So much 'stuff'

So many things have caught my attention in the past few days; books, films, TV and wargaming have all competed for my limited attention span. I've been re-reading some books that I have ignored and forgotten for a long time. The Harry Harrison 'Eden' series may be a little flawed scientifically, but makes a great story and one worthy of your time. I'm also fighting through the classic alternate history 'For Want of a Nail'. The idea that the American Revolution failed is not a new one, but this book is like a textbook on how to do alternative history right. It's a little heavy in places but stick with it - it's worth it. On the TV front - 'V' is back! Yes! That rather cheesy TV series from the '80's is set to return with all the expensive special effects that modern technology can provide. Will it be any good? No idea. Mind you I didn't really go for the new Galactica series - in fact, I found it rather boring and 'Caprica' didn't seem to offer much either. I did have a fun time remembering my younger years after finding a copy of the amazing childrens show 'Timeslip' from 1970 that still holds up well considering the filming in black and white and the absolutely terrible special effects - as usual British TV had no money to spend on this stuff at all - look at early Dr. Who - the Tardis walls were painted curtains! In closing, I must recommend to you a new 2 part Channel 4 special that I hope will make it into the Dominions. Entitled '1066: The Battle for Middle Earth', it's a fresh look at that momentous year. Told through the eyes of the ordinary people caught up in events dictated by others, the salient events of the last days of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom are shown in very bloody detail. Why 'Middle Earth'? To the Anglo-Saxons, THIS is Middle Earth. Where did you think Tolkien got his inspiration from?