Checking into The Tournament

Just finished Matthew Reilly’s ‘The Tournament’. Gee it’s good to have him back writing.

This is a departure from his trademark action thrillers –

The year is 1546. Suleiman the Magnificent, the powerful and feared Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, issues an invitation to every king in Europe:

You are invited to send your finest player to compete in a chess tournament to determine the champion of the known world.

The English delegation - led by esteemed scholar Roger Ascham - journeys to the glittering city of Constantinople. Accompanying Ascham is his pupil, Bess, who is about to bear witness to events she never thought possible. For on the first night of the tournament, a powerful guest of the Sultan is murdered, and Ascham is tasked with finding the killer.

Barbaric deaths, unimaginable depravity and diplomatic treachery unfold before Bess' eyes, indelibly shaping her character and determining how she will perform in her future role ... as Queen Elizabeth I.

I agree it is reminiscent of Eco’s ‘The name of the rose’ medieval murder mystery - the perceptive detective with a young apprentice, peopled with clergy and an increasingly gruesome body count.

I did not discern the ‘To kill a mockingbird’ inspiration until alerted to it, but now I get it, as well as the circular narrative technique of starting the story with the final scene then going back to explain its context.

‘The Tournament’ features Queen Elizabeth, shortly before her death, recalling the events leading up the climax, which occurred when she was 13 years old. Princess Elizabeth is the naïve narrator, and we see Constantinople from her perspective.

It comes with a warning ‘This novel also contains subject matter of an adult nature. The author recommends that it be read by mature readers’ about the sex scenes. Not gratuitous sex scenes, they inform the story and are pivotal to the characters reactions and later life.

Not being a chess master, I could still follow the gist of the games, and found Boris Ivanov’s introductions to the sections informative to chess and to the story.

...Even a pawn can become a queen.

Daily News - now & then

The Daily News : Now & Then by Marc A.Hermann – are photo composites from the archives of the New York’s picture newspaper.

This project was originally inspired by the early visual sleuthing of William Frassanito who sought out locations of photographs taken on the Gettysburg battlefield. Since then, the work of people like Sergey Larenkov (my post on Sergey) who blend historic pictures of war-torn Europe with modern-day views of the same locations has brought the concept of 'then-and-now' into the digital age.
Marc Hermann who was born and raised in Brooklyn is a professional photographer and official historian of the New York Press Photographers Association. Having covered breaking news since 1997, he has shot various locations throughout the city where both the momentous and routine had occurred. Using the Daily News' massive photo archive he combined the modern scenes with the vintage images that had been made at those sites. 
Marc recalls that a common reaction of passers-by when they were shown the original pictures of what had once transpired at the places where they now walked was "I had no idea...". Most importantly, to him, is that work of his predecessors' work is getting another look. It is his way of reminding people that they are part of the same continuum of time, and by seeing these sites in a familiar, modern way, that the 'then' of history is also a 'now'.
Sourcing his pictures from newspaper files means that there are many dramatic shots of fires, crashes and other 'news worthy' articles, like - 

497 Dean St, Brooklyn on 19th March 1942

 Edna Egbert had not heard from her son since his enlistment, she became distraught and climbed onto her ledge. Police officers Ed Murphy & George Munday distracted her so she could be pushed into a safety net. (Original photographer Charles Payne).

Corner of Hicks & Summit Sts, Brooklyn on 11th January 1951

The bells in the steeple rang out even as the flames consumed the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary one chilly afternoon. The 90 year old landmark was practically destroyed by the blaze, it was rebuilt and is still standing (Original photographer Paul Bernius).

Classon Ave & Pacific St, Brooklyn on 28th July 1957

 A recently released inmate of the Brooklyn House of Detention stole a car with two friends, but they came to a crashing stop against a light pole at the intersection. The auto body shop in the background is still in business but relocated across the road (Original photographer Paul Bernius).

137 Wooster St, Manhattan on 16th February 1958 

 A massive fire in the Elkins Paper & Twine Co claimed the lives of 2 firefighters and 4 members of the New York Fire Patrol. The building was a total loss and was demolished (Original photographer Charles Payne).

923 44th St, Brooklyn on 1st July, 1928

Frankie Yale (the Al Capone of Brookyn) a gangster was shot by his rivals as he drove a Lincoln coupe through the streets of Borough Park (believed to be the first New York mob hit using Thompson sub-machine guns). He lost control of the car and smashed into the front of the house (the house and the tree are still standing) (Original photographer unknown).

7th Ave & Sterling Pl, Brooklyn on 17th December 1960

The wreckage of United Airlines Flight 826 fills the intersection in Park Slope. 134 people were killed after the jet collided with a smaller TWA plane over Staten Island, killing everyone on board both planes and on the ground. Many of the buildings including the Pillar of Fire Church were destroyed beyond repair (Original photographer Leonard Detrick).

This project, then, is meant as a tribute to the New Yorkers—on both sides of the camera's lens—who have gone before, and as a window into the past for those who appreciate it.

Bridges - the book

‘Historic and Significant Bridges of Australia’ by Don S. McMahon

I was impressed enough with this book that I purchased my own, even if it is to cross off each one as I visit them.

The sandstone Ross Bridge over the Macquarie River in Tasmania. It was built in 1836, and its intricate ornate cravings on each rib were done by 2 convicts  

Included in this study are a variety of Australian bridges, from the convict-built structures including Stone Arch and Brick Bridges, through to Metal Bridges up until 1880, Concrete Bridges up until 1910, and bridges that have historic or constructional significance.

The contents are divided by state, and then further divided into construction style. Don has attempted to obtain the date of its construction/opening, and details of its length, span, and use.

The bluestone Batesford  Bridge over the Moorabool River near Geelong. The Midland Highway now bypasses the bridge.

 The book also includes all the bridges found in Australia Post’s ‘2004 Landmark Bridges’ stamp series (Ross Bridge in Tasmania, Lockyer Creek Bridge in Queensland, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Birkenhead Bridge in Adelaide, and the Bolte Bridge in Melbourne).

Unfortunately no wooden bridges are included, maybe Don will create another entire book for them.

The iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, from across Farm Cove. The steel arch bridge was built in 1932 it carries 8 lanes of road traffic and 2 railway lines. It is the world's widest long-bridge & Australia's longest span bridge.