Sorry, you must be a member of the group to do that. Join this group.
Tansy Rayner Roberts's Blog, page 13
June 23, 2017
The Fourth Doctor & His Metal Pals
June is all about robots for me!
I’m one of the co-editors of Mother of Invention, an epic anthology of stories about gender dynamics and artificial intelligence — currently running a Kickstarter campaign.
We’re raising $20,000 to pay our authors and other upfront costs of this book, which will be published by Twelfth Planet Press alongside such previous fantastic publications as Kaleidoscope, and Defying Doomsday.
So I’ve been thinking a lot about fictional robots (and megalomaniacal talking super computers), and who actually designs those robots, in the stories. In Doctor Who as much as the rest of pop culture, there are a lot more Professor Kettlewells than there are Madame Lamias.
Doctor Who is full of vivid stories of women interacting with robots, cyborgs and AI gone bad — think of the little girl from Remembrance of the Daleks, or Tomb of the Cybermen which not only gives us the villainous Kaftan, but features the iconic moment of Victoria Waterfield placing a Cybermat in her handbag. In New Who (we’re still separating them, right? Even though “new” refers to a span of 12 years? Ok good), we had Miss Hartigan & the Cybermen, or the brilliant Oswin interacting close enough with the Daleks to hack their systems from the inside…
But it is rare we get to see Woman As Robotics Engineer, in Doctor Who as well as SF generally. Hence: Our Book. Do women build robots differently to men? Do they want something different from artificial intelligences than male creators do? What gender are computers anyway?
I wanted to make you a list of my favourite artificial intelligences in Doctor Who, and then I realised that most of them were from the Tom Baker era. Like, almost ALL of them. So I decided to lean into the nostalgia instead of, as I usually do, running away from it.
TANSY’S TEN FAVOURITE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCES:
The Tom Baker Edition.
In reverse order, for the sake of the dramah. Be aware that the text of many of these answers will be spoilery for the episode listed in the title so if you haven’t seen it, read at own risk!
10: The Ship, Shada (not 1980)
I love a whimsical talking spaceship, and Skagra’s is one of my favourites. Really the only reason this one is so low down my list is because the one I REALLY love is Hannah Gordon in the Paul McGann audio version which feels faintly like cheating. (My second favourite is Lalla Ward’s reading of Gareth Roberts’ novelisation)
9: Atrios vs Zeos, The Armageddon Factor (1979)
There’s something timeless about the concept behind this story: a seemingly endless war, perpetuated by intelligent automated computer systems? I think you could tell that story now, only with slightly more emphasis on the idea of computers playing games with each other.
Okay maybe these ones aren’t SUPER intelligent.
8: Xoanon, The Face of Evil (1977)
A computer left alone so long he goes mad and also thinks he’s a god and also thinks he’s the Doctor? That starts carving its own face in the side of a cliff for giggles? Priceless. Add some psychedelic lights, Tom Baker girning and the deadpan responses of Leela, and this is a pretty great, highly underrated story.
7: The Giant Robot, Robot (1974-5)
What you say, that’s super low down the list, Tansy? Why yes, I reply, that’s because it has so much excellent competition!
The design of the robot is beautifully clunky, the story surrounding it is clever and humane, and it gets GIANT and dies tragically. So much to love about this particular bucket of bolts. Ooh, also the robot-eye-view and the grinding music/special effect combo which means you can hear this one coming. He’s lovely.
6: Android Sarah etc., The Android Invasion (1975)
Okay, maybe it doesn’t have the artistry of Robot or the Robots of Death, but I adore android replica stories, and the ones here are used in such chilling, creepy ways — first replacing a village full of humans in an uncanny valley “something isn’t quite right around here” kind of way. And then they take SARAH? The cliffhanger in which her face falls off is one of the all-time iconic Doctor Who moments. The later Yates & Benton androids are a good idea, but not handled nearly as well as this.
Bonus points if you as a kid picked up on the ginger beer glitch, as a sign that something was Very Wrong with Sarah.
Her outfit is fab in this.
5: Polyphase Avitron, The Pirate Planet (1978)
It’s a robot parrot that kills you if its cyborg pirate captain tells it too. Polly is just… there are no words for the fabulousness of Polly.
