Snapshot 2008
I haven't posted anything in a long time because I was holding off until I could make this post. I meant to do it the first of the year but obviously didn't get it written in time.
This post is meant to be, well, a snapshot of who I am right now, at least as far as my on-line presence goes and something of a year in review, too.
I rediscovered book reading last year. I'd never stopped reading, of course, but I got back into it in a big way. I read 134 books (including a few children's books and a few graphic novels). I've been joking that I need a "books are my other fandom" icon, but they really are. I've been spending more time on Goodreads and Librarything than on LJ lately. (I'd love to have some book discussions on LJ, too).
I've made good use of the local library, but I've also made an effort to actually read some of the many unread books I actually own. I was running about 50/50 there for a while, but I read a bunch of library books at the end of the year.
The vast majority of the books I read are fiction, but I read some non-fiction last year, too. Within fiction I read primarily fantasy and urban fantasy (paranormal fantasy, which is different from paranormal romance). One of these days I'll sit down and explain exactly what I mean when I say "urban fantasy" because I don't mean fantasy in an urban setting. I think it's a relatively new genre, though a popular one. I've also been reading post-apocalyptic fiction and I've been branching out to horror (where horror means zombies).
On that note, the best book I read last year was without question World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Books. The book was extremely well written. I think it worked because it took itself absolutely seriously. I'm normally not a fan of documentaries, but I think you could make a documentary from this book just by lifting the interviews word for word. Normally that kind of storytelling leaves me frustrated because I feel like there are too many characters and too many loose ends but in this book the series of interviews makes for a compelling narrative. This could be an amazing movie. It was certainly an amazing book. Even if you don't normally read horror I'd recommend it because the whole thing held together so well. It was so rich in detail that it really did seem like a historical account of something that actually happened. (If you're interested, there's a supplementary book which actually came first called The Zombie Survival Guide. It's interesting, but definitely not in the same category as World War Z.
I've also come to realize that while I always need characters that I'm interested in following, I'm willing to forgive slightly less interesting characters if I really like the world. I had no idea I was into world building until I read Read On...Fantasy Fiction: Reading List for Every Taste by Neil Hollands and almost all the books I wanted to read came from the world building section. Now, it's true that was the first section in the book and there was a lot of repetition in terms of what and who were on the various lists, but since then I've started to pay more attention to it and I've found that I really am interested in books with good world building.
I've found several new series that I'm currently following but here are my top three, alphabetical by author:
Enclave Series (Bloodring, Seraphs, Host) by Faith Hunter
I enjoy reading about Thorn & co. but this is a good example of a series where it's the world building that really sucked me in. The Enclave series is an interesting mix of traditional fantasy, Christian mythology (wait, come back!) and post-apocalyptic elements.
The story beings 100 years to the day since the apocalypse. Pretty much all the signs that were foretold in Revelations came to pass. A plague wiped out most of the world's population, there were massive wars, Seraphim and demons came to earth - - pretty much everything except God actually showing up. In all this chaos, mages were born (created?). Mages have an elemental magic (Thorn, the protagonist, is a stone mage, for example).
When angels came to earth they were not the happy messengers of God people tend to think of. They were the angels of the Old Testament, which is to say, when a seraph appears, usually lots of people are killed. They're God's enforcers. One of the many things they enforce is a cessation of human wars. Start a war, the Seraphs will come down and likely as not just kill everyone involved, victim and instigator alike.
Mages are in a special position. They are thought to be born without souls and they have a special right to call upon the Seraphs for protection. (Again, that will generally result in the death of any nearby humans). Most mages live in enclaves, separate from humans. They sometimes perform work for humans, but generally avoid contact. They use scripture when performing magic and when they are in battle.
I could go on and on. It's an amazingly rich and complex world. The punishments for crimes are downright draconian. The church still exists, and there are still people of different denominations, but it's generally expected that one attend church.
The characters are well developed, too. Following them and following the mythology of the world is fascinating. There's a sect that believes that the Seraphs and demons are space aliens. In many ways it feels like it's set in the early 18th or 19th century but there are still bits of technology from the present day (computers, television).
It's really just a very cool world. I believe Hunter is making an RPG based on the world which I think would be very interesting to play.
