Questions about fiction

[featherynscale]

The best of slow weekends include trips to the library. This weekend's trip was particularly well-timed, because before we went, I had been in the middle of the first book of Storm Constantine's Wraeththu series, and I was afraid I might finish the damned awful thing if I didn't get anything else to read. Which leads me to these questions: Have any of you guys ever read this? Does it ever get good? I think I'm about 150 pages in, and so far, the plot seems to be "There are these mutants. Except, they're Gay. Really, really Gay. Isn't that transgressive? And, they have these mystical powers. That all have names in this crappy dialect I invented. That you get through Gay Sex. Isn't that transgressive? And they wander around looking for a mutant city, and they meet some mutants that aren't very nice, but are secretly okay, because they want to have Sex with the protagonists. Gay Sex. And then, there is something that might be conflict, but let's not focus on that! Let me tell you more about their levels of mystical attainment!" If the story isn't going to advance beyond the sort of cataloguing of abilities these people have and trying to shock the reader with their not-very-shocking sexual tendencies, I'd like to know so I can jettison the thing.

Fortunately, I was able to pick up two more Lois McMaster Bujold books from the library, Paladin of Souls and The Hallowed Hunt. I finished Paladin of Souls in a day, and am halfway through Hallowed Hunt I'm liking her stuff quite a bit -- I suspect that this is because it is very easy to imagine what sort of character I would be in this world. Where I would fit in is very plain to me. Again, I'm enjoying the way the human characters interact with the Gods much more than the way they interact with other humans, but that's all right, as I enjoy the Gods a great deal. (I know some of the folks on my friends list are fans -- are all of her books set in this world with the Five Gods, or just the three books that I happened to pick up?)

Being able to imagine myself in the world is apparently a factor in whether or not I get hung up on books, but apparently it's not the only thing. I very much enjoy Pratchett's Discworld, Martin's Song of Ice and Fire and Jordan's Wheel of Time, but couldn't for a moment tell you what kind of character I would be in any of those worlds. triadruid told me this morning that he was pretty sure he'd be a Shienaran in the Wheel of Time world, what with the cold weather, and the coed bathing, and all. I added relentless sense of duty to save the world to his list, and he agreed. He had some theories about where I might belong, but I was unconvinced. People with theories of this sort, either about me, themselves, or anyone else we know, are welcome to post their assignments in the comments, if they like. :)

Also, I finished The Scar the other day. It was brilliant and fascinating, and the author continues to hold my highest regard.

Comments

[wildnsquirrelly.livejournal.com]

I couldn't see you as anyone but a Witch in Discworld. Perhaps not a Ramtops one, but a witch all the same.

As for the WoT series, I'd probably go with an Altaran Gleeman, possibly one from Ebou Dar. Sure, 'All Gleemen are men' (except for Thom's would-be protege), but if anyone were to spit in the eye of that queer bit of cannon it'd be an Altaran featherynscale. It'd also make sense that you'd get tired of folks trying to cut each other up over who should walk through a doorway first & other even more trivial matters and decide to wander. Hell, she's probably found some amusinging Hunters for the Horn in Illian and has tagged along with them.

As for Martin's series, I've no idea as I've not read it. Hope my other two picks were helpful though!

Probably a good pick...

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Are you aware that I am currently involved in a d20 Wheel of Time game, in which I am playing an Ebou Dari who is travelling with some Hunters for the Horn met in Illian? I mean, he's not a gleeman (that not being a class that one can take right off the bat, apparently), but he is a transvestite. Since it seems like the DM is not going to allow him to become an Asha'man, as was my fondest hope (everybody likes to play insane magic users -- deny it if you can), I was wondering if I could develop him into a gleeman. Assuming, of course, that the Whitecloaks don't kill us all first. I hate Whitecloaks.

Re: Probably a good pick...

[wildnsquirrelly.livejournal.com]

As for your d20WoT character, no. It's news to me. A cross-dressing, duel prone, wielder of the One Power?

::shudder::

Um, yeah, I'd probably have to side with the GM on that one. I think you're supposed to be trying to prevent the re-breaking the world, not set to it by starting with the mind of every poor villager you come across. Simple farmers and tradesmen aren't meant to have to deal with the likes of that.

As for you hatred of Whitecloaks< I'll bet there's a very short list of people that actually like them. It's just a shame that they occasionally (and accidentally) do a bit of good now & then. Otherwise, even despite their numbers I bet they'd be either wiped off the map, or at least driven underground.

::snerk::

Now that's an amusing concept: Whitecloaks working in secret, operating within cellular units that would be so much like their Darkfriend counterparts it's not even funny. What group of crackpots would rise up to hunt them?

Re: Probably a good pick...

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

He's only duel-prone when insulted. Or if you insult his sister. He's not an unreasonable man. Unless the subject of conversation is Whitecloaks, in which case he becomes very unreasonable very quickly. Even that, though is not without its own reason.

Perhaps he will develop into a Whitecloak hunter, as you say. That would be amusing. ::grin with teeth::

Did you see the female gleeman at D*Con?

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

She refers to herself as a "person of glee". I was/am amused.

Re: Did you see the female gleeman at D*Con?

[wildnsquirrelly.livejournal.com]

::lecherous whistle::

Wow, go her! Was she from Ebou Dar? Did her patches flutter? I'll have to look for her next year. Too cool.

Re: Did you see the female gleeman at D*Con?

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Her patches did not flutter. But she was very cute all the same.

Re: Did you see the female gleeman at D*Con?

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

That pic is FNS' photo gallery, I forgot to link to the full size version.

She said she needs more patches. I don't know what nationality she was claiming, but she's dark enough to have been Ebou Dari (if I remember their desc. right).