On the Verge of Lunacy

Set in the year 2113, a crime-free, peaceful society is maintained through a rigorous assessment of a person's Psycho-Pass. The psycho-pass indicates the individual's mental state, making it easier to distinguish which ones have a high crime coefficient (probability of committing crimes), separating those subject for therapy or elimination. These deviants are pursued by an elite crime investigation unit, the Unit One of the Public Safety that uses Enforcers. These enforcers are people with high crime coefficients and are called latent criminals. They are managed by an Inspector, an individual with a normal psycho-pass. The psycho-pass is monitored by the Sibyl System, a mysterious machine no one knows about. The series begins with a scene of two men about to commence fighting. The next episodes show what led to that confrontation. Viewers are introduced to a brilliant young woman, Tsunemori Akane, a new inspector. The other inspector Ginoza Nobuchika explains to...

A slightly different Sou Sou (Cao Cao) comes to life in Souten Kouro. Based mostly on the Records of Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou and slightly on Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, the series is an ambitious portrayal of the most brilliant man in the chaos of the Three Kingdoms era in China. Cao Cao, foster son of Cao Teng, is an ambitious young man with the brains and prowess to back it up. His ideas are far ahead of his time and he never fails to astound everyone even his closest friends and relatives. Merciless, smart, and witty, not only did he distinguish himself in the field of battle but in governance and literature as well. The ladies loved him of course and his friends adored him. Consequently, he makes enemies along the way but nothing seems to faze him, even the glory of the emperor. This 26-episode series is fast-paced and covers barely half of what Cao Cao accomplished in his lifetime. It begins with a background of his childhood, his first...

A short series (24 episodes and 2 specials) with a plethora of characters each with their own interesting story to tell would seem too ambitious. Durarara!! not only surpasses that expectation but it is probably one of the best series in its genre. Ryugamine Mikado decides to attend high school in Ikebukuro with the idea that he wants to experience more things. He meets his long-time friend Kida Masaomi, a lively young man who introduces him to several people and shows him amazing things including a headless rider, later revealed to be a Dullahan named Celty. Masaomi seems to be friends with everyone including the weird sort like Simon Brezhnev, Heiwajima Shizuo, and a suspicious guy named Orihara Izaya. Mikado and Masaomi later become friends with Sonohara Anri, a tough, mysterious girl. Masaomi, Anri, and Mikado Meanwhile, a group called Dollars is making a name for itself. There are rumors however that this gang is nonexistent even though some people claim the...

The second season of Vampire Knight reveals more information about the protagonists Yuki, Zero, and Kaname. Kaname in particular has more background and plays a more important role in Yuki's life than in the first season. A bigger conspiracy is revealed and new characters are introduced. The Hunter's Association is after Zero's life; Kaname is going after powerful vampires to obtain power; a mysterious girl joins the Night Class; and Yuki's waking nightmares are becoming frequent. The series is filled with anticipation, as if anytime something remarkable is about to happen. It didn't disappoint in the seventh episode when the growing tension finally reached its peak. Like the previous season, the overall mood is maintained. The fight scenes haven't improved however even with the appearance of the vampire hunters. As for their love story, some would probably think the final episode is heartbreaking but I think the clues just made it all the more confusin...

Cross Yuki and Kiryu Zero are the adoptive children of the legendary ex-vampire hunter Cross Kaien. Kaien owns the Cross Academy. The school aims to maintain good relationships between the vampires and humans. The classes are divided into two; day class for humans and night class for vampires. Yuki and Zero help maintain this setup as guardians who make sure of the humans' protection. Early on Zero has a strange relationship with Yuki. He cares a lot about her yet he also despises her presence sometimes. Yuki on the other hand has always been tending to Zero's needs. Not related by blood to Zero, Yuki was rescued ten years ago from vampires by a pure-blood named Kuran Kaname who happens to be the leader of the night class. She could not remember anything before her rescue. Moreover, Yuki has never denied she is smitten with Kaname which Zero disapproves. Zero was also rescued from vampires when his family was attacked. It seems something else happened that night that has b...

