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Let’s talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs;

Make dust our paper and with rainy eyes

Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth,

Let’s choose executors and talk of wills:

And yet not so, for what can we bequeath

Save our deposed bodies to the ground?

Our lands, our lives and all are Bolingbroke’s,

And nothing can we call our own but death

And that small model of the barren earth

Which serves as paste and cover to our bones.

For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground

And tell sad stories of the death of kings;

How some have been deposed; some slain in war,

Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed;

Some poison’d by their wives: some sleeping kill’d;

All murder’d: for within the hollow crown

That rounds the mortal temples of a king

Keeps Death his court and there the antic sits,

Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp,

Allowing him a breath, a little scene,

To monarchize, be fear’d and kill with looks,

Infusing him with self and vain conceit,

As if this flesh which walls about our life,

Were brass impregnable, and humor’d thus

Comes at the last and with a little pin

Bores through his castle wall, and farewell king!

Cover your heads and mock not flesh and blood

With solemn reverence: throw away respect,

Tradition, form and ceremonious duty,

For you have but mistook me all this while:

I live with bread like you, feel want,

Taste grief, need friends: subjected thus,

How can you say to me, I am a king?

Richard II, William Shakespeare

lɛts tɔːk ɒv ɡreɪvz, ɒv wɜːmz, ænd ˈɛpɪtɑːfs; meɪk dʌst ˈaʊə ˈpeɪpər ænd wɪð ˈreɪni aɪz raɪt ˈsɒrəʊ ɒn ðə ˈbʊzᵊm ɒv ði ɜːθ, lɛts ʧuːz ɪɡˈzɛkjətəz ænd tɔːk ɒv wɪlz: ænd jɛt nɒt səʊ, fɔː wɒt kæn wiː bɪˈkwiːð seɪv ˈaʊə dɪˈpəʊzd ˈbɒdiz tuː ðə ɡraʊnd? ˈaʊə lændz, ˈaʊə lɪvz ænd ɔːl ɑː Bolingbroke's, ænd ˈnʌθɪŋ kæn wiː kɔːl ˈaʊər əʊn bʌt dɛθ ænd ðæt smɔːl ˈmɒdᵊl ɒv ðə ˈbærᵊn ɜːθ wɪʧ sɜːvz æz peɪst ænd ˈkʌvə tuː ˈaʊə bəʊnz. fɔː ɡɒdz seɪk, lɛt ʌs sɪt əˈpɒn ðə ɡraʊnd ænd tɛl sæd ˈstɔːriz ɒv ðə dɛθ ɒv kɪŋz; haʊ sʌm hæv biːn dɪˈpəʊzd; sʌm sleɪn ɪn wɔː, sʌm ˈhɔːntɪd baɪ ðə ɡəʊsts ðeɪ hæv dɪˈpəʊzd; sʌm ˈpɔɪzᵊnd baɪ ðeə waɪvz: sʌm ˈsliːpɪŋ kɪld; ɔːl ˈmɜːdəd: fɔː wɪˈðɪn ðə ˈhɒləʊ kraʊn ðæt raʊndz ðə ˈmɔːtᵊl ˈtɛmpᵊlz ɒv ə kɪŋ kiːps dɛθ hɪz kɔːt ænd ðeə ði ˈæntɪk sɪts, ˈskɒfɪŋ hɪz steɪt ænd ˈɡrɪnɪŋ æt hɪz pɒmp, əˈlaʊɪŋ hɪm ə brɛθ, ə ˈlɪtᵊl siːn, tuː monarchize, biː fɪəd ænd kɪl wɪð lʊks, ɪnˈfjuːzɪŋ hɪm wɪð sɛlf ænd veɪn kənˈsiːt, æz ɪf ðɪs flɛʃ wɪʧ wɔːlz əˈbaʊt ˈaʊə laɪf, wɜː brɑːs ɪmˈprɛɡnəbᵊl, ænd ˈhjuːməd ðʌs kʌmz æt ðə lɑːst ænd wɪð ə ˈlɪtᵊl pɪn bɔːz θruː hɪz ˈkɑːsᵊl wɔːl, ænd ˌfeəˈwɛl kɪŋ! ˈkʌvə jɔː hɛdz ænd mɒk nɒt flɛʃ ænd blʌd wɪð ˈsɒləm ˈrɛvᵊrᵊns: θrəʊ əˈweɪ rɪˈspɛkt, trəˈdɪʃᵊn, fɔːm ænd ˌsɛrɪˈməʊniəs ˈdjuːti, fɔː juː hæv bʌt mɪˈstʊk miː ɔːl ðɪs waɪl: aɪ lɪv wɪð brɛd laɪk juː, fiːl wɒnt, teɪst ɡriːf, niːd frɛndz: səbˈʤɛktɪd ðʌs, haʊ kæn juː seɪ tuː miː, aɪ æm ə kɪŋ?