Untitled series (Melusine, The Virtu, The Mirador) by Sarah Monette
As soon as I finished the first book in the series I got the second one from the library and as soon as I finished that I got the third. Then I went out and bought the first two books (they're in paperback) and when Mac immediately dumped water on them the first night I had them I immediately replaced them. I was unhappy to learn the next book isn't due out until sometime in 2009 and even less happy that it's apparently the final book in the series.
This is a traditional fantasy series complete with mages and monarchy. The setting is well drawn, particularly the capital city, Melusine, where much of the books take place. It was really the characters that drew me into this one more than the setting but I'll get to them shortly. It's important to know that the main characters are from different classes so you see both the richest section of Melusine and the poorest.
A word of warning, for some reason I still can't figure out, Monette uses two measurements of time in the book and the one that is most often used is the one she made up. The lower class and upper class apparently have different names for the same period of time. I have no idea why she did this (there's no explanation) and it's damned annoying. I think it would be less annoying (though still irritating) if she hadn't had the upper class use the same measures of time that we do (days, weeks, etc) but she does. Try and get past it. It will be worth it.
My interest in this series stems more from the characters than the setting. Both of the main characters, Felix Harrowgate and Mildmay Foxe, seem very real. They are messy and complex individuals.
I'm most interested in Felix. He reminds me a little of Vanyel Ashkevron at the start of Magic's Pawn. Like Vanyel, Felix is arrogant, selfish, and extremely self-centered. Also like Vanyel, it's at least partially a defense mechanism to hide his own insecurity, vulnerability and sense of not quite belonging. Felix, however, is well aware that he's gay and is quite comfortable with it. As the first book opens he's the long time lover of the ruler's brother.
Although we have the fewest scenes from Felix's point of view, in my opinion he's the most interesting character. He's not a very likable character, in fact at times he's downright cruel, but he is interesting. He seems very real to me in that he makes the same mistakes again and again. He genuinely tries to change but he's not very successful at it. Even when he does something with the best of intentions it's not long before he falls back on familiar patterns.
I can't say too much without spoiling the book so I'll just say that Monette does a very good job of showing why Felix is the way he is.
Mildmay is also interesting, though I don't think his character has as much depth as Felix does. While Felix is high class and talks like it, Mildmay is lower class and that's very apparently from his speech patterns. It was hard to get into at first because of that, but unlike the random different time measurement I think it fits the character and eventually I was able to just go with it. In some ways Mildmay seems more capable of making lasting change but in other ways his thought and behavior patterns are just as deeply entrenched as Felix's.
It's true that much of the tension and angst between Felix and Mildmay could be resolved if they just talked to each other, but it's believable and I'd say more realistic that they don't. First of all, they're men, and while it's a stereotype, I also think it's true that men aren't as likely to sit down and talk about feelings. More importantly, neither one of them has ever had anyone in his entire life he can trust so neither one of them has much experience at letting another person in. And honestly, Felix still isn't trustworthy. Oh, he'd genuinely mean it when he says he won't betray Mildmay but eventually he will either because he's being thoughtless or because he's being deliberately cruel. And they also have different ideas about what constitutes a betrayal.
It's a very dark series with complex characters and if you can get past a few things like the random unit of time and characters who use improper grammar, it's well worth it.
Kitty Norville Series (Kitty and the Midnight Hour, Kitty Goes to Washington, Kitty Takes a Holiday, Kitty and the Silver Bullet) by Carrie Vaughn
This is an urban fantasy series and like most (though not all) urban fantasy, it's lighter reading. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with popcorn books either writing or reading them.
I generally prefer vampires to weres, but I like the system that Vaughn has created. While werewolves are the most common form of were, there are other were animals. Most importantly for me, while Vaughn's weres do want some kind of hierarchy and there is some submission to those in higher ranks, it's instinctive rather than magical coercion (as opposed to say, Patricia Brigg's Mercedes Thompson series). So it can be fought and no one can be magically dominated to do something she wouldn't normally do.
I also enjoy this series because we get to see the world become aware of paranormal elements. Kitty is well known because of her talk show and so we get some exposure to the political side of things, which of course I enjoy.
The characters are mostly interesting. Cormac often reminds me of Billy Cooper, which isn't a bad thing. And while there are romantic interests the series manages to stay away from feeling like a paranormal romance.
I'm a little concerned about where the series is going with book 4 though.
