Der Nerdery

Congratulations on finding the traveling nerdy book,This page is for you to leave your comments on where the book was found what you thought of it, if you read it and just remember to leave the book in the nerdiest place you can think of and no the top of your computer desk won’t work. Anywhere will work though, for instance your towns comic shop, a book store, or even at a MTG tournament. Where ever you think is nerdy and some one will find it. Lets keep this going as long as possible.

A long time ago, in a broadcast booth far far away… (1981 to be exact) a science fiction novelist named Brian Daley, a director for National Public Radio(NPR) named John Philip Madden, a sound engineer named Tom Voegeli and a cast including Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels recreated the magic of the original Star Wars for broadcast around the nation on NPR.

The big question is why would anyone want to listen to a audio only version of the story when the movie was so full of stunning visuals?  Brian Daley, the writer who with full blessing of George Lucas adapted the story adding many lost details.  The story starts many days before Princess Leia’s “diplomatic mission to Alderaan”, but I’m not going to ruin all the details of the beginning, but  it mostly deals with the start of the Rebel Alliance.  Also included in the radio drama are scenes that were deleted in the making of the movie but ended up in George Lucas’ novelization of the move.

Added to the dramatization is the iconic music from John Williams and the amazing sound effects created by Ben Burtt for the original movie.  When you’ve seen the movies as many times as I’ve had, you don’t even need visuals, you can see all the action in your head.

There are some draw backs,  while Bernard Behrens voice could easily be mistaken as Alec Guinness for Obi-Wan Kenobi, but Ann Sachs as Leia and Perry King as Han Solo are quite different.  Actually King gave a different personality and delivery to Solo that was different, but still believable than that of Harrison Ford. (Still hard to tell in the scene with Greedo “who shot first without seeing it”)

Another draw back is that many action scene were much shorter duration then in the movies and dialogue is really drawn out.  So the pacing is quite different  when a quick conversation from the movies turns into a couple minute discussion and iconic scenes are breezed over in a couple words.

In 1983 the cast reunited to make The Empire Strikes Back including the famous John Lithglow to play a very convincing Yoda and Billy Dee Williams reprising his role.  Unfortunately there is not as much story added as the adaptation was taken almost exclusively from the movie.

When it was time to create Return of the Jedi, NPR was in a financial problems, and it was until 1996 that funding was secured.  Despite the long gap in time, most of the same team finished the trilogy, with the exception of Mark Hamill who was busy at the time and was replaced with Joshua Fardon.

It may not be that extended version of Star Wars your hoping to see on the Big Screen, but it one of the greatest radio dramas ever produced.  Just proving that a great story can transcend any medium.  Oh and do not worry if you’ve missed hearing it on the radio:   HighBridge Audio has published all three episodes as Audio Books so you can listen to them when ever you want.  The only catch is they can be expensive to buy.

This is the best book I have ever read in my entire life. The whole 13 years of it.  It is about a girl named Maddy whose parents are divorced, and she has a problem at her new school with a group called “The Haters”. Their group leader Billy gave her a nickname “Freak Girl”.  The only thing she cares about is her Gothic style and her manga she drew and painted.  Her Dad always talks about “Fields of Fantasy”. I viewed it as a parody of the online game World of Warcraft. Then her birthday comes around and she gets some decent things.  The only one she loves is the one from her dad.

There were two drafts for the title page. They both are great but Mari Mancusi her editor and agent say the second one was preferred.  As for the other one it is great as well, but I agree that the second, which is the cover, is best, but that is my opinion.  I have friends say it’s a girl book,  but they haven’t read it.  You might agree at first, but even though the beginning might not grab your attention in the first few chapters. Later you won’t be able to put it down.  This is book I would strongly suggest to any one who loves to read, loves fantasy, and people who love a good plot.

2nd title cover try 1st title cover try

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Here we are with yet another Vampire Anime, this one is about 2 *Brothers* and what they must do in order to survive as *Black Bloods* (meaning that they are old, essentially)… But there is a catch…you see the younger one Kotaro is actually Alice… the one that created Jiro the older brother!? And it’s Jiro’s job to protect his bloodline at all costs…but how far does that mean he must go? And what problems can arise from watching over such a young kid, after-all curiosity killed the cat…but what about the undead?

