Legend of Korra
2 x 5: Peacekeepers
Full episodes available at Nick.com.
Episode Summary (from the Avatar Wiki): Korra attempts to gain support for the Southern Water Tribe from the United Forces, but her request is denied by President Raiko. As a result, she, Bolin, Varrick, and Asami attempt to take matters into their own hands.
Another Friday, another collection of links that will hopefully make your day a little better.
Two more recommendations from PodCastle.
First up is Saladin Ahmed’s Where Virtue Lives. This story takes place before the events of Ahmed’s award-winning novel Throne of the Crescent Moon, and shows how the aged ghul-hunter Doctor Adoulla Makhslood first met the young and rather uptight warrior Dervish Raseed bas Raseed. The story is also available at Beneath Ceaseless Skies. The story would be a great way to sample Ahmed’s world and writing. If you like it, you should enjoy the book as well.
I’m particularly fond of Adoulla, his impatience with the trappings of virtue combined with his determination to do what’s right. I appreciate the role religion plays in this world, how it’s woven through the magic and day-to-day interactions of the characters. This story also touches on the dynamics of power and control in an abusive relationship. There’s a “strong-guys-rescuing-the-women” overtone to the story, which I would have liked to see challenged a bit more, but overall I enjoyed it.
Next is A Hollow Play, by Amal El-Mohtar. This story was also published in the Glitter & Mayhem anthology, and is a tale of love and sacrifice and relationships and alienation and magic. This is the second of El-Mohtar’s stories that I’ve listened to and loved. In many ways, it’s a quiet story. There are no swords, no battles with evil demons, no end-of-the-world stakes.
But it’s a very powerful story. El-Mohtar makes the reader feel Emily’s sense of loss and being lost, her awkwardness and courage, and her love.
I was told that this is the kind of story some people might describe as being Full of Gay Agenda!!!1!!1! Having listened to the story, I’ve decided that’s just silly. There’s no agenda here, unless you feel that acknowledging the existence of gay or genderqueer or poly people is an agenda. (In which case, please go away.)
I’m particularly impressed with the way El-Mohtar wrote about feeling trapped in one’s own body, both from a human perspective and a not-quite-human one. Though this isn’t an area where I have first-hand experience, to me the story felt both respectful and genuine.
This week marks ten years since Amy and I got married. That’s a quarter of our lives we’ve been together. If you look at how long we’ve been friends, we’ve been a part of each other’s lives for more than half the time we’ve been alive.
I don’t even know what to write here. I do know that I’m incredibly fortunate. Amy has put up with an awful lot over the past decade, from living with a struggling writer (and all of the emotional roller coaster rides and derailments that entails) to my struggle with undiagnosed depression to my obnoxious insistence on making her watch one geeky show after another. (In my defense, she loved Buffy, Doctor Who, and most of the other things I introduced her to. Because she has excellent taste!)
Amy, when you read this — and yeah, I’m gonna make you read my blog again — I know there have been some unexpected … let’s call them challenges. But I love you, and I wouldn’t trade these past ten years for anything. I can’t imagine doing all this without you, and I wouldn’t want to try. I’m looking forward to at least 60 more years. Yeah, that’s right, you’re stuck with me for a good long time.
Happy anniversary, love!
I wanted to share a few of my favorite pics of the two of us from years past…
I’ve been hearing a fair amount of frustration with this year’s World Fantasy Convention over various issues.
WFC was the first “world-level” convention I attended, more than a decade ago now. It was intimidating and overwhelming, but also fun and rewarding. Sadly, I won’t be at WFC in Brighton this month. Which could raise the question, “Why am I griping about a con I’m not even going to?”
I’d like to think this isn’t griping. (At least, not just griping.) I think the problems being pointed out are important to be aware of and talk about even for those of us who won’t be at this particular convention. Since a decent number of authors, fans, and conrunners check in on this blog from time to time, I figured it was worth a blog post. I’ve also tried to do some rumor-checking and dig up more information on the various complaints I’ve heard.
The point isn’t to bash the volunteers who’ve been working their asses off to make the convention happen. It’s to say hey, it sounds like there are a few problems here. Maybe some of them can be addressed before the con. Hopefully we can also address them at future conventions.
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WFC is charging £5 to attend Kaffeeklatsches and Book Clubs?
True.
I’ve had one kaffeeklatsche as an author, and there was no charge to attend. It was a lot of fun — a chance to hang out in a more informal setting, enjoy a few snacks and drinks, and just chat. In this case, the WFC website says they’re charging for two reasons.
I know I would personally be very uncomfortable with people having to pay to come chat with me at a con. My understanding — and I could be wrong — is that most cons cover the expense for kaffeeklatsches the same way they cover other hotel expenses, bundling it into the cost of the convention instead of presenting this kind of add-on fees.
The only other thing I’ll say is that I know some authors have declined to do a kaffeeklatsche at WFC because of this.
I’d welcome thoughts and input on this one from folks with more experience.
Is WFC deliberately set up to be exclusive?
Under the FAQ explaining why World Fantasy is so expensive, it says, “Unlike many other conventions — particularly World SF — the attraction of WFC is its very exclusivity.”
For the record, this makes the convention significantly less attractive for me. But I suppose your mileage may vary.
Comics will not be sold in the dealer’s room.
True.
