"have you quite finished being strange?"
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 14:03![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
usuallyhats
1.) It's hot and stuffy at work today and I haven't been sleeping well (went out to buy new earplugs at lunchtime (it was raining. Of course it was raining), hopefully that'll help), plus it's been busier than usual at work these last few days, so generally I'm a bit irritable and grumpy. Bah. But on the plus side, I got an exciting package from Big Finish today containing Benny audios and books (and another copy of last month's Vortex, anyone want it?), so hurray for that.
2.) Finished Un Lun Dun by China Miéville (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tigerpixie, this is the book that the_smut_fairy and I were talking about at last night's S'n'W) which I really loved: since it's a children's book, it's not as complex, twisty or grotesque as his other books, and the resolution is a lot more sign-posted, but it's still very satisfying. The main character is excellent and very convincingly real, and the whole book is full of inventiveness and puns, in a way that reminded me a little of Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series, which I also like. Though on the whole I think I prefer Un Lun Dun.
3.) Sadly I won't be able to go to this, because it looks like fun: flash pillow fight in Trafalgar Square!
4.) I watched DS9's 'Life Support', among other episodes, last Friday, and was really bothered by the B-plot, so much so that it's nearly a week later and I still feel moved to write about it. In the episode Nog and Jake go on a double date, in the course of which Nog says some incredibly sexist things to the two women, who eventually walk out - and are never seen again. The whole thing becomes about how Jake is embarrassed by Nog's behaviour, and how he has to come to terms with the fact that his friend has different cultural values to him. At no point does anyone, not even Sisko, suggest that maybe somebody should apologise to Leanne and Riska for how they were treated and the fact that their evening was ruined (Leanne, Jake's date, at least, seemed very keen to go out with him) and, in fact, they're barely even mentioned. I don't think Nog's date, Riska, ever gets an onscreen name. Sisko's advice to Jake boils down to "he's an alien, you should make allowances for his behaviour", which is all well and good except that in this situation it skirts perilously close to saying "it's not his fault he doesn't know any better, he's not as civilised as us." Which is pretty offensive, and frankly I expect better from DS9. Not imposing one's own values on other people is one thing, but you don't get the right to offend people just because it's traditional for you to do so. I also watched 'Heart of Stone', which I think suffered a little from following on right after 'Life Support': whatever you think of Bareil and the Kira/Bareil relationship (I am not a fan, it must be said), it seems a bit off to follow up the episode where he dies with one that's so much about Kira/Odo. And the Nog goes to Starfleet stuff I would have liked much more if I wasn't still angry about 'Life Support'.
5.) One last link: "Some 65 years after their service, the 300 surviving Women Airforce Service Pilots are being honored with the Congressional Gold Medal." Heartbreaking to read how these pilots' efforts and sacrifices were overlooked because of their gender, but wonderful that they're finally getting the recognition they deserve.
2.) Finished Un Lun Dun by China Miéville (
tigerpixie, this is the book that the_smut_fairy and I were talking about at last night's S'n'W) which I really loved: since it's a children's book, it's not as complex, twisty or grotesque as his other books, and the resolution is a lot more sign-posted, but it's still very satisfying. The main character is excellent and very convincingly real, and the whole book is full of inventiveness and puns, in a way that reminded me a little of Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series, which I also like. Though on the whole I think I prefer Un Lun Dun.3.) Sadly I won't be able to go to this, because it looks like fun: flash pillow fight in Trafalgar Square!
4.) I watched DS9's 'Life Support', among other episodes, last Friday, and was really bothered by the B-plot, so much so that it's nearly a week later and I still feel moved to write about it. In the episode Nog and Jake go on a double date, in the course of which Nog says some incredibly sexist things to the two women, who eventually walk out - and are never seen again. The whole thing becomes about how Jake is embarrassed by Nog's behaviour, and how he has to come to terms with the fact that his friend has different cultural values to him. At no point does anyone, not even Sisko, suggest that maybe somebody should apologise to Leanne and Riska for how they were treated and the fact that their evening was ruined (Leanne, Jake's date, at least, seemed very keen to go out with him) and, in fact, they're barely even mentioned. I don't think Nog's date, Riska, ever gets an onscreen name. Sisko's advice to Jake boils down to "he's an alien, you should make allowances for his behaviour", which is all well and good except that in this situation it skirts perilously close to saying "it's not his fault he doesn't know any better, he's not as civilised as us." Which is pretty offensive, and frankly I expect better from DS9. Not imposing one's own values on other people is one thing, but you don't get the right to offend people just because it's traditional for you to do so. I also watched 'Heart of Stone', which I think suffered a little from following on right after 'Life Support': whatever you think of Bareil and the Kira/Bareil relationship (I am not a fan, it must be said), it seems a bit off to follow up the episode where he dies with one that's so much about Kira/Odo. And the Nog goes to Starfleet stuff I would have liked much more if I wasn't still angry about 'Life Support'.
