lilyoftheval5

Monday, April 7th, 2008

Star Trek recommendation

Yeah, a blast from the past.
I honestly have no idea if any one of you has had some experience with it as a fandom. The subject never came up. However, I'll assume you all know the Roddenberry's creation. If not, please share what you think of your visit to our messed up planet.

In any case, I recently got a chance to download and watch the whole The Original Series. I'm in the process now, and I already stumbled upon an episode I never watched before. I don't know your feelings about TOS, but I appreciate it highly.
Again, back to the point. The actual recommendation. Since I need only one episode of anything to start searching for fanfiction, I remembered (and am now reading) the stories of one universe that completely coloured my perception of Star Trek Universe. Made it into something far deeper then the TV screen ever showed.

The author's name is Istannor and although, af far as I know, he/she hasn't been active in the fandom for years - the universe created remains unparalleled. In my honest and humble opinion.

( Stardust Memories )

On this page you can found musings of the famous trio - Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Through out the episodes, and in form of the logs, you can see how their relationships and world developed.
There also more stories in what author considers his/her canon and a parallel universe. They are all well worth reading.

If I'll ever have the time later on to create my personal list of the best fanfiction authors of all fandoms and of all times - this author will be in the top five. And as someone who has 15 years experience in dozens of fandoms, plus gigabytes worth of stories stored on the hard drive, I do not say something like that lightly.

mood:

grateful

(Leave a comment)

Friday, March 28th, 2008

Books, Books, Book, Books, Booooooks.......

I have been remiss, to not post about an important issue to me.
Books published by Baen.
Remiss!!! (Thanks for the kick in the behind thehibiscus.)

There is a number of my favourite authors that are published by Baen, but that's not the reason I'm so fond of them. It's the Free Books and E-Books available long before the first print. Chapter Samples for all books, Interviews, advance Schedule of publication....
http://www.baen.com/

I was reading one of Lois McMaster Bujold books in 'Vorkosigan Series'. For some reason I went to check something up on the publisher site, and a new world opened up to me.
However, the greatest thing was the discovery of a new author - David Weber. Here I'll recommend two of his series which have free books available on Baen. These are the first:

SF - 'Honor Harrington Series'
http://www.webscription.net/p-304-on-basilisk-station.aspx
It's a story of one amazing woman whose exceptionallity is balanced, and brought in the realm of realism, by her humanity. If you know and love Miles Vorkosigan, you'll adore Honor. And vice-versa. If, for some reason, you don't read this genre, it's time to give it another try.

Fantasy - 'War God Series'
http://www.webscription.net/p-297-oath-of-swords.aspx
Frankly, I read this series first. On accident mostly. I was doing something I warmly and strongly recommend you do too - browsing through available books in the Library, reading summaries and a chapter or two. For reasons I truly haven't been able to figure out, the first few paragraph of this book seduced me utterly. (I was later hesitant to even start reading HH, thinking it couldn't possible be this good - but I did, eventually. There was no chance it could be anything but equally good - you'll understand if you ever read both series and think about them for a few minutes.)
Bahzell Bahnakson is truly an unlikely hero; but just like courage is not the absence of fear, so do true heroes never look for heroic deeds.

Browse through the Free Library. There are many good stories waiting for you there.
If you haven't, give a chance to these series, they are well worth it.
As for the Bujold's 'Vorkosigan Saga', you did read that, right? *raises an eyebrow*

mood:

hopeful

(3 comments | Leave a comment)

Friday, March 7th, 2008

SGA recommendation

Hmmm, somehow when it comes to SGA I keep recommending crossovers. Which is still funny to me because I really wasn't fond of them until very recently and I do not seek them actively. The story is called

( Across Space )

and is written by a talent called losyark.

Fandom: Hercules/Xena/“Across Time” & Stargate: Atlantis (Up to 3x16 - "The Game")
Rating: PG+13 for language and gore and being mean to people.
Warnings: Delightful crack. Some Rodney Whump.

A few words is necessary. Although there is a prequel to this story (“Across Time”) I did not read it since it's a Mary Sue story. An interesting approach to it, but really not my cup of tea. In my opinion, the story is perfectly readable without it. Knowledge of Hercules and Xena Universe will help you, but it's still not a prerequisite. I got to the fourth chapter before I realized why a name seemed familiar; the recognition didn't change a thing.

