Monday. Full moon shining down through the clerestory window in my office.
It has been a long, strange day. I wrote, broke for lunch, and did a few chores, then when back and wrote some more. Ghod this is easier with two brains. Ahem. Having said that, I’m not precisely sure where the day went.
It must have been the Gala Celebrations that put me on the wrong foot.
Now I know that my tax rate has increased from 12% to 21%, and what that means in actual dollar$, I was able to write the check to pay off the installation of the sliding doors in Steve’s office. And there will be no more of that sort of frivolity in my life going forward, ref 21% above.
Tomorrow is All Errands All The Time. Wednesday and Thursday, most of Friday and Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are cleared for writing. Also, I really wish my brain was on my side, rather than the chancy ally it is. Flogging myself into a lather is really counterproductive, but all I can do is work around it.
I am, for those who have not given up on the whole Liaden Read-along, currently reading Scout’s Progress, which, every time I read it, I think “Yanno? This is my favorite Liaden novel.” It, with Local Custom, are of course the two Liaden novels Most Vilified by the Real Man Chapter of Real SF Readers.
Steve got not one, not two, not six, but many letters from chapter members urging him to “take control of his wife,” “clear all that relationship crap out,” and “write ‘real’ stories”. It would have been comical if they hadn’t been so angry.
I’m reminded of … Hawthorne? “That damned mob of scribbling women?” — I’m pretty sure it was Hawthorne. Local Custom and Scout’s Progress are worldbuilding masterpieces, though I say it of my own work. In addition, they are subversive, as all “real” fiction should be, and SF most of all. The characterization is flawless, the dialog is lovely, and — I’m just really proud of them, right?
But because they show the differences between cultures in terms of relationships, and families; in terms of the welfare of a child, and a woman who isn’t safe in her home — they were, as several chapter members who probably had never read one opined — “Mills and Boon garbage.” As well as “a disgrace,” and “not SF at all.”
Well. Rant off, I suppose. I should get something to eat, and a glass of wine seems to be in order.
I hope everyone had a good day. Yes, I’ve seen the news.
Stay safe. I’ll check in tomorrow.
I am a man and Scout’s Progress is my favorite as well. It is the book I pick up when I want a comfort read. My favorite scene is when Aelliana realizes she has won a Class A Starship by betting her 4 cantra quartershare and the fierce determination that she will work the ship to escape Ran Eld.
I love Scout’s Progress! I found it delightful in every way and thoroughly enjoyed re-reading it for the Readalong.
Brava??
Hmmmm
I left the comment above.
I ended with kudos to the author – Brava –
and punctuated it with 2 emoji exclamation points with hearts on the bottom portion.
Unfortunately this was “translated” into 2 question marks.
Nope.
Setting the record straight:
Brava!!!
Aelliana beating the chel’Mara at his own game never gets old. Never.
It’s so frustrating to read those types of comments. My preference of reading was always fantasy. I was drawn to SF, but wasn’t able to find a type that spoke to me in language other than detailed space battles and grotesque alien visages. In finding your books, I found my holy grail: a soft SF with the heart of fantasy, and a sprinkle of magic thrown in for good measure. Though I suppose this opinion being that of a girl, it probably doesn’t hold much weight with those types of people. In any case, I’m sorry you’ve fielded those types of complaints. And I thank you for writing these for me!!