Gloomy Reviews:- Monokuma Plush

So, this is a review of something I ordered about two weeks ago and received two days ago. I’ve had an interest in plush toys and the like that are connected to series I like and this is the first one I’ve ever purchased. So, first, let me introduce you to the character of Monokuma, from the game series Danganronpa and it’s anime adaptation. This was sold by costanime, though I’m not sure who make it.

Anyway, this is Monokuma.

And here is a picture of what I’ve purchased.

Amazon Link

Now, this was created as merchandise for the animation. This version is not the only one out there, though the other version costs more. Presumably, it is of a higher quality, though my funds are limited and I have no problems with the quality of what I have in this plush. Admittedly, I have no experience with these, but I can’t see any flaws in how it is made.

Now, the torso has no stuffing in it, apart from some paper that’s in it. This can be easily and cheaply fixed. The back has a zip in the form of it’s tail, which allows you to open Monokuma up and put some stuffing in him, if you wish. I had some cheap cotton balls I had bought ages ago and I used those to fill up his torso. Obviously, what you do about that is up to you. So, there is a deficiency to this plush in comparison to his more expensive duplicate. Yet it is one that is easily solved.

Now, one thing to note is a loop on the back of Monokuma’s head, presumably so you can hang him if you wish. A nice little touch in my opinion, even if it is something I personally will not use with mine.

Anyway, here is my overall opinion. Those interested in the Danganronpa franchise will get a somewhat more affordable option to other Monokuma with an easily fixed flaw that will leave you with a lovely plush once sorted out. As for any who just like the appearance of this guy, it would be harder to recommend this to such people. The flaw in this is certainly easier to overlook when it is a plush of a character you like and at a cheaper price than alternatives. Though one more thing to note is that it’s price does fluctuate, so there there are times where it might be better financially to go with other versions of Monokuma. Just be sure to check on the prices of the versions available to you before you buy one.

Arrogant Cow!

Source: Arrogant Cow!

Gloomy Reviews:- Catherine the Great

Right, here is another history book. Here, we are looking at another Empress, Catherine The Great, who ruled the Russian Empire from 1762 to 1796.

As one with the justly earned sobriquet of Great, Catherine was a grand ruler who achieved much during her life. However, this book starts at her youth for the reason that the events of her youth and her time before she gained the throne in a coup did much to shape her character. For example, her mother had ambitions, which she hoped her children would aid her in, and did preferred her short lived brother to her. She also was quite inquisitive and independent minded, though the response to that from one of her teachers taught her to conceal that with meekness and humility.

The early part of the book has two other characters also take a central role. These are the Empress of Russia, Elizabeth, and her nephew Peter. The former is the one who summoned Catherine to Russia, having an affection for the House of Holstein which her mother was related to. She had communicated with the Empress a number of times, creating a link which she used to introduce her to Catherine. Given the needs of the Russian dynasty, it was enough to lead to the two of them being summoned to Russia.

Elizabeth was herself a capable ruler and winning the favour of this women did much to help Catherine. Catherine also did her best to learn as much as she could so she could fulfil her duties in her new home country. At the same time, the flaws of the Empress such as vanity also taught her lessons that helped her, though in a more hurtful manner.

Her husband, Peter, was certainly a major problem for many years. He had no interest in Catherine as a wife and even that of her as a playmate and potential ally dwindled as years went on. He also hated Russia, lacked the qualities need to rule a nation and was often childish and even sadistically cruel. For example, he owned a number of dogs at one point which he would readily beat. There were also plenty in Russia who disagreed with this marriage and who had the power to act against her. There was also the problem of the need to produce an heir who would ensure the continuation of the Romanov dynasty, which was a most difficult task given Peter’s total lack of interest in her. This unsurprisingly created plenty of problems for Catherine, who had been brought to Russia for that task.

There were many challenges for her after that time and the coup that gained her the throne of Russia. First, she had gained the method through a method considered illegitimate and Peter died in a very suspicious manner. Plus, many felt that the Empress owed them for her efforts. Next, there were the effects of Peter’s rule to deal with. He had done a surprising amount during his short reign, though these things contributed to why it was so short. Also, as one educated by the ideas of the enlightenment, Catherine desired to implement them in Russia and modernise her country. However, the country she ruled was far from ideal for their implementation and her dependency on noble support during events such as the Pugachev rebellion made this very difficult.

Yet it must be said that Catherine was an extraordinary monarch who did much to develop the Russian Empire and advance it’s interests. She also invested effort in inquiring art and in making connections with a number of great thinkers of the time and liked to make gestures to support them, at one point helping the philosopher Diderot by giving him a substantial amount when he needed to sell his books due to poverty. He was then told to keep his books and was granted a yearly salary.

