The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 18: Smoke and Mirrors

The Founder has taken over Ultra and declares to everyone that they will no longer hunt Paranormals, that they were blessed beings who needed to be part of society and it was all the evil evil evil Jedikiah’s fault. In future new breakouts will be educated and told to behave and released!

I’m impressed – I thought Stephen “undercover” was the most ridiculous attempt at subterfuge on this show, now they’ve topped it! Seriously no-one can possibly believe the Founder here.

Meanwhile John is angsting over having killed Cassie which he rapidly gets over when he makes out with Cara when Stephen interrupts them. AND HE COMPLETELY BELIEVES THE FOUNDER HAS HAD A CHANGE OF HEART

Oh for gods’ sake! Someone get me a bottle of something at least 30 proof, because there’s no way I’m getting through this episode without it.

Anyway, we have a new breakout using his powers to do magic tricks in the street. Hillary takes this to the Founder with Stephen and the Founder is being creepily nice – wanting to be called by his first name and his door is always open – is anyone (except the not very bright Stephen) actually buying this? Stephen then has a little hissy fit at Hillary and now he chooses to be cynical about the Founder when it gives him the chance to get on Hillary’s case – but he was defending the guy to Cara and John. They have a bet on whether the Founder can be trusted or not

And Stephen is ambushed by Jedikiah for a meeting. Jedikiah wants help bringing down the Founder, Stephen point out that Jedikiah was the one with kill squads. He says the Founder plans to kill millions of humans and he needs Stephen’s hardly-ever-used time stopping ability. Stephen isn’t ready to jump to Jed’s team.

Hillary and Stephen go out for a drink and see Monty’s act (hey, anyone remember Stephen is supposed to be 18?) and track down the break out – though Cara (for once making sense) points out they are actually risking the life of a very harmless Paranormal just to test whether the Founder is telling the truth or not (or, more accurately, they’re risking the life of a paranormal to test whether the founder will reveal his evil now or later). Cara and John decide to intercept. So all four of them get to see Monty’s act and Cara insists that she and John sit with Stephen because… because… because forcing socially awkward scenes that could expose the Tomorrow People to an Ultra agent is funsies?

Hillary ambushes the magician after the show, slamming him into a wall (new caring Ultra still includes abductions) – and Cara does the same to her. Hillary and Cara fight. John and Stephen watch until Stephen points out they have to fight or Hillary will realise something’s up. In the end, Cara escapes with the magician.

While Jedikiah visits Stephen’s home - Marla is out, only little brother Luca is at home. Of course, in keeping with ridiculous family habits, no-one has told Luca about anything. And Jedikiah is carrying a gun – because he conspicuously checks it.

Circus Escape by Liliana Rose

Nessie is a stifled daughter of a local politician with so many hopes and dreams – that feel like they will never happen. And a deep fascination in the mechanical that is deemed very much unladylike by her mother

Joy is a mech controller – a battle mech that fight for the entertainment of the masses. She’s skilled and confident – but stifled by the boss that controls her.

And they meet each other and they may have the keys to each other’s hopes.

I didn’t realise this book was a short story until I read it – it would have put me off because I’m usually not a big fan of novellas, especially novellas that seem to be stand alone.

Still, I’m glad I did get it because it turned out to be a sweet little story. It’s a romance and we do have some of the standard tropes we all know and expect – heavy awareness of each other’s bodies even when it’s not realistic and a rather rapid falling in love that goes far too deep far too quickly given the time scale.

But it does them well – the lust isn’t too heavy or overdescribed and the love isn’t presented as “quick lets run to an altar now!” kind of thing so much as it is very intense interest with a hope for much much more to develop.

It’s also a relationship between two women, which is a definite plus.

I also like that romance isn’t the entirety of their lives. They have hopes and dreams and ambitions and interests and histories and goals that go beyond each other and their romance. They have wishes for independence, a great love of the mechanical and a mutual appreciation for an extremely well made machine. In the little snap shot this book provides, they’re both clearly intriguing and developed characters

Continuum, Season 3, Episode 3: Minute to Win It

Start in the future, with a roving firefight between Kiera’s squad of enforcers and Liber8 – it a resembles a war more than anything. During the fight she runs across their informant – but they don’t need him any more so her bosses order her to murder him; when she balks they use the CMR’s mind-control override (which is apparently a thing) to make her do it.

In the present, Kiera consults Catherine, head of the Freelancers, voicing suspicion of Curtis (who tried to kill her in the other time line) and worry about the killer of her double still being out there. Catherine is happy, though, that the newly rejiggled police force is increasingly resembling the one Kiera remembers from the future – a sign the time line is on the “right” track. Towards a dystopia.

