Other fiction

Have you seen, read or heard anything that you want to talk about?

Submitted by Francisco on Wed, 05/23/2012 - 4:21am

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Ultraviolet, Channel 4, 1998

Submitted by Francisco on Wed, 05/23/2012 - 5:08am.

I discovered this morning that Channel 4 has made its drama back catalogue available on YouTube.

Looking through the offerings, I noticed that Ultraviolet was one of the series that was available. I watched it a few years ago when I rented a lot of DVDs (and I must of liked it because I bought the series :-) ).

The series assumes that vampires are real and are living among us. There is secret part of the Special Branch that deals with fighting them. A police officer is recruited into their ranks after the disappearance of his partner.

The feel of the series is that of a police procedual or a spy drama.

Cool

Submitted by Clare K. R. Miller on Wed, 05/23/2012 - 12:46pm.

That show sounds interesting, and somewhat similar to another series I'm working on, about a branch of the FBI that deals with supernatural-type stuff. One of them is a vampire. YouTube, you say? I'll look for it.

I had to look up "Ultraviolet" to see if it's related to a terrible movie I saw a few years ago by the same name. It's not, but it's interesting that they're both about vampires.

Link

Submitted by Francisco on Wed, 05/23/2012 - 12:57pm.

I think I know which film you're talking about.

I'm not sure if you've seen much British crime drama but, if you do, this is pretty similar. Here's the link.

Hmm

Submitted by Clare K. R. Miller on Thu, 05/24/2012 - 10:28am.

I tried to watch Whitechapel and couldn't follow it--I think a lot of the conventions of British and American crime drama are different. (Have you seen Whitechapel? Maybe it's just odd.) I'll definitely give Ultraviolet a chance, though--it looks awesome and it's got Idris Elba! Thanks for the link.

Whitechapel

Submitted by Francisco on Thu, 05/24/2012 - 10:57am.

Whitechapel is odd -- that's the point. It's definitely not a a typical British crime drama.

{edit} If you want something more typical watch Lewis, A Touch of Frost, Taggart, Silent Witness, Prime Suspect, etc.

If you're interested in 90s police drama then there's Wycliffe, Morse (the fore-runner to Lewis), etc.

{edit 2} The way I interpret Whitechapel:

The series seems to be dancing around the question of whether the events occurred because of human nature/nature of the criminal mind or because there is/are malevolent force(s) causing history to repeat itself.

Then again Whitechapel is weird enough to be one of those shows that is open to interpretation.

Hmm

Submitted by Clare K. R. Miller on Thu, 05/24/2012 - 12:45pm.

I don't think I got to the point of a "why." I just couldn't tell what was happening when, how much time was passing, etc.

Alas

Submitted by Clare K. R. Miller on Mon, 05/28/2012 - 10:17pm.

It turns out Ultraviolet is not available in my country.

Other fiction...

Submitted by FlowerGirl on Thu, 05/24/2012 - 6:28am.

Has anybody hear read The Hunger Games? (no spoilers, please! I'm still waiting for the third book, I'm next or next-to-next on the list... :P)

Yes!

Submitted by Clare K. R. Miller on Thu, 05/24/2012 - 12:46pm.

I love The Hunger Games. I borrowed the first two books from a friend, and then when I finished Catching Fire I immediately bought Mockingjay on my Kindle because I just couldn't wait.

I still haven't seen the movie, though! Is that available in Europe yet?

UK

Submitted by Francisco on Thu, 05/24/2012 - 1:14pm.

I can't comment for other European countries but it looks like The Hunger Games opened in the UK at the end of March.

I do not know when...

Submitted by mjkj on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 3:42am.

...but I saw it advertised a while ago -- so it should run here too now...

mjkj

Yeah...

Submitted by FlowerGirl on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 4:49am.

We went to see it with a group.

Which kind of begs the question... Chatoyant College film? When? :P

Yeah, when?

Submitted by mjkj on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 10:58am.

Indeed: when??? ;-D

*looking forward to watching the film*

mjkj

Hee!

Submitted by Clare K. R. Miller on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 12:31pm.

If any movie studios want to option the story (which would be the very first step for an eventual film), I will definitely let you guys know XD

Thanks

Submitted by mjkj on Tue, 05/29/2012 - 2:33pm.

That would be nice :)

mjkj

Film or series

Submitted by Francisco on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 1:13pm.

Thinking about this, I think this would work better as a TV series. Hollywood would cut too much out.

Series

Submitted by mjkj on Tue, 05/29/2012 - 2:34pm.

I would opt for a series :D

mjkj

Tom Holt

Submitted by Francisco on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:31pm.

Tom Holt's books are a bit hit amd miss but there are a couple that I'd recommend:

The Portable Door: Two young people are hired by a strange London firm.
My Hero: The walls between fiction and reality are breaking down. A 3rd rate British fantasy novelist and her hero find themselves dealing with bigger problems than they usually have to.

I love The Portable Door. My Hero isn't as good but it's still worth a read.

Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts

Submitted by Francisco on Mon, 07/30/2012 - 9:55am.

Rating: 4/5

Legend has it that the island of Three Sisters was formed by 3 witches.

Nell Channing is running from her abusive ex. She ends up on the island of Three Sisters where she gains employment. The local sheriff shows a more than professional interest in her.

The story is in the urban fantasy/romance genres. The fantasy elements are significant but play the role of supporting characters.

It is a lovely story but, given Nell's backstory, it's not a completely light read.

I would recommend it if you like urban fantasy and/or romance.