SL Day 27-31
Is this an ant burying in sand? I seem to not be reading this week, and the word count isn't progressing quite as I'd like. Two books to report reading, but I'm still thirty pages off finishing Overlay and 150 off A Time of Changes, Silverberg's answer to Babel-17. I have at least six hours' worth of reading time in the next two days, and I must be tough over the bank holiday weekend.
I've seen - and briefly noted - Shivers, Carrie and Alien, and I probably ought to rewatch The Exorcist if I can find the time, even though I've already written it up. I suspect I also need to turn the internet off and write some chunks.
LXXVII: Doris Lessing, Shikasta (1979)
I can't say I'm a fan - a thinly disguised/transformed is lifted by alien races, and an ambassador passes for human in search of useful recruits. I'm not someone who always demands plot and characterisation, but this felt very alienating. I need to read the next two in the sequence, but I'm not looking forward.
LXXVIII: Suzette Haden Elgin, The Communipaths (1970)
First of the Coyote Jones books - I'm awaiting the second and have the third and fourth. I suspect I need to read them in order. If I had Walk to the End of the World, I'd switch to Motherlines at the relevant point of chronology. This is short, almost too short. Telepath Jones is sent to appropriate a baby, much to the horror of her mother, and his own regret. The baby is the most powerful telepath ever. Interesting for how far it has a woman defined by motherhood - she has not other parts to her life but the bond. And one of several books I've read this month where the narration is foregrounded.
The Communipaths and At the Seventh Level came in the post this week. I just ordered some Larry Cohen books (thanks, Roger), and I've been pricing more Malzberg, but he's expensive.
Seasonally adjusted word count (10,000 for biblio added)
48800 / 120000 words. 41% done!
End of first draft 14 October at this rate.
I've seen - and briefly noted - Shivers, Carrie and Alien, and I probably ought to rewatch The Exorcist if I can find the time, even though I've already written it up. I suspect I also need to turn the internet off and write some chunks.
LXXVII: Doris Lessing, Shikasta (1979)
I can't say I'm a fan - a thinly disguised/transformed is lifted by alien races, and an ambassador passes for human in search of useful recruits. I'm not someone who always demands plot and characterisation, but this felt very alienating. I need to read the next two in the sequence, but I'm not looking forward.
LXXVIII: Suzette Haden Elgin, The Communipaths (1970)
First of the Coyote Jones books - I'm awaiting the second and have the third and fourth. I suspect I need to read them in order. If I had Walk to the End of the World, I'd switch to Motherlines at the relevant point of chronology. This is short, almost too short. Telepath Jones is sent to appropriate a baby, much to the horror of her mother, and his own regret. The baby is the most powerful telepath ever. Interesting for how far it has a woman defined by motherhood - she has not other parts to her life but the bond. And one of several books I've read this month where the narration is foregrounded.
The Communipaths and At the Seventh Level came in the post this week. I just ordered some Larry Cohen books (thanks, Roger), and I've been pricing more Malzberg, but he's expensive.
Seasonally adjusted word count (10,000 for biblio added)
48800 / 120000 words. 41% done!
End of first draft 14 October at this rate.