war despite open relations on the surface. Sankar, a Tigroid, battles an Ursoid fighter in space, then returns to his parents, the High Priest Zeon, and his wife, Actiosa. Zeon declares his son to be a Heretic, to be freely hunted, after which Sankar travels the Ursoid planet of Medvedgrad. His companions include the Ursoid Akoni, whose brother Koni runs a junkyard where Sankar seeks repairs for his fighter, the Four-Claw.

However, Sankar learns that he and his companions must steal the parts for repair. Thus, he, fellow Tigroid Junak, Akoni, the gorilla-like Goroid Gwarzo, and the wolflike Bayane embark on a mission to do so. They also steal lab animals, using some such as cattle for food, while trying to outfly the authorities that would otherwise arraign them. Other characters include Maglor, an enigmatic businessman who crosses paths with Sankar and company. Akoni also revisits his brother and goes tomb-raiding with the others, stealing a mummy that they analyze aboard the Bilkinmore, the mothership of the Four-Claw.

Overall, while I usually like stories starring anthropomorphic characters, Heretic somehow disappointed me, with the difficulty at times of keeping track of the races to which the characters belong, and Sankar’s branding as the eponymous heretic seeming not to play a significant role throughout the events. Some of the action is good, and I could visualize many of the various settings, although the ending feels abrupt. Furthermore, whichever planets are home to which species depends on the reader’s knowledge of animal names in other languages (for instance, Medvedgrad, an Ursoid planet), but I will still read onward.

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Star Wars: Ahsoka (novel)

Posted on October 14 by Remy St. Gallen

Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author E.K. Johnston dedicates this canon Star Wars book to the Royal Handmaiden Society and writes in her acknowledgements section that she wanted to write a Star Wars book, receiving input from the Lucasfilm Story Group to formulate a story about Ahsoka Tano, who in The Clone Wars CG series left the Jedi Order towards the end of the conflict that rages between the second and third Episodes of the film franchise. The novel opens with a look at the past, when Ahsoka Tano exchanges taunts on the burning planet Mandalore with the former Sith Lord Maul, thought dead after The Phantom Menace but confirmed alive with prosthetics in The Clone Wars.

Given the decimation of the Jedi Order after the Clone Wars concluded with Chancellor-turned-Emperor Sheev Palpatine’s Order 66 to have the clone soldiers turn against their former Jedi commanders, protagonist Ahsoka feels alone but actually appreciates solitude, living in the Outer Rim of the galaxy near the Fardi family on the world Thabeska under the alias Ashla, as the first Empire Day indicating the anniversary of the Republic’s transition into the Galactic Empire comes. She quickly involves herself in technological repair work, occasionally missing the droid R2-D2 and her former master, Anakin Skywalker.

However, Imperial Stormtroopers seeking survivors from Order 66 quickly force Ahsoka to resettle on Raada, with occasional Jedi mind tricks furthering her survival. One of her friends, Kaeden, an orphan with nothing to his name, is captured by soldiers and interrogated about the former Jedi’s whereabouts, with another antagonist, the Sixth Brother, spearheading the search for her. The story concludes with Ahsoka recruited by Alderaan Senator Bail Organa into the Rebel Alliance and her adoption of the name Fulcrum. Overall, this canon Star Wars novel is enjoyable, despite minor confusion regarding character fates and their names, but is recommended easily to series fans.

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The Demon Hunter

Posted on October 12 by Remy St. Gallen

The Demon Hunter by Duncan M. Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The third and final installment of author Duncan M. Hamilton’s Blood of Kings trilogy opens with a foreword indicating that it occurs in the same universe as his other trilogies. The story begins in the past, with two warriors, Giffrid and Abrecan, ready to end the war they are fighting against their nemesis, Fenerik. The chapters afterward begin with the dramatis personae discussing how best to protect the last blood-bearer, Conrad, versus the forces that would seek to eradicate him. He and his companions investigate demon magic, with Conrad able to read some ancient writing and having some magical capability.