5.) One last link: "Some 65 years after their service, the 300 surviving Women Airforce Service Pilots are being honored with the Congressional Gold Medal." Heartbreaking to read how these pilots' efforts and sacrifices were overlooked because of their gender, but wonderful that they're finally getting the recognition they deserve.
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no subject
Date: 17 Jun 2009 14:23 (UTC)I loved Heart of Stone. It's placing is definitely a bit unfortunate, but I still think it's one of the best episodes of the season.
*is a massive Kira Nerys fan and enjoys any episode with lots of her in it*
no subject
Date: 17 Jun 2009 17:53 (UTC)Heart of Stone had some nice character stuff, I appreciated that, and to be fair I did watch the two episodes back to back rather than with a week in between! But I don't think it's as good as Past Tense or (from memory, as I haven't rewatched them yet) Improbable Cause/The Die Is Cast.
no subject
Date: 17 Jun 2009 18:09 (UTC)Remembering Meridian makes me actually shudder, it was that bad. One-episode romances are never a good idea unless they're really well written and well cast - I just didn't believe for one second that Dax would fall in love with the guy, and it didn't help that the actor was really bad, making the character seem a bit creepy and clingy. And speaking of B-plots, that episode must have the worst in the history of the series. I felt physically sick at times it was just so awful.
On the whole I think season three is a bit of a "one step forward, two steps back sort of season" - it's got a chunk of pretty weak episodes in it and isn't as consistent as season two on the whole, yet it hits higher highs than before. Improbable Cause/The Die is Cast is definitely the standout story of the season, but all the arc stuff in there is very good. Second Skin, Civil Defence, Visionary, Through the Looking Glass, Explorers, Facets and The Adversary were all excellent, too.
I know everyone says it, but the show really does become properly amazing with season four, not that there isn't much to enjoy in the first three seasons. I almost envy your rewatch, because I finished watching the series for the first time last week and still feel a bit sad that it's done.
no subject
Date: 18 Jun 2009 14:59 (UTC)Yeah, season three is a bit uneven. I feel like they're trying to get the arc going, but haven't quite got the confidence to go for it completely, so they fall back on more 'traditional' episodes, with varying degrees of success.
Season four is fantastic, so many great episodes. I was never that much of a Worf fan on TNG, but adding his character to DS9 works brilliantly. I'm looking forward to it, and very much enjoying watching everything in the right order for a change - I expect season six will make a lot more sense now I've seen seasons 3-5! And I must admit I started rewatching almost straight away, having no DS9 to watch made me feel a little bereft.
no subject
Date: 17 Jun 2009 22:22 (UTC)Sorry. /rant. This is a pet hate of mine.
Re Mieville, I just finished Perdido Street Station, a wild ride with fantastic characters. I need to read more of his New Crobuzon books now, and I'm fascinated by the idea of the one about the alternate cities occupying the same space.
[Edited to correct rant-induced typos]
no subject
Date: 18 Jun 2009 14:47 (UTC)I haven't read Iron Council yet but The Scar is really excellent, even better than Perdido Street Station, I thought.
no subject
Date: 19 Jun 2009 06:56 (UTC)I'm now on the second Locke Lamora book (Scott Lynch series). I like them in the same ways: brilliant characters and world-building, and with a good mix of sheer fantasy and frightening violence. I wish Lynch would use "dislike" instead of his annoying "mislike" though. It doesn't sit well with all the swearing. :-P
no subject
Date: 19 Jun 2009 17:38 (UTC)I haven't started The Lies of Locke Lamora yet, but it's sitting on my coffee table waiting for me!
no subject
Date: 19 Jun 2009 22:23 (UTC)He tells a ripping yarn. I did take a while to get into The Lies of Locke Lamora because it's (to me) a bit slow to get going, but it really ramps up the tension and action and mayhem, and by then you know all the characters. Some books have me leafing back to remind myself who a character is, but not here.
It's a great world, and I hope (but doubt) I'll get all my questions about the planet and its history answered.