I saw this at the store today and was laughing my ass off in the magazing aisle. They spoof the entire GoF movie. Brilliant. The last frame had the Harry smoking a cig, Hermione with enormous Pamela Anderson tits and Ron getting ready to shave. I think that's what he was doing. Like I ever pay attention to Ron.

Airborn and Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel

When Airborn starts, Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on an airship when he helps with the midair rescue of a stranded balloonist. The balloonist, just before he dies, asks Matt if he saw 'them'. In an effort to comfort the dying man, Matt lies and says he did. He doesn't think much more about it (he's only 14 after all), chalking the comments up to the delusions of a dying man.

A year later, a young girl and her chaperone arrive (in a dramatic fashion) on Matt's airship, the Aurora. They strike up a friendship when she discovers that Matt was the cabin boy responsible for saving
her grandfather's life. Kate has her grandfather's journal in her possession, which details his disovery of a new species, a flying mammal. Kate is determined to see what her grandfather saw to prove
that her grandfather wasn't a crazy adventurer.

That'll get you through about the first 100 pages when the story takes a turn. The story moves along at a nice clip and the development of Kate and Matt's relationship is done with a nice, sublte touch. Matt is an endearing hero and Kate, while somewhat selfish and a tad manipulative, never loses her inherent goodness. Her heart is in the right place and it's easy for us, and Matt, to forgive her impulses.

I highly recommend this book. The details about the airship and how it works if fascinating. The era is indeterminate, Kate wears long knickers (you find out innocently, it's youth lit after all), she has a chaperone and doesn't really have the opportunity to go to university because of her gender. I imagine it to be set in the 1930's, or possibly earlier. But, the time frame really doesn't matter. It's just a good story with great characters.

Skybreaker picks up three months after Airborn ended. Matt is on a freighter somewhere in the Indian Ocean on a two week navigation training tour when they discover an airship that was 'lost' some 40 years earlier. The Hyperion was owned by one of the wealthiest men in the world and was rumored to carry all of the eccentric recluse's fortune on board when it went missing. (Imagine Howard Hughes in his own personal, airborn Titanic and you get the idea). The captain risks his crews life by going after the airship, which is drifting at 20,000 feet. The crew slowly succumbs to altitude sickness and Matt, the only one not drastically affected, re-directs the ship, saving them all, but losing the Hyperion in the process. The ships navigation log is ruined, the main navigator dies from the altitude and Matt is the only one that remembers the exact coordinates for the doomed ship.

"I never said I was going."

"Of course you're going," she said.

"Maybe I am, but who says with you?"

"Oh stop being dramatic, Matt. Mr. Slater has a ship that can go very, very high." (Skybreaker, Chapter 5, page 88)

Needless to say, lots of people want the coordinates for many different reasons. Matt, his girlfriend Kate de Vries, an alluring gypsy girl Nadira and a dashingly handsome airship pilot Hal Slater join together
to get to the Hyperion before anyone else. The journey will test their loyalties, physical limitations and their priorities.

I can't say enough good things about the world that Kenneth Oppel has created. With just enough historical reference to keep it grounded in realism he is able to create a fantasy world that you believe could have really happened. I have no idea if the science of his world is possible, and I don't really care. It's logical enough to this science idiot that I take him at his word, and enjoy reading about it, which
just might possibly be his greatest achievement. ;)

I reached the lip of the hatch, now slanted at a forty-five degree angle. The ship thrashed and tried to throw me off. I made sure my oxygen mask was snug. Then I pitched myself forard hard and tumbled out into the sky. (Skybreaker, Chapter 21, page 349)

But, where his true talent lies is with a tight plot and amazing characterizations. The world is fantasy, yes, but there is no suspension of reality necessary when discussing his plot. Things happen for a reason. Resolutions are satisfactory, logical and, "dad gum it I should have seen that coming" brilliant. Some things you will see coming. Others you won't. His gift is laying clues for you along the way in such a way that you really have no idea they are a clue. There is no heavy handedness in his writing, which I'm sure is a relief to his readers. Proof that you don't have to wack the youth market over the head with clues, they're bright enough to pick up subtleties.

Kate would have talked.

She would have made all sorts of observations and told me everything on her mind. She would have vexed me and made me laugh. There was no stopping her words. I loved her words. Harness their energy and you could light up Paris. My feelings for Kate were so strong I could scarcely make sense of them. Being near her, I was filled with happiness and want and panic all swirled together. I wanted to talk to her, shout at her, touch her, and kiss her. I wanted to flee from her. It was altogether exhausting. Skybreaker, Chapter 9, page 163)

As far as characterizations go, if you can read this book and not be in love with Matt Cruse then you are just hard hearted. Or possibly a straight guy. In that case, you'll definitely fall for Kate de Vries.
And the two of them together? Bottled ambrosia. Oppel does an outstanding job of developing their relationship that started in Airborn. There is uncertainty, jealousies and pettiness, but the drama
of their personal relationship never detracts from the story because it is skillfully written. And, so natural. For those of you disappointed in the quality of the romantic subplots of HBP, read Skybreaker to see how a very similar storyline can be written with aplomb and realism without making the characters completely unlikeable. Brilliant, indeed.

My only quibble is that there is no physical description of Matt. Since, the book is in first person POV, I can understand. And, I have to give the writer credit for not going with the staring into a mirror
and describing himself device. If you want an artist rendition of Matt, go here.

