That day at the end of the week
Jan. 23rd, 2009 02:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Alright,
first_seventhe, I've started reading Shards of Honor.
You're right, Cordelia's pretty cool! Vorkosigan too. I'll admit, with my upbringing I tend to snort at pacifists, particularly when they're put in survival type situations, but she's not dumb about it, nor entirely high and mighty. And so far Vorkosigan's balancing out the idealism and vice versa. I'm sold, basically.
Also, is it wrong that I'm entirely relieved Vorkosigan's kind of craggly? Nothing against prettyboys (I'm fond of certain crazyhead ones of them, I'll admit) but it's nice seeing a main guy in a story where the main protagonist is female and he's not like omgsopretty. And I'm glad that Cordelia's not a straight fiery redhead stereotype, something that BOTH fantasy and sci-fi will lean on when they want a proactive female character. Maybe some day I will go on about the really fucked up Christian sci-fi trilogy my ex-husband's mom got for me sometime.
Ha ha, I'm reading too into this, already. But it's passed the litmus test where I'll throw a book across the room (so done that) so yay! Also, geez, I've clearly been reading a lot of dense literature lately, because I'm just WHIPPING through this book so far. Which is actually good for me right now, as I was just hanging out on lunch break and just happened to put said book in my bag.
tl;dr: very nice.
While I've never played the games, but want to because they look pretty, but recent casting selections for the Prince of Persia Movie are looking a little pale. As in, wtf, white people are not Persian or desert-dwelling in any way. Except in Arizona, but last I checked this was not set in Arizona. But christ, whose brilliant idea was that? Pointed out by
kylenne first, as I haven't been following this movie except when my friend Atul mentioned it to me like, some time ago.
Just figured I'd pass along the wtf. And I have to go to class now.
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You're right, Cordelia's pretty cool! Vorkosigan too. I'll admit, with my upbringing I tend to snort at pacifists, particularly when they're put in survival type situations, but she's not dumb about it, nor entirely high and mighty. And so far Vorkosigan's balancing out the idealism and vice versa. I'm sold, basically.
Also, is it wrong that I'm entirely relieved Vorkosigan's kind of craggly? Nothing against prettyboys (I'm fond of certain crazyhead ones of them, I'll admit) but it's nice seeing a main guy in a story where the main protagonist is female and he's not like omgsopretty. And I'm glad that Cordelia's not a straight fiery redhead stereotype, something that BOTH fantasy and sci-fi will lean on when they want a proactive female character. Maybe some day I will go on about the really fucked up Christian sci-fi trilogy my ex-husband's mom got for me sometime.
Ha ha, I'm reading too into this, already. But it's passed the litmus test where I'll throw a book across the room (so done that) so yay! Also, geez, I've clearly been reading a lot of dense literature lately, because I'm just WHIPPING through this book so far. Which is actually good for me right now, as I was just hanging out on lunch break and just happened to put said book in my bag.
tl;dr: very nice.
While I've never played the games, but want to because they look pretty, but recent casting selections for the Prince of Persia Movie are looking a little pale. As in, wtf, white people are not Persian or desert-dwelling in any way. Except in Arizona, but last I checked this was not set in Arizona. But christ, whose brilliant idea was that? Pointed out by
![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Just figured I'd pass along the wtf. And I have to go to class now.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 07:36 pm (UTC)One of the lead actors in Avatar responded to concerns that the character he's playing isn't white by saying "yeah, I'll get a tan!".
Dude, wrong thing to say.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 09:55 pm (UTC)And as a Russian descendant, it's kind of cringe-worthy some of the dudes they drag up to be Russian Bad Guys (or lord, when Russians play South Americans like I've seen). I realize it's a big country, but Italians? Scots? Come on.
There's a level where you can have a reasonable suspension of belief, but there's an amount that makes me queasy.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 07:58 pm (UTC)The population of Dalmasca from FF12 is a pretty fair skinned people, the Al Bhed are fair all the way and aren't they desert folk, the spoony bard's kingdom appeared to be along a desert oasis and if I'm remembering correctly wasn't Figaro in a desert as well, so I'm not sure what the fuss would be over unless the characters don't look like their game counter parts like the avatar movie.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 08:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 09:08 pm (UTC)I just thought it was odd to care give what the usual is.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 10:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 09:46 pm (UTC)And while the Prince is a little pale, he's distinctly not European. So it's kind of ridiculous him being played by Jake Gyllenhaal, really.
I mean, I was just as annoyed that Sean Connery (fantastic actor he may be) was playing a Russian submarine commander in Hunt for Red October.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 11:22 pm (UTC)The best fantasy heroines aren't influential their clever and sarcastic. Though I'm a bit partical to the typecasting with hair color since it works as a nice red flag for what's to come.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 10:39 pm (UTC)I tend towards making everyone a brunette, but that's me. I just find a lot of brunettes attractive. XD I'd rather typecast by role than by something as silly as hair color anyway. Also a good sign was it was casually mentioned in the intro of the character, not some huge hinging plot point.
Dying my hair red was fun though. But it was very obviously fake as I'm not crazy into the idea of dying my eyebrows. XD Didn't feel very fantasy heroine, but then I'm not exactly the most influential person ever.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 08:27 pm (UTC)-T. pirate
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 09:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-25 03:01 pm (UTC)(So stereotypically French that his parents own a vinyard, ftw... though, I would really love for Patrick Stewart to bust out some French. I think that I would swoon. <3)
-T. pirate
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 08:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 10:21 pm (UTC)Cordelia kicks so much ass that it's dizzying. And Aral. I could listen to Aral talk about politics forever.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 10:30 pm (UTC)The cover art strikes me as very off, though, considering the descriptions. Kind of HILARIOUSLY off. I giggle at it every time I close the book.
I also love that Aral is short! But I come from a long line of men with height complexes. XD Which I somehow inherited. No idea how much of an ego boost it is dating someone shorter than me (I for some reason tend to attract tall lanky guys). Which makes me a loser.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-23 11:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-26 01:54 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-26 03:33 am (UTC)- Let me guess, crazy Marquis de Sade wannabe was totally Aral's ex-bf. Either way, he's hitting my bi-dar. And if he is OMG BISEXUALS EXIST? RAWK. I approve!
- Cordelia is sensible! And not completely cold! Yay! I like being in her head.
- OMG THAT CRAZYFUCK BATTLE
That's all. XD
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-26 01:35 pm (UTC)Cordelia is just made of awesome. She doesn't have to be cold or snippy or snarky or anything -- she's just awesome and she acknowledges all sides of her personality. It's one of the things I like best about LMB's writing: the battle to be "un-female" isn't there. There's never any conflict about Cordelia having to be "more manly" or "less like a woman" or anything about a "woman's place" -- it's all just so transparent. Cordelia is competent and awesome because she is CORDELIA, not because she's female (or isn't female).
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-26 01:36 pm (UTC)aksdjaklsdj