Becoming Tony Blackburn
Friday, November 21, 2003
::Sigh:: Take care of yourself, y'all.
-- end --
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Friday, November 07, 2003
Bah.
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.
Monday, November 03, 2003
The pacing is good, as is both the atmospherics and description - the scenes with Saul eating 'rat food' physically turned my stomach, which - although not a nice experience! - is a testament to just how well it was done. The Jungle backdrop is woven in nicely, and not too obscure for someone - like me - who has no prior knowledge of it to be able to follow what's going on. Unfortunately, since Ali G I cannot see the words 'posse' or 'massive' without laughing, so this side of things was a little spoiled with unintentional humour. It could also at time be a teensy bit up its own arse, as witnessed by a scene where the antagonist advertises the fact that he has hostages by adding a line to a Jungle event poster - 'Plus Special guest - Fabe M.' For some reason, this is held up as an example of his inferiority and general lameness. So Rudegirl K is okay, but Fabe M is naff. Nope, sorry, I don't see the difference.
In technical terms, his POV wandered a little sometimes from limited third to omniscient author within the same scene - it's a bit jarring for narrative which has been in a certain character's voice to use words or phrasing that that character wouldn't, or - in one particular instance which really should have been picked up by the editor - to have information that the character doesn't. During the big set-piece, when Saul is describing the action, he refers to the music as 'Wind City' - but he never heard it before, and was never told its name. That kind of thing bugs me.
One other thing that lowered my enjoyment a bit was King Rat's manner of speech. Ye gods, it was annoying. I'm guessing that the mishmash faux-Del Boy style was intended to show his London street cred and his age (700 years plus) but boy, did it grate. I deeply loathe rhyming slang at the best of times, and the constant use of it drove me crazy. I read something like "I just followed me I Suppose" and my brain is screaming 'just say fucking nose for Christ's sake! Nose!' It probably doesn't bother other people (it didn't freak out my husband) but for me it's a sure-fire wind up. Not good for the blood pressure. (And remembering that this is the man who fried my mind with 'chymical' - ::shuder:: - didn't help).
In other nit-picks, I would have liked a bit more information about rats - it's another personal thing, but my disbelief suspends a bit easier if I have a spoonful of technical info to wash it down with. (Huh, says the brain. This guy knows about rats. Therefore I will totally believe that his characters can control them telepathically). For me, it provides the same function as visual description - it grounds me in the fantasy the way that grounds me in the setting.
Overall, I liked this. There are things I would have raised if I'd been his editor, but they're not insurmountable. I have my issues with some elements of his style, but he has a great imagination and a gritty take on fantasy which works well. I'll still read whatever he does next.
Sunday, November 02, 2003
Are they ever going to finish building it?
I never realised Jameson's had three syllables.
The Guinness Storehouse smells of fish.
I really don't like Guinness.
And it didn't taste any better over there.
Temple Bar is over-rated. Might just as well go to South Street in Romford.
Colcannon is very tasty.
The Porterhouse is definitely the best pub. Although I was disappointed that they ran out of passionfruit beer.
I really think I prefer Amsterdam.
Closed For Business
I guess it comes to us all. Real Life. So much to do, so little time.::Sigh:: Take care of yourself, y'all.
-- end --
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
I remember...
Or do I? How's this for a scary thought? I have enough trouble remembering what happened to me anyway, without half of it being fiction to start with.Friday, November 07, 2003
Woe is me
I have a snotty cold, a stiff neck and a sore foot from treading on a wasp.Bah.
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Restless
I can't settle. I want to write, but the wheels are just spinning in the dust. I want to read, but can't concentrate. I want to watch tv but there's nothing I want to see.I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.
Monday, November 03, 2003
Read: King Rat, China Mieville
I liked the ideas and themes here, having long had a weakness for stories that explore myths and legends in a 'real' setting - cf. American Gods, the Saga of the Exiles, even to a certain extent BtVS. I do however think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read American Gods first, because that does do it considerably better. The recognisation of the particular myth should ideally be one of those lovely 'aha!' moments, but when I 'got' it here my reaction was more of a vague groan.The pacing is good, as is both the atmospherics and description - the scenes with Saul eating 'rat food' physically turned my stomach, which - although not a nice experience! - is a testament to just how well it was done. The Jungle backdrop is woven in nicely, and not too obscure for someone - like me - who has no prior knowledge of it to be able to follow what's going on. Unfortunately, since Ali G I cannot see the words 'posse' or 'massive' without laughing, so this side of things was a little spoiled with unintentional humour. It could also at time be a teensy bit up its own arse, as witnessed by a scene where the antagonist advertises the fact that he has hostages by adding a line to a Jungle event poster - 'Plus Special guest - Fabe M.' For some reason, this is held up as an example of his inferiority and general lameness. So Rudegirl K is okay, but Fabe M is naff. Nope, sorry, I don't see the difference.
In technical terms, his POV wandered a little sometimes from limited third to omniscient author within the same scene - it's a bit jarring for narrative which has been in a certain character's voice to use words or phrasing that that character wouldn't, or - in one particular instance which really should have been picked up by the editor - to have information that the character doesn't. During the big set-piece, when Saul is describing the action, he refers to the music as 'Wind City' - but he never heard it before, and was never told its name. That kind of thing bugs me.
One other thing that lowered my enjoyment a bit was King Rat's manner of speech. Ye gods, it was annoying. I'm guessing that the mishmash faux-Del Boy style was intended to show his London street cred and his age (700 years plus) but boy, did it grate. I deeply loathe rhyming slang at the best of times, and the constant use of it drove me crazy. I read something like "I just followed me I Suppose" and my brain is screaming 'just say fucking nose for Christ's sake! Nose!' It probably doesn't bother other people (it didn't freak out my husband) but for me it's a sure-fire wind up. Not good for the blood pressure. (And remembering that this is the man who fried my mind with 'chymical' - ::shuder:: - didn't help).
In other nit-picks, I would have liked a bit more information about rats - it's another personal thing, but my disbelief suspends a bit easier if I have a spoonful of technical info to wash it down with. (Huh, says the brain. This guy knows about rats. Therefore I will totally believe that his characters can control them telepathically). For me, it provides the same function as visual description - it grounds me in the fantasy the way that grounds me in the setting.
Overall, I liked this. There are things I would have raised if I'd been his editor, but they're not insurmountable. I have my issues with some elements of his style, but he has a great imagination and a gritty take on fantasy which works well. I'll still read whatever he does next.
Sunday, November 02, 2003
The Wanderer Returns
Random thoughts about Dublin:Are they ever going to finish building it?
I never realised Jameson's had three syllables.
The Guinness Storehouse smells of fish.
I really don't like Guinness.
And it didn't taste any better over there.
Temple Bar is over-rated. Might just as well go to South Street in Romford.
Colcannon is very tasty.
The Porterhouse is definitely the best pub. Although I was disappointed that they ran out of passionfruit beer.
I really think I prefer Amsterdam.
