Here there be fangirling!
Jul. 30th, 2007 07:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eponymous_roseSo I read "Camera Obscura" last night/in the wee hours of this morning. And was reminded why I like some of these books so much - just the right sort of campy self-referential sense of humour I love! Also: Victorian London! Woot! :D
Things I really, really liked:
1) The Sherlock Holmes stuff. There were a ton of references, from the obvious (the Doctor trying to remember a quote from HOUN while being pursued across a moor by a dog, the "Giant Rat of Sumatra" sign at the funfair) to the giggle-worthy (the TARDIS crew wind up leasing a set of rooms from a man whose brother is on an "extended holiday abroad", the housekeeper of which is motherly and yet manages to give the impression of having seen it all), to the downright obscure (the Doctor collapses partway up the seventeen steps to their flat). I love it when my fandoms collide. :D
2) The fact that Lloyd Rose obviously knows about that comedy staple, the Rule of Three. Said rule is contrary to the wisdom of Moms everywhere ("It was funny the first time, but cut it out!") - the idea is that if you keep bringing something up, it'll get the biggest laugh the third time it happens. I first came across this during my awesome month-long project in eleventh grade English, where we had to get into a group of ten and write an episode of a half-hour sitcom. I, being me, did the research. And, for some reason, wound up writing the final draft.
Anyway, an example: the Doctor's purposely wandered into a trap and leaves a note behind for Fitz and Anji telling them who's kidnapped him and requesting that they go ask Sabbath for help. On the back of the note is a map. After much amusing dialogue to the effect that at least the Doctor's trying to be helpful for once, Fitz and Anji figure out that the little boxes are houses, but are utterly stumped as to the meaning of the "puffy things" on the map. That's the first instance.
Later, when they're actually following the map, Fitz ventures the suggestion that they're duck ponds, and Anji snaps back that they're probably gigantic pools of jam. That's the second.
And then, of course, when they're inside Sabbath's, um, lair (for lack of a better term), and it's a very tense scene and Anji hands him the note:
She passed him the note. He squinted in puzzlement. "What are these puffy shapes?"
"Other side," she said, embarrassed.
Hee!
3. On a closely-related note, the Fitz/Anji banter. Good stuff! I also like that Sabbath gets some real character development here. (Granted, I missed The Adventuress of Henrietta Street (if anyone can get me that or The Year of Intelligent Tigers, you get my undying love), so I'm working with a bit of a wonky image of him anyway.) Poor Sabbath. Well, sort of.
"Why does he wear that stupid coat?"
"He said once it was in a spirit of irony."
"Hah! He's just ashamed to admit he thinks it's cool. And he should be. It's embarrassing."
"It's just a coat, Anj."
"And that name! 'Sabbath'. Like a comic-book villain. He probably thought that sounded cool too. I'll bet his real name's Melvin or something. He's so full of himself. He's like... like... Wile E. Coyote, Super Genius!"
"I'm glad you're getting this out of your system before we actually have to talk to him."
Again, hee!
4. Okay. When I saw the author's name and realized that Sabbath was gonna be in this one, I kept my slash-goggles on hand. It's probably a good thing I never actually put them on: I would've spontaneously combusted with squee. Quite apart from all the "You stole my heart!" punnery, too. First, you've got the Doctor draping himself languidly over several items of Sabbath's office furniture, which makes the latter way more annoyed than you'd expect. And then there's all the intense gazing. And then the Doctor appears to get this whole thing figured out and starts invading personal space at every possible opportunity, which makes Sabbath go ballistic. And then there's much rolling around during scuffles involving giant time squids (in the Doctor's own words: 'Tell me... isn't this situation so completely stupid that it's beyond irony?'). Best part: when they get into a big ol' argument, and the Doctor stomps right on back to the TARDIS and bakes himself a cake. Aw.
Okay. Yes. I really liked the book. :D IMHO, Lloyd Rose and Kate Orman are the best of the Eighth Doctor writers, mainly because they do such a great job of the characterization of the companions.Well, and the Doctor!torture, too. Even way back in Vampire Science, Orman's got an awesome grip on Sam's character (that first chapter, at the bar, is just amazing and, from now on, will be what I pull out whenever anyone tries to diss Eight), and she really turned around what I thought was a bit of a silly plot arc in Seeing I. And Unnatural History did a great job with dark!Sam. And Lloyd Rose is so good at making a location come alive, and she weaves a heckuva mystery story. Awesome. I really, really need to find The Year of Intelligent Tigers, though, because I think Orman would do a fantastic job with Fitz and Anji. They both do so well with the humour.
In a random note, I just got through reading all of the Eighth Doctor comics (except one story that I can't find anywhere, alas) and really quite enjoyed them. Izzy's a fun character, but I really wanted to see more of Fey. Anyhoo, very enjoyable. I need an icon of Charlie Brown!Doctor and Lucy!Rani, though. Hm.
