56 Nobody’s Perfect, Donald E. Westlake (e)
55 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
54 Paladin’s Grace, T. Kingfisher (e)
53 Wolf Rain, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
52 Slippery Creatures, KJ, Charles (e)
51 Star Rogue, Susan Grant (e)
50 The Black Mountain, Rex Stout (re-read) (e)
49 The League of Frightened Men, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
48 The Trouble with Jenny’s Ear, Oliver Butterworth (re-read)
47 Tooner Schooner, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
46 Fer-de-Lance, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
45 Lake Silence, Anne Bishop
44 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
43 Mort, Terry Pratchett (re-read) (e)
42 Network Effect, Martha Wells (e)
41 Lord and Ladies, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for both)
40 Trouble in Triplicate, Rex Stout (e)
39 The Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley (e)
38 Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (re-read aloud w/Steve, because Steve had a Notion about alligators, specifically Moot; the Talmadge Bridge, and Savannah in general)
37 Warprize, Elizabeth Vaughan (e)
36 Who Speaks for the Damned, C.S. Harris
35 Don’t Look Down, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (read aloud w/Steve)
34 Blood and Circuses, Kerry Greenwood
33 The Cat Who Came to Breakfast, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
32 One Fell Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
31 Sweep in Peace, Ilona Andrews (e)
30 Clean Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
29 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e)
28 Raven Heart, Murphy Lawless (e)
27 Iron Kissed, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
26 The Cat Who Said Cheese, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
25 Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
24 Moon Called, Patricia Briggs (re-re-read)
23 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-&c read)
22 The Widow of Rose House, Diana Bill (e)
21 False Value, Ben Aaronovitch
20 Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer (read aloud w/Steve re-read for both)
19 Minor Mage, T. Kingfisher (e)
18 The Green Mill Murder, Kerry Greenwood
17 Tell Me Lies, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
16 Murder at the Brightwell, Ashley Weaver
15 Crazy for You, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
14 A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
13 The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
12 Ocean Light, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
11 Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate, Cynthia Kim
10 Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
9 The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang (e)
8 Fall into Spring, Amy Lane (e)
7 Resurgence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
6 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better…, Rachel Aaron (e)
5 Unmasked by the Marquess, Cat Sebastian (e)
4 Jimmy the Kid, Donald E. Westlake (e)
3 Wanted, A Gentleman, KJ Charles (e) (read aloud with Steve)
2 The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Patricia McKillip (e) (re-read)
1 Proper English, KJ Charles (e)
Blog Without A Name
Books read in 2020
55 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
54 Paladin’s Grace, T. Kingfisher (e)
53 Wolf Rain, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
52 Slippery Creatures, KJ, Charles (e)
51 Star Rogue, Susan Grant (e)
50 The Black Mountain, Rex Stout (re-read) (e)
49 The League of Frightened Men, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
48 The Trouble with Jenny’s Ear, Oliver Butterworth (re-read)
47 Tooner Schooner, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
46 Fer-de-Lance, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
45 Lake Silence, Anne Bishop
44 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
43 Mort, Terry Pratchett (re-read) (e)
42 Network Effect, Martha Wells (e)
41 Lord and Ladies, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for both)
40 Trouble in Triplicate, Rex Stout (e)
39 The Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley (e)
38 Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (re-read aloud w/Steve, because Steve had a Notion about alligators, specifically Moot; the Talmadge Bridge, and Savannah in general)
37 Warprize, Elizabeth Vaughan (e)
36 Who Speaks for the Damned, C.S. Harris
35 Don’t Look Down, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (read aloud w/Steve)
34 Blood and Circuses, Kerry Greenwood
33 The Cat Who Came to Breakfast, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
32 One Fell Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
31 Sweep in Peace, Ilona Andrews (e)
30 Clean Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
29 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e)
28 Raven Heart, Murphy Lawless (e)
27 Iron Kissed, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
26 The Cat Who Said Cheese, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
25 Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
24 Moon Called, Patricia Briggs (re-re-read)
23 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-&c read)
22 The Widow of Rose House, Diana Bill (e)
21 False Value, Ben Aaronovitch
20 Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer (read aloud w/Steve re-read for both)
19 Minor Mage, T. Kingfisher (e)
18 The Green Mill Murder, Kerry Greenwood
17 Tell Me Lies, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
16 Murder at the Brightwell, Ashley Weaver
15 Crazy for You, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
14 A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
13 The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
12 Ocean Light, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
11 Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate, Cynthia Kim
10 Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
9 The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang (e)
8 Fall into Spring, Amy Lane (e)
7 Resurgence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
6 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better…, Rachel Aaron (e)
5 Unmasked by the Marquess, Cat Sebastian (e)
4 Jimmy the Kid, Donald E. Westlake (e)
3 Wanted, A Gentleman, KJ Charles (e) (read aloud with Steve)
2 The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Patricia McKillip (e) (re-read)
1 Proper English, KJ Charles (e)
The Wrong Lance, Chapter Three, now live!
