Another one of my literary goals is the read all of the Hardy Boys. Now that I’ve read all of my libraries collection, I’ve figured that I write a review. Also, since this is after my reading the collection of Nancy Drew, I can somewhat compare the two since they are so similar. Unlike the straight forward mysteries that encompass Nancy Drew novels, The Hardy Boys novels are more along the lines of thrillers as there are not the typically who-dun-it scenarios. Instead of the usual mysteries, we are diving into solving heists, dangerous espionage, and environmental dangers. The dangers to these two teenagers is much more real that those to Drew at times. While Drew’s boyfriend is often around to magically save her, the Hardy’s sometimes have their dad to save them, but it does feel really close when that does happen. It is a more heart-racing experience when having to follow these two boys around. They are quick and simply adventure reads with a couple of mystery components thrown in, including the best friend that magically happens to have some hobby that will magically solve the entire case. While the language is somewhat outdated, it is still a fun adventure from setup to wrap-up with all of the interesting locations they end up going to and interesting people met.
Tag: adventure
New 60s Classic
I’ve been going through a slight phase where I am trying to find some of the oldest anime possible. While I could only find Princess Knight in English, it has all of the classic cartoon charm that I love: obvious clip art being moved in front of a camera, the same animation being played repeatedly, forward and backward, and villains that sound like goofy mafia bosses. This was before the classic style of anime we know today, so if I hadn’t been watching on Crunchyroll, I probably would have thought I was watching a Hanna-Barbera cartoon. And I must say that this anime was at least very trans-positive for the time, or they just completely forgot that the protagonist was trans about halfway through production; I cannot decide which. We at least start Princess Knight with Prince Knight, an AFAB prince who must hide the fact that he is trans. And then, of course, chaos ensues with wacky hijinks and plans that definitely shouldn’t work. It was a fun, laid-back anime that felt like I was watching Saturday Morning Cartoons again. The nostalgia was great.
Space Trash
Sci-Fi is once again a great genre to explore social dynamics. In Planetes, that exploration is on full display. In a time where space travel is the norm and available to the general public, there is a team whose job is to clean up space from all the space junk that is stuck in orbit. On top of the beautiful atmosphere, there were topics I didn’t imagine would be discussed from the get-go. From the commercialization of space that is currently happening, I imagine that such a show is going to become even more relatable as we start to adapt to the new frontier of expansion. Not usually a fan of space, I was surprised by how much more there was than just exploring the outer atmosphere.
A Past in the Future
Samurai stories are similar to westerns. It’s the good guys fighting for justice and bad guys being bad guys. Now, instead of a distant past that is featured in some samurai stories, we are in a future where samurai are probably not the good guys typically portrayed. What if Samurai traded their human limbs for mechanical parts in a society run by what should be considered theft? Instead of the total historical view expected from something called Samurai 7, mecha are fought against to liberate people. It was interesting to see a science-fiction, futuristic take on issues many may consider of the past. Instead of a clash between the two styles, they came together as a beautiful art piece that appreciated both. While I haven’t seen the original story this anime was based on, I am fascinated by the possible comparisons and whether the futuristic take added to or enhanced the story that was told. The show is fun, and the characters are fleshed out and engaging. I would recommend having this show for your next binge-watching weekend.
Along That Yellow Brick Road Pt 12
We are back in the land of Oz to answer a question that everyone has been longing for an answer to: What happened to the Tin Man’s love interest? Yes, The Tin Woodman of Oz attempts to answer that question. Me, I completely forgot that there was a love interest for one of our original adventurers. Either way, it was a wild adventure for our wanderers as they found out what happened to the girl that Tin Man was supposed to marry so long ago. We can also determine whether the Tin Man’s heart is working like an actual heart, or if there is something else to it. It was an interesting journey when Dorothy and Ozma stayed out of the way with their magic, which make things uninteresting.
