SYMBIONT open thread!

[seanan_mcguire]

To celebrate the release of Symbiont, here. Have an open thread to discuss the book. Because nothing says "Thanksgiving" like "tapeworms." Judging by the comments I'm seeing, some of you have had time, and I'd really, really rather book discussion (sometimes including spoilers) didn't crop up on other posts

Comments

[geekhyena]

I read half of it on BART headed home, and the rest on the flight to the twin cities yesterday. IT. WAS. FANTASTIC. Also Sherman is one of the creepiest and most compelling antagonists I've come across lately. And Ronnie....I really like him. Pronouns are important. Fishy.....poor Fishy. Just....I mean if that's his coping strategy, yay him, but the guy needs a hug. And puppy kisses.

Also I really really really hope we get Tansy back OK. That last scene with her broke my heart.

[azurelunatic]

I have to admire the kind of guy who says to himself, "These controls should be like this..." and takes a chance. I may not want to ride with him, but I've got to admire that in an emergency.

[gfish]

It works surprisingly often...

Fishy

[ext_2707573]

I was sad for Fishy, but he also made me laugh. The constant "life is a video game" aspect reminds me of my son who puts much of life in video game terms.

Thank you. Symbiont was wonderful.

But I hate waiting for another year for the rest of it.

[jenk]

"the experiment in psychological conditioning pretending to be therapy"

Whoa. After Parasite I thought the shrink wasn't in on it, that he thought Sal was human and was being reassured that she was confused. Sal definitely has a different opinion. He probably would have had to be incompetent or in on the whole "Sal isn't human but we want her to think she is & not stand out."

Not standing out does serve as a protective cover for Sal.

"Even when they asked me to host the occupied body of what had been my eldest daughter, I agreed"

I'd wondered how Col Mitchell hadn't known about Sal. He had. I wonder if he'd told his wife.

:-) :-) Tapeworm found living inside a patient's brain:

[ext_2707573]

This is cool.

"A genome of a rare species of tapeworm found living inside a patient's brain has been sequenced for the first time. The study provides insights into potential drug targets within the genome for future treatments.

Tapeworms are parasites that are most commonly found living in the gut, causing symptoms such as weakness, weight loss and abdominal pain. However, the larvae of some species of tapeworm are able to travel further afield to areas such as the eyes, the brain and spinal cord."

It was at BioMed Central, but I found it at Science Daily.

RE: :-) :-) Tapeworm found living inside a patient's brain:

[poincaraux]

That's awesome. In case some are too lazy to google, the article is here, a summary is here, and PICTURES (!!!) are here.

[phoenix_singing]

Dr. Banks is even more terrible than I thought, Sherman is absolutely terrifying, and I think I love Ronnie. There's something awesome about him.

Everyone else just needs so many hugs. TANSY ;_;

Basically, two thumbs up, and eagerly awaiting the final book! <3

[fullcontactmuse]

I have nothing but awesome feelings for Ronnie. All of the feels.

[phoenix_singing]

"All of the feels" sums it up nicely.

That last scene in the book, I was like, "It's Ronnie! Yay! Go Ronnie! Hold on, that's probably not good for humans...but YAY RONNIE!"

[fullcontactmuse]

I was like, "That can't be healthy." Whether or not Ronnie is meant to come across as a trans character, he certainly has the vibe and his comment about appreciating Sal's respect to his pronouns hit real close to home for me.