I was going to do a short blurb about each of the series I'm following but if I did that this sucker wouldn't get posted until this time next year. So instead I'll just list them with links to the first book in the series. Once again, alphabetical by author:
The Dresden Files
Nightrunner by Lynn Flewelling
Rachel Morgan by Kim Harrison
Enclave by Faith Hunter
Felix & Mildmay by Sarah Monette
Greywalker by Kat Richardson
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Cal Leandros by Rob Thurman
Kitty Norville by Carrie Vaughn
Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews
Valen (duology) by Carol Berg
Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
Weather Warden by Rachel Caine
Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine
The Silver Ship by Brenda Cooper
Conner Grey by Mark Del Franco
The Veil by Christopher Golden
Nightside by Simon R. Green
Drood Simon R. Green
Noble Dead by Barb and J.C. Hendee
Ravirn by Kelly McCullough
Sign of the Zodiac by Vicki Pettersson
Of course, I'll probably buy off both lists ASAP.
I have more authors on my flist than I used to which is honestly strange because chances are high they'll never know me from Eve. And I always feel a bit strange dropping a comment. Uh, hi. I like your stuff too, just like all the other nameless faceless people who have left a comment on your LJ.
Once again, you can see almost all the books I own (I still have to add the ones I got from Christmas and my birthday) on Librarything and you can see what I've read on Goodreads. I have written review of each book as well as a 1-5 rating which is sortable. Thus ends the book section. On to TV!
My other fandom is still Numb3rs, though honestly it's more for the fandom than the show these days. It's been okay this season and I've even starting to do something I once thought impossible - - like Amita. However, I'm still very much against Amita and Charlie moving in together. And how they think it's a good idea if she can't even tell her parents he exists is beyond me. Are they planning to be like Frits and Brenda in The Closer with separate phones? That seems untenable. Are her parents never going to visit again? What about her fiance back in India? Or maybe we're supposed to have forgotten that he even exists. (That'd be my guess).
As for the rest. Here's the TV I'm watching separated into three categories. Yes, I watch a lot of TV. But I also read a lot and rarely just watch TV. Usually I'm also on the computer or reading a book. In alphabetical order:
Appointment Viewing
Battlestar Galactica (SCIFI) - I can't tell you how glad I am that the writer's strike didn't fuck up the end of BSG the way it did Scrubs. I'm anxiously awaiting the final season of the show which theoretically will be in March. They keep moving it back. Not that I'm bitter.
Burn Notice (USA) - Best new show of the season, hands down. It's incredibly smart. There's lots of action and the characters are all wonderful (though Anwar really needs to eat something. She looks like a dried out Skelator). It's perfect for the summer and I'm really upset we might not have it because of the writer's strike. I want the DVDs, dammit!
The Daily Show (Comedy Central) - I still love Jon Stewart.
Life (NBC) - I've really enjoyed this show. Charlie is smart but offbeat and I like Stan and Cruz as well. It seems more like a USA show than an NBC show. Well done.
Reaper (CW) - I think it's smart and funny. All the characters (except maybe Andy) are cool in their own way. I love the relationship between Sock and Sam and I enjoy seeing the vessel of the week. The devil is pretty awesome too.
Shows I Enjoy But I Can Watch on DVR
Big Bang Theory (CBS) - I'd just started to get into this show when the writer's strike happened. It's actually very funny with lots of geek humor. Yes, one of the scientists is lusting after the not particular bright blonde next door, but there's enough smart humor that it's okay. And he's not giving up having a life, he is dating other people.
Bones (FOX) - I like all of the characters and the murders are slightly more interesting than in most shows. I think it does a better job of blending forensics, cases, and personal lives than CSI does.
Brothers and Sisters (ABC) - A family drama about the Walker clan. It's a little cliche at times but I think it's fun. I like seeing Rob Lowe again, he makes me miss Sam Seaborn. And there's a gay character who is as messed up as everyone else and is treated no different from any other character in terms of story lines.
Chuck (NBC) - Sarah doesn't interest me all that much, but the rest of the characters are pretty cool. It's funny, though not always as smart as some other shows. Still, it's a good time and there are some good lines. Plus, Buy More! (Bring back Tang!)
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) - I enjoy it, but I'm okay if I miss a few episodes.
Doctor Who (SCIFI) - I never got into Tennant the way some others did. But that's okay.
Friday Night Lights (NBC) - It was really good and then second season it tried to appeal to a wider audience. I'm much less enthused about this season although it looks like maybe it's finally getting back on track.
