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My, my. Joe Abercrombie has done it again. Just when I thought that my post-summer reading list could not have been more enjoyable, once again, my patience with one of my favorite genres has paid off. The concluding book of The First Law trilogy could not have been more exhilaratingly, subversively, compulsively delightful. A tired old genre, populated either by the doddering remnants of formerly great writers, or sadly bereft of truly inspired creators, is suddenly fresh again. Last year, I wrote on this blog:
Pick it up. The darkly comic was never this...comic. Imagine Ricky Gervais doing Lord of the Rings and you just might have Before They Are Hanged.
But, to Abercrombie's credit, instead of coasting on his ability to craft absurdly funny situations dripping with dark wit (a rare enough talent as it is), he chose to pierce the veil of the wickedly funny to reveal the sad, interminable cost of war at the very heart of it. It is the fitful, beating heart of the survivor that raises this precious little trilogy from the entertaining diversion it was into the intelligent, and bravely humorous meditation on the men and women ruined by heroism that it grows up to be.
Photo Credits:
Picture of The Last Argument of Kings comes courtesy of Amazon UK.
Tito Domeng once testified that one of the many wonders he is grateful for is that even late in life, when he should be thinking of his "Omega", he finds his time happily consumed by the discovery of "Alpha". One of the reasons why so many people, myself included, have been happily hijacked into the Alpha Course is because it allows the ordinary Christian to share extraordinary truths in a simple, natural way.
We have much to be thankful for in terms of growth in doing Alpha.
First, we are sending quite a number of Alpha enthusiasts to Singapore from July 2 to 9 for training in pastoral care, ministry, and the practicalities involved in running Alpha courses. We pray that Dodong Ycaro, Almers Udarbe, Felma Tabequero, Angelo Rodriguez, Elaine Gutang, Gigi Meim, and Ralph Lumo will have a wonderful time refining their skills for our Lord's ministry in Alpha.
Second, we are trying to send a group of Christian brothers and sisters to Korea from September 22 to 28 for the Alpha Korea Vision Trip. We pray that Pastor Grace Santos, Pastor Faye Boncodin, Pastor Lawma, and the indefatigable Dr. Benie A. Sy will be able to participate in what promises to be a truly spirit-filled encounter with the overwhelmingly generous Alpha community in Korea.
Lastly, I had a wonderful meeting with Fr. Vicente Cajilig, the Executive Secretary, Office of Education and Student Chaplaincy, Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference in his office in the University of Santo Tomas. Fr. Cajilig won me over with his warm sense of humor, and he won my wife over with dark chocolates. He invited the entire Alpha team for mass next week, and we eagerly accepted his generous invitation.
Blessings to all!
My dad left for Iloilo on Thursday, and was supposed to be back on Saturday. Unfortunately, Typhoon "Frank" hit Iloilo on the very day that Papa was supposed to come home. And while I must admit that all objectivity is chucked out the window whenever I feel compelled to write about the extraordinary family that I was privileged to have been brought up in, in this case, my natural inclination to make the mundane mythic pales in comparison to the reality of my father's actions.
While his fellow passengers retreated grudgingly to whatever temporary lodgings that their tempers allowed them to seek out, my dad rescued a 67 year old lady suffering from pneumonia from the rooftop of a house in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
Upon hearing of my dad's superhuman efforts, my mother-in-law, Mima Dodie, suggested that perhaps that's why my father was stranded in Iloilo during Typhoon "Frank": there were some people who needed saving. We're glad to have him back safe and sound. Good work, Papa!
Note:
The photo above was not taken during my dad's heroic struggle, but it probably best reflects the nature of the service that he was able to render: Service, with a smile.
People oftentimes ask me for book recommendations, but I've never felt comfortable about setting myself up as some sort of authority on books. Other than my keen intelligence, exceptional taste, and exemplary humility, I am sadly ill-equipped to tell people what to read. Rather, I'm more interested in what other people have to say about what they have been reading.
In order to coax more people to share which books have made their reading much more pleasant lately, let me share a short list of books that I haven't read, but probably will, if only to justify the frequent bouts of impulse shopping that I am afflicted with every single time that I pass by Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street.
1. The Yiddish Policeman's Union.
2. The Dragon Waiting.
3. Lud-in-the-Mist.
What's on queue with you?
Cover of The Dragon Waiting comes courtesy of Fantastic Fiction.
