5 things

[truepenny]

1. Thank you to everyone who has expressed enthusiasm for the podcast of Chapter 2. I was surprised and very pleased at how happy it seems to make people.

2. I would be more impressed with the Oxford World's Classics collection of M. R. James stories, and with Michael Chabon's introduction thereto, if someone had noticed that Chabon gets the name of the main character of "'Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You My Lad'" wrong.

2a. Someone could probably do something interesting with James' "The Malice of Inanimate Objects" and Robert Benchley's essay on the same theme. Same starting point, and even some of the same tone, but radically different effects.

3. Two short story rejections in two days, both for very good reasons. I am baffled and disheartened at how easily I seem to have slid from writing good short stories to writing short stories that don't work--if I manage to write short stories at all. Also, I am trunking the zombie coyotes until they give me more story in their story.

3a. "Baffled and disheartened" is a pretty good description of how I feel about my writing and my career in general these days.

3b. Don't mind me. I'll just stand here in the rain and eat thistles.

4. As John Scalzi points out, Carl Sagan's Cosmos is available on Hulu.

5. I can't even think of a fifth thing, so have two videos of cats being, well, cats. The first is cute (and with extra bonus fennec!); the second is hilarious. My heart belongs to Bag Cat.

Comments

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

Re: #2--that's like the epigraph to Zadie Smith's White Teeth, which is from The Tempest, being attributed to the exterior of the National Archives. Which, in my edition, it is. I wonder whose doorstep, in the publishing process, those things should be laid at--maybe it's just me, but those teeny errors can really color my impression of the book, and not favorably.

[kate_nepveu]

1. I'm only halfway through but I was thinking that it's a pity that it's impractical for us to pay you to record the whole thing. You do a really nice job.

3b. Would you like a charming little Pooh/Discworld crossover, complete with illustration? Or fluffy porcupine babies, or an adorable primate?

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

3b. Mmmmm, wet thistles.

[oracne.livejournal.com]

*holds out balloon and honey pot*

[(Anonymous)]

Re: #3 in all its formats

I'm pretty sure that the only reason I've decided to focus on Archive Records Management during my studies at the University of Michigan's School of Information is due to Kyle Murchison Booth. I want to meet ghosts and have creepy adventures in dark basements, too! :)

[restlessliterati.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Sorry, that was my comment. LiveJournal and I don't get along.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I actually enjoy reading aloud, so I'm glad it's enjoyable for others.

And that baby porcupine is awesomely cute.

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor Eeyore, I hope they are tasty thistles.

Zombie coyotes seem very suitable for having in a trunk, at least.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

LiveJournal is in some ways a tremendous pain--in particular its failure to play nicely with others.

And Mr. Booth and I disclaim all responsibility for the dark basements into which your studies may lead you.

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

The cross-over is delightful. Thank you!

[(Anonymous)]

Hello there! I know you probably didn't ask for it, but I wanted to express some thoughts that accidentally seem to fit 3a, so I hope that you won't mind me leaving these thoughts here on your LJ.
I said some things about my introduction to the series on a comment to a post about Corambis from 4th March; now I will get to the point about what impressed me in your books [only the 'Labyrinths' series, though].
Firstly, I'm very impressed with the world-building. I think you've hit the nail on the head with your statements that for a world to be believable, you have to insert little bits of trivia that are not central, or necessary at all, to the plot, in order to infuse the world with this lived-in sense rather than something hurriedly put together in the last minute when the writer thought it'd be cool to put the characters in a secondary-world setting, because, um, ours doesn't have dragons. So, it's an excellent method, and something that is definitely out of the beginner authors' range and much, much closer to the master level.
Secondly, the characters and POVs. I can hardly imagine a character more vivid than Mildmay - that's not only because half of the story is told through his eyes, but also because of his voice, all the little quirks that obviously have some thought behind them, like the way he says 'powers and saints' or the phrases and word orders, or his grammar. I guess the reason people find Mildmay the more compelling of the two is that he speaks in a simple, uncluttered way which doesn't prevent him from making sharp observations (and the second reason is that Felix is a bit of a bastard). But Felix is also described perfectly, and when you get to know him and you realize he thinks in these words because he'd been pressed by Malkar to remove every last trace of a Lower City language... Well, they are complex, not only as individuals, but also when you look at them as literary characters and you realize how these individuals are shown - with little intricacies so that when you re-read the books you can realize things about them on the second or the third or the ninth reading and say: "Yes, I understand how this goes to show that he is this person and has such past."
Thirdly, um, wow, their relationship. I mean, they balance each other perfectly, they complement each other and further each other's development. Or hinder it, sometimes. It is not shown to be a straightforward, one-track relationship, but rather very much like the relationship between living, actual people, going one step forward, two steps backward, half a step to the side - it's cool, we have too many books showing people that relationships are supposed to work out miraculously after the first battle together or the first time you save each other, or simply because the other is so irresistible. It would be nice to have books that show the opposite, that you have to work your way slowly and tortuously through your difficulties, through your own development. Sins are not forgiven or absolved, not even redeemed, but they can, with work and time, be put in the past, and you can become a different person.
In any case, that's what I read into the books :)
And lastly (I think I'd better stop here for now), the plot. I love the fact that there's no single plot, no quest or something. I like the jumbled way the story is told, the fact that it obviously belongs to the characters, that it's their life story rather than being the story of the One Ring And Its Destruction. It puts a different stress, sets a different standard for a fantasy novel, and I like it better this way.
So... I don't think you're off in any way. It seems to me like you have these awesome three (four, because judging from ch. 1 and 2 Corambis seems to be made of even more awesome than the others) books behind you, even not mentioning your other work. If you're looking to better yourself, sure, go ahead, never mind what Salvador Dali says about perfection :) But give yourself a break also and take the time to appreciate what you've done.
Just saying.

