No one picked this, it's on random...

Thoughts on The Strain.

Today I finished reading Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan's The Strain. Yes, Del Toro the director of films such as Hellboy I and II, Pan's Labyrinth, and the Devil's Backbone. Chuck Hogan is a well established genre writer. The Strain is a vampire novel that read a bit more like a procedural thriller than a straight horror tale. Early word I saw hyped it has something new and fresh in vampire fiction. While I don't think it is very "new," it is still a very solid and exciting read and miles ahead of most books in the genre. One of the reasons it didn't seem super fresh, it's worth noting, is that Del Toro had already given many of these great vampire ideas a test run in Blade II.

The characters are well developed and you care about all of them. One of the things the book does best is structure the introductions and appearances of various characters through out the length of the book. You get a great feel for these characters before fate sets them on their path and they meet face to face. Switching between so many characters, you never forget who is who which is important. The pacing never falters. I don't like giving too much away, but this book is the first in a trilogy (2010 and 2011 the follow ups... follow up). I am definitely looking forward to continue this journey at that time. For fans of procedurals, vampire fiction, and Guillermo Del Toro.


Order the Strain and give it a read!

I'm going to try to squeeze in Good Omens this week. Maybe. It's my next must read, but I also want to read that Nick Cave book as soon as it's released. So, I may have to put Good Omens after that one. Depends on my schedule. I have video game testing Thursday and Friday. Love doing that!

I've been making a list of things I need to do effects wise and a few other thing wise that I'll be getting on as soon as I can. Once I get all that stuff worked out logistically and operating, I'll feel a lot better.

I currently watch a lot of sample videos and test footage from various cameras to peg what I am going to use. Have to find something capable, but affordable. It is boring and can be annoying. Back to it, YAY!