John Isles

@selsijohn

Co-host of @idontdoscifi.bsky.social podcast & @tripodscast.bsky.social Fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek/Wars, B7, B5, and more! Once described as the inspiration for Eugene Victor Tooms in The X Files!

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John Isles@selsijohn· 21d

I enjoyed rewatching Jurassic Park, so felt like continuing with The Lost World . It's less sophisticated than the original, but still entertaining.

Photo of a TV screen showing the onscreen title: The Lost World - Jurassic Park. The background of the shot is tropical island in daylight, with the sea/waves crashing against rocks.

John Isles@selsijohn· 22d

Concluded by mini-tribute season to Sam Neill with an underrated classic. Great cast: Lawrence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Sean Pertwee, Jason Isaacs, & Joely Richardson. One of Paul Anderson's best films.

Photo of a TV screen showing the opening titles of Event Horizon. The film's title of us superimposed over a swirling vortex (in space).

John Isles@selsijohn· 22d

My Spider-Man sense was tingling that it was Monday today.

John in a video call. The virtual background is a picture of Spider-Man swinging through a daylight scene of New York. His mask is folded up to leave his mouth free to drink from a mug in his hand.

John Isles@selsijohn· 24d

Today's #charityshop find.

Photo of a paperback book, 'In Search of Myths and Monsters' by Alan Landsburg. Foreword by Leonard Nimoy. The cover image is a blurry colour photo of the Loch Ness Monster - a tall, thin neck sticking up out of a body of water. The cover blurb says: Unbelievable - yet frighteningly real! Stunning new evidence of other-worldly beings and their weird encounters with men and women - here on Earth!

John Isles@selsijohn· 26d

Continued my (small) tribute to Sam Neill by watching Jurassic Park this evening. My 15 y/o daughter paid some attention to it, & was telling the kids to 'shut up' during the tense scene with the Raptors in the kitchen. She also said they should have only had herbivore dinos in the park!

Photo of a TV screen showing the words 'Jurassic Park' against a black screen. (This is the title for the film).

John Isles@selsijohn· 27d

Watched The Omen III/The Final Conflict. I love how openly evil Damien is around his Assistant/lackey. Nice to spot 'Bob Cryer', and Louis Mahoney in the film!

Photo of a TV screen showing a collection of 7 metal/ceremonial daggers. Text on screen reads: The Final Conflict.

TV screen showing a scene from The Final Conflict (The Omen III). There is an old man studying a pile of books, leaning over a table in an old-looking library. A caption is on the edge of the screen: Sam Neill as Damien.

Photo of a TV showing a scene from the film. Two men wearing white lab coats - astronomers inside a telescope/dome. One of them is played by Eric Richards AKA Sgt Bob Cryer in The Bill.

Photo of a TV screen showing The Final Conflict. Close-up on a monk, Brother Paulo, played by Louis Mahoney. He is kneeling down.

John Isles@selsijohn· 27d

It's Wednesday!

John in a video call. The virtual background is Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams from the TV series 'Wednesday.' She is stood outside under dark rainclouds, and she is holding up a black umbrella over her head.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 11

Here are my Tolkien books (I also have Children of Húrin, & Beren and Lúthien in the loft). The French copy of The Hobbit is my daughter's (it was given to her by a friend). My copy of The Hobbit was my Mum's & is a sixteenth reprint from 1973 (with cover art a sketch by Tolkien himself).

Photo of 5 books by JRR Tolkien stacked on top of each other: 'Bilbo le hobbit,' 'The Hobbit,' Unfinished Tales,' 'The Silmarillion,' and 'The Lord of the Rings.'

Photo of 'Bilbo le hobbit' - the French edition of 'The Hobbit' by JRR Tolkien. The cover art is a painting of Smaug the Dragon flying above a small man/Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, who is holding a sword up in the air.

Photo of 'The Hobbit' by JRR Tolkien. The cover art is a sketch, that's mostly pencil, with some bits of colour. The scene depicted from the novel is the Dragon, Smaug flying above Laketown (buildings on struts over water) in flames, and Smaug is breathing fire.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 11

Today's #charityshop purchases.

Photo of DVD, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin - the cover is a photo of Leonard Rossiter as the main character, dressed in a full pin-striped suit, walking with a briefcase, and umbrella in his hands. Another DVD, 'Tenet' - the cover is a man running (or walking) down a sinister angled corridor. Two books: Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. The artwork is a painting of a richly dressed young with two slaves/servants. Silverfin by Charlie Higson. The cover is a blue background with the shapes of eels on it.