In the mental institution, Lucas seems to have got better. And he’s also reminding us he’s an utter genius by repurposing random stuff around. His inventions cause rather a large amount of chaos, mind control a dog and allow him to escape to where Garza is waiting with a getaway car.

Carlos and Kiera investigate the escape and find that at least some of the parts were smuggled into Lucas – and that he was experimenting on cockroaches. And Carlos is still confused as to which Kiera is which.

Meanwhile men with big guns and big, ominous looking electronic vests rob a bank (and spray out the CCTV cameras in the vault). There’s an electronic buzzing around one of the robbers and he drops his gun in shock and starts reassuring a hostage. She grabs for the gun and he snaps back into violent robber mode.

As they leave the bank one of the robbers walks into something which seems to fry his circuits as well; only this one becomes even more aggressive – and then he pushes the button on the bomb he’s wearing (screaming “no” as he does)… the button doesn’t just make his bomb explode – but all the robbers’ bombs go up as well.

On the plus side, the vests don’t see to do any damage to anyone but the robbers themselves. Carlos and Kiera are called in and apparently this is a second bank robbery with respectable looking thieves in suicide vests (the thieves in the last robbery were identified as white collar criminals). They try to figure out why the thieves exploded themselves before leaving when they were definitely getting away with it, though Dillon points out that in the last bank a number of safety deposit holders with the bank are claiming on insurance: after all, how do you prove something wasn’t stolen when only the owners know what’s in the boxes? They do find a Liber8 connection.

To Liber8 and Lucas who is using drugs to control himself, much to Travis’s disapproval. But they do have safety deposit boxes from the bank – apparently containing ill defined by compromising secrets of certain corporations.

Once Upon a Time, Season 3, Episode 15: Quiet Minds

Group meeting at Granny’s to discuss Rumplestiltskin being out and about – Hook points out that the now vanished Neal was looking for Rumple to try and get him back to Storybrooke and Emma and Henry – so could be a possible cause. Regina doesn’t care how he’s back – she’s more concerned with what he’s up to and is going to search again – and make it clear she’s ready to take on any other witches

Zelena also wants to know – because she’s lost Rumplestiltskin and the dagger doesn’t seem to be able to summon him. Told you it was a bad idea to hold Rumple prisoner. Though at the minute he looks less menacing as he flees through the wood.

The gang talk to Belle about Rumple and hope she can find some clue in his shop for how he managed to come back from the dead. Guarded by Hook who, Belle points out, tried to kill her twice. He does apologise though (yes I laughed, yes it was wrong). From there it’s time to track in the woods – without Snow White despite tracking being one of her very very very very very few skills (sogginess is not a skill) because she is The Pregnant Lady and must be carefully shelved.

Go back to a year ago – before the most recent Amnesia curse – and Belle and Neal looking for a way to bring Rumple back from the dead to defeat the Wicked witch – because having the Dark One on side is always a good thing. They also face the uncomfortable truth that they’ve both pushed Rumple to avoid his dark side but, ultimately, that’s what they need. But first they need to do some research in the library – apparently helped by a talking fiery candlestick – Lumiere.

And back in the present Hook and Belle’s research is interrupted by the arrival of Neal. Awwww, one of the best points of this half of the season was the disappearance of Neal. Couldn’t he have been a flying monkey?

Emma has a moment with Henry – who tells her he knows she’s lying a whole lot and the whole town is in on it as well. He doesn’t like it but he’ll trust her for now when Emma goes running to see Neal-who-should-be-a-monkey. Not-Monkey Neal as the same memory loss as anyone else, is confused at the idea of his father being back – and has an odd triangular brand on his hand (which isn’t a monkey paw, but should be). He and Emma have a moment and he learns of Henry’s amnesia – and also that Emma is not 100% eager to get Henry his memories back, because he is happy.

Back to the past and Lumiere; who made a deal with Rumple and failed to fulfil his part – so now is a living candlestick who can only communicate through the flames when the candles are lit. He’s, obviously, not thrilled to help Rumple be resurrected but Belle assures him that Rumple will release him from the candles. He shows them the hiding place of a key (the head of which looks just like the brand on Neal’s palm). It’s the key to the Dark One’s vault, apparently where the first Dark One was created. But when they leave Zelena appears – Lumiere is working for the Wicked Witch (though not eagerly).

This Week in Book Covers 24th March - 28th March

It’s time for our review of the past week’s book covers. This week was brought to us by a lot of underwhelming covers. There wasn’t a lot of the usual horrible tropes - but most of them didn’t have a lot of anything either. Beware, sometimes stark minimalism works - but sometimes it’s bland, generic and uninspiring.

