the northern downpour sends its love

[frith_in_thorns]

Guys. The next time it takes me such a long time to get around to reading such an utterly fantastic book as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, you have my permission to start hitting me around the head with it. In fact, I will consider it a moral failing if you don't. (I note that this would work especially well with Strange & Norrell, since it's such a large book.)

Historical fiction set in the reign of George III with magic and academic rivalries and academic rivalries about magic and footnotes referencing biographies about the main characters written by other characters, and faerie! And main characters who are less important than they imagine themselves to be, and side characters who are awesome. And wonderfully dry commentary on race and gender and class without at all breaking the historical tone.

Seriously, guys, read this book. (I note that the first 100 pages are my least favourite; do not give up until you have met Strange.)

In not-really-related news, I have over half the required word count for my big bang fic with nearly a month to go, due to having sacrificed a load of internet time in favour of writing obsessively*. I suspect I may have been replaced with a pod person (although clearly a really defective one, because I seem to have picked up a throat infection. Maybe it's a symptom of me being taken over). On the other hand, it seems to be elongating exponentially -- the characters are only now at the point where I thought they'd be less than a thousand words in. Also I am so far being horrendously mean to Diana. I feel slightly guilty, but it's done with love.

Also. Thinking about the logistics involved in epidemic/pandemic response is fascinating. (This is totally one of the reasons for my love for Mira Grant's zombie books -- she clearly finds it really fascinating too. I could just sit and read about adaptations and responses for ever.) (I will also note here that one of my favourite sci-fi books is about an alien race working out Einsteinien+ physics all the way from first mathematical principles. That is the entire plot, and it is awesome.)

And now I'm going to ask stupid questions of my flist: is there any canon for where Elizabeth's parents live? And does she have any siblings? (I suspect the answer is "no" on both counts, but I'm really unsure.)


*When I put it like that I feel I should have more words to show for my time than I actually do. But I'm a really slow writer...

Comments

[duckwhatduck]

I was under the impression you had already read it, or I would have taken on beating-over-the-head duties (if I didn't think that would encourage you to go back to beating me over the head with TV shows I never get around to watching)

Which is the physics-from-first-principles book?

And yesss, response to epidemics is awesome. I. Um. Tried to start writing a zombie AU fic in, like, April, and have spent the last three months writing about 2,000 words of fic in between getting overexcited about history/sociology/logistics. Horrible diseases <3

[frith_in_thorns]

Which is the physics-from-first-principles book?

Incandescence, by Greg Egan. I TRIED beating you around the head with it!

Oooh, what's your Zombie AU an AU of? Nom nom diseases and public health policy.

[duckwhatduck]

You've tried beating me over the head with so many things I can't remember them all! (Beat me over the head again with it when I get home?)

Les Miserables. Because my brain decided to go "what if cholera was ZOMBIES" and then I said "no, silly brain, that wouldn't work", and then "...but how would I make it work?", and then I went on Amazon and started buying books about 19th century French public health policy.

[frith_in_thorns]

My knowledge of Les Mis (despite Eleanor's best efforts) is still mostly restricted to "everyone dies and also there is a policeman called JAVERT", but that sounds awesome XD

I do very much miss the mutual fannish-head-beating sessions (and I have STILL not read Robin Hobb oops), so there must definitely be more of them when you get home again. (Like, Warehouse 13, which is EVEN SILLIER than SGA especially in terms of science but is hilarious and much less fail and has canon queer people. And waistcoats.)

(Are you living with Tim and Fran next year, btw?)

[duckwhatduck]

I will join Eleanor in beating you with Les Mis then.
(Oh, and this is history and not the book, but French public health policy ~1831 = "Oh, it's fine, civilized countries don't get chole- ohshit")

Re. Warehouse 13, I was going to say being even sillier than SGA is not a selling point, but then I remembered I have just been persuaded to start watching Power Rangers, so I have no legs to stand on there.

(And waistcoats are definitely a selling point)

Yes, and Ben.

[veleda_k]

Warehouse 13, which is EVEN SILLIER than SGA especially in terms of science

Warehouse 13 has science? Could have fooled me. ;)

(Seriously one could make one hell of drinking game if one took a shot every time a character said something along the lines of "We don't know how it works, it just does.")