His companions suggest formal magical training, with Conrad taught towards the end of the novel to get in touch with a mystic power known as the Fount. He and his older companions break into the mansion of the Count of Streblano, seeking to purloin an ancient text during one of his parties. Among the characters, Luther travels to patrol the Frontier, where he regularly encounters demons that have begun to amass. Conrad and his allies then explore the nether regions of the castle where he had his swordsmanship instruction, with one of the rooms there said to harbor ancient magic.

Meanwhile, Conrad’s old rival Manfred runs a criminal organization, having gotten his start from the demonic Isgurin, and goes on an expedition to seek mystic artifacts. Conrad and company ultimately discover Manfred’s intentions and pursue him, engaging some of his men in combat. Isgurin brings Manfred before his master, Fanrac, who wants to restore his ancient empire. The final confrontation with Fanrac arrives, with the reunion of Conrad and Manfred not being happy, either. The novel settles the fate of its various luminaries, with a wedding in the mix.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the final installment of Hamilton’s fantasy trilogy; I would gladly check out his other works, provided they occur in the same universe as the Blood of Kings series. I could easily visualize the action and scenery throughout the story and genuinely experienced a sense of foreboding as Conrad and his companions explored dark underground paths; the continued rivalry between Conrad and Manfred resolves satisfactorily. The anticlimax and alternation of character parties within chapters were perhaps my most pressing issues with the story; however, fantasy literature enthusiasts will likely enjoy the trilogy.

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Aftermath: Empire’s End

Posted on October 6 by Remy St. Gallen

Empire’s End by Chuck Wendig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the final installment of author Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath trilogy of canon Star Wars novels, the remnant of the shattered Galactic Empire has gathered on and over the remote planet Jakku, where they attempt to make their last stand against the New Republic. The novel opens with an intro set aboard the Second Death Star above Endor, where Admiral Gallius Rax talks to Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine. When the main chapters commence, Norra Wexley and her companions attempt to lure bounty hunter Mercurial into a trap due to his dealing with Imperial Admiral Rae Sloane, with fellow bounty hunter Jas Emari headed to Jakku.

Han and Leia continue to anticipate the birth of their first child, realizing that the New Republic looks weak after the events during Liberation Day on Chandrila, which harbors the Galactic Senate. Temmin Wexley wants to join his mother Norra on her forthcoming mission to Jakku, although she refuses initially. Disaster strikes when the spaceship Moth enters the airspace above the planet, where the Imperials shoot at the vessel; Norra and Jas escape in an escape pod that lands on Jakku, where they wander its wastes. Afterward, Han Solo plots to penetrate the Imperial blockade to rescue them.

As with its predecessors, the third Aftermath novel features several Interludes between the main chapters. The first features the Wookiee Lumpawaroo, son of Chewbacca, traversing the jungles of Mount Arayakyak, the Cultivating Talon, on his homeworld of Kashyyyk. Another occurs in Theed City on Naboo, where a youngling meets Jar Jar Binks, one on Tatooine with a Huttlet named Borgo, and one on the planet Christophsis, where fledgling Jedi seek kyber crystals necessary to the construction of their lightsabers; the Galactic Empire also used the minerals to power the lasers of both Death Stars.

On Jakku, Imperial stormtroopers hold Jas and Norra prisoner, although Sinjir comes to the rescue. Part of the plot further involves Niima the Hutt, with whom Rae Sloane interacts. Meanwhile, Chancellor Mon Mothma faces electoral competition from Senator Tolwar Wartol, with the legislature initially opposing intervention in the Imperials amassing on Jakku; however, suspicion of corruption emerges among the dissident votes. The battle for Jakku transpires late in the novel; the fate of the Imperial remnants is ultimately settled, with the father and son Brendol and Armitage Hux traveling beyond the galaxy to ponder the Imperials’ next course of action.

Overall, the conclusion to the Aftermath trilogy is an enjoyable read, with fans of the Star Wars franchise sure to delight in the old and new characters central to the series, with plenty of science-fiction action towards the end. There’s also occasional insight into the political mechanisms of the New Republic, without offending anyone in real life with certain ideologies. The mention of Grand Admiral Thrawn is a nice nod to the now-non-canon Legends chronology, too. However, those deeply unversed in the series might not grasp the appearances of the various alien species, and reminders would have been welcome. Regardless, the trilogy did well to begin to fill the temporal gap between Episodes VI and VII of the Skywalker Saga films.

