September 2022 Recommended Reading and Viewing

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

It's September, so fall and pumpkin spice are just starting up. We still have some warm days, so as you're enjoying the weather, I thought I'd recommend some classic adventure stories to keep you excited for the time being. These stories have been around all my life, but I've only come to appreciate them rather recently (having encountered the actual unabridged text for the first time just this year, in the book's case). I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I have.


Reading: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870) by Jules Verne

One of the best-known stories by the man considered by many to be the father of modern science fiction, this novel has thrilled the world for over 150 years since its publication and continues to influence new generations of storytellers. The hunt for a sea monster leads a French scientist and his two companions to an amazing discovery: a revolutionary submarine powered by electricity, entitled Nautilus, helmed by the enigmatic Captain Nemo, who has exiled himself from the land and human civilization; the three men, forced to remain aboard the submarine to keep its secrets safe, are taken on a tour of the uttermost depths of the oceans of the world, slowly discovering that the captain has an agenda of revenge and may not be entirely sane. Beloved by all ages, it's been unfairly pigeon-holed to the ghetto of children's literature and ill-served by subpar translations, but time has been kinder and critical appraisals continue to speak well of it. The edition recommended below comes from translator David Coward and released by Penguin in 2017.

Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0241198771
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0141394935



Viewing: King Kong (Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933)

This is the original classic, one of the most groundbreaking films ever made, a thrilling mix of adventure, fantasy, and horror that has inspired numerous filmmakers and is regarded amongst the greatest motion pictures ever made. An ambitious director charters a ship into the unknown region of Skull Island, populated by long-extinct dinosaurs and other wildlife, while his lead actress becomes a sacrifice to the mysterious god-figure of the island - a giant gorilla called Kong. Surprisingly, the beast becomes infatuated with the actress and violently protective of her, which the director uses to his advantage to capture Kong and transport him to New York City; unfortunately, Kong breaks free of his restraints and goes on a rampage in the city, leading to a legendary climax on top of the Empire State Building with the frightened actress in tow. Featuring pioneering camera techniques and tricks to superimpose the cast onto the film for the illusion of size, astounding stop-motion animation from industry legend Willis O'Brien, and a thundering score from composer Max Steiner (one of the first of its kind), this is the film of films, a testament to the uniqueness of the medium that can be taken for granted today and should be viewed by everyone of all ages. It's a moment in time that will never be forgotten.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/King-Kong-James-Ashmore-Creelman/dp/B000EHQTZO/
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7CJC7QS
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/King-Kong-Fay-Wray/dp/B001R6AW18


That should fill up your month. Enjoy the season, everyone!