fic rec - Holmes/Watson (Speckled Band)

I must recommend this fic by katieforsythe - Some Further Notes on the Roylott Matter, Part 1 and Part 2. Her Holmes voice is so good. Egomanaical and self-depricating at the same time, and his vaguely morbid descriptions so in character. (He says of Watson - "If the man were, Heaven save us from it, to be autopsied, I believe the coroner would find he is made of better materials than most.") Don't go there for porn, but avoid it at all costs if you're not interested in smouldering affection.

reading "Farnham's Freehold." (books 40, 41 & 42)

I finished...
#40 - "Peter Duck" (Arthur Ransome),
#41 - "You Suck" (Christoper Moore)
#42 - "A Rhyming History of Great Britain" (James Muirden)

And started "Farnham's Freehold" (Robert Heinlein). Maybe it's just this book... Not sure how to put this without sounding arrogant and dismissive, but... he has some good ideas, and tried to be forward thinking for his time, but the writing in this book is like what I do before Eor looks it over and says "You need WAY more detail." It's all dialogue, with almost no description of their surroundings. They're floating in a void. Also, I hate the characters thus far, with the old wife being a complete bitch. It's telegraphed from about page two that Farnham's going to end up with his daughter's friend. Old wife will probably die? (Am I wrong? Please tell me I am.) Unusually for Heinlein, the daughter's friend is not described as gorgeous, that's about the only saving grace of this book so far.

My favorite Heinlein ever is "The Unpleasant Profession of Johnathan Hoag," but Eor and I discussed last night that it's an anomaly in Heinlein, reading more like Bradbury. Then I thought I might re-read "Job," but couldn't lay my hands on it, and I hadn't read "Farnham's Freehold" so I thought I ought to. Is it going to get better? Please tell me it is! ( evil, bitchy hypothesizing about how this will go... )

I hope you didn't read that, I'm such a bitch.

Must go do something with the laundry, now.

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ETA: Having moved the laundry to the dryer, and had some eggs and toast* (seriously overdue - I was starving and had broken down hours ago and ruined any good effects of starving by having cookies), I'm feeling better and really repentant about being such a bitch, above. I realize there's a lot that was amazing and great about him as a writer at the time. The whole thing about multiple relationships was a big step, and I didn't know before Eor read to me that bit from the essay in the latest Asimov's that he was one of the first to write science fiction in a quickly moving, fun, adventure story fashion, leaving aside clunky exposition about technology. I remember that I loved "Stranger In A Strange Land" when I was fourteen. But then the Jesus parallels and polyamorous stuff was bold and new to me. I'm assessing him now with an eye which has become much more sensitive to style.

*ps - also goat's milk, which makes everything seem a lot better

vaaacaaatiooon!

I just got confirmation - I'm going to have a full seven days off in a row, starting day after tomorrow! :) :) I had traded days off with V. (coworker) so she could go to her girlfriend's father's wedding, and the way it worked out I would have had two days off, then worked two days, then had two more days off, then worked eight days. So, for the price of requesting three days off I've got a full week. And then I have to work seven days, but my manager thinks she can get me some more black socks so I won't have to do laundry. ;)

We probably won't go anywhere, but if Eor can get a couple of days off we might decide to go to the mountains. Maybe I'll even get some writing done, though I'm not at all sure what the heck I should work on first.

I haven't mentioned that Eor made a really good apple crisp the other night. I can't tell the difference between using rice powder and wheat flour for this. I'm particularly aware of how good it is at the moment as I just ate the last bite and I asked him if we could make more. (Although I've got to admit to a sweet tooth for baked goods - the brownies littleredhead made were similarly missed upon finishing the last one, and I must have eaten them for nearly two weeks.)

( ranting about work and the media )