Not bad for the first week

The Deep Beyond. C.J. Cherryh
Cuckoo's Nest: The book introduces the alien Shonunin race, and the plot of the novel concerns a male Shonun raising a human boy. The book's title is therefore a reference the practice of brood parasitism among certain species of cuckoo birds. In this practice, the cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds' nests and the unwitting hosts then expend their energy hatching the cuckoo's eggs. The metaphor is not precisely applied in this case because the Shonun in the book is knowingly and deliberately raising a human child rather than having been tricked into doing so.

In Cuckoo's Egg Cherryh adopts the less common approach in science fiction stories containing aliens of relating the story from the alien's (Shonunin) perspective, thus making the humans the aliens. (wikipedia)

....I loved this story and refuse to give any details. I just sat back and enjoyed the turning of the pages letting the story unfold. Do yourself a favour and do the same with.

Serpent's Reach: is set in the constellation Hydrus home to the alien Majat, an insectoid race with a hive-mind consciousness.
The entire constellation is under strict quarantine due to the dangers inherent in human-Majat interaction.
The human segment of society is structured into three tiers. The top tier is the Kontrin Company, or Family. These aristocrats rule the system and direct relations with the Majat.
The book's protagonist is Raen a Sul hant Meth-maren, leader and sole survivor of the Sul sept of the Meth-maren House of the Kontrin company. Her clan was allied with the blue Majat. ( edited from wikipedia)

....I had a little trouble getting into this story and managed ok ignoring some of the hyphenated names and connections, enjoying it more as the main story developed. The interaction of the main characters stands out as well as a well crafted plot that keeps the book interesting. Cherryh has a way of making some characters very noble and wise.

I am currently reading another 2 story volume and have a third tucked waiting. I'm finding some of the author's works hard to find at the library and will make a few trips to used bookstores in search of them when the weather is better.
To keep me going I actually bought one. Me paying money for a book means I'm hooked.





Book Description: Final Account
When a mild-mannered accountant is brutally murdered, Inspector Banks is called in to investigate. It's a difficult case—the more Banks learns about the victim, Keith Rothwell, the more apparent it becomes that he was not at all what he seemed to be. Beneath the placid veneer lay a secret life of deception, sex and violence.

The case takes yet another unexpected twist when Banks's old sparring partner, DS Richard "Dirty Dick" Burgess, turns up from the Yard. Haunted by his attraction to one of the suspects, a beautiful young classical musician, Banks finds himself racing against time as the killers seem to be dogging his footsteps. Only after he pits his job against his sense of justice does he discover the truth. And the truth leads him to one of the most difficult decisions of his career.

.....I continue to work my way through the Inspector Banks novels by Peter Robinson. Having found them thanks to a review of his latest work I'm enjoying bringing myself up to date without having to wait long periods between novels. Paul and I are now neck and neck and I may have to start reserving 2 copies of the same title to avoiding any arguments.


Movies

Penelope: It was the poster that caught my eye on this one and having James McAvoy in it didn't hurt. Not great but enjoyable. With the library getting more and more titles and having started a 3 day express loan, I'll try just about anything.




The Day the Earth Stood Still : With all the talk of the current movie we decided to tape the original from TV and give it a go. I remember scenes from it but have never seen it all before. A few bits were laughable..loved the rubber flexibility of Gort's metal suit..but it kept us watching right to the end. Watching old movies sure does show us how far we've come, fashions to TV programmes to dialogue. I particularly liked seeing a young Patricia Neal and we did our ... and Michael Rennie was there in silver underwear line from Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I'm not in a rush to see the remake at the theatre but I will watch for it in DVD.


Doomsday: OK so this was a freebie from the library and I had no idea what to expect when I brought it home. It all went wrong when they pulled the Mad Max type machines out and the over the top punk civilization was just a short hop over the line until the knights in armour arrived. Not to say we didn't watch to the very end, but we laughed and we made fun of just about everything once they crossed the wall. If it cost money to view I'd pass.

.....................................

and to round out the week I've just finished with the current Robin Hood, season 2