To celebrate the release of Midnight Blue-Light Special, here. Have an open thread to discuss the book. Judging by the comments I'm seeing, you've had time
( Read more... )
Discount Armageddon was fun, but I love this book more for having more meat to it. Character conflict! Real danger!
The narrator change took me completely by surprise I did not know you were doing that in these books. Although it made me wonder who's writing the chyrons. Is it the omniscient narrator or the character who's narrating commenting on her own activities and locations?
As others have said already, Sarah was awesome in this book, and I enjoyed Istas and her obsession with carnage even more in this book. I like how you play with the differences in cryptid psychology and behavior. Their normal is not our normal.
Oh, I knew you were changing narrators for entire books; I had no idea you would be switching narrators in the books. I don't know if this will be a regular occurrence or whether it just worked for this situation, but it was an awesome surprise.
First: I was only going to read a little bit of it during lunch. I swear. I had work to do. Next thing I know it's 7pm. Well played, Seanan. Well played.
Second: Sarah! Sarah! SARAH!
I love Sarah's inability to recognize people without telepathy. It's one more great detail emphasizing that, for all she looks like a homo sapien, she really is from a completely different species.
Third: Verity's description of the roof beams is wonderfully squirm-inducing. Yep, squirming right now even thinking about it.
Ok, I'm going to stop gushing now before my comments become any more disjointed.
I have been sitting on my comments because I had the privilege of winning one of the ARCs.
*deep breath*
OH MY GOD CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW MADHURA UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES ARE IMMUNE TO CUCKOOS. LET ME REPEAT THAT. IMMUNE TO CUCKOOS. THE DEADLIEST PREDATOR (CURRENTLY RESIDING) ON EARTH.
MIND = BLOWN
(Although, not presumably, immune to the cuckoo simply ordering anyone not immune in the vicinity to tear the Madhura apart if the cuckoo feels threatened. Still, RESPECT.)
I am really hoping that we see more Madhura in future books, and their connection to cuckoos is explored. Between the comments in the book about Madhura "molts", and the comments on the field guide about how Madhura do not lactate and feed their young a honey-like substance, I am thinking the field guide entry is going to get updated from "could be insects maybe?" to "probably are insects, and may not originate from this dimension."
At the least, I'm thinking a case of protective evolution. They may have been a native species that started to encounter the Johrlac and began to develop defenses. For all we know the original cuckoo population started in East Asia and worked their way around the world.
Comments 141
The narrator change took me completely by surprise I did not know you were doing that in these books. Although it made me wonder who's writing the chyrons. Is it the omniscient narrator or the character who's narrating commenting on her own activities and locations?
As others have said already, Sarah was awesome in this book, and I enjoyed Istas and her obsession with carnage even more in this book. I like how you play with the differences in cryptid psychology and behavior. Their normal is not our normal.
In conclusion, I'm glad you didn't kill me.
Reply
I'm so glad you like the human-form cryptids not acting like humans, while still being people.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Second: Sarah! Sarah! SARAH!
I love Sarah's inability to recognize people without telepathy. It's one more great detail emphasizing that, for all she looks like a homo sapien, she really is from a completely different species.
Third: Verity's description of the roof beams is wonderfully squirm-inducing. Yep, squirming right now even thinking about it.
Ok, I'm going to stop gushing now before my comments become any more disjointed.
Reply
...she means it.
Reply
*deep breath*
OH MY GOD CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW MADHURA UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES ARE IMMUNE TO CUCKOOS. LET ME REPEAT THAT. IMMUNE TO CUCKOOS. THE DEADLIEST PREDATOR (CURRENTLY RESIDING) ON EARTH.
MIND = BLOWN
(Although, not presumably, immune to the cuckoo simply ordering anyone not immune in the vicinity to tear the Madhura apart if the cuckoo feels threatened. Still, RESPECT.)
I am really hoping that we see more Madhura in future books, and their connection to cuckoos is explored. Between the comments in the book about Madhura "molts", and the comments on the field guide about how Madhura do not lactate and feed their young a honey-like substance, I am thinking the field guide entry is going to get updated from "could be insects maybe?" to "probably are insects, and may not originate from this dimension."
Reply
Reply
but. Johrlac hives. I'm a little, teensy, tiny bit scared. Like "so.... how many nukes can we get ahold of?"
Reply
On the one hand, yeah, OTOH it may be shorthand for where that particular cuckoo has 'nested'.
Reply
Thank you for making Istas a size sixteen.
Reply
And she's damn hot, too.
Reply
Leave a comment