straightforwardly (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
straightforwardly) wrote2017-08-15 11:33 pm
straightforwardly) wrote2017-08-15 11:33 pm
156 | short fiction recommendations, & the strange remains of a lost fic
► About a week ago I read a short story that I really fell in love with— “Jackalope Wives” by Ursula Vernon. It was really amazing? Grandma Harken has my heart forever and ever, and I loved the atmosphere worldbuilding so much. I, uh, also kind of shipped Grandma Harken/the Jackalope Wife? ...Their interactions were super cute, okay?
Then I found out fromyuuago that Vernon also wrote a novelette about Grandma Harken called “The Tomato Thief”, and— it basically has all the strengths of “Jackalope Wives” and then some. Seriously, it was amazing. ♥ The reveal of who the antagonist was sent me flailing and I’m so struck by how Vernon made Koschei’s presence in the desert feel so wrong. I love the cold, winter settings, etc., but someone she took descriptions that I usually would have eaten up with a spoon and made them feel horrible and unsettling and— I know I’m repeating myself, but wrong. She did have a line that said that he “didn’t belong in the desert”, but I honestly don’t even think that was needed. Something beneath my skin was just screaming “get out get out get out get out”, and didn’t stop until he was finally gone. Seriously, it was so well done.
► Speaking of short stories… I also read “Help Me Follow My Sister into the Land of the Dead” last week, and 10/10, would recommend. What an excellent use of an unusual format.
► I was going through and clearing out the unneeded notes from the sticky notes program I have on my computer, and came across a part of a Prince Maker Braveness fic I lost when my computer got hit by that encryption virus a few years ago.
Except, it’s not actually a proper snippet. It’s the result of a snippet that I ran through Google Translate a few times for a meme. It’s kind of interesting that that still survives when the original fic doesn’t.
I don’t think I ever shared it anywhere before, though, so I’m going to share it here:
I still remember why I saved it to a sticky note— it was because I loved how the last paragraph turned out, and how it almost sounds like a prayer.
► While I’m talking about writing… I have a mildly amusing story to share. I wrote a story involving Tom Riddle for a recent exchange. At one point while I was typing, my word document randomly decided to turn Tom into ™ instead, and I had to laugh. Because he would want a name so special that it has to be trademarked.
Then I found out from
yuuago that Vernon also wrote a novelette about Grandma Harken called “The Tomato Thief”, and— it basically has all the strengths of “Jackalope Wives” and then some. Seriously, it was amazing. ♥ The reveal of who the antagonist was sent me flailing and I’m so struck by how Vernon made Koschei’s presence in the desert feel so wrong. I love the cold, winter settings, etc., but someone she took descriptions that I usually would have eaten up with a spoon and made them feel horrible and unsettling and— I know I’m repeating myself, but wrong. She did have a line that said that he “didn’t belong in the desert”, but I honestly don’t even think that was needed. Something beneath my skin was just screaming “get out get out get out get out”, and didn’t stop until he was finally gone. Seriously, it was so well done.► Speaking of short stories… I also read “Help Me Follow My Sister into the Land of the Dead” last week, and 10/10, would recommend. What an excellent use of an unusual format.
► I was going through and clearing out the unneeded notes from the sticky notes program I have on my computer, and came across a part of a Prince Maker Braveness fic I lost when my computer got hit by that encryption virus a few years ago.
Except, it’s not actually a proper snippet. It’s the result of a snippet that I ran through Google Translate a few times for a meme. It’s kind of interesting that that still survives when the original fic doesn’t.
I don’t think I ever shared it anywhere before, though, so I’m going to share it here:
Each time, he closed his eyes, we have the blood spray is the worst fatal time, in order to purify, but saw that it was terrible.
Yuki can not find them rail and pressure to be able to see, to avoid their own closely related to the soldier, the ferry captain. Stigma Family saltly nose holes can contact the sky, he raised his face to the sky to enjoy.
Air, in whose presence the blood of divinity, and send it, and, in synchronization with the action of steam, it was stated, on his chest, heart to see the sword of the king seemed bitter thing going from the eye. And God saw the face of the king, nor in anything other than the body of God, I saw the king of pain than those who were not out to God, he falls to the ground.
I still remember why I saved it to a sticky note— it was because I loved how the last paragraph turned out, and how it almost sounds like a prayer.
► While I’m talking about writing… I have a mildly amusing story to share. I wrote a story involving Tom Riddle for a recent exchange. At one point while I was typing, my word document randomly decided to turn Tom into ™ instead, and I had to laugh. Because he would want a name so special that it has to be trademarked.
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