Book rec and art: Jade and Moon from The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells

[pentapus]

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 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.

Comments

[flamebyrd]

Ah, I love that Baen has DRM-free ebooks! *eagerly downloads to Kobo*

[pentapus]

Yeeeees, new fans-to-be. \o/ Read, my puppets, read. Er.

[flamebyrd]

I have now finished both books and loved them! Thank you for the rec. :D

Oh, and I am impatiently awaiting the third book. And looking at Yuletide contemplatively.

[pentapus]

If you're still feeling writey about this fandom, I am offering to trade prompts for stories: Treehouse Reversebang. :)

[flamebyrd]

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.

[pentapus]

Came across this comment, and I have to mention, whenever anybody tells stories about autocorrect, my best story is still when I told you we'd lost all or games at the tournament and it came out "We lost all our hands."

[greyeyes]

I am instantly confused and intrigued! Adding to my to-read list! I LOVE found family and gargoyle people!

[pentapus]

Two great tastes that go great together! Come back and squee when you're through. :P

[pentapus]

I don't know if you ever got around to reading these books, but I am offering to trade prompts for stories: Treehouse Reversebang. :)

[cofax7]

Oh, isn't that gorgeous? And yes, the novels are great fun.

[pentapus]

Thank you. I am half-plotting to trade art for Raksura fic from my flist. I wonder if it would work.

shamelessly recruiting

[pentapus]

I mentioned possibly trading art for fic in this fandom, and I am doing it: Treehouse Reversebang. Please stop by if you're interested. :)

[torch]

I love these books like crazy -- read the two first during rehab this summer and went MORE MORE WHERE IS MORE, the way you do. Though just looking at your art here helps with the craving! -- ooh, now I want to go reread.

(I also have giant tree envy.)

[pentapus]

Well, now that you have unwisely made this confession, I hope you know what fic I will start angling for after Kakashi. Though, I mean, Konoha could make a pretty good Raksura colony. Tsunade, Sakura, Temari -- deeeeefinitely queens. Hinata -- even more awfully guilty about her shortcomings as an heir. Consort!Kakashi (totally claimed by Tsunade) and Teacher!Iruka! Amazing!

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

[spoke]

Well. You had me at giant trees! ...no, actually considerably before that, since you had me at 'oooh pentapus art! oh hey squee attached!'

But eee giant trees. And gender roles! Def. Putting this on my to-reads.

[pentapus]

Definitely! Very worth it. :D :D

[spoke]

I did finally get my hands on the first book, and I'm going to have to hunt down my own copy of it, as well as the second one. So much awesome!

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

[killerkaleidoscope]

Caught me right in the middle of yet another fruitless Gargoyles craving*. TOTALLY gonna run down to the library and see if they've got it. The excerpts--sometimes I am a giant spoiler hound and read them all--look AWESOME. And from what little I've seen, you are dead right about the fusion fic. GENIUS.

*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.

[pentapus]

I have a friend who is a big Gargoyles fan, so I knew exactly what you were referring to -- I kept thinking about whenever I tried to figure out how to describe the Raksura. These books are gonna be awesome. Enjoy the fusion fic musings! There will be many. :)

[pentapus]

I don't know if you ever did read the books, but I am offering to trade prompts for stories: Treehouse Reversebang. :)

[everbright]

OMG, other fans! I read ALL of Martha Well's stuff, and The Three Worlds series is definitely tied for favorite with her not!Buddhist book.

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!

[pentapus]

I think you mean Moon -- though imagining Chime bonding to River as a protector is one hell of a plot set up.

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

[everbright]

OOOPS, YES. Sorry, I'm terrible with character names, which is ridic because it's a book, it's not like I can SEE them. But when I'm reading the voices come through clear enough sometime that it's just "the Main Character" or "The Ex-Teacher."

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

[esteefee]

I am jumping in years late on this since I only just found your post, but at this point in the series I think it's clear that Chime and Moon are sleeping together, although if you asked me to point to a passage I'd have to go find one (where Chime is climbing out of Moon's hammock or vice versa).

(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.)

[pentapus]

Also, I totally think that in the future, when the colony is populated again, there is totally going to be a thing with young consorts having giant crushes on Moon because he's so...queen-like and fighty and strong. And Chime's gonna be like, "Sigh, this is so embarrassing." XD

[everbright]

The gender roles there, that Consorts are supposed to be the counselors and social grease in a colony, are so GREAT. Like, Moon is the worst Consort because he's so "queen-like and fighty and strong," and THAT IS THE BEST THING. Augh, dudes that get to have feelings! Even if they are personally really bad at it! And Moon is valued even though he breaks the stereotypes so bad!

Hehehe, Chime, your life is hard.

[pentapus]

I don't know if you're interested in writing this fandom, but I am offering to trade prompts for stories: Treehouse Reversebang. :)

[everbright]

Thanks for offering, but I'm actually not an active writer. I should go to the post and offer my services as a beta though....

[lighterthanair]

That is an awesome pic of Jade and Moon! Those books are really good, too, aren't they? I've read "The Cloud Roads" and "The Serpent Sea" and really loved the sheer amount of world-building that Wells did for them!

[pentapus]

Thank you. I love the books. The world is what really pulls you in. I'm sorry I didn't reply earlier. I'm back today because I've been letting all the folks who have read the books know that I am offering to trade prompts for stories. I don't know if you're a fanfic writer or just a book fan, but if you are, feel free to stop by: Treehouse Reversebang. :)

[pink_ruby]

Thank you for sharing the author and series. I now have to track them down at the library.
~Ann

[pentapus]

Hi, I don't know if you ever got around to reading these books, but I am offering to trade prompts for stories: Treehouse Reversebang. :)

[templemarker]

Loading up the ebook. :)

[pentapus]

Hi, hi, late reply to a long ago comment, but I hope you did get that ebook loaded and enjoyed the read. I don't know if you're interested in writing in this fandom, but I am offering to trade prompts for stories: Treehouse Reversebang. :)

[nenya_kanadka]

Oh my God, that art is the most adorable thing. Ever. <3

(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)

[esteefee]

This drawing is so gorgeous...I love that you chose to depict Jade in her Raksura form and Moon in his groundling (he so loves to feel her scales against his skin). Her eyes are beautiful, and his happiness, and the details of his armband, belt and her lovely, lovely scale pattern.

I love that he's on tip-toes. :)))