#mr gaiman you better deliver

[greencarnation]

i don't want them to kiss. i want them to hold hands. i want them to hug. i want crowley to hide his smile in aziraphale's neck and i want aziraphale to play with crowley's hair. i want them to fall asleep in the same bed at night and wake up to make each other coffee. do you get it? do you understand me?

[overlord-of-chaos]

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD GOOD OMENS

(Spoilers ahead for series 2 if you had not already guessed.)

So first of all oh my god. OH MY GOD. I may never recover actually. I’m not sure I want to.

Secondly oh my god. I was expecting something spectacular. And I’ll be damned if Neil Gaiman did not deliver.

(I am writing this in the middle of a field. Well, technically the edge of a field, but it’s right next to another one so it looks like I’m in the middle from a distance. Why am I in a field, you might ask? Because that FUCKING ENDING was so *gesticulates gayly* that I needed to find somewhere to scream at the world. (It’s very cathartic actually I should do it more often.) If anyone nearby is concerned by someone screaming in a field it was probably me. I’m not fine, but I’m not in mortal peril either so no need to disrupt the field screaming. If you own the field and did not want me traipsing through it, I’m terribly sorry I advise you take it up with Mr. Gaiman.)

They kissed they kissed they kissed I mean the ineffable husbands were basically canon from the beginning but I never expected this. (I should know better. I know.)

I tell you what I am loving how many shows/movies at the moment basically seem to be going “gay ‘subtext’? no no darling this gay is text and you cannot argue otherwise” my lil gay heart is delighted actually

And I mean, beyond that… (I’ll come back to it. I’m not done. But I need to give the rest of the plot its due as well.) I’ll admit, I got halfway through episode 5 and thought “how on earth are they going to wrap this up in the space of about an hour? I don’t have any of the answers at all.” I should never have doubted. I know I should never have doubted. But in my defence, who could’ve seen that coming? I hope Gabriel and Beelzebub are very happy together.

Oh, and the opening scene of episode 1? They knew each other when Crowley was an angel? (It does not suit him, but he did make a lovely galaxy.) And then at the very end, Aziraphale offering to make him one again? There’s some poetic symmetry or something in there that I don’t currently have the brain capacity to analyse

(I’m sitting in a tree now, in case anyone was wondering. I bailed on the field because there were humans in it. And by in a tree, I mean it is hollow and I am inside it. I couldn’t climb it even if I wanted to, it’s massive.)

It was worth the wait. It would always have been worth the wait, of course. It would have been worth the wait if it had taken 50 years although I’m not sure my heart would have been able to take the ending by then. And even though I want more already I hope they take all the time they need to make series 3 and make it well. (If they do not series 3 I will riot and given my general worldly (lack of) competence will probably injure myself in the process so they’d better get one.)

Of course no (rant? rave? gay breakdown?) post about Good Omens series 2 would be complete without giving Nina and Maggie my beloved all the respect they deserve. Especially Nina. You tell Crowley. He clearly needed it. You gay meddle right back in Aziraphale and Crowley’s love life, after all, they did gay meddle in yours.

And Aziraphale. Aziraphale. Darling. Angel. Please. Crowley does not want to go to heaven. His communication skills only stretch so far and only when prompted by other meddling gays. You both really need to learn the art of open communication sometime. It will solve a lot of these problems.

Oh, and! And! “I forgive you”? “I forgive you”? “I FORGIVE YOU”? Yeah just go ahead and break my heart as well as his why don’t you??? I have not yet seen what has become of my feed in the last 24ish hours because I had to go straight to writing this down somewhere but I imagine the entire fandom is feral right now OH MY GOD

This was amazing. It was all amazing. Saraqael was amazing. Jim was amazing. I’m struggling to come up with any other adjectives because my brain has been fried clearly

I would go and rewatch it all immediately but I need to form the semblance of a functional human being for this afternoon so I can go out into the world and do things. I will probably have rewatched it before the week is out.

I briefly considered watching this as soon as it came out (midnight UK time, meaning I’d finish at about 5 in the morning. I did this last time. It was an Experience) but decided against it since I had work in the morning. It was a wise decision since there is no way I’d have been able to go the day with no one to talk to about it and finishing it on a Saturday instead gave me the freedom to immediately go scream in a field.

Oh my god. This was one hell of a series. I cannot think coherently about it all I know is that I loved it.

And Neil, if you ever see this: Thank you. For all of it.

[televinita]

Books Read In 2020: The Why

In a tradition I accidentally started for myself in 2016 and now quite enjoy, at the end of the year I look back at my reading list and answer the question, why did you read this particular book?

Below, my 100 reads of 2020 are split into groups by target readership age, plus nonfiction at the end, now with a bonus note about how I heard of it. Which I probably won’t continue to do next year, but it was fun to try.

ADULT FICTION

I read each of these books because...

A Glitter of Gold - Liz Johnson. 2019. It had me at "her pirate tour business," but between the shipwreck & the museum-director love interest it was like BLOOD & TREASURE ROMANCE AU LET'S GOOO.

How I heard of it: a book blog

The Last Woman in the Forest - Diane Les Becquets. 2019.   Recommended by a dog lover; I'm down for a thriller about a woman who has a dream dog-inclusive job like this.

How I heard of it: a book blog

Good Omens - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman. 1990. I really enjoyed the miniseries and wanted to see if the book everyone loved so much was as good (for the record: it was not. at least not if you’ve seen the miniseries first; otherwise they are probably equal).

This Is Home - Lisa Duffy. 2019. Attractive cover + I flipped it open to a random page and just liked the writing style.

How I heard of it: library

Dear Mr. Knightley - Katherine Reay. 2013. I'd had this on the back burner for a while because the MC sounded like me, and one day I got sick of not being able to find any fluffy contemporary romances with beta male heroes and decided Matthew Gray Gubler was gonna star in this one. (spoiler alert: it is a good book but that did not work)

How I heard of it: a book blog

Rubbernecker - Belinda Bauer. 2013. Criminal Minds sent me into a tailspin so I went hunting for books to cast Spencer Reid in again; the Asperger's/case-solving/difficult relationship with mother combo sounded promising. (spoiler alert: the med-student element + his social cluelessness proved too strong and I was only able to picture the kid from The Good Doctor)

How I heard of it: Googling keywords

The Swiss Affair - Emylia Hall. 2013. I got a random hankering for a student/teacher novel, and after scrutinizing the library catalog this was the only one that fit my parameters for gender, lack of adultery, and focus on romance over sex.

How I heard of it: library

Love At First Bark - Debbie Burns. 2019. I was trying to cast Wes/Jules [Dollface] in a romance novel, so I browsed through a Goodreads friend's "dog-romance" shelf and accidentally landed in a Jeid AU [Criminal Minds]. Which may or may not have been a large part of what turned me into a Jeid shipper (outside canon only).

The Mermaids Singing - Val McDermid. 1995. One final attempt to cast Reid in a novel -- a user in a Reddit post asking for this very thing suggested this, and "profiler with idiosyncracies" certainly fit.

The Wire in the Blood [and 9 subsequent novels] - Val McDermid, spanning 1997-2019. Turns out aside from being British, Reid paints onto Tony Hill EXCEPTIONALLY well, and I accidentally found myself with a little Jeid AU in the process, so obviously I read the entire series. Good crime-solving fun and all that.

Horse - Talley English. 2018. Random library pull because I connected with the writing style and it appeared to actually focus on horses.

How I heard of it: library

A Sparkle of Silver - Liz Johnson. 2018. I liked the author's other book and this was pretty much a remix of the same story, but now with a cool mansion/estate setting.

How I heard of it: looking up other books by this author

Everyone Is Beautiful - Katherine Center. 2009. Went looking for stories about strong marriages, found this on a Goodreads list of "second chance marriage" books, tripped into something like a season 9 Jim/Pam scenario. How I heard of it: Googling keywords

The Lost Husband - Katherine Center. 2013. Loved the previous book of hers I read, and the "starting life over on a goat farm" angle sounded like an ideal life to try on.

How I heard of it: looking up more from this author

The Shadow Year - Hannah Richell. 2013. Fixing up an old house?? I am THERE. Doing this in two timelines, one of which involves off-the-grid homesteading, is even better.

How I heard of it: used book sale

Mandrake Root - Janet Diebold. 1946. I needed a non-library book to bring on vacation, and after spinning in circles over what I thought would appeal to my mood in that setting, my brain randomly said "reread this one."

How I heard of it: estate sale

Path of the Jaguar - Vickie Britton & Loretta Jackson. 1989. Bought cheap for cheap thrills: a Yucatan adventure/mystery. Read now so I could get rid of it. How I heard of it: library sale

Burying Water - K.A. Tucker. 2014. The library didn't have The Simple Wild, but they DID have a book w/ an equally pretty cover that talked about a badly beaten young amnesiac (!) recovering on a horse farm (!!). What is: my top romance trope (hurt/comfort, bonus points for animals and rural setting).

How I heard of it: library

Happiness for Beginners - Katherine Center. Established quality author + summertime hiking inspiration.

How I heard of it: looking up more from this author

The Visitors - Simon Sylvester. Cool cover + setting, and a teenage protagonist usually makes adult fiction more accessible. How I heard of it: Goodreads

Becoming Rain - K.A. Tucker. 2014. I was in this companion novel solely for mentions of Alex and any people by the last name of Wells, but figured I might as well read all of it to ensure I didn't miss any. How I heard of it: looking up more from this author

The Guest List - Lucy Foley. 2020. Honestly, it just sounded like a cool thriller (and cool setting). How I heard of it: a book blog

You Deserve Nothing - Alexander Maksik. 2011. Fell down a Will/Rachel [Glee] rabbit hole and ravaged the student/teacher keyword in my library catalog again to scratch the itch.

The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson. 1959. Mom's been trying to get me to read this for years, and this time when it came up in conversation it was the right time of year, so I randomly decided to give it a shot. How I heard of it: Mom

The Walker in Shadows - Barbara Michaels. 1979. Gothic ghost story + beautiful architectural details in a historic house = yeah!

How I heard of it: Goodwill

YOUNG ADULT

People Like Us - Dane Mele. 2018. Needed an audiobook; a girls' boarding school murder mystery seemed most likely to hold my attention of the limited options. How I heard of it: Library

The Possibility of Now - Kim Culbertson. 2016. I will read anything by this author, and girl having a meltdown over a test = me. How I heard of it: looking up other books by this author

Rob&Sara.com - P.J. Petersen & Ivy Ruckman. 2004. Mostly I wanted to go back to my high school days and enjoy the format of a novel written in emails, but also, I like Ruckman. How I heard of it: used book sale

For Real - Alison Cherry. 2014. Fictional Amazing Race!! + awesome summery cover + sisters How I heard of it: library sale

The Summer After You + Me - Jennifer Salvato Doktorski. 2015. The awesome summery cover, mostly. How I heard of it: a book blog

You'd Be Mine - Erin Hahn. 2019. Gorgeous cover + the chance to vicariously follow a budding young country music star on tour for the summer.

How I heard of it: a book blog

Juniors - Kaui Hart Hemmings. 2015. The neat setting(s): a live-in guest on a wealthy estate in Hawaii. How I heard of it: Dollar store

Lion Boy's White Brother - Alden G. Stevens. 1951. Bought cheap because vintage juvenile book in a unique setting. Read now to see if I could get rid of it (NOPE).

How I heard of it: used bookstore

The O.C.: Spring Break - Aury Wallington. 2005. I keep meaning to finish this short series, and it was an easy title to count for my Mount TBR challenge.

How I heard of it: used book sale

Echo Island - Edward Karlow. 2017. Bought cheap because of the beautiful summery cover; easy read for Mount TBR so I could get rid of it. How I heard of it: library sale

Confessions of a High School Disaster - Emma Chastain. 2017. Read because of THE SUPER CUTE SUMMERY COVER (and diary format).

How I heard of it: Dollar store

Kentucky Daughter - Carol J. Scott. 1985. Working my way down the “Inappropriate Student/Teacher Relationships in YA" list because I'm in that kind of mood this year; chose this because 80s books tend to deliver the subject best*, the character reminded me of the girl in Send No Blessings, and Open Library had it. *this one was just blatant sexual harassment, though, and belonged very literally on that list

How I heard of it: Goodreads

What They Always Tell Us - Martin Wilson. 2008. I sorted the library catalog to see the oldest contemporary YA novels they still have before they get weeded, and "loner being taken under the wing of his older brother's (male) friend and falling in love with him" hit a couple of good tropes. How I heard of it: library

Bobby's Watching - Ted Pickford. 1993. Browsing around on OpenLibrary and saw they FINALLY had a copy of this book that scared me too much to finish as a kid, and which I've wanted to revisit ever since I remembered what it's called (Interlibrary Loan doesn't have it and it's Not Cheap to buy).

