Waste of Space by Gina Damico

A reality TV production company has the crazy idea to have a reality show in space with a bunch of teenagers. Of course, it's impossible to actual launch teens into space, so they hire NASAW (not NASA) and a special effects company to make the illusion complete. Ideally, the teens and all of America will believe the show is in space. Teens are interviewed, kidnapped, and sent to their "shuttle." In the meantime, others have their own interests in mind that threaten the success of the show and the lives of its stars.

Waste of Space shows the extremes of reality television. The producer and host Chazz Young is rich and connected. He says whatever is on his mind no matter how weird and makes it happen. Even when his ideas are crazy or expensive or hard to accomplish, he simply yells at people until they comply. He captures the demanding and uncaring nature of the stereotypical Hollywood businessman. The teens he chooses for his TV shows are based on stereotypes like the party girl, the overachiever, the hick, the artist, etc. Chazz cares nothing for their wellbeing and only wants to pull their strings to get ratings.

Each episode took a crazy amount of hours and stuffed into around 45 minutes of TV. I loved reading about the boring stuff where they just sat around, too awkward to talk to each other. The episodes are shown in transcripts of the dialogue and actions with indications on the side when the events are being broadcasted. Once things really go crazy, nothing is broadcasted or recorded and their entire setup goes missing. What follows is a zany chase around the desert as some escape, some stay trapped, and Chazz frantically tries to find his multimillion dollar show.

The brunt of the novel seems to show how relegating real people to paper thin stereotypes isn't realistic. The party girl turns out to have a lot more skill and intelligence, opting for that facade to guarantee a spot on the show. The only one who doesn't really break out of that is Louise who thinks they are in space (when everyone else figured out they weren't) and thought for sure her fictional sci-fi crush would come save her. The delusion was too complete and unshakeable. 

Waste of Space has an interesting concept and way of storytelling. The characters stood out and had their own unique interests. It's a pretty fast read and has some real suspense in revealing what's actually happening on the set of this show. My only problem is that a lot of the situations and characters still come off as cartoonish archetypes despite the message to the opposite. This book is a fun read, but not one I would revisit.

My rating: 3.5/5 fishmuffins

Sci-Fi Movie Mini-reviews: Predator (1986) and The Fly (1986)

* Predator (1986)

A group of paramilitary men led by retired US Army Major Dutch go to Central America on a covert rescue mission. When they find skinned bodies strung up in trees and no living person to rescue in the enemy camp, it becomes clear that it was a cover to collect intelligence on the enemy. In the midst of this new conflict, an otherwordly monster starts picking them off one by one and collecting their bodies. Will Dutch be able to save any of his men from it or will their entire party fall victim to its hunt?

I remember watching Predator as a kid and I didn't remember most of the details. This is another film that is so fun to watch with priceless, cheesy lines (especially from Jesse Ventura), logic defying plot twists, and ridiculous scenes of 80's manliness. The beginning of the film shows the group's comraderie and that each person has a quirk that makes them unique. Even though there isn't a huge amount of character development, I grew to care about some characters before they died. Some parts had me laughing out loud like when Dutch and Dillon took off their shirts to build things in the jungle for absolutely no reason or when they had their arm wrestle at the beginning of the film. After they capture a guerilla named Anna, I expected the misogyny to flow, but they treated her pretty well and the men policed each other into treating her decently despite her allegiance. Dutch also convinced her to stop fighting them to be able to fight against the Predator.

The Predator isn't seen for the majority of the film. We get to see the aftermath of its actions, glimpses of it in camoflauge (which hasn't aged very well), and even through its eyes in infrared vision. The Predator is seen in all its glory during the final confrontation with Dutch when its camoflauge is damaged. The character design is amazing, especially the face prosthesis, and its MO is nothing short of deadly. I'm more familiar with the Alien vs. Predator movies and this initial film does a good job of setting up a single Predator as incredibly deadly and one of the universe's best hunters. There are some good horror elements here and I wish they were brought out a little more with the soundtrack and atmosphere. Action movie tropes and themes definitely dominate this sci-fi/horror feature. Predator is a fun film, but not as high on my list of 80's films.

My rating: 3.5/5 fishmuffins

* The Fly (1986)

Seth Brundle, an eccentric scientist, and Veronica Quaife, a reporter, meet at a party and hit it off right away. At his apartment, he shows off his pet project, telepods that will eventually make human teleportation possible. Veronica jumps at the chance to report on such a promising project, but Seth wants to keep it secret, trading her momentary silence for exclusive coverage in the future. The project progresses from teleporting objects to baboons and he finally transports himself. Something goes wrong and his body starts to change.