I could go on and on, but I don't know if you'd appreciate it, and this LJ is your turf in any case. :) I do apologize for my English, I'm not from an English-speaking country.

~ Daydreamer

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

As Peter Straub said to me in a similar situation, no writer objects to being told they do good work. *g*

And your English is excellent. I wouldn't have known you weren't a native speaker if you hadn't said so.

[talimena.livejournal.com]

That's what I was going to say! That is one of my favourite scenes ever.

[leighsala.livejournal.com]

I keep meaning to say this, and haven't yet so--I finished Melusine a week ago and I loved it. It reminded me very much of reading Ursula Le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness (a book I adore), where you start out in what you think is one kind of story and look up at the end and find yourself somewhere quite unexpected. And as an additional bonus, Melusine didn't make me start crying on the bus!

[deliasherman.livejournal.com]

I'll share my umbrella with you if you'll pass me some thistles.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Done!

[kate_nepveu]

Finished on the way home.

Spoilers, ROT13: jura Sryvk qernzrq ur jnf gur zbafgre sbe jung ur qvq gb Vfnnp, V unq n wbyg bs "bu, vg'f n traer pbairagvba gung ur *abg* or fbeel, jryy qbar sbe abg sbyybjvat vg naq znxvat zr ernyvmr gung vg'f abg n tbbq traer pbairagvba."

Also, very much looking forward to the rest.

[kate_nepveu]

Glad you liked!

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

ROT13: Naq tvira ubj ovggreyl V sbhtug jvgu zlfrys *abg* gb guvax jvgu zl traer pbairagvbaf, V'z tynq gb frr gurer'f bar cynpr jurer V qvqa'g unir gb guvax nobhg vg: V xarj Sryvk jbhyq ungr uvzfrys sbe jung ur qvq gb Vfnnp whfg nf fheryl nf V xarj ur'q qb vg.

[xamaque.livejournal.com]

Baffled is a much-maligned state. Not knowing what is going on leaves you that much more open to possibility.

But please don't be disheartened. You write wonderful, moving, memorable short stories! I've gone back and read 'The Bone Key' from cover to cover seven or eight times now, and probably will again.

Nine out of ten short stories that I read are bad, dull, boring or forgettable, even if they are by writers whose novels I have loved, which leads me to a theory that the short story might actually be more difficult to write. They may be shorter, but they seem a much less forgiving medium than the novel.

I have every confidence that you'll find your stride again soon.

[(Anonymous)]

Re 3a & b

Quotation from OF Blog of the Fallen:

"82 Sarah Monette, Corambis - This fourth and final volume in her The Doctrine of Labyrinths series is in many ways her best. Will review this one shortly."

I'm eagerly awaiting the date of release.

Perhaps a little balsamic vinaigrette on the thistles?

Susan Loyal

[(Anonymous)]

Please don't feel disheartened about your career, however baffled you are at the moment--I'm sure there are a great many readers "out there" who, like me, are very excited about the prospect of reading Corambis, and intensely curious (in a strangely patient way, because no good comes of rushing a writer) about what you will do next. Perhaps you're having trouble with the short stories because some part of you really wants to do something else, like a poem or an essay or a review of someone else's work?

Be patient with yourself. Every one of your works that I've found so far has been well worth the effort of finding it, and the Doctrine of Labyrinths series is one of the most dazzling, thought-provoking, and beautifully written sequences I've ever read. The last time I was so completely overwhelmed was when I was twelve years old and first read the Lord of the Rings--and as I'm now fifty I've read a great many remarkable books since then!

I've very much enjoyed listening to the podcasts of Corambis and will treasure them long after my copy of the book arrives. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to make them available to your eager fans!