How I heard of it: library

Powwow Summer - Nahanni Shingoose. 2019. Always interested in modern-day Indigenous girls connecting w/ their heritage, especially if they're from my home state's tribe.

How I heard of it: a book blog

The Princesses of Iowa - M. Molly Backes. 2012. Appealing cover + heft suggesting a solid Midwestern contemporary, plus I liked the student teacher element (without a slash this time, as in "college student who is almost a teacher")

How I heard of it: library

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares. 2001. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood - Ann Brashares. 2003.

Long-intended reread of a college fave because I wanted see Mike Vogel in the movie, and it was summer so the stars aligned. Continued because the first book was as good as I remembered. (I would have kept going but Life distracted me for a bit and by the time I was back on track, it was no longer summer) How I heard of it: I...can't remember. Am the worst!

The Distance From Me To You - Marina Gessner a.k.a. Nina de Gramont. 2015. Hiking inspiration + an appealing-sounding romance. How I heard of it: Goodreads

Where Have All the Tigers Gone? - Lynn Hall. 1989. Will read any of her books, but specifically read this one because it seemed fairly autobiographical, and I read it NOW because it seemed durable enough to take on vacation. How I heard of it: looking up books by this author

And Both Were Young - Madeline L'Engle. 1949 (text of 1983 edition w/ material from original manuscript added back). Something reminded me of its existence and I requested it because it was the only non-animal-focused vintage teen novel I could physically get my hands on before Interlibrary Loan opened back up, and I had a craving for just that.

How I heard of it: library

The Other Side of Lost - Jessi Kirby. 2018. Established quality author + throw me ALL the thru-hike novels!

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Vow - Jessica Martinez. 2013. Perfect scenario to run an Abed/Annie [Community] AU!

How I heard of it: I want to say...an article on a book website (not personal blog this time) back in 2013.

Moon and Me - Hadley Irwin. 1981. Was just in the mood to read an 80s teen novel and this one helped me knock off a title for the Mount TBR challenge. From an author I like, w/ bonus horse content.

How I heard of it: used book sale.

Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls - Lynn Weingarten. 2015. I bought a blind bag at the library sale and this was one of the only contemporary YA novels in it; figured I might as well read it since I'd liked a previous book of hers.

How I heard of it: Library

History Is All You Left Me - Adam Silvera. 2016.

With the Glee rabbit hole came a Klaine spiral; this was my season 4 Tragic AU dream for them and I've been saving it for a Klainey day ever since it was published. (No I am not sorry for that horrid pun.)

How I heard of it: googling keywords

The Museum of Heartbreak - Meg Leder. 2016. The cool cover/concept of a "museum" of items reeled me in; I bought a copy a while ago 'cause the library didn't have it. Read now to see if I could get rid of it (NOPE).

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Me & Mr. J - Rachel McIntyre. 2015. Student/teacher novel that looked especially appealingly tame so I'd been saving it, but then Open Library notified me it was now only available in 1-hour increments, and I got paranoid it would disappear altogether (it's not cheap to buy or available via ILL), so I wanted it in my brain.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Dear Evan Hansen - Val Emmich w/ Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. 2018. Fell in love with the DEH soundtrack. Play's summary sounded good -- getting to experience it in YA novel form?? Amazing.

How I heard of it: Wikipedia

Saddle a Thunderbolt - Jo Sykes. 1967

Bought a while ago because vintage horse story. Read now specifically to alleviate my pre-homesickness about moving by imagining living in an even more beautiful place than home.

How I heard of it: either a used book sale or a used bookstore...

Learning to Breathe - Janice Lynn Mather. 2018. This was mentioned on a lost-book forum and "girl with unplanned pregnancy supports herself by getting a job cleaning" piqued my interest; the setting (Bahamas) and cover made it better.

How I heard of it: Reddit

Everglades Adventure - James Ralph Johnson. 1970. Standard vintage boys' adventure-in-nature story; I like those.

How I heard of it: Goodwill

CHILDREN’S/MIDDLE GRADE

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott. 1868. Seeing the new movie and falling head over heels was what it took to FINALLY convince me to reread this childhood fave.

How I heard of it: can't remember; I was a kid

A Little Princess - Frances Hodgson Burnett. 1905. I was perusing a lot of books about classic children's books and it started to bug me that I had skipped this appealing-sounding one as a kid.

How I heard of it: can't remember; I was a kid

Little Men - Louisa May Alcott. 1871. LW sparked a fandom revival and I wanted more detail about the Marches' adult lives (esp. Jo & Bhaer), even on the fringes.

How I heard of it: library

Lady and the Tramp - Ward Greene. I saw a quote from the new movie under a gifset on Tumblr that sounded like it came from a book, and upon Googling out that one existed, I obviously could not allow the book version of a beloved childhood animal-movie fave to go unread. Especially after finding out it was super rare so reading it would be a privilege.

The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett. 1910. Read for the same reason as A Little Princess. Can’t have one without the other, you know.

How I heard of it: was a kid; can't remember

The Mother-Daughter Book Club - Heather Vogel Fredericks. 2007. Much Ado About Anne - Heather Vogel Fredericks. 2008.

Always thought the series looked cute/reminded me of The Teashop Girls, but the fact that the first book they read is Little Women gave me the impetus to finally read this one. First book was darling so I continued to the next (but failed to continue beyond because COVID shut the library down until I was out of the mood).

How I heard of it: library

Nature Girl - Jane Kelley. 2010. I wanted walking inspiration.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

From You to Me - K.A. Holt. 2018. Mistook it for a similar-looking book I'd seen at the same time (See You On A Starry Night), but figured I'd give the 8th grade bucket list idea a shot once I had it. How I heard of it: Goodreads

Semiprecious - D. Anne Love. 2006. Cute cover + I'm starting to be a big fan of what I call "contemporary historical," for stories set mid-20th century.

How I heard of it: library

Dandy's Mountain - Thomas Fall. 1967. Vintage horse-inclusive children's book in a rural setting, I'm sold. Not to mention, love reading a summer setting in summer.

How I heard of it: used book sale

Littler Women: A Modern Retelling - Laura Schaefer. 2017. The only way to make the Little Women MORE magical is to make them younger, modern, and written by a proven quality author.

How I heard of it: a book blog

Behind The Attic Wall - Sylvia Cassedy. 315 pg/1983.

A Goodreads friend strongly recommended it as similar to but better than Mandy, and reading about it in 100 Best Books For Children sealed the deal. Read now for the Mount TBR challenge.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Jigsaw Jungle - Kristin Levine. 2018. I am a COMPLETE sucker for books told in non-traditional/scrapbook-esque format.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Runt - Marion Dane Bauer. 2002. Wolf story by a quality author. Read now after owning it for a decade to see if I could get rid of it.

How I heard of it: used book sale

The King of the Cats - Rene Guillot. 1959. Bought cheap for a quick read because vintage animal story. Read now so I could get rid of it.

How I heard of it: used book sale

Just The Beginning - Betty Miles. 1976. Found cheap; always down to read a vintage book about an average girl (and I wanted to know how she'd cope with her mom being "a cleaning lady in a town full of classmates who HAVE cleaning ladies").

How I heard of it: used book sale

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling. 1997. Been meaning to reread the series for a while now; finally got motivation to check out the illustrated edition 'cause Christmastime.

How I heard of it: originally Mom; a book blog for this edition

Echo Mountain - Lauren Wolk. 2020. Almost entirely because of the incredible clipart cover, promising me nature and a dog (and because I could get it as an e-audiobook from the library).

How I heard of it: a book blog

Knock Three Times - Cressida Cowell. 2019. I needed another audiobook for bedtime/walks and I know that David Tennant will provide.

How I heard of it: more by this author (more accurately, narrator)

NONFICTION

The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming A Life Through The Pages Of A Lost Journal - Lily Koppel. 2008. I'm kind of obsessed with the concept of historical 5-year diaries -- and finding one like this is The Dream.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life - Anne Bogel. 2018. Attractive and compact book about the pleasures of being a reader? A headspace I want to be in.

How I heard of it: library

100 Best Books for Children - Anita Silvey. 2004. I'm big on looking at lists of books for children this year. These are the kind of books I know, love, and want to hear people talk about, now that I know books about these books exist.

How I heard of it: library

The Coming of Saska - Doreen Tovey Originally bought because it was cheap and featured animals, I needed a non-library book to bring on vacation, and this one is a durable ex-library copy in plastic wrap that featured a similar setting to where I was going, so: thematic.

Cats in the Belfry - Doreen Tovey. 1957. Wanted more of her books, and lo and behold the library had the first one.

How I heard of it: more by this author

Sorry Not Sorry - Naya Rivera. 2016. I'll read anything the Glee kids write, and this doubled as an easy number for the Mount TBR challenge.

How I heard of it: entertainment news websites

Living Large in Our Little House - Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell. 2016. I love tiny houses. And this one specifically mentioned living with dogs. And had color photographs.

How I heard of it: used bookstore

I'm Your Biggest Fan: Awkward Encounters and Assorted Misadventures in Celebrity Journalism. - Kate Coyne. 2016. Found cheap at a library sale -- loved the chapter headings and the fact that they were all about celebrities I knew.

Adrift - Tami Oldham Ashcraft w/ Suesea McGearheart. 1998/2018 edition. The movie was so awesome that I couldn't wait for more details about the real story in her own words.

I'll Be Gone In The Dark [NF] - Michelle McNamara. 2018. Been reading a lot of true crime write-ups on Reddit lately; decided it was time to pick up this well-received one.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Dear Evan Hansen: Waving Through A Window - Steven Levenson. 2017. Much like The Grimmerie for Wicked, once I fell in love with the DEH soundtrack and looked up the plot summary, I wanted to read the musical's detailed background/behind the scenes story + libretto before I watched it.

How I heard of it: Wikipedia

Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune - Bill Dedman & Paul Clark Newell. 2013. Love me a story about a mansion (or three). Or the reclusive and insanely wealth heiress who owns them, that works too.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

JUVENILE NONFICTION Mascots: Military Mascots from Ancient Egypt to Modern Korea - Fairfax Downey. 1954. Animal book from an author I like; read now to see if I could get rid of it (yes).

How I heard of it: secondhand bookstore

Come on, Seabiscuit - Ralph Moody. 1963. Bought because vintage kids' horse book; read now to see if I could get rid of it (and to count it towards my Mount TBR challenge 'cause it was short).

How I heard of it: secondhand bookstore

[kolbisneat]

MONTHLY MEDIA: July 2019

I’ve really stepped up my comics reading having fully embraced my local libraries. You can just borrow them whenever you want! Also saw lots of movies and watched a lot of the Bachelorette. It’s been a good summer. 

……….FILM……….

Midsommer (2019) Oh wow. I’m not one for scary movies but this never felt like a scary movie. Sure it was definitely “horror” in the sense that so much of it is horrific, but it never relied on the typical “scary movie” tactics. For this, I am grateful.

Paddington 2 (2017) The perfect counterpoint and emotional reset after our matinee screening of Midsommer. This video does a better job of explaining why I love these movies, but if you haven’t got the time then know that the Paddington movies are a masterclass in efficient storytelling, visual comedy, and good natured entertainment for all ages. It’s not quite the same as Pixar sneaking in jokes that only adults will get, it’s more that it tells a universal story with familiar characters that land at any age. Just beautiful.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) Okay so I get that illustrating a tie-in book for this movie means I likely can’t be objective, but I really dug the film. Solid themes that carried through to most of the characters and their arcs, as well as some of the most comic-book accurate visuals I could have hoped for. And I really dig the Parker/MJ dynamic here. Ugh it’s just all so good.

Alien (1979) I don’t need to tell you how well this holds up. Still as subversive and terrifying as it was 40 years ago. Still not sure what the alien was doing in the escape pod before Ripley shows up.

The Dead Don’t Die (2019) This was a weird one. Meta zombie movies already exist. Zombies as social commentary already exist. Zombie comedies already exist. I suppose I was just hoping for something...new? It was all of these things, but it didn’t seem to push any individual element into unexplored territory. The cast seemed like they were having a good time, but I don’t think it quite translated to the screen. I’d recommend Shaun of the Dead, Fido, or Zombieland instead.

……….TELEVISION……….

Instant Hotel (Episode 2.01 to 2.06) A 6-episode season of Australian reality tv judging Airbnbs? A cast that includes an 80 year old trying to look 20 and perfect couple who find each other hilarious? Sign me up. It’s available on (Canadian) Netflix but if you can find it, check it out.

Stranger Things (Episode 3.01 to 3.08) Without spoiling too much, I’ll say that this season was on par with the first, and felt better than the second. It’s not as moody and contained, but it really embraces what I take to be the spirit of 80s media. I feel like the early eps were setting up more of a zombie/body-snatchers plot but I don’t think the series likes to stray too far from the core of that first season. Super fun, wildly silly, and once I embraced the lighter tone it really delivered.