The Fly is the iconic film that brought body horror to the mainstream with commercial success. The characters are sympathetic and their relationship is believable (probably due to the actors being in a relationship as well). Jeff Goldblum plays Seth Brundle, an awkward yet endearing man who is also a brilliant scientist. Veronica is much more direct and ambitious, hungry for ways to move up in her field. I love that she didn't let their attraction distract her from her job and stayed focused on her goal. They are the sweetest couple together which makes it all the more heartbreaking and emotional when things fall apart.

At first, Seth thinks the teleportation somehow improved him with increased strength and virility. He doesn't want to see gross changes like thick hair on his back and his intense cravings for sugar. The various stages of his transformation are an amazing example of special effects from prosthetics to puppetry. I appreciate how accurate the fly behavior is as well. Flies vomit digestive fluid onto their food and so does Seth as he transforms. The ending is a tragedy on all sides and no one comes out unscathed. The Fly is a solid remake that improves on every aspect of the original and updates it. Of course it looks dated now, but the story and characters are still relatable and well written.

My rating: 4/5 fishmuffins

The Arsonist by Stephanie Oakes

Molly Mavity has a hard life for a teenage girl. Her father is about to be executed for burning people to death, her mother died a few years ago, and everyone at her high school hates her. Pepper Yusef is doing a bit better than her, but he's just found out that he won't be graduating high school. His last chance is to write extensive papers in all his failing subjects to graduate. He also has a seizure disorder, a useless service animal for said disorder, and major reputation problems centering around his crush Petra. When Molly crashes into his life and insists he has answers, Pepper thinks she's crazy, but she draws him into an international mystery that involves Ava Dreyman, the Anne Frank of the Cold War.

The Arsonist is a twisty, light hearted mystery told through three perspectives: Molly, Pepper, and Ava. Molly is convinced that her mother, who killed herself ago, isn't dead and is sending her clandestine messages. These messages lead her directly to Pepper, who doesn't conciously know anything about her situation at all. Pepper is kind of stumbling through life. His crush pretty much used him to get into a prestigious school through an embarassing interview that exploited his background as an immigrant from Kuwait and his dream to become the president of the United States. Molly and Pepper are both on their way to being alone and alienating everyone around them until they join forces and work together. Ava's narrative is her diar published in book form, detailing her experience from her mother and her friends murdering GDR officials and police to her death as a young adult.

This book deals with a lot of dark subjects such as murder, oppression, and death. However, it always has this quirky, comedic tone that makes everything have a lighthearted feel. I think things like living in the GDR under threat of death for being revolutionaries and Molly's dad killing numerous people in a fire should be looked at a little more seriously. There are also a number of bizarre incidences that seem a bit out of place and weird like Molly drinking 30 small milk containers and peeing herself in class when the teacher wouldn't let her go to the bathroom or when Papper takes ipecac to avoid graduation and then acts like he's fine later. Some of this could be edited out to make a more streamlined book. The actual mystery is pretty convoluted in and of itself, so this stuff feels like time wasted.

The Arsonist is a bit of a mixed bag. I really liked the journey, but I wouldn't reread this book. I really liked that everything is somehow connected in the novel. Even through every bizarre development, the plot is moving towards revelations and unconvering a mystery. It's practically impossible to guess what it is, but the journey is fun nonetheless. I did want to know if Pepper actually passed high school with his essays as they were written in the book. Even though it takes a very healthy dose of suspended disbelief, the story is a fun, weird mystery that takes our odd heroes out of their comfort zones.

My rating: 3.5/5 fishmuffins

Annihilation (2018)

Lena is a cellular biologist and a former US Army soldier who teaches at a university. Her husband Kane, a current Army Special Forces soldier, has been on a mission for years and comes back injured and the only survivor of his team. He had gone into the "Shimmer," an expanding anomaly in an evacuated location. After being debriefed, Lena decides to volunteer to be in the next group investigate its mysteries.

Annihilation is a mind bending sci-fi/horror film told in a disjointed way. The narrative intersperses flashbacks to fill in character background and motivation. The most intriguing thing about the film is the Shimmer itself and how it changes the world inside it. The changes are both beautiful, eerie, and dangerous. At first, all they notice is how flowers are bursting from everywhere in all configurations and mutations even though they shouldn't be blooming together in that season. The animals are mostly nightmare fuel. The first animal seen is a deer with flowers blooming from its antlers. A bit eerie, but beautiful and not dangerous. The next one is a crocodile fused with a shark, combining the most frightening things about both animals. Nothing compares to the half zombie bear that mimics human screams. The horror elements of this film are pitch perfect. I felt frozen in my seat as the bear walked around the house with the women hiding in it.