While this does not seem to be specific to this particular World Fantasy Con, I agree with Cheryl Morgan that excluding comics because you’re a “literary” convention is a serious fail. I guess I have a very different definition of literature than whoever came up with this rule. I hope this is a policy the WFC Board will reconsider in the future.
Wait, most authors get only one panel or one reading, if anything?
I believe this is correct, though I haven’t found an official policy statement anywhere. It’s also in line with what I’ve seen at other world conventions. Given the number of pros in attendance, most of whom want to be involved with programming, well, there’s only so much room for everyone.
Were they really planning a panel called “Broads with Swords” about those new lady writers “embracing a once male-dominated” genre?
Yes.
While WFC certainly isn’t alone in spotlighting “Women in ______” panels, this one felt particularly clunky and painful. Just read Jess Haines’ post on this one.
What I don’t know is whether the WFC programming folks heard the feedback to this panel and have changed/removed it. Does anyone know if this is still on the schedule?
Is accessibility an issue at this location?
It originally sounded like this was a problem for at least some convention events. However, an update from the WFC Facebook Page states:
“After further discussions with the Hilton Brighton Metropole hotel, they have revealed that there **is** wheelchair access to the Chartwell room via a staff lift/elevator off of the main hotel lobby. We apologise for any confusion our earlier announcement may have caused.”
I don’t know if there are other issues, but hopefully the con is continuing to work to make the event as accessible as possible. (After all, it’s not like convention accessibility is a thing nobody’s ever talked about before.)
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Newbie support!
I also wanted to offer props to WFC for having a designated “Newbie Liaison” for people who are attending their first WFC, or their first convention period. I really like that the con is actively trying to create events and get-togethers for new people, and I’d love to see more conventions follow suit.
Got an email last week asking why I wasn’t on Tumblr.
As it turns out, while I’m not terribly active over there, I am on Tumblr at http://jimhines.tumblr.com. I’ve even got the “Ask Me Anything” function turned on, in case anyone wanted to ask me … well, anything.
I just hadn’t gotten around to adding that link to my website.
Well, NOW I HAVE! TAKE THAT, UNIVERSE!
Legend of Korra
2 x 4: Civil Wars, Part II
Full episodes available at Nick.com.
Episode Summary (from the Avatar Wiki): Korra must fight for her parents’ freedom when they are wrongfully arrested for plotting to assassinate Chief Unalaq.
Welcome to week two of Cool Stuff Friday.
Because I was bored curious, I took a look at the search queries that brought people to my website over the past month. There were the obvious searches for my name and my writing, along with the cover poses. But there were plenty of more interesting results, too…
“Form sex” – Not quite sure what that means.ETA: I should also link to this follow-up, wherein Gilmour responds to the criticism of his comments. I’ve done interviews before where my verbal comments were rephrased or edited in ways that distorted their meaning. On the other hand, the apology (which he says he normally wouldn’t give, but he’s got a book coming out) and his other comments … well, it still doesn’t feel like he gets it. But you should read his response and decide for yourself.
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I stared at this author interview – David Gilmour On Building Strong Stomachs – for a long time before conceding defeat. I had been planning to write a satirical send-up of his interview, but nothing I could come up with came close to the things this award-winning novelist and professor actually said.
Let’s start with one of his introductory comments.
“I’m a natural teacher, I was trained in television for many years. I know how to talk to a camera, therefore I know how to talk to a room of students. It’s the same thing.”
Okay, I totally get this. I mean, I don’t like to brag, but I’m a natural sniper. I know how to hit the bowl when I take a piss, therefore I know how to take out an enemy soldier from three hundred yards. It’s the same thing.
“I teach modern short fiction to third and first-year students. So I teach mostly Russian and American authors … I can only teach stuff I love.”
Have I ever told you about my other day job? Oh yeah. I’m a professional hairstylist. So I only give people mullets and 70s pornstaches. I can only cut the styles I love.
“I’m not interested in teaching books by women … What I teach is guys. Serious heterosexual guys. F. Scott Fitzgerald, Chekhov, Tolstoy. Real guy-guys. Henry Miller. Philip Roth.”
I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I’M VERY, VERY HETEROSEXUAL. NOT BECAUSE I’M COMPENSATING FOR ANYTHING, BUT BECAUSE GIRLS WRITE YUCKY STUFF!
(ALSO, TOTALLY NOT COMPENSATING, BUT I HAVE AN ENORMOUS PENIS! A REAL PENIS-PENIS.)
“There’s an even dirtier one that I teach, by Philip Roth, called The Dying Animal … There are men eating menstrual pads, and by the time my students get to that they’re ready. Roth has the best understanding of middle-aged sexuality I’ve ever come across.”
Speaking as a man who will be turning 40 next year, I am absolutely terrified about what looms ahead for me and my middle-aged sexuality.
Alternate response: Weirdest. Diet plan. Ever.
“I teach only the best.”
I.e., “Look, I don’t want to generalize, but women and gay men are no good at anything.”
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What gets me is that so much of what Gilmour says is the same crap we hear all the time. Gilmour turns it up to eleven, but the underlying sentiment is the same. “I only read stories I love. I don’t judge by sex or race or anything else.” Sure, I never stray outside of my white, male, American comfort zone, but it’s not like I’m racist or sexist!
I know Gilmour’s an easy target with this interview. But he’s not saying anything plenty of other people don’t believe, even if they’re not as obnoxiously blunt about it. And that’s disturbing as hell.