Queer Eye (Episode 4.01 to 4.08) This season really seemed to focus on philanthropic and independent businesses and I’m here for it. There was a Wayfair product placement towards the end which...felt out of place given the politics of the show, but dang if this series isn’t a light in the darkness!

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Episode 1.01 to 1.03) What a mood. It’s a slow burn but I’m really digging that the world feels established and that we’ve come into something well after all the big revelations happened. Now that the crazy has settled, we get to spend more time seeing how the crazy affects the day-to-day. Or what the day-to-day looks like in a new, wild world. Digging it.

The Bachelorette (Episode 15.08 to 15.13) Just wild. Watching that rollercoaster with Luke P was excellent television and terrible dating but that finale was *chef’s kiss* perfect.

……….READING……….

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (Page 230 of 406) Fun so far! There’s far less of the angel/demon relationship than I expected, but that’s only because I’m going off of what the Amazon show has been promoting. I need to do more research into how they shared the writing because the humour and meandering chapters really feel like Pratchett. I’m keen to see where it all goes!

Mr. Splitfoot by Samantha Hunt (Abandoned) I read half the novel before deciding this one wasn’t for me and it’s not because it wasn’t well-written or an engaging story. I found this on a list of good reads for those who like Wonderland and Alice’s adventures, but I’d say the links between the two were...thin...at best. When you’re expecting fanciful worlds and exaggerated characters, but get far more human (and all too real) trauma then it’s a jarring experience. I read a synopsis of the last 100ish pages that I missed and admit that I think I would’ve been satisfied with the conclusion, but it’s a bummer that the first 60% of the book felt like a holding pattern to get to the good stuff.

Delicious in Dungeon Vol. 5 by Ryoko Kui (Complete) Still one of my favourite fantasy comics. The characters are nuanced and are continuing to get developed, as is the setting and supporting cast! Every so often it’ll break format, but I appreciate that the gimmick (including a monster-based recipe in each chapter) isn’t getting in the way of good storytelling. I love everything about this and you should be reading it.

Superior Spider-Man Vol. 1 & 2 by Dan Slott, Ryan Stegman, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Humbero Ramos, and so many more (Complete) I wasn’t sure about this before picking it up but it’s a fascinating study of Spider-Man. It feels like an answer to all those that focus on plot holes and logic. Doc Ock has taken over Spider-Man’s body and he, as the epitome of troll, is just going through and “fixing” what Peter Parker gets wrong. It’s an interesting study in learning more about someone with opposing views. It even keeps Parker’s spirit around to dramatically and comedically respond to his life being taken over by a villain. It’s good! Not the first Spider-Book you should pick up, but worth reading if you want a spider-change. 

Saga of the Swamp Thing Vol. 1 by Alan Moore, John Totleben, & Steve Bissette (Complete) After hearing good things about the TV series based on this character (still haven’t watched it) I figured I’d check this out. Knowing very little about the character going in, I loved every second of it! It’s a little bit horror, a little bit classic superheroics, and just a touch philosophical. Can’t recommend this enough.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 2: Squirrel You Know It's True by Ryan North, Erica Henderson,  (Complete) I can’t (and won’t) stop praising this book. It’s fun, creative, and funny! Pitting Squirrel Girl against an evil Squirrel just makes sense and is a fun break from the classic Marvel villains. Hopefully we get back to more of the classics, as that’s what I enjoyed most about volume 1, but it’s good to see that the book doesn’t shy away from variety.

Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff (Complete) Such a great adventure comic! Set in the early 1800s, it’s like a Female Indiana Jones adventure with all the swashbuckling and plundering that you’d want out of a treasure hunter. Mature in its handling of a number of topics, but done in a light tone and without heavy violence. I think it was sorted as a young adult graphic novel in my library, and that feels fitting. Stellar art and charming characters.

The Undertaking of Lily Chen by Danica Novgorodoff (Complete) Very character driven and an interesting foundation for the story (set in northern China when tradition demanded men be married even after they’ve died). There are really inspiring moments with the watercolour artwork and while it didn’t always resonate with me, it really served the story.

……….GAMING……….

Maze of the Blue Medusa  (Satyr Press) We very nearly had our first character death! Almost multiple! But they’re playing with level 9ish characters and with quick wits it’s proving difficult to defeat them. They’re still kinda wandering around this maze, but I think it’ll all start to come together soon!

And that’s it! As always, feel free to send me anything you recommend to see, read, hear, play, and so on.

Happy Wednesday!

[truthbeetoldmedia]

American Gods 2x02 “The Beguiling Man” Review

I’d like to start this review off my giving a huge congratulations to the cast and crew of American Gods because they were renewed for Season 3!  Neil Gaiman’s been working closely with their new showrunner, Charles “Chic” Eglee, for the past few weeks to bring about their vision for a third season!  Congrats and welcome, Chic!

Now onto something just as equally exciting!

SHADOW MOON BACKSTORY! SHADOW MOON BACKSTORY! I don’t care about anything else that happened this episode. We got to see a side of Shadow Moon we’ve never seen before and Gabriel Darku did a fantastic job of bringing him to life! How did we get the Shadow Moon backstory? Well, that’s not at as fantastic.  

You may know him as Mayhem from the Allstate commercials, but the wonderful Dean Winters is here as Mr. Town. Mr. Town was the one who had abducted Shadow from the diner in the last episode. He has Shadow strung up and connected to all these unpleasant-looking wires. Along with some, for lack of a better term, thugs, they plan to torture Shadow for information regarding Mr. Wednesday are well underway. Mr. Town is trying to figure out why Shadow is so important to Mr. Wednesday.  

It’s through this torture that we get the flashbacks to a teenage Shadow coming to America with his single mother, played by Olunike Adeliyi. We see this pair and there is such a strong, fierce love between them. Shadow’s mother raised him to be kind, well-educated, and well-mannered. While out discovering his new neighborhood in Bushwick and trying to make some new friends, Shadow is jumped by a group of guys basically because he’s not one of them. They say things like, “You talk funny, like a white boy.” From the second Shadow went out to investigate his new surroundings, you just knew it wasn’t going to end well. Besides getting beat up, when he eventually got up and tried to run away, a few cops came and arrested him and the others. The innocence is being stripped away.  

Throughout all these flashbacks we learn that it’s always just been Shadow and his mother. His father is dead and she will never tell Shadow anything more than that. These two lived in France for quite a time. It’s because of traveling that they did that Shadow is well-versed and respectful of different cultures. You can see that in how he reacts to all the different gods today. Another thing we learn is that Shadow’s mother died when he was still just a teenager, leaving him all alone in the world. She was sick and you see her get worse until she’s gone. Shadow, wanting to believe in anything, goes to a church to pray and grieve.  

While Shadow is being tortured and reliving his past, Laura and Mad Sweeney are searching for him. Well, Laura is looking for him. Mad Sweeney refuses to let his lucky coin out of his sight. If he’s going to have to fight a war, he’s going to need his lucky coin. Laura is just as annoying as ever, but it appears that her super strength is kind of waning a bit. Sweeney certainly notices when they get a flat and Laura actually gets tired from holding the car up. She’s looking worse and worse each day and I can’t help but hope for her decomposing corpse to disappear one of these days.  

However, that’s not today. After a touching moment between the two characters, they’re magically transported to a bridge with a train going by underneath them. Laura and her Shadow senses are tingling, so they hop on board the train. They are greeted by Mr. Town’s thugs. After a gruesome fight in which Laura actually slowly squashes a man’s HEAD, they are rewarded by discovering Shadow. He’s exhausted and definitely confused at seeing them.  

One scene that gave me shivers was between Mr. World and Bilquis. Mr. World is just very creepy with his soft voice. None of the old gods had changed sides after Bilquis gave her pitch that you either change with the tides or die. If Bilquis knows one thing, it’s that Odin and the others just won’t fall under Mr. World’s command. None of them will give in to him. Bilquis, unfortunately, is trapped in his clutches, despite not being willing to choose a side. She refuses to fight for Mr. World and she’s seen as a traitor by the old gods. She has nowhere to go, really. The mighty and powerful Queen Bilquis looks the most vulnerable here and it’s breaking my heart.  

While those are most definitely the darkest parts of the episode, some of the lighter aspects include Mr. Wednesday and Mr. Nancy. Orlando Jones constantly delivers with his comedic timing, even when you actually stop and think about what he’s saying isn’t actually funny. It’s the truth. The bit about Mr. Wednesday giving Mr. Nancy the fried chicken, while funny because of Orlando’s delivery, is actually incredibly ignorant, as it falls in line with certain prejudices and cliches.

It’s not quite clear what Mr. Wednesday is doing exactly, but it appears that he’s sacrificing his car at the end there. He and Mr. Nancy just abandon it on the train tracks. Mr. Wednesday wants to go to Valhalla, but Mr. Nancy has no intention of doing that, so they might be parting ways? It’s kind of hard to take a guess here.

We’re also getting closer to meeting a new character! Technical Boy was sent by Mr. World to track down Media after her disappearance. We catch up with Technical Boy in Times Square where he seems to have found her. Media appears to be giving him a pretty tough time in appearing in her new form, but she’s getting closer! I can’t wait to meet Kahyun Kim’s New Media!  

Some thoughts on the episode:

Shadow’s backstory is all that matters this episode.

Bilquis makes me want to weep.

If Mad Sweeney could continue getting hurt in hilarious ways, that’d be pretty great! Pablo Schreiber’s pretty good with the physical comedy!

Loving the fact that the embrace in the field between Sweeney and Laura wasn’t romantic AT ALL. It was a way to transport from Point A to Point B.

I could’ve gone my whole life without seeing Laura step on that guy’s head.  

American Gods airs on Sundays at 8/7c on Starz.

Sarah’s episode rating: 🐝🐝🐝

[the-real-xmonster]

Do you mind giving me some book recs? I always have trouble finding stuff I like because I'll read anything but only love about 1%. My favourite books are Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Dune, Misery, Broken Soup, and Elsewhere (Gabrielle Zevin)

Oh, a non-skating ask, how rare :D (Not that I am, in any shape or form, against skating asks, but I’m always happy to get something out of the ordinary).

So let me see... 

If you like historical fiction with a twist, try Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London? It’s a quirky mystery slash fantasy, somewhat Neil-Gaiman-esque, but with more mystery and actually, now that I think about it, more fantasy too, so basically, Gaiman on steroids. As a bonus, well, I don’t know if you’ve ever lived in London, but if you have, you’d be delighted by this book because it’s obviously written by someone who knows London thoroughly and intimately. 

If you like historical fiction that reads like a true period piece, maybe try C.S. Lewis’ Till We Have Faces? Normally I’m not a big Lewis fan, but I think this one has got to be his most underrated work. It’s a retelling of the tale of Psyche and Cupid, only it’s told by a most unusual narrator, Psyche’s sister, Orual. The character development of Orual I think is particularly moving and insightful.

For contemporary fiction along the line of Eleanor Oliphant, try Less by Andrew Sean Greer. It’s such a charming book, at times humorous and bittersweet, and the ending is infectiously uplifting. The writing is both playful and lyrical - immensely enjoyable (and well, it did win the Pulitzer). This is my one best feel-good book so far this year. 

For something in the Dune vein... well this one is tough. I’ve been reading the Themis Files series by Sylvain Neuvel and I’d highly recommend book 1 and book 2. The premise of the series is outside the box, the form the author chose to deliver the story is innovative (it’s a series of interview transcripts, military reports, personal notes - and surprisingly Neuvel made all of these work wonders as storytelling tools), and the plot lived up to the great, promising premise (which is the key thing I ask for in a sci-fi novel). Book 2 (Waking Gods) IMO is the absolute highlight. Book 3 was... well... I didn’t like it as much, but it did bring the story to a satisfying closure so, hopefully, you’ll enjoy it more than I did.

I haven’t read Elsewhere, will add it to my reading list - thank you :D     

For some general recommendations, Circe by Madeleine Miller is one of the best books overall that I’ve read this year. It’s a stunningly beautiful re-imagining of Greek mythology, the writing is superb, and Circe is very probably the best female depiction that I’ve come across in recent years. Also, do you read non-fiction? If you do, I’d very much recommend Bad Blood by John Carreyrou. It’s a mind-expanding piece of investigative reporting and it reads like the most dramatic crime show out there, except it’s better because it’s all real (or maybe not, crime can’t be “better” if they are real, can they? Anyway, you know what I mean).   

Those are what I have for now. Hope at least one of these works for you. Oh and, guys, I’m always available to talk about books!

