So when a truly great game comes along, it’s definitely memorable. The thing is that those games usually come from a studio where a collaborative effort (sometimes guided by an auteur) is the main creative force. Budgets are usually in the millions. The man hour count alone would stagger most people’s imaginations.

Then a game like Braid appears and the entire world is turned upside down.

Braid is a puzzle/2-D platformer and the creation of indie developer Jonathan Blow, which takes these tried and true staples of the arcade game and, with the added mechanic of time reversal, a compelling, well-written story (that resonates emotionally, not just intellectually), beautiful art and a haunting soundtrack, transcends the genre to become something close to art, rather than just entertainment.

As I’ve seen in other reviews, to talk about Braid’s content or mechanics too closely is to spoil enjoyment of the game itself. It really should be experienced with as little known about it as possible. The game does use time as a mechanic, that can be said, and it does so in a way that evokes comparisons to Alan Lightman’s Einstein’s Dreams. If you know the book, you’ll know to what I am referring.

The game itself is short, about six hours seems to be the average, and some of the puzzles can be frustrating until you figure out the key, but there’s nothing here to prevent anyone from completing the game. It all works and once you figure out a puzzle, you’re left feeling triumphant and clever, which should always be the case.

At the moment it’s only available on the XBox 360 via XBLA, but I’ve read a PC version will be released early in 2009.

One way or another, you should make a point to play this game. Experiences like this are rare and should be enjoyed and there are much, much worse ways to spend $15.

-K

Asprin was probably most widely known for his creation of the Myth Adventures series, which is how I was introduced to him. For my nineteenth birthday, a high school buddy who had come down on vacation, presented me with the (up to that point) complete series. To this day, those books remind me of the friends I had back in New Orleans, which carries with it an interesting fact: Asprin had moved to New Orleans a few years ago and was living in the French Quarter, haunting bars and pool halls until all hours of the morning.

I also enjoyed his “Phule’s Company” novels, which put him on the New York Times‘ Bestseller list for a short time in the early 90’s. Apparently, Asprin had run into some personal and financial troubles which knocked him out of the writing game for a while. I saw that he’d returned around ‘99, but his books were always co-authored, apparently for a good reason. It kept the IRS off his back.

However, just this year his latest novel, the beginning of a new series, was published called Dragons Wild - a fantasy/detective story set in contemporary New Orleans. Definitely will be picking that up.

-K

I’m going on hitaus. 52 in 52 continues, but everything else is coming to a halt. I simply don’t have the brainspace or desire to write much of anything lately. Hell, I haven’t even seen The Dark Knight yet. That should give you a clue about how bad things have gotten.

However, the good news is I took action to reduce the stress, so while it may take a bit of time to take effect, things should get better soon.

See you then.

-K

The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler’s first novel, introduces us to one of the most famous detectives in fiction, Phillip Marlowe. Marlow is hired to find out who is trying to blackmail the daughter of his rich client and in the process uncovers a nest of pornography, money and murder. Marlowe has to navigate his way through a maze of deception, which ultimately winds up leading him to an unlikely end of the case.

Chandler, along with Dashiel Hammett, is one of the masters of the “noir” detective story. His writing style has been emulated in everything from fantasy novels to William Gibson’s Neuromancer. It’s so iconic, it often winds up in parody of the genre as well.

The story itself is not bad, although The Maltese Falcon is better. It’s the way the story is told that is the real gem. Tight writing with wonderful metaphor and, what must have been in the 1940’s scandalous descriptions of a seedy underworld make reading the book a pleasure.

A cornerstone of the “noir” subgenre, The Big Sleep is still a wonderful book and highly recommended.

Other participants in the “52 in 52″ meme who reviewed books recently include:

• Jeremy reviews Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother.
• Jamie reviews Mort by Terry Pratchett.
• Heliologue reviews Oliver Sack’s Musicophilia: Stories of Music and the Brain.

-K

While the premise of His Majesty’s Dragon is rather simple: what if dragons were used as an “air force,” during the Napoleonic Wars, Naomi’s Novik’s execution of the concept is wonderfully entertaining.

The story begins with the capture of a dragon egg from a French frigate by a British warship captained by William Laurence. That incident proves to change his fortunes when, upon hatching, the dragon chooses him as his “handler,” a bond between dragon and human that is essential. What follows next is Laurence’s adventures as he works his way through the Aerial Corps’ training and his first engagements in battle with his dragon, Temeraire.

Interestingly enough, although the book is set during the Regency and the characters (especially Laurence) seem to delight in speaking with rigid formality, I found the book quite easy to read. Novik keeps the story moving while at the same time she gives her character’s depth through dramatizing them, rather than describing them.