This series is all around short, 1 volume of manga and 1 season of anime, but its really nice to watch, so i give it a 8/10 Rating. Jiro wields his sword like a true master, and as his opponents get tougher you will see the skills he exerts and the powers he possesses. But after living for so long the past is bound to catch up to you, the question is….can Jiro handle the mistakes he made in the past, or will it fall through again leaving the world in turmoil? Enjoy this anime and get back to me next week for another great anime!

Nerdy rating; 8/10

The Temple of the Winds by: Terry Goodkind

Copyright-1997

Marketed by-Thor

First edition- October 1997

First international mass market edition-April 1998

First mass market edition-September 1998

Cover art-Keith Parkinson

Cover design-Carol Russo Design

This book starts after Richard has defeated the mriswith and demanded the surrender of all midlands to him. He has demanded the surrender to unite the lands against the Imperial order and the Dream walker. The Death spell on Kahlan has been broken and all now know her again as the Mother Confessor. Zed is still missing and is feared dead but Richard will not believe it and clings to the hope that his grandfather is still alive.

Richard finds that he has a half brother and that he is The Raug’ Moss High priest.  Richard’s brother Name is Drefan Rahl his mother left him with the sect of healers and killed herself so Darken Rahl would not find him and kill him. Richard is leery of his new found brother any brothers he has had in the past has tried to kill him, will this one be different?

Jang sends a wizard to kill Richard and when he fails he leaves a prophesy before he dies, it is as follows. On the red moon will come the firestorm.  The one bonded to the blade will watch as his people die. If he does nothing, then he, and all those he loves, will die in its heat, for no blade, forged of steel or conjured of sorcery, can touch this foe.  To quench this inferno, he must seek the remedy in the wind. Lightning will find him on this path, for the one in white, his true beloved, will betray him in her blood. Jang has sent Sister Amelia to start a plague among  the children which quickly spreads out of control and Richard is powerless to stop it. Richard finds out that the cure to the plague that was started with magic can be stopped with magic. The magic to stop it just happens to reside in the Temple of the Winds that the wizards of the old sent to the underworld to protect the world of the living from the dangerous magic it contains. How will Richard get the spell that he needs?

Nadine, a girl from the past shows up stating that she is to marry Richard, and he does (wait what?). Kahlan has to marry Drefan (that’s right). Will Richard and Kahlan ever get married? How can they, Now that they are being married to others ? Why did they do that? Read the book to find out I am not going to tell you. Thats right Read, create wrinkles in your brain!

Blood of the Fold by: Terry Goodkind

Nerdy rating 8/10

This book starts after Stone of tears. To escape from the old world and the palace of the prophets Richard had to bring down the great barrier that separated the Old world from the New worlds. The Old world being where the sisters of the light are from and the new worlds being Da’hara, West land and the Midlands.

When Richard took the barrier down it let Emperor Jagang the Dream walker and his armies called the imperial order that are after, what else, world domination. Also The mriswith have come to the land after the great barrier went down. They are Lizard like creatures that used to be wizards but gave up there magic to become invisible; they came to start a colony in the midlands. The mriswith are gutting anyone in their path and Richard must stop them while fighting off the Imperial order that thinks that all Wizards and Sorceresses are evil and work for the keeper.

Richard is just now starting to realize what being a War Wizard means for him. I like the saying he says in the book before a fight “Dance with me death. I am ready.” It sets the tone for the whole book. As the new Lord Rahl he has a new group of protectors Egan and Ulic first file solders Cara, Berdine and Raina Mord Sith.  Richard has to become used to them and eventually creates bonds with all of them.

The only thing that can stop Janang who has the power to visit any dreams if you are awake or not and affect you in them (kind of like Freddie Cruger ) is you guessed it Richard. The Rahl family has been a long line of wizards and in the past one of Richards ancestors had to deal with a dream walker. He cast a spell that any that swore fidelity to the current lord Rahl  ( Richard in this case ) would be protected and the deam walker would not be able to inter their dreams.

The incantation is as follows.

Master Rahl guide us. Master Rahl teach us. Master Rahl protect us. In your light we thrive. In your mercy we are humbled. We live only to serve. Our lives are yours. As you can see pretty potent stuff.

While all this is going on there is other wizards and people to add adventure and to make it more difficult for Richard. Does he make it? does he turn evil? Will Richard and kahlan ever marry? Read the book and find out.