In other words, if you are an SGA fan and fond of humour and crack, this is definitely the story for you.
Summary (my own): A couple of Gods take a vacation in Pegasus galaxy. There's no accounting for taste, but that's not the main problem here.

( Excerpt 1 )

( Excerpt 2 )

mood:

lethargic

(1 comment | Leave a comment)

Tuesday, March 4th, 2008

Danny Phantom fanfiction recommendations

( For DP fans )

mood:

aggravated

(Leave a comment)

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

The Global Hierarchy Of Race by Martin Jacques

A link to the very interesting article provided by tielan:

( As the only racial group that never suffers systemic racism, whites are in denial about its impact )

I would agree with almost all points in this article. As a white, living in a country where seeing any of the other races is rare, I'm well aware that my perception and understanding of racism is flawed.
However, to the need for the debate about this problem I would add another - sexism. As a female I'm very aware of this type of discrimination. Also, I believe that just like those on top don't concern themselves with the issue of racism because they are white, they also don't think much about sexism because they are overwhelmingly male.

mood:

cynical

music: Zhong Ji Yi Ban by TANK

(3 comments | Leave a comment)

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

Quick music rec

I found this through one of my friends here on LJ. But for the life of me I can not recall who recommended this and why. So, if you are not that person, http://www.vgcats.com/comics/extras/stillalive.php
One very amusing and quite insidious little song. Just wow.

mood:

busy

(4 comments | Leave a comment)

Monday, February 18th, 2008

Book recommendation

Watched the movie yesterday, realized that I haven't read the books since high school, decided to go to the library today and reread the whole series.

It was a 20 year old movie called 'The Clan of the Cave Bear'. It's a movie adaptation of the equally named book, first in the series written by Jean M. Auel.
Series is called 'Earth's Children' and is one the most heart-touching sagas I have ever read. The story is situated in a prehistoric time when Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens shared the Earth. It's a story about what makes us people and what shapes us into what we become.

I'll leave a couple of links at the end of the post, so I won't bore you with many more details, but I'll say a few things.
A girl, woman is at the center point. A remarkable female that shapes the future of human race as we now it. There is a romance, a true, plausible romance. There are politics, religion, economy issues, prejudice......
When I thought about our ancestors in those times, I just pictured a cave and a group of messily dressed people grunting around a fire. Auel made them real.

To those of you who have read it, I hope you enjoyed it at least as half as much as I did.
To those of you who haven't read it yet, a few random tips, which I really hope won't turn you off.
Sex is very much present in the books, if it squeaks you, just skip those parts; don't miss the whole experience because of it. It is a natural part of our life after all.
The second book is a bit long-winded at the beginning, there are lot of scenery descriptions and we keep waiting for the two main characters to meet. I admit, i skipped most of those parts.
The first book has a rape scene or two. I usually wouldn't read those type of books, but this is an integral part of the plot on many levels and is something that makes a lot of sense in those circumstances.

Just, go read the damn books.... Truth to be told, I don't know how to convince any one of you!!

( The Clan of the Cave Bear (1986) )

( The Clan of the Cave Bear, 1980 )

( Jean M. Auel )

( Earth's Children )

mood:

hopeful

(10 comments | Leave a comment)

Sunday, February 3rd, 2008

Quick Community Recommendation

User:

halfamoon

Name:

Half a Moon: 14 Days of Celebrating Women

About:

Half a Moon is a fourteen day challenge celebrating female characters in fandom, which will run from February 1 through Valentine's Day. Fanfiction, vids, recs, art, picspam, icons, meta, fanmixes, and outside links to content fitting the theme of this community are all welcome--the only rule is that the primary focus must be on a female character or characters. Please see the intro post for more information.

(Leave a comment)

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

Crossing Over Awards 2007.

The Crossing Over Awards was created to recognise the best BtVS and AtS crossover fan fiction available on the Internet. They are sponsored by Twisting the Hellmouth. (A fan-fiction archive of over 10,000 Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel crossover stories.)

You can see the results from the 2007 awards on the Winners page.
From these winners I would like to recommend two of my favourites. I'm not, in general, really wild about the crossovers, but if you don't read crossovers there's most likely a one reason only - you haven't find the right one.

Winner of the Best Crossover Series: A Year In The Life by the

( lisaroquin )

I somehow missed this series in my previous perusals of the site and I must say it's a damn shame.
I spend most of the yesterday reading the whole thing. And had fun like you wouldn't believe.