[gehayi]

Fandom Snowflake Challenge--Day 3

Day 3 In your own space, post recs for at least three fanworks that you did not create. For this, I thought I would rec all the stories that I have bookmarked that I thought need more love. All of them are complete (no WIPs, though I do wish some would continue). I made notes on some when I bookmarked them, so where those occur, they're included.

Also, this is LONG. You have been warned.

14th CENTURY CE RPF Hallowmas, Or Shortest Of Day by skazka Isabella, future girl-queen of England, receives a visit from a predecessor. Commentary: Melancholy and sweet, with wee Isabella as an adorable seven-year-old who's very much at sea and Anne of Bohemia as the gentlest and kindest of ghosts. It's A Terrible Reign by angevin2 A dying John of Gaunt, with the aid of his long-dead brother, walks the road not taken. Commentary: Wickedly deflates the "It's a Wonderful Life" premise simply by having John of Gaunt be himself--confident, convinced that what he wants is surely for the best, and blunt enough to point out that most of the awful stuff that could have happened DID happen anyway. Also, Gaunt and the Black Prince are both believable and hysterical as brothers. Jesu dulcis memoria by angevin2 Master Ladislaus's only regret is that his greatest masterpiece--the Wilton Diptych--is one born of grief. Commentary: Brief, sorrowful and stunningly beautiful. I had a lump in my throat when I finished reading it. Remembrance of a Weeping Queen by angevin2 Anne of Bohemia contemplates her purpose in life. Commentary: It’s not easy dealing with public crises while coping with private grief. If you like royal ladies who make a difference in their world and who smile sweetly and gently despite heartbreak, this is for you. *** A STUDY IN EMERALD - NEIL GAIMAN: R'Iyeh Is Not An Empty House by Trobadora It all began because of the woman. *** ARTHURIAN MYTHOLOGY Wheels Within Wheels by Philipa_Moss “Have you heard?” Linet asked. “She’s back.” *** AUSTIN & MURRY-O'KEEFE FAMILIES - MADELEINE L'ENGLE Galois Theory by primeideal Five times everything fell into place. That Unexpected Fateful Hour, Once Again at Hand by ElegantPi Charles Wallace is assigned two new classmates and a task, just before his winter holiday. Wordless by CG (NYCScribbler) Three times Calvin O'Keefe hasn't known what to say. *** BENJAMIN JANUARY MYSTERIES - BARBARA HAMBLY Escargots by Nary Rose was not one to offer platitudes for a man she hadn't known, to a man who hadn't cared about him. "What killed him?" she asked instead, for she couldn't think of any reason why Shaw would be telling her about this if it had been a natural death. "Poison's our best guess." He paused, as if considering how to most gently say what was coming next. "He took his final meal at the Hotel Iberville last night. So as you might imagine, I got a pressin' need to speak with your nephew, Gabriel Corbier." Commentary: This story belongs to the women, and deservedly so. Rose January/Janvier is brilliant and shrewd and a fantastic scientific detective in 1830s New Orleans, while her sister-in-law Olympe Corbier solves half the mystery by deducing what posion was used. It's sharp, smoothly written and as thoroughly researched as any of the books. Honestly, you could drop this into Barbara Hambly's Good Man Friday (the book in which Benjamin January goes off to Washington DC, a trip which Rose mentions in passing) and it would fit in seamlessly. I'm honestly not sure that the person who wrote this for me isn't Barbara Hambly. If you love historical mysteries, stories featuring characters of color, or both, then read this story. Five moments in the life of Augustus Mayerling by sevenofspade Becoming Augustus Mayerling is a process. Commentary: The details of how Augustus Mayerling became Augustus Mayerling. Detailed, sharp and utterly right. Headcanon accepted. Magnificat in New Orleans by Taabe On the eve of Benjamin and Rose Vitrac January's first Christmas in their new home, at the end of a Reveillón, Ben and Hannibal have a run-in with a less peaceful holiday tradition, and they and Rose take a in young stranger in more need of help than even they realize. Commentary: Dazzlingly beautiful, brilliantly researched, and powerful enough to make your heart ache. A magnificent Magnificat. *** BISCLAVRET - MARIE DE FRANCE J'ai Vu le Loup by Gileonnen The hunt collapses the distance between man and beast. Commentary: A canonical medieval gay werewolf. I love it. *** CADFAEL CHRONICLES - ELLIS PETERS A Flourish of Gold by thelittlestbird When a murder disrupts the peace conference that might end the Anarchy, Brother Cadfael must solve one last mystery. Fortunately, he has some very competent people to help him. *** CANTERBURY TALES - GEOFFREY CHAUCER Mordre, She Wroot by sistermagpie At least one pilgrim will not make it to Canterbury. *** CHRONICLES OF NARNIA - C.S.LEWIS Clipsie the Mariner by Transposable_Element The episode of the Dufflepuds and the Magician's book, from the point of view of the Chief's daughter, Clipsie. Dark and Deep by the_rck Tumnus delivers Lucy to the White Witch, and Aslan never comes. All four children end up in Jadis's hands, and she decides to see what she can mold them into. *** CROSSOVERS Chronicles of Narnia/Harry Potter And Bide the Danger by MiraMira Susan Pevensie: former Unspeakable, legendary beauty, possible Dark witch. A young Amelia Bones, eager to make her mark on MLE, has just been assigned to track her down. But the further Amelia proceeds with her investigation, the more questions she uncovers - especially once she meets Susan herself. Dark Tower/The Stand On the Plains of the Crimson King by magistera Eight years after Randall Flagg was defeated, life goes on in the much-reduced circumstances of post-Trips America. But when Fran and Stu's son begins to have disturbing (and all-too-familiar) dreams, it's a sign of change to come. Commentary: This ties together the stories of The Stand and The Dark Tower, blending the worlds and explaining why Flagg saw Fran Goldsmith's baby as so much of a threat. The tone and the characterization are spot-on, and there's one action scene early on that chilled me. And despite all the supernatural occurrences, which are handled beautifully, this world is solidly grounded. It feels real. Honest to God, if I didn't know better, I'd think that Stephen King fanficced himself. Doctor Who/Mrs. Pollifax - Dorothy Gilman Mrs. Pollifax and the Christmas Party by Emiline “Since you mention it, there was something else,” she admitted. “I’d like you both to come to my Christmas party this year.” With gate-crashing by the unstoppable Jack Harkness. Doctor Who/Wicked Voice - Vernon Lee The Sapphire of Rassilon by zopyrus All Grace Holloway wanted was an ordinary night at the San Francisco Opera. But when the Doctor shows up unexpectedly (again), Grace finds herself travelling back to 18th-century Venice—with a stop along the way to pick up the forgotten Victorian author, Vernon Lee. Murdered composers, lesbian drama, opera singers, and more! Commentary: A gorgeous crossover with the Eighth Doctor and a canon called A Wicked Voice, set mostly in Venice of the 1700s and 1800s. It's a gorgeous story--vivid and colorful, and capable of making you see the Venice of both time periods. This is a story to get lost it. Read it. You'll be glad that you did. Dresden Files - Jim Butcher/Tale of the Five Series - Diane Duane Fire Working by melannen Herewiss goes through a Door that is probably not the Door into Starlight, and meets a man who uses the Fire. Romeo And Juliet - Shakespeare/Midsummer Night's Dream - Shakespeare/Peter Pan - J. M. Barrie Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps. by fresne Perhaps, the story went this way. Perhaps, it went that way. Perhaps. *** DRESDEN FILES - JIM BUTCHER Johnny's Little Secret by shiplizard A mafia errand boy worries about his junior partner. Slash implied, friendship explicit. Rated Teen for language. *** EAGLES ARE TURNING PEOPLE INTO HORSES: THE MOVIE (2009) Eagles are Turning People Into Horses: The Movie: II: The Horses That Used To Be People But Were Turned Into Horses By Eagles Strike Back: The Revengening by KiaraSayre "This is real life, Brian. There's no ignoring the fact that eagles are turning people into horses. We just have to learn to live with it." Commentary: Glorious crackfic. Every line made me smile, grin or laugh. Quintessentially Yuletide. *** ELIZABETHAN AND JACOBEAN THEATRE & LITERATURE RPF Sad Stories of the Death of Kings by angevin It's 1593, and Kit Marlowe is trying out a new genre. Commentary: If you're intimidated by the canon's title, don't be. Kit Marlowe and Will Shakespeare are playwrights and rivals, each criticizing each other's work while writing plays that are strongly influenced by the same. Marlowe is gloriously OTT, as he was in real life, and Shakespeare is the ultimate fanboy who can't quite tell if his idol is flirting or not. This made me smile. A lot. *** EVERY HEART A DOORWAY - SEANAN McGUIRE The Mirror Cracked From Side to Side by Amazing_E_Ko Nancy has left her old life behind, but when Jack comes tumbling through a portal bearing news of an apocalypse, her sister speaking prophecy from beyond death, Nancy is pulled back into the world of living, breathing things. With the help of Kade and Christopher they must unravel the mystery of the disappearing worlds, and uncover the truth behind all their journeys. Post-canon. Commentary: Absolute magic. I am not entirely certain that the writer isn't really Seanan McGuire. And I am so very grateful that I found this story. *** FAIRY TALES AND FOLKLORE Der Rattenfänger von Hameln | The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Fairy Tale) If I Miss You Call the Tune by lalalalalawhy It is 100 light years since our children left. Commentary: A fairy tale retelling in space. Heartwrenching and so, so good. Sneedronningen | The Snow Queen - Hans Christian Andersen The Enchanted Hawk by Alona In which the robber girl encounters a dysfunctional royal family and makes the most of it. Commentary: The robber girl--no longer so little--is beautifully sly, cunning and practical, defying conventions both in her world and in ours. She doesn't assume that enchanted animals are necessarily truthful, she takes the time to scout out a situation, and she knows what she wants and goes after it cheerfully and unashamedly. I'd love to read more about her and her adventures. *** FALLEN LONDON (FORMERLY ECHO BAZAAR) Fortune, Fate, Freedom by escritoireazul Are we the sum of our choices, or are we our fate? Commentary: A Choose Your Own Adventure tale about the Cheesemonger, the finest of all spies. Hard To Find by Kastaka As if the Comtessa would let a little thing like social ostracism stand in her way. Commentary: When this was first published, it was the first Echo Bazaar fic I'd ever seen, and it continues the story of the subject character--the Missing Comtessa--smashingly, not to mention capturing the atmosphere of the twisted world of Fallen London so well. If you know the game of Echo Bazaar, you'll love it. If you don't know the game, you'll STILL love it, plus the story may inspire interest in the game. Either way, you win! or leave it by anstaar A tough shares their story. *** FIREFLY Can’t Take The Sky by Glinda Serenity does not understand grief; Serenity understands grief all too well. Inundation by lilacsigil When knowledge is power, it's important to keep knowledge controlled. Shepherd Book is here to help. *** GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY Medusa's Tale by Area51Fugitive Ah. You've come. I knew you would. Commentary: The very best retelling of the Medusa myth I've ever read, and the only one that ever made me cry. *** HARRY POTTER - J.K. ROWLING Poseidon's Prisoner by esteoflorien Young Cassiopeia Black sets off in search of her brother - and receives assistance from an unlikely person, making her reconsider the way she previously viewed her world. *** HIGHLANDER: THE SERIES Mnemosyne by Medie Wounds of the flesh heal easily for Immortals, the ones of the soul, less so. Commentary: A sympathetic and angry Cassandra, after the Horsemen Arc. *** HIS DARK MATERIALS - PHILIP PULLMAN Valleys of the Shadows by finch (afinch) This is not a happy story. This is the story of three girls who find themselves in the middle of a new African war. There are witches' revolts, daring escapes, the killing of the bears, echoes of freedom, the lack of mercy of the pirates, chains stronger than any steel, and three deaths, one by one by one. This is not a happy story, there are no happy endings, no miracles, no subtle knife, and no angels. This is the story of three girls, a slave, an unwilling pawn, and a refugee. This is story of three girls and three dæmons. *** INVISIBLE LIBRARY: FANWORKS BASED ON IMAGINARY WORKS MENTIONED IN FICTION Miserable Les, Les Misérables - All Media Types, Discworld - Terry Pratchett Truth! Justice! Freedom! Reasonably-priced love! And a black coffee! by greenet Wherein everybody is protesting, drinking a whole lot of coffee, and falling in and out of love. Nina Lightfingers learns to appreciate the elegance of a lady’s fan wielded with murderous intent, Petiterre is over-caffeinated, Evgeni is banned from reading self-help books, and Brusher is over-protective. Among other things. Commentary: If Terry Pratchett had written an in-universe musical about the events of Night Watch, it would have been this story. That is to say, it would have been perfect. P.S. Miserable Les is mentioned as a possible opera in Maskerade. *** JOHN LEWIS CHRISTMAS ADVERTS Please, please, please... by AdaptationDecay Lewis knows exactly what he wants for Christmas. Commentary: This is a stealth crossover, but I'm not going to mention what it's crossed with. That would spoil the impact of the reveal. *** MARY POPPINS (1964) Pictures in the Pavement and Magic in the Rain by El Staplador (elstaplador) Time moves on, and when the wind changes, things happen. Usually Mary Poppins is there, somewhere. *** NCIS No Such Thing by circ_bamboo There's no such thing as zombies. (Or: People should have realized that, sooner or later, pouring the liquefied remnants of corpses in the municipal water supply was going to lead to zombies.) Commentary: Absolutely the best and the funniest zombie story I've ever read! The NCIS team is spot-on as a bad situation snowballs gloriously. Also, I will never think of cedar shavings, sodium intake or tiki torches the same way again! P.S. Here are more sources about resomation: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-14114555 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_hydrolysis_(body_disposal) https://funeralbooker.com/blog/everything-need-know-resomation/ *** ONCE UPON A TIME (TV) Staying Found by misscam “I will always find you,” they say. And they did. Now they just have to get used to having been found again, together again, a relationship again, all the little things again. [Snow/Charming + minor Emma, Henry, Belle] *** PETER PAN - J.M. BARRIE The Art of Becoming by LostWendy1 “Every child is affected thus the first time he is treated unfairly. All he thinks he has a right to when he comes to you to be yours is fairness. After you have been unfair to him he will love you again, but will never afterwards be the same boy. No one ever gets over the first unfairness; no one except Peter. He often met it, but he always forgot it. I suppose that was the real difference between him and all the rest.” (Peter Pan, Barrie) Commentary: The story of Mr. Darling--and the origins of Captain Hook. *** PRINCELESS There's No Such Thing As Elegators by psocoptera Sparky, Adrienne, and Bedelia have an encounter in the grasslands. Commentary: You don't often hear stories from the dragon's point of view. *** REBECCA - DAPHNE DU MAURIER A Thousand Words, Or Simply Three by Skogkatt Danny, faced with a new mistress of vastly inferior rank, ruminates on the past. *** RUBYQUEST Rubyquest II: The Island by AdaptationDecay In your inventory, you have two walkie-talkies and an empty champagne bottle. Time to save the world... *** SHAKESPEARE King Lear - Shakespeare 'Tis Strange by lorata Lear Enterprises' CEO prepares to divide his company's controlling shares between his daughters and their subsidiaries. Edmund, non-powered and disaffected son in a superhero family, plots to turn villain. Regan and Goneril abandon their father to the zombies after he endangers their safehouses one too many times. Gloucester scours open space for the former commander of the star system, set adrift in a malfunctioning lifepod. Cordelia and her dragon prepare to take on her sisters with the help of the French aerial dragon corps. Some stories aren't just universal, they're multiversal. The tale of King Lear, from eleven different worlds. When She Was Bad by lorata LEAR: Then let them anatomize Regan. See what breeds about her heart. Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts? Act 3, Scene 6 SERVANT: If she live long, And in the end meet the old course of death, Women will all turn monsters. Act 3, Scene 7 Even the sweetest pup will bite if handled roughly, and Regan is no innocent. The making of a girl who embraced her demons and turned them to her purpose. Richard II - Shakespeare A Signet On Thine Arm by skazka Kisse he me with the cos of his mouth. For thi tetis ben betere than wyn, and yyuen odour with beste oynementis. Richard and Anne make out in the bath. Privilege by angevin2 Richard kissed a girl and he liked it. And then things got really complicated. Six Variations on Loyalty by angevin2 The King's party (for it is, in fact, still the King's party) has not even left Flint Castle for London before Henry of Hereford, now styling himself Henry of Lancaster, begins trying to seduce Edward of Aumerle. Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart by Aris Merquoni (ArisTGD) Soulbonds between men and women are the most romantic form of marriage in the known world. Soulbonds between men and men make bards and poets salivate with the prospect of terrible, epic tragedy. Richard and Henry think that bards and poets are assholes. Romeo and Juliet - Shakespeare Starling by loathlylady Rosaline in the hot sun. *** STORIES BASED ON ARTWORKS La fiancée hésitante | The Hesitant Betrothed - Auguste Toulmouche Les Femmes Acharnées by Violsva Blanche has a plan, Céleste has a plan - really, everyone has a plan. Commentary: An excellent story of marriage, murder and female friendship. *** SWAN LAKE (BALLET) Juno's Swans by La Reine Noire (lareinenoire) And wheresoever we went, like Juno's swans, / Still we went coupled and inseparable. *** THE GOBLIN EMPEROR - KATHERINE ADDISON Passage by bigsunglasses Released from his role as Prince by the birth of a son to the Emperor and Empress, Idra is allowed to attend university. But he can't escape his past so easily, or perhaps at all, particularly not when he meets someone who walks under a similar shadow ... Three years post-canon. *** THE SANDMAN The First Conversation with Death by evilhippo What happens when someone is no longer an aspect of the Endless? (An imagined epilogue to The Wake.) *** THOMAS OF WOODSTOCK (PLAY) like brambles to the cedars by angevin2 Queen Anne isn't used to English customs. It doesn't help that her husband and his uncles can't agree on what they are. Commentary: This is the story of a gentle young woman adjusting to life far from home and adjusting to political currents she doesn’t quite understand. If you like sweet and feminine Sansa Stark singing songs or sewing expertly, you’ll love this. *** THURSDAY'S CHILDREN - RUMER GODDEN A Bitter God to Follow by Bakcheia In which everybody is in love with ballet dancer Yuri Koszorz, including Yuri. Commentary: A story of seductive charm and self-absorption. Yuri is a likable young man, even as he heedlessly captivates everyone around him, not caring whether anyone gets hurt. *** WATERSHIP DOWN - RICHARD ADAMS The Story of Hrayatha and the Rabbit Who Left No Tracks by Luzula Pipkin listens to a story. Post-canon. *** WENDY TRILOGY - S.J. TUCKER (SONG CYCLE) Always keep your head by LeaperSonata So Wendy'd got herself a crew of ruthless men and brave and they'd terrorize the Lost Boys each and every Saturday. One day Wendy says to Peter, "I'd like more girls on my crew." So Peter goes a-hunting Lost Girls and brings back Green-eyed Sue. Commentary: You don't have to know S.J. Tucker's songs--specifically, the Wendy Trilogy--to understand this story about the time when Wendy Darling became a pirate called Red-Handed Jill. This story is about Green-Eyed Sue, Jill's first mate, but more than that, it's about finding the place where you belong. Most of all, it's about identity and love and being honest with yourself. Highly recommended. Journey's End by eris_kyrall (kereia) The decision to go back home had not come easily to Wendy Darling, and the hardest part of it was saying goodbye. Commentary: This story deals with Wendy's departure from Neverland, but it treats her decision to leave as right and natural, as if Wendy were a potted plant that had outgrown its container. At the same time, it shows that those who didn't follow Wendy home were also right. Also, I love the female friendship in this story. Bittersweet.

