a dragon, a bridge and some reading

[heliopausa]

I dreamed last night that I had agreed to write a story (not Narnia - SF, I think) and it was due in two days, and I was thinking, 'Oh yes, two days, I'd probably better start', and then thought 'Two days! Panic!' and woke myself up.  Which I suppose is just plain anticipation-anxiety for the NFE.  I finished writing a letter-to-the-writer, anyway.

Comments

[puddleshark]

I'm rather ashamed to admit that I have never read any Kipling... But I bought a copy of Kim in a charity shop last week, and hope to start remedying my ignorance.

A new Chalion novella? Wonderful news. I found The Hallowed Hunt a bit uneven - rather enjoyed the incident with the polar bear, though.

[heliopausa]

Oh, terrific, re: Kim! (though now I'm worried that I've misled you by saying "fairy-tale"! :) ) I'd love to hear what you think of it.
I own copies of the first two Chalion books, and have read them more than once - maybe I should find a copy of The Hallowed Hunt and give it another try. Though vita brevis, and books unread longa. :(

[learnsslowly]

There was a recent GCSE question about the temperature sex changing, which the student seemed to enjoy.
I'm not at all sure that all fairy stories need fairies - or any supernatural beings.
Or indeed, happily ever after.

[heliopausa]

That's set me wondering when the "happily ever after" ending began to be expected! With the French court versions, do you think?
Would you call the story of the three wishes (and a sausage on the nose) a fairy-tale?

[rthstewart]

New Chalion! Huzzah! I thought Hallowed Hunt was a hot mess. I re-read it recently and was no wiser about it on the second read. I don't remember any character names and just remember mostly being confused, though I did like the woman who was pregnant, a divine of the Mother and a demon carrying sorceroress who made the beer go bad, something I borrowed for the Elementary story.

[heliopausa]

The excerpt/trailer bit I linked to has a demon in the very act of making the leap!
Though the previous host seems well in control of it, which could mean a different sort of demon, but maybe indicates some intriguing long-term planning (with skilful management) on the part of the host.

[asakiyume]

What theories about time have emerged? (I know I should go read, and I probably will, but I'm .... lazy and hoping to hear your impressions.)

How marvelous about the Forth Bridge (which I didn't know about until your entry). Did I share with you the story of bridgemaking in the Andes? This bridge gets rebuilt yearly--it's made from grass but can carry several loaded-down people at once.

[heliopausa]

Oh, great story about the bridge-making in the Andes! Thank you. :)
Here's an exchange bridge-story, from lamentables in DW who earlier this year went on a trip to Nagaland, where she crossed a bridge made from living tree roots.

Re: time in the Winter, I was thinking of an exchange between lady_songsmith and the_rck
lady_songsmith said: Lewis talks "about the winter lasting a hundred years, but everyone we meet remembers a time before winter. The Beavers talk about Narnia without snow and ice, Tumnus talks about springtime and his father going off to war -- it's like time is frozen along with everything else."
the_rck expanded on that, musing: "It might explain why some creatures would support the Witch-- She's given them effective immortality for as long as her reign lasts (and for as long as they don't get on her bad side).... It might also explain why humans from the neighboring lands haven't invaded or sent in assassins or something." [cut for length - the whole exchange has more!]

[asakiyume]

Oooh, lamentables's story is excellent! What a great hike (and what a beautiful place)--and how amazing about the bridge. It makes me really want to *go* there.

And that's very interesting about freezing time! Astutely noted.

[heliopausa]

:) Glad you enjoyed! Re: time, I especially liked the point about immortality.