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Pursuits Through History: Time After Time and This Is How You Lose the Time War

1 Dec

Last month, with the year winding down, it seemed like a good time for our Science Fiction and Fantasy group to pick a time travel themed book and movie.  We enjoyed them both and encourage you to check them out as well! 

Time After Time
Time After Time is the 1979 film starring Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen in an action and romance story which travels between 1893 and the late 70’s.  In 1893 London, Jack the Ripper (David Warner) has been on what will become a legendary killing spree and H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell) hasn’t just written about a time machine, but built one.  When Jack uses the Time Machine to escape capture, Wells must follow him into the future to try to stop his continued murder spree.  Jack finds the violence of modern day San Francisco delightful, but Wells is disheartened that we have not achieved the Utopia he was hoping for.  While trying to stop Jack, he falls for a beautiful and intelligent banker played by Mary Steenburgen.  Will Wells be able to stop the Ripper? Will romance be able to survive across the decades?  Check out the DVD from one of the owning BCCLS libraries to find out!

This is How You Lose the Time War
This is How You Lose the Time War is an usual epistolary novel, revolving around two agents on opposite sides of a time war, written by two wildly creative authors, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.  Blue is from a future where everyone is part of a nature collective called The Garden that encompasses the consciousness of all living things.  Red is part of The Agency, a Techtopia where the line between man and machine has blurred.  Their rivalry starts out as begrudging respect towards a talented foe and turns into a love that has them questioning what they are truly fighting for.  The novel’s poetic language and framing using the creatively hidden letters between the two frenemies will appeal to those outside the usual genre fans. 

Want more Time Travel Stories? You can check out other Time Travel Works I have blogged about including The Future of Another Timeline, The Time Machine, The Garden of Iden & To Say Nothing of the Dog.

Consider joining our monthly Science Fiction and Fantasy Group! You can join us for the film, book discussion, or both!  This month we will be discussing Hiddensee by Gregory Maguire and viewing a family friendly Nutcracker inspired holiday movie on Monday, December 20.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Head of Information and Digital Services

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Two Terrific New Mysteries: Grave Reservations & Arsenic and Adobo

17 Nov

Grave Reservations
by Cherie Priest
Grave Reservations, Cherie Priest’s latest, a mystery novel, is more light heartened than some of her previous works.  Leda a struggling travel agent who has developing psychic abilities teams up with Grady Merritt a Portland police officer to solve two separate mysteries that might have a common perpetrator and have been haunting them both.  Leda and the cast of supporting characters are a likable, funny bunch and Grady is charming as a widowed father who they help rekindle an enjoyment of life.  I’m hoping there will be many more in this terrific mystery series.  Great writing, great characters, and an interesting mystery will have you not wanting to put this one down. You can read about Priest’s Cheshire Red Reports Series here.

Arsenic and Adobo
by Mia P. Manansala
Arsenic and Adobo is Mia P. Manansala’s entry into the culinary cozy scene.  Lila Macapagal must return home after a devastating breakup to help run her Aunt’s restaurant.  When a nasty food critic who was also a former boyfriend suddenly dies at their restaurant, her life becomes filled with more than just romantic problems.  Will Lila be able to keep herself out of jail and save her family’s business? Lila’s extended Filipino family and her friends add spice to the novel.  The book includes several tempting Filipino inspired recipes including Chicken Adobo and cookies flavored with ube, purple sweet potato.  There’s a sneak peek at the end of her next novel Homicide and Halo-Halo that will have you looking forward to a second helping of the series, when it comes out in February.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Head of Information and Digital Services

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