The female cast is not well treated by the film. They are all supposedly there because they have essentially given up on life and I didn't really feel that at all. Josie is revealed to self harm, but that doesn't necessarily translate to being suicidal. All of these women have experienced awful things, but are shown to just give up in the face of it instead of showing the exploration as a sign of strength. The audience really didn't get a chance to get to know them much. This group of women is also only exploring because all other qualified groups have died and that isn't a great implication either. The human transformations near the end of the film were too fast and stretched believability

The main concept of the film is amazing and well done, but I felt that it fell apart in the end. I like the concept of an alien that harms us without even meaning to. There's no malice or or plan to take over Earth. It didn't even seem to realize its effect on the beings here. The Shimmer itself acts like a prism and mixes animal, plant, and human works in concept as well as in practice and visuals. The lone alien shown at the end of the film is interesting, but not as well done as the other creatures. The sound design in that scene also practically massacred by ears. It's a high pitched whine that's hard to escape in a movie theater with such a loud sound system. I get what they were trying to do, but it's not necessary to hurt your audience.

Annihilation is a very different science fiction film that shows an alien force changing and melding animals, plants, and humans. The concepts and products of this are intensely interesting, but I felt the characters were pretty awfully treated in the film for what I saw they were. The horror elements are on point, especially when the fate of Kane's team is shown and the nightmarish animal amalgamations. I am definitely interested in reading the book to compare the differences and I would see another of these films if the next book is made into a film.

My rating: 3.5/5 fishmuffins

Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn

Decades after environmental and economic collapse plus a widespread contagion destroyed the United States, the people are reduced to small, far apart villages on the Coastal Road. The main focus of the government is to keep people living within their means, which means only harvesting enough and requiring a banner for the privilege to bear children. Enid of Haven is an investigator sent with her partner to investigate a mysterious death of an ostracized person in another village. From the beginning, the people are cagey and unwilling to cooperate. Did someone murder this outcast, was it a tragic accident, or is it something else they are hiding?

Bannerless is set in a future where technology all but gone and resources are scarce. People live in small villages, only farming or fishing or hunting what is necessary to make sure food is able to be acquired later. Banners are required for having children to prove you have the resources for them. On the upside, no one really starves. Struggling villages can be helped, relocated and shuffled about to make sure resources get to everyone. Everyone also has to pull their weight in some way to contribute to their household. Because of this, girls hitting puberty are given a birth control implant only to be removed when given a banner. Of course people try to go around the law, but those people are dealt with on a case by case basis. It's implied that abortions can be forced if it's early enough or, if it's too late, have the pregnant woman transferred to a household with enough resources. The only other option is to be ostracized and starve to death. I wish this was a bigger point in the book. It's one of the most interesting and horrific things about the world and the entire doing away with women's bodily autonomy should have been examined a bit more.

The main story is Enid's in the present and the past. In the present, she is investigating a possible murder and finding out why this village is so uncooperative. In the past, she is traveling with her musician boyfriend Dak, performing and doing odd jobs to pay their way across the Coastal Road. In a world that is so interesting, I found Enid and her story rather dull. She was described as emotional and with a temper, but most of what I see is her bottling up her emotions to appease others. The only thing I liked about her was that she didn't find a lot of inherent value in a banner and didn't want children. The murder mystery doesn't have any huge plot twists or anything. It almost seems mundane. I am way more interested in other parts of the world, especially in Auntie Kath who remembers what it was like before the fall. She would essentially be us if we lived through something like that, remembering everything she lost while others have no idea.

Bannerless has an interesting world, but kind of a dull story. It's written well and kept me reading, but Enid is kind of a wet blanket. I think nonchalance was a problem for me There's no big revelation. It's just people being predictable. I will be reading the second book in the series to see if a different focus in the world would be more enjoyable.

My rating: 3/5 fishmuffins

Lovemurder by Saul Black

Valerie Hart and her boyfriend Nick Blaskovich are adjusting to a new dynamics where she is a homicide detective, available at all hours, and he transferred to forensic technology with consistent hours. They are trying to have a romantic weekend when a murderer who hasn't killed in 6 years strikes again out of nowhere. His accomplice Katherine Glass was given the death penalty and waits in jail. The mystery killer demands the she be released or he will continue to kill. With each murder, they get closer and closer to Valerie and her loved ones. The only clues sent are ones that Katherine can decipher due to shared memories and references. Can Valerie catch the killer before he does irreparable damage to her family?