4: The Androids of Tara, The Androids of Tara (1978)
Androids impersonating people! Especially the companion! And humans who mysteriously look like the companion for no adequately explained reason! And androids who look like them too!
Really all the Prisoner of Zenda needed to make its story even more bonkers and swashbuckling was human replica androids. I adore the use of the androids in this one, even if they never quite take on ‘intelligences’ of their own — the building and training of the androids, trying to get them to properly impersonate the real people, is fascinating to me.
Add to this that for once we actually do get a female genius creator in Madame Lamia, a teensy bit of class commentary in the worldbuilding (only peasants know how to build/fix androids) plus the androids sometimes get to duel people, and the amazing outfits?
Androids of Tara is just super great, okay?
I just rewatched this as part of my “introduce Ms7 to all the Classic Companions” festival of awesome, and it totally holds up. This swashbuckler uses androids in such an interesting way AND introduces the BBC version of a lightsaber. On point, Doctor Who!
3: D84, The Robots of Death
“Please do not throw hands at me.”
The Robots of Death are gorgeously designed, and integrated into the story which remains one of the best Classic Who scripts. The worldbuilding supports the plot! This is still probably one of the most interesting uses of robots as part of an imagined future society in the show.
D84 himself, working against everything we have learned about the Robots and their restrictions, is a clever character with even more deadpan humour than the Doctor and Leela, which is saying something. His death is one of the most tragic robot deaths in all stories ever. And I’ve watched a lot of Astro Boy, so I know robot deaths.
2. The Megara, The Stones of Blood (1978)
These chatty, snarky lawyer robots from hyperspace who look like chroma key sky glitter and act like they’re guest-starring in Rumpole of the Bailey are the literal best. So determined to fulfil the letter of the law, they lose sight of the spirit: basically they represent everything the Doctor does not. It’s amazing they aren’t officially his nemesis. BRING BACK THE MEGARA!
In other news, what is it with the Key To Time stories and great artificial intelligence narratives? It’s almost as if… they were trying to get across a big hint… about artificial people? Nah.
1. K9, Every Appearance Ever, Even The Not-John Leeson Ones, Starting With The Invisible Enemy (1977)
Second to none, he’s the robot dog who owns this show, and don’t you forget it.
I personally think that part of the reason that Matt Lucas’ Nardole is working so well in Series 10 (against all expectations – I don’t think we’ve had such a reversal of fannish response to a character since Donna Series 4) is because he’s basically a version K9 without the production problems that come from running a metal dog over location ground.
Think about it: he’s smart, sassy and seems to know far more about the Doctor than any previous companion, up to and including River Song. He calls the Doctor on his bullshit. He provides comic relief. He can go all dark and kickass when required. Oh yes, and whenever he’s damaged, the Doctor (or Romana) can rebuild him.
The actors may have loathed performing with K9, but thanks to a classic design and a fantastic voice performance by John Leeson, this fabulous disco robot dog added a joyous dimension to Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor. K9 was stern and strict when the Doctor wanted to be childish. He was snarky when the Doctor got too pompous. He sided with the Mistress — either Leela or Romana — when she was right. He stayed by the Doctor as a loyal companion, while also protecting his Mistresses.
He saved the day on a regular basis.
He was a good dog.
Mother of Invention, edited by Tansy Rayner Roberts & Rivqa Rafael, is a speculative fiction anthology of diverse, challenging stories about gender and artificial intelligence. Crowdfunding now on Kickstarter until the end of June! Rewards include knitted robots, themed jam and tea, mugs, tote bags and most of all, THE BOOK ITSELF. There’s a particularly natty $18 ebook bundle so you can catch up on Twelfth Planet Press’s other marvellous anthologies of science fiction.
Back us now, and help us make this fabulous book! May contain glitter. Will contain robots!
June 22, 2017
Streeeeeetch
I can’t keep up with all the milestones we’ve been hitting! Powering on towards 20K and beyond, with the Mother of Invention Kickstarter.
