Drew Jaehnig
Stories (10/0)
A Lesser Known Napoleon
Specific works stand as pillars of intellectual engagement and artistic brilliance in the vast tapestry of theatrical history. George Bernard Shaw's "The Man of Destiny," a one-act play that premiered on May 20, 1897, at London's Duke of York's Theatre, firmly occupies this prestigious realm. This masterful piece not only transports us to the historical milieu of Napoleon Bonaparte's era but also delves into the fabric of human agency, historical interpretation, and the entwined forces of destiny and choice.
By Drew Jaehnig8 months ago in BookClub
Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard"
Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" is a timeless masterpiece that transcends its historical origins to touch the essence of human nature, societal change, and the relentless march of time. Premiered in 1904, this play reflects the intricate historical context of early 20th century Russia. It offers a profound exploration of the complexities of life and society that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
By Drew Jaehnig9 months ago in BookClub
David Brin's Earth
Title: "A Multifaceted Odyssey: David Brin's Earth (4/5 Stars)" Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) David Brin's "Earth" embarks on a multifaceted odyssey that blends science fiction, environmental concerns, and intricate character arcs. While this epic work showcases Brin's literary brilliance, it occasionally succumbs to its ambitious scope, resulting in a captivating yet somewhat unwieldy narrative.
By Drew Jaehnig9 months ago in BookClub
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Two weeks ago, we started our journey through the land of Fantasy by examining one of the earliest examples of Fantasy in film, 1933's Alice in Wonderland. This week, as promised, we begin our literary survey with the great great granddaddy of all fantasy epics, hero journeys, and quest sagas, The Epic of Gilgamesh. It's the oldest known literary work of note in the world. That means (yes, you know it!) that Fantasy was the first fiction genre in publishing.
By Drew Jaehnigabout a year ago in Geeks
Into 1933's Wonderland
Welcome to the first installment of our journey through Fantasy literature and media. We will be featuring works that qualify to be in the fantasy genre and alternating between those in modern media and literature. Today we feature our first motion picture, Alice in Wonderland, from 1933. I selected this one as the earliest feature film with sound (generally available to our readers) to represent the starting point of Fantasy in modern cinema. It's true that before the advent of talkies in 1927, other titles embarked on Fantasy based topics, but I chose to start with talkies to make history more accessible. I may return to the silent era in future iterations, as their contributions were undoubtedly valuable. Also, while there is much overlap between Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction, we are attempting to stay firmly planted in the Fantasy realm. So let's dig in, shall we?
By Drew Jaehnigabout a year ago in Geeks
Not All Who Wander Are Lost
I wanted to start a quest with my readers here. A journey into the Fantasy genre. A trip to explore its origins and evolution and how Fantasy went from a niche genre into a moneymaking juggernaut. Those of us who grew up on Dungeons and Dragons, Tolkien, and the myths and legends of the past were outcasts, nerds, or freaks, know that Fantasy used to be the relatively exclusive domain of recluses and introverts.
By Drew Jaehnigabout a year ago in Geeks
Vivarium
So you’re locked up in your house wondering when the madness outside will end. You’re bored; you have an exaggerated case of cabin fever. Some of you probably have high anxiety about your future, the state of your finances, and the world economy. It’s understandable, and sometimes we need a reminder that it could be worse. I mean, Gemma and Tom would like to leave the house too. Indeed leave their ugly little subdivision, but even that is not possible. They have no games to play, no books to read, no TV to watch and their child is from Hell.
By Drew Jaehnig3 years ago in Geeks
Lucia Berlin – A Life
“The first word I spoke was Light” – Lucia Berlin, Welcome Home. Welcome Home by Lucia Berlin will stun you with its optimism and simplicity. The unfinished work by the deceased author is an autobiographical work that sparkles with buoyancy even in the face of hardship, and you’ll be warmed by the sentiment behind it. Consisting of the original unfinished work as well as photographs and letters compiled by her son, Jeff, the work is a fitting capstone tribute to this fascinating short story writer.
By Drew Jaehnig3 years ago in Viva
Not Quite Tolkien, but…
A band of travelers pulled together by a mysterious magic casting mystic, that includes two small villages novices, one dwarf, two elves, and two humans of noble descent. They are on a quest to the north to destroy an evil shadow king with a magical talisman. Sound familiar? Almost but not quite right? Terry Brook‘s well-read bestseller, The Sword of Shannara (1977), is unabashedly inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings (1954). Indeed so much so that this author was surprised it was ever published. But then again, perhaps that is precisely why it was published.
By Drew Jaehnig3 years ago in Geeks
Free Speech in the Modern World
Back in the heady days of the early 1990s, technologists predicted that the internet would herald a new era of free speech. The boundaryless nature of what they were creating would free humankind from the shackles of expression oppression. Or so the story went. For a time, the idealists were right. Then corporations and governments learned how to harness the technology differently. The great Chinese Firewall, internet sovereignty, personal information marketplaces, cyberbullying, hacking, and intelligence monitoring changed all that. Free speech simultaneously exploded and got massively curtailed, all in one fell swoop. In Timothy Garton Ash’s Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World, we explore some of the stickiest quandaries of the modern era. Has the internet become a detriment to freedom? Has it merely enabled governments to monitor the population more closely? Have we encountered the death of privacy? Is free speech free anymore?
By Drew Jaehnig3 years ago in The Swamp