Photo of 'The Accomplice' by Steve Cavanagh. The cover photo/image shows a staircase inside a house. There's a pair of men's, and a pair women's shoes abandoned on the bottom stair.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 8

It's Wednesday!

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 6

Week ahead, Standard by ten!

John in a video call. He is wearing a T-shirt with the spaceship 'Liberator' on the front. It has 3 long 'spires' facing forwards - it's an elegant design that's hard to describe! The virtual background is the bridge inside the 'Liberator' - there are pilot/operating seats and consoles at the different levels, with a space-sofa in front of them for the crew to relax on in between flying the ship, or fighting the Evil Federation.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 5

After watching #ID4 yesterday, I thought I'd watch the sequel which I've only seen once & can remember nothing about the story other than: The studio couldn't afford Will Smith. Jeff Goldblum & Bill Pullman return. The aliens return with a bigger ship! Wow! 'A-Train' from The Boys is in this?!

Photo of a TV screen showing the menu page on Disney+ for Independence Day: Resurgence. It's a montage of an alien ship interior(?), Vivica A. Fox on the phone, a big close up of Liam Hemsworth's face, and and Charlotte Gainsburg in the alien ship interior.

TV showing a scene from Independence Day: Resurgence. It's a close-up of Jessie T. Usher as Dylan Hiller inside a space-fighter plane cockpit.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 5

Just listened to the new album from Evanescence. I liked it a lot. I enjoyed as much as the only other album if theirs I've heard, 'Fallen' their first one from 2003!

Cover art for the album 'Sanctuary' by Evanescence. The artwork has singer Amy Lee looking moody, stood amongst storm clouds tinted red.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 4

It's good to see Americans were watching Sky News in 1996!

Photo of a TV screen showing a scene from Independence Day (1996). It's a shot of a TV showing Sky News. The newsreader is Bob Friend, playing himself.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 4

I'm continuing my unofficial tradition of watching #ID4 every 4th of July! Happy Independence Day to my American friends!

Photo of a TV screen displaying the page on Disney+ for Independence Day (1996). The main background image is a scene of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum as their characters from the film.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 4

Took the family to see Supergirl today. We all enjoyed it and had fun. I'm unfamiliar with this damaged/cynical version of the character. Now I've seen the film, I can read the comic.

Photo of John stood outside a cinema, next to the posters outside. (He is wearing a Batman Vs Suprrman T-shirt). He is next to the poster for 'Supergirl' (2026). The poster shows the giant 'S' with three characters, Ruthyie, Supergirl/Kara, and Lobo.

Photo of John's hand holding the graphic novel 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.' Supergirl is shown on the cover, floating in the air.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 3

It's Friday!

John in a video call. The virtual background is Friday, a blue-skinned soldier, 'Rogue Trooper' from 2000AD. He wearing futuristic body armour. On front of his helmet is a '1' with roughly painted letters F, R, D, A, Y either side to make the word 'Friday.'

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 2

That's my 3rd time reading Timewyrm: Genesys (in 30 years), overall I liked the book, aside from the usual issues people have with it. Nice to see that John Peel was quoting 'with great power...' line from Spider-Man 11 years before Tobey Maguire! I'd forgotten the James Bond will Return ending.

From page 205 of Doctor Who: The New Adventures - Timewyrm: Genesys by John Peel:
The Doctor straightened up from the panel, and looked about himself in amazement. Then he looked down at his clothing. 'Jumping Jehosephat! Is this what I've become? A scarecrow?'

Excerpt from page 220 of the New Adventure, Timewyrm: Genesys.
The Doctor is speaking to Ace:
'Still, with great power comes great responsibility.'
Ace grinned. 'Is that from that Hegel bloke again?'
'No. Marvel Comics, I think.' He smiled impishly. 'I don't quite remember.'

Excerpt from page 230 of the New Adventure, Timewyrm: Genesys.

The next book in this series is Timewyrm: Exodus by Terrance Dicks.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 1

I thought System Shock a really gripping read (as well as the brilliant cover art). The return of an older Harry Sullivan reuniting with the Doctor & Sarah was well handled. The scene with the chase through the crawl-space under the office floor was tense.

Image of Doctor Who novel, The Missing Adventures: System Shock by Justin Richards. The artwork of a close-up of the Fourth Doctor, below him is Sarah Jane Smith (holding a machine gun), the main image is a reflective side of a CD with the reflection out a woman with half of her face ripped off - like a rubber mask to reveal a lizard/robot face.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jul 1

Smashing Wednesday.