When we hit $18K we announced stretch goals, via this adorable Facebook vid featuring Alisa & Mack. #mackneedsrobots
But if you can’t see the vid, or you prefer your info in typed lettering, here they are:
$21,000 – Dr Frankentastic! Tansy reads Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as an episodic podcast, starting in September 2017. The twist – she’ll be swapping pronouns to make this a female-driven narrative but changing no other words!
$23,000 – Essays Unbound! 3 artificial intelligence essays commissioned from exciting writers, exploring themes of gender & AI. We have Aliette De Bodard & K. Tempest Bradford signed up, with our 3rd essayist to be announced later.
$24,000 – Enamel Planet! every backer at $25 or above receives a gorgeous Twelfth Planet Press logo enamel pin with their rewards.
$25,000 – WHO KNOWS? Watch this space for further stretch goal updates.
The super sad-face emoji news is that there are no more knitted robot or hand-stitched feminist bookmark levels. BUT — you can still get these astounding hand-made special rewards at the ridic extravagant Robot Uprising reward level, along with homemade gingerbread robots.
Check out our latest mini-MOI interview with one of our lovely authors, Eugene Myers! You can win his fabulous Norton-winning YA novel Fair Coin by commenting on the interview post.
To Infinity and Beyond! (Nearly there nearly there nearly there)
June 20, 2017
Sheep Might Fly: The Bromancers Episode 5
EPISODE FIVE: Whatever Happened To Miss Juniper Cresswell, gentlewoman and cellist?
Our favourite witchy rock band, Fake Geek Girl, are road-tripping to a magical music festival in a wi-fi free zone on the same weekend that the season finale of their favourite TV show drops. Can they avoid spoilers? Can Hebe, Holly, Juniper & Sage camp in tents for three days without murdering each other? Can coffee really fix EVERYTHING including missing band members, messy relationship drama and obsessive fan shenanigans?
Friendship is magic, but if you pile too much friendship on top of too much magic over one weekend, the results are bound to be explosive.
If you missed it:
EPISODE ONE: Hebe Plans For Failure
EPISODE TWO: Sage Says 10 out of 10, Would Break Up With Again
EPISODE THREE: True Bromance, Mei-Style
EPISODE FOUR: Hebe Is Unexpectedly House Proud
You can listen to the first two Belladonna University stories, Fake Geek Girl & Unmagical Boy Story, right here on Sheep Might Fly.
Fake Geek Girl (Belladonna University #1) is also available as a free ebook.
Unmagical Boy Story (Belladonna University #2) is available for sale from Kindle, Kobo, iBooks & more.
Thanks for listening to Sheep Might Fly. You can sign up to my author newsletter for updates, follow me on Twitter at @tansyrr or @sheepmightfly, find me on Facebook at TansyRRBooks, and if you like this podcast consider supporting me at Patreon where you can receive all kinds of cool rewards and exclusive stories for a small monthly pledge.
CHECK OUT MOTHER OF INVENTION, CROWDFUNDING NOW ON KICKSTARTER!
See you next week!
June 14, 2017
Week 2! Post-Continuum.
So, I’m wrecked, basically. Between travel, a long weekend of intense socialising, my current work commitments and oh yes, my daily radiotherapy appointment, I don’t have a spare second to breathe, let alone do my nails.
Also, every spare minute is being siphoned into Kickstarter promotion, so there’s that.
Look, we made it to $12,000 before the end of Week 2! And $130 backers! Why yes, I have created adorable robot icons for many upcoming milestones!!!
Storify of my recent Twitter thread about how awesome our authors are — look at me, developing new skillz!
It was lovely to meet many of our fabulous backers (and authors!) at Continuum last weekend, and to see the backer numbers rising after every public discussion/presentation about Mother of Invention.
We had Galactic Suburbia ribbons! And Verity ribbons! Stage 1 of our plan to “bring the ribbon thing” to Australian cons, achieved! I also acquired a gorgeous ‘Feminist Killjoy’ embroidered necklace from Tiddles Emporium in the dealer’s room. I ate the most perfect cake ever designed at the Luminescent Threads book shower. We recorded Galactic Suburbia live!
