reading and writing
What I've recently finished reading:
Karen Memory, by Elizabeth Bear. I didn't actually know what this was about when I started - for some reason the name made me think it would be futuristic cyberpunk - but I love the Old West, and apparently this carries over into Steampunk Alternate Old West as well. The story itself, about soiled doves and dirty politics in the Pacific Northwest, is not particularly amazing or innovative. But the characters and the incredibly evocative writing make it good, and the narration of the audiobook makes it great.
When I listened to Range of Ghosts, also by Bear, I immediately felt that a) the cadences of Bear's writing were clearly intended to be read aloud, and b) the audiobook narrator totally blew it. But Jennifer Grace is much better than Celeste Ciulla, and her reading makes Karen and the other characters spring into full life.
I also really appreciated the f/f romance, as a side plot to the adventure, and the matter-of-fact inclusion of a trans character and characters of a variety of ethnic backgrounds. And Captain Nemo, too! I'm just amazed that there isn't any fic for it on AO3.
What I'm reading now:
I started Ada Palmer's Too Like the Lightning but it's not grabbing me yet.
What I'm watching now:
We have almost caught up with The Expanse! I'm enjoying it. Also, it's funny but as a book-fan I always boggled at how Amos/Prax was such a huge thing in fanfic - watching the show, I have to admit I see where it comes from.
What I'm writing now:
I picked up a pinch hit for a currently-running exchange. It's completely out of my wheelhouse and I'm having a blast.
What I've recently written:
sutcliff_swap is live, and we don't have an anon period, so I can point to my story:
Walk Together Where We May (1754 words) by Isis
Fandom: The Mark of the Horse Lord - Rosemary Sutcliff
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Conory (Mark of the Horse Lord)/Midir (Mark of the Horse Lord)
Characters: Conory (Mark of the Horse Lord), Midir (Mark of the Horse Lord)
Additional Tags: Pre-Canon, First Kiss, Foreshadowing
Summary:Conory and Midir on the eve of the Feast of New Spears.
The Mark of the Horse Lord is one of my favorite Sutcliff novels, and I firmly believe that Phaedrus' musing on Conory is her way of telling us that there was something going on between Conory and Midir: There were other things he knew about Conory, a great many other things, including some that Midir had never told him. But he did not recite them now. They had had to be learned, but though the Arena years had hardened him to most things, he still disliked trampling more often than need be in another man’s private territory.
There are nine stories in eight fandoms, and although so far I've only read my gift, Three Septembers, a wonderful backstory for Genty Small, the Wisewoman in Flame-Colored Taffeta, by
opalmatrix, the works created for this fest are typically excellent, so if you're familiar with any of the sources, I urge you to take a look at the collection.
Crossposted from isis at Dreamwidth where there are
comments. | Comment at Dreamwidth
Karen Memory, by Elizabeth Bear. I didn't actually know what this was about when I started - for some reason the name made me think it would be futuristic cyberpunk - but I love the Old West, and apparently this carries over into Steampunk Alternate Old West as well. The story itself, about soiled doves and dirty politics in the Pacific Northwest, is not particularly amazing or innovative. But the characters and the incredibly evocative writing make it good, and the narration of the audiobook makes it great.
When I listened to Range of Ghosts, also by Bear, I immediately felt that a) the cadences of Bear's writing were clearly intended to be read aloud, and b) the audiobook narrator totally blew it. But Jennifer Grace is much better than Celeste Ciulla, and her reading makes Karen and the other characters spring into full life.
I also really appreciated the f/f romance, as a side plot to the adventure, and the matter-of-fact inclusion of a trans character and characters of a variety of ethnic backgrounds. And Captain Nemo, too! I'm just amazed that there isn't any fic for it on AO3.
What I'm reading now:
I started Ada Palmer's Too Like the Lightning but it's not grabbing me yet.
What I'm watching now:
We have almost caught up with The Expanse! I'm enjoying it. Also, it's funny but as a book-fan I always boggled at how Amos/Prax was such a huge thing in fanfic - watching the show, I have to admit I see where it comes from.
What I'm writing now:
I picked up a pinch hit for a currently-running exchange. It's completely out of my wheelhouse and I'm having a blast.
What I've recently written:
sutcliff_swap is live, and we don't have an anon period, so I can point to my story:
Walk Together Where We May (1754 words) by Isis
Fandom: The Mark of the Horse Lord - Rosemary Sutcliff
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Conory (Mark of the Horse Lord)/Midir (Mark of the Horse Lord)
Characters: Conory (Mark of the Horse Lord), Midir (Mark of the Horse Lord)
Additional Tags: Pre-Canon, First Kiss, Foreshadowing
Summary:Conory and Midir on the eve of the Feast of New Spears.
The Mark of the Horse Lord is one of my favorite Sutcliff novels, and I firmly believe that Phaedrus' musing on Conory is her way of telling us that there was something going on between Conory and Midir: There were other things he knew about Conory, a great many other things, including some that Midir had never told him. But he did not recite them now. They had had to be learned, but though the Arena years had hardened him to most things, he still disliked trampling more often than need be in another man’s private territory.
There are nine stories in eight fandoms, and although so far I've only read my gift, Three Septembers, a wonderful backstory for Genty Small, the Wisewoman in Flame-Colored Taffeta, by
opalmatrix, the works created for this fest are typically excellent, so if you're familiar with any of the sources, I urge you to take a look at the collection.
Crossposted from isis at Dreamwidth where there are
comments. | Comment at Dreamwidth