Still being cranky from being ill nearly all of my planned vacation time around the end run of 2011 and still feeling like Slimer has taken residence inside my body. But a new year needs reflecting upon the previous one to get going again (in terms of stuff read, watched, played, etc., not real life stuff like the job, that doesn’t really matter).
BOOKS
Starting like last year with books. The number of memorable books I read for the first time this year was pretty high, even if not all of them where new books. It’s all science fiction, mostly because that’s the stuff that stays with me.
David Gerrold’s brilliant short time travel to the max novel about a man who can do anything and still loses himself, Raphael Carter’s cyberpunk infused post-cyberpunk exploration of the horror that technology can bring beyond even our wildest fears, Project Itoh’s biting novel about health-technology and a well-meaning-society gone off the deep end, that slowly transforms into a big questions about the nature of the self and conscience itself. There was Hannu Rajaniemi’s first part of a trilogy that stood well enough on its own and showed stunning glimpses of a transhuman-future that while playing with know ideas manages to be completely its own thing. There was Peter Watt’s writing a game-tie in novel that was better than all the so-called non-derivative science fiction output this year.
And last but not least I read David J. Williams brilliant and astonishing debut trilogy that is so much things that you can’t really describe it just in one sentence. Okay, you can, it’s an post-cyberpunk apocalyptic thriller that goes from cold to hot war in mere seconds and then proceeds to become something even stranger and informed by recent SFnal ideas. Basically, a perfect thrill ride.
COMICS
There were some great comics I read this year for the first time, like Warren Ellis’ Astonishing X-Men run (sadly too short to built enough momentum to have any real impact), Biomega (great art, story is confused at best, downright nonsensical at worst) and Wolverine and Jubilee (well-written, fun mini-series), but nothing that really blew me away (okay, there was Grant Morrison’s Flex Mentallo, which really is just as good as everyone says it is).
Also the Incredible Hercules and the Agent of Atlas series from Marvel were entirely worth reading (sadly as can be seen from how they were published, quality doesn’t always win out), as was their cosmic line (War of Kings, Realms of Kings, The Thanos Imperative, The Annihilators). Another great read was the (so far) complete output of the Marshall Law comics, which is some of the best superhero satire I’ve seen. So, overall, mostly superheroes again in 2011.
GAMES
Not much in terms of new games that blew me away. 2011 was mostly spent on replaying older games (which was certainly fun), a few short flash games and finishing the main campaign of Neverwinter Nights. While NN was fun in its own way (epic fantasy plot), the weak writing stops me from going all-out for it. Fun game, but far from the greats like Ultima, Fallout or others.
MOVIES
A couple of fun movies I saw in 2011: Captain America, Kung Fu Panda 2, Despicable Me and X-Men: First Class. The only one that really blew me away, thought, was the widely lauded Inception from 2010. And I saw the original 1951 The Day the Earth Stood Still, which was also quite good.
TV & VIDEOS
Nothing impressive last year, thought I managed to re-watch the original Stargate show up to season 8 (still trying to finish the last 2 seasons) and Buffy up to season 3. Mostly I try to see all the shows I once watched on TV, but this time in the right order and without missing any single episodes or any season. As for recent stuff, there’s actual no good SF show on the air. As disappointed as I was with the modern Battlestar Galactica incarnation, I do miss a good show in a space opera mode. Anything, please.
Overall, thought, I look forward to 2012. Happy new year to everyone.