Grey's Anatomy (ABC) - I'm kind of on the fence on this one. It's starting to come out of its slump, I think. I'm enjoying seeing more of Dr. Bailey's personal life. I'm so glad the George/Izzie thing is done. Now we just need something awesome for Calli to do
House (FOX) - I'm liking it much more now that the original team is rarely there.
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - It's a terrific balance of characters. Smarter and funnier than Friends ever was. I love Barney. Legendary!
Ice Road Truckers (HISTORY) - Surprisingly fun and addictive!
K-Ville (FOX) - I think they made a huge error in the twist ending in the first episode because I think it turned a lot of people off. I think they should have waited until at least the second show. However, I gave it another shot and I really enjoyed it. Too bad I'm sure it's canceled.
Mad Men (AMC) - I only caught the last few episodes but they were amazing. The writing and acting are both wonderful. They are very true to the time period with no deference for today's political correctness. There's sexism, alcohol flows like water and everybody smokes.
N.C.I.S. (CBS) - I continue to enjoy this show, though the idea that you had to go on-line to see what was in Gibbs' daughter's lunchbox was annoying. On-line things are supposed to supplement the viewing experience, not be required.
Numb3rs (CBS) - see above.
Project Runway (BRAVO) - This season's contestants don't seem nearly as talented as the contestants in previous seasons. Still fun to watch though.
Psych (USA) - Still very, very funny. And I love the "psych outs."
Samantha Who (ABC) - An often amusing show about a woman with amnesia. Christina Applegate is fantastic.
Stargate Atlantis (SCIFI) - I'm getting into it more now. But I love Teyla and I'm not thrilled about where her story line is going. Why is no one writing slash stories about her and the good doctor? I demand an explanation!
Ugly Betty (ABC) - I just started watching the first season on DVD and I haven't seen any of second season yet.
I'll Watch it, But I Won't Miss it If It's Canceled or Shows I Watch if I Notice They're On and I Can't Find Anything Else
30 Rock (NBC) - I've seen a few episodes and it's okay.
Bionic Woman (NBC) - It should have been so much better. The casting department fell down on the job. Michelle Ryan's bionic woman is bland, passive, and completely uninteresting. Katee Sackhoff's bionic woman on the other hand is firey, edgy, passionate and flat out rocks (even if Sackhoff is becoming typecast). She would have done wonders with the title role though I think the series focusing on her character as is would be exponentially better that what's on now.
Blood Ties (LIFETIME) - I finally caught a few episodes. It's interesting, though not as good as the books. Exponentially better than the episode of Moonlight I saw.
Cold Case (CBS) - I'm still watching, but I'm not really invested in any of the characters and I wouldn't miss it if it were canceled.
C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) - I've seen a few episodes this season but it feels like they're rehashing plot arcs from other seasons and I just don't care.
Damages (FX) - We'll see. Parts were obvious, parts not so much so.
Duel (ABC) - Yes, I watched it. There's a writer's strike, okay? It was an okay show. I don't need to see it again.
Flight of the Conchords (HBO) - It was good and funny and then it was really repetitive.
Heroes (NBC) - I was never as enthusiastic about it as my friends were and this season was just downright terrible.
Journyman (NBC) - It's okay. It wasn't as good as I was hoping.
Las Vegas (NBC) - It's okay. I just started watching this season.
Law & Order CI and SVU (USA) - I often flip to watch these when there's nothing else on. I generally watch the reruns though, not the new episodes.
Medium (NBC) - It's all right.
My Name is Earl (NBC) - I've seen a few episodes and it's okay.
Mythbusters (Discovery) - I enjoy this show but I mostly use it as a time filler.
Private Practice (ABC) - I've caught a few shows. It's pretty meh. Addison has become a different person.
Without a Trace (CBS) - It's okay, but like CSI I find I'm just not all that invested in people's lives anymore. And I think I missed an important episode at the beginning of the season.
Women's Murder Club (ABC) - I've seen a few episodes. It's okay but pretty much the same as every other crime show.
As far as politics goes, I'm woefully, shamefully uninformed. I need to remedy that ASAP. If the vote were today I'd have no idea who I was going to vote for.
I got an xbox 360 for Christmas and it's eating up all my time. I'm not really reading or watching much except A Daily Show.
I have some goals for LJ next year.
1) Post more
2) Do more 30 second reviews and more politics posts
3) Do a monthly reading round up post like people do for fic. I'd love to discuss the books I'm reading but I think the reviews get lost.