The writer, Robert K. Massie, does a good job at conveying the details of her life in an interesting and engaging way. Certainly, this book is at least an interesting read. However, he seems to be seen as being too indulging in psychological analysis and inclined to write in a manner for suitable for fiction. So, my opinion is that, while this was hardly a boring book to read, it might be better to go for other authors if you are after more than merely something to read.

Gloomy Reviews:- Who’s Afraid of Schrödinger’s Cat?

This next book review is of another non fiction book. This is Who’s Afraid of Schrödinger’s Cat? by Ian Marshall and Danah Zohar. This is an introductory book to quantum physics and therefore covers things at a fairly simple level, without the use of complex mathematics or calculations to explain things

The title of this book comes from a thought experiment devised by scientist Erwin Schrödinger. In it, a cat is placed in a box with a device that will either give it food or poison it, something that will happen at random. The box is designed so you can’t see inside or hear anything from it. So, once the box is closed, you have no idea what has happened inside the box. The cat could be either dead or alive. Normally, we would state it to be one of the two states. However, according to quantum physics, both possibilities would simultaneously exist at the same time until a point where the box was opened. During that time, the cat would be both dead and alive.

This first idea, which is explained in the introduction, gives you the first taste of what you might expect from this book. The mechanics of quantum physics are often unbound by the expectations of common sense and normal rational thought. Rather than what many trained by conventional physics would consider to be the norm, you have a more fluid system, one with an infinite number of possibilities. Many of these go against what you would expect, as the Schrödinger’s Cat example shows.

There are many topics covered. First, there are general scientific ideas and how they are competing with traditional ideas. Then, there are thoughts on how quantum physics and the discoveries made in this field might affect other fields. There is biology and thoughts on alternatives to Darwinist theory and on the existence and creation of life on this planet and possibly elsewhere. Psychology and philosophy are also looked at, with the book looking at various alternative ideas regarding our minds and brains, why we exist, how we understand the world and other matters. With that, we are lead onto the ideas of artificial intelligence and how such a thing might be created. Naturally, the writers take much delight in trying to shoot holes into the existing way of looking at AI, as they do with a lot of old notions they consider to be inflexible.

Also, possible applications of ideas from quantum physics are also explored. Some of the ideas explored are currently dubious unless some new discovery were to be made in the future to help them. However, it certainly is interesting and some could be revolutionary if they could be implemented.

The book is not well ordered. It tends to leap from one topic to another, with little connecting them. However, it does not leap to topics unless all you need to understand it has already been put forward in proceeding. Also, the book explains things in a way that even those without knowledge of physics can understand. At the same time, this is not an unbiased look at quantum physics. The writers are clear supporters of this field and tote the proclaimed superiority of it over more traditional physics often. Regardless, it is informative and my opinion of this book is that it is a good resource for anyone after a book that can give them an introduction to this field of scientific thought.

Gloomy Reviews:- Murder by Committee

So, my second book review of the month. This is the second book I got from my local library, another mystery book. This one is Murder by Committee by Veronica Heley.

The plot of this book starts when the main character, Ellie Quicke, is contacted through a friend of hers by a millionaire. She is contacted in concern to a poisoned pizza. The millionaire, Sir Arthur Kingsley, believes that this was intended to kill him, though his dog was killed instead. He quickly drives her off with his irritating attitude. Soon, Ellie discovers that Sir Arthur has many enemies and it soon is quite a challenge to figure out who might be responsible for this attempted murder.

So, I will say that the main character is somewhat likeable. There also is a different angle done on one character who seems like she is going to be a weak character, but manages to raise herself up a bit. The accompanying characters to the main characters are also okay.

However, the mystery of the story is very lacking. The villain of the book is easy to guess. It’s the millionaire. He also is comically evil. He hits both his dog and his wife, plus has his henchman conduct petty acts of intimidations. Really, he is so evil that it would not have been surprising if he had twirled a moustache. Plus, the main character is sometimes inclined to saying things that come off as the author using her as a way to convey opinions. So, this is a really lacking book. You really have no feelings of surprise or expectation of any twists. You have a cartoonish villain and a heroine who can be prone to giving unwanted lectures and who is only under the illusion of being threatened until you give in and accept that there really is not going to be any surprises.

My opinion, therefore, is that this is a book that really has not much to offer. This isn’t bad. At the same time, there is nothing to attract you to it. There is no mystery and, after a certain point, no suspense. The conclusion lacks any surprises to it and, while it could be okay for a library borrowing, it is not worth being purchased at all.

