Read/Play/Watch – January Week 1

Read – Children of the Fall by HS Down

HS Down’s apocalyptic science fiction novel blends elements of I, Robot, Blade Runner, and Ready Player One (the good bits) to create a compelling story. It follows the journey of a teenage girl, Alexandra, and her younger sister, Hypatia, as they try to survive the dying days of the USA and reach safety.

The future depicted in Children of the Fall is one where families can adopt cyborg children, touted as the perfect companions for their biological counterparts. Hypatia is one such companion child, adopted to help take care of Alexandra, who suffers issues with anxiety and struggles to interact with some aspects of society. When the companion children malfunction and begin attacking their owners, the country is thrown into chaos, made even worse by the eruption of a civil war, the US government beleaguered by a terrifyingly feasible fascist militia. Add to this a mysterious plotline involving a group of survivors locked into a bunker, encouraged to play immersive VR video games for a grand prize, and you have a recipe for some excellent sci-fi horror.

I really enjoyed this book, Down has done a masterful job of painting a bleak world where all is lost, and making us root for Alexandra and Hypatia as they try to survive it. The villains are loathsome, the heroes are relatable and the mystery surrounding Hypatia’s past is nicely teased out throughout the story’s events. An easy recommendation!

Score: 4/5

Play: World of Tanks (Xbox)

World of Tanks is a tough game to review, the game-to-game moments are generally very good, with super detailed armoured vehicles from history (and, in some cases, fiction) going up against each other in a slugging match to the death, against many lush backgrounds such as tight city streets, open fields and arctic tundra.

Combat is fast and unforgiving, relying on fast reflexes and an understanding of cover and ground elevation to give you the best chance of survival. Though some tanks seem really bad compared to their counterparts (hello, T62) the balance is overall quite good, allowing for some fun games.

The downside is the whole monetisation element, which may introduce a bit of pay-to-win shenanigans when somewhat overpowered DLC tanks fill the rosters of every match and make you feel that progressing without sinking serious money into the game is a fool’s errand.

But, for an ostensibly free game, it is plenty of fun, and I can recommend it!

Score: 3.5/5

Watch: We Have a Ghost

What happens when a somewhat irresponsible Anthony Mackie and his family move into a haunted house, and his son meets the resident ghost? This movie, as it happens!

I watched this one when it came out back in the COVID Times ™ and remembered it being fun, so dusted it off to watch again last week. It’s got Mackie and the ever-great David Harbour in it, what’s not to love? Well it was, thankfully, as fun as I remember, with Harbour’s ghost Ernest becoming an unwitting internet celebrity, and Mackie’s teenage son trying to save him from the CIA, while helping the poor spirit find a way to cross over.

Most surprising of all here is the ending, I forgot how much it hit me in the feels the first time around, and a lot of that is due to the actors really selling the scene. It’s got comedy, action and plenty of heart… Oh, and Jennifer Coolidge!

Score: 3.5/5