On the whole, I can thoroughly recommend His Majesty’s Dragon. A good adventure story with a rather novel concept, it’s perfect for an afternoon’s read.

Other participants in the “52 in 52″ meme who reviewed books recently include:

• Jeremy reviews Diablo Cody’s Candy Girl.
• Jamie reviews Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett.
• Heliologue reviews Mark Haddon’s A Spot of Bother.

-K

I find myself agreeing with a lot written in the article, but I can find comfort that I’m apparently not the only one who is experiencing this phenomenon. Now to find a way to reverse it and still be able to do my job.

-K

In From Russia With Love, his fifth outing, British Secret Service agent James Bond finds himself the target of a Soviet assassination plot, all the while attempting to courier one of the prized “Spektor” cryptographic machines out of Turkey and back to the United Kingdom.

This fifth novel is a resurgence for Fleming. While elements of the formula still exist, even the structure of the novel diverges wildly from previous installments. Bond doesn’t even appear for the first third of the book, which is used to establish not only the plot, but the motivations and players. It also introduces us to Tatiana Romanova, the “bait” to be used in order to lure Bond along with the cryptographic machine.

What evolves is a much tighter and focused novel than Diamonds Are Forever. As Bond willingly “succumbs” to the bait and allows the trap to unfold, the tension and action begin to escalate. Gone are the multi-page descriptions of meals and scenes in which almost nothing happens. Even minor characters are given some depth, even if they only appear for a scene. Even Bond has become much more complicated than any of his film personae, except for Craig’s portrayal in Casino Royale.

From Russia With Love is a fine book on its own and one of the best Flemming novels I’ve read so far. For any fan of James Bond, it’s highly recommended. As an aside, apparently it was also the only fictional work to appear on a list of “top ten” books that JFK enjoyed. Of course, we all know by now that JFK appreciated quality.

Other participants in the “52 in 52″ meme who reviewed books recently include:

• Jeremy reviews David Gilmour’s The Film Club: A Memoir.
• Jamie reviews Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.
• Heliologue reviews Brian Jacques’ Salamandastron.

-K

Some people have far too much time on their hands.

-K

The story of industrialist Tony Stark (played to the hilt by Robert Downey Jr.) as he invents the “Iron Man” armor as a way of escaping terrorist agents of the Mandarin (updated from 1960s North Vietnamese communists) is smart, funny and bold. Downey’s performance is a showpiece and from the opening moments as he banters with G.I.s in a Humvee convoy, he never fails to impress. Gwyneth Paltrow (as his assistant Pepper Potts), Jeff Bridges (as Obadiah Stane) and Terrence Howard (as Stark’s best friend James Rhodes) give good performances themselves and serve to establish the microcosm that is Stark’s world.

The effects are fantastic, with Industrial Light and Magic once again proving they can create the impossible. The armor looks incredible and, most surprisingly, plausible. The attention to detail was astonishing and watching it in action a delight. ILM really outdid themselves here.

The story is a classic origin story, complete with the obligatory bad guy. However, unlike the Fantastic Four, a good balance is struck between exposition and action, which gives the movie a great sense of inertia. Not once did I feel everything slowed to the point where I was hoping something would happen just to get things moving again. The dialogue is dry, sarcastic and Downey does a great job with it.

After having to endure a slew of mediocre comic book movies over the last couple of years, Iron Man was refreshing. Not only is it a great comic book movie, it’s a good movie over all. Director Jon Favreau should be given the green light for the remaining two films in his proposed trilogy yesterday and Downey may have found the role which will be his Captain Jack Sparrow.

-K

Here’s where the story really begins. Forbidden Knowledge takes everything from The Real Story, treats it as prologue and Donaldson really begins to explore the character and personalities of Morn, Nick and Angus.

Along the way, we’re introduced to an alien race called the Amnion, who apparently have humanity completely terrified they will invade and take over. This, of course, doesn’t stop humans from doing business with the Amnion in the black market. Just that in addition to everything else, this alien foe looms like a Sword of Damocles.

We’re also introduced to more characters from the UMCP: Min Donner, Hashi Lebwohl, and Warden Dios. As I mentioned in the review for The Real Story, the saga is supposed to play out using themes from Der Ring des Nibelungen. If you look closely at the three names above, you can get a glimpse of what that really means.

Forbidden Knowledge is a faster paced book than The Real Story. However, it does have its moments where the exposition gets a bit out of control and you’re waiting for something to happen. I’d also say about 80% of the novel takes place on one set. This surprisingly gets really old when you’re imagining characters in locations. Other than that, the book is a good continuation of the Gap Cycle.

-K