#18: A cozy boy’s fall guide to the dark months

Hello friends!

As I type these words, a fine November mist has almost entirely enveloped the mountain outside my window.

It looks as if a giant bent down and scooped up the rocks, the trails, and the quaint tower at the top, leaving nothing but a thick cloud behind. And some remnants of a forest, ready for the long sleep. The leaves are almost gone, colors long bled into the late autumn cold, and the black branches are ready for the first snow.

So, in other words — winter is coming.

In this spirit, I thought I'd collect some sustenance for you to make the dark months of the year a little bit lighter. Some art I've been enjoying lately. Art that would make a great companion for anyone tucked under some fuzzy blankets with a steaming mug nearby.

So go ahead, scroll through it, and — hopefully — find something for yourself.

The big autumn list of books, comics, games, TV shows, and assorted knickknacks

Six Four. A very unusual crime novel written by a former crime reporter. 14 years ago, a girl went missing. The case left an indelible mark on the police force of Prefecture 4D, a city not far from Tokyo. On the cusp of the police chief's unexpected visit, Mikami, the press officer, finds himself swept up in a game of shadows he doesn't understand. What follows is a striking portrait of Japanese culture, human nature, and institutional intrigue. (B+)

Wolf Hall. Although 2024 is not over, it'll probably be the best book I've read this year. It's 1529, and Henry VIII really wants a divorce from Katherine of Aragon. I'm sure you know the story. But do you know the man, standing just to the right, in the shadows — Thomas Cromwell? A lawyer, a brute, the son of a blacksmith, a political fixer, a former Italian soldier. Henry's right hand. No, you don't? Well, by the time you finish this gorgeous puzzle box of a novel, you will. (A++)

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail. The first Bright Falls book was among my favorite reads in 2023. I liked the follow-up even more. Astrid Parker is perfect. She has to be perfect. Consequently, she's wound tighter than a drum. So when a careless girl with a pixie cut and ridiculous overalls ruins Astrid's morning, things quickly spiral out of control. And that's only the beginning of a very bad day that will start Astrid down a path to some very interesting places. If you're looking for a light, fun, but surprisingly emotional love story, this is the book for you. (B) (Note: I recommend reading the first book in the series — Delilah Green Doesn't Care — first because Astrid spoils the ending of Delilah.)

The Dictator's Handbook. Probably the best political science book I've read so far in my entire life. People tend to have some very wrong assumptions about politics, which leads them to ask the wrong questions and pay attention to the wrong things. Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith will show you how the game is really played. And when they are done, you will never look at politicians the same way. Doesn't matter where they are from — Norway or North Korea. (A++)

Wonder Woman. This comic book series by writer Tom King and artist Daniel Sampere was my favorite in 2023. And while 2024 is not over, it looks like it'll stay firmly in the #1 spot. Much like Diana is an example of the best superheroes can offer in the fictional DC universe, this book is an example of how superhero stories can still be great for us in the real world. I shed a tear or two over this story. I suspect I will again before the end. And I'm here for it. (A++)

Absolute Batman. Scott Snyder's mainline Batman series was my reentry into the comic book hobby a couple of years back. When I heard that DC tapped him to reimagine the caped crusader for the publisher's new Absolute line, I subscribed instantly. And that says something because I usually turn and run the other way when a senior media executive utters the word "reboot." But Snyder has my blank check — and he delivered yet again. I've only read issue #1 so far but if the follow-up will be only half as good as the pilot, we're still in for the best Batman story of the past couple of years. (A)

The Power Fantasy. I like art that asks, "What if X, but realistically?"The Power Fantasy does that for the X-Men and comes to the conclusion that if there were mutants who could kill a couple hundred humans with a flick of a wrist, they wouldn't fight. Ever. Because them fighting would mean the end of the world. And now the question is: where do we go from here? (A)

The Boys (Season 4). I think I mentioned The Boys in previous roundups of favorites. The fourth season is really just more of the same: more gore, more violence, more irreverent superhero humor, and an even darker prophecy of a future swallowed up by political polarization. If you loved the first three seasons, you'll love this one too. (B-)