4) Write and post drabbles
5) Track movies I've seen in theaters the same way I've been tracking books
This post is meant to be, well, a snapshot of who I am right now, at least as far as my on-line presence goes and something of a year in review, too.
I rediscovered book reading last year. I'd never stopped reading, of course, but I got back into it in a big way. I read 134 books (including a few children's books and a few graphic novels). I've been joking that I need a "books are my other fandom" icon, but they really are. I've been spending more time on Goodreads and Librarything than on LJ lately. (I'd love to have some book discussions on LJ, too).
I've made good use of the local library, but I've also made an effort to actually read some of the many unread books I actually own. I was running about 50/50 there for a while, but I read a bunch of library books at the end of the year.
The vast majority of the books I read are fiction, but I read some non-fiction last year, too. Within fiction I read primarily fantasy and urban fantasy (paranormal fantasy, which is different from paranormal romance). One of these days I'll sit down and explain exactly what I mean when I say "urban fantasy" because I don't mean fantasy in an urban setting. I think it's a relatively new genre, though a popular one. I've also been reading post-apocalyptic fiction and I've been branching out to horror (where horror means zombies).
On that note, the best book I read last year was without question World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Books. The book was extremely well written. I think it worked because it took itself absolutely seriously. I'm normally not a fan of documentaries, but I think you could make a documentary from this book just by lifting the interviews word for word. Normally that kind of storytelling leaves me frustrated because I feel like there are too many characters and too many loose ends but in this book the series of interviews makes for a compelling narrative. This could be an amazing movie. It was certainly an amazing book. Even if you don't normally read horror I'd recommend it because the whole thing held together so well. It was so rich in detail that it really did seem like a historical account of something that actually happened. (If you're interested, there's a supplementary book which actually came first called The Zombie Survival Guide. It's interesting, but definitely not in the same category as World War Z.
I've also come to realize that while I always need characters that I'm interested in following, I'm willing to forgive slightly less interesting characters if I really like the world. I had no idea I was into world building until I read Read On...Fantasy Fiction: Reading List for Every Taste by Neil Hollands and almost all the books I wanted to read came from the world building section. Now, it's true that was the first section in the book and there was a lot of repetition in terms of what and who were on the various lists, but since then I've started to pay more attention to it and I've found that I really am interested in books with good world building.
I've found several new series that I'm currently following but here are my top three, alphabetical by author:
Enclave Series (Bloodring, Seraphs, Host) by Faith Hunter
I enjoy reading about Thorn & co. but this is a good example of a series where it's the world building that really sucked me in. The Enclave series is an interesting mix of traditional fantasy, Christian mythology (wait, come back!) and post-apocalyptic elements.
The story beings 100 years to the day since the apocalypse. Pretty much all the signs that were foretold in Revelations came to pass. A plague wiped out most of the world's population, there were massive wars, Seraphim and demons came to earth - - pretty much everything except God actually showing up. In all this chaos, mages were born (created?). Mages have an elemental magic (Thorn, the protagonist, is a stone mage, for example).
When angels came to earth they were not the happy messengers of God people tend to think of. They were the angels of the Old Testament, which is to say, when a seraph appears, usually lots of people are killed. They're God's enforcers. One of the many things they enforce is a cessation of human wars. Start a war, the Seraphs will come down and likely as not just kill everyone involved, victim and instigator alike.
Mages are in a special position. They are thought to be born without souls and they have a special right to call upon the Seraphs for protection. (Again, that will generally result in the death of any nearby humans). Most mages live in enclaves, separate from humans. They sometimes perform work for humans, but generally avoid contact. They use scripture when performing magic and when they are in battle.
I could go on and on. It's an amazingly rich and complex world. The punishments for crimes are downright draconian. The church still exists, and there are still people of different denominations, but it's generally expected that one attend church.
The characters are well developed, too. Following them and following the mythology of the world is fascinating. There's a sect that believes that the Seraphs and demons are space aliens. In many ways it feels like it's set in the early 18th or 19th century but there are still bits of technology from the present day (computers, television).
It's really just a very cool world. I believe Hunter is making an RPG based on the world which I think would be very interesting to play.
Untitled series (Melusine, The Virtu, The Mirador) by Sarah Monette
As soon as I finished the first book in the series I got the second one from the library and as soon as I finished that I got the third. Then I went out and bought the first two books (they're in paperback) and when Mac immediately dumped water on them the first night I had them I immediately replaced them. I was unhappy to learn the next book isn't due out until sometime in 2009 and even less happy that it's apparently the final book in the series.
