The caldera

I saw “Captain America: Winter Soldier” by myself in the theater, as I do many movies. With work schedules and the kid's various clubs and events in the way, it's easier for me to carve out a solo window of time and sneak off to see the comic book movies that I love so much. “Winter Soldier” is still the best of the Marvel films, to me. I remember vividly that when that movie ended, I was hit with the biggest wave of depression. The Germans call it “weltschmerz”—the depression that comes from seeing how the world is, and knowing how it should be. Chris Evans was so good as Captain America, that I wanted Captain America to be real, and I wanted Chris Evans to be that guy. I wanted someone to be that positive, that good, that pure. I felt like America—no, the world needs beacons of positivity and goodness like that. Too often, we get dragged down into the darkness and cynicism, so we need things that will give us that uplift our souls so desperately crave, even if they are fictional. This is why I always look forward to the next John Flanagan book.

I discovered THE RANGER'S APPRENTICE series a few years ago when I was trying to find books for the kid to read. I brought home the first in that series and gave it to her. She was uninterested (she is a reluctant reader, which breaks my heart—but what can you do?). So, I read it myself. In the stories of Will and Halt, I found that same sort of goodness that I got from “Winter Soldier.” When I discovered the RA series, eleven books were out. The twelfth, and final book, was on the way. I tore through the whole series in a week. I couldn't put them down. Sure, Will was a big Mary Sue. Sure, I knew that things were going to work out in the end for the main characters. I still enjoyed them.

John Flanagan started a spin-off series from the RA series after he completed Will and Halt's adventures. THE BROTHERBAND CHRONICLES were the stories of a group of Scandian (Vikings) sailors. Forged by the trials of their community's coming-of-age rituals, the boys become a brotherband—a sailing unit. Hal, their leader, has a small, but crafty wolfship, THE HERON, and they sail it to various adventures. Seven books deep into this series, and I actually enjoy it more than I did the Ranger's Apprentice series.

Sure, Hal is a big Mary Sue. Sure, Lydia is too cool for her own good. Sure, Stefan, Jesper, and Edvin are underused characters. Sure, Ingvar is cool, but he's become one-dimensional. Same with Stig. And Ulf and Wulf. And Thorn. (How about a little more conflict within your characters, John?) But, the books are good and pure. They're clever. The relationship of the brotherband is wholesome, and every time I finish reading one of these books, I'm struck with that same wave of depression I got after “Winter Soldier.” –I want this to be real, and I want to be one of them. To me, that's the highest compliment I can give any book.

The books are written for kids (4th-8th grade). They're not difficult reads. I tore through this one in a few hours. They get a little formulaic at times, but I don't mind that. Flanagan always finds a way to give them a new twist that keeps them from being the same as the last one. (Take a note, Dan Brown...) These books are not going to change the world, but whenever I read one, the world is a better place in my own head, at least for a little while.

I can't wait until the next one comes out.