In an earlier post, I discussed briefly how inaccessible comics could be when they don't tell well-crafted, coherent, and thought-provoking stories. The ongoing comic series Fables is an example of how the comic book, thus elevated to a true sequential art form, could be used to tell powerful stories. For those who are not familiar with this intelligent, compassionate series about fairy tales, "The Last Castle" is a good way to immerse one's self into the wonderfully engrossing, poignant, deliciously inventive world created by Bill Willingham.
The premise of the series is fairly simple. Fairy tales and other anthromorphic representations of such culler from folklore (who refer to themselves as "Fables") have been forced out of their Homelands by a mysterious enemy known as the Adversary. Thus exiled, these Fables formed a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown where, after several centuries of "normal existence", things change.
"The Last Castle" features Boy Blue, and his recollection of the Fables' last stand against the Adversary's forces in the Homelands. Central to this tale of epic sacrifice and nobility is a tale worthy of the inescapably saccharine, but ultimately remarkable stylings of popular songsmith, and reputed Fable, Barry Manilow---Fables who had the right love at the wrong time.
Saccharine?
"What little courage I can summon up to stay depends on the sure knowledge that I've bought your life by doing so. Otherwise, this is meaningless."
Maybe. But it's a good read. Enjoy!
Fables "The Last Castle" was written by Bill Willingham with art by Craig Hamilton and P. Craig Russell.
Last June 7, 2008, at the culmination of the first Alpha for Prisons course held in the provincial jail of Bukidnon, Bishop Honesto Ch. Pacana reminded the twenty six guests present, most of whom were longtime residents of the prison, that despite their incarceration, they remain free because of Jesus Christ.
For many of the guests on this course, the provincial jail, located in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, has been their home for many, many years. Despite the best efforts of many well-meaning clergymen and lay personnel, for most prisoners, God is a reality that is celebrated only once a week through the Mass, or less frequently, through the sacraments.
Thanks to the initiative of Dr. Godofredo Ycaro, the recently retired Dean of Bukidnon State University, and through the Alpha Course, our Lord remains a vital presence in the lives of these inmates. Despite the lack of immediate access to the sacraments, the freedom to partake of eucharistic celebrations, or the comforting touch of family and friends, these prisoners remain free because they have discovered God in their hearts.
Bishop Pacana reiterates the importance of discovering Christ in our hearts through the following parable:
God was tired of having to deal with the requests of His people. And so, He asked the Angel Gabriel to help Him. Where could He go where no one can find Him?
"Hide behind the furthest star. There they will not find him."
"Not so,” God said. “One day they will learn to fly and then they will find me."
"Hide then, in the deepest part of the sea. They will never find You there.”
"Not so," said God. "One day the people will learn to swim and they will swim to the bottom of the ocean and then they will find me."
Finally, God decided to hide Himself in man's heart.
"Man would never think to look for Me inside himself. There is no chance that he will find Me there."
Thus, Bishop Pacana asserts, while it is true that Christ is in the Church, and in the sacraments, it is equally true, and perhaps more appropriate to realize given the circumstances that many inmates face, that Christ also dwells within us. And so, if the Alpha Course introduces us to the joyful re-discovery of an intimate, personal encounter with Christ, then our journey of faith should continue. As Christians, we strive to grow in faith, not only by developing a fuller understanding of the Church, but by resolving to bring a renewed commitment to serving our Lord through the different programs, apostolates, and social initiatives that help bring Christ to our community.
Have a blessed day!
I was in Malaysia from May 26 to June 1 for the first international training seminar of the newly configured, and newly combined I AM STRONG and IKLR program. Needless to say, despite my desperate battles against over-indulgence (a struggle I have fought, to date, only in Kuala Lumpur), the long, sleepless nights contemplating beds bereft of smiling kin, and the logistical difficulties normally associated with traveling in a foreign country, I really enjoyed the trip.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped training the wonderful, insightful, warm-hearted citizens of Kuala Lumpur, and adopted the slightly reverential, oftentimes jovial stance of a student who has much to learn about the simple truths of freedom, responsibility, and cultural diversity. And yes, half my weight is effectively chicken rice, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of Mr. Chris Lim and his sons Nathan, Nicholas, and Noah.
See you again soon!
Let's just say that #100 didn't blow me away. Don't get me wrong. I am quite sure that Wizard magazine has some pretty good reasons to list Ghost Rider #68, "The Curse of Johnny Blaze" as one of the 100 Best Single Comic Issues Since You Were Born. I just couldn't care less. Part of the problem with commercial comics in general, and superhero comics in particular, is that they seem to require a rather alarming amount of familiarity with the backstory of the comic in question to be moved by it.