This is a traditional fantasy series complete with mages and monarchy. The setting is well drawn, particularly the capital city, Melusine, where much of the books take place. It was really the characters that drew me into this one more than the setting but I'll get to them shortly. It's important to know that the main characters are from different classes so you see both the richest section of Melusine and the poorest.
A word of warning, for some reason I still can't figure out, Monette uses two measurements of time in the book and the one that is most often used is the one she made up. The lower class and upper class apparently have different names for the same period of time. I have no idea why she did this (there's no explanation) and it's damned annoying. I think it would be less annoying (though still irritating) if she hadn't had the upper class use the same measures of time that we do (days, weeks, etc) but she does. Try and get past it. It will be worth it.
My interest in this series stems more from the characters than the setting. Both of the main characters, Felix Harrowgate and Mildmay Foxe, seem very real. They are messy and complex individuals.
I'm most interested in Felix. He reminds me a little of Vanyel Ashkevron at the start of Magic's Pawn. Like Vanyel, Felix is arrogant, selfish, and extremely self-centered. Also like Vanyel, it's at least partially a defense mechanism to hide his own insecurity, vulnerability and sense of not quite belonging. Felix, however, is well aware that he's gay and is quite comfortable with it. As the first book opens he's the long time lover of the ruler's brother.
Although we have the fewest scenes from Felix's point of view, in my opinion he's the most interesting character. He's not a very likable character, in fact at times he's downright cruel, but he is interesting. He seems very real to me in that he makes the same mistakes again and again. He genuinely tries to change but he's not very successful at it. Even when he does something with the best of intentions it's not long before he falls back on familiar patterns.
I can't say too much without spoiling the book so I'll just say that Monette does a very good job of showing why Felix is the way he is.
Mildmay is also interesting, though I don't think his character has as much depth as Felix does. While Felix is high class and talks like it, Mildmay is lower class and that's very apparently from his speech patterns. It was hard to get into at first because of that, but unlike the random different time measurement I think it fits the character and eventually I was able to just go with it. In some ways Mildmay seems more capable of making lasting change but in other ways his thought and behavior patterns are just as deeply entrenched as Felix's.
It's true that much of the tension and angst between Felix and Mildmay could be resolved if they just talked to each other, but it's believable and I'd say more realistic that they don't. First of all, they're men, and while it's a stereotype, I also think it's true that men aren't as likely to sit down and talk about feelings. More importantly, neither one of them has ever had anyone in his entire life he can trust so neither one of them has much experience at letting another person in. And honestly, Felix still isn't trustworthy. Oh, he'd genuinely mean it when he says he won't betray Mildmay but eventually he will either because he's being thoughtless or because he's being deliberately cruel. And they also have different ideas about what constitutes a betrayal.
It's a very dark series with complex characters and if you can get past a few things like the random unit of time and characters who use improper grammar, it's well worth it.
Kitty Norville Series (Kitty and the Midnight Hour, Kitty Goes to Washington, Kitty Takes a Holiday, Kitty and the Silver Bullet) by Carrie Vaughn
This is an urban fantasy series and like most (though not all) urban fantasy, it's lighter reading. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with popcorn books either writing or reading them.
I generally prefer vampires to weres, but I like the system that Vaughn has created. While werewolves are the most common form of were, there are other were animals. Most importantly for me, while Vaughn's weres do want some kind of hierarchy and there is some submission to those in higher ranks, it's instinctive rather than magical coercion (as opposed to say, Patricia Brigg's Mercedes Thompson series). So it can be fought and no one can be magically dominated to do something she wouldn't normally do.
I also enjoy this series because we get to see the world become aware of paranormal elements. Kitty is well known because of her talk show and so we get some exposure to the political side of things, which of course I enjoy.
The characters are mostly interesting. Cormac often reminds me of Billy Cooper, which isn't a bad thing. And while there are romantic interests the series manages to stay away from feeling like a paranormal romance.
I'm a little concerned about where the series is going with book 4 though.