I presented the Peter McNamara Achievement Award to Rose Mitchell at the Ditmar ceremony which went down rather nicely. I also won a couple! Well, I won a small percentage of the Aussie Snapshot Ditmar, but I also won Best Novella for “Did We Break The End of the World,” my Defying Doomsday story. (The anthology also co-won Best Collected Work!) The trophy is designed by the glorious Kathleen Jennings.
Here is the full list of Ditmar winners:
Best novel
The Grief Hole (Kaaron The trophy is designed by the glorious Kathleen Jennings.
Best novella or novelette
‘Did we Break Thee End of the World?’ (Tansy Rayner Roberts in Defying Doomsday, Twelfth Planet Press)
Best short story
‘No Fat Chicks’ (Cat Sparks, In Your Face)
Best collected work (tie)
Defying Doomsday (Tsana Dolichva & Holly Kench, Twelfth Planet Press)
Dreaming in the Dark (Jack Dann, PS Publishing)
Best artwork
Shauna O’Meara for illustration of Lackington’s #12
Best fan publication
2016 Australian SF Snapshot (Greg Chapman, Tehani Croft et al)
Best fan writer
Foz Meadows
Best new talent
Marlee Jane Ward
William Atheling Jr Award for criticism or review
The Rebirth of Rapunzel: A Mythic Biography of the Maiden in the Tower, (Kate Forsyth, FableCroft).
Congrats to all the winners, nominees, and people who came along to the ceremony for the heck of it. It was a great night. I may still post my full Peter Mac speech, and I have also promised to put together a reading list post from our Forgotten Mothers of SF panel but I have been so swamped this week. It’s coming!
June 13, 2017
Justice League Europe #4: Bialya Burning (July 1989)
THE PACKAGING: Justice League International trade Vol Five
THE CREATIVE TEAM: Keith Giffen (Plot & Breakdowns), J.M. DeMatteis (Script), Bart Sears (Pencils), Pablo Marcos (Inks), Gene D’Angelo (Colors), Andy Helfer (Editor)
CROSSOVER ALERT: Weirdly, both JLA & JLE are dealing with Queen Bee plots right now, but in different ways — there are references to the current “brainwashed Beetle” storyline. Also several references to some kind of revelation about Captain Atom spying on all of them for the government which I assume came out in his comic, which featured a lot of guest appearances by Beetle, Booster and other Justice League characters during this era.
JUSTICE LEAGUE ROLL CALL: Captain Atom, Power Girl, Metamorpho, the Flash (Wally West), Elongated Man (Ralph Dibny), Animal Man, Rocket Red (Dmitri Pushkin), with Catherine Cobert and Sue Dibny in civilian support. [Ralph and Sue don’t really contribute in this one]
GUEST STARS: Queen Bee, Jack O’Lantern, J’onn J’onzz
THE STORY: Power Girl, Animal Man, the Flash and Metamorpho all travel to Bialya on a covert mission to find out what’s been going on with that whole mystery.
J’onn is furious to discover that the JLE has made an incursion into Bialya without checking with him first, given the recent dramas, but the JLE strike team prove to be astoundingly competent, using their brains and various special skills to learn what Queen Bee is up to.
As it turns out, she has a mysterious doctor working to manipulate the genes of her pet Global Guardians, giving them power boosts but also controlling their minds and hearts. Owlwoman is currently under the knife, and while Jack is obsessively loyal to Queen Bee (by design), his feelings for Owlwoman are clearly starting to seep through.
Metamorpho, investigating in his gaseous form, learns that this doctor is in fact a Dominator leftover from the Invasion! storyline. The JLE battle against Jack and a whole bunch of Bialyan guards, conquering Queen Bee’s forces easily
Oddly, we skip ahead to after they have made a remarkably diplomatic if ethically dubious negotiation with Queen Bee, promising to keep her recent Dominator-related antics from the world if she leaves them alone.
We learn from the Dominator that he has killed Jack at her behest, offpage, and then we see Queen Bee kill the Dominator himself, as her deal with the JLE means she is supposed to separate herself from association with him.
Back at the ranch, Captain Atom is so troubled at J’onn’s lack of trust that he can’t even properly enjoy how well his mission turned out. Catherine flirts with him to make him feel better. He doesn’t feel better.