Chapter Three of The Wrong Lance is now available for you — yes, you! — to read.
Here’s your link
Whole New World, Part Ten
When last we saw Our Humble Narrator, she had finished her last ray gun therapy session, collected her diploma, rang the bell with a will (eliciting applause, catcalls, and shouts of “congratulations” from those foregathered), and was driven home by her partner, by way of Bucksport, Searsport, Belfast, and China, arriving in Good Time at Gifford’s, where milkshakes were taken on, and so to home, where said narrator finished drinking her milkshake and had a nap.
Begin TMI
The Official Word is that I will now “rest;” never an easy state for me, this time made a little more difficult by the burns, which are still coming into their fullness, and, yeah, they hurt. I am, according to Dr. Ray Gun, not to “baby” the burns, to continue with the range-of-motion exercises, and also continue to apply the recommended creams. I may take analgesics as I feel the need for them.
I am lower on energy than at any point since this particular adventure began, my memory is not reliable, and I have acquired a deplorable tendency to weep, which is, I suppose, better than throwing knives, or breaking dishes, but much less spiritually fulfilling. I expect that the the reality of what’s happened is finally catching up with me, now that I may “rest,” and have no need to focus on holding it together for the trip to the Cancer Center, the ray gun treatment, and the drive home.
I have an appointment at the Cancer Center next Friday, with the Survivalism Doctor, which, despite my persistent mental picture, is not about taking off our shirts, strapping on our hunting knives, and descending, sans bug repellent, into the marshland surrounding the hospital to bring down and skin a deer. I will be speaking with this doctor about my concerns regarding the drugs they propose to put me on for the rest of my life, so that will be fun.
End TMI
So, anyway, Patience and Waiting Are, as I try to find the balance between “resting” and being horrified that I’ve gotten nothing, not one thing, done — which is not a problem today, as I’ve written this blog post.
Everybody stay healthy. Everybody stay safe.
Books read in 2020
54 Paladin’s Grace, T. Kingfisher (e)
53 Wolf Rain, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
52 Slippery Creatures, KJ, Charles (e)
51 Star Rogue, Susan Grant (e)
50 The Black Mountain, Rex Stout (re-read) (e)
49 The League of Frightened Men, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
48 The Trouble with Jenny’s Ear, Oliver Butterworth (re-read)
47 Tooner Schooner, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
46 Fer-de-Lance, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
45 Lake Silence, Anne Bishop
44 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
43 Mort, Terry Pratchett (re-read) (e)
42 Network Effect, Martha Wells (e)
41 Lord and Ladies, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for both)
40 Trouble in Triplicate, Rex Stout (e)
39 The Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley (e)
38 Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (re-read aloud w/Steve, because Steve had a Notion about alligators, specifically Moot; the Talmadge Bridge, and Savannah in general)
37 Warprize, Elizabeth Vaughan (e)
36 Who Speaks for the Damned, C.S. Harris
35 Don’t Look Down, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (read aloud w/Steve)
34 Blood and Circuses, Kerry Greenwood
33 The Cat Who Came to Breakfast, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
32 One Fell Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
31 Sweep in Peace, Ilona Andrews (e)
30 Clean Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
29 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e)
28 Raven Heart, Murphy Lawless (e)
27 Iron Kissed, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
26 The Cat Who Said Cheese, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
25 Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
24 Moon Called, Patricia Briggs (re-re-read)
23 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-&c read)
22 The Widow of Rose House, Diana Bill (e)
21 False Value, Ben Aaronovitch
20 Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer (read aloud w/Steve re-read for both)
19 Minor Mage, T. Kingfisher (e)
18 The Green Mill Murder, Kerry Greenwood
17 Tell Me Lies, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
16 Murder at the Brightwell, Ashley Weaver
