Straight Expectations by Rose Blackman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Nicely written, but it reads more like an intro to a longer story and a little undeveloped. Also I know everyone’s all ‘straight into the action’ now, but I would have preferred more character development before the story proper – time to get to know the people involved. Feels like the jumping-off point for a full novel.
Bethany by Anita Mason
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sly, subtle portrayal of the implementation of cult structures and procedures in a social grouping. Complete with an abusive, narcissistic bully posing as caring commune leader, and submissive devotees serving dual function as enforcers – and all without ever being so crude as to explicitly state the purpose of the narrative. Compliance is rewarded, and consent vigorously manufactured to Newspeak assertions that up is down and the earth is – metaphorically – flat. Resistance and dissent are vehemently discouraged. But will one prospective mug/mark manage to evade the net?
Clever. And unsettling. Not a jolly read, but a memorable one.
Alex Ankarr is on page 228 of 544 of The Mammoth Book of Time Travel SF:
Finished Ellen Klages’ ‘Time Gypsy’, and for once the critics are right – pretty awesome. The MCs are really likeable, their gradually developing romance is touching and believable. (I say gradually, but – well, read it and find out.) The actual sex is a little clunky and clichéd – I said clichéd, people, not cliché, that’s right – but the romance is lovely.
But it’s not just a lovely lesbian romance with a little skipping up and down the decades thrown in. For a short story, it packs a lot of serious ideas and musings in there. How far the LGBTQ movement has come – and how far it hasn’t – in a few short decades. About time travel as a tool for plagiarism and stealing credit for other people’s ideas. About normalisation and minimisation of abuse of ‘other’ed and excluded groups. About the struggle of women to forge a place in the groves of academe, to be heard, to hack out a route through the hazing and silencing and double standards. About co-operation, solidarity, true friendship and fake collegiality.
It’s about time-travel itself, though, don’t forget that. And purely as a time-travel romp, it’s a ton of fun and lifts the heart, is joyful despite the seriousness of much of what’s discussed. If you love time-travel or you love (gay) love, this is a yes, this is a rec.
Alex Ankarr is on page 214 of 544 of The Mammoth Book of Time Travel SF: The reviews are accurate for Ellen Klages’ ‘Time Gypsy’, at least – so far it’s trememendous!
(I did catch the neologistic typo before pressing ‘publish’. But I liked it, so there you go! It is trememendous!)
Yeah! Let’s! Admittedly, these chicks may be talking about the adorable joey. What a cutie! But I like to think they’re obediently conforming to the dominant paradigm and submitting to externally imposed peer-group demands, just the same.
Anyway, I’ve got into a new writer! Isn’t it always so terrific to discover somebody new-to-you, and plunge into their work, to experience a whole new way of looking at the world?
Yeah. It’s Alison Bechdel. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF HER. I’m always a little late to the party, every time.
Really, this is the point where I ought to play at being Cooler out of Flaked. “Dennis! Your little pop-up off-licence is called Dennis Wines! Like you! Isn’t that amazing!”
Eh lol. Shoulda done that. “Hey, Ms Bechdel! There’s this thing called the Bechdel test – and I understand you’ve actually discussed it quite often! And you’re called Bechdel! Synchronicity, wow!”
Well, I haven’t read much of her work so far – really only her section in Best American Comics 2008, and nothing else in it either. But that’s the best time with a new artist: when they have a massive (throbbing?) body of work, and you’ve barely dipped your toes in the water.
Now, just to make sure: BOYS! KISSING! BOYS! KISSING!
Never wanted to pass a test that wouldn’t have me, anyway.
…and all I can say is, ridiculous. Ridiculous. and also, big respect to Sun for HOT DAMN ROCKING THOSE SILVER PANTS right on sister!
Can’t find a pic with a, ahem, better view. But take it from me, or better yet just watch the ep. Season 2 is worth watching, because at least it always has Lito and Sun, however daft it gets.
but as I say. It brings to mind the immortal words of Matt Damon in Will & Grace:
‘Rockin’ ass!: for he himself has said it, and it’s greatly to his credit!
SPOILERISH…-> Continue reading “finished sense8 season 2 finale”
I don’t know who Arcturus is, but check out the rack. I mean. As an area of outstanding natural beauty. it’s purely an aesthetic appreciation.
oh hell. I do love Teal though.
ETA – that outfit is almost criminally flawless and stunning, though. My admiration is at least half about style.
It’s got to be hard not to hate someone that much prettier than you.
ETA: yeah, I went looking for a more lilac-tinted vid. It’s the age of purple aquarius unicorns. I think.
https://librivox.org/2017/03/01/love-that-dare-not/
Lovely Librivox article on gay literary history.
Straight Expectations by Rose Blackman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Nicely written, but it reads more like an intro to a longer story and a little undeveloped. Also I know everyone’s all ‘straight into the action’ now, but I would have preferred more character development before the story proper – time to get to know the people involved. Feels like the jumping-off point for a full novel.
alexankarrbooks 
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