At Readercon almost two years ago, sdn pulled me over after a panel and said "You like Megan Whalen Turner? Megan loves Elizabeth Wein. You should read Elizabeth Wein." (Henceforth: eegatland.) Ok, I said.

However, some big things happened in my life between then and, oh, December 2008. It didn't occur to me to bother finding more things to do. Until suddenly, it did. I don't quite remember what set me off, though it might have been a review that specifically discussed Medraut, but I went looking for The Winter Prince with a passion. Upon learning that it was out of print I went about scouring websites until I found a used copy at bn.com. I eagerly awaited its arrival, and hid away upstairs at my grandmother-in-law's house on Christmas Day reading it.

I'm not a huge fan of Arthurian work. Honestly, it never presented archetypes that I could believe in, that I could root for. Arthur was too simple, a boy scout with his only flaw was allowing himself to be seduced by his sister/aunt. Or something. 'Cause G-d knows he couldn't have been an active participant, there. Guinevere always seemed like a simpering idiot to me. The whole love triangle made me sick - if I can't believe that anyone would want the main object of affection I am really unlikely to buy it. Perhaps needless to say, this book had a lot to do to make me enjoy it.

Reader, I enjoyed it. The idea of a Guinevere (or, as she's known here, Ginevra) who is a talented mapmaker, healer, and fluent in three languages was refreshing. This woman wasn't a symbol of courtly love or whatever, she was a partner for a king and a kind mother figure for Medraut (our Mordred) as well as her own children. In fact, the women in this book were incredibly refreshing. Even Morgause. Especially Morgause.

It is literally impossible to discuss the rest of the series in any kind of detail without spoiling this book. Which is a shame, because the rest of the series is even better. The point of view shifts from Medraut to his half-sister Goewin in the second book, A Coalition of Lions, and the action moves from Britain to the African nation of Aksum (from which Medraut had returned at the start of The Winter Prince). My poor planning and inadequate patience (the second book is also out of print) meant that I read the third book, The Sunbird, second. Telemakos, an Aksumite child we meet in the first chapter of A Coalition of Lions is the main protagonist of The Sunbird and the last two novels - collectively known as "The Mark of Solomon" books. I haven't yet read the last two (a combination of running out of time and money), but I am looking forward to doing so.

It's a fascinating series, partly because it takes its Arthurian origins and moves them. Partly because of the way it deals with duty, loyalty, love, and family. Medraut, in the first book, is widely acknowledged - even by Artos (Arthur, naturally) - as the one who should be left to rule Britain. Goewin - as loyal as she is to her twin, Lleu, who is Artos's acknowledged heir - openly discusses how she does not trust her brother not to plunge the kingdom her father built into ruin. But everyone - including Medraut - also understands his or her part and duty. Goewin is, perhaps, so fascinating in that she is the mirror of Morgause. She is the fiercely intelligent woman who cannot rule because less intelligent men seek to diminish her power. She is wise enough to see the turns that lead down the darker path, but not wise enough to avoid them entirely.

I was expecting to find Medraut a fascinating character - the reading I'd done prior to getting the book led me to expect it. I knew he would be a character to capture my imagination - gifted, tortured, vain and humble, yearning for acceptance and love. But I didn't expect the world that sprang up around him - full of characters that moved like true actors in the story - with their own agendas that were not always convenient and never simple. The story does not end where the book does - it keeps flying, and leaves you, as the reader, trailing in its wake, trying to catch up. Even as the characters move countries and continents, their motivations, their pain and their purpose remain rooted in how they were when we met them. It's fascinating, and a joy to read a story that develops this way.

P.S.: eegatland and her kids have been doing a PlayMobil version of The Winter Prince over here.

So my paid account expired and my Jaime Lannister icon is unreachable. But that won't stop me from linking to this post by GRRM telling one and all HBO has given the production order for The Game of Thrones pilot.

That news almost makes up for my 12-hour work day yesterday (and today mostly takes care of what's left).

You know, I'm not that old a fogey (in fact, I'm something of a young fogey), but I can honestly say that I remember that time *cough*10yearsago*cough* when I was a wee mite reading the Master_Apprentice yahoo group (which I was led to by toshieri) and noting the very strong worded arguments that declared RPS as Off Limits (tm). And of course the whole fic slash thing was all very subversive.