Oh, and Sapphire Stagg is in town, heading for the JLE Embassy and her unwitting ex husband!
THE CHARACTERS: Kara and Animal Man make a good team, though it’s hard to get any kind of read on Buddy’s characterisation in this comic. He’s a bit more snarky here, which almost makes him likeable. It really doesn’t help that every man has the same face. If it wasn’t for the blond v. red hair, I couldn’t tell he and Wally apart.
Wally is still awful. I just don’t know what’s happening. He opens his mouth and a steady stream of sexual harassment just pours out of him. The only times he stops being an asshole are when Buddy is using the mean “you’re a second rate Flash compared to Barry” joke that he borrowed from Ralph. Oh and not content with making awful comments objectifying Kara, he also makes some extreme body-shaming remarks about Metamorpho’s appearance. You’re a shithead, Wally. Get it together.
Metamorpho has started his character note of making grumpy references to old TV shows — though the Prisoner this time, which was interesting because I’m pretty sure The Three Stooges is his go to pop culture reference, 9 times out of 10.
I do like that the team are competent in the field, finally. It makes it look like Captain Atom is actually on top of things. Though Jack O’Lantern is still the most thoroughly developed character in this issue, and he gets killed offpage! Possibly. Maybe.
THE COMEDY: Um. Yeah. No?
THE ART: Urrrrgh I hates it.
Though I’m not sure if this is Stockholm Syndrome but I do quite like how Sears draws Queen Bee. I just… I don’t know why Kara’s head is the same size as her boobs. Like, that’s not quite as bad as it sounds. HER HEAD IS WEIRDLY SMALL OK?
At least his obsession with drawing muscular bare naked backs of women is… less demeaning than what a lot of other contemporary artists were doing?
THE KITCHEN SINK: Um. Wasn’t there a mystery involving the word braces? Did I miss something? No, okay, on to the next storyline.
BONUS CHARACTER HISTORY: The Flash (Wally West)
The original version of The Flash, Jay Garrick, appeared in comics through the 1940’s. In 1956, five years after Garrick’s title was cancelled, the Flash was rebooted as Barry Allen, forensic scientist, with Jay Garrick’s character retconned as a retired predecessor. These two are generally referred to as the Golden Age (Garrick) and Silver Age (Allen) Flash, though it’s the latter who is seen as the most iconic version of the character. (ie he’s the one that most current comics professionals grew up with)
Wally West was introduced as Barry’s kid sidekick in 1959, nephew of Iris West, Barry’s then-girlfriend (later wife). Struck by lightning in a weirdly similar laboratory accident to the one that gave Barry his powers, Wally himself became a junior speedster and was named Kid Flash, a superhero identity he would wear for nearly 30 years.
Along with other DC sidekicks such as Robin and Wonder Girl, Kid Flash was a founding member of the Teen Titans in the 1960’s, as well as its far more successful reboot in the 1980’s, The New Teen Titans.
After Iris herself was killed off, Wally was eventually sidelined and de-powered due to a mystery illness caused by the effect of the speed force on his young, still-growing body. He was cured by a random blast of energy during the Crisis of Infinite Earths crossover event, which turned out to be convenient, because Barry Allen ran so fast he disappeared/was atomised during that same event.
Post-Crisis, Wally took on the mantle of the Flash, albeit a version with less intense powers (he can travel at the speed of sound, not light). He had his own title from 1987 and on through the whole of the 90’s and beyond, characterised by humour, cheerfulness, and a powerful sense of a legacy he could never quite live up to.
One key element of his character during this time is that he didn’t have a secret identity: everyone in Central City knew Wally West was the Flash, which meant it wasn’t just Barry’s old friends who made fun of him for not being as good as Barry — his Rogues Gallery did it too!
There’s a lot of cool stuff ahead of Wally West — including a LOT of speedsters joining his club, many beloved friends returning from the dead, and a whole lot of Speed Force related storylines. But we’re not there yet. And I really hope he stops making the skeevy jokes sometime soon.
Galactic Suburbia Show Notes: Live from Continuum 13!
In which we Continuum all the Continuum! Our live podcast, recorded on the afternoon of June 11 2016, with us still buzzing, inspired and surrounded by cake. Alex has a travel announcement. Alisa is knitting.
