One of the books I currently have from the library is a graphic novel called The Explorer’s Guild. I borrowed it because one of the co-authors is the actor Kevin Costner. I wouldn’t call myself a huge Costner fan, he is a good actor but I haven’t seen all of his movies and have no plans to do so. I borrowed the book because I was curious.
The book looks really nice and sets the mood for the story. A heavy chunkster with an old-timey looking adventure story cover, when you open it the paper is a pleasant creamy “old book” color slightly darker around the edges than in the middle of the page. And the drawings a sort of monochrome palette and highly detailed laid out in a comic book fashion. There are also pages of text, usually one or two, integrated between the comic panels with little illustrations. It is a pleasing look and feel.
However, after one chapter I am not so sure I want to keep reading because I don’t really care for the story. It is made clear from the start that the Explorer’s Guild is made up of all men, mostly of the gentlemanly sort. And while the story takes place during WWI, I don’t know why the Guild has to be all men. Paging through the book there is a woman who appears much later, an actress known to have many affairs, so I am not certain what sort of role she has in the story.
Also, the story is set, at least in the beginning, in “Arabia” and the company of British soldiers is worried about being attached by two thousand “Turkmen” and angry looking “Mohammedan” armies wearing turbans and carrying scimitars. Um…
That this adventure story is set during a time of racism and colonialism is one thing, that it plays into it is bothersome to me. If I keep reading, maybe the story redeems itself in some way, but then it might not.
When I started writing this I thought perhaps it would end up convincing me to keep going for at least one more chapter. But now, I think I am going to mark it down as DNF and return it to the library. I fell better already.
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Kevin Costner 
Paramount has released the trailer for the movie, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. The film will hit theaters on December 25, 2013.
We’ve embedded the trailer above–what do you think?
The late novelist Tom Clancy created Jack Ryan, and the trailer was published after he died earlier this week. This hero first appeared in the 1984 novel, The Hunt for Red October; the author followed-up with seven additional installments.
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
Actor Kevin Costner has signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books imprint for an adventure series. It begins with The Explorers Guild, Volume One: Passage to Shambhala in 2014. The book is aimed at a broad group of readers, ranging from “young adult to more mature mystery and adventure enthusiasts.”
Writer and art director Jon Baird (pictured, left) also worked on the project with Costner (middle), which will be illustrated by Rick Ross (middle). Rob Weisbach and Fonda Snyder at Rob Weisbach Creative Management negotiated the deal with publisher Judith Curr. Atria senior editor Sarah Durand and assistant editor Daniel Loedel will edit the book.
Here’s more from the release: “Behind the staid rooms of an old world gentlemen’s club operates a darker, more mysterious organization: The Explorers Guild, a clandestine group of adventurers who seek out the places where light gives way to shadow and reason is usurped by myth … Set against the backdrop of World War I, with Western Civilization spiraling into chaos, the first installment in The Explorers Guild series, A Passage to Shambhala, concerns the Guild’s quest to find Shambhala, the golden city of Buddhist myth. Each member is driven toward the City for a different reason: one believes that finding it will save his brother’s life; another hopes that it will reveal a path to spiritual enlightenment. Some believe the power of the city can be used to restore peace, while others are certain that Shambhala is responsible for bringing mankind to the brink of apocalypse.”
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
One of my fave author friends, Maria Geraci, is carrying the torch today in the next installment of our mini summer film fest. Take it away Maria!
Oh My!
Anyone who’s read my recent debut novel, BUNCO BABES TELL ALL, knows that my main character, Kitty, has a slight problem. Eighteen years ago, she fell in love with Crash Davis, the character played by Kevin Costner in the film Bull Durham, and unfortunately for Kitty, her movie crush has interfered with her finding a real live, flesh and blood man who can compete.So, I have to admit, as Kitty’s creator, her crush is my crush. And it all began with the famous “I believe” speech. Maybe it’s not terribly romantic, but honestly, is there anything sexier than Kevin’s (er, I mean, Crash’s) speech?
That's a fun movie and a great speech. I think my fave scene is Darcy's declaration of love to Elizabeth in BBC Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. Love that.
Great scene! I haven't seen this movie in forever. I think it's time to revisit :). Besides, I always L-O-V-E Susan Sarandon in absolutely anything. I think by the time this film fest is over, I am going to have a whole lot of movies to watch/re-watch.
Oh, Kwana, that is such a great scene too. So many to chose from...
Oh, what a perfect, brilliant choice, dear friend. You know, i saw this movie in the theater in one of my most magical summers of my life (started dating Jud!) I can remember exactly where I saw it, who I saw it with...and how much I loved it the VERY first time.
One of my fave things in this movie is something in the "background", i.e. the production design. I actually worked with Peter Jamison, the man who did it for Bull DUrham on a movie a couple of years later. We were on Sudie and Simpson together, another southern movie with a similar design and feel..anyway, long before meeting him, one of my fave things about BD was that "mood". That southern, sleepy, almost old fashioned/another time quality you get. That's b/c of his great set design--the way her house looks, the furnishings, the mood. GREAT choice.
Yeah, I absolutely LOVE this scene. I only wish I had written it!
Oh, Maria, that Bull Durham scene is a classic... I can't really narrow it down to one, but since Kwana already called P&P (LOVE it, of course!!), I'll say the final scene of The Cutting Edge. :)