[the-desolated-quill]

Nightmare In Silver - Doctor Who blog

(SPOILER WARNING: The following is an in-depth critical analysis. If you haven’t seen this episode yet, you may want to before reading this review)

Neil Gaiman writing a Cyberman story? What could possibly go wrong?

...

Fucking EVERYTHING!

I... You... Wha... What the hell happened?! This came from the same guy that wrote The Doctor’s Wife, Coraline, The Sandman and American Gods? This piece of shit came from him?... THIS?!?!

Look, the Cybermen are very precious to me. They’re my all time favourite Who baddies due to their timeless themes and limitless potential. Which is why it breaks my heart whenever I see them mistreated like this. I mean... Jesus Christ!

Nightmare In Silver picks up where The Crimson Horror left off with those two kids blackmailing Clara into getting a free ride in the TARDIS (yeah, that didn’t make sense in and of itself. The girl Angie says she’ll tell her dad that Clara is a time traveller, but what are the chances of her dad actually believing her? Come off it!). Normally I despise children (both in real life and in fiction) and this episode very handily reminds me of all the reasons why. God I hate these brats! The little boy (Arty I think his name was) is this big wooden dork and Angie is quite possibly the most spoilt, arrogant, ungrateful little shit I think I’ve ever seen. She’s travelled to another planet in a spaceship that’s bigger on the inside, and what’s her reaction? ‘Oh this is so boooooooring! Oh Clara you’re so stupid! You always spoil everything! I want to go home!’ Oh go fuck yourself, you moaning little bastard! What’s worse is that these kids don’t actually play any sort of role other than needing to be rescued. You know characterisation has gone seriously wrong when their personalities are actually improved by Cyberfication.

Speaking of which, let’s talk about the new Cybermen. While I do prefer the RTD Cybermen in terms of design, these new ones are quite cool. More robotic looking this time around and I’m fascinated by the suggestion that at this point in their history they’re less cyborgs and more biomechanical, converting flesh directly into metal. It’s been a running thing that each new Cyber design in the series represents another advancement in their evolution, and this feels like a very logical leap to me. I also really like the Cybermites. Much prefer them to the Cybermats, which I’ve never liked. What I really don’t like however are the superpowers. My jaw hit the floor when that Cyberman started running at super speed like the Bionic Man, not just because the effect looks like shit and there’s no way Angie would have survived being hit with such speed and velocity, but because it’s a leap too far. Same goes for Cyber body parts detaching and operating by themselves, as well as Cybermen being immune to lasers and upgrading themselves so that they can’t be electrocuted. They’ve effectively become an army of Cyber-Supermans. They can just do anything now. They’re way too overpowered to the point where it all starts to become laughably absurd, and because we no longer know what their limitations are, they become more vague as a threat, and therefore more dull. (Also how come the Cybermen never use their super speed ever again? That ability could have come in useful multiple times).

Actually I tell a lie. They do bring back one limitation from the classic series. It’s... hmph... their weakness against gold.

For those of you who don’t know, in the classic series they introduced the idiotic and nonsensical idea that the Cybermen were vulnerable to gold because it’s a non-corrosive substance that can clog up their breathing apparatus and suffocate them. First of all, since when did Cybermen need to breathe? Second, what does being non-corrosive got to do with clogging up anything? And third, why specifically gold? Couldn’t you clog up their breathing apparatus with something else? Like water for instance? And it just got worse and worse when it developed from gold suffocating them to gold just affecting them in general. Despite being bulletproof, apparently you can kill a Cyberman with golden arrows. Rubbing Adric’s gold badge on the Cyberleader’s chest plate in Earthshock was enough to hinder it, and there was one really low moment in Silver Nemesis where the Cybermen were destroyed by Ace using some gold coins and a slingshot. It’s quite possibly the most embarrassing aspect of Cyber lore and it makes me cringe whenever I think about it, so you can probably imagine my relief when the Cybermen first arrived in New Who back in 2006 and there wasn’t a single mention of gold anywhere.

Now imagine my horror and disappointment when the Doctor is able to briefly incapacitate the Cyber-Planner inside his head by slapping a golden ticket on his face. And somehow Gaiman managed to make it even worse by implying that cleaning fluid can have the same effect. Yes. Cleaning fluid. So the Cybermen are an unstoppable force that will not rest until they’ve hunted you down and converted you, and you should be very afraid of them... unless you’ve got a bottle of Toilet Duck to hand, in which case you’re basically fine.

Yes the Cyber-Planner makes its first appearance since The Invasion way back in the 1960s. It’s no longer a brain inside a giant metal apparatus however. It’s now a Cyber hive mind/network that assimilates other beings into its consciousness, mostly children in order to use their imaginations for military strategies. Until it catches sight of the Doctor that is and tries to assimilate him. Which leads to quite possibly the worst thing about this episode. Mr. Clever. 

The Doctor being cyber-converted could be legitimately frightening, seeing this manic, warm hearted adventurer become a cold, calculating menace. Unfortunately that’s not what we end up getting. Instead we end up getting more of Matt Smith’s goofy bollocks. Mr. Clever (ugh) is just too emotional. He’s not his own character. He’s just the Doctor but evil. What’s even weirder is that the Cyber-Planner talks about how emotions are useless and that everyone is better off without them whilst it’s displaying emotion. It’s really inconsistent. I was astounded by the number of critics at the time praising Matt Smith for his performance because I honestly thought it was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. Watching him yelling and gurning his lines like an insecure pantomime villain was just embarrassing, and it shows a complete lack of understanding of who the Cybermen are (and I don’t just mean the whole emotions thing). As I’ve said numerous times in the past, the Cybermen aren’t evil like the Daleks. They’re altruistic foes. They honestly believe what they’re doing is helping us. That’s what makes them so frightening. By making the Cyber-Planner the default cackling baddie who’s evil just because, it makes the Cybermen less interesting and, as a result, less scary.