Lovemurder is the second book in the Valerie Hart series. The first was good, but I had some problems with it. This second one is so much better. Valerie is in a much better place. Her relationship with Nick is stable and she's even thinking about having kids. They're adjusting their dynamic since Nick transferred out of homicide. He's the househusband, cooking dinners, making plans, and being left alone when she has to rush off on an investigation. Since he's done the job, he completely understands her and there's really no conflict there, just a bit of guilt on her part for becoming so absorbed with her job. I love their relationship. They fit together so well and there's no hidden resentment or grudges. It's heartwarming and balances the dark parts of the book.

On the other side, Katherine Glass captured public hatred due to the brutal nature of crimes she committed that contrasts with her beauty and intelligence. She knows how to get under someone's skin and enjoys mind games especially with Valerie. I liked seeing how their dynamic had changed since the first time they interacted with Valerie beocming much less easy to shake and Katherine a bit cowed by her time in prison. Katherine's relationship with her murderous partner looked so similar to a loving relationship in the videos they made while they raped, tortured, and murdered women that it's grotesque. Working with her is a nightmare since she enjoys making everyone as uncomfortable as possible and it gives her leverage for getting things she wants. You never know if she's just bored or if she has some sort of plan going on underneath it all. The only think known about her partner is that he's amazing with technology and as well educated as her. I didn't know who he was at all and I was pretty surprised when it was revealed.

Lovemurder has a bit of a silly title, but contains lots of twists and turns that I didn't expect. Black's writing kept me reading for hours and replicated a Lecter-Starling-esque relationship that wasn't a carbon copy. The tension builds as it goes along and gets more intense. I found it far superior than the first in the series and I would love to see where it goes next. There's no sequel listed anywhere, but I'll have my eye out for it.

My rating: 4.5/5 fishmuffins

The Waking Land by Callie Bates

Lady Elanna Valtai was kidnapped and held hostage to keep her father in check by the king. Raised in his court for most of her life, she is loyal to the royal family and calls her father and the rest of her own people from Caeris savages and backward thinking people. Elanna renounces her magic power and wants to become a botanist. When the king is killed with a poison mushroom, Elanna is automatically blamed and has to run or be executed with no trial. The only people who help her are those fighting for revolution to turn the corrupt monarchy to a just system. Elanna doesn't believe them until the evidence is right in her face and slowly starts to realize the lies she's been fed throughout her life. While she help the revolution or leave to find her own life somewhere else?

The Waking Land has an interesting premise and setup. I've read a lot of books lately that have two societies where one has conquered the other to oppress them and take away everything they held dear. This one is different in Elanna actually believing the awful things about her own heritage. Even though she is regularly mocked for her heritage, she tries to set herself apart and completely assimilate with the conquering society by rejecting her native language, her culture, and her father. This shows how people can be brainwashed against their own culture, through history lessons through the lens of the winner and bigoted treatment by everyone around them, and develop self hating behaviors that they justify to themselves. As the book goes on, Elanna finds out the truth through the lies she's been told and has to figure out a totally new world view to adapt.

Unfortunately, this is the only really interesting thing about this novel. Elanna turns out to be very wishy washy as the book goes on. One minutes she's totally commited to a revolution and the next  she's right back to being selfish. This goes on for far too long. A similar thing happens when she continually refuses a person who says they can help her learn more about her powers. Why would she say no? She has no idea what she can do. The romance doesn't take time to develop and seems there because it's expected to be. Her powers are amorphous and having sex for the first time seems to make her more powerful for no defined reason. That particular scene where she "wed the land" was odd to say the least. The conclusion seems too easy after almost completely losing and everything is conveniently resolved at the end except for one person's death who could have easily been saved by his best friend. It's a weird detail to add just after the fact and makes that particular character seem like a sociopath.

The Waking Land starts out really well and then descends into Elanna making the same mistakes and going back and forth on several decisions. After a while, it grows frustrating and the book could have easily been a third shorter had all that flip flopping been taken out. Callie Bates has potential to be a good writer because her prose flows well, but there are so many things I don't like about the story and its mechanics. I'm only reading the second book because I already own it and may as well.

My rating: 2/5 fishmuffins