He was a murderer. Beyond that, he can't remember anything about his past. He is even unsure of his name. Victor Salsbury was supposed to be dead, but he thinks he is that same man. A man with a mission, Victor acts out orders from someone, or something. Where these orders come from he doesn't know. He does not even know why he has to do them, only that he has to and because he might find some answers. The few clues to his identity only add to the mystery; a machine he knows instinctively is called 810-40.04 and some items he needs for his mission were prepared for him. He was alone until a dog came to him. Intrepid became a constant companion since. Then he meets a woman named Lynda while fulfilling his mission. All the while he still can't make sense of everything. Not until he found they were threatened by some strange creatures he has seen on the wall in his house. One of Dean Koontz's earlier novels, Hell's Gate has the distinct Koontz elements fou...

This is an English version of  Monsieur Galland's French translation of the tales, collectively called One Thousand and One Nights. Andrew Lang selected only thirteen stories. The poetry and the passages that didn't seem to make sense but the original authors thought funny were dropped. The stories were collected over centuries from different parts of what is now the Middle East and South Asia. In this version, the events supposedly occurred during the reign of Caliph Haroun al Raschid in Bagdad [Note: I retained the spelling of the names found in the book]. At the beginning of the story King Schariar of Persia was introduced as a ruler who took many wives, each of whom is executed after marriage because he thinks that all women are like his brother's unfaithful wife. Finally when Schariar's grand-vizir could no longer find a suitable bride, the vizir's daughter Scheherazade offered herself. She claimed she knows how to stop the king from ordering more wome...

The fifth installment of the Novels of the Malazan Empire, Blood and Bone, is set in mysterious Jacuruku where the even more strange Himatan lies. This rainforest, known for its link to the spirit world and is supposedly Ardata's domain, is alive with strange creatures and notorious for its hostile conditions. In the tradition of the Malazan world, this book has unforgettable characters and a complex storyline. The scenes are narrated by select characters and the sequence of events is straightforward. The events in the book happen relatively within the same period as the tenth book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, Crippled God. The tribes of Jacuruku have decided to invade the seat of the Thaumaturgs' power. Led by a man known only as Warleader, the conflicting natives set aside their petty wars to unseat the mages. The journey of this contingent is mostly told from the perspective of the young prince Jatal who wants to get rid of the stigma as just a powerless schola...

Prince of Persia Trilogy is a reboot of the three separate games of the same series. The Sands of Time, Warrior Within, and The Two Thrones have enhanced graphics for better gaming experience. For those who have already played this series, there aren't a lot of changes; while for those who haven't tried Prince of Persia, this is one of the best game series there is so I wouldn't recommend missing it. I enjoyed this series for the Prince's unique fighting style (and who wouldn't enjoy using the sand powers?) and a compelling story with an unforgettable character. The Sands of Time When King Sharaman and his son the Prince conquered the Maharajah's kingdom in India, they took with them several treasures including an Hourglass which supposedly contains the Sands of Time that can be unlocked by a dagger. The Prince took this dagger as a present to his father. The Maharajah's daughter, Farah was also taken hostage. Meanwhile the Maharajah's Vizier of...

A girl wakes up having no recollection of her past and even her identity. Her only clue is a spirit named Orion, who claims it's his fault that she lost her memories, and the people who claim to be her friends and co-workers at a maid cafe. Orion promised the girl he will help her piece together her past. Throughout the series, the heroine of Amnesia has no name. Add to the confusion is her seemingly close relationship with some of the men and a mysterious guy she met on the street who seems to know something about her. On her first waking moment, 8 A.M. August 1, a guy named Shin identifies himself as her boyfriend. All seemed to be going well until she wakes up again on the same time and day and this time with another love interest. She managed to retain her previous memory with her different lovers but even then she still has no clue what's going on. It seems however that a guy named Ukyo has figured something out. From left: Shin, Ikki, Kent, Toma, Ukyo, and Or...