John in a video call. He is wearing a Godzilla T-shirt with a picture of a large, upright lizard/dinosaur thing. The virtual background is Godzilla towering over buildings.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jun 29

Today's sad news has reminded me that I picked this up from a charity shop a while back. Bought because i know it will be a good book. Not read it yet.

Photo of John's hand holding up a book: Doctor Who - Death Riders by Justin Richards. The subtitle/blurb on the cover reads: It's not all fun at the Galactic Fair...
The cover image is montage of a giant, scary looking monster with big claws. And beneath that is the Eleventh Doctor, and Amy Pond, both looking apprehensive.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jun 28

Having recently read the first Brother #Cadfael novel, A Morbid Taste for Bones, I thought I'd watch the TV adaptation this evening. Did Derek Jacobi ever give a bad performance in anything?

TV titles of 'Cadfael' - the series title, with a superimposed shot of Sir Derek Jacobi's face as Brother Cadfael next to it.

Screen title of this episode of Cadfael: A Morbid Taste for Bones. The background is a Medieval woodcut of people.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jun 28

A little bit further into #DoctorWho Timewyrm: Genesys. I can't remember if the word 'whiteboard' existed back in 1991. Did it?

Extract from page 168 of the Virgin New Adventure Timewyrm: Genesis by John Peel. Extract reads: To one side was what looked like a white blackboard...

John Isles@selsijohn· Jun 27

This bad boy arrived in the post today, all the way from the USA. Didn't realise it was a MASSIVE hardback. It's in good-as-new condition. Big fan of #BSG, so looking forward to reading this. #SoSayWeAll

Photo of hardback book: So Say We All: the complete, uncensored, unauthorised oral history of Battlestar Galactica by Mark A. Altman & Edward Gross.

Photo of the book from above. It shows there's approx 720 pages long. There is an ink-stamp saying: Thomas Crane Public Library, Quincy MA.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jun 26

It's STILL too warm!

John in a video call. (Wearing a Jurassic World T-shirt). The virtual background is a giant Sandworm from 'Dune' riding through a scorching-hot desert. Two tiny people can be seen stood, riding the Sandworm (that's how big it is!)

John Isles@selsijohn· Jun 25

Rewatched this with daughter this eve. When she was younger, (6 or 7) she used to watch #SheRa on repeat on Netflix. She laughed at some of the primitive animation, & the attempt to add depth to characters when they shed tears, & how inept Hordak, or Skeletor. She still loved the heroes. #HeMan

Photo of DVD case/cover for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - She-Ra, Proncess of Power: The Secret of the Sword - The Movie. The artwork has She-ra in the centre, a warrior-maid, with He-Man, a blond-haired, muscle-bound barbarian type, and on her other side, behind her shoulder is Hordak (a villain), with a vampire-ish white face, with red eyes.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jun 25

A bit further on today. Page 93, the 'adult' nature of the ##NewAdventures starts here: real consequences of using Nitro-nine, & Ace's cold-blooded reaction to whether she's killed anyone or not.

Extract from page 93 of Doctor Who The New Adventures - Timewyrm: Genesys.

The nitro-nine detonated behind them, shattering one of the pillars flattening the man in the blast. Chips of stone lacerated their bodies. Ace jumped over the prostrate forms, having no time to time to see if they were alive or dead.

John Isles@selsijohn· Jun 24

I began re-reading this yesterday (possibly my 3rd time-the last was 30 years ago!) I'd forgotten how cringey Ace's amnesia scenes were. To counter that I liked the Katarina cameo. Clearly John Peel was a Katarina stan back in 1991! #NewAdventures

Photo of page 42 of The Doctor Who New Adventure - Timewyrm: Genesys by John Peel. An extract of text from the page reads:

The screen lit-up again. This time, it showed a young girl of about Ace's age, with an elfin face, and thick, dark hair. She wore a loose-flowing gown, and stared out of the screen with a trusting expression on her face.
'Your temple travels through many many times, Doctor,' she said. Truly, it is a wonderous thing you do.'
'Katarina,' he said swiftly. For a moment, Ace thought she saw a tear hovering on the edge of his eye, but then it was gone. 'She's dead, now.'

John Isles@selsijohn· Jun 24

Today was a little warm!

John in a video call. The virtual background is a giant Sandworm from 'Dune' riding through a scorching-hot desert. Two tiny people can be seen stood, riding the Sandworm (that's how big it is!)

John Isles@selsijohn· Jun 21

Went for a walk since it's sunny today.