Continuum 13! We were there!
Seanan McGuire’s Guest of Honour Hour
Likhain’s GOH speech on YouTube & written version. (we hadn’t seen this when we recorded so don’t mention it in the episode but PLEASE read/watch it.
Rivqa Rafael’s Continuum tweets Storified.
Mother of Invention: our campaign is past $11,000 and still going!
CULTURE CONSUMED:
Alisa: Hidden Figures; The Happy Place; Disney on Ice: Frozen
Tansy: Heathers: The Musical/Heathers, Wonder Woman
Alex: Wonder Woman; Hugo reading: Ninefox Gambit, Yoon Ha Lee; All the Birds in the Sky, Charlie Jane Anders; That Game We Played During the War, Carrie Vaughn;
Q&A: we answer your questions & take on your conversation topics. Thanks SO MUCH to our darling audience, who filled our seats, howled when we needed you to, came up with questions, and stayed blissfully quiet the rest of the time. If you hear a moment of odd, no-context-provided hilarity, just assume something funny has happened involving one of the Galactic Suburbia Gentleman’s Auxilary, or that someone is gesturing with cake.
Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook, support us at Patreon – which now includes access to the ever so exclusive GS Slack – and don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us!
June 12, 2017
Sheep Might Fly: The Bromancers Part 4
EPISODE FOUR: Hebe Is Unexpectedly House Proud
Our favourite witchy rock band, Fake Geek Girl, are road-tripping to a magical music festival in a wi-fi free zone on the same weekend that the season finale of their favourite TV show drops. Can they avoid spoilers? Can Hebe, Holly, Juniper & Sage camp in tents for three days without murdering each other? Can coffee really fix EVERYTHING including missing band members, messy relationship drama and obsessive fan shenanigans?
Friendship is magic, but if you pile too much friendship on top of too much magic over one weekend, the results are bound to be explosive.
If you missed it:
EPISODE ONE: Hebe Plans For Failure
EPISODE TWO: Sage Says 10 out of 10, Would Break Up With Again
EPISODE THREE: True Bromance, Mei-Style
You can listen to the first two Belladonna University stories, Fake Geek Girl & Unmagical Boy Story, right here on Sheep Might Fly.
Fake Geek Girl (Belladonna University #1) is also available as a free ebook.
Unmagical Boy Story (Belladonna University #2) is available for sale from Kindle, Kobo, iBooks & more.
Thanks for listening to Sheep Might Fly. You can sign up to my author newsletter for updates, follow me on Twitter at @tansyrr or @sheepmightfly, find me on Facebook at TansyRRBooks, and if you like this podcast consider supporting me at Patreon where you can receive all kinds of cool rewards and exclusive stories for a small monthly pledge.
CHECK OUT MOTHER OF INVENTION, CROWDFUNDING NOW ON KICKSTARTER!
See you next week!
June 6, 2017
Justice League America #28: A Date With Density (July 1989)
THE PACKAGING: JLI trade vol 4
THE CREATIVE TEAM: Keith Giffen (Plot & Breakdowns), J.M. DeMatteis (Script), Ty Templeton & Mike McKone (Pencils), Joe Rubenstein (Inks), Gene D’Angelo (Colors), Andy Helfer (Editor) Kevin Dooley (Assistant Editor)
JUSTICE LEAGUE ROLL CALL: Guy Gardner, Fire, Ice, Oberon
GUEST STARS: Big Barda, Black Hand
THE STORY: Guy Gardner, as if he has something to prove after his moments of half-decency over the last few issues, challenges Ice to look beneath the surface and get to know him as a person and go on a real date with him. She agrees, still under the illusion that “Nice Guy” from his brain-damaged era couldn’t have come out of nowhere. (Oh, sweetie)
Fire, out of bed and back in her costume at last, is determined to get back to normal and learn more about her changed powers — but is distracted by her utter horror at Tora’s decision to go on a date with Guy. (Bea, we are all there with you my darling) Oberon barely manages to calm her down.
Guy takes Ice on the worst date of all time: tricking her into a skin flick. When she walks out of the theatre in disgust, they are intercepted by an unknown costumed criminal, the Black Hand.
