‘Gods of Egypt’ (The Movie)

 Rarely have the lesser gods of Hollywood produced a decent (believable) movie about Ancient Egypt – and this one seems to be no different. In the words of Cecil B. DeMille: "Creativity is a drug I cannot live without." Problem: One needs to take the right drug, or all mayhem breaks loose.

 The following is an amusing  partial  Review by MANOHLA DARGIS as featured in the New York Times Section of the Egypt Monitor:

       Bosomy damsels and brawny slabs; cheering digital crowds; a lachrymose sphinx; a bedazzled Geoffrey Rush; a galactic cruise ship; an Egyptian god played by the Dane Nikolaj Coster-Waldau; the sword-and-sandals enabler Gerard Butler; a smoky monster that from one angle looks like a fanged doughnut and from another an alarmingly enraged anus — “Gods of Egypt” attests that they do make them like they used to, or at least like the King of the Bs, Roger Corman, once did, except with far more money.

If “Gods of Egypt” were any worse, it might be a masterpiece. 

A glowing threat in “Gods of Egypt.” Credit Lionsgate

It is instead a demented entertainment, an embarrassment of kitsch riches that, in between inspiring giggles and snorts, incites you to consider imponderables like, who greenlighted this, and why? Is there really still a market for would-be spectaculars with cartoonish effects and self-parodying dialogue delivered with “Downton Abbey” drawls?

How does a cast like this take shape? Did Mr. Rush sign on first and the others follow like lemmings? And how did Mr. Butler, with his furred musculature and marble-mouthed Scottish accent, become a standard-bearer for midlevel exploitation cinema?

Perhaps, before you head to the movies, you may want to read the entire Review here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/movies/gods-of-egypt-review.html

Or, you can spend half the money and read a good novel about Ancient Egypt. 

I just happen to have one for you:

Amazon-US

Amazon-UK

Genre–Bound?

     When I started reading early on in my life, I read pretty much everything I could get my little hands on, mostly with my parents’ acquiescence. Although, there were those times when I hid some frowned upon sci-fi pulp—handed to me under the table by no other than my grandmother!—under my mattress, only to find the cheap pamphlets in my school-book drawer. So much for trying to deceive a mother.

     It didn’t seem there was such a thing as strict “genre” then; one was more likely to follow an author rather than a set subject matter. Well, except perhaps the book club offerings my mother had subscribed to about the pampered mistresses of Europe’s kings. Madame de Pompadour, Madame du Barry, Lola Montez, Désirée. Yes, even Cleopatra got a bad rap as a courtesan. It was mild 1950s ‘heaving-bosom eroticism’ foisted upon a romance-hungry readership needing an escape from their trying post-war struggles or--as in my case--a girl's awakening curiosity.

     These days, it seems writers need to package themselves neatly into specific genres in order to aspire to some measure of loyal followers. Anything else they might produce is apt to fall by the wayside. And – heaven forbid – if several genres are combined under one hat, writers are apt to be chided or – worse – abandoned; although, the imaginative and curious reader might laud them for not producing cookie-cutter sequels, one after the other, siphoning off from a first success.

     

     My Legends of the Winged Scarab series, for instance, spins Historical Fiction into a modern-day thriller, to continue with post-apocalyptic adventure, ending with international intrigue - only to loop back to the mysticism of Ancient Egypt.

Then, under the same author name, up pops the sweetest-ever cat together with his animal shelter buddies.

To confound things even more, a book of poems and short stories gets thrown into the fray.

And let's not forget about Edward, Con Extraordinaire, a small "teaser" of things to come for the versatile Brit who keeps popping up in the Legends.

The marketing pundits might say "not smart."

But what’s a writer to do who writes from the heart and not necessarily the head?

     I would love to hear how readers feel about it all.

     Then, I lastly must admit, there is a novella of perhaps literary pretense. In order to make it more visible (or palatable) the poor thing has endured several title and cover changes. 

And just for reading all of the above:

It is On Sale for 99c just for you - February 25 - 29, 2016

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Is the Nile Running Dry?

 An interesting clip about Egypt's struggle over the waters of the Nile.
 It also talks about Mubarak's failed Toshka Project
 (mentioned in The Nile Conspiracy).

Ethiopian Dam Still Under Construction

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,

previously scheduled to be finished in 2015,

is still only 50% completed.

The dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the waters of the Blue Nile forms the backdrop of 

The Nile Conspiracy

Available now for Kindle and in Print at 

Amazon-US

Amazon-UK

My Favorite Bad Boy - FREE

 February 13 - 17, 2016

 on Amazon.com

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BQZ1JY

 Edward Guernsey-Crock became such an important character that several reviewers mention him in their Reviews of The Legends of the Winged Scarab series. (Alas, as time and the series progress, the delightful Edward turns a lot less ‘charming’ and increasingly villainous; I enjoyed writing about him. I guess, even good girls become fascinated with bad boys.)

From The Nile Conspiracy (Book 5):

"Not only has Borg published four [five] full length books, there is a novella that enlightens us about one of the main protagonists, Edward. I haven’t read it yet, but I did buy it, for it seems key to grappling with this vital character."

"Borg's narrative is eloquent, witty and stylish; her characters are memorable and there is a great balance between ironic detachment and powerful dramatic involvement."

* * *

"Borg takes her characters and story to different types of adventures and genres."

From The Crystal Curse (Book 4):

"Are there other books by this author that might also be helpful? An intriguing novella, Edward, Con Extraordinaire, Stories of Deceit nicely deals with one of the main characters and, due to its brevity, provides a nice relief."

* * *

"A few characters [Edward] from the previous books also make an appearance here to add to Jonathan and Naunet's discomfort."

From After the Cataclysm (Book 3):

"Borg's characters all grow in this book, some in ways more pleasant than others." [Oh, yeah. Edward is becoming slimier by the day.]

From Sirocco, Storm over Land and Sea (Book 2):

"Edward convinces Naunet to join him for lunch and the adventure begins... He and Karakurt have taken two of the tablets. They need Naunet to clear and translate them. She is kidnapped."

*

Several Reviewers could see Edward played by David Niven ("at his most cheeky"); In a movie-version (don't I wish) I see my Brit dashingly portrayed by a younger Charles Dance (as in White Mischief, or Pasquale's Island). What do you think?

Festival of Drunkenness

 In today’s newsletter from an interesting site called Ancient Origins  (- Check it out on the web -) one of the articles is titled, 

“Provocative Yet Sacred: The Ancient Egyptian Festival of Drunkenness.”

http://www.ancient-origins.net/ festival of drunkenness

Those Ancient Egyptians knew how to live.

Note the Scarab -

My "Legends of the Winged Scarab" fit right in with this story.

(Public Domain)

Rowing Across the Atlantic

 In today’s news, an intrepid group of men is setting out to row across the Atlantic from Portugal all the way down to Venezuela. Not in a comfy yacht or even sailboat. They are hoping to accomplish this audacious feat in an open rowboat!

 Team Essence practices off the coast of Portugal. Photo: Tobi Corney

Their projected route is of particular interest to me since I am describing almost the same route (in reverse) in my novel, After the Cataclysm, Book 3 of the Legends of the Winged Scarab series. 

Except, I am giving my protagonists a little more protection against the elements in their 34-foot Pilothouse Fisher, a sturdy sailboat (they make it, too).

The Route my "Esperanza" took in "After the Cataclysm," took her from Venezuela to the Canary Islands - and then into the Mediterranean.

Quite a difference, isn't it?

As a sailing enthusiast, my best wishes go with these men.

I will be following Team Essence on their progress to their hopefully successful completion all the way.

You too can follow them on Twitter: @teamessencerow 

using hashtags: #Atlantic #Mainland2Mainland #ihaterowing

FREE Read & Review - Starts Feb 3rd

 Still Ongoing: 
The Nile Conspiracy 

will be available from 

February 3rd onward for FREE 

through the 

Read and Review Program 

from 

The Choosy Bookworm 

https://choosybookworm.com/select-free-ebook-read-review/

Sign up and look for The Nile Conspiracy in the Suspense Category.

The Mobi-File will be sent directly by the Author.

Christoph Fischer's LUDWIKA

This is a great opportunity either to continue to enjoy another of

Christoph Fischer's

sensitive treatment of difficult times in history,

or to acquaint yourself with this exceptional writer.

Until January 22

AMAZON-US Ludwika

AMAZON-UK Ludwika

Looming Conflict over Water

     Potable water is becoming scarcer all around the world. Today, The Economist has an interesting article about Egypt’s growing concern over the scheduled 2017 completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Map below from the Economist.com).

http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa

     Comments to the article reveal both sides of the border.

     This very dam is the basis of Book 4 of my Legends of the Winged Scarab, 

The Nile Conspiracy.

     While it is of course a fictional account of the looming conflict between the two countries, one can only wonder about the future of the Blue Nile; and with it, the future of Egypt.