Speaking of actors giving bad performances, Jenna Coleman, I know you’ve been lumbered with a really shit character, but can you at least try to deliver your lines in a manner that isn’t smug or smarmy. Every single line has this air of snugness about it, which is irritating in and of itself, but there are occasions where it becomes really inappropriate. There are Cybermen about to breach the comical castle and the kids are in danger, and yet Clara is wandering around without a care in the world. Um Clara, shouldn’t you be panicking? Just a little? And there’s one really shocking moment where one of the soldiers informs her that someone has died, and Clara doesn’t even so much as react. In fact she’s surprisingly glib about the whole thing. I don’t know if it’s bad acting or bad directing. All I know is somebody fucked up. (Also I could have done without the bit at the end where the Doctor describes Clara as a mystery inside an enigma wrapped in a skirt that’s a bit too tight. Just... ew).

Beyond that, there isn’t really a whole lot to discuss. The theme park setting is nice, but we don’t really get to explore much of it. Jason Watkins is always good in everything he’s in, but he’s barely in this before he gets converted and is left to stand silently in the background with the kids. In fact the whole thing feels really rushed and under-developed. The punishment squad could have been interesting to explore, particularly in the context of the setting. It’s 1000 years after the Cyber Wars. The Cybermen have become the equivalent of mythological bogeymen, and now this rag tag group of failures and rejects are about to come face to face with their worst fear. The return of the long thought extinct Cybermen, now more powerful than ever. Think of the drama you could wring out of that. Instead they barely get a look in. They’re just a bunch of nameless redshirts that we don’t give a shit about. Same goes for Porridge. Warrick Davis gives a decent performance, but his character just isn’t very well developed. You could have expanded his character greatly. Given him a whole arc with him coming to terms with the horrible decisions he made in order to end the Cyber Wars (wait. He’s over a 1000 years old? Well I suppose if Liz 10 can survive well past 300 years in The Beast Below, I guess it’s possible) and finally reaccepting his position as Emperor. Instead it just feels like he’s going through the motions. He never actually changes or evolves. He just returns to being Emperor because... the script said so.

Nightmare In Silver is bad. Like Revenge Of The Cybermen/Silver Nemesis bad. The plot is weak, the characters are under-developed, the kids are annoying, the Doctor and Clara are still just as obnoxious as ever, and they completely botch the Cybermen. I pity anyone who tries to write a Cyberman story in the future after this disaster.

[oliverphisher]

Steven Lochran

Steven Lochran spent his childhood writing stories and now he gets to do it for a living. He graduated from Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing before going on to write the critically-acclaimed Paladero and Vanguard Prime series. In addition to his career as an author, Steven has also spent the past decade working in the publishing industry, first in the marketing department and then in sales. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and son. The Champions of the Blade, the fourth and final book in his Middle Grade fantasy Paladero series, is out now.

The Edge of the World (Paladero) By Steven Lochran Buy on Amazon

Steven Lochran is a master storyteller. He has written a gripping fantasy story which includes a transgender character, with an amazing insight and feel for the lived experience of trans and gender diverse people. His exploration of the impact families have on the lives of trans people touched so many memories for me.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

What a simple but sadistic question to ask a writer! I agonised over this for a while and finally settled on the following:

Fantastic Mr. Fox By Roald Dahl

The Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl. One of the first books to spark my love of reading and writing.

1984 (Signet Classics) By George Orwell

1984 by George Orwell. I read this in a formative period of my life and still refer back to it to this day, both as a writer and as an individual.

Less (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize): A Novel By Andrew Sean Greer

Less by Andrew Sean Greer. This was obviously a much more recent novel which I loved, not just for the strength of its writing but for taking what could have been a self-indulgent premise and delivering it with warmth, humour and heart. It taught me to not be so self-conscious in my writing and to have courage in my ideas.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

There's a certain type of Staedtler pen that has a very fine but firm tip that I've found very satisfying to write with, particularly in a Spirax notebook; great for making notes and scribbling out rough drafts.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

I've lost count of the number of manuscripts I've begun or ideas I've started fleshing out which haven't ultimately led anywhere. One of the biggest was the first book I ever wrote that I sent out to multiple agents and publishers with no success. But I learned a lot from that experience and knew what to do better the next time I around. The very next book I wrote ended up being published, and a lot of ideas from that first unsuccessful manuscript ended up being repurposed in the Paladero series. Nothing ever goes to waste.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

Two quotes spring immediately to mind. The first is paraphrased from a speech Neil Gaiman gave at the 2008 Children's Book Council of Australia conference; "Everything that exists had to be dreamed of first ". This has always stuck with me as a lovely summation of why storytelling is so important.

The other is from fellow Melbourne author Melissa Keil, who very succinctly wrote in an article for the Guardian: “Everyone deserves to see themselves as a hero.” Something intrinsically important to remember when writing for young readers.

What is one of the best investments in a writing resource you’ve ever made?

I studied Creative Writing at uni, which was an immense privilege to be able to do and took about ten years' worth of professional development and concentrated it into three. That isn't to say you need to have a degree to be a professional writer; every author's path is different.

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

I love making Spotify playlists as part of my development process. Not a particularly unusual habit as I know a lot of authors do the same, but it's something I get a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction from, almost to the point of neglecting the actual writing in favour of hunting down the exact right song.

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?

Parenthood. It's not exactly a belief or behaviour in itself but it's made a massive impact in how I interact with the world, as well as with what kind of stories I'm interested in telling.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? What advice should they ignore?

The best advice I can offer is to not give up. The only time you're guaranteed not to succeed is when you stop trying. So don't stop trying.

I don't know if there's much advice I'd say to outright ignore, but I'd definitely say that all advice is subjective. While there are certain universal experiences of being a writer, every writer's process and personal rules are different. There is no right way or wrong way of being a writer. Your favourite author may swear by their particular method but that's only really true for them. An example; I love Alan Moore's work, and I remember him decrying the use of a thesaurus. But I use a thesaurus all the time. In short, don't let your idols psyche you out.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often?

"You HAVE to do X, Y or Z to be a writer". Again, all advice is subjective. When an author is giving advice, they're just communicating what works for them. The same won't necessarily work for you, so don't take it as gospel.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)?

Not a whole lot, I have to admit. Maybe check back with me in another five years!

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

Don't spend excessive amounts of your own money on marketing materials like t-shirts, coffee mugs, etc. And don't get caught up thinking you need to build some awe-inspiring social media platform to get published. Focus on your writing and let everything else flow from that.

What new realizations and/or approaches have helped you achieve your goals?

Your writing doesn't have to be perfect from the very first draft. Put down what you have in your head on the page. Keep going. Fix it later.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do?

Just keep writing, even if it's only a handful of words a day. So long as you're making some kind of progress, that's all that matters. You'll get there in the end.

Any other tips?  

Make sure you write down every idea you possibly can. Not only do they disappear like vapour, they can prove invaluable years or even decades later.

________

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source https://www.thecommunitywriter.com/blog/steven-lochran

[brvxabooks]

The Ocean At The End of the Lane

“You don't pass or fail at being a person, dear.”

Author: Neil Gaiman Rating: ★★★ Summary: A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Tags for this book: coming of age, fairy tale-ish, fantasy, magical women

I finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane and I’m a little confused to say that... I didn’t think it was as mind blowing as people told me it was?

I got this book under the recommendation of my sister, who absolutely loved it. I didn’t read the back cover, I didn’t look it up on the internet, she didn’t tell me exactly (or at all) what it was about. It was just one of those blind reads that I like doing. All I knew is that it was written by Gaiman, and that is good enough for me.

Or so I thought.

I had a great time. Some passages really captured me. The mystery about the boy’s name is super cool (and actually it’s not a mystery, it’s just a fact), but... I don’t know. I think it takes more than a Nameless Protagonist to make a book mind blowing.

I really appreciate all the female characters Mr. Gaiman gave to us in this book. They’re unique in their own way. The Maiden/Mother/Crone triad represented by the Hempstock women was an excellent touch, and even though I wanted to kill the Younger Sister, I also liked her as a functioning character in the story.

The details about certain aspects, such as the cats in the story, the faeric atmosphere surrounding this novella, the easy-reading of the narrative (a characteristic of Mr. Gaiman’s works) was all very pleasing, but the core of the story, or at least how this core was delivered, really bugged me.

I swear to god, I wanted to love this book. That didn’t pan out.

In the end and in its essence, this book felt like a lot of catchphrases jumbled together into one narrative to give that feeling that adults love: the romantization of childhood, since we adults love a good nostalgia. It was like reading “Oh, look at how a child’s innocence and imagination is so much better than being an Adult, here, let me show you The Childhood Secrets(TM) by writing A Lot Of Sentences That Are Supposed to Be Impactful And Quotable On Social Media”.

Continue with spoilers >>

For the first third of the book, I kept waiting for the POV to come back to Adult Protagonist, until I gave up and realized that yes, I was stuck with this seven year old boy.

Fine, I thought, I can take it.

So until half of the book I was still trying to accept that that boy was my protagonist. When I finally settled for him, the reading was more fluid for me.

The episode in the bathtub was really unsettling and impactful, which was the entire point of it, and it made me dislike the father for the rest of the story, because according to “the thing that called itself Ursula Monkton”, she didn’t make anyone do anything. So there’s that, but I’m not sure how trustful she could be here.

And the cats. I really appreciate the fondness in which Gaiman describes the multiple cats featured in this book, and the relationship between them and their humans. In a time where the world of entertainment loves to portray cats as evil, mean, animals and associate them with unhappy, lonely, worthy-of-pity people (I shiver as I remember Grey’s Anatomy, my last exposure to this type of portrayal), having Mr. Gaiman’s take on the wonderful relationship the Boy had with his cats, and even the peaceful way he described the fog-colored cat of the Hempstocks, was really, really nice.

Like I said earlier, I really liked the Hempstocks, obviously. They’re the entire story for me, I felt compelled into searching the web about where Gaiman got the inspiration to write them, I thought it was a clever move to never give the boy a name, and I felt very enraptured in the action scenes, which isn’t usually the case for me, but overall... I didn’t love the book to understand why it got so many nominations and prizes. My life didn’t change because of it, my views are still the same.

Oh, and one last thing: the protagonist forgetting everything. Man, that’s some cheap trick right there. It’s an unfair and cheap narrative trick that always pissed me off (most notably in Doctor Who, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN), and I stand by what I think here. The only thing worse than that is the “and then he woke up”.

Anyway.

This book was a nice ride, full of ups and downs.

I’m giving this 3 stars because I have a lot of mixed feelings about it, but overall, it was good.

[raptorific]

I liked 70s Doctor Who. It was terrible, but I still enjoyed it in a campy way. I couldn't watch the boring-ass 60's stuff, and the late 80s episodes had no coherent plot. I loved the Davies era, but most of Moffat's era's been pretty fucking terrible IMO. I think it's gotten much better recently, though. Aaanyways... what was my point? Oh, yeah. I just wanted to say that yeah, classic-only Doctor Who fans are the fucking worst

I still maintain that even during peak Moffat-Smith era, most of the individual episodes were pretty good even though the season arcs were trying way too hard to be the next "Mr. Saxon" and they generally ended up promising a LOT at the beginning of season that they couldn't deliver, and it ended up coming across like the moff had written a premiere and a finale that directly connected and then just filled the middle with normal episodes that happened to have a scene at the end where the characters were all like "I sure hope the audience doesn't forget there's a season finale coming up eventually!"Example: Neil Gaiman's episode "the doctor's wife" was one of the finest episodes they've had in the entire series, its only real weak point was the moment where the humanized TARDIS says, for no apparent reason, "the only water in the forest is the river," a quote from the upcoming finale that has approximately nothing to do with the events of that episode. "A Town Called Mercy" is another example of great writing in the 11 Era, even The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang was a genuinely fun time, and let's not forget that really cool episode in the scary Minotaur hotel, or "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS" which was probably the best episode with 11 and Clara. The problem Moffat has is that his ego is much bigger than the scope of his writing. He's a very good writer if you cut him off at the knees and confine him to a short, 45 minute one-act where he only has time to explore that episode's gimmick and doesn't have any time to write three separate farewell episodes to River Song or make the doctor go on a meandering speech about how he mistrusts women. When he's just a writer, he produces "Blink" and "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances." When he's given a specific project like the 50th anniversary, he can whip up a fun adventure for us to enjoy. When he's a showrunner and he doesn't have Capaldi's guiding hand, he forces us to endure "The Wedding Of River Song."When he's just a writer kept within the confines of 1-2 episodes, he suddenly is able to filter out all the incoherent and insulting nonsense and just leave in the story, and it ends up being one of the best episodes of the season. When he's a showrunner (sans Capaldi) his direct contributions tend to be the worst part of the season. Anyway I defend a lot of the Eleventh Doctor's tenure but with the addendum that it's much better if you skip the premieres, finales, and Christmas specials and trim out the little "don't forget, the finale is coming up!" bits. And to address that other question: Yes, the Capaldi era is good in a way the show hasn't been since Martha was a full-time companion. I suspect this is because Steven Moffat is taking a less hands-on approach and allowing his subordinate writers and actors more freedom, as well as trying to keep more focused in his own writing. For example, in this past season, the premiere and the finale were both as good as all the other episodes instead of being the thing you ignore.

