Derek Steed @dereksteed - Tumblr Blog

Book #5

Better late than never, book number 5 of an attempt at 50 is done after a several months long sidetrack thanks to a little pandemic thing. Anyway, book 5 this year was the first book in Lloyd Alexander's young adult fantasy series "The Prydain Chronicles." Written in the 1960s, I discovered it in the 80s in third or fourth grade thanks to some great cover art. I was right in the middle of an interest in sword and sorcery type fantasy stories, and the cover caught my eye in the elementary school library. I read the book and loved it, excited to discover it was a series of five books, but then disappointed to learn it was the only one of the series my school library had. The scholastic book orders (remember those?) saved the day at least partially, as I was able to order three of the five books in the series. I read those three a couple times each and they are still very fond childhood memories.

I knew when I started my book challenge this year I wanted to re-read at least one of these books. And while it seemed more quaint than epic to my adult mind, I still enjoyed it. Nothing really ground breaking here. The typical lowly peasant type gets involved in a major quest involving horrible evils and great battles. There is magic, legendary heroes, mythical swords, a princess and strange creatures. But the climactic battle between Taran, the assistant pig keeper turned adventurer, and the mighty masked warlord known as The Horned King, doesn't end typically as might be expected.

Overall, I enjoyed it again, but I have to be honest that without the bias of nostalgia on my mind, I may have thought it was too simple and standard if I had read it for the first time now. I'm interested to see how the rest of the series will hold up to my adult mind compared to the epic (and probably exaggerated by imagination and inspiration) memories I have of them.

So as another trip down childhood memory lane, I enjoyed revisiting this book and its world, but not as much now as my younger self enjoyed it.

On a side note, Disney released a somewhat obscure and nearly forgotten animated movie based on this series. It took and combined elements of the first two books, "The Book of Three" and "The Black Cauldron" into a somewhat loose interpretation of the books and characters. It was very dark compared to usual Disney fare, and actually had scenes cut that were deemed too gruesome for kids. It was the first Disney animated film to get a PG rating instead of the usual G. It's not a horrible adaptation, but there are many liberties taken with the source material, so it isn't the most accurate representation of the book.

My quick sketch from the book is from a moment during the climactic meeting of Taran and The Horned King, a crimson cloaked warrior with stained arms and an antlered skull for a mask. Of course I had to draw him!

Book #4

Since this is a blog mostly for my artwork, I wanted to change up how I do the book reviews for my 2020 reading challenge. Basically, no one wants to read a book review. This isn’t a literary journal, and I’m not a literary reviewer. And the posts felt like I was in Junior High again writing book reports. So I thought instead, from here out, I’ll post a few short thoughts, things I found interesting, or other facts about the book, and do an illustration of a scene, character, moment, or quote from the book that stuck with me in some way. So that brings us to book number 4 for this year: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

I liked the story. There is a lot of deeper elements representing pride, ethics, and how far is too far in gaining knowledge. But it is also written in the literary style of 19th Century Romanticism, which doesn’t work too well for what is essentially a tragic horror story. It wasn’t easy to read with the antiquated language and style, but it was a great story. What surprised me is how different it was from what the common conception of the story is. What most people “know” about the story is based on the famous movie from the 1930′s starring Boris Karloff. But the book has no mad scientist lab, lightning charged tables, or a big green monster sewn together from stolen body parts from the local graveyard. No angry mob with torches, and no climactic moment in a windmill. There is a monster, made and brought to life by unspecified ways. He is described as about 8 feet tall, very ugly, long flowing hair, black lips and a mummy like skin. He is eloquent and smart, not the simple grunting brute we are familiar with from the silver screen. The story is tragic, and it can be difficult to decide who is more sympathetic and who is more selfish, Frankenstein, or his unnamed creation. I’m glad I had the experience of reading it, even as slow and difficult as it was for me to read. I would love to see a modern retelling that is completely faithful to the book, since the story itself is very well done.

I decided to illustrate my version of “the monster,” based on the descriptions in the book. And of course, had to poke a little fun at the traditional idea of the guy, as well.

Book Review #3

Blooded by Chuck Dixon

Book #3 of my 2020 reading challenge comes from writer Chuck Dixon. Dixon is probably best known for his prolific career as a comic book writer, having many successful and popular runs on characters such as Batman, the Punisher, G.I. Joe, and perhaps most notably being the co-creator of infamous Batman villain “Bane.” Dixon has written several books outside of the comics world as well, including the “Bad Times” and “Levon Cade” book series. “Blooded” is his take on a vampire story.

