Category: Non Fiction

Past Raider

7/1/2022

The Making of Tomb Raider
by Daryl Baxter

I've near been much of a "gamer" per se, but Tomb Raider II came out when I was a child and it had a massive impact on me. I played it for hours. Lara Croft had - still has, in one form or another - massive appeal to just about everyone. To a young girl who was fed up with how female characters were portrayed in games, she was a revelation.

I've said it before, but here goes: video game history is one of my niche interests. I am also very fond of Lara. So obviously I was going to read this book! It was certainly a fascinating read, especially the audio side of things (My 2-year-old son's current favourite song? "Lara Plays in the Snow"). Some sections of the book resulted in "ohhhh!" moments, like the bits about Winston. He always scared me as much as the goons did and I'm glad I finally know why!

But ultimately, The Making of Tomb Raider doesn't stack up against the other oral histories I've read. Nostalgia only gets you so far. Baxter doesn't offer much analysis and the transition between prose and quotes didn't feel particularly smooth. I also feel like some things should have been expanded, like context (references to the Spice Girls aren't quite enough, I'm afraid). And yeah, it could have been edited at least once more.

Despite its faults, this book is essential reading for fans.

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Shedding New Light

15/2/2021

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Moonlighting: An Oral History by Scott Ryan

I fell in love with Moonlighting during my first year at university and shamelessly used the episodes in every single essay about postmodernism I had to write. It's funny how quickly I became attached to a show that ended before I was old enough to watch television. Anyway, I was stoked to discover this book's existence. And it did not disappoint.

What I really liked about this "oral history" is the fact that Scott Ryan didn't just pick one version of events or come to an indulgent conclusion about why Moonlighting met its end. The style Ryan used really works here - the cast and crew are allowed, in their own words, to describe what production was like (with a focus on specific episodes). I enjoyed the conflicting narratives. I enjoyed being able to pick which one suited me most! A fantastic book for fans and anyone wanting to understand why some of their favourite shows from more recent times are the way they are.

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Book Reviews

Past Raider

The Making of Tomb Raider
by Daryl Baxter

Shedding New Light

Moonlighting: An Oral History by Scott Ryan

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Book Reviews

Past Raider

The Making of Tomb Raiderby Daryl Baxter

Shedding New Light

Moonlighting: An Oral History by Scott Ryan

About

Archives

Categories

The Making of Tomb Raider
by Daryl Baxter