[sowingseedsandshootinghoops]

The Fight For Your Soul: Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods”

Note on the text: I used the 10 Anniversary Edition (with the author’s preferred text) of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods as published by Harper Collins in 2016

This is an amazing book written by a fantastic author. Anyone interested in fantasy or mythology would love this epic story of the battle between the Old Gods of America and the New Ones. 

The Old Gods are modern reincarnations of the gods of ancient mythology and religion, while the New Gods are different manifestations of technology. The powers of each group of gods is fueled by the belief of the people; and when the people stop believing, when there is no one left to talk about the old ways, when all the evidence of that god’s existence has been lost to the sands of time, then that god ceases to be as well: “Gods die when they are forgotten” (651). How this happens, and the origins of the fight between the two sets of gods, is detailed by Mr. Wednesday, who is the reincarnation of Odin, the Norse king of the gods, when he tries to convince some of the other Old Gods of the need to band together and fight the New Gods: 

When the people came to America, they brought us with them. They brought me, and Loki and Thor, and Anansi and the Lion-God, Leprechauns and Cluracans and Banshees, Kubera and Frau Holle and Asaroth [and all the rest]. We rode here in their minds and we took root. We traveled to the new lands across the oceans.The land is vast [ though, and] soon enough our people abandoned us, remembered us only as creatures of the old land, as things that had not with them to the new [one]. Our true believers [either] passed on, or stopped believing, and we were left [behind], lost and scared and dispossessed, to get by on what little smidgens of worship or belief we could find. . . . So that’s what we’ve done, gotten by on the edges of things where no one was watching us too closely. . . . we exist in the cracks of society. . . . Now, as all of you will have reason aplenty to discover for yourselves, there are new gods growing in America, clinging to the growing knots of belief: gods of credit card[s] and freeway[s], of telephone[s], of radio[s], of hospital[s], and of television[s]. Gods of plastics and of beepers and neon. Proud gods, fat and foolish creatures, puffed up by their own newness and importance. They are aware of us and they hate us. . . . You are fooling yourselves if you believe otherwise. They will destroy us if they can. It is time for us to band together. It is time for us to act (175-176).

Technical Boy, the New God of technology, echoes Mr. Wednesday’s message when he kidnaps Shadow, the protagonist who works for Mr. Wednesday, and tells him to deliver a message to his employer: 

You tell him he’s history. He’s forgotten. He’s old. And he better accept it. Tell him that we are the future and that we don’t give a fuck about him or anyone like him. His time is over. . . . He has been consigned to the Dumpster of history while people like me ride our limos down the superhighway of tomorrow. . . . Tell him that we have fucking reprogrammed reality. Tell him that language is a virus and that religion is an operating system and that prayers are too much fucking spam” (70-71). 

Ok, so the New Gods are definitely powerful but do they really see themselves as gods? Gods in the same way that the Old Gods see themselves as gods? Well just look at the conversation that Shadow has with Media, the goddess of television, who is talking to him through the character of Lucy Ricardo from the T.V. show I Love Lucy: 

I’m the idiot box. I’m the T.V. I’m the all-seeing eye and the world of the cathode ray. I’m the boob tube. I’m the little shrine the family gathers around to adore.’ ‘You’re the television? Or someone in the television?’ ‘The television is the altar.  I’m what people are sacrificing to.’ ‘What do they sacrifice?’ asked Shadow. ‘Their time mostly,’ said Lucy. ‘Sometimes each other’. . . . ‘You’re a god?’ [asked] Shadow. Lucy smirked and took a lady-like puff of her cigarette. ‘You could say that’” (221-222).  

We don’t tend to think of modern America as being particularly religious, especially when compared societies of the ancient past. Mr. Wednesday however argues that modern Americans feel exactly the same impulse that the ancient ones did, they just express it differently. Before, the people would feel drawn to a particular place for reasons that they don’t entirely understand, and then they would “canonize” the spot by building a religious site on top of it. Think of the Oracle of Delphi and how it was built above two fault lines. In America, something similar happens. Americans “officially memorialize” things that are sacred to them. Think of about things like the site at World Trade Center, or the creation of a museum dedicated to a particular topic, or how a place of the most intense natural beauty gets further deified when it is made into a national park. Americans feel that same pull towards the divine that the ancients did, they just deal with it differently. For Mr. Wednesday the phenomenon is most obvious in the creation of what he calls roadside attractions: 

It’s perfectly simple’, said Wednesday. In other countries, over the years, people recognized the places of power. Sometimes it would be a natural formation, sometimes it would be a place that was somehow just special. They knew something important was happening there, that there was some focusing point, some channel, some window to the Immanent. And so they would build temples or churches or erect stone circles. . . . In the USA people still get the call, or some of them, and they feel themselves being called to from the transcendent void and they respond to it by building beer bottles of somewhere that they’ve never visited, or by erecting a gigantic bat-house in some part of the country that bats have traditionally declined to visit. Roadside attractions: people feel themselves being pulled to places where, in other parts of the world, they would recognize that part of themselves is truly transcendent, and buy a hot dog and walk around, feeling satisfied on a level that they cannot describe, and profoundly dissatisfied on a level below that (151-152). 

They are satisfied because they are, on some level, responding to that call, and profoundly dissatisfied because they are unable to recognize such places for what they are. They think that they are “just” going on a trip somewhere without realizing that the joy creating by places like Disneyland, the world’s largest roadside attraction, comes from the same mysterious that it always has. But because people allow themselves to just enjoy it on the surface level as a place full of rides and candy, they can’t really appreciate it. Those who can though are able to get something much more meaningful out of the “happiest place on earth” than those who can’t. They can, for lack of a better word, get a more real “experience”. The problem with the New Gods isn’t that they are evil, they’re not. The problem is that they can only stay on the surface, and not actually confront the real issues that are a part of being human. The Old Gods of love, hate, life, death, pain, joy etc know about human life on the level that the New Gods of technology simply don’t. 

And then, after all this build up, there comes the showdown. And it is an epic one. The Old Gods versus the New Gods: the war which had already “begun [even though] nobody saw it” (469). The war had already begun because it is war being waged everyday inside the soul of every man, woman, and child who has ever lived. A myth is a story that serves to explain some mysterious part of our world: of either our human nature and “nature’s nature”. If that is true than what Neil Gaiman has given us in American Gods is a modern, American myth. Because what he attempts to do here is explain different, mysterious, aspects of the soul of a 21st century American. What happens on the battlefield- a fight between two different systems of thought, between two different ways of living, is meant to mirror the fight that happens inside of every person. In the pages leading up to the central battle, Gaiman takes a break from the narrative to tell the reader that 

none of this is actually happening. If it makes you more comfortable, you could simply think of this as a metaphor. Religions are, by definition, metaphors. After all God is a dream, a hope, a woman, an ironist, a father, a city, a house of many rooms, a watchmaker who left his purse chronometer in the desert, someone who loves you, even, perhaps, against all evidence, a celestial being whose only interest is to make sure your football team, army, business, or marriage thrives, prospers, and triumphs over all opposition. Religions are places to stand and look and act, vantage points from which to view the world. So none of this is happening. Such things could not happen in this day and age. Never a word of it is literally true, although it all happened, and the next thing that happened happened like this (643). 

So what has Gaiman given us? A myth, a metaphor, a way in which we can view ourselves. A way for us to look at what we believe and why: a way for us to look at the gods we’ve created, what sacrifices we’ve offered to them, and to determine if we want to keep on worshiping them. The war between the old and the new, between the need to adapt who we are to a set of new circumstances while still needing to hold onto the fundamental aspects of our “old” selves, is one that we all wage everyday. 

People are meaning-making machines. They populate, kill, and then re-populate every corner of their world with meaning, sometimes the old meaning gets replaced by something new and sometimes it does not. Then they hope that the new identity that arises up from the ashes of this battle will be old enough to retain its authenticity while being new enough to adapt to the new circumstances which they have encountered in their lives. If too much of the old identity dies, than what remains is counterfeit. But the new identity is killed off, what remains is unable to grow and adapt to the new circumstances which life presents and will, in time, die itself. One of the greatest torments of life is that the synthesis between these two identities is never perfect and always, in an emotional sense, a bloody mess: 

The paradigms were shifting. He could feel it. The old world of infinite vastness and resources and future, was being confronted else- a web of energy, of opinions, of gulfs. People believe, thought Shadow. It’s what people do. They believe. And then they will not take responsibility for their beliefs; they conjure things, and do not trust their conjurations. People populate the darkness with ghosts, with gods, with electrons, with tales. People imagine, and people believe: and it is that belief, that rock solid belief, that makes things happen. The mountain top was an arena, he could see them arrayed. They were too big. Everything was too big in that place. . . . Shadow felt sorry for them all. There was an arrogance to the new ones. Shadow could see that. But there was also a fear. They were afraid that unless they kept face with a changing world unless they remade and redrew and rebuilt the world in their image, their time would already be over. Each side faced the other with bravery. . . .  Shadow could see an initial skirmish had already taken place. There was already blood on the rocks. They were readying themselves for the real battle, the real war. (678-680).  

A new identity is about to be born. Both for the individual, in real life, and for America, in terms of the story. 

What Shadow learns by the end is that the gods don’t need to fight each other. That the new gods need the old gods to anchor them, and that the old gods need the new gods in order to be able to reincarnate properly into this new world. When Mr. Wednesday finally dies, he is able to reincarnate into a body, into a way of living, that isn’t so at odds with the modern world. And that’s the point. Don’t be afraid to look at what you believe, to look at what gods you create in your life. What you believe is a reflection of who you are. The point is to take who you are and allow yourself to grow while maintaining your essence. So that one day you can be living like Odin, totally himself and totally at peace in the modern world. 

[fic-dreamin]

Adult fairy tales don't get much better than this Right up front I should admit, I'd never heard of Neil Gaiman before I read an enthusiastic newspaper review about this book and decided to preorder it a few days ago. Last night, it was wirelessly delivered to my Kindle and this morning, I picked it up and started reading. Almost instantly, I was so absorbed and lost in the storytelling experience that I didn't do anything else until I finished it a few hours later. Go to Amazon

Give me more I enjoyed the story but I wanted more. I have read most of Mr. Gaiman's novels and with the exception of Neverwhere always felt that they over stayed there welcome and were a little too far out there or something in particular about the book left me wanting something just a little different. This novel, closer to a long novella than a novel in my opinion, I wanted more, I wanted a larger story for the 2 main characters, I wanted more adventures and more danger for them. It is beautifully written and while it is a fantastical tale it is rooted in believability if that is possible. I wanted to know why the main character is in town, I wanted to know what he does with his life, I wanted a bigger glimpse of how this experience shapes him as the story is told in a flashback for all practical purposes. I guess that along with Neverwhere, I would like to explore this world he has created more so he should feel free to find his muse again and provide us another tale. Go to Amazon

I loved this book; it is all of gloomy, heartbreaking, and magical; in the end, it is completely hope-filled Neil Gaiman is one of those modern authors I automatically categorize as classic. I've loved his previous novels and all his little projects in between, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane solidifies his position as one of my all-time favorite writers. Go to Amazon

My Absolute Favorite (so far...) After about a month of prodding by my dear husband, I read American Gods and fell in love with Neil Gaiman. Next, I read Neverwhere and fell in love all over again. I just finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane a couple of minutes ago, and it took my breath away. This one, even more than the two before it, captured my heart, my soul, and my psyche, then flung my emotions around as if trapped in a tornado of fear, faith, and hope. I know I'm late to the party, but Mr. Gaiman's unbridled talent for sucking one into a story and making them experience every dreadful and wonderful moment until he is well and done with you, makes him unparalleled in my view as one of the greatest storytellers I have read, of late. Go to Amazon

A wonderous fairy tale for adults that took me back into my childhood. Meh. One of my favorite books of all time! Just sayin' Wonderful! Perfect Five Stars Pointless plot Fresh (New) Author (for me, anyway) I liked it but Im not sure why Must Read!!!

[countingyams]

This year, I resolve to waste time well

By Lydia Lum for The Sunday Times on January 01, 2017

New Year's resolutions can make for hard reading, especially in a year with sputtering economic growth and spiralling geopolitical risk, not to mention cost cutting and belt tightening, all of which can suck the cheer out of a festive season. Pledges to eat less, drink less and spend less just add to the gloom.

