New Book Review - Doors by Daniel Brako

                                                                                 

Book Name - Doors
Writer - Daniel Brako
Published By - Momentum/MacMillan
First things first, I Got this book free from NetGalley for a review, so thank you netgalley for this opportunity.
This book is about a psychologist name David Druas, who one day faces a sudden change in the illness of one of his previous patients, this guy (Hans Werner) starts seeing doors everywhere which lead to other worlds, to make his patient understand the falsity of his delusion David undergoes the same ritual as he and then the unbelievable happens as he starts seeing doors too.
Then all hell starts braking lose as psychologist David uses his scientific mind to try to reveal the mystery of the doors, but its harder than it seems and things start to happen in breakneck pace. In the course of the events David suddenly comes to know his patient is dead and you guessed it, he turns out to be the prime suspect.
The book is quite fast paced, some of the characters are quite likable  (including the main) and there is not a dull moment in this sci-fi thriller. Bit by bit some of the truth behind the door gets revealed and in a way that is quite interesting. But to be telling the truth I somehow liked the first part of the book more and it is just damn short, the plot should have been a bit more expanded in my opinion & the multiple worlds behind the doors should have been presented with more details in some sequences.
Some of the characters are quite skillfully written but a few are just not elaborated or developed enough for my liking.
In the end I would like to say the writer did indeed had a nice story to tell and although the ending was quite predictable it leaves room for more (maybe a sequel? or sequels?), I wish the book was much longer but I am happy as long as the writer decides to write more books on this world with these characters and I'll definitely be on board for the next books from him.


Final Verdict - Due to some small shortcomings that I mentioned earlier, this gets "4 out of 5 stars" from me.

Newer Combo Videos - Street Fighter x Tekken Vol1

 This is my first video on my own (that is I am the combo maker,recorder and editor).

Info -
BGM - "The Spirit Chaser" from Battle SQ OST
Special Thanks to - http://cyberfanatix.com/
            for introducing me to combos and making me wanna be a combo maker
Also to - Doopliss & borawser  for some of the ideas for the combos ( check out their channels, they really rock at combos)
              http://www.youtube.com/user/DaDoppen
              http://www.youtube.com/user/borawserboxer
Hope you guys enjoy this.
If you do you can watch my earlier solo combo videos (both for obscure SNK fighting games), recorded and edited and uploaded by armison -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELx3n3GPIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYc7n40RKVI
PS -
1. If you want to request combos for any characters or any pc fighting game you can request it on the comments. I will try my best to fullfill your requests.
2. If you want to see the transcript for these combos also you may request in the comments, then I will upload it.
3. Please do check out my blog of "Reviews & Stuff" and leave your comments -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com/

Retro Anime Review - Serial Experiments Lain

                                                                           

Anime Name - Serial Experiments Lain
Aired - Jul 6, 1998 to Sep 28, 1998
Episodes - 13
Staff - Ryutaro Nakamura (Director), Yoshitoshi ABe (Original Character Design), Chaiki J. Konaka
(Screenplay), Yasuyuki Ueda (Producer)

Unlike most other animes at that time, SEL was not based on any manga or light novel, it was an original. Let me at first tell you that this is definitely not the only criteria that makes this anime unique. Firstly I would like to say that if you want a fast anime with lots of action or generally lots of things happening this is not for you; if you want an anime with romance or ecchi this is not for you; if you want an anime that starts with a bang from start and keeps on its definitely not for you; and lastly if you think after watching this you will soon forget the plot and get on with your next on watch list I say at the beginning its not that forgettable. This is an anime that makes you stop and think, makes you ponder the reality surrounding you and most certainly makes you question your beliefs. And if you think of the time when this aired that was and I think still is one of the most unique traits of any anime.

Retro Video Game Reviews - 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors

                                                                           

# Game Name - 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
# Publisher - Aksys Games
# Developer - Chunsoft
# Platform - Nintendo DS
# Genre - Visual Novel, Graphic Adventure

Visual Novels or Digital Novels already has a thriving market in Japan, but this genre is quite unknown yet in rest of the world specially the west. Usually many good visual novels never get a English language port because of almost absence of any market. But yet somehow Aksys Games decided to port this gem. First of all I wanna thank them for the courageous move, otherwise people like me who doesn't know Japanese at all would have missed such an experience.
Visual Novels are actually like reading a virtual book where you get occasional choices which effect the outcome of the story or you get some puzzles to solve to progress through the game. Actually to be honest this is my first experience to be ever playing such a game. I stalled it for a bit but I am glad I finally played this. Now lets get to scoring by category.

Retro Book Review - Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny

                                                                    

# Book Name - Nine Princes In Amber
# Series -  Amber Chronicles, 1
# Writer - Roger Zelazny
.....Sometimes you come to some books by which you can not help get amazed at the geniuses of it writer, you can't help want to read more from.....
.....I have heard lots of praises of this series on the net and wanted to read it but just couldn't start as there was many new books to read, but fortunately I have finally read this as with a group and this is amazing. The book first starts as a kind of pulpy detective books of 50-60 then suddenly everything changes and speed turns over. I was amazed by the beautiful world building done in this blinding pace. At least the book slows down a bit after chapter 8 but by then you are so into the sentiments with the main character that you can't slow down yourself and at last the book ends with promises of something to look forward to in the next books and seriously I can't wait to get into the next one.....

# Final Verdict - 5 out of 5 Stars