The Walking Dead, The Fall of the Governor: Part 2 by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga

This cover is expected. We have a great view of the Dystopian destroyed world.  The typical figure on the front. This time we have Lilly. I cannot say that I'm blown away but it is an adequate descriptor for the story within.

Dissension (Chronicles of the Uprising) by Katie Salida

I like that this is a close up of a face - which instantly focuses us on the character (and not her body). And her having a sword is well done for all its minimalism (not like some covers where the weapon seems out of place). But it is minimalistic. There’s no background, there’s no sense of who she is. She could be a dystopian warrior fighting for her life in a zombie apocalypse. She could be captain of the high school fencing club and trying it impress that hot boy. It could be YA, it could be dystopian, it could be Urban Fantasy…

There’s not enough there. It doesn’t sell the book and it’s really original concept and world.

Fangs for the Fantasy Podcast: 2014, Episode 12

It's Monday! Time for another episode of Fangs for the Fantasy, the podcast where we examine many of the shows we've been following this week, along with our book of the week and dissect them all from a social justice lens (though those with odd fish fixations will continue to be disappointed).

You can join us here and you can listen live on our youtube channel, here, or in our sidebar. All will also carry a recording after the show is finished. As ever all our previous podcasts can be found in the archive

The podcast begins at 7:00pm EST (technology willing)

This week we talk about The Walking Dead finale and our thoughts of character development and our theory on Terminus. We talk about the Teen Wolf finale and the awesome acting. Once Upon a Time in Wonderland and it's amazing side characters. In Bitten we have more problems with Jeremy's portrayal. In Helix we're leery of the romance.

24th March - 31st March: Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

31st March - 7th April:  The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan

7th April - 14th April:  Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

14th April - 21st April: The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice

21st April - 28th April: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

28th April - 5th May: Night Season by Eileen Wilks

5th May - 12th May: The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice

Interview with a Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles #1) by Anne Rice

Louis has a story to tell – centuries of life as a vampire that he recounts to a very surprised and very curious human.

Over the centuries he has experienced many things – tragedies, drama, bitter losses and terrible, guilty confessions and he lays it all out to one mortal listener, along with the lessons he has learned along the way. Perhaps in some vague hope that they will be heeded.

The writing is often incredibly beautiful and classically gothic. The descriptions are full and evocative, the settings are clear and powerful and presented in exquisite detail. The story, recounted as Louis recalls it – is still heavy with emotion that permeates every scene. In fact, the format of Louis recording his memories further helps underscore how Louis grew, what he learned and how he became what he is now. Simply seeing the vampire Louis is now, recounting his experiences, and contrasting him with the vampire he was, the vampire he describes, is a powerful literary tool. We see his cold detachment against the heavy, powerful emotion of his youth and it’s an unlabelled exposition throughout the whole book

This book also covers a lot of philosophy and fascinating questions that naturally arise when you consider immortal vampires – issues that are so often brushed over in vampire stories. What does it mean to be immortal? How does an immortal, ancient being adapt to the ever changing world? When you consider that our own parents and grandparents are often quite bemused by the latest technology, how much worse must it be for someone from the 17^th century? What toll must it take on them to see a world that they must constantly struggle to understand?

And there’s the nature of morality. What is evil, what is not – especially when you are a being driven to kill? Does the definition of evil change? Is there a moral murder? Is there a less evil murder? Or is everyone just deluding themselves?

And there’s Claudia – a fascinating character and concept. The girl who can never grow up, the woman forever trapped as a child and in turn being a woman in a twisted family, blighted by love and hate in equal measure.

I also love the ending twist about the simple truth about how people will react to vampirisim no matter how it is described.

These are some really fascinating concepts that lend themselves to some real depth.

And the book goes into that depth. We have a lot of deep discussions and debates about these questions and more – including about what truly makes a vampire a vampire and what makes their immortality worthwhile. The topics are revisited over and over with extra nuances and new lines of enquiry and revelation as the characters learn more, meet overs and grow steadily, bringing new life and thoughts to old debates.