The adventures of Orphe, Ed, Lui, Camu, Naoji, and Isaac continue in this second installment of the series. The aftermath of the king's failed assassination attempt seemed peaceful. This time however, each of the Strahl candidates has to confront his past to determine if he is fit to become a public servant. In the first series, Orphe's and Ed's past were the highlights. This time the other three take the spotlight. It might seem at first glance that these nobleman live carefree lives, but the series shows that they too have to overcome personal challenges before they can even face bigger problems ahead in their careers. Compared to the first season, this series has more action and character development. Tension from the failed assassination attempt is further built up here in the disappearance of the headmaster. The Strahl candidates also have to cope with the new academy rules and threats from outside. Overall, the second season has made up for some of the ...

This first of a two-season series introduces the viewer to the students of the elite Strahl class of Rozenstolz Academy. These future advisors of the royal palace of Kuchen were chosen for their brains and prestigious family backgrounds.  Although they enjoyed the peaceful and competitive atmosphere of the academy, the students were about to have a taste of what it's like to play with dirty politics. Orphe, Ed, Lui, Camu, Naoji and the undercover spy/writer Isaac Cavendish discover a plot to assassinate the king. Despite being students and with unknown people working against them, the five Strahl candidates will try to stop the attempt. As mentioned above, most of the episodes introductions of the main characters, notably Orphe and Ed. Orphe finds a rival in Lui who has a different opinion on how to properly govern the people. While engaging in various debates, the writer Isaac points out to them that their ideals do not really work in the real world and tha...

Hundreds of years after Armageddon, the tension between Methuselahs (vampire-like creatures) and Terrans (humans) continues. Terrans are led and protected by the Holy Roman Empire, of which the capital is Vatican, while the Methuselah are backed by Byzantine. A third major player, Albion, is known for its manufacture of war technology. It is a predominantly human colony but independent of Vatican's control.  At the start of the anime adaptation, the Terrans and Methuselahs are in a standstill. Viewers are introduced to Abel Nightroad, a member of the AX Agency, Caterina Sforza's special operations group. At the outset she is shown at odds with Francesco di Medici, a cardinal in the Vatican, who wants to start a war and is trying to intimidate young Pope Alessandro XVIII to do so. Caterina's goal to have diplomatic relations with the Byzantine Empire is carried out secretly with the help of the AX agents. It seems that a more grievous threat is about to reveal i...

He wakes up without a name and a past. Trapped in a labyrinth of mysterious rooms he does not recognize, his only clue to his identity is the name Joel. Then a faceless man, whom he identified as Sandman, goes after him. The next thing he knew he wakes up in a different room but this time with a beautiful woman he cannot not remember. He was sure however that the woman is harmless and trustworthy unlike the white-haired man he knew instinctively had another agenda. Pleasant though the woman's company is he feels something is wrong. When he starts asking he wakes up again in another place. One nightmare after another, he keeps seeing the same faces in different places each time he wakes up. Sometimes their demeanor would be different. He also figured they will put him to sleep every time he starts asking or he acts strangely. All these only serve to confuse him more, but one thing is certain --- they're trying to keep something from him by playing out different scenes. Joel ...

Chihiro and her parents were on their way to their new home. Reluctant to leave old friends behind, Chihiro wasn't as excited as her parents and was indifferent to the new sights. When her father took a wrong turn and ended up near a tunnel entrance, he urged the family to explore further probably both out of curiosity and to cheer up Chihiro. At the end of the tunnel was a theme park. Chihiro finds herself all alone when her parents were turned into pigs after they ate food from an enchanted stall. It turns out that the theme park was used by spirits for amusement at night. Luckily, she finds help in a boy named Haku who told her she has to work in a bathhouse and seek the witch Yubaba. Chihiro's misfortune became an adventure where she met new friends and some difficulties along the way as well. Some things came into mind while watching Spirited Away. Chihiro's blossoming into a confident and brave girl, qualities she already possessed at the outset, reminded me o...

In a universe ruled mostly by humans, man rules supreme. This guiding principle honors the sacrifices of the Alliance of mankind. Subjugated alien peoples ranked lower than humans and therefore treating them as equals, much more friends, is taboo. Among those conquered are the Demosians, winged creatures whose population is reduced to a few females. Writer Stauffer Davis meets one of them when he goes to Demos to do research. In the course of his dealings with a Demosian named Leah he began to question the system imposed by the Alliance in his relations with non-human creatures. According to the Alliance, each man as part of the system has to keep in mind its laws, the taboos, and the will of the council. Man was only a part of it and to question it is to challenge the very foundations on which it was built. Predictably Davis and Leah became more than just acquaintances and soon the Alliance was on their trail. The characters were trapped in an impossible situation where the on...