Fallout (Season 1). A new Amazon Prime series by the executive producers of Westworld, adapting one of my favorite childhood video games? Sign me up. Fallout proved to be the rare adaptation that not only captures the magic of the original but manages to add to it. Although, to be honest, Ella Purnell's Lucy and Walton Goggins's The Ghoul would've been worth the admission alone. (A)

Reacher (Season 1). This one caught me by surprise. I'm usually not one for stories centered around hyper-masculine ex-soldier vigilantes. But something about Reacher is different. There is just enough clever bent to the familiar tropes to make this investigative thriller unique and wickedly fun. I ended up inhaling the first season in a couple of days, and I'll be coming back for the second soon. (B+)

Shogun (Season 1). This series cleaned house at the 2024 Emmys, and deservedly so. In 1600, the Dutch trading ship Erasmus, ravaged by a storm, drifts into the bay of a small coastal village in Japan. The navigator, Blackthorne, came to deliver the famed islands for the English throne. But he soon finds himself in a much more complicated situation than he could have ever imagined. Japan may be hidden but it is far from dormant. (A)

Game Changer. Game Changer is a game show where the game changes every episode, and the only way to find out the rules is to play it. It's one of the flagship shows of Dropout — the streaming service started by the former College Humor team. Each episode is only 15-20 minutes, but I usually spend that time laughing non-stop. (A)

Woman of the Hour. I don't particularly enjoy serial killer stories or true crime. The one exception is David Fincher's Zodiac, and Mindhunter, the subsequent Netflix show he executive produced. And now Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, which in many ways would feel right at home in the "Finchiverse." Woman of the Hour manages to be a clever thriller and a scathing social commentary all at once. It's the rare true crime fiction where the story is about much more than the crime itself. (A+)

Perfect Days. It's hard to describe Perfect Days. To say it's about an ordinary man in Tokyo, leading a quiet life as a cleaner of the city's public toilets would be an oversimplification and a disservice. But to say more is quite impossible because Perfect Days leaves almost everything to your interpretation. So I'll just say this: Hirayama's perfect days stayed with me for a long time after the credits rolled. (A)

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. Cyberpunk 2077 was already a good game in my books. But Phantom Liberty — a self-contained, standalone story set apart from the main narrative — is transcendent. For the 30 or so hours of its runtime, I was totally enveloped by Dogtown and its residents. Phantom Liberty is a beautiful symphony of technology, game design, writing, and acting that transports you to a dark future where you'll be part of a story you probably won't ever forget. Your heart will break, but I highly recommend playing it. (A++)

Just Write. If you're like me and you like to think a bit more deeply about the media you consume, the Just Write YouTube channel is a treasure trove of content. Sage Hayden's video essays on movies, TV shows, and literature regularly make me go "Huh, that's a neat idea." I particularly enjoyed his latest video on how the quest for the next Game of Thrones has warped our media landscape, but you can jump into his backlog anywhere. It's all great stuff. (B+)

The Harsh Truth About Caitlin Clark. There is a quiet revolution happening right now and you've probably never heard about it. In the late '70s, the NBA was in trouble. Attendance was low, broadcasts were pushed out of the primetime slot, and 18 out of 22 teams in the league struggled to make money. Then in 1979, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson entered the NBA, and their legendary rivalry single-handedly supercharged the entire basketball industry, saving the league in the process. 45 years later, something eerily similar is happening in women's basketball. And Jimmy's video is a great way to learn about it. (B+)

The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel. This YouTube video is 4 hours long. And I still bet you will watch it till the end. Jenny Nicholson — a self-described theme park nerd — went to try Disney's ridiculously expensive Galactic Starcruiser hotel and made a video about it. And what starts out as a travelogue soon morphs into a long, dead-eyed stare into the yawning soul of capitalism. (A+)

And that's it.

I hope you've found something on that list that sparks some joy for you.

You know, the mountain is still shrouded in mist — I suspect it will be from now on. Nonetheless, it's time for me to stretch my legs. Daylight is precious this time of year. I better go get it.

So take care. And I'll see you around.

--

Laszlo

P.S. Hi, Editor Laszlo here! 👋

A few days ago, I set up shop on Bluesky — one of the independently run alternatives to the dying Twitter. I plan to post some silly and interesting stuff there a bit more freely and frequently. So if you miss me between Extremely Unannoying issues, you can come visit there.

I'm @laszlovad.com.