Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel about a fireman who burns books, Guy Montag, who begins to doubt everything that he has learned, saw, and heard when he met Clarisse McClellan. Clarisse kept bothering him with questions and her carefree ways seems to him in contrast of what he's accustomed to. Clarisse's disappearance and his encounter with a woman who volunteered to be burned with her books has shaken his beliefs. He realized that he had had a desire all along to break away from the oppressive censorship and control of the government when he examines his secret collection of books saved from previous raids. Consequently, his life changed. Abandoned by his wife and hunted by his fellow firemen and the government, Guy Montag seeks answers and refuge.

Although Fahrenheit 451 was inspired by a specific setting and event, the idea of the media's tremendous influence on people is similar to today's dependence on technology. Censorship and control might not be as bad as in this  novel, however the scenario is not impossible when we consider how much we depend on technology to help us with school/work, communication, entertainment, and more. Like the people in the book, there might come a time when people would prefer to have TV actors as family than real family and friends. There would be less conversation with other people because we prefer to stick earphones and listen to music for most of the day. An afternoon stroll for example would be considered a waste of time when there is "ready-made" entertainment. The book also touches on other themes like ignorance and knowledge, conformity and deviance.

For a short novel, Fahrenheit 451 is effective, stirring, and thought-provoking. It isn't hard to like Guy Montag as he struggles to choose which path he wants to take. He is sometimes stubborn but he is also confused and scared. His thoughts about his wife towards the end of the book was touching. Bradbury was able to place him on a level that most people can relate to when faced with a tough choice.

This is a great read and is one of Bradbury's best works I've read so far.

Rating: 10 out of 10

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The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft

Most of Howard Phillips Lovecraft's writings are in this volume, the majority of which are short stories. As a fan of the horror genre I consider it important to not bypass H.P. Lovecraft. After all, he has inspired so many horror writers over the years. Although there is a tendency for his stories to become predictable, his style makes you want to read more. His characters are memorable; they can amuse, disgust, inspire, and horrify. Meanwhile his choice of words are excellent. He is a master at imagery; the play on words never fail to amaze me every time. What makes his stories so terrifying is the usual theme of probing the unknown and the consequences of that curiosity. Unlike most horror stories and movies today, Lovecraft doesn't use too much gore, sex and violence, and even ghosts. Yet his disturbing characters and the pervading atmosphere of hopelessness make all those mentioned above insignificant. Indeed the universe he created in his stories makes man insignificant compared to the great horrors of the cosmos and the unknown.

H.P. Lovecraft's works are must-reads if you're into horror. Although he wrote in the early 1900's his stories  are timeless because they appeal to man's fascination and sometimes aversion for the unknown.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Here is the list of the writings included in this volume:

The Tomb

Dagon

Polaris

Beyond the Wall of Sleep

Memory

Old Bugs

The Transition of Juan Romero

The White Ship

The Doom That Came to Sarnath

The Statement of Randolph Carter

The Terrible Old Man

The Tree

The Cats of Ulthar

The Temple

Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family

The Street

Celephais

From Beyond

Nyarlathotep

The Picture in the House

Ex Oblivione

The Nameless City

The Quest of Iranon

The Moon-Bog

The Outsider

The Other Gods

The Music of Erich Zann

Herbert West - Reanimator

Hypnos

What the Moon Brings

Azathoth

The Hound

The Lurking Fear

The Rats in the Walls

The Unnamable

The Festival

The Shunned House

The Horror at Red Hook

He

In the Vault

The Descendant

 Cool Air

The Call of Cthulhu

Pickman's Model

The Silver Key

The Strange High House in the Mist

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

The Colour Out of Space

The Very Old Folk

The Thing in the Moonlight

The History of the Necronomicon

Ibid

The Dunwich Horror

The Whisperer in Darkness

At the Mountains of Madness

Shadow Over Innsmouth

The Dreams in the Witch House

The Thing On the Doorstep

The Evil Clergyman

The Book

The Shadow Out of Time

The Haunter of the Dark

Witch Hunter Robin

When Robin Sena was sent to replace a member in STN-J she had no idea that her job to capture witches whose powers have awakened will not only affect her later but endanger her as well. STN-J is the Japanese branch of an organization known as Solomon which captures witches identified through its database. Robin herself is a craft user, the significance of which did not matter to her until the organization decided she needs to be hunted. 

Members of STN-J. From left: Dojima Yurika, Amon, Robin Sena, Sakaki Haruto, Karasuma Miho, and Michael Lee

This 26-episode supernatural/detective series started slow but becomes interesting as Robin starts to notice and question the things done by the organization. The atmosphere has a more supernatural feel than a faster-paced detective story so it takes a while to grasp what the series is all about. Those who are used to fast-paced action series will find this series too dark and slow to appreciate but supernatural fans will find the pacing just right for this genre (at least I do). 

Certainly, witchcraft is often referred to here but the story does not delve further into details about it. Viewers who are not familiar with names and events (Solomon, Salem, and others) referred to will fail to appreciate the conversations and the symbolism. The main character, although not the usual disturbed/depressed heroine, has a dark past typical of supernatural heroines. However her curiosity, which is important for a main character in a supernatural series, did not stir until she met Methuselah. Robin began to question the methods of the organization earlier (in one of the earlier episodes when she asked what was done to the witches who were taken to the factory) but did not pursue further when told to stop inquiring. She's not the type you'd dislike easily but she can be too stoic and distant  that sometimes it's difficult to empathize with her.

The series requires patience but is rewarding to see Robin grow because of her experiences and to finally see her do something with a clear purpose in mind.

Rating: 6 out of 10