If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell

368 Pages (Autobiography)

Bruce Campbell is a B movie actor; most famous for his first real movie, Evil Dead. He also had a big part in The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. and in the Hercules and Xena series. The book follows a form similar to what you would find in most autobiographies. It follows his childhood and teenage years. As he nears adulthood it starts to focus on his life in the creation of movies.

A lot of time is spent describing the “behind the scenes” of Evil Dead. (Since this is his main fan base it comes as no surprise.) It does take an interesting look at what it takes to make a movie happen. Coming up with the idea. Making a “rough draft” movie. Pitching it to people and raising money. All that before you can even think about really making the film.

Campbell writing style is strait forward. He is humorous and isn’t afraid to be real and make fun of himself. He pokes fun at the people he works with and admits the failures in his life openly. He doesn’t waste time going into extreme detail with much and that makes for a refreshingly quick read.

This book is pretty much only for someone who is a fan of Bruce Campbell. Although, someone just interested in getting the “behind the scenes” look at movies would be rewarded, most likely you would be better served with something else.

5 Emotional/Intellectual: Intellectually these points are mainly from the movie background things you learn about. Just as with any autobiography its emotional impact is based on your interest in the writer. Since most people reading this book would be a fan I gave this a higher rating.

2 Style/Readability: Nothing special here, but not bad either. Just what you would expect.

1 Long Term: The base popularity of this book is pretty low. Campbell is a B movie actor and most likely won’t ever go beyond that. The popularity of this book relies solely on that.

8 out of 13. Basically this comes down to if you like the Evil Dead series or are a fan of Bruce Campbell you want to read this book. If you aren’t don’t bother. No surprise there.


Keep Turning Pages

The Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson

943 pages (Fantasy Fiction)

This is the second book in the Malazan series. If you don’t want anything ruined I would suggest finishing the first book before reading this review. Erikson continues with his unique style of writing. His presentation is unlike most other writers. In the first book, Gardens of the Moon, you are dropped into the middle of the story with no explanation as to how you got there, or what exactly is going on. A similar thing happens in this book. We are now on different continent. Almost all of the characters are new. A couple minor characters from the first book have traveled to the new continent and have bigger roles.

The story jumps between a few groups of people. Heboric, Felisin, and Baudin are working as slaves in the mines off of Otatoral Islands. The assassin, Kalam, is sent to deliver the Book of the Apocalypse to Sha’ik. She will start the Whirlwind to rise up against the Malazan invaders. Crokus, Fiddler and Apsalar search for Tremorlor, the Azath House in Raraku. Duikar, the historian, follows the path left by thousands of refugees trailing across the continent.

Heboric, Felisin and Baudin eventually escape and the book follows their journeys to find the center of the Whilrwind. Kalams adventures lead him towards his ultimate goal, killing Empress Lasseen. Crokus, Fiddler and Apsalar join with two ancient wanderers, Mappo and Icarium, and a crazy priest, Pust, in hopes of attaining passage through the Azath House. Duikar meets up with Coltaine’s Army and continues on with the moving city through the attacks and trials they face. The Path of Hands, a way of ascending to godhood, has been opened and ancient powerful beings from across the world are all converging to attempt ascension.

I really enjoyed Erikson’s way of setting up memorable scenes. The continuation of the story is hard to keep a handle on. References to the guide at the beginning of the book help you keep track of who’s who. Each chapter sets the reader with a memorable scene. Throughout the book I found myself being drawn into the picture he creates. A tall lanky man fires a bow his target at the edge of vision. He calls the shot as too high. It hits the target in the head, not the chest as intended. Another group of people find themselves thrown into the Whilrwind. As there skin is peeled to the bone they are saved by a fat merchant traveling through the storm. A great skeletal dragon flies past a sailing ship taking no more notice than we would of an ant. The plot of the book is so intense it gives the reader a chance to focus on each small scene. This isn’t to say that there is no plot. Erikson weaves a tale with as much intrigue and twists as the best of them.

The more invested I am in this series the more it becomes worthwhile. Since the series is 10 books long it seems as if the first two books have been character introduction and set up. The story has moved along and some exciting things have happened, but it seems like the set up for the “whole” story is just getting going.

3 Emotional/Intellectual: I can see this being more rewarding once I know the “whole” story. Right now so many things have been unexplained.
4 Style/Readability: Erikson’s style is unique and easily read. The complex plot structure hints a great rewards and encourages the reader to stay involved.
4 Long Term: He certainly deserves the accolades of the fantasy fan base. I would put him in the top five fantasy writers I have read. If other fantasy fans pick up on this series he will surely hold for the long term.

11 out of 13. I look forward to continuing with the series and am already into the 3rd book of the series. I will hold final judgment until I have read more, but I foresee this being well worth your time.