GlaucaWyrm

Richard M. reviewed Planet of the Apes: Visionaries by Rod Serling

Planet of the Apes: Visionaries (GraphicNovel, 2018)

"Taylor is Thomas and Ape City isn't a crude, primitive grouping of huts; instead, it's …

A much more honest telling of the Boulle book than any film

4 stars

I re-read The Planet Of The Apes and I'd forgotten how much more modern the Apes' world was in the book. Then, watching the 1968 film with its anti-tech, religious fervor. I'm more disappointed viewing both in close proximity. I remember the films from the TV series being much more modern with cities and tech.

I've since found the Visionaries graphic novel that's based more on the unused Serling script.

The Visionaries book is a much better version of the story than the original film. Visionaries really captures the feel of the Pierre Boulle book, and there are some interesting differences. Parts that extend the book in ways that serve the original story well. The increased excavation of the human town and what's found there, the way Nova and some other humans 'evolve' now that they have 'permission' from Thomas.

The end is perhaps more tragic than the film with …

I re-read The Planet Of The Apes and I'd forgotten how much more modern the Apes' world was in the book. Then, watching the 1968 film with its anti-tech, religious fervor. I'm more disappointed viewing both in close proximity. I remember the films from the TV series being much more modern with cities and tech.

I've since found the Visionaries graphic novel that's based more on the unused Serling script.

The Visionaries book is a much better version of the story than the original film. Visionaries really captures the feel of the Pierre Boulle book, and there are some interesting differences. Parts that extend the book in ways that serve the original story well. The increased excavation of the human town and what's found there, the way Nova and some other humans 'evolve' now that they have 'permission' from Thomas.

The end is perhaps more tragic than the film with Lady Liberty's reveal.

Richard M. reviewed Ringworld by Larry Niven

The ' (1970–2004), by science fiction author Larry Niven, is a part of his Known …

Ages poorly, like its peers.

3 stars

I really wish there was a filter for old media that could remove some of the elements that make interesting stories so mired in their time, and really drags the suspension of disbelief to a halt.

"Wow! Massive world in a ring around a sun! That's incredible! Ladies manipulate us with sex, and they're just too stupid to understand science. A crew of 30 people on a ship and only 3 women? You can bet they weren't engineers. Wink wink."

Larry Niven's Ringworld is a bit of a slog.

The rating of three is in "teenage me in the 80s" stars. When adjusted for today's stars, this likely should be lower, as I surely wouldn't have patience for this from a contemporary author.

Richard M. reviewed A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman

A Parade of Horribles (AudiobookFormat, 2026, Audible Studios)

I just want it to be over

2 stars

I really think these could be edited down by half and still retain the core story. The play by play battles feel like they're getting longer and longer and then there's One Neat Trick that Carl springs on the reader at the end, though all the characters are in on the plan. Feels like a weird choice for a first person narrative.

It's a fun series, but could definitely use a harsh editor. I read it mostly because I used to be a Dungeon Master with a taste for evil plots, wishes and magic that backfire, funny stories and general silliness. Novel solutions that beat me at my game are especially fun, and that's what I like with Carl. I do wish that the narrator would include the reader in what's happening upfront without trying to force suspense.

I will finish the series because I do want to see how …

I really think these could be edited down by half and still retain the core story. The play by play battles feel like they're getting longer and longer and then there's One Neat Trick that Carl springs on the reader at the end, though all the characters are in on the plan. Feels like a weird choice for a first person narrative.

It's a fun series, but could definitely use a harsh editor. I read it mostly because I used to be a Dungeon Master with a taste for evil plots, wishes and magic that backfire, funny stories and general silliness. Novel solutions that beat me at my game are especially fun, and that's what I like with Carl. I do wish that the narrator would include the reader in what's happening upfront without trying to force suspense.

I will finish the series because I do want to see how it resolves, but audio book on 1.5x and likely a bit of skipping.