Summary:
Loki didn't stop at a clone of Jack O'Neill. He went on to create four children with cloning technology and the DNA of SG1 and Janet Frasier.

In fact he didn't even start there. 20 odd years ago he expermineted with artificial insemination trying to get the right combination of genetics. That resulted in one Alexander Harris.

Excerpt:
Hargrove really had no idea what to report to his superiors.
The president and the joint chiefs wanted reassurance that SG1 and the SGC hadn't been compromised, that they hadn't gone rogue and were quietly working for their own gain. Or even that their loyalties had shifted somewhat due to the seemingly ever growing number of alien, part-alien, or alien-engineered children.

In the past two months Hargrove had been convinced that as unorthodox as things were at times the SGC was one of the most amazingly well-ran bases in the world.
In the past few hours, he had become certain that SG1 and SG27 were not working toward their own gain or against Earth in anyway, but he was at a loss how to explain anything.

The old phrase "You've got to see it to believe it" summed up the O'Neills well in Hargrove's tired mind. There simply was no sane explanation for people who just battled demons, literally saved the world and were now bickering over left over pizza while the High Commander of the Asgard fleet was blinkingly inspecting a duct-taped up Tok'ra scientist and one vampire was complaining about the other vampire putting marshmallows in mugs of blood. Not to mention the green skinned, red-eyed demon chatting away with an Ascended being about the ghost that used to be the Ascended being's roommate.

Winner of the Best Anita Blake Crossover: Dawning Light by

( Mhalachai )

An amazing story, or better said series, that definitely deserved that award.

Summary:
Dawn fell from Glory's tower and into the portal. Now she's all alone and scared... but sometimes family comes from the strangest places. A warning, Dawn gets de-aged.

Excerpt:
"So Dawn's special," Anita snapped. "She's really smart and she's quick on her feet and she's an amazing girl!"

"She is," Jean-Claude agreed, pushing soothing feelings at Anita. "Perhaps you need to consider--"

"Consider what???"

Jean-Claude knew he was on dangerous ground. He had heard from others how desperately Anita had latched onto Dawn, and after that debacle at Christmas with Richard...

Jean-Claude could tell Anita how the girl reminded him slightly of Valentina. He could talk of how the child spoke of things beyond the reasoning of a child, even of a teenager. He could mention how the girl appeared so old one moment, then a typical child the next. He could recount how Dawn had avoided looking at the picture of Asher all night, how she had averted her eyes whenever she had moved around the room.

He could say all these things, and drive Anita away from him.

mood:

accomplished

(2 comments | Leave a comment)

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

Music recommendation

Before I went into a rant (I didn't know I had it all in me, bottled up), the point of the entry was supposed to be a song censored by BBC.

As I'm only a human, I of course must go after all the things forbidden, censored, discouraged and so on....
It was the first time I heard the song, I admit it. But after listening to it a few times I was beginning to see the appeal.

As a result, I have been dancing to it all morning. The rhythm is just right for me. ;3
The song is: Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.

Never heard of it, go for it.
Know the song, go reminiscence.

One of the versions on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltiY-BqvOIU

location: home seet home

mood:

chipper

music: what do you think ;)

(4 comments | Leave a comment)

Monday, December 17th, 2007

Book recommendation

I read a lot. Should have started earlier with this sort of recs.

Right now I'm reading an interesting book, first in the series, written by John Maddox Roberts.
He's not a new author globally, but this is the first book of his that is translated on my native language.

"The SPQR" is a historical mystery that offers a very fascinating insight into the daily life of Roman Empire. It follows one lowly officer, a Commissioner, who investigates crimes in his part of the Rome.

I recommend it to anyone who likes historical novels, and also anyone who likes an occasional detective story. If you are true lovers of the genre, I doubt you would have missed it by now.

(Leave a comment)

Tuesday, December 11th, 2007

If anyone is interested.....

Author: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/667308/Vaeru
Story: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3465930/1/Transformers_Juxtaposition
Contest: http://mythical-darkener.deviantart.com/journal/

Summary:
Transformers AU. She saved his life... and did not even know it. A series of unrelated events results in an earth-shattering meeting between species, cultures, and minds that is merely the beginning of so very much more.

Excerpt 1:
‘This planet sure is... colorful.’

Never seen flowers before? she wondered. It was probably unhealthy to acknowledge the voice in any way, but it was hard to care when there was no one else to speak with, and those she could speak with only communicated via medical jargon. Also, if she humored it, the voice could be quite an interesting conversation companion.