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The Banneret

Posted on September 28 by Remy St. Gallen

The Banneret by Duncan M. Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second entry of author Duncan M. Hamilton’s Blood of Kings trilogy opens in Ostenheim several years after its predecessor, with Manfred, who served as a rival to the main character Conrad when they were squiring, visiting a lawyer. The sequel follows the parallel storylines of Conrad and Manfred, with the latter seeking power through demonic medallions and contacting a demon named Isgurin. Manfred seeks a group known as the watchers who protect the blood bearer, with his goal of killing them before aiming for the life of the one whom they protect.

In the meantime, Conrad’s protectors, Nicolo, Qenna, Franz, and Petr, a former Grey Priest, ride to Ostbrucken, which seems abandoned, deemed to be the work of demons. Conrad is celebrating becoming a banneret, becoming inebriated but finding demons in a warehouse, which he attempts to subdue. However, his attempts fail, with Heidi the Intellegencier bailing him out of jail. Conrad ultimately reunites with his protectors, who visit the estate of a recently deceased count, after which they travel the seas via the Albatrossand reach Ostenheim themselves.

The sequel climaxes at a gambling establishment and the estate of the Count of Urveni, where Manfred and Conrad have a reunion that isn’t necessarily tearful. Overall, the second Blood of Kings book is enjoyable like its predecessor, with plenty of action and development, alongside parallel narratives that aren’t too difficult to follow, even if the breaks between characters happen within the same chapters when separating them would have been preferable. Regardless, I enjoyed this niche fantasy novel and look forward to reading the concluding entry of its respective series.

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Aftermath: Life Debt

Posted on September 21 by Remy St. Gallen

Life Debt by Chuck Wendig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In book two of the Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy by Chuck Wendig, the Galaxy is in chaos, and the New Republic is fledgling. Norra Wexley chases Imperial deserters, and Han Solo and Chewbacca plot to free the Wookiees of Kashyyyk from slavery under the Empire. Meanwhile, Imperial remnants under the command of Grand Admiral Rae Sloane plot a counterstrike against the new government. However, Han and Chewie go missing, and Leia Organa hires Norra, Sinjir, Jas, and others to seek the missing smugglers. A prelude three decades before the main action opens the book, featuring characters like Galli.

The main chapters open on Chandrila, with Princess Leia distraught as Han Solo informs her that Chewbacca is missing, with his homeworld of Kashyyyk still under Imperial authority. As with the book’s predecessor, occasional interludes pepper the main chapters, the first focusing on the technical proxy Emperor, Mas Amedda, with the New Republic refusing his surrender. Other interludes focus on a pirate leader referred to with gender-neutral pronouns such as “zhe,” with the survivors of the destruction of the planet Alderaan getting their chapter as well.

Grand Admiral Rae Sloane, the commander of the Imperial Navy and de facto leader of the Galactic Empire, speaks to the Galaxy and is interested in Fleet Admiral Gallius Rax, who forms a Shadow Council. The Imperials intend to keep Kashyyyk and bombard the planet when Wookiees rebel, with Brentin Wexley found, though his loyalties are ambiguous. The action climaxes on Chandrila during Liberation Day when the ex-Imperials execute a terroristic plan, then relocate their operations to the Outer Rim world of Jakku.

The second Aftermath novel ends with an epilogue that follows the youngling Galli again as he’s recruited into the Galactic Empire, proving to be another engaging canon Star Wars novel that continues to fill the gap between Episodes VI and VII. The mix of old and new endearing characters and action will keep fans of the science-fiction franchise hooked from beginning to end, provided they have read the preceding book in the trilogy. While I could visualize most of the characters from the Original Trilogy of films, like Han and Leia, many of those new in the Aftermath books could have used reminders about appearances. Regardless, I enjoyed reading the sequel and look forward to the conclusion.

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