Updates, fannish and otherwise + recent books read

[luzula]

1) I have turned in the first draft of my due South Big Bang fic! Which doesn't mean there isn't any work done--I have to do a bit of rewriting following beta feedback--but still, it's satisfying.

2) Am up to "Bounty Hunter" in my dS rewatch, and now I want Benton Fraser/Janet Morse fic, of which there is very little (I can only think of two?). I suppose I'll have to ask for it in dSSS... Also, PG, please do not have Fraser say things like "poisonous tundra beetles". *headdesks*

3) If you want an update on the environmental conflict I posted about recently, it seems that we have temporarily won! \o/ The pressure got to be too much for the logging contractor (I guess photos of white-haired older women being carried away by the police are not exactly good press) and they said they'd hold off until the Supreme Court had decided on it. And apparently there were so many people there that as soon as the police carried someone away, someone else could take their place, so not much of the forest actually got cut down. Still wish I could've been there, though. And the struggle isn't necessarily over, but still! Yay!

4) Recent books I've read:

The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff
I love Sutcliff's language and her landscape descriptions! Also I liked the BFF main characters in this one. She's written so many books, too, and I'm looking forward to reading more of them.

The Steerswoman's Road by Rosemary Kirstein
It took me some time to get into this one. I don't know why, because the main character should push my buttons: it's a woman who does important stuff, without any romance angle. Maybe it's because I came to it from Sutcliff, and I didn't enjoy the language for its own sake in this book. Anyway, it won me over with the heightened action and world-building revelations at the end, and I like the focus on critical thinking in a fantasy-type world. Will be reading the sequel.

Getting Married In Buffalo Jump by Susan Haley
I have a thing for backstory, and I liked getting more of it here. The backstory in the book is not incompatible with the movie, from what I remember, but it's not hinted at there--specifically, much of it revolves around one person who isn't present but was important to Alex and Annie, and who isn't in the movie. It's interesting to see Sophie try to piece together the different stories that people tell themselves about what actually happened.

The Jump-Off Creek by Molly Gloss
The writing is beautifully suited to the characters, and it kind of sneaks up on you so that you're surprised by how much you care about the characters by the end when they're in danger. The book is about a woman homesteader in Oregon in the 1890's, and her neighbors. I like the focus on the neighbor relationships--that isn't something you read about often. Am going to pick up Gloss' SF book The Dazzle of Day soon.

Have now started on The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, which was recced to me by malnpudl. It's not something I would have picked up otherwise--I have no particular interest in the American Civil War--but the writing is lovely (sometimes I go back and reread passages just to enjoy the language) and yes, it is incredibly slashy.

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

hurray for big bang!

[luzula]

Thank you! : )

[glitteryv]

Congrats on finishing your Big Bang. :)

Hmm, yeah, from what I remember there's very little (yup, I can only think of two fics) Fraser/Janet Morse fic. It could be that, in order to write it, people would either have to: a)move Janet's loser husband out of the way (hopefully in a way that's plausible/explainable) OR b)get Fraser and Janet into an affair. This last one is very tricky. Would Fraser be OK with infidelity? We all know he's a very moral character--but he's also human and, as per canon, very lonely.

They do have a lot of chemistry (from what I can remember since it's been a good 2 years since I last saw that ep) and that accounts for something.

Also, hooray for the success on the environmental thing. Even if it's temporary, it's a piece of good news that will benefit everyone.

[luzula]

Thanks!

Let's see if we're thinking of the same fics here: there's one PWP by Llassah, and one that's Ray/Ray set at Fraser and Janet's wedding (by either Brynn or SDWolfpup, I think). Are those the ones you're thinking of?

Yeah, Fraser and Janet do have chemistry. And I don't think getting Janet to separate from her husband would be that hard. It looks like she's only staying with him because of the kids, and it's not even clear that they are together in a romantic sense at the end of the episode--I mean, she's talking about making a separate building where he can stay when he's there. So not exactly true love, there.

It's not that I'm invested in this pairing or anything, but I'd love to see their interactions explored more (plus, they'd be hot together).

[glitteryv]

Yeah, those are the fics I was thinking about. Maybe there are some other ones (that were posted in old, old skool sites), who knows? If it wasn't for the rarity of the pairing, I wouldn't have remembered. Especially since I'm pretty sure I never read the Ray/Ray one.

The obstacle between Janet and Fraser seemed, to me, very tacked-on. The husband showing up and the lack of, like you said, love made everyone (probably down to Dief) wonder why did they stay together at the end. For all we know, TPTB might've been thinking about bringing her back for a 4th season appearance (which is also my theory for Maggie and Eric.) In some ways, a lot of S3 was set-up. I guess we'll never know.

(Hee, sounds like part of you is invested in the 'ship. *g*)

[akamine_chan]

And I don't think getting Janet to separate from her husband would be that hard. It looks like she's only staying with him because of the kids, and it's not even clear that they are together in a romantic sense at the end of the episode--I mean, she's talking about making a separate building where he can stay when he's there. So not exactly true love, there.

Hmmm, that's an interesting viewpoint, Luz. In my mind, someone staying together for the kids is not going to end the relationship for true love - historically, women have entered relationships not for love, but for protection and shelter and the promise of food on the table.

I never really liked Janet Morse as a character - she was written too unevenly (as so many of the female characters were) and I couldn't understand why Fraser was attracted to her...