[marcianoliterati]

technically we’re ALL, always LARPing, because the Self is only a construct,

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i've seen the same thing repeat itself over a few books and i'm very annoyed by it

for authors, editors, publishers, and everyone else involved in the publication of a book:

if the premise says x thing is gonna happeni

but said thing doesnt actually happen till over 50% into the book

it makes me either downrate the book, even if i enjoyed it

or just straight up not finish it.

if you lie to me about expecting about the book being about a thing and it's really not, then that affects my enjoyment of the book.

maybe it is a good story, but i won't enjoy it the same way.

example

the book i was reading yesterday is supposedly about a country earl in 1800s-ish UK who must go into London and face the marriage mart

except it's not about that at all.

he does go into London, but he stays there like maybe 2 weeks and goes to one party.

and it's maaaaaaaaybe 1/4 of the book.

And it takes like 40% into the book to get there

it's really about a man who due to trauma and the circunstances of his birth, prefers to stay (hide) at his home in the country and not socialise, and how he is forced to face his worst enemy: London Society, but before that he has to deal with the invasion of his privacy by a valet who's been sent to turn him into a proper gentleman.

and it's really about thinking about what you were born into, and what you want your life to be, what does happiness look like for you, are you willing to shoulder the weight of tradition or are you gonna blow it all up to go at it your way? are you gonna take peer pressure from long dead people or tell them all to fuck off and make your own way? Do you want to belong, to conform, or to explore?

another one read was about a student facing down his school for his right to play football.

which is a good topic. but it doesn't actually happen until 80% into the book. and yeah, the plot has to work up to it. but you don't write the climax of your plot into the summary as a way to draw readers in.

a young trans boy who transfers into a new school and what that means for him, for his life, for his family. there's a chance at friendship, romance, friendship, and sport. but he has to put himself out there and it might even mean having to out himself by challenging unjust laws. how far is he willing to go? is it better to play it safe and hide or to stand up and fight?

(random question. the issue here is he doesn't have a birth certificate. or that said birth certificate classifies him as a girl. why not get it and just photoshop it? i doubt the coach or anyone would check really)

another one was billed as a "modern day cinderella"

because... a girl was asked to do some chores by her step mum.

seriouslty i've read way too many books where kids treat being asked to do some basic chores and contribute to the household maintenance as the worst abuse.

another one i ended up dnf was a kid who was told hey if youre not gonna go to school you should either get a part time job or help out around the house and he acted like that was unbelievably unreasonable.

(that's what happens when you ask teenagers to help. you gotta get them used to it earlier so they understand it is just like part of life, everyone needs to cooperate.)

the book about the modern day cinderella wasnt bad but yeah the mc was kinda annoying. i probably wouldve dnf but i had a hangover and was too lazy to grab another book.

one i did dnf cause i found it unbeareable was this book was marketed itself as a modern day p&p, but it was so far from the original source it was just awful. and yknow, the book prob would've been fine, if it hadnt been for being told it was p&p. because it was nothing like p&p.

and i've read several good p&p retellings, reimaginings, modern versions, that do a good job of translating the characters into a believable modern version.

like: lizzie is rather headstrong. she has strong opinions and shares them liberally. she is generally optimistic and sociable. she loves her family and is close to them.

one book has her working with her family in modern times. another one has her working with the gardiners. another one has her taking a job she doesnt terribly enjoy but which means she can provide for her family.

another one has her accepting darcy's proposal cause he aims for her family. he says hey i need help with my sister and you need help with your family.

all of these make sense.

but when you can have a character who is a nervous wreck, who is not willing to stand up to people, and doesnt actually spend time with said family, who treats people poorly... that doesnt seem like lizzie at all.

and a big thing about lizzie is her being likeable. not all of austen's heroines are. but lizzie very much is.

another issue is pacing. if i've read 75% of the book and the pacing slows the fuck down and gets bogged down in details, that's annoying, but i'll probably finish it.

if the book otoh has been annoying me a while and i'm just trying to finish and that shit starts happening then fuck off

another p&p book i read did this, and not only did it slow down, which was annoying, it started adding like extra drama , more hoops form them to jump, and then it had a few transphobic moments, and then a few racists ones like almost back to back so that just made me of yeah fuck off ive had enough.

but if youre gonna have pacing issues best to have them at the end.

speaking of DNFing, i usually give books 25-30%. if i'm not having fun, then sorry it goes.

it should not take that long to set up your world.

if it's a murder mystery and you're mild manered very much not a detective character still hasnt found a body, i'm out.

when it comes to mysteries, you gotta get to it quick. like the credits on a tv show. if its a series you can take a little more time to check in on your characters but not with the first one.

some establish the mystery first, the jump to the characters and that gives you some leeway, it's saying, we'll get to it, but let's do some introductions first.

but if your summary specifically mentions certain events, those need to happen soon.

you can pad out later.

let's get to the good stuff.

