Yuletide recs I -- Worldbuilding
Finally got my Yuletide 2013 recommendations assembled! There are rather fewer than past years, with a few staples missing, but I'm still going to go for themed sets. First up: different worlds, richly created, with the original & minor characters who inhabit them...
**Top ten selections
Colette Calascione paintings
A Traveller's Guide to Venice, by Quillori**
'Nergüi listened to him impassively, her hands folded in the depths of her ruffled sleeves, and her posture as upright and still as an owl upon a branch. You would have thought she was accustomed to having her wisdom sought on a daily basis by kings and beggars alike.' A travelogue to a fantastic Venice, inspired by Travelling Hermit & other works by Colette Calascione, which unfurls slowly to reveal its secrets. Original & strange, with a wonderful narrative voice
Dalemark Quartet
that same singing island voice, by Betony
'Libby’s "scarlet locks" gleam in the sun, her "peridot eyes" flash with anger at least once a chapter; Ammet is suitably blond, mysterious, and elusive, and six hundred pages later, the two are finally wed. A wafer-thin plot to fuel such devotion from fans.' A diverse set of origin stories for Libby Beer: powerful & humorous by turns
Earthsea
The Fitting, by Kainosite
'Everyone wore their best clothes, and the ladies looked like a giant field of desert poppies in their red veils and their round, wide-brimmed hats.' A perceptive coming-of-age story for Seserakh, which does a good job of fleshing out The Other Wind's Muslim re-envisioning of the Kargish Empire
Galaxy Quest
SMOF, by Hollimichele
'I’m a n00b, by Quest standards--started watching with the New Adventures, right as LJ was taking off.' An exploration of what GQ fandom might be like, which turns into an affectionate portrait of fandom itself. Great fun!
Hainish Cycle
The Color of Shadow, by Ellen Fremedon
'"Your friend there," Arguyry said after a long interval of breadapple, just loud enough that Oppong could have overheard if she were listening, "when hopes for?" And before Kushud could try on other shades of meaning-await, anticipate, expect-the question neatly rearranged itself in her head: "When is your friend due?"' A richly detailed tale of complex cultural misunderstandings as an ill-assorted pair of first visitors bumble around Gethen. The delicately sketched Annaresti OC flares into life to make this piece
Crossposted from Dreamwidth (with
replies). Reply wherever you prefer
**Top ten selections
Colette Calascione paintings
A Traveller's Guide to Venice, by Quillori**
'Nergüi listened to him impassively, her hands folded in the depths of her ruffled sleeves, and her posture as upright and still as an owl upon a branch. You would have thought she was accustomed to having her wisdom sought on a daily basis by kings and beggars alike.' A travelogue to a fantastic Venice, inspired by Travelling Hermit & other works by Colette Calascione, which unfurls slowly to reveal its secrets. Original & strange, with a wonderful narrative voice
Dalemark Quartet
that same singing island voice, by Betony
'Libby’s "scarlet locks" gleam in the sun, her "peridot eyes" flash with anger at least once a chapter; Ammet is suitably blond, mysterious, and elusive, and six hundred pages later, the two are finally wed. A wafer-thin plot to fuel such devotion from fans.' A diverse set of origin stories for Libby Beer: powerful & humorous by turns
Earthsea
The Fitting, by Kainosite
'Everyone wore their best clothes, and the ladies looked like a giant field of desert poppies in their red veils and their round, wide-brimmed hats.' A perceptive coming-of-age story for Seserakh, which does a good job of fleshing out The Other Wind's Muslim re-envisioning of the Kargish Empire
Galaxy Quest
SMOF, by Hollimichele
'I’m a n00b, by Quest standards--started watching with the New Adventures, right as LJ was taking off.' An exploration of what GQ fandom might be like, which turns into an affectionate portrait of fandom itself. Great fun!
Hainish Cycle
The Color of Shadow, by Ellen Fremedon
'"Your friend there," Arguyry said after a long interval of breadapple, just loud enough that Oppong could have overheard if she were listening, "when hopes for?" And before Kushud could try on other shades of meaning-await, anticipate, expect-the question neatly rearranged itself in her head: "When is your friend due?"' A richly detailed tale of complex cultural misunderstandings as an ill-assorted pair of first visitors bumble around Gethen. The delicately sketched Annaresti OC flares into life to make this piece
Crossposted from Dreamwidth (with
replies). Reply wherever you prefer