I was going to do a short blurb about each of the series I'm following but if I did that this sucker wouldn't get posted until this time next year. So instead I'll just list them with links to the first book in the series. Once again, alphabetical by author:
The Dresden Files
Nightrunner by Lynn Flewelling
Rachel Morgan by Kim Harrison
Enclave by Faith Hunter
Felix & Mildmay by Sarah Monette
Greywalker by Kat Richardson
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Cal Leandros by Rob Thurman
Kitty Norville by Carrie Vaughn
Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews
Valen (duology) by Carol Berg
Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
Weather Warden by Rachel Caine
Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine
The Silver Ship by Brenda Cooper
Conner Grey by Mark Del Franco
The Veil by Christopher Golden
Nightside by Simon R. Green
Drood Simon R. Green
Noble Dead by Barb and J.C. Hendee
Ravirn by Kelly McCullough
Sign of the Zodiac by Vicki Pettersson
Of course, I'll probably buy off both lists ASAP.
I have more authors on my flist than I used to which is honestly strange because chances are high they'll never know me from Eve. And I always feel a bit strange dropping a comment. Uh, hi. I like your stuff too, just like all the other nameless faceless people who have left a comment on your LJ.
Once again, you can see almost all the books I own (I still have to add the ones I got from Christmas and my birthday) on Librarything and you can see what I've read on Goodreads. I have written review of each book as well as a 1-5 rating which is sortable. Thus ends the book section. On to TV!
My other fandom is still Numb3rs, though honestly it's more for the fandom than the show these days. It's been okay this season and I've even starting to do something I once thought impossible - - like Amita. However, I'm still very much against Amita and Charlie moving in together. And how they think it's a good idea if she can't even tell her parents he exists is beyond me. Are they planning to be like Frits and Brenda in The Closer with separate phones? That seems untenable. Are her parents never going to visit again? What about her fiance back in India? Or maybe we're supposed to have forgotten that he even exists. (That'd be my guess).
As for the rest. Here's the TV I'm watching separated into three categories. Yes, I watch a lot of TV. But I also read a lot and rarely just watch TV. Usually I'm also on the computer or reading a book. In alphabetical order:
Appointment Viewing
Battlestar Galactica (SCIFI) - I can't tell you how glad I am that the writer's strike didn't fuck up the end of BSG the way it did Scrubs. I'm anxiously awaiting the final season of the show which theoretically will be in March. They keep moving it back. Not that I'm bitter.
Burn Notice (USA) - Best new show of the season, hands down. It's incredibly smart. There's lots of action and the characters are all wonderful (though Anwar really needs to eat something. She looks like a dried out Skelator). It's perfect for the summer and I'm really upset we might not have it because of the writer's strike. I want the DVDs, dammit!
The Daily Show (Comedy Central) - I still love Jon Stewart.
Life (NBC) - I've really enjoyed this show. Charlie is smart but offbeat and I like Stan and Cruz as well. It seems more like a USA show than an NBC show. Well done.
Reaper (CW) - I think it's smart and funny. All the characters (except maybe Andy) are cool in their own way. I love the relationship between Sock and Sam and I enjoy seeing the vessel of the week. The devil is pretty awesome too.
Shows I Enjoy But I Can Watch on DVR
Big Bang Theory (CBS) - I'd just started to get into this show when the writer's strike happened. It's actually very funny with lots of geek humor. Yes, one of the scientists is lusting after the not particular bright blonde next door, but there's enough smart humor that it's okay. And he's not giving up having a life, he is dating other people.
Bones (FOX) - I like all of the characters and the murders are slightly more interesting than in most shows. I think it does a better job of blending forensics, cases, and personal lives than CSI does.
Brothers and Sisters (ABC) - A family drama about the Walker clan. It's a little cliche at times but I think it's fun. I like seeing Rob Lowe again, he makes me miss Sam Seaborn. And there's a gay character who is as messed up as everyone else and is treated no different from any other character in terms of story lines.
Chuck (NBC) - Sarah doesn't interest me all that much, but the rest of the characters are pretty cool. It's funny, though not always as smart as some other shows. Still, it's a good time and there are some good lines. Plus, Buy More! (Bring back Tang!)
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) - I enjoy it, but I'm okay if I miss a few episodes.
Doctor Who (SCIFI) - I never got into Tennant the way some others did. But that's okay.
Friday Night Lights (NBC) - It was really good and then second season it tried to appeal to a wider audience. I'm much less enthused about this season although it looks like maybe it's finally getting back on track.
Grey's Anatomy (ABC) - I'm kind of on the fence on this one. It's starting to come out of its slump, I think. I'm enjoying seeing more of Dr. Bailey's personal life. I'm so glad the George/Izzie thing is done. Now we just need something awesome for Calli to do
House (FOX) - I'm liking it much more now that the original team is rarely there.