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I'm rewatching p&p 2005 for rhe 294837262672277234 time and I'm wondering if anyone's written darcy/bingley and Charlotte/Elizabeth. Could be fun.

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Tomorrow? like the thing that killed Macbeth?

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From 'price of the phoenix' which i need to read

Kirk and spock in books and fics

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Ok so this probably isn’t an original thought. But. Is finger guns for Vulcans just blowing kisses. Like, Kirk does the bisexual “see ya later Spock, pow pow” and Spock is incredibly flattered (secretly, of course) and goes off and squeals into his bedcovers in a very logical way or am I just thinking too deep into this

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We know how Spock feels about Kirk because we have t'hy'la.

But how does Kirk feel? Everyone talks about his absurd politician doublespeak in The Footnote, but what about this passage a few chapters later?

Spock has just appeared on the bridge for the first time and everyone is in shock (you know the scene). So what is going through Kirk's mind?

Although Kirk had been as dumbfounded as the others, he was please to note that he had recovered first and was now handling all this with some degree of command presence. But it still felt painful to be reminded so powerfully and unexpectedly of his friendship and affection for Spock--theirs had been the touching of two minds which the old poets of Spock's home planet had proclaimed as superior even to the wild physical love which affected Vulcans every seventh year during pon farr.

"See, guys, I didn't say we HAD sex, I said our relationship was BETTER THAN sex."

which could mean nothing

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Anyone else read king cnut as king cunt?

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Giacomo Leopardi, translated by Eamon Grennan

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british tv be like: got the perfect show for you, it's a 20 year old absurdist comedy about an alcoholic who runs a book shop and clearly has a thing for his assistant. he treats him terribly and is the most filthy disgusting creature you've ever laid your eyes on. yes, you will want to fuck him. 6 episodes a season, 3 seasons, take it or leave it. *spits*

[marcianoliterati]

Has your name every appeared in the credits of a book, or is it likely to in the near future? Then you should join AUTHORS AGAINST BOOK BANS! Transcript below the cut. A version of this zine formatted for print is available to download on my patreon.

Do you make books? Yes? I want YOU to join Authors Against Book Bans! By Maia Kobabe

WHAT IS AABB? 

A coalition of writers, illustrators, editors & other book creators, standing united against the unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read. We support the availability of diverse voices in our libraries, in our schools, & in our culture. We pledge to band together against the oppression of literature, to speak when our voices are silenced, to go where our bodies are needed, & to fight to ensure this freedom.

Our concern is not only for the books, but for the children, families, educators, librarians, & communities who suffer when the freedom to read is challenged and taken away.

WHAT CAN AABB OFFER YOU? 

- Regional groups working on legislation to protect authors & the freedom to read state-by-state

- Online trainings on digital security, public speaking, & how to counter book challenges in your community

-Affinity groups for BIPOC authors, queer authors, authors with disabilities, indie, nonfiction, romance writers & more

-Support if your book is challenged!

-A very active discord community

Author: What if my book hasn’t been challenged? 

Maia: JOIN!

Author: Ok, but what if I’m really busy and can’t do much organizing right now? 

Maia: JOIN ANYWAY! 

Even if all you do is sign up, your membership will help lend weight to the letters AABB sends to publishers & legislators. As of January 2025, AABB has 3500+ members. Check out the recent open letter to publishers on AABB’s socials & feel free to share it with your contacts. 

An Open Letter to Our Publishers- instagram.com/p/DCzYmKcR8uq

Maia: I’ve been facing intense challenges to my book since 2021. Knowing that I am not alone in the fight against censorship is what keeps my spirits up! 

Watching the folks in AABB share information, co-write legislation, show up to library & school board meetings, & speak up to publishers about the need to protect diverse books & minority authors has been amazing! 

This is a weird & scary time to be an author, but you are not alone! Join thousands of us fighting for the freedom to read, the freedom to write, the freedom to teach, the freedom to learn, & the freedom to share our stories!