So I have decided to focus not on what I want to cut back on, but on how I want to enlarge my life.

This is no small step for a careful saver like me who has for decades embraced the Singapore ethic of squirrelling money away for a rainy day and, along with it, the modern cult of personal productivity which spurred me to purge my life of time-wasting activities such as watching television and reading storybooks.

Both seemed like indulgences I could ill afford. Instead, I have for years read almost exclusively non-fiction, the sort I need for work or for self-improvement.

Such a regimen trains you for a life that can seem awfully purposeful. But if adhered to too strictly, it fails to free you and instead tethers you to a powerful vacuum cleaner that sucks the joy out of living and leaves you wondering what you are storing away time and money for.

So this year, I resolve to do the opposite and think hard about how to waste time.

I use the word "waste" intentionally, a verb the dictionary says means to "use or expend carelessly, extravagantly or to no purpose". Its synonyms include "squander" and "fritter away".

I wish to devote this column precisely to extravagance and those aspects of life that seem to serve no purpose, at least not any that we can touch or tote up in our bank accounts or lists of achievements.

Many years ago, when I was still in school and had the time and space to wander around those magical places called libraries, linger among the shelves and delve into the books I chanced upon, I stumbled across some lines of poetry about buying "hyacinths for the soul". For some reason, that phrase enchanted me and I never forgot it, perhaps because it reminded me of that time long ago and those stories I read - stories from around the world about people and places and happenings that piqued my curiosity, fired my imagination and, yes, fed my soul.

The phrase likely comes from the work of a 13th-century Persian poet named Muslihuddin Sadi, who is said to have written these lines:

If, of thy mortal goods, thou art bereft,

And from thy slender store two loaves

alone to thee are left,

Sell one and from the dole,

Buy hyacinths to feed the soul.

Last year, I started reading fiction again and was transported to worlds I would never be able to travel to physically, no matter how big my budget. I was moved to tears by Madeleine Thein's novel, Do Not Say We Have Nothing, on China's cultural revolution, and thrilled that Tan Twan Eng's Garden Of Evening Mists taught me some of the history of a place I love - Cameron Highlands. I found myself wanting to tell my family and friends about what I learnt from reading those books. I cannot wait to discover more literary gems, especially those by Asian writers.

In a lecture he delivered in October 2015 on the future of reading and libraries, British writer Neil Gaiman spoke about visiting China in 2007 for the first-ever Communist Party-approved science fiction and fantasy convention. He wondered why science fiction, which had been disapproved of for a long time, was now allowed.

He asked a top official and related what this official said in reply: "It's simple, he told me. The Chinese were brilliant at making things if people brought them the plans. But they did not innovate and they did not invent. They did not imagine.

"So they sent a delegation to the US, to Apple, to Microsoft, to Google, and they asked the people there who were inventing the future about themselves. And they found out that all of them had read science fiction when they were boys and girls.

"Fiction can show you a different world. It can take you somewhere you have never been. Once you have visited other worlds, like those who ate fairy fruit, you can never be entirely content with the world that you grew up in. Discontent is a good thing: Discontented people can modify and improve their worlds, leaving them better, leaving them different."

American writer Maya Angelou stopped talking for five years after being raped at age seven. "In those five years," she said in an interview, "I read every book in the black school library. I read all the books I could get from the white school library. I memorised Shakespeare, whole plays, 50 sonnets. I memorised Edgar Allan Poe, all the poetry, never having heard it, I memorised it. I had Longfellow, I had Guy de Maupassant, I had Balzac, Rudyard Kipling. When I decided to speak, I had a lot to say, and many ways in which to say what I had to say... And I was able to draw from human thought, human disappointments and triumphs, enough to triumph myself."

Fiction, it seems, is a good waste of time.

What of music?

Just over a year ago, I was speaking to two friends whose seven-year-old daughter is now learning the cello. I mentioned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the three of us discovered that some 20 years ago, when we had not known each other, we had gone separately to watch him play with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at the Victoria Concert Hall. What was amazing was how well we all remembered that concert - actually I had only managed to get tickets to the lunchtime rehearsal - and how moved we had been by his playing. I had gone with a friend who is a classical music aficionado and I remember turning to him at the end of the Elgar Concerto and swallowing my words when I saw tears rolling silently down his face.

A couple of months ago, over tea in the office, a colleague surprised me by describing in vivid detail a trip he had made to Amsterdam, from Cambridge where he had then been studying, to catch a performance by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. It was clearly an experience he would cherish for the rest of his life. Since coming back to Singapore and starting work, though, he has had little time for concerts, he said. That made me sad because he spoke with such depth of feeling about the beauty of a Mahler symphony.

Why listen to classical music, or any other kind of music for that matter, especially if you have no plans to make a career of it?

Musician Andrew Balio, founder of Future Symphony Institute, a think-tank dedicated to classical music, believes classical music "opens for us a door into a space that exists beyond our physical world, and what we hear moving in the music through that space is us. The symphony takes us on a journey through the secretive shadows and the uncertain vistas of our human condition. It touches those things of value within us, and it invites them to witness the miracle of transubstantiation wherein the dross of our daily existence, however trivial or tragic, is changed into the possibility of salvation".

Mr Balio also reflects on why he thinks classical music audiences are ageing: "Obviously, our elders come to concerts not because they hope the music will make them better at maths or more successful in their careers. There is no use to which they plan to put the music they come to hear, cleverly plying it to realise their five- or 10-year plans.

"I think if we asked them, we would find that classical music for them is only about beauty. I think they would sympathise with John Ruskin, who said, 'Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless.'

"And maybe this is the real reason that audiences for classical music are aging: That it takes us so much longer to shake off the utilitarian mindset that pervades our modern world, so well-rooted it has become in our unexamined ways of thinking and being."

What would you like to waste time on this year? I leave you with that question and wish you a Happy New Year.

[oliverphisher]

Steven Lochran

Steven Lochran spent his childhood writing stories and now he gets to do it for a living. He graduated from Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing before going on to write the critically-acclaimed Paladero and Vanguard Prime series. In addition to his career as an author, Steven has also spent the past decade working in the publishing industry, first in the marketing department and then in sales. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and son. The Champions of the Blade, the fourth and final book in his Middle Grade fantasy Paladero series, is out now.

Steven Lochran is a master storyteller. He has written a gripping fantasy story which includes a transgender character, with an amazing insight and feel for the lived experience of trans and gender diverse people. His exploration of the impact families have on the lives of trans people touched so many memories for me.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

What a simple but sadistic question to ask a writer! I agonised over this for a while and finally settled on the following:

The Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl. One of the first books to spark my love of reading and writing.

1984 by George Orwell. I read this in a formative period of my life and still refer back to it to this day, both as a writer and as an individual.

Less by Andrew Sean Greer. This was obviously a much more recent novel which I loved, not just for the strength of its writing but for taking what could have been a self-indulgent premise and delivering it with warmth, humour and heart. It taught me to not be so self-conscious in my writing and to have courage in my ideas.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

There's a certain type of Staedtler pen that has a very fine but firm tip that I've found very satisfying to write with, particularly in a Spirax notebook; great for making notes and scribbling out rough drafts.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

I've lost count of the number of manuscripts I've begun or ideas I've started fleshing out which haven't ultimately led anywhere. One of the biggest was the first book I ever wrote that I sent out to multiple agents and publishers with no success. But I learned a lot from that experience and knew what to do better the next time I around. The very next book I wrote ended up being published, and a lot of ideas from that first unsuccessful manuscript ended up being repurposed in the Paladero series. Nothing ever goes to waste.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

Two quotes spring immediately to mind. The first is paraphrased from a speech Neil Gaiman gave at the 2008 Children's Book Council of Australia conference; "Everything that exists had to be dreamed of first ". This has always stuck with me as a lovely summation of why storytelling is so important.

The other is from fellow Melbourne author Melissa Keil, who very succinctly wrote in an article for the Guardian: “Everyone deserves to see themselves as a hero.” Something intrinsically important to remember when writing for young readers.

What is one of the best investments in a writing resource you’ve ever made?

I studied Creative Writing at uni, which was an immense privilege to be able to do and took about ten years' worth of professional development and concentrated it into three. That isn't to say you need to have a degree to be a professional writer; every author's path is different.

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

I love making Spotify playlists as part of my development process. Not a particularly unusual habit as I know a lot of authors do the same, but it's something I get a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction from, almost to the point of neglecting the actual writing in favour of hunting down the exact right song.

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?

Parenthood. It's not exactly a belief or behaviour in itself but it's made a massive impact in how I interact with the world, as well as with what kind of stories I'm interested in telling.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? What advice should they ignore?

The best advice I can offer is to not give up. The only time you're guaranteed not to succeed is when you stop trying. So don't stop trying.

I don't know if there's much advice I'd say to outright ignore, but I'd definitely say that all advice is subjective. While there are certain universal experiences of being a writer, every writer's process and personal rules are different. There is no right way or wrong way of being a writer. Your favourite author may swear by their particular method but that's only really true for them. An example; I love Alan Moore's work, and I remember him decrying the use of a thesaurus. But I use a thesaurus all the time. In short, don't let your idols psyche you out.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often?

"You HAVE to do X, Y or Z to be a writer". Again, all advice is subjective. When an author is giving advice, they're just communicating what works for them. The same won't necessarily work for you, so don't take it as gospel.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)?

Not a whole lot, I have to admit. Maybe check back with me in another five years!

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

Don't spend excessive amounts of your own money on marketing materials like t-shirts, coffee mugs, etc. And don't get caught up thinking you need to build some awe-inspiring social media platform to get published. Focus on your writing and let everything else flow from that.

What new realizations and/or approaches have helped you achieve your goals?

Your writing doesn't have to be perfect from the very first draft. Put down what you have in your head on the page. Keep going. Fix it later.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do?

Just keep writing, even if it's only a handful of words a day. So long as you're making some kind of progress, that's all that matters. You'll get there in the end.

Any other tips?  

Make sure you write down every idea you possibly can. Not only do they disappear like vapour, they can prove invaluable years or even decades later.

________

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[fic-dreamin]

Adult fairy tales don't get much better than this Right up front I should admit, I'd never heard of Neil Gaiman before I read an enthusiastic newspaper review about this book and decided to preorder it a few days ago. Last night, it was wirelessly delivered to my Kindle and this morning, I picked it up and started reading. Almost instantly, I was so absorbed and lost in the storytelling experience that I didn't do anything else until I finished it a few hours later. Go to Amazon

Get the Audiobook If you ever have a chance to listen to a Neil Gaiman book on audio, do it. I believe he narrates several of his audio books and he is a velvety-voiced reading god. Go to Amazon

Pure Poetry Death, abuse, and terror consume a child so easily. Fortunately, soft sweet black kitties are a comfort. Go to Amazon

I just didn't grab me. I am a Neil Gaiman fan. I've read much of his output, but I have to say that this book left me feeling empty. I didn't connect to the characters and I felt it was a bit rushed. After brilliance like American Gods and Coraline, this just didn't have it. Many have called it a brilliant adult fairy tale. I feel it was more geared at children. The story meanders on from set piece to set piece and when it ends, it does so flatly. It feels like there should be more here. Go to Amazon

Give me more I enjoyed the story but I wanted more. I have read most of Mr. Gaiman's novels and with the exception of Neverwhere always felt that they over stayed there welcome and were a little too far out there or something in particular about the book left me wanting something just a little different. This novel, closer to a long novella than a novel in my opinion, I wanted more, I wanted a larger story for the 2 main characters, I wanted more adventures and more danger for them. It is beautifully written and while it is a fantastical tale it is rooted in believability if that is possible. I wanted to know why the main character is in town, I wanted to know what he does with his life, I wanted a bigger glimpse of how this experience shapes him as the story is told in a flashback for all practical purposes. I guess that along with Neverwhere, I would like to explore this world he has created more so he should feel free to find his muse again and provide us another tale. Go to Amazon

Poignant novella that could have been more. I confess I have loved all of Neil Gaiman's work. I was excited when I realized he had produced another novel. I give it five stars for it's content and only 3 stars for it's length, averaging out to the four stars above. It could be that I have just gotten much faster at reading, or that consuming written word via a tablet makes the passage of the pages that much more fleeting. However, I find myself wishing there were more. The prose is excellent, the descriptions rich, and the lore of the world he creates is solid. Having said that, I wish this story had been broken into larger parts, or maybe addressed the rest of the main character's life. Seven is such a young age to begin and end a story that stretches beyond time. Thus I find myself wishing this story stretched longer than a single day's read while lounging in the sun. Go to Amazon

The pond or ocean Beautifully written, haunting, surreal- one of Neil Gaimen's best Worthy read I got about 50 pages into this book and then ... A Halloween Sort of Trip to Childhood Childhood memory stir Four Stars Five Stars Five Stars Author has a very vivid imagination...