The Black Hand is a minor mob boss attempting to work through his herophobia, at the request of his therapist. Spurred into action by the appearance of Green Lantern at his porn theatre, he attacks them both and is systematically humiliated and beaten up by Guy.
Tora is furious and outraged by the whole experience, and resolves never to let Guy near her ever again. So on the whole, a productive evening. Fire, meanwhile, has asked Big Barda to help train her with her revised powers — cue a very large green swoosh, as it turns out Bea has a lot more FIRE than anyone realised.
>THE CHARACTERS: Guy… at his worst, makes no sense to me. How much of his dickishness is a deliberate persona he puts on, and how much is the writers pushing it to ridic extremes to the point of surrealism? I don’t know, but this falls further on the awful side than it should. Pure self-sabotage.
Bea’s intense scrutiny of Tora’s romantic choices starts here — leading to some hardcore femmeslash shipping of these two, though such a possibility never occurred to me when I was a teenager reading these for the first time. (Such an innocent teenager without the guiding ways of Tumblr and Ao3 to open my eyes) Still, while Fire gets far too hot under the collar and appears utterly deranged in this issue… it’s GUY. And he proves her RIGHT. So she’s not remotely over-reacting.
Bringing back Big Barda is always great and I like the choice to remind everyone of her abilities as a trainer. More of this, please.
THE COMEDY: It’s… just not funny. I never got the Guy/Tora relationship at the best of times, and it’s at its worst when it’s being played for “laughs” as a toxic, borderline abusive situation. Heartfelt Guy who knows he screwed up is worth reading about. This asshole? Not so much.
THE ART: I don’t know if it’s the pencillers sharing duty or what but the art of this one is a hot mess, with awful faces and awkward lines everywhere. The last few pages with Bea and Barda are quite nice but otherwise the whole thing is awful.
THE KITCHEN SINK: Love em or loathe em, Guy/Tora is a central relationship in this comic, even (especially) when they’re not together. He already sexually harassed her once, but this is where it really starts.
This is why I drink.
Mother of Invention Week 1
We’re on Day 6 of our Kickstarter month and we have nearly half our funding! Not only that, but Kickstarter picked us out as one of their “Projects We Love.”
Check out this post by one of our authors-to-be, Cat Sparks, with an opportunity for Australians to win a copy of her new novel, Lotus Blue — but only if you back us first!
Thanks so much to everyone who supported us early, and has continued to signal-boost via Twitter, Facebook or your social media platform of choice. We couldn’t do this without you.
(Week 2 will involve public appearances at Continuum!! Stay tuned.)
June 5, 2017
Sheep Might Fly: The Bromancers Part 3
EPISODE 3: True Bromance, Mei-Style
Our favourite witchy rock band, Fake Geek Girl, are road-tripping to a magical music festival in a wi-fi free zone on the same weekend that the season finale of their favourite TV show drops. Can they avoid spoilers? Can Hebe, Holly, Juniper & Sage camp in tents for three days without murdering each other? Can coffee really fix EVERYTHING including missing band members, messy relationship drama and obsessive fan shenanigans?
Friendship is magic, but if you pile too much friendship on top of too much magic over one weekend, the results are bound to be explosive.
If you missed it:
EPISODE ONE: Hebe Plans For Failure
EPISODE TWO: Sage Says 10 out of 10, Would Break Up With Again
You can listen to the first two Belladonna University stories, Fake Geek Girl & Unmagical Boy Story, right here on Sheep Might Fly.
Fake Geek Girl (Belladonna University #1) is also available as a free ebook.
Unmagical Boy Story (Belladonna University #2) is available for sale from Kindle, Kobo, iBooks & more.
Thanks for listening to Sheep Might Fly. You can sign up to my author newsletter for updates, follow me on Twitter at @tansyrr or @sheepmightfly, find me on Facebook at TansyRRBooks, and if you like this podcast consider supporting me at Patreon where you can receive all kinds of cool rewards and exclusive stories for a small monthly pledge.
CHECK OUT MOTHER OF INVENTION, CROWDFUNDING NOW ON KICKSTARTER!
See you next week!