15 Crazy for You, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
14 A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
13 The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
12 Ocean Light, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
11 Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate, Cynthia Kim
10 Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
9 The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang (e)
8 Fall into Spring, Amy Lane (e)
7 Resurgence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
6 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better…, Rachel Aaron (e)
5 Unmasked by the Marquess, Cat Sebastian (e)
4 Jimmy the Kid, Donald E. Westlake (e)
3 Wanted, A Gentleman, KJ Charles (e) (read aloud with Steve)
2 The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Patricia McKillip (e) (re-read)
1 Proper English, KJ Charles (e)
And that’s a wrap
Books read in 2020
52 Slippery Creatures, KJ, Charles (e)
51 Star Rogue, Susan Grant (e)
50 The Black Mountain, Rex Stout (re-read) (e)
49 The League of Frightened Men, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
48 The Trouble with Jenny’s Ear, Oliver Butterworth (re-read)
47 Tooner Schooner, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
46 Fer-de-Lance, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
45 Lake Silence, Anne Bishop
44 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
43 Mort, Terry Pratchett (re-read) (e)
42 Network Effect, Martha Wells (e)
41 Lord and Ladies, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for both)
40 Trouble in Triplicate, Rex Stout (e)
39 The Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley (e)
38 Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (re-read aloud w/Steve, because Steve had a Notion about alligators, specifically Moot; the Talmadge Bridge, and Savannah in general)
37 Warprize, Elizabeth Vaughan (e)
36 Who Speaks for the Damned, C.S. Harris
35 Don’t Look Down, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (read aloud w/Steve)
34 Blood and Circuses, Kerry Greenwood
33 The Cat Who Came to Breakfast, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
32 One Fell Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
31 Sweep in Peace, Ilona Andrews (e)
30 Clean Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
29 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e)
28 Raven Heart, Murphy Lawless (e)
27 Iron Kissed, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
26 The Cat Who Said Cheese, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
25 Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
24 Moon Called, Patricia Briggs (re-re-read)
23 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-&c read)
22 The Widow of Rose House, Diana Bill (e)
21 False Value, Ben Aaronovitch
20 Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer (read aloud w/Steve re-read for both)
19 Minor Mage, T. Kingfisher (e)
18 The Green Mill Murder, Kerry Greenwood
17 Tell Me Lies, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
16 Murder at the Brightwell, Ashley Weaver
15 Crazy for You, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
14 A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
13 The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
12 Ocean Light, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
11 Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate, Cynthia Kim
10 Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
9 The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang (e)
8 Fall into Spring, Amy Lane (e)
7 Resurgence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
6 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better…, Rachel Aaron (e)
5 Unmasked by the Marquess, Cat Sebastian (e)
4 Jimmy the Kid, Donald E. Westlake (e)
3 Wanted, A Gentleman, KJ Charles (e) (read aloud with Steve)
2 The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Patricia McKillip (e) (re-read)
1 Proper English, KJ Charles (e)
The Wrong Lance Chapter Two now live
The Game of Zorch and Barrels
This is a story about how stories become, and about how words are adopted, and adapted, into private lexicons.
I was this morning talking with Lawrence M. Schoen about the possibility of including a piece I’d written for his Eating Authors blog in a new project he’s planning. I agreed to the use, asking that a word that had been “corrected” for publication be put back to the original word provided by the author. The “corrected’ word is “torches.”
The original word was “zorches.”