‘No. We don't have organics on my planet.’

So, you’re an alien car. Evelyn grinned a little to herself, turning to hide the expression from her watchdog.

‘Mech,’ said the voice, ‘I’m a mech, and we have hover-vehicles, not “cars.”’

A transforming car. She fingered the gold and purple petals. A transforming car that is also an alien robot from a galaxy far, far away... She giggled quietly, turning it into a soft cough when the orderly looked her way.

‘What’s so funny?’

No wonder you didn't know what a stoplight is.

Excerpt 2:
Wheeljack prattled happily on about pressure and piping and compact nuclear water heaters—

Eh?!

At which point, Evelyn informed him in no uncertain terms that nothing with the word ‘nuclear’ in its title was to be allowed anywhere near her water supply.
The words ‘explosive’, ‘radioactive’, and ‘atomic’ also qualified.

Wheeljack’s head-fins flickered a dull pink. He picked up the shower and mumbled something about superheated electrical coils as a possible substitute. “Back in a little while,” he said and walked out of the room.

Evelyn watched him go, stomach squirming uncomfortably.
“I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful,” she said at last.

“Don’t worry about it,” said the medic. “’Jack doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘grudge’.” He smirked at her. “Nice self-preservation instincts.”

She blushed. “... thank you?”

(Leave a comment)

Copy of my comment on the Yahoo! Group 'MetellusCursor'

I believe I recommended the story once for the Transformers fans, and all those who still haven't discovered that side to them. ;D
The group was created primarily for the readers of the Transformers: Juxtaposition to read and to vote for the stories submitted to the Fanfiction contest.

I'm posting this as a sort of acknowledgment of my todays' activities, since I'm a rather passive member of the Yahoo! Groups, and for the archiving purposes.

Hi, everybody; new member raises her voice.
I just read all the entries for the contest and took all the pools.
And I feel the overwhelming need to say that it was a real chore to
pick just one and to apologize to all those I didn't pick.
All the authors did absolutely great and I had a blast reading all
the stories.

Since there is no pool for a couple of doodles, I must express my
admiration for the entry on the doodle 6. An amazing idea and a
perfect match for the picture. If there was an overall poll for the
best one, you would have probably gotten my vote (only one contender
you have as far as I'm concerned). The scene of her gnawing was
priceless.a
Entry for the doodle 7 was also impressive, I never would have come
up with that possibility. In fact, I thought that was one picture who
could end up with no entries.

Thank You all.
My thanks also, of course, to the wonderful Vaeru.
Who delighted me with the different points of view in the new chapter
and could have knocked me out with the feather with the chosen
direction of the plot.
And bravo for the artist whose drawings can inspire the masses.

mood:

accomplished

music: Transformers Score - The All Spark

(Leave a comment)

Friday, November 9th, 2007

Star Wars recommendation

In honor of a story for which the author has posted a teaser today. You like Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan and wish there was more of them in the films - this is one of the stories that might assuage your thirst. (One day I'll make a list, but I'm still sluggishly working on another one that I promised, so......)

Unexpected Awakening by Rhiw
Summary: AU. The life of General Kenobi is cut short at the hands of his
Padawan, but the sight that greets his eyes upon awakening is not that of
blinding light of the Force, but the Jedi Temple he knew when he was still a
youth.

I usually modify summaries a bit, but this one is just fine. Anyway, one of my favourites - time travel.
Mesmerizingly well done.

Excerpt:
What Qui-Gon would like to say is that he had walked into that room, taken in its contents and immediately gotten control over himself. The truth of the matter was that he was completely stunned.

Before him had sat a group of Siths, each participating in a Jedi slave market.

It wasn’t until they were being led out of the room by Xanatos that Qui-Gon was really able to push past the pure shock and think. And, the first real thing he thought of was how shocked he had been.

And how reserved Obi-Wan had been.

Not a drop of surprise at the situation, no shock at the presence of the Jedi’s archenemies -a breed they had all thought had been killed off. Nothing, but a cooled, reined-in expression. Qui-Gon highly doubted that the boy was that in control of his emotions, or that Obi-Wan had predicted something of this sort.

No, he thought as he stared at Obi-Wan’s back, there was something going on here. Something he had failed to see before. The question was what.

mood:

annoyed

music: Belinda Carlisle - La Luna

(Leave a comment)