From left: Connor, Ezio, Desmond, and Altair Link to my deviantArt:  http://fav.me/d6lhppq

This classic tells the colorful and touching adventure of a wolf pup born in the wild that was later raised by humans. He was named White Fang by the first human who took him. An outcast by both dogs/wolves and a well-known fighter, White Fang has the qualities of both wolf and dog inherited from his mother who had previous contact with humans and from his wild, half-blind father. White Fang experienced love and cruelty from humans, mostly cruelty, and he came to see the world of the two-leggeds as hateful and full of competition. In response, he became as cruel as his masters but unlike them he was also smart, adaptive, and strong. Everything changed however when he was adopted by a human who showed him kindness for the first time. Although the descriptions are not vivid, an otherwise boring look into a life of an animal has become a story of adventure and suspense. At first I was skeptic because I knew there will be very few conversations from the humans and an animal's ...

When the Grimm brothers collected legends and folktales, their intention was to revive the interest in folklore and its study. Some of these stories however are popularized by the media for the younger audience today. Fans of these adaptations as well as readers interested in folklore will find this book valuable. Several of the stories in this volume might be familiar to readers who have read legends and stories from the region where Grimm brothers lived. I recommend this classic not only for those who want to read the "original" (this can be argued) versions of the popular stories but also to readers who are into folklore and legends. Rating: 10 out of 10 The Brothers Grimm The following are the stories included in this volume (in order): The Golden Bird Hans in Luck Jorinda and Jorindel The Travelling Musicians Old Sultan The Straw, The Coal, and The Bean Briar Rose The Dog and the Sparrow The Twelve Dancing Princesses The Fisherman and his Wife ...

The book is an exhaustive treatise of the creation and evolution of the concept of the dragon. It is divided into three chapters which discuss  incense and libations, dragons and rain gods, and the birth of Aphrodite. The titles of the chapters might be confusing and irrelevant at first glance but the author did more than just explain the various appearances and characteristics of the dragon. He went so far as to discuss every possible theory of its creation, purpose, and models. He even included topics which are remotely related to minor subjects discussed throughout the book.  The author has a tendency to extend the discussion of even the minor topics because he considered every theory that was extant during the creation of this book. The title might be misleading and the reader disappointed in the writer's style but his exhaustive method at arriving at his conclusions is praiseworthy. His uses comparison and verification to form his own opinions and does not wholly...

Mythology enthusiasts will find a lot of things to love about this book. It is divided into eight sections covering the major myth systems of the world and a few minor ones. The first part introduces the reader to mythology. The next six chapters present the different summarized stories and brief descriptions of the myths from classical mythology to myths in Oceania. The last chapter provide lists of the major recurring deities or heroes across the world, the who's who in mythology. Not only does the book provide stories but also a plethora of images, trivia boxes, and list of references to enhance the reading experience. These references are helpful for further studies and although the book is not comprehensive, it was able to cover the major myths and recurring themes helpful for students and myth enthusiasts alike. The stories and descriptions are just skeletons of the full-length myths so I still recommend the original manuscripts or translations of the myths for furth...

Full title: The Homeric Hymns; A New Prose Translation and Essays, Literary and Mythological The hymns, as stated in this book, are probably "preludes to the recitation of the Homeric or other cantos or are preludes to epic recitations." For a mythology enthusiast like myself, this book is a great addition to my collection. Andrew Lang looks at these hymns and provides background and insight as to their meaning and purpose. It's a bonus that the hymns are translated into prose for easier reading I don't recommend skipping the introduction and the essays because reading the translations will not make sense unless the reader is already familiar with the stories. Some hymns, although some tell stories, are incomplete. The essays in the first part serve as introduction, summary, and provide the explanation for the longer hymns. I also recommend this book to readers who have more than a casual interest in classical mythology. Rating: 9 out of 10