That and This

Be away for a week and there's tons of mail. On the bright side of things, there are also tons of new books to read and movies to watch. Among these was Venus, about which rozk wrote a magnificent review a while ago to which I can't add anything. Other than, you know, do what I did when you've missed it on the big screen or your country, like mine, hasn't shown it there - go watch the DVD!

Also, between tube and air plane and Munich underground I read Throne of Jade and Black Powder War (after having read Temeraire last year) by naominovik, and it continues to be a superb series. I especially appreciate that it manages to be that rarity, an Age of Sails novel without any bashing of the French. The whole dragons' rights subplot just fits the age as well, and I appreciated touches like Temeraire being called a Jacobin by one of Laurence's superiors and the obvious mirroring of the Wilberforce & abolitionist debates when Laurence points out to Temeraire that due to the Napoleonic threat, it would be selfish to demand dragon rights now. (This was, of course, the argument by which the outlawing of slavery was delayed.) With Lien, we get our first dragon villain, and so far she's impressive and given understandable motivations. Napoleon's cameo in Black Powder War was tantalizing, with a relationship hinted at between him and Lien that mirrors the one between Laurence and Temeraire.

Lastly, a Doctor Who story of the wonderfully creepy kind: Man in the Blue Box. Read it and shiver.