Bitten, Season One, Episode 12: Caged

Elena rushes into the street and hops into a car.  Before she can take off, Nick and Jeremy knock on the window.  Elena hops out of the car and tells them that Olsen stabbed Philip and that she called an ambulance. Elena adds that Clay has been taken.  Jeremy tells Elena that when he dropped by Logan and Rachel's, he discovered that they had been taken as well. Elena wants to split up to track the mutts but Nick believes that the mutts can be anywhere by now.  Jeremy assures Elena that Santos is not a fool and reminds her that if the mutts catch her, there will be no further need for Clay. Jeremy orders Elena to return to Stonehaven with Nick

Clay awakes to find himself naked and tied up.  Santos holds up battery chargers and places it on Clay but gets no response.  Olsen snarks about needing a bigger battery. Santos instructs Olsen to call Marsten and LeBlanc and let them know where they are. Olsen says that getting someone to talk is child's play and that the real trick is convincing them to stay quiet. Santos says that this is about respect and puts the chargers to Clay, who screams. Olsen says that this is not respect but revenge.  Santos calls Elena to say that they need to talk.  Santos proposes they meet at the Bear Valley diner alone at noon.  Santos shocks Clay again and when Elena hears Clay scream, Elena agrees to meet Santos at noon.  Santos shocks Clay one more time for good measure.

Marsten pulls up to farmhouse and asks Santos if he is detecting a faint whiff of Clay. They are joined by LeBlanc and hands over supplies he gathered at a local emergency room. Marsten says that he is not worried about Clay but about what they are going to do with him.  Santos sends LeBlanc to check on Olsen and LeBlanc is not impressed and asks when he became the diddlers babysitter. Santos orders LeBlanc to do as he is told. Santos asks what happened at Logan's and Marsten blames their inability to capture Logan on LeBlanc going rogue. Marsten says that Olsen didn't kill Philip as planned, which means that Philip can identify Olsen to the police.  Santos says that he was forced to take Clay to lure Jeremy since they didn't manage to grab Elena.  Marsten wonders about the obsession with Elena.

Diane and Olivia meet at the hospital and Diane tells Olivia about the home invasion and that Philip has been taken in for surgery.  Diane assures Olivia that Philip will be okay.  Olivia asks about Elena and Diane says that Elena is not answering her phone.

At Stonehaven, Jeremy bans Elena from meeting with Santos and she makes it clear that she is not asking for his permission.  Nick sides with Jeremy but Elena says that Clay will end up just like Denis Sidwell.  They are interrupted when Rachel pulls into the driveway with an injured Logan in the backstreet.  Jeremy tells Logan that he did the right thing coming to Stonehaven.  Rachel freaks out, saying that Logan needs a doctor but Elena reminds her that they cannot involved the police.  Nick takes Rachel away, after Elena promises not to leave Logan's side.  Nick tells Rachel that Logan will pull through because he has a lot to live for. Rachel wonders what kind of world she is bringing her child into.  Nick says that she is bringing a child into a family who will adore him and promises to protect Rachel until this is all over. Nick assures Rachel that she and the baby mean the world to Logan. Rachel asks if after this is all over, if she and Logan can go back to their normal lives.  Nick says that things will never be the same but that's what happens after you have a baby.

Logan is doing better and apologises for bringing Rachel there.  Jeremy says that he understands and that Logan did what he had to do for now.

Santos wakes Clay saying that he has questions.  Marsten snarks that everything which is wrong with Santos can be fixed with a good therapist.  It's nice to see at least one of the mutts is self aware. In the meantime, LeBlanc prepares an injection. Clay struggles in the chair and screams, so LeBlanc injects him, causing Clay to pass out.

Elena calls Philip's cell and it is answered by a frantic Diane.  Diane tells Elena that the doctor says that Philip is going to be okay and asks where she is.  Elena does not answer and asks if Diane spoke to Philip about what happened. Diane tells Elena that Philip claims to remember very little.  Elena asks for the hospital and Diane tells her Toronto General. Elena promises to get there as soon as she can and hangs up the phone. Elena looks at a ring briefly before putting it away

Rachel is at Logan's bedside.

Elena slips downstairs but is stopped by Jeremy and Nick.  Jeremy says that he cannot let her meet with Santos.  Elena charges forward but Jeremy grabs her and locks her in the cell. Elena begs but Jeremy tells Elena that he won't let her compromise his negotiations with Santos. Jeremy tells Elena that he was wrong to let her go to Toronto and that the only way he can keep her safe is inside the cell.  Elena concedes that Jeremy believes offering himself in exchange for Clay will keep Clay safe but says  that he cannot trust Santos. Jeremy admits he does not trust Santos but adds that the must important thing is to protect Elena from herself.  Jeremy leaves, promising that he and Nick will deal with this.

Rachel sits and looks out of a window and Logan regains consciousness.  Logan asks how she is holding p and Rachel replies that she is fine.  Rachel asks why she doesn't feel safe here and Logan replies that the people who attacked them cannot hurt them at Stonehaven. Rachel asks if they are supposed to live there for the rest of their lives and Logan says that when he is able, they will go far away.