The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

Got my hands on it. Finally read it.

I liked it.

Simple and to the point, isn't it.

It has a lot of things to recommend it. It is fantasy, with an interesting set of cultures. The main protagonist is female, and she's brown! But it also hits points I like. It involves creation tales and the sagas and loves and struggles of deities and creation avatars. There is some intrigue, but not enough to twist you all around and make you pull out your hair and wonder why no one talks or thinks in a straight line. It's the intrigue of family, of old grudges and jealousies and some misunderstandings and the need to mold certain family members a certain way - sometimes via conviction it's all the right thing for them.

There's even something of superhero origin story, complete with arch nemisis; if you think of superheroes as modern creation avatars; our modern gods (small g) and demi gods.

I have read other reviews - some found the main character, Yeine, to be somewhat passive or pliant or swept along by circumstance. I think it'd be difficult for anyone not to have their footing destabilized in such circumstances. But I didn't find her passive because she was always thinking, always trying to understand, always trying to piece together the truth and see where she herself fit, and her goals.

I will admit, however, that the eros love story was not the love story I enjoyed the most. It wasn't badly done, but I can admit to thinking it echoed every lonely dark brooding vampire/werewolf/urban fantasy male love interest with man-pain and sad eyes and primal stuff. But undoubtedly that's a trope for a reason.

And I have my own reasons for loving characters with a certain fluidity of personality and world perceptions. Thus my favouring the other love story - though undoubtedly some will ask why I'm framing it with the words 'love story'. But I'm certain those who've looked into a pair of bright, fresh, trusting eyes know about that first look, head over heels, rush and fall in love.

It is a whole book, for all it's the first of a trilogy. So if for some off reason you end up having no interest in the characters for the second book at all - you won't miss out for not getting the second one.

Hmm, nothing else to say without spoiling anything.

Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemison. High fantasy that doesn't ignore or gloss over colonialism, genocide, imperalism etc in order for some random hero to get bling and praises. High fantasy that doesn't do it the way it's always been done, because that's what people expect; how the quest works; how the trope goes; what has made money or careers before.

A good book that's part of The Conversation I Want To Have.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

N.K Jemisin has the first chapter of her novel series debut up.

I found the chapter lovely, with a good storytelling voice. It leads me to believe I will see a new perspective in the plot trope of; long lost heir returns & must find their way.

The Hundred Thousand Kindoms, will be out in Feb 2010.

Little Drops Of Oasis

Rebecca Mayes. Audiogamer.

She reviews games with songs.

So far my favourites are Hank Bodaire (Sims3), The Infuriating and Alluring Case of Mr Kyle Hyde (Hotel Dusk) and Press A (WiiSports). But I like them all.

Beautiful, fun songs.

Of course I may be biased because I really like singer/songwriter women.


In other news my ears are too small for the holes/hollows in my headphones. Squished earlobes are painful.

Whee!

Dear Japan, (specifically Madhouse)

Thank you for making Wolverine a Character of Colour. So Much Thank You. Now I do have something to look forward to in 2010.

Also, you have managed to make me somewhat interested in Iron Man simply by artstyle - he's now a man in a very tiny mecha, vs an asshole running around in his own bullysuit. And if that's Pepper Pots with the green hair?

Hot Damn!

Squee and Love,

Willow


PS: I am totally in love with that villain.

PPS: Everytime America takes something Asian and whitewashes it, I'm going to try and remember there's the possibility of the reverse happening (PoC Co-Opting) - so I don't cut me some honkeys.

_______***______



Dear Regular American Marvel,

You still suck 100 donkey eggs. With maggots. But at least you gave permission to have something actually cool happen.


Continuing To Roll My Eyes At You,

Willow

Transcriptase

The authors who wished to distance their work from William Sanders and HELIX magazine have created an archive site for their stories.

I encourage everyone to stop by Transcriptase. I've also added a link to my sidebar.

Totally Not Comic Related

Ze Mighty Aphrodite Kali(921) occasionally graces the world with bits of culture. So why not me?

Actually, I was pointed to this link and am just spreading the joy.

A page full of Hallelujah. Or rather covers of the song.


I'm particularly fond of Rufus Wainright's and kd lang's.

Not to mention the quatro/banjo version in the sidebar player labeled (black session). It's peppy. It makes me think of 'The Sad Clown'. You laugh, he cries on the inside.

Yes, my mind is weird.

And yes Sad Clowns make me think of Kurt Busiek and Astro City. So there's a comic reference for those who may insist there should be some glimmer of connection.

New Excalibur!

Jono makes a walkthrough.

And then....

THERE IS MERLINNESS!

*has complete muppet like freak out spaz of semi-orgasmic joy and screaming*

I have found the SQUEE!

I am reading Excalibur.

1. Dazzler kicks people in the face!

2. Dazzler's eyes glow when she's pissed.

3. Light explosions.

4. Dazzler kicks ass, takes names and then KICKS PEOPLE IN THE FACE!

5. Evil dudes call her Brightengale and Songbird and then SHE KICKS THEM IN THE FACE.

Are you seeing a theme? Are you? Are you?!

Also, there's two panels of Harry Potter reference that just cracks me up into a giggle pile of already happy squee.

I almost don't quite care that Sage looks like some sort of Librarian Dominatrix Fetish Dream.

Juggernaut's a good guy! Nocturne's part of the main physical reality. And Dazzler KICKS PEOPLE IN THE FACE!

C'mon Photons!

I need to own this in tradepaperback.

Ping!

I had a random thought while in IM conversation with someone. Well, not quite random, it's a thought I've had on and off for a while but never articulated before.

Josef Loeb + Frank Miller, made to work on a comic book together.

Frank: Whores. Whores, sex, grit, crime, gritty danger, Whores!

Loeb: It's not slash! Honest! It's intense male bonding friendship!

Possibility? The Authority. The thought makes me smile.

Though, who would do the art? (Please universe not Make-them-turd-faces Quimby)

Thinking about it now, consciously, I ponder them doing something original. Something about some poor boywhore who's only doing it to get inside information on the mob? Because they killed his best friend? Who uhm...comes back as a ghost? And there's lots of angsty - if I could touch you. But it'd definitely, completely, wouldn't be homoerotic. On noes!

ETA: Restarting Ultimate Marvel Universe. Scott could be the boy-whore! The X-Men would totally be all gritty mutant minorty trying to survive. There'd be head bashing violence! Logan would be blood sprayed and cool! Logan/Scott = Enemy SLASH. Jean Grey the immaculate = Gritty Whore! No wait, it's Jean Grey the immaculate, she'd be a regular Miller Madonna figure. Damn.

Got the name.