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Thursday, November 7, 2019

Links and Updates

We're heading into the final stretch of 2019, so what's the horizon for the end of the year?

October has been a great month for all my favourite authors, with new releases from Philip Pullman, Leigh Bardugo, Garth Nix, Frances Hardinge AND Elizabeth Knox. All those writers have books currently sitting in my Treat Yo Self pile, so it's good to know there's more to come once I've finished.
Also, Susanna Clarke has announced a brand new book which sounds incredible (though it's not a sequel to Jonathan Strange, which is a little disappointing).
Ursula le Guin's Earthsea Cycle is up for another adaptation, so here's hoping it'll be done right this time, and (more excitingly) so is Tamora Pierce's body of work. Whoo! It's still years away, and yet imagine seeing Alanna, Daine and Keladry on-screen! My twelve year old self is ecstatic.
Though it reminds me, we haven't heard much of The Chronicles of Prydain adaptation for a while. That's still going ahead, right? (Here's a gorgeous rundown of why the books are such classics). 
There's also going to be a prequel made to Practical Magic, based on the recent publication of Alice Hoffman's The Rules of Magic. I read it earlier this year and enjoyed it, so this is going on my watchlist.
Back in August during D23, Disney announced the film Raya and the Last Dragon. Details are still pretty scarce, but this looks pretty good to me!
News of a Muppet talk-show called Earth to Ned, apparently about how extraterrestrials arrive on Earth for an invasion, but instead fall in love with the planet. I have to say, I'm intrigued.

Also, have you seen this new take on Hansel and Gretel?
It looks gorgeously atmospheric and creepy, but I'll wait until a rating before seeing. I still don't have the guts to watch The Witch, even though everything about that movie looks fascinating.
The casting for the Shadow and Bone adaptation has also been released, and it looks fantastic! Ben Barnes as the Darkling in particular is a great choice, though fans of that character are going to be insufferable. Brace yourself.
I've been delving into a range of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance articles in order to better appreciate the Netflix show, and there's some good reading out there:
Some interesting facts about the mythology and history of Thra, as explored in various tie-in materials.
A straightforward review, pointing out its strength and weaknesses.
***
And then there's the new Star Wars trailer... you know, the teaser had given me some hope by suggesting the film might finally focus on the trio of Rey, Finn and Poe, but now it appears it's just going to be Round Three of "can we redeem this self-absorbed mass-murdering fascist who hasn't shown a grain of remorse for all the misery and suffering he's inflicted on innocent people over the past five years?"
I just don't care anymore; in fact I feel like an idiot for believing this could have ever been about a ragtag team of lovable minorities banding together to take down the embodiment of modern evil in all its contemptible banality.
It was always going to be about the cruel, hateful white guy. Of course it was. 

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