While Blooded isn’t necessarily a twist on the vampire mythos, it has a different feel thanks to Dixon’s more informal first person narrator. The main character (only once referred by name by a neighbor as “Jason”) wakes up after a wild night of partying to discover he has been turned into a vampire. What follows is his adapting to his new life and his dealing with the implications of what he has become. The female vampire who “turned” him is at first a mentor, but soon abandons him. He is forced to figure things out on his own without knowing the “rules” of being a vampire. Many of the superstitions and traditions of vampire lore are not true (such as religious relics and garlic) but things such as no reflection, being burned by sunlight, and not being able to enter a place uninvited are real. Left alone and inexperienced, he is dependent upon his own logic and reasoning to survive his new and horrifying life. Dixon takes many of the ideas about vampires and gives them an interesting spin. Vampires not needing to breathe, for example, makes crossing a river a bit easier. Wounds that don’t bleed or heal, but still can be painful, and the ability to sense extreme temperatures but not feel discomfort from them are two examples. He manages to avoid the cliches, even though some of the tropes are familiar. The main character tells the story in first person, which gives it a street level, almost journal or diary feel. His inexperience and adjustment to his new normal resonate with this style of narration. It feels more personal. The only disappointment I had was that the end felt a little too quick. The build up of a big shadowy boss bad guy didn’t quite pan out compared to the sense of menace he was given in description. The confrontation with a friend who had betrayed him seems to be over without much ado. But the actions of the main character after the seemingly climactic fight scene sets up an even bigger potential situation of danger and recklessness. Maybe the idea was to set up another series? I hope so, because it would be interesting to see the resolution of the events set in motion by a self proclaimed Vampire going viral on social media. There is a bigger and very interesting story that could follow. I hope we get to hear it someday. I like vampire stories. Dracula is one of my favorite books of all time. But I have never liked the romanticized, morally conflicted vampires meant to attract pity or sympathy like so many more modern versions. Dixon’s vampires are monstrous. And the main character realizes that he has become one as well. I’m happy that Dixon avoids the sappy “woe is me, I’m a monster” drudgery that could have been the expected route. Instead the main character begins to accept his monstrosity but enacts a chain of events that will undoubtedly lead to trouble for the vampire order and especially himself. But that seems to be his plan. I enjoyed “Blooded” even though I hoped for more. For those who like their vampires as monsters, this might be right up your alley. If you prefer the pretty, sparkly heart-throb type of nosferatu, maybe not.

Book Review #2

The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key

The second book of my 2020 reading challenge has a little history for me. “The Forgotten Door” by Alexander Key. I first read this book around 10 or 11 years of age, most likely in 3rd or 4th grade. I have always loved science fiction and anything related to it (as you will likely see in upcoming books, I’m sure.) And I remember this story of a boy lost on another world really engaging my imagination at the time. I had nearly forgotten about this book until a couple years ago at a local library’s book sale. I saw the cover, which was the exact version I had as a kid, and immediately my mind returned to elementary school and the wonder of Return of the Jedi, E.T., and Voltron and my budding interest in Sci-Fi books. I couldn’t remember much about the story, but I remembered how it took hold of me and how much I enjoyed it. A bargain at 50 cents, even if only for the nostalgia, so I snapped it up. I finally sat down to read it this week, after over 30 years. I went into it hoping that it might still appeal to me as an adult reader, and not just as a fond memory from childhood. Admittedly, it’s written for a younger age group, but I wanted to read it again regardless.

