More Temeraire, some Battlestar Galactica and temporary new focus
Finished Naomi Novik's Throne of Jade and Black Powder War recently thanks to cricketk, who loaned me the US versions, thus allowing me to wait for local copies that match the first one (why did we get it first in the world and the next ones last?).
The sea voyage in Throne of Jade was a little drawn out for my taste (though as doctor_k_ pointed out, "It's a long way to China!"), but that was outweighed by Temeraire's growing understanding that conditions for dragons were better elsewhere and Laurence's guilt and discomfort over that fact, and the wonderful descriptions of the lives of the Chinese Celestials.
I liked the development of Laurence and Temeraire's relationship in Black Powder War after their experiences in China: still totally committed to each other, but no longer with quite the same goals, and Laurence deliberately but uncomfortably keeping many of his thoughts to himself. The resolution of that: It was with some awkwardness in the face of this handsome speech that Laurence recognised, and had then to convey to Temeraire, the change in his own sentiments, an awkwardness increased by the bewildered Temeraire's dragging out, one after another, all of Laurence's own earlier protests on the subject and then Temeraire required very little additional persuasion, and all Laurence's embarrassment, at seeming to be fickle, was mitigated by his dragon's jubilant reaction..., while pleasing in content, reminded me of what I consider the most unsatisfactorily-written part of Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth's telling Darcy that her feelings for him have changed: Elizabeth...immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances. The happiness which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do. Aargh! I don't just want to know that such a scene took place, I want to know what was actually said! Why do it this way? It leaves me feeling shortchanged, as if the author decided to stop writing just at the most crucial moment.
In contrast to that approach, there's the exchange between Laurence and Tharkay after they escape pursuit and make it back to the palace: "I would say something to you," Laurence said quietly, "on matters as they stand between us," followed by three pages of mostly dialogue. It's loaded with information about Tharkay's background, it's detailed and moving, and all the words are there. It's a hundred times more vivid to me than the fade-to-grey approach. (Fade-to-black sex scenes are one thing, but missing conversations are something else.)
The focus on feeding the dragons in Black Powder War really stood out. At one point I was tempted to start a cow/sheep/horse body count.
In rather sharp contrast on the readability scale, we have the novel version of the original Battlestar Galactica, by Glen A. Larson (the writer of the TV series) and Richard Thurston, which mr_booboo and special_trille, knowing of my fondness for the show, bought for me. I'm very happy to have it on my bookshelf for ornamental purposes, but it might be the worst-written book I've ever come across. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I could do better myself, but I'm sure just about every one of *you* could. Still, the extra information about Cylon brain function and the like is almost worth suffering through sentences like "...when the commander became angry, those powerful eyes retreated into his skull and gave off rays that made him look so inhuman he might have just materialised as a god from some new alien mythology."
I've been on a bit of a quest to smooth out some of the rougher edges of my personality (as many of you know, since I've been picking your brains/raiding your libraries/enlisting you as sounding boards and test subjects). I thought I might start posting about some of the books I've been reading to that end, in the hopes that 1) summarising the main points in a semi-public place might increase the chance that they'll actually take root, 2) I'll maintain momentum, and 3) if I spell out these things, maybe some of you could help by knocking me into line if you catch me, in person or online, doing something that contradicts them. I thought I'd lock those posts so they're not too public and filter them to those of you who've already had to listen to me go on in this vein, to spare the rest of you, but if anyone who's not a Usual Suspect is interested you're more than welcome.
Oh, and ETA, a cheering link for umbo: 43% of marathon runners are over 40. I bet a lot of them weren't athletes in their younger years, either. (Unfortunately the full article isn't free, but it goes on to say that 16% of competitors in the last New York marathon were over 50.)
The sea voyage in Throne of Jade was a little drawn out for my taste (though as doctor_k_ pointed out, "It's a long way to China!"), but that was outweighed by Temeraire's growing understanding that conditions for dragons were better elsewhere and Laurence's guilt and discomfort over that fact, and the wonderful descriptions of the lives of the Chinese Celestials.
I liked the development of Laurence and Temeraire's relationship in Black Powder War after their experiences in China: still totally committed to each other, but no longer with quite the same goals, and Laurence deliberately but uncomfortably keeping many of his thoughts to himself. The resolution of that: It was with some awkwardness in the face of this handsome speech that Laurence recognised, and had then to convey to Temeraire, the change in his own sentiments, an awkwardness increased by the bewildered Temeraire's dragging out, one after another, all of Laurence's own earlier protests on the subject and then Temeraire required very little additional persuasion, and all Laurence's embarrassment, at seeming to be fickle, was mitigated by his dragon's jubilant reaction..., while pleasing in content, reminded me of what I consider the most unsatisfactorily-written part of Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth's telling Darcy that her feelings for him have changed: Elizabeth...immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances. The happiness which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do. Aargh! I don't just want to know that such a scene took place, I want to know what was actually said! Why do it this way? It leaves me feeling shortchanged, as if the author decided to stop writing just at the most crucial moment.
In contrast to that approach, there's the exchange between Laurence and Tharkay after they escape pursuit and make it back to the palace: "I would say something to you," Laurence said quietly, "on matters as they stand between us," followed by three pages of mostly dialogue. It's loaded with information about Tharkay's background, it's detailed and moving, and all the words are there. It's a hundred times more vivid to me than the fade-to-grey approach. (Fade-to-black sex scenes are one thing, but missing conversations are something else.)
The focus on feeding the dragons in Black Powder War really stood out. At one point I was tempted to start a cow/sheep/horse body count.
In rather sharp contrast on the readability scale, we have the novel version of the original Battlestar Galactica, by Glen A. Larson (the writer of the TV series) and Richard Thurston, which mr_booboo and special_trille, knowing of my fondness for the show, bought for me. I'm very happy to have it on my bookshelf for ornamental purposes, but it might be the worst-written book I've ever come across. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I could do better myself, but I'm sure just about every one of *you* could. Still, the extra information about Cylon brain function and the like is almost worth suffering through sentences like "...when the commander became angry, those powerful eyes retreated into his skull and gave off rays that made him look so inhuman he might have just materialised as a god from some new alien mythology."
I've been on a bit of a quest to smooth out some of the rougher edges of my personality (as many of you know, since I've been picking your brains/raiding your libraries/enlisting you as sounding boards and test subjects). I thought I might start posting about some of the books I've been reading to that end, in the hopes that 1) summarising the main points in a semi-public place might increase the chance that they'll actually take root, 2) I'll maintain momentum, and 3) if I spell out these things, maybe some of you could help by knocking me into line if you catch me, in person or online, doing something that contradicts them. I thought I'd lock those posts so they're not too public and filter them to those of you who've already had to listen to me go on in this vein, to spare the rest of you, but if anyone who's not a Usual Suspect is interested you're more than welcome.
Oh, and ETA, a cheering link for umbo: 43% of marathon runners are over 40. I bet a lot of them weren't athletes in their younger years, either. (Unfortunately the full article isn't free, but it goes on to say that 16% of competitors in the last New York marathon were over 50.)