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - It's a terrific balance of characters. Smarter and funnier than Friends ever was. I love Barney. Legendary!
Ice Road Truckers (HISTORY) - Surprisingly fun and addictive!
K-Ville (FOX) - I think they made a huge error in the twist ending in the first episode because I think it turned a lot of people off. I think they should have waited until at least the second show. However, I gave it another shot and I really enjoyed it. Too bad I'm sure it's canceled.
Mad Men (AMC) - I only caught the last few episodes but they were amazing. The writing and acting are both wonderful. They are very true to the time period with no deference for today's political correctness. There's sexism, alcohol flows like water and everybody smokes.
N.C.I.S. (CBS) - I continue to enjoy this show, though the idea that you had to go on-line to see what was in Gibbs' daughter's lunchbox was annoying. On-line things are supposed to supplement the viewing experience, not be required.
Numb3rs (CBS) - see above.
Project Runway (BRAVO) - This season's contestants don't seem nearly as talented as the contestants in previous seasons. Still fun to watch though.
Psych (USA) - Still very, very funny. And I love the "psych outs."
Samantha Who (ABC) - An often amusing show about a woman with amnesia. Christina Applegate is fantastic.
Stargate Atlantis (SCIFI) - I'm getting into it more now. But I love Teyla and I'm not thrilled about where her story line is going. Why is no one writing slash stories about her and the good doctor? I demand an explanation!
Ugly Betty (ABC) - I just started watching the first season on DVD and I haven't seen any of second season yet.
I'll Watch it, But I Won't Miss it If It's Canceled or Shows I Watch if I Notice They're On and I Can't Find Anything Else
30 Rock (NBC) - I've seen a few episodes and it's okay.
Bionic Woman (NBC) - It should have been so much better. The casting department fell down on the job. Michelle Ryan's bionic woman is bland, passive, and completely uninteresting. Katee Sackhoff's bionic woman on the other hand is firey, edgy, passionate and flat out rocks (even if Sackhoff is becoming typecast). She would have done wonders with the title role though I think the series focusing on her character as is would be exponentially better that what's on now.
Blood Ties (LIFETIME) - I finally caught a few episodes. It's interesting, though not as good as the books. Exponentially better than the episode of Moonlight I saw.
Cold Case (CBS) - I'm still watching, but I'm not really invested in any of the characters and I wouldn't miss it if it were canceled.
C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) - I've seen a few episodes this season but it feels like they're rehashing plot arcs from other seasons and I just don't care.
Damages (FX) - We'll see. Parts were obvious, parts not so much so.
Duel (ABC) - Yes, I watched it. There's a writer's strike, okay? It was an okay show. I don't need to see it again.
Flight of the Conchords (HBO) - It was good and funny and then it was really repetitive.
Heroes (NBC) - I was never as enthusiastic about it as my friends were and this season was just downright terrible.
Journyman (NBC) - It's okay. It wasn't as good as I was hoping.
Las Vegas (NBC) - It's okay. I just started watching this season.
Law & Order CI and SVU (USA) - I often flip to watch these when there's nothing else on. I generally watch the reruns though, not the new episodes.
Medium (NBC) - It's all right.
My Name is Earl (NBC) - I've seen a few episodes and it's okay.
Mythbusters (Discovery) - I enjoy this show but I mostly use it as a time filler.
Private Practice (ABC) - I've caught a few shows. It's pretty meh. Addison has become a different person.
Without a Trace (CBS) - It's okay, but like CSI I find I'm just not all that invested in people's lives anymore. And I think I missed an important episode at the beginning of the season.
Women's Murder Club (ABC) - I've seen a few episodes. It's okay but pretty much the same as every other crime show.
As far as politics goes, I'm woefully, shamefully uninformed. I need to remedy that ASAP. If the vote were today I'd have no idea who I was going to vote for.
I got an xbox 360 for Christmas and it's eating up all my time. I'm not really reading or watching much except A Daily Show.
I have some goals for LJ next year.
1) Post more
2) Do more 30 second reviews and more politics posts
3) Do a monthly reading round up post like people do for fic. I'd love to discuss the books I'm reading but I think the reviews get lost.
4) Write and post drabbles
5) Track movies I've seen in theaters the same way I've been tracking books