What a Bizarre Adventure Pt 4
I’m back after a long while from reading a part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure with Diamond is Unbreakable. It continues with the concept of stands and introduces a lot more of them. Sometimes they evolve. Sometimes they test the limits of time. Either way, it was very interesting to continue along the adventure. One thing I did not like much about this arc was that there was no buildup to anything. It was very episodic. While it did leave some clues I suspect to be answered in the upcoming arc, it was a little disappointing that they were not resolved in the here and now. I really wanted the exploration to lead to something, but it seems there was just too much about the world we needed to learn first.
Restarting Humanity
What would happen if humanity as we know it today were gone? No technology, no extensive travel, no types of media. Essentially, the route of human evolution starts over. With that in mind, that is Dr. Stone. After 3700 years of being turned to stone, humanity fundamentally begins again, with having to figure out how to get to this point of humanity again. Luckily, figuring it out is easy when an obsessed scientist is one of the first people to awaken.
As a scientist myself, I was expecting this to be more along the lines of a Sci-Fi anime. I was not expecting the actual amount of science there would be. And this is real science, which was written in actual science textbooks. While the science is correct, some liberties were taken. I honestly don’t think everything would magically work out the way they want us to believe, but it is a fun suspension of disbelief. Although our protagonist having the worst luck imaginable helps balance things out.
Along That Yellow Brick Road Pt 11
Back in the land of Oz with the Lost Princess of Oz, we start with a different situation than one we have had for a while. This difference, I don’t think we have seen since the real introduction of Ozma. This one was actually interesting, and I wanted to know how it would work. In essence, what if all of the OP items that these fairytale adventurers were missing? The Wizard lost all his magic items, all of Glinda’s potions and spellbooks are missing, and Ozma and her mirror are missing. In essence, we are in a completely normal journal in a completely abnormal.
I was actually interested in this book in the series for that exact reason. As soon as I know the book includes Dorothy, I usually become uninterested because she has all of these powerful people at her beck and call. Because that has all been taken away from her, I was actually interested in how this would work out for her. It was interesting because I couldn’t come up with an easy solution to the problem. This one is a good return to what was interesting about the first book, with everything up in the air.
Along That Yellow Brick Road Pt 10
I don’t think I’ve ever been so ready to follow someone else in a series before. Usually, I love listening to the continual development of the characters that we have grown to love at this point. I’m so tired of Dorothy at this point that I was nearly crying with happiness when told that we would be following someone else in Rinkitink of Oz.
This time, we follow a Prince as he tries to save his parents and the people from the evil conquerors who showed up one day to capture everyone. While there is a hint of magical help, we still get to follow a boy who struggles and is constantly making mistakes, like a kid should. He was relatable and always trying to think things through. It was adorable and very somewhat engaging. I just wish there was another ending. All the characters from the most recent adventure meeting everyone from previous adventures has gotten tiring. It is about a two-to-three-chapter spectacle every time, and I’ve just stopped caring. It was cute the first couple of times, but ten books in, it’s gotten old. If only Baum’s Army of Children told him that.
Old New Machines
I have a love-hate relationship with the classics. Some, I believe, are amazing and deserve their legendary setting in the halls of the library. Others, I’m not too sure about. This is one I’m not too sure about: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. The entire time, we are listening to a guy talk about another guy. That’s it; that’s the plot. No subterfuge or secret meanings, no analogy for something else. I was expecting a twist so badly that I thought the characters we were being spoken to about were fake the entire time, something ala Jekyll and Hyde. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. It was a book about a steamboat captain taking about the atrocities of colonialism through the lens of something absolutely amazing. There was nothing else to the dehumanization of nearly everyone else, or those who wanted more money. It was just what it was, unless that was the entire point: a book about the very real perspective of colonialism from an old man who thought that was all his life would grant him as we plundered the world for more of its resources. That’s also something to think about when considering this a classic: whether the accurate depiction of a time far away is what makes it amazing.
Drabble Geeks 