Endless Ends

[Endless_Night]

Equoid.

I am not entirely sure what I think about this one. Turned out to be more novella length than short story, and it’s attached to a series of books called The Laundry Files. TLF is a British secret agency that deals with occult style threats.

The range of topics the author dropped tidbits of information over was impressive. Some rather in depth world building considering the word count. It tagged and incorporated Lovecraftian horror without trying to imitate in a way that I found unusually successful. The protagonist referred to Lovecraft as Old Purple Prose.

Complex. Well researched. Intelligent.

Things which left me less enamored:

-The humor seemed a little overworked and occasionally fell flat.
-I just can’t get into present tense writing - it jars.
-Some of the humor was very specifically British.
-The ending felt a tad rushed.


Will I be running out to purchase the entire series? Maybe not. Is the story worth the read? Indeed.

 

[Endless_Night]

Oh, since when would you ever take me as anything but incorrigible...lol.

I'd faint if you were anything but.

 

[Endless_Night]

Oh! I nearly forgot.

I am spending the night at a friends new house. It’s one of those places with long winding corridors. After a bath - which is a whole other story in itself - I was wandering down the hall and ran into this thing.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31dylAVIRvL._AC_SX425_.jpg

Did I mention Equoid is about unicorns? Lovecraft style unicorns?

It might look innocuous, but let me tell you, running into that thing in a strange house, down a dark hall, after reading that story -

*pees self a little*


It was staring at me.

I swear.

 

[investor2020]

A more sexy Bride of Frankenstein than Elsa? Have to copy the hair style, but improve the wardrobe.

 

[hotwords229_A]

Or body paint to simulate rotting decomposed flesh underneath a very scantily wrapped mummy. It gives you the security of feeling like you have a costume on, and yet it satisfies the sexy nakedness at the same time.

I don’t think anyone will care what your hair looks like.

 

[Endless_Night]

There are baby barn swallows!!!!

*thunk*



At least one nest. Maybe two.

You can't see me, but I'm dancing like the girl in…that dance-y movie. You know, where the girl dances….

Oh. FLASHDANCE

https://media.tenor.com/images/2001df00cda0f4a73c8fdd46569178f8/tenor.gif

 

[Endless_Night]

A more sexy Bride of Frankenstein than Elsa? Have to copy the hair style, but improve the wardrobe.

I am too inept to manage that hair!

Or body paint to simulate rotting decomposed flesh underneath a very scantily wrapped mummy. It gives you the security of feeling like you have a costume on, and yet it satisfies the sexy nakedness at the same time.

I don’t think anyone will care what your hair looks like.

Because they'll be looking at my suppurating sores instead?


That makes sense.

 

[justasimplegirl]

True.

I like to do sexy, which seems counterintuitive because it's me we're talking about after all.

Sexy and in theme - Halloween theme - but also a little different if possible…..

Sexy? Um, that's not a requirement for all participants, right? I can't really pull off sexy. I'm more ... well, Hermione Granger.

 

[Endless_Night]

Sexy? Um, that's not a requirement for all participants, right? I can't really pull off sexy. I'm more ... well, Hermione Granger.

First, of course it's not a requirement!

Second, it's just the only time of year I feel free to dress sexy, and possibly, hopefully, maybe, feel sexy.

Third, it's a great motivator to get in shape. (And boy, do I need a motivator. Gah.)

Fourth, I don't for one minute believe you can't pull off sexy. *pfft*



(Also timely post. I was just early tracking down the hotel I saw last time I was there that I wanted to stay in.

Not to sleep, you understand!

It's just…a girl in mummy body con needs a place place to…errr…umm….you know, use the facilities. )

 

[investor2020]

So many choices . . .

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Unwrappe...-008-179072e7cae2d6&athancid=null&athena=true

https://www.google.com/search?q=sex...BAgNEAE&biw=1920&bih=937#imgrc=UCMaCEHgb6tlYM

 

[Endless_Night]

I found myself on the fence as to The Laundry Files (Charles Stross) after reading Equoid, So I read the other novella and novelette in the series - both available on Tor.

Because that’s what people on the fence do. Read more.

Down on the Farm(2008) and Overtime (2009).

These were a little lighter and less Lovecraftian entwined.

He’s still a quirky read (at least for me), but there is just so much depth to the writing. Stross has an extensive vocabulary and is not afraid to use it.