What separates #99 from #100 is that the story doesn't require you to have voluminous knowledge of failed superheroine Jessica Drew to appreciate it, but there are enough wonderfully subtle elements that reward the truly knowledgeable comic book fan. Alias #10 tells the story of how famed anti-superhero adherent, Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson, after insulting Jessica Drew's past attempts to be a successful hero in her own right, hires Ms. Drew to find out the secret identity of Spider-Man. And in the best comic tradition, in both senses of the word, hilarity ensues.
From the clever, and innovative paneling, to the spot on dialogue, conveyed beautifully in theatrical format, this little gem is well worth considering as a brilliant introduction to modern day comic books and how the medium could be used, effectively, to tell funny, intelligent, and recognizably human stories.
Alias #10 was written by Brian Michael Bendis, with art by Michael Gaydos.
Image comes courtesy of New Kadia.
I just recently got back to reading comics, and I can't believe how much good stuff I missed. (Well, I also can't believe how much bad stuff actually got published, but that's a topic I'd rather not discuss.) Fortunately, the otherwise faceless, ruthlessly cruel industry pandering comic guide, Wizard, came up with a list of the "100 Best Single Issues Since You Were Born." While I believe that Wizard perpetuates an industry that tries to keep comics infantile and exploitative, their editorial staff, perhaps in recognition of their servitude to their evil overlords, normally tries their best to come up with adroit choices for their lists of significant comic issues, events, and personalities.
In recognition of Wizard's efforts on behalf of comic geeks everywhere, and because I don't have the time to make a list of my own, I'm going to go through the 100 comics on the list and review those which I find interesting enough to comment on. Here's to comics, a sense of wonder, and an unflagging belief in the heroes inside all of us. At the very least, there will be some cool funny pictures in this blog from time to time.
Sometimes, the best things in life just happen, with very little conscious thought, but with a great deal of deliberate grace. I was passing by National Bookstore in EDSA Shangri-La Mall when I came across the books which comprise the Chronicles of Chaos trilogy. And yes, you read it right. It's a trilogy. In this day and age, where second-rate writers churn out as many books as possible to keep themselves in hog heaven, John C. Wright wrote a trilogy. With all due respect to the late Robert Jordan, his success in the high fantasy genre encouraged every second-rate, derivative, pretentious hack to produce some spectacularly awful books in the hopes of replicating Jordan's epic Wheel of Time series. This is why a trilogy is so welcome. Like R. Scott Bakker, another wonderful fellow who penned a thought-provoking epic trilogy The Prince of Nothing, Wright's science fantasy epic has a beginning, a middle, and an ending, which is more than can be said of the many series being published today.
And yes, it is science fantasy. The problem with hard science fiction is that it tries to convey wonder through definition. Science fantasy, on the other hand, conveys wonder through definitions that require an a priori response that questions the rigidity of such definitions. In other words, this genre requires an enormous leap of faith that validates belief in magic of a sort.
Reviewer Paul Di Filippo writes:
Science fantasy is a blend that requires enormous skill to bring off. The author must mix the improbable with the probable, the fanciful with the hard-nosed, the rational with the supernatural. Luckily, John Wright is just the man for the job...he effortlessly blends the two.
Astute readers will detect flavors here of Philip K. Dick (the games with the nature of reality); A.E. van Vogt (the recomplicated shifting alliances); Roger Zelazny (the mythology mixed with contemporary slang); James Branch Cabell (the droll speech patterns of Boreas, the school's headmaster); Clark Ashton Smith (the descriptions of otherworldly realms); A.A. Attanasio (the gnostic interplay between gods and humans); C.S. Lewis (the Narnia-style trope of teens with noble secret identities); and so forth and so forth, with more allusions that I've probably even overlooked.
This kind of homage-laden, deep-lineage fiction can get over-intellectual and stultifying in the wrong hands. But Wright keeps it fresh and sprightly, mainly thanks to never losing sight of the teenage high spirits of his protagonists, especially his perfect narrator, Amelia.
Pick it up. After all, who can resist an author who, after having converted to Catholicism, insists that "If Vulcans had a church, they'd be Catholics." It's refreshing to read the works of a man who knows exactly, in the wonderfully chaotic way that science fantasy makes the impossible possible, where he's heading, be it in fiction or in life. Enjoy!