After reading it again, it holds up in some ways, but not in others, but not in ways I expected. The story, about a boy who suddenly finds that he has fallen into a strange world, is nothing groundbreaking. It doesn’t take long to realize that the strange alien world the boy is on is our own. He is the alien. The book was first published in the mid 60s, so it may have been a newer idea then. I really wished there was more about the boy (Jon) and his own world, or the mechanics of the “door” that he fell through to come to Earth. But the point of the book is more about the misunderstanding and prejudice of people towards the unfamiliar. Jon has extraordinary abilities to hear the thoughts of both people and animals, and physical abilities far advanced than the people of the small mountain community he finds himself in. He is taken in by a kind family who help him through his memory loss and injuries, thinking he is just confused from being hurt and lost. Slowly they piece together the truth as Jon starts to remember more and reveals more about his abilities to them. Of course there are others who aren’t as kind, and the one who had a short encounter with Jon before he was rescued saw a glimpse of the boy’s strange abilities. This leads to rumors and gossip about a “wild boy” running loose in the mountains that can leap 100 feat and runs with the wildlife. The kind family, The Beans, come up with a cover story as to who Jon is and why he is staying with them, as it becomes harder to hide him from the neighbors. The neighbors are the no-good, nosy, theiving type and of course this leads to trouble that eventually involves a theft, the police, a judge, and even the eventual interest of the U.S. Government. The themes of unjustified prejudice against anyone “different,” the greed and self centered hearts of many people, and the misuse of good things to evil ends are just as pertinent 50 years later. The story, although obviously written with a younger reader in mind, isn’t dumbed down or patronizing to read for an adult. The story holds up, although the 21st century reader my see plot holes that are more a result of the time frame the book was written and set in rather than actual plot holes. (Set in the late 50′s or early 60′s after the Korean war and before the Vietnam war, in an unnamed small mountain community.) The time frame is what held up the least. Between the intended audience and the era in which it was written and represented, the dialogue and writing style seem a little old fashioned and even quaint. Even a little cringe inducing in a couple places. Especially given the mountain people in the story (a specific location is never mentioned but the speaking style of the characters reflects an Appalachian or southern area.) Overall it has that sort of feel of an old movie from the era - not quite as “realistic” as modern audiences might be used to. I still liked it. Maybe not as much as 4th grade me, but it still resonated with my emotions on the injustice of the local people towards Jon. I still wished there was more about his world, his abilities, the technology of it all, but maybe that is what captured me so much as a kid. I had to fill in the blanks myself with my own imagination. It was an interesting experiment to read it again as an adult, with only the vague memories of it in my mind. It was a short and quick read at about 150 pages, and was still able to get my imagination moving and my emotions stirred. I’m glad I found it at that library sale. And I’m sure if I could go back and tell my 10 year old self that I would read it again as a grown up, he would be pretty happy about that.

Book Review

It’s the second day of January, 2020. While I’m not going to call it a “resolution,” I decided to try to read much more this year. I used to be a pretty voracious reader as a kid and into my high school years, even the first couple years of college. But in my adult years, got out of the habit. Now this year I want to re-establish the habit of reading. My unofficial goal is to read 50 books by this time next year. And my hope is to post a sort of review, my thoughts, impressions and/or opinions on each of the books I read. Since I have also gotten out of the habit (again) of regularly updating my blog/site here, I thought I would post those reviews here, and essentially kill two birds with one stone as the saying goes. So here we go, book #1 of 2020... “THE SATURDAY NIGHT GHOST CLUB” by Craig Davidson

I was suggested this book last year by someone who knew of my love for the Netflix series “Stranger Things.” Then another friend sent me a copy of the book as a gift at Christmas. First off, the resemblance to Stranger Things is only surface. Set in the 1980′s - kids investigating paranormal things - but that is pretty much where any similarity stops. Instead this book is a bit different. It starts off feeling like a very lighthearted coming of age story about a shy and lonely outcast kid, his eccentric uncle, and the arrival of the new kid in town. By the end it becomes a much deeper, more somber, almost philosophical take on the science and mystery of memory and the mind. It has a twist, but not the shocking, M. Night Shyamalan, “he was dead all along!” type of twist. It’s not necessarily obvious, but it creeps up on you. As you begin to realize something is bubbling under the surface of the story, and you realize the potential heaviness of the truth, it becomes something you almost deny in order to avoid the imminent crash of harsh reality. The conclusion, much like actual reality, isn’t a perfect, happily ever after ending. But it gives a sense of resolution, and of moving on despite a less than ideal situation and circumstance. The book is not long (a little over 200 pages) and the pacing feels like the unfolding of an episode of a tv series or movie. There are areas I wish had a little more development, but the story is streamlined and not bogged down with overdone exposition. I read it in a single evening, in one sitting. Davidson handles the writing in a way that is poetically descriptive when needed, and simple but effective where needed elsewhere. The few pop culture references place it in the 1980s time frame, but the era is not a vital part of the story. The lighthearted and humorous moments don’t feel tacked on or forced, and the more emotional moments are impactful without being melodramatic. Overall, I would give the book a 4 out of 5. I enjoyed it. It was different than expected, especially with the gradual shift in tone that slowly changes the feel of the story. It was engaging enough that I wanted to keep reading, (and finished in one sitting) but I wouldn’t call it a fast paced, edge of your seat type of captivation. I enjoyed it enough that I will probably read more by Craig Davidson. It gave me ideas to ponder, and left me feeling curious to think more about some of the topics addressed. Any book that grips me enough to do that is a winner in my opinion.

Now Available

Soon to be added to the store...

The remaining 4 paintings from s series of 7 done in late 2017. Based on the "Live Painting" style I use in presentations and speaking engagements. These paintings are 8 x 10 inches, flat canvas panels. Acrylic paint. $30 each (includes shipping) Message me for more info, questions, or to order!