Gloomy Reviews:- Haibane Renmei Volume 1

Haibane Renmei is a series that I’ve been meaning to watch for a while, but have not made much progress on. It is a good show, but I’ve simply been interested in watching other things. So, it might take a while before I take a look at the second DVD volume of the show that I have. But there are four episodes on this one, so let’s dive in.

The premise of this series is that there is a town forgotten by all where humans live with mysterious beings call Haibane. These beings have the typical angel features in terms of appearance, those of white feathered wings and halos on their heads. However, they start their existence by emerging from cocoons and have no memories outside those created after they emerge. They have no idea why they exist, why they appear in this town or much of what lies beyond it’s walls. These are questions that our protagonist, Rakka, a newly hatched Haibane, intends to faces.

The first episode starts with the appearance of our protagonist’s cocoon and. With no memories, she is naturally confused, but for the locals, such events are just one part of their lives. Sadly for our protagonist, this does not mean there are answers. It would be a pretty short series if that was the case. But there is a system in place for helping new Haibane. When Rakka wakes up after she hatches from her cocoon, she is greeted by the other Haibane who had been watching her egg.

Since she actually does not know her name, as is the case for all Haibane, this is where she gets the name Rakka, which means falling and is connected to the dream she had in her cocoon. All Haibane have a vague recollection of some dream they were having while in their cocoons and gain their names from the nature of their dream. She is also given the facts I’ve already mentioned and a guest room for her while she sorts herself out.

The second episode starts with Rakka still getting used to being a Haibane. With her wings still a bit damp, she decides to go out for a bit. After a number of the other Haibane join her for breakfast, she takes a bit of a walk into town. This serves to establish the rules in regards to relations between the Haibane community and humans, such as how Haibane are forbidden from purchasing new clothes or similar items and are instead given access to a support system which helps them survive. It also serves to introduce us to a few humans. There is also an odd experience for our protagonist when she looks upon a visitor, the only one permitted to enter the town.

The third episode starts with the sound of someone falling. No, it;’s not Rakka, but she soon finds out who it is. It’s one of her fellow Haibane with her, who is now sleeping in her art studio now that the room she had once slept in is being used by Rakka. She is a bit irritable, which is due to a dream she has been having, though this is not mentioned to Rakka who is left in the dark about this. So, we go on to her activity for the day, visiting the Haibane Temple, which is located just outside of the Town. Here, we are given more information on the system of interaction between the one person allowed to visit the Haibane and the Haibane, plus we see how Haibane are accepted into the group. Also, Rakka goes looking for work. Obviously, this goes well, with no hijincks whatsoever, riiiight?

This first volume does a good job at establishing the world and our assortment of characters, who are all at least pleasant to have around, though some are more interesting than others and I hope they will get character development as the show goes on. It’s a pleasant and light hearted series so far, very much in the model of a slice of life show as we watch the group of Haibane we focus on live their regular lifes. This is part of why I can’t really say much about it at the moment, as I’m more interested in looking at something different to this, and why it might take a while for me to post a review of the second volume. That does not mean no reviews, obviously, but they will be for items rather different in tone to this.

Gloomy Reviews:- The Good Soldier Svejk

Ok, another review. This is another classic, The Good Soldier Svejk, centred around the character of Svejk and a set of comedic adventures as he lives through the first world war. The author, Jaroslav Hasek, was a fairly interesting person himself, though his life ended with his premature demise. Anyway, the introductory text covers his life and provides a bit of analysis. As for translation, this was done by Cecil Parrott. Apparently, this is the first version that is not derived from edited material, the previous version having been two-thirds of the size of this complete volume. While I can’t provide much in this area, I will recommend this version for now just for that alone.

The story is also accompanied by illustrations. These were done by an old friend of Hasek, Josef Lada, who was first asked to draw the main character in 1921 when Hasek was publishing parts of The Good Soldier Svejk weekly. It was actually after the author’s death that a lot of the drawings were created, but they have become attached to this work and thus are included in this book.

The Plot starts with Svejk in a bar. It’s just after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914. Being Svejk, he soon finds himself called away by a man who reveals himself to be a member of state security and that he was to be arrested at once for his comments. Then, when called upon by the medical examiners in preparation for his trial, he ends up being declared insane and is sent to an asylum. After a while, they then decide he is lying and sent him to a police station, where he soon ends up going home. This all happens before he is even called up to fight for the Austrian Empire. It also is the general pattern of events. Svejk is usually going about his business and one event or another, sometimes his own oddness but often the incompetence and weirdness behind much of how Austria was organised, he is dragged into one escapade or journey after the other.