Best wishes, Susan Lambiris--I'm sorry not to have an LJ account, and didn't want to simply stay anonymous, even though I know you won't know who I am!

[callunav.livejournal.com]

Two rejections in two days will do that to you, I suppose. But I have a very short list of authors whose work I will buy without having looked at the specific piece first, and you're on it. I have not liked absolutely everything I've ever read of yours with absolutely equal passion - I don't see how anyone who really cared what they were reading and had any selfhood at all could - but...it's good stuff.

If we're rot13'ing spoilers for the podcast, I'll say that V'z snfpvangrq ol ubj pbzcyrkyl lbh pbagenfg Zvyqznl naq Sryvk, naq ubj vg'f cbffvoyr gb frr ubj zhpu zber erfvyvrapr Zvyqznl unf va zbfg pvephzfgnaprf *naq jul*, jura 'erfvyvrapr' vf bar bs gur zber hasngubznoyr genvgf bs crefbanyvgl. V ybirq Zvyqznl'f novyvgl gb negvphyngr gb uvzfrys jung vg jnf gung unq znqr uvz natel nobhg gur fprar va gur onguubhfr, naq jung jnfa'g vg. (V'z nyfb guvaxvat gung gurer'f fbzr frys-nibvqnapr gurer, vs abg frys-qrprcgvba, naq jvyy or vagrerfgrq gb frr ubj guvatf genafcver; gur bar cneg ur qbrfa'g erunfu bhg bs nyy bs gung jnf gur fgnegvat cbvag sbe Sryvk, juvpu jnf gung Zvyqznl guvaxf ur'f htyl jura ur pyrneyl vfa'g, naq gung guvf vf orpnhfr ur, gbb unf orra qnzntrq ol fbzrbar jub obgu pbagebyyrq uvz naq znqr frkhny hfr bs uvz. Fvapr bar bs uvf cbvagf bs fgeratgu vf rffragvnyyl 'abg orvat nf shpxrq hc nf Sryvk,' V jbaqre jung'f tbvat gb or vaibyirq va fbegvat gung bhg.) V ybirq, va snpg - naq guvf vf n pbagvahngvba sebz nyy guebhtu gur frevrf, ubj zhpu orggre obgu oebguref ner ng negvphyngvat guvatf gb gurzfryirf guna gb rnpu bgure, naq ubj pbzzhavpngvba jvgu rnpu bgure unccraf yvxr gurer'f n pncnpvgbe ba gur pvephvg: va ybat fgnyrzngrf naq fhqqra oernxguebhtuf juvpu uryc ohg qba'g fbyir rirelguvat. V ybirq (birehfvat gur jbeq? fbeel) gur jnl vg qbrfa'g bpphe gb Sryvk gb fvzcyl ncbybtvmr. Ur'f orra genvarq ol crbcyr jub jnag qbzvavba, abg ncbybtvrf, gb jubz ncbybtvrf ner bayl zrnavatshy nf n fvta bs pbzcyrgr fheeraqre qhevat/gb raq chavfuzrag/ergnyvngvba. Zvyqznl qbrfa'g/jba'g chavfu uvz va jnlf juvpu yrnq gb gung xvaq bs gevhzcu/fheeraqre, fb Sryvk'f zbqryf sbe cravgrapr qba'g jbex. Naq V ybirq (fbeel) gung lbh qvqa'g (naq qvqa'g arrq gb) rkcynva nal bs gung, gung vg nyy cnffrf va gur fgnegyrq fgner sebz Sryvk jura Zvyqznl fhttrfgf gung ur pbhyq fgneg ol fnlvat 'fbeel.'

Nyfb, V'z pbaivaprq gung Sryvk gubhtug ur jnf ncbybtvmvat gur frpbaq gvzr sbe hfvat gur boyvtngvba q'nzr, abg sbe hfvat Zvyqznl, naq gung Zvyqznl cebonoyl haqrefgnaqf gung ohg qrpvqrq ur jnfa'g tbvat gb or noyr gb trg gung cneg pyrne naq fb qvqa'g chefhr vg.

