Terry Goodkind

Wizard’s First Rule: a book review

~ JP Marshman ~ Leave a comment
Image from http://sot.wikia.com/
Image from http://sot.wikia.com/

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher’s forest sanctuary seeking help … and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword– to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed … or that their time has run out.

This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.

Overview

Richard Cypher is a man on a mission: after the curious murder of his father, he sets off on a personal quest to find the killer, despite all misgivings. The only evidence he has is a branch of thorn that he soon finds in the forests near the boundary – carnivorous, semi-sentient thorn. On his way home, not much closer to finding out his father’s killer, he encounters a beautiful woman hiking through the woods in clothes not at all appropriate for hiking: and she is being followed by four men.

With Kahlan’s help, Richard saves her from the men and they hurry home. Soon, Richard and Kahlan both are swept up in a dangerous adventure out of their control, and together they must save the land from evil reminiscent of dark magic from many years before, with the help of eccentric wizard Zedd and boundary warden Chase.

Wizard’s first rule: People are stupid. Continue reading →

Fickle technology

~ JP Marshman ~ Leave a comment

image

Remember that one time I couldn’t use my computer because the AC adapter broke?

Yeah, it happened again.

It was a slightly different scenario this time, to be fair. Last time, it simply broke. This time, it lit on fire.

Yes. Fire.

I had noticed for some time that it was acting funny. It would sometimes quit working, even when it was plugged in to my computer and the wall just fine. The other night, after contacting Asus about getting a new adapter, I was browsing an open document Changeling, appropriately enough, because fire, when I smelled something off. When I looked down, black smoke was twisting up from my adapter port. I quickly unplugged it from my computer and base, and as I was walking back and forth, cord in hand —

It caught fire.

I panicked, as I rightly should, and started for the sink, chanting “Oh my God”, and then realized that I don’t know what to do for electrical fires. My initial reaction was water, obviously, then I thought to smother it, but before I could do anything, it sputtered out and died. I waited a minute, to be sure it wouldn’t catch fire again, then put it on the linoleum floor to check my computer. The port was melted to slag, but the computer itself was running fine. I backed up my most important files as I phoned Asus back and told them my priorities had changed.

So my computer is currently packed up and waiting for me to fill out the RMA form and ship it back to Asus for repairs. They were quite quick last time, but the scenario has changed some, so I don’t know how long I’m going to be without a computer.

In the meantime, I do have my phone, and I’ll be doing edits by hand on Changeling. I’ve also just started Wizard’s First Rule, by Terry Goodkind, so there’s reading to do, as well.

I’m still on Facebook and Twitter if anyone needs me.

Go hug your computers for me.