Just Finished Reading: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (FP: 2011) [359pp] 

They had escaped the Maze. They were safe... Or not. For one thing Terresa was missing and had been 'replaced' by Aris who told a story of a second Maze and a second escape. It wasn't long before everything fell apart and they discovered that they had 'escaped' into a strange and much more deadly world. A world dominated by 'the flare', a virus that slowly sent those infected mad, in a world scarred by repeated solar flares that had made Earth uninhabitable anywhere near the equator. So, where did that leave Thomas and his fellow Maze Runners? First, they were infected and it was only a matter of time before they began to show symptoms of madness. Second, a cure existed but would only be provided IF they could navigate 'the Scorch' to a safe-haven 100 miles away. Time was short and they needed to get running... 

This was the sequel to the original Maze Runner novel that I'd read back in 2016 (nothing quite like taking my time about progressing a series). I actually thought that both the original novel and the movie adaptation were reasonably well done and certainly entertaining. Not so here! I should have been warned by the lacklustre movie adaptation and by the fact that they never bothered to film the third book. But I am trying to finish a bunch of book series that have been languishing for far too long. So, what was wrong with the book? 

Part of the issue I thought, being generous, is that it's the middle book in a trilogy (although a prequel was added later). This means there's little actually resolved with just bits of information dropped from time to time 'explaining' the background and some of the "evil organisation's" motivation – calling it WICKED was a step too far I think... So, not much happening overall. Added to this was the quality of the writing. I'm aware that this was a YA series, but I didn't really expect it to have been produced by a teenager too. Generally, the dialogue was terrible, the character structure and development was equally bad, and I lost count of the cliff-hangers used, I'm guessing, to keep the readership 'engaged'. It was quite the drag!  

There was one creepy/tense moment which I thought was actually competent, but this really didn't compensate for the rest of this VERY padded novel. As it's taken me 10 years to read part 2 and how unimpressed I was by it I'm not sure when/if I'll be reading part 3. Personally, I'd stick to reading the first book and ignore the fact that the story limped on afterwards. Not recommended. Hopefully there's some better Sci-Fi in my future!    

Happy Birthday: Albert Camus (7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, writer, and political activist. He was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history, and the first laureate in literature born in Africa. His works include The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Fall and The Rebel.

Camus was born in French Algeria to pied-noir parents. He spent his childhood in a poor neighbourhood and later studied philosophy at the University of Algiers. He was in Paris when the Germans invaded France during World War II in 1940. Camus tried to flee but finally joined the French Resistance where he served as editor-in-chief at Combat, an outlawed newspaper. After the war, he was a celebrity figure and gave many lectures around the world.

He married twice but had many extramarital affairs. Camus was politically active; he was part of the left that opposed Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union because of their totalitarianism. Camus was a moralist and leaned towards anarcho-syndicalism. He was part of many organisations seeking European integration. During the Algerian War (1954–1962), he kept a neutral stance, advocating a multicultural and pluralistic Algeria, a position that was rejected by most parties.

Philosophically, Camus's views contributed to the rise of the philosophy known as absurdism. Some consider Camus's work to show him to be an existentialist, even though he himself firmly rejected the term throughout his lifetime.

[Definitely a fan of this guy for multiple reasons. The Plague is one of my favourite novels and I found both The Rebel and The Myth of Sisyphus fascinating. I need to read more by him and about him soon!] 

I'd watch THAT!

Just Finished Reading: Have a Nice Doomsday – Why Millions of Americans are Looking Forward to the End of the World by Nicholas Guyatt (FP: 2007) [322pp] 

One of the things that has long amused/bemused me is the recurring 'prediction' that the world will end on a certain specific day (and time!). What is even more amusing/bemusing is the number of people who believe is said 'prophecy' and who act accordingly by selling everything they own and calmly (or not) await the ending only to be disappointed. Sometimes these same people will be back a few months later to be disappointed AGAIN when a 'revised' date also passes without incident. If I could be any more bemused, it's by those who are actively looking forward to the 'End Times' as if it's some sort of good thing – although they are indeed either promised or assume that it'll be good for THEM personally. To me that seems like a form of moral cowardice. It seems that they want their life to end and are more than happy to take the rest of the world with them. Then we have the next level – those who are (at least in their own minds) working to ensure that the End Times happen in their lifetimes as if they have the power to hasten whatever they conceive of God's Plan... As if... Oh, the arrogance. 

With that in mind, the moment I saw this book in my favourite Indie shop I snapped it up. It's interesting with the author being a Brit and this being a British publication that it's described as 'entertaining' and 'funny' along with 'frightening' and 'provocative' as End Times thinking is thankfully rare here. Not so in the US where apparently 50 MILLION people believe that the apocalypse will occur in their lifetime. Travelling across America the author was invited to interview some of the BIG players in the End Times community some of which I'd even heard of (somewhere, somehow) who were apparently convinced that the signs are there and that the End Times are coming – especially it seems after the establishment of Israel in 1948. Biblical 'prophecy' is a tricky beat though... "Open to Interpretation" doesn't really cover it which is why more switched-on End Timers no longer give any specific date except "soon" so as not to look a complete fool.  

Despite having little knowledge on the subject (or maybe because of that) I actually found this very readable – especially when the author discussed the LONG history of predicting the 'End of the World'. Although not a believer in such things himself (he describes himself as a 'lapsed Catholic) he doesn't treat it as a joke and only makes the occasional funny comment about the ideas expressed by its top adherents. It's definitely troubling that so many people WANT the world to end – as if we don't have troubles enough without the encouragement – and it's deeply troubling that people with actual power listen to them but I do feel that my eyes are slightly more open to that pressure and it does help explain the otherwise sometimes strange relationship between the US and the Middle East (especially Israel of course) that we've seen play out on our TV screens over the decades. Recommended for anyone who has ever wondered what End Times thinking is all about. More to come...     

English Folk Verse (c.1870) The Fifth of November

Remember, remember!

The fifth of November,

The Gunpowder treason and plot;

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot!

Guy Fawkes and his companions

Did the scheme contrive,

To blow the King and Parliament

All up alive.

Threescore barrels, laid below,

To prove old England's overthrow.

But, by God's providence, him they catch,

With a dark lantern, lighting a match!

A stick and a stake

For King James's sake!

If you won't give me one,

I'll take two,

The better for me,

And the worse for you.

A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,

A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,

A pint of beer to wash it down,

And a jolly good fire to burn him.

Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!

Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!

Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!

Donald is NOT happy today..... Bless! VERY Well Done Democrats. Now live up to your side of the results and INVESTIGATE the living SHIT out of this 'Administration'.

Well.... THAT certainly explains their absence........!