To make your life as easy as possible, links to the books on Amazon are below.
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel

(Review cross posted on great_reader, mjryan, subtextuality and anywhere else I can think of.)

It's always nice when people enjoy your work, but when something you write inspires someone else to be creative, that's got to be one of the best compliments ever. So, when demosthenes91 surprised me with a drawing inspired by "O" for my birthday, I was very excited and so pleased. Then, since she has lots of perves on her flist, she drew another part of the scene. Then, she made a very suggestive animated icon of one of them. Now, she's bribing me to finish BLTN. I want to, but I'm having motivation issues. But, this post isn't about my lost muse, but is about pimping my friends artwork.

The Birthday Present

http://www.livejournal.com/users/demosthenes91/35553.html#cutid1

Artwork to shut the perves up

http://www.livejournal.com/users/demosthenes91/35604.html

Animated icon of 'artwork to shut the perves up' that just gets us even more pervy

http://www.livejournal.com/users/demosthenes91/36012.html#cutid1

I've made my "O" entry public so whoever wants to read it can. Two warnings: first, it's NC-17 so underage kids, don't read it. Second, it isn't your typical H/Hr story. If you are expecting warm and fuzzy, don't read it. It's angsty and may or may not end well. That just depends on what you think happens next.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/cheeringcharm/110460.html

Yes, I finished it. I'm a horny liar, what can I say.

The first part and second part. For your reading enjoyment.

Maybe.

I'm debating on whether or not I should make this a public entry. I'll let you guys decide. Although I use lots of icky words, which in my book, makes this pretty hard NC-17. I don't know, maybe not.

I needed lots of encouragement for this one. So a shout out of thanks to abigail89, vicariousleigh and danielerin for feedback and beta services. They said I got it right. And, they're the experts. :)

ETA: The very first person that read this was 54321sherry. I'm so sorry I didn't mention you!


( O (Part 1) )

( O (Part 2) )

Tags: fic, o

You scored as Elizabeth Bennet. As one of Austen's most beloved characters, Elizabeth Bennet represents what most women would like to become: strong, independent, and loyal. Of course, she has her faults including a stubborn will of iron and a clinging to first impressions. Overall, Lizzie is bright and lovable...something to admire and aspire to. </td> Elizabeth Bennet 88% Emma Woodhouse 81% Elinor Dashwood 66% Marianne Dashwood 53% Jane Bennet 53% Charlotte Lucas 47% Lady Catherine 25% Which Jane Austen Character are You? created with QuizFarm.com

Oh yeah!

I think it's pretty accurate about me. Who wouldn't want to be Lizzy?

Longer post later. I have Fantasy Football draft tonight! Woo-hoo!

Tags: meme

Now I know why people say GIP, gratuitous is too difficult to spell.

This lovely icon (which I have dubbed Harry Cheekbones) was made by venus_ice.

Tags: icons

OotP, page 108, British version when they were describing what they were throwing out of Grimmauld Place.

"...a heavy locket that no one could open..."

There's your first horcrux.

Oh, and I think that Voldie hid one at Hogwarts when he went to ask DD for a job. Possibly his Special Services to the School Plaque that Ron spewed slugs all over in CoS? Or, maybe he hid something in the room that Harry hid his potions book. Or in the Chamber of Secrets.

Horcruxes are a perfect example of the author giving us just part of the answer. Either how a horcrux is created isn't important, it's important later in the plot, or she has no idea how they are made.

Was anyone else disappointed in the apparation lessons? The only person that's ever been described as twirling when they disappear is DD. With everyone else, it is just a 'CRACK!" I hate little inconsistencies like that.

Tags: harry potter

What has happened in London is just too horrible. I just found out about it since I was watching the Tour de France this morning. At times like these the war on terror seems un-winable. You know, it is just a matter of time before they attack the US again. We can be as vigilant as we want, but they will always be able to hit us and our allies.

Tags: commentary

Today was a great mail day for me. I received three packages!

The first was from my friend in Houston. It was my cell phone charger that I forgot at her house. Not very exciting.

The second was my Mischief Managed tee from WB! I was so pumped, thinking how cool I will be when I wear it to the release party. However, it's rather flimsy material (it's the ladies' version) and it fits, but if I wash it, if I even threaten it with water, it will shrink and the boobs of doom won't fit in it. So, I must return it, but I'm very, very worried that I won't get it back in time for July 16! But, I can't pay over $20 bucks for a freaking t-shirt that I'll be able to wear once. Send it back, I must.

The best package I got was one I wasn't expecting at all! It is a book thong from abigail89. I absolutely love it! I'm going to use it for Howard's End until HBP comes out. It is so purty! My love for it is great! Thanks for thinking of me!

I'm so irritated! I just wrote my chapter summary for ACAD and lost it because of some weird, wanky dll file. I thought I saved it, but alas I'm not finding it. However, I would rather let my computer search for the file, or maybe a back-up file of it than try to think and retype it. Am I lazy? Yes.

Went to a fireworks show tonight. Very nice, but traffic leaving is always sucky. This morning we went to a 4th of July parade with the Charm-in-Laws, which we do every year. Also, very nice time. Wow, do I sound enthusiastic or what?

Shit. It didn't find my file. Now I have to actually think. Again.