There are literary Easter egg references across the genre and the whole horror/spy thriller wrapped up in bureaucracy feels like a fresh take. Magic as a form of higher computational maths that sync up with computers has its own charm. I like his use of words. Like referencing pictures of huge 1950 era computers as “industrial archaeology” or refers to the night-shift zombies as “residual human resources”.

The humor still misses a few beats, but that not uncommon for me with British humor. His endings remain abrupt, but I think the series is worth a shot.

First book ordered.

 

[Endless_Night]

So many choices . . .

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Unwrappe...-008-179072e7cae2d6&athancid=null&athena=true

https://www.google.com/search?q=sex...BAgNEAE&biw=1920&bih=937#imgrc=UCMaCEHgb6tlYM

Oh! My Fellow Horror Aficionado. That first one is….

NOT BAD!!!

I can totally see that as a template.

 

[Endless_Night]

Hard Science Fiction, you say? I’m a fan.

Yet, I’ve had little success at finding contemporary writers that I enjoy. Enter a friend with a recommendation, Peter Watts. A Canadian writer who started out as a marine biologist. Two notable series, one set underwater (a trilogy - sort of) and one set in space (duology.) The latter is most recent, and considered his best work.

Naturally I started with the other.

(Mostly because he has the second chapter pubbed as a short story so I could see what I was getting into.)

Umm.

Wow.

This was…good stuff. Seriously complex. Hard sci-fi, but almost bordering on horror, or suspense, or…idk, something. Riveting. I stayed awake until the wee hours finishing, and then couldn’t fall asleep for another hour pondering the ramifications.

I will be reading more. Definitely. But…maybe not for a day or two. A teensy bit INTENSE.

Short story - A Niche (1990)
Novel - Starfish (1999)

He makes his older backlist available under a Creative Commons License so both of these are available to try out at no cost if they sound like they might tickle the fancy.

He also did a piece of fanfic for The Thing!

The Things (2010). Enjoyable, but not nearly as powerful as his other writing.

 

[Endless_Night]

I might've been reading a lot lately.

 

[hotwords229_A]

He also did a piece of fanfic for The Thing!

The Things (2010). Enjoyable, but not nearly as powerful as his other writing.

Bookmarked and looking forward to it.

 

[Endless_Night]

Bookmarked and looking forward to it.

That link, sir, was provided by the management with you in mind.

 

[Endless_Night]

Okay. So, I waited.

Like, half a day.

Back to the Rifters with book two, Maelstrom.


I really need a break but I can't help myself. Intense and disturbing, yet intellectually challenging. There's a section that wraps computer and genetic code together like dancing poetry. I've waxed so eloquently (off Lit) two friends have started the series.

I fear my productivity may be taking a hit this week.

 

[hotwords229_A]

That link, sir, was provided by the management with you in mind.

My compliments to the management.

 

[Endless_Night]

My compliments to the management.

Nice.

 

[Endless_Night]

OMG.

There is a new Murderbot out.

A new Murderbot.

MURDERBOOOOOOT

*faints*


I just about broke my fingers ordering the ebook and the hardback.

Murderbot.

Better than sex.

I mean, so I hear.


I Murderbot.

 

[Endless_Night]

This week. So far.

-Rat snake in the house. Digesting…something.

-Plumbing mishap.

-Being told while at the Appraisal District that I needed to be carrying while outside the house due to a current little problem with wildlife rabies.


IT IS ONLY TUESDAY


Give me strength.



At least I have Murderbot.

 

[hotwords229_A]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1e/48/d3/1e48d37a62a331074ce466626ed961d4.gif

Is this what you look like going to the mailbox?

 

[Endless_Night]

Well, I'd like to think I look like this:

https://media.giphy.com/media/xTb1RNHYsciRsbw8Le/giphy.gif

Sadly, I expect it's more like this.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/96/aa/c5/96aac5d44c80a822c7aa4e2b2bb11256.gif

 

[ydahecnot]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1e/48/d3/1e48d37a62a331074ce466626ed961d4.gif

Is this what you look like going to the mailbox?

I am not into guns at all, but that’s kind of hawt

 

[Endless_Night]

Did I mention the newest novella is something of a murder mystery?

I really should have mention that.

*contented sigh*

Murderbot in a murder mystery.