06-06-2011, 08:45 PM
It's been many many many years since I saw the Omega Man, but not so long since I saw Will Smith's version. The latter was certainly closer to the novel but it saccarinized quite significantly. The novel contained originality, the movie was generic.
Anyway, I've since read "Breathers" by SG Browne. It wasn't a great book, but it was an interesting one and quite original in its way. The supernatural is sooooo hot right now but it's still mostly vampires and warewolves. Here's a book about zombies, from their point of view (breaking the convention by assuming they're sentient). What would you do if you woke up one morning to find you'd died in a car accident which killed your wife. Your house was sold and all your possessions given away. Your child had been sent to live with distant relatives. You couldn't get a job because your tax no. had been deactivated. And when people saw you they either screamed and ran away, or attacked you. And then there's the tricky dietary issue.
As I said, not a great book (it's a first time author), but not a waste of time by any means.
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I'm now reading "The Company" by K J Parker. In contrast to the above it really is (shaping up to be, as I haven't finished it yet) a great book. It's a fantasy, you won't recognise any place names, but there's nothing otherworldly (so far at least). Basically it's about 5 ex-soldiers from a world in which pikes were still the weapon of choice ie. it's set in a 16th Century earth-like world who set out to colonise an island. They take everything then need, including servants, and new wives, but someone isn't quite what they seem.
I'll get back to you when I've finished, let you know if it ends as strongly as its begun.
Anyway, I've since read "Breathers" by SG Browne. It wasn't a great book, but it was an interesting one and quite original in its way. The supernatural is sooooo hot right now but it's still mostly vampires and warewolves. Here's a book about zombies, from their point of view (breaking the convention by assuming they're sentient). What would you do if you woke up one morning to find you'd died in a car accident which killed your wife. Your house was sold and all your possessions given away. Your child had been sent to live with distant relatives. You couldn't get a job because your tax no. had been deactivated. And when people saw you they either screamed and ran away, or attacked you. And then there's the tricky dietary issue.
As I said, not a great book (it's a first time author), but not a waste of time by any means.
--
I'm now reading "The Company" by K J Parker. In contrast to the above it really is (shaping up to be, as I haven't finished it yet) a great book. It's a fantasy, you won't recognise any place names, but there's nothing otherworldly (so far at least). Basically it's about 5 ex-soldiers from a world in which pikes were still the weapon of choice ie. it's set in a 16th Century earth-like world who set out to colonise an island. They take everything then need, including servants, and new wives, but someone isn't quite what they seem.
I'll get back to you when I've finished, let you know if it ends as strongly as its begun.
"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."