Things I really, really liked:
1) The Sherlock Holmes stuff. There were a ton of references, from the obvious (the Doctor trying to remember a quote from HOUN while being pursued across a moor by a dog, the "Giant Rat of Sumatra" sign at the funfair) to the giggle-worthy (the TARDIS crew wind up leasing a set of rooms from a man whose brother is on an "extended holiday abroad", the housekeeper of which is motherly and yet manages to give the impression of having seen it all), to the downright obscure (the Doctor collapses partway up the seventeen steps to their flat). I love it when my fandoms collide. :D
2) The fact that Lloyd Rose obviously knows about that comedy staple, the Rule of Three. Said rule is contrary to the wisdom of Moms everywhere ("It was funny the first time, but cut it out!") - the idea is that if you keep bringing something up, it'll get the biggest laugh the third time it happens. I first came across this during my awesome month-long project in eleventh grade English, where we had to get into a group of ten and write an episode of a half-hour sitcom. I, being me, did the research. And, for some reason, wound up writing the final draft.
Anyway, an example: the Doctor's purposely wandered into a trap and leaves a note behind for Fitz and Anji telling them who's kidnapped him and requesting that they go ask Sabbath for help. On the back of the note is a map. After much amusing dialogue to the effect that at least the Doctor's trying to be helpful for once, Fitz and Anji figure out that the little boxes are houses, but are utterly stumped as to the meaning of the "puffy things" on the map. That's the first instance.
Later, when they're actually following the map, Fitz ventures the suggestion that they're duck ponds, and Anji snaps back that they're probably gigantic pools of jam. That's the second.
And then, of course, when they're inside Sabbath's, um, lair (for lack of a better term), and it's a very tense scene and Anji hands him the note:
She passed him the note. He squinted in puzzlement. "What are these puffy shapes?"
"Other side," she said, embarrassed.
Hee!
3. On a closely-related note, the Fitz/Anji banter. Good stuff! I also like that Sabbath gets some real character development here. (Granted, I missed The Adventuress of Henrietta Street (if anyone can get me that or The Year of Intelligent Tigers, you get my undying love), so I'm working with a bit of a wonky image of him anyway.) Poor Sabbath. Well, sort of.
"Why does he wear that stupid coat?"
"He said once it was in a spirit of irony."
"Hah! He's just ashamed to admit he thinks it's cool. And he should be. It's embarrassing."
"It's just a coat, Anj."
"And that name! 'Sabbath'. Like a comic-book villain. He probably thought that sounded cool too. I'll bet his real name's Melvin or something. He's so full of himself. He's like... like... Wile E. Coyote, Super Genius!"
"I'm glad you're getting this out of your system before we actually have to talk to him."
Again, hee!
4. Okay. When I saw the author's name and realized that Sabbath was gonna be in this one, I kept my slash-goggles on hand. It's probably a good thing I never actually put them on: I would've spontaneously combusted with squee. Quite apart from all the "You stole my heart!" punnery, too. First, you've got the Doctor draping himself languidly over several items of Sabbath's office furniture, which makes the latter way more annoyed than you'd expect. And then there's all the intense gazing. And then the Doctor appears to get this whole thing figured out and starts invading personal space at every possible opportunity, which makes Sabbath go ballistic. And then there's much rolling around during scuffles involving giant time squids (in the Doctor's own words: 'Tell me... isn't this situation so completely stupid that it's beyond irony?'). Best part: when they get into a big ol' argument, and the Doctor stomps right on back to the TARDIS and bakes himself a cake. Aw.
Okay. Yes. I really liked the book. :D IMHO, Lloyd Rose and Kate Orman are the best of the Eighth Doctor writers, mainly because they do such a great job of the characterization of the companions.
In a random note, I just got through reading all of the Eighth Doctor comics (except one story that I can't find anywhere, alas) and really quite enjoyed them. Izzy's a fun character, but I really wanted to see more of Fey. Anyhoo, very enjoyable. I need an icon of Charlie Brown!Doctor and Lucy!Rani, though. Hm.
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-07 12:51 am (UTC)*sings* Blame it on the Casanova...
no subject
Date: 2007-08-07 04:18 am (UTC)... BUT NAKEED DUGONG ALWAYS IZ EXPECTED Y|Y?
(Also: Do you mind if I friend you? There are very few people with whom conversation can turn to, say, dugongs, and I try to keep 'em around for the sake of my
insanity. :D)no subject
Date: 2007-08-07 06:11 am (UTC)Yes please 2 friendage! :-)
PS
Date: 2007-08-07 11:27 pm (UTC)Re: PS
Date: 2007-08-08 09:32 pm (UTC)