6 x Rarelit recs
More along soon, hopefully, but here's six for now... Mostly more recent than my usual fare, though the two Wimsey are both classics.
Discworld
The Brain Thief, by Hollimichele
'Policemen have their own walk. It's called "proceeding," and it is the gentle, rolling gait of every law enforcement officer in the history of the multiverse. It is a constant, like the deliberate dimness of sergeants or the missing three dollars in the tea kitty.' A meaty casefile for Sam Vimes, Jr. The style slips a bit in places, but there's plenty of world-building detail to hold the interest
Dorothy L Sayers
London, November 1917, by Atropos
'He listened as he sat for them, drank with them, fucked on rumbled beds and lumpy sofas, sucking up the words, and images scattered across their crumb-strewn floors, pinned to plaster walls, pasted onto fading wallpaper.' This unusual war-time story gives Bunter a completely non-fanonical background. Dark & atmospheric
Tell Beauty How She Blasteth, by Tree and Leaf
'There were white roses on the bench, and in the dim light of the Old Bailey they looked almost ashen.' This AU to Strong Poison relentlessly explores its grim premise. The persevering reader is rewarded with perfect characterisations throughout
Earthsea
Uneaten, by Avanti 90
'"The little woman’s got a stick to walk with, and she tries to hold it like a wizard’s staff!" He came closer, unsheathing the long knife from his belt. "Give us all your money, white lady, and no one hurts you."' A set of plausible alternative futures for Tenar, each of which represents a more feminist choice than the path she embraces in Tehanu. Thoughtful & unusual
Rosemary Sutcliff
A Broken Spear, by Isis
'A year, Liathan thought, should have been sufficient. An entire year to wash away his shame in the turning of the wheel of the seasons, to make him new and whole again.' A thoughtful study of the aftermath of The Eagle of the Ninth from the loser's point of view. The drumbeat motif binds the vignette together
Vorkosigan series
Frequently Suggested Sexual Practices: An Aid to Communication, by Dira Sudis
'Each night Aral changed out of his uniform in the knowledge the gesture was futile. He could as soon set aside his own skin for the night.' A wonderful blend of melancholy & humour marks this surprisingly delicate study of Aral & Cordelia, and Barrayar, masquerading as kink (Adult)
Also, I've realised that more & more the major fandoms I'm reading are small ones, so I've added a fandom index to Espresso Recs. It gives a quick & dirty way of getting to all the (125!) fandoms, and I've added character index pages for all those with six or more recs.
Crossposted from Dreamwidth (with
replies). Reply wherever you prefer
Discworld
The Brain Thief, by Hollimichele
'Policemen have their own walk. It's called "proceeding," and it is the gentle, rolling gait of every law enforcement officer in the history of the multiverse. It is a constant, like the deliberate dimness of sergeants or the missing three dollars in the tea kitty.' A meaty casefile for Sam Vimes, Jr. The style slips a bit in places, but there's plenty of world-building detail to hold the interest
Dorothy L Sayers
London, November 1917, by Atropos
'He listened as he sat for them, drank with them, fucked on rumbled beds and lumpy sofas, sucking up the words, and images scattered across their crumb-strewn floors, pinned to plaster walls, pasted onto fading wallpaper.' This unusual war-time story gives Bunter a completely non-fanonical background. Dark & atmospheric
Tell Beauty How She Blasteth, by Tree and Leaf
'There were white roses on the bench, and in the dim light of the Old Bailey they looked almost ashen.' This AU to Strong Poison relentlessly explores its grim premise. The persevering reader is rewarded with perfect characterisations throughout
Earthsea
Uneaten, by Avanti 90
'"The little woman’s got a stick to walk with, and she tries to hold it like a wizard’s staff!" He came closer, unsheathing the long knife from his belt. "Give us all your money, white lady, and no one hurts you."' A set of plausible alternative futures for Tenar, each of which represents a more feminist choice than the path she embraces in Tehanu. Thoughtful & unusual
Rosemary Sutcliff
A Broken Spear, by Isis
'A year, Liathan thought, should have been sufficient. An entire year to wash away his shame in the turning of the wheel of the seasons, to make him new and whole again.' A thoughtful study of the aftermath of The Eagle of the Ninth from the loser's point of view. The drumbeat motif binds the vignette together
Vorkosigan series
Frequently Suggested Sexual Practices: An Aid to Communication, by Dira Sudis
'Each night Aral changed out of his uniform in the knowledge the gesture was futile. He could as soon set aside his own skin for the night.' A wonderful blend of melancholy & humour marks this surprisingly delicate study of Aral & Cordelia, and Barrayar, masquerading as kink (Adult)
Also, I've realised that more & more the major fandoms I'm reading are small ones, so I've added a fandom index to Espresso Recs. It gives a quick & dirty way of getting to all the (125!) fandoms, and I've added character index pages for all those with six or more recs.
Crossposted from Dreamwidth (with
replies). Reply wherever you prefer