lodessa | Apr. 8th, 2008

Good Omens

I've been meaning to read Pratchett and Gaiman so I figured reading Good Omens would give me a head start on both, also people seemed to really like it. I was not disappointed at all. It was a really good book, well constructed and executed. It was funny, sweet, and ultimately humanist.

Additionally, I was struck by two things:

1. This is the slashiest book I have ever read. I mean obviously I knew already by osmosis that Crowley/Aziraphale was a big OTP, but usually people are in some sense subverting the text for these pairings. Not so with this one. A six thousand year forbidden love is nothing to be scoffed at. And in a book that is about humanity taking control of its own destiny, their central place is interesting; because, of course their story is really about how they have become sort of human really, and their relationship is the keystone to that. So apparently, nothing is more human than slash.

2. Footnotes. This appears to be Pratchett habit, but I was struck by having run into them twice in fiction in the last month or so (when previously I can't remember actually running into author created ones). It's entirely possible that Junot Diaz was somewhat inspired by Pratchett's use, since he is a sci-fi/fantasy buff apparently. In the end, I must conclude that I love footnotes and should start using them instead of parentheses.

Fables: Volume 1

I started reading Fables with hope and apprehension. I love fairy tales and re-tellings, but most of the time urban fantasy is clunky and executed without finesse. People use both things as a shortcut, instead of enhancing already fine work. So far this doesn't seem to be the case with this one.

Bigby is an excellent character to get one hooked into. He's Wolverine in a way, an archetype that has always appealed to me. He's a brute, but that makes him more trustworthy and rawly sexual in a way. Juxtaposing him with Snow White works well because it defines both characters more clearly by what they are not. It also works for their interactions and the push-pull aspect. I feel like I am fangirling their relationship already. Snow is so very locked down emotionally, well mostly sexually, and I really want to see her melt. Okay, I confess I have sort of been turned on by the idea since.

All the cameos and characters less involved in the plot were for the most part also well executed. Jack and Rose Red were lightly dealt with, as was Snow's ex-prince, but it was enough to give you a picture. Beauty and the Beast were priceless. Bluebeard was chilling.

I completely look forward to reading more of this series