Entry tags:
Book rec and art: Jade and Moon from The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells
Okay, so you should just read all of Martha Wells' books on principle, but in particular, you should read the The Cloud Roads. It is extremely fandom compatible.
The first books by Wells that I read were magical steampunk stories rooted in different eras of Western history -- the baroque era, the industrial revolution, the 1930s -- populated by characters and cultures very recognizable to us. I loved them. The Cloud Roads... it's like Wells took the idea of a fantasy universe and decided to go with it all the way.
How to describe the Three Worlds? Basically, take every Star Wars, Star Trek, and Tolkien species and all their crazy, overblown concept art architecture and stick them on one planet. There are cities on flying islands, giant pyramids draped with vines in the middle of rivers, and magical societies living inside of trees as big as mountains. Think Pandora times 10. Even the "normal" humans you meet tend to be blue or green or maybe just have tusks, which is a lovely reminder that there is no "default". For the huge variety of made-up species in the books, the world is deliciously coherent. Because you see it through the eyes of its inhabitants, it all feels like it's supposed to be there, duh.
Unlike a lot of stories with this set up, our main characters are gloriously not-human. Moon, the POV character, is a shape-changer who can shift between two forms -- a human form and a super badass gorgeous gargoyle form. When the story starts off, he's been orphaned at a young age and has spent the last few decades trying to fake it among the non-shifter societies he's encountered. He's kind of awful at faking it, it turns out, but he knows by now that he can't stand living alone, so he keeps trying. It doesn't take long for you to figure that he can handle himself, but you still want to bundle him up and hug him a lot.
Also, guys, I know lots of you have an interest in reversed and/or altered gender roles. Wells has created a central species for her stories with some key, fundamental differences that lead to a whole host of really interesting implications for gender politics in the story. I want to read so many stories about the politics, but I guess it's okay that there's also, like, fights and stuff. Also, I won't lie, it is kind of hot.
So, guys, if you have even a little bit of a kink for world-building or found family or playing with gender roles or just the right amount of hurt/comfort, read these books!
By the way, they are also FUN. Yes. The world it builds is so much fun you will want to read about a hundred fusions where all your favorite fannish characters end up in the Three Worlds. (I still can't decide if Steve Rogers would be a consort, a warrior, or a soldier. Is Jane Foster a mentor or a queen?)
Trust me, you are going to want fic.
And when that happens, come find me because I want there to be a fandom for these books, like, yesterday. It can't just be me and
![[dreamwidth.org profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ileliberte squeeing over IM at each other, right? (Well, okay, it demonstrably can).And guys, I'm not even telling you about the taciturn, badass old guy that will instantly become your favorite character. Mainly by standing around and being inscrutable and then letting children climb on him. And he likes kids because -- did I mention the gender roles? -- he's basically the world's equivalent of a dowager queen. A dowager queen who can tear your house down with his bare hands. Seriously.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Oh, and I am impatiently awaiting the third book. And looking at Yuletide contemplatively.
no subject
no subject
I have the tab open at home! I just didn't have time to reply before work. (Hopefully I will drag myself out of the office soon...)
PS: We're publishing an article about Ultimate in our magazine this week. I thought of you.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
shamelessly recruiting
no subject
(I also have giant tree envy.)
no subject
But yes, MORE MORE WHERE MORE about sums it up. I have been doing a lot of re-reading recently. Why is it not yet December?! :D
no subject
But eee giant trees. And gender roles! Def. Putting this on my to-reads.
no subject
no subject
Also I was searching for the author in hopes of aiding finding my own copy? And found your art there under fanart, which also made me squee.
And I wanted to let you know I am still working on treehouse fic, just. Slow writer is slow and has a job that gnaws away at her creative energy. Also the bloody thing wants to be an epic, and just augh. And epic would be awesome but I'm not sure I can. x.x
no subject
*Not generic gargoyles, the Disney show. Kills me how very little of the already-tiny Gargoyles fandom output is really my taste, but I'm willing to go wading through a lot of dreck in search of fresh gold every time.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Stone!!!!!! Stone is such a cranky weirdo, I want to hug him a lot too. Well, when I don't want to beat him over the head and shoulders for playing Mysterious Guy so hard. And Chime is SUCH slash bait. I know it's not like that in-universe, Chime is just bonding to River as a protector and immediate family-group but, *squeak,* they're so cute when they sleep together!
I have to go re-read The Serpent Sea now!
no subject
Also, re: slash-bait, I actually think that Chime/Moon is very possible in canon, though perhaps it isn't happening just now. (Moon being uncertain and skittish enough to benefit from a little dedicated monogamy.) And I do not like to equate slash relationships with canon unless there is real in-universe or behind the scenes evidence for it (not including, for example, the ever present fannish rumors that such and such an actor is "secretly playing it gay"). The Raksura are pretty polyamorous and low key about sex and Queens and Consorts are explicitly stated to take warrior and arbora lovers in addition to their specific Queen-Consort relationships.
Also, uh -- I am not really sure how to reference this in a public comment -- but knowing that Wells is pro-fanworks, I spend part of my readng time seriously guessing which polyamorous/open relationships Wells has mentally marked as "would totally be sleeping together if this were fun, self-indulgent fic instead of a published novel." I think Chime and Moon's friendship would involve a lot more friendly hook ups. Then again that is based on my understanding that Wells likes attractive, close friends with relaxed ideas about sex who care about each other and is less interested in One True Loves. Which may not be correct! :P
no subject
You are totally right, now that you've reminded me Wells is in fandom, I see it. She is totally dropping shipping stones for her own pleasure. Hehehe, though I bet she wouldn't be annoyed to know she's sort of messing with all her fandom fans. :D
no subject
(ps: have you made any Moon/Jade icons for your adoring public? :D)
(double ps: I'm totes going to start a Yuletide campaign (insomuch as I can) for more Raksura works.)
no subject
no subject
Hehehe, Chime, your life is hard.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
~Ann
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
(I don't suppose it's available to be used as a banner at the top of a LJ or DW journal layout? Or as an icon?)
Anyway--my wife got me into the Raksura books this year and yessss, all of this. So much love. :D
(here via network)
no subject
I love that he's on tip-toes. :)))