The character of Svejk is an odd one, born from the mind of a bohemian in response to the events of the first world war. He is both prone to very odd behaviour, yet at the same time it is indicated that he is in fact fairly intelligent and he acts the way he does for a reason, such as contempt for the authorities and a desire to avoid fighting for Austria. This interesting mix of intelligence combined with a tendency for odd behaviour that gets his dragged into one adventure after another certainly help make this an interesting book to read.

So, now for my opinion of this book. This is an amusing satirical work and, though it is long, it is split into a number of stories so it’s possible to stop off at any number of points until you feel like continuing. There is one problem, in that it’s a book set in a specific time period and from the perspective of a Czech character and writer in the former Austrian Empire. This means some of the jokes will rely on some knowledge of this period, though the translator does include notes to explain some bits. However, this setting also gives the author a lot to work with in regards to creating a satirical work and the author makes great use of it, lampooning everyone that Svejk encounters.

Gloomy Reviews:- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

So, my second review for the day, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. This is a book I’ve had on my shelf since last year, but just read a few days ago. Naturally, here is a review for it.

The plot begins with one of our protagonists, Mikeal Blomkvist, suffering the affects of being caught in a scandal. A source in one of his stories had turned out to be working for those he was trying to catch. So, when he needed to back up a claim in one of his articles, this source disappeared and he instead found himself the target of a slander case against him for which he was found guilty. Due to the damage this could cause the news organisation he is in, Millennium, he decides to depart for a while.

Due to this, he is unemployed when he is contacted by Henrik Vanger, the head of a family in charge of a formerly substantial economic group. There are two reasons why he has been called upon, the first and official reason being to write up an autobiography that Vanger hopes will show off the incompetence of many of his family members. The second is to launch an investigation into the disappearance of Harriet Vanger. This is because Henrik is convinced she was murdered.

This event, which happened 36 years ago, occurred in suspicious circumstance. For example, the bridge across the island was blocked by an accident just after the time she arrived on the island. There are reasons to disclude the possibilities of her running away, an accident or suicide. Also, she was quite brilliant and Henrik had at the time considered her to be the person most likely to have economic success in her future. He also had a good relationship with her and even thought of her as being like his own daughter. So, plenty of people in the family would have a reason to get rid of her. To add to this, someone has been keeping a tradition he had shared with her in sick way, sending him a pressed flower every birth day.

Blomkvist is not convinced that he can do much, but he is given very generous terms of employment, plus an offer of assistance in getting the person who he had been after when he had instead got caught in a trap by that person, Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. So, over the objections of his colleagues in Millenium, he decides to take this job. Along the way of trying to complete this task, he ends up encountering the second main character.

The second protagonist, Lisbeth Salander, is our titular “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”. She first appears while doing the task of watching Blomkvist, due to her job as a security specialist and investigator. The assignment to investigate him is suddenly terminated by Frode, the same person who had hired Blomkvist for Vanger. Now that they have him, her investigation is no longer required. Salander is not the sort of person who gives up on a job once she has started it, so she continues to investigate Blomkvist.

At the same time, she is dealing with the problem of a new guardian. She has one due to a habit of being uncooperative and unsociable to the point of once being considered mentally challenged as a result of an unwillingness to go along with a psychological evaluation. She did have a previous guardian who had developed a good relationship with, but this person has recently died. The new guardian, Nils Bjurman, is more antagonistic to her and more interested in asserting his authority over her life, in spite of her handling herself fairly well.

This book is fairly interesting. My opinion is that it has a decent mystery plot and the two main characters are likeable enough, even if Salander is rather odd. Potential readers should note that this is a story involving murder, plus Salander has a traumatic past and the problem with her guardian soon takes a dark turn. Combined with it’s length and that it’s the first book in a trilogy, potential readers should not expect this to be a light read. Anyway, I’ve yet to read the other two books and that will take some time to do, but this one is fairly enjoyable.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Ramblings of an Elfpire

For some reason, I had a used copy of Cloud Atlas sat on my shelf for nearly 2 years before I picked it up. There was something about it that made me not want to pick it up despite hearing amazing reviews; maybe it was because I thought it would be too ‘literary’ for me with it having been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, maybe it was the length of 529 pages that I’d convinced myself I never had time for, maybe it was the reputation it has for being a slow and confusing, yet brilliant, novel. I finally picked it up during the #CatchUpReadathon and I am so glad that I did.

This novel has a unique style of story-telling. There are six sections, all following different characters in a different tense in a different style, and each one of these are visited twice so there are twelve…

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Are Comics Art?

Are Comics Art? Well, it’s a question that you see asked lots of times. I’d say this article by Orla-Jo does a good job at answering it.