AABB on instagram / AABB on bluesky

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me holding a gun to a mushroom: tell me the name of god you fungal piece of shit

mushroom: can you feel your heart burning? can you feel the struggle within? the fear within me is beyond anything your soul can make. you cannot kill me in a way that matters

me cocking the gun, tears streaming down my face: I’M NOT FUCKING SCARED OF YOU

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It was found in 1998 around tupungato, recovery and investigation started in 2000. No one is sure still what STENDEC what supposed to mean, could've been an acronym like Severe Turbulence Encountered Now Descending Emergency Crash-Landing

Or maybe they got it wrong and it was STRDEC (Starting descent)

Or maybe they wanted to say DESCENT and were dealing with low oxygen and scrambled the letters

What they think happened was a navigation error, they got misled why maybe an air current or cloud bank and started their descent early, crashing into the side of a mountain, having barely enough time to freak out about it

Most of it is still there, btw, trapped in a glaciar.

Sad story.

on their clit like morse code

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on their clit like morse code

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goodreads reviewers aren't human

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cinderella marries the prince

and it’s… fine. The prince is great! They’re in love, he’s very sweet and passionate, writing her poems and songs, giving her anything she wants. The time she spends with her husband is great.

but cinderella is not royalty, her family was noble but she never spent time in those circles. She’s used to being busy, she’s used to cooking and cleaning and mending. There are hours, days, where she has nothing to do.

time passes. cinderella learns the fancy lady type of needlework. Learns to ride horses. Reads a lot.

as is normal for royalty at the time, they travel and are hosted by nobles or stay at castles owned by the king. But even that variety begins to become routine. The prince is distracted, there’s a lot of young women living and working on their route. Daughters of nobles. Younger and prettier with soft hands that have never done a day’s work.

cinderella needs something to spend her time on, and there’s a part of her thinking a couple-only trip might get her husband’s attention again, so she suggests making an old castle that’s fallen into disrepair their “project.” It was built in the time when castles were made to be defensible, so it’s quite sturdy, but it’s overgrown and secluded. The prince doesn’t know why his family stopped living there either. A hundred years ago it was their summer home.

so they go. And they work. And for a while it’s great! But when they leave for winter cinderella’s husband forgets her once again. cinderella resolves to make the best of her life and stop worrying about a man who has gotten what he wanted from her.

summer comes again and this time cinderella goes alone to the old castle (minus staff, of course, but cinderella manages to narrow it down to only repair workers and one maid). She can cook and clean and mend again, but this time it’s her own choice. She is happy.

this summer they make more progress on repairs. The workers say that most of it can be salvaged, except one tower that’s been completely overgrown with vines and briars. It will have to come down, eventually, but for now it can be safely ignored.

cinderella has more free time now. The old castle has a surprisingly untouched library, though time and moisture have damaged many of the books. Behind a collection of greek poetry cinderella finds an old diary. Very old, in fact, at least a hundred years. It’s rude to read a diary, of course, but whoever wrote this is long dead, and cinderella is bored, so…

from the description of activities the author looks to have been nobility. Maybe even a princess. She’s sensitive and sweet and smarter than she seems to realize. If circumstances had been different cinderella wishes they could have been friends…

after the summer ends cinderella returns to her husband. He’s spending a lot of time with a young musician and cinderella can’t even work up the energy to care. She does some research about the castle and the family she’s married into, finds out the name of the princess who wrote the diary.

aurora. Cursed and forgotten. She died young, they say, in a plague that also took out the castle staff and her own parents. Luckily they avoided a succession crisis, but not so lucky for the dead.

time passes. cinderella goes to the old castle again and again, even out of season. Soon enough all that remains to be done is the old tower, and the builders say they should tear it down and fill the gaps before it gets cold.

one night cinderella is restless. The princess from the diary had been fond of that tower, and cinderella is far more attached to a dead woman than she ought to be. She gets out of bed, reads by candlelight, and finally goes to walk the empty halls.

she finds herself going to the tower. Pushing past the vines that don’t seem so troublesome really. They almost part before her. The stairs are perfectly intact, the door at the top is already cracked open. As if she should have done this years ago, cinderella steps into aurora’s bedroom.

she’s as beautiful as the stories say. And sitting under her hands, crossed across her stomach as it rises and falls, is a book of greek poetry.

years later, people will tell the story of cinderella as a cautionary one. Don’t seek above your station. Don’t marry for prestige. After all, a girl who grew up as a servant once married the crown prince, and disappeared after only three years. She ran away, they say, she couldn’t handle the lifestyle.

two old women who run a bookshop together agree with the lesson. Marrying for the wrong reasons never ends well. It’s best to wait for someone you have things in common with, shared interests.

or, failing that, the more linguistic of the two says, wait a decade or ten for someone to fall in love with you from your diary.

her partner laughs and hits her with the socks she is mending.