Which is all to say that I think, having come across Ana Marie Cox making an RPS reference in Time magazine's Swampland blog it's somehow become the Cool Thing without my noticing.

Of course, given that my head has been solely in front of my lab bench for the better part of the year - when it wasn't in front of my TV, my thesis proposal, or my wedding plans (ah, that delicious week of freedom in Hawaii...) - it's not that surprising that I have failed to notice something.

Apparently what writers say about novels holds true for propositions as well. Writing one proposition only teaches you how to write that proposition.

(I just need a draft by tonight. *sob*)

Carry on.

Doyle & I are a bit stuck on picking out a song for our first dance. We've tried asking around, but haven't met with much result. So, friendslist, would you be kind enough to suggest some ideas?

A few notes:
1. Much as I'd like it, I simply can't do justice to a tango in the wedding dress I've ordered.
2. The guests will be seated and most likely have eaten a bit prior to the actual dance. There's no need to keep it short, though too long is probably bad, too.
3. Nothing where you're dancing like you're back in middle school, please. Something where you can actually move and use the dance floor is preferred. A waltz would probably be best.

The song that has appealed to us most in sentiment is Dar Williams's "You Rise and Meet the Day," but it's not very dance-able. We're really not into the traditional sappy love song.

So, thoughts?

I got tagged by hamsterwoman last week. Perhaps it's a quirk that it took me so long to come up with quirks.

1) List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself
2) Tag seven people to do the same.
3) Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you want to tag whoever wants to do it.

( In no particular order save how they came to me. )

Now I tag buymeaclue, fuyu_no_fuhei, grailquestion, lareinenoire, mrsix, lunaratu, and solnishka.

Has anyone heard of Good Reads? What are its pluses and minuses as concerns Library Thing?

Thanks so much!
Del

What's with all the zombies lately?

When I was young it was unicorns. When I hung out with large quantities of gamers, it was vampires. In college it was dragons.

Now it's zombies. What's so enticing about rotting flesh-eaters, anyway? Am I the only one who doesn't get it?

Readercon was great, though much less with the panels and much more with the social this year. Bought many, many books just the same.

Gave Friday-morning brunch ride to an overcrowded car, including maureenmcq and her lovely husband only to return in time for her kaffeklatch. Stayed after for blackholly's, had a fabulous time and also met Laura Anne Gilman. Saw mroctober, who reminded me that I do need to write up my thoughts on Vintage and So Fey (and, for that matter, Megan Whalen Turner and the love I bear for her). Also sdn who, upon learning of my love for MWT told me "Here's Elizabeth Weir. Megan loves Elizabeth's writing. You should read." (I totally will.) Caught matociquala in the lobby, and she told me of the hotel's hot tub and a fabulous Korean BBQ place two miles away from the hotel, then caught her kaffeklatch. Went to fabulous Korean BBQ place with my "con family" of grailquestion, lunaratu, rosefox, sinboy, and yuki_onna, along with megmccarron and a lovely person named Liz whose LJ I do not know.

Somewhere in there was also dessert at Finale for my birthday, drinking beer on Saturday night while falling asleep to yuki_onna's rather strong opinions on Neil Gaiman, a girly shopping trip to the mall with grailquestion and lunaratu, and seeing fuyu_no_fuhei, though too briefly.

I went to more readings than I did panels, and I am now searching somewhat desprately for the anthology from which Theodora Goss read her story despite acquiring ridiculous (and I mean ridiculous) quantities of anthologies this weekend. Caught a bit of the Interfictions readings - everything Interfictions was scheduled opposite something else I was also interested in. The reading was Sunday "morning" (noon, actually) when I'd gotten so burned out on con I just drove in late.

Despite it all, I did miss ellen_kushner and her guitar. yuki_onna's commentary on that was great: "And I now know all the lyrics to 'Beeswing,' too!" There's always next year, I hope.

Now I'm at work, desperately trying to remember how I do that. I hope I shall be able to overcome my desire to flee editing my book and post more this week.