Gur pneq-ernqvat nyfb frrzf gb obqr ernyyl hahfhny guvatf - gnyx nobhg abg svggvat traer pbairagvbaf! - orpnhfr gur zrffntr bs gur 9 bs fgnirf (V guvax vg jnf gung bar - gur bar juvpu ercerfragrq jung fhccbegrq Sryvk) frrzf gb or gung Sryvk pna'g orpbzr n fgebatre, jubyre (ntu, greevoyr jbeq) crefba ol orpbzvat zber yvxr nal bs gur bgure punenpgref, ohg ol...orpbzvat uvzfrys, zber naq orggre. Uvf vagryyrpg unf orra qrrcyl gvrq gb uvf neebtnapr, uvf neebtnapr gb uvf frafngvba bs uvzfrys nf n ubyybj funz. (Va zbfg bs uvf vagrenpgvbaf jvgu Zvyqznl, ur unf fbzr xabjyrqtr, ohg Zvyqznl unf whfg nf zhpu bs n qvssrerag xvaq, naq vg'f Zvyqznl jub guvaxf zber pyrneyl. Sryvk *nyybjf* Zvyqznl gb or evtug, be qbrfa'g nyybj uvzfrys gb or. Ur'f fgvyy orvat n Znegle.) Ohg gung qbrfa'g zrna gung uvf vagryyrpg vfa'g bar bs uvf fgebatrfg cbgragvny vagreany erfbheprf, vs ur pna frcnengr vg bhg sebz gur ersyrkvir cnggreaf bs funzr, naq vg ybbxf nf gubhtu gur ernqvat (nygubhtu cerfhznoyl gurer ner nyfb ybgf bs bgure zrnavatf gung jvyy pbzr pyrne guebhtu gur fgbel) vf fnlvat gung ur'f tbvat gb unir gb pynvz gung. Ur *pna* guvax, abg whfg xabj. Zbfg bs gur gvzr ur frrzf abg gb oryvrir ur'f fhccbfrq gb, hayrff vg bayl nssrpgf uvzfrys, naq rirel gvzr ur shpxf hc, ur vapbecbengrf gung vagb uvf oryvrs gung ur fubhyqa'g or nyybjrq gb guvax. Ohg ur arrqf gb.

I could blather endlessly, but I'm about to be late for class, dammit. And this is probably good because endless rot13 isn't one of the world's pressing needs at the moment.

The distinction between the character voices remains crystal clear and excellent. The way that the voices augment and clarify the personalities is brilliant.

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks. :P

A good job is an understatement, and, from what I heard in ch. 1 & 2, might be a gross understatement. This wait is KILLING me. I hope you will release ch. 3 to alleviate the sufferings of the masses before 7th April. Oh, please do. We are your sworn devotees and will venerate you. With mazes, if that's what it takes.
"'Mildmay?'
He'd gone beautifully, painfully red, and said nothing.
'Mildmay? What do you want me to teach you to read?'"
And you read it so well, I must have listened to this part about 17 times.

[nz-navigatress.livejournal.com]

I'm going to de-lurk here now, because all I can say it, yes, exactly, that's how I feel about the series, the characters and the whole world of the Labyrinths. Daydreamer has just put it so much more succintly and coherently that I ever could, so I won't even try.
I'm not a native speaker either, and new to LJ as well.
And, btw, this is the third ARC winner stumbling along in her first LJ steps. I have posted a tiny bit about "Corambis" in my shiny new LJ, no spoilers and not very much yet ... I'm still a bit shy :) and have not yet finished reading it. There will be more though.

[(Anonymous)]

Wheee, third ARC Corambis winner! And, um, I see you're from Germany, and that's about a two-hour plane ride from where I am. Care to share your copy of Corambis? I could probably read it during the day while you're at work... :D
Good luck with your LJ first steps :)

~ Daydreamer

[topknot.livejournal.com]

Thank you to everyone who has expressed enthusiasm for the podcast of Chapter 2. I was surprised and very pleased at how happy it seems to make people.

The varying points of view are so wildly different it's impossible not to get sucked in. That was part of why i first fell in love with Melusine in the first place (even though it was purchased on a whim) - the characters are all so uniquely painted and have their own unique voice. And like someone already said, the relationship between Felix and Mildmay is so like a real relationship, not the static, stuck-in-one-single-role pairing you oftentimes find in other stories.

i was initially a bit... irked? resentful? miffed? ...when Mehitabel was introduced as a "voice" in The Mirador until i realised that i loved her voice as well and saw how she brought so many added levels to the story that simply could not have been viewed through Mildmay's or Felix's eyes.

And i am realllllllly looking forward to what happens when Kay meets our dear boys. *grins* i fully expect he and Felix to be at each others' throats from the get-go.

Keep up the AWESOME work! You completely deserve all the praise you've received thus far and will doubtless receive after Corambis is released!

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

I hope the rest of the book can live up to your analysis.

[kate_nepveu]

whfg nf fheryl nf V xarj ur'q qb vg

Alas, yes.

[girlpunksamurai.livejournal.com]

3a. "Baffled and disheartened" is a pretty good description of how I feel about my writing and my career in general these days.

Noooooo! >.< Don't go saying that. You're on my top ten list of fav authors-do you have any idea how incredible that is when you consider I have over 80 favorite authors altogether? Someone as good at world creation using the written word cannot say that about themselves; it smacks of...I don't know, something that oughta be illegal :p

From the 2 chapter taste I got of Corambis, I think that will be counted as your best one yet. As it is, like Daydreamer, the wait is killing me...

slowly >.>