Also, poisonous tundra beetles are the coolest. Like tundra rattlesnakes. *g*

[luzula]

Hmmm, that's an interesting viewpoint, Luz. In my mind, someone staying together for the kids is not going to end the relationship for true love - historically, women have entered relationships not for love, but for protection and shelter and the promise of food on the table.

Well, yes, but in Janet's case, she seemed to be the one earning the money (her husband even complains about how hard that is for him). So that's not a reason for her to stay with him. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding you? I didn't entirely understand what you meant here: someone staying together for the kids is not going to end the relationship for true love.

I understand why Fraser is attracted to her--she's competent and like him in many ways, and I do think Fraser is attracted by competence. If there's something I don't like about her, it's that she manipulates/guilt-trips Fraser into helping her, but it's not for any nefarious purposes or anything. I think they could be a good couple in the right circumstances.

Also, poisonous tundra beetles are the coolest. Like tundra rattlesnakes. *g*

Augh, noooo! They destroy my suspension of disbelief. I mean, ghosts and decoding binary messages while looking cross-eyed I can accept with no trouble, but poisonous tundra beetles, no. My lines, they are perhaps arbitrary.

[akamine_chan]

Well, yes, but in Janet's case, she seemed to be the one earning the money (her husband even complains about how hard that is for him). So that's not a reason for her to stay with him. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding you? I didn't entirely understand what you meant here: someone staying together for the kids is not going to end the relationship for true love.

What I'm saying is that she's staying with her husband because she wants her kids to have their father in their lives, and most times, if that's your main motivation for staying in a relationship, you're not going to end that relationship because you're physically attracted to someone else. You're not going to take the risk that your new love interest is going to be a good father figure.

In the past, love had very little to do with marriages. You say that there's no reason for Janet and her husband to stay together, because they're obviously not in love, and I'm just saying that love is not the glue people think it is. :D

And I have known many, many people who stay together in relationships for the sake of the kids. It's a very powerful motivator, so it would take some good reasons for me to buy into their separation.

When my family moved to Iceland, we were warned about, very seriously, the snow snakes. Which was apparently like a traditional way to welcome new people to the base. I spent a lot of time looking for those snakes...*g*

[luzula]

Ah, okay. Well, can't someone can be a parent to their kids even if they're no longer married/in a relationship with the other parent? What I mean is, Janet's comment about having him stay in another house seems to me to say that she wants him to take his share of the parenting (because they're his kids, too), but she doesn't necessarily want to share a bedroom with him.

But yes, I take your point--if you have kids with someone, you have a shared responsibility that lasts for many years.

[cahn]

Hm. I'm one of the few people who wasn't blown away by The Steerswoman's Road, to the extent that I haven't bothered to pick up the sequels (I mean, I wouldn't mind reading them, I just have never bothered to seek them out). I think my problem was that I found the worldbuilding sort of... wish-fulfillment? It was this world where everyone treats scientists with super-awesome deference! And where everyone totally respects science! Yaaaaay! ...and I guess I was never really quite convinced, though I suppose the ending hints as to why this might be the case.

Sutcliffe, though! I have her Arthurian-retelling trilogy and love it. I definitely should look at her other books.

[luzula]

Well, I wasn't blown away? But I did end up liking it, if not loving it. I think it was the fact that it's set in a fantasy-type world (at least seemingly so) that made the science stuff feel fresh and interesting. I mean, in science fiction we're used to science being respected, but in fantasy worlds with magic, it's not so common (and often science hardly exists in worlds like that). And yes, the Steerswomen are respected, but they don't seem to have that much power, really? I'll be interested to see where the sequel takes it (besides which, I bought an edition which combined the first two books, so I already have the sequel). But my interest is mostly intellectual--I didn't feel that invested in the characters.

I haven't read Sutcliff's Arthurian books yet, but I do recommend Eagle of the Ninth (there's some good fic for that, too).

[jesse_the_k]

re: Steerswoman stuff. What I loved most in book 1 was the fact that science overwhelms standard fantasy (I read too much standard fantasy product as a child). But the second book does a fabulous job depicting a close friendship between two women from radically different cultures as they interact with a third. I think the The Outskirter's Secret is the best of the three.

re: environmental protection. What lovely news.

re: The Dazzle of the Day lives up to its title and its reputation.

[luzula]

I'll look forward to the second one, then! : )

[feroxargentea]

Sutcliff's landscapes are so bewitching, the plot and characters become almost superfluous! Have you read The Lantern Bearers? I think it's the best of the Eagle set.

[luzula]

Yes, I agree! I have such a thing for good landscape descriptions. And no, I haven't read The Lantern Bearers yet, but I have it, and I will read it soon. : )

[isis]

I agree TLB is the best of the Eagle series (the Dolphin Ring Cycle) although maybe I like Frontier Wolf more. TLB is a bit different from the previous two in that it's about Aquila as a loner rather than as a BFF with someone, and it's a bit of a downer.

Luz, it also leads directly into Sword at Sunset with some of the same characters, so you'll recognize a few names! And there is some really good fanfic now for it from sutcliff_swap - don't read the fic first or it will spoil the book, but there are some amazing stories!

[luzula]

it also leads directly into Sword at Sunset with some of the same characters

Oh, that's good to know! And I just discovered that my local library actually has Sword at Sunset, in English even. Excellent.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

GMiBJ is a book? Why didn't I know this? Must have.

[luzula]

It is a book, yes! It doesn't seem to be in print, but it's easy to find cheap used copies online.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Yay!