Lawrence agreed to the change, commenting that he had never heard the word — nor would it have done him any good if he had, as Websters defines “zorches” as moving at a velocity approaching lightspeed.
So much for Websters.
The real authority here is the late Gardner Dozois. I’ll tell you why.
Back — ‘way back, when we were all Much Younger — Gardner was traveling to a con (aka, Science Fiction Convention), by car, late at night. He had company in the car, in the form of some Clarion students. It being late at night, the group was trying to stay awake — or at least to keep the driver awake — but conversation had flagged over the miles.
Just about then, the headlights picked up a line of orange cones in the left lane, ranged along the side of some sort of earth-moving project. On the other side of the gap was a line of orange barrels.
The car passed on, but here were more cones, more barrels, always standing against each other, never with. As the miles rolled away, it became clear that the carload of fans had come upon a major dispute between two opposing armies, who were each laying claim to the highway.
Mile after mile, the fans watch the drama unfold, narrating the events to each other. It was discovered — somehow — that the cones — the Zorches, as they had come to be known — were the invaders, the Barrels the protectors of the highway.
Matters looked bad for the Barrels; though larger, they were outnumbered by the Zorch army.
Then, as the sky lightened, and the turnoff for the convention city loomed, the fans could see, just ahead, a long line of Barrels, and a scattering of orange impinging on the tarmac — the Zorches were down! The Barrels had won! The highway was safe!
Cheering, the fans were away, off the highway and into the city. At the con, the story of the brave battle was recounted, and embellished, and was recounted at Clarion (so I’m told) as an example of how stories evolve from Real Life.
Steve and I, having heard the story separately, and then together, adopted the words “zorch” and “zorches.” To this day, you can sometimes see the descendants of the survivors of this initial battle, now converted to the cause of the Barrels, guarding the edges of the highways.
And that’s what “zorches” means to me.
Books read in 2020
51 Star Rogue, Susan Grant (e)
50 The Black Mountain, Rex Stout (re-read) (e)
49 The League of Frightened Men, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
48 The Trouble with Jenny’s Ear, Oliver Butterworth (re-read)
47 Tooner Schooner, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
46 Fer-de-Lance, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
45 Lake Silence, Anne Bishop
44 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
43 Mort, Terry Pratchett (re-read) (e)
42 Network Effect, Martha Wells (e)
41 Lord and Ladies, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for both)
40 Trouble in Triplicate, Rex Stout (e)
39 The Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley (e)
38 Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (re-read aloud w/Steve, because Steve had a Notion about alligators, specifically Moot; the Talmadge Bridge, and Savannah in general)
37 Warprize, Elizabeth Vaughan (e)
36 Who Speaks for the Damned, C.S. Harris
35 Don’t Look Down, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (read aloud w/Steve)
34 Blood and Circuses, Kerry Greenwood
33 The Cat Who Came to Breakfast, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
32 One Fell Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
31 Sweep in Peace, Ilona Andrews (e)
30 Clean Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
29 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e)
28 Raven Heart, Murphy Lawless (e)
27 Iron Kissed, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
26 The Cat Who Said Cheese, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
25 Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
24 Moon Called, Patricia Briggs (re-re-read)
23 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-&c read)
22 The Widow of Rose House, Diana Bill (e)
21 False Value, Ben Aaronovitch
20 Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer (read aloud w/Steve re-read for both)
19 Minor Mage, T. Kingfisher (e)
18 The Green Mill Murder, Kerry Greenwood
17 Tell Me Lies, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
16 Murder at the Brightwell, Ashley Weaver
15 Crazy for You, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
14 A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
13 The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
12 Ocean Light, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
11 Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate, Cynthia Kim
10 Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
9 The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang (e)
8 Fall into Spring, Amy Lane (e)
7 Resurgence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
6 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better…, Rachel Aaron (e)
5 Unmasked by the Marquess, Cat Sebastian (e)
4 Jimmy the Kid, Donald E. Westlake (e)
3 Wanted, A Gentleman, KJ Charles (e) (read aloud with Steve)
2 The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Patricia McKillip (e) (re-read)
1 Proper English, KJ Charles (e)