Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed*
Lillian wrote: "Josh wrote: "Plainbrownwrapper wrote: "Yeah, but see, the HEA isn't really meaningful unless the characters had to fight to get there. The HEA redeems their suffering (and Aleks, if you're reading ..."Lillian, I read Lesson Learned a couple weeks ago, and while the characters certainly had some problems, I didn't feel kicked around as a reader. :)
Susinok wrote: "Ah but did the dog come with the perfect husband, two perfect children and retirement from a high powered career to become the happy housewife? "Perfect husband and perfect house, in any case. I think there was some discussion of children to come, eventually. No wives of any sort involved. ;-)
Mod
The authors of what I consider to be quality fiction, genre or literary, trust their readers' intelligence. There's nothing quite so deflating as coming to the end of a book I've more or less enjoyed, then having the outcome(s) spelled out laboriously in some tidy prosaic package. Epilogues can also tricky. It's important not to dilute the story. I prefer some room for reader inference and conjecture. Even the old "and they all lived happily ever after" gives us some breathing room to imagine what exactly that might mean. (That said, I'm loving the Christmas codas. You have the same touch with them, that balance of what to include, what to imply, and what to leave out.)
I think that you are a true master of beginnings and endings, and of the leanness between. It's refreshing, especially as I've often favored a lush, Baroque, almost over-blown style of prose. Perhaps I'm growing up. I always re-read your opening and closing pages — demonstrations of delicious craft.
Becky wrote: "Lillian wrote: "Josh wrote: "Plainbrownwrapper wrote: "Yeah, but see, the HEA isn't really meaningful unless the characters had to fight to get there. The HEA redeems their suffering (and Aleks, if..."Thank you. Practising what you preach isn't always as easy as it sounds :) Glad I managed it on this occasion.
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YES!
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YES, YES!!
Plainbrownwrapper wrote: "Susinok wrote: "Ah but did the dog come with the perfect husband, two perfect children and retirement from a high powered career to become the happy housewife? "Perfect husband and perfect house,..."
At least there wasn't any talk of selling the store and staying at home. I have to admit that as an old school feminist and a woman who have always worked in demanding jobs with two kids and a house to take care of ( and most of the time a husband as well and a cat, a chinchilla and a hamster, no dog though) I kind of resent those books ( and movies) that tell me I should quit and stay at home in order to be really happy. Nothing wrong with being a home- maker of course, but believe me, it is possible to be happy and keep the job too. Busy perhaps, but still happy.
Susinok wrote: "Josh wrote: "I think this had more to do with the publishing climate at the time -- and the fact that books were aimed at a mainstream fantasy audience, not the gay fiction market. Much the same as..."I think fantasy and sci-fi readers and perhaps publishers to an extent would accept more of unusual pairings than mainstream, also in earlier times. After all, in a world full of aliens and spacetravel, or magic and elfs, it would seem that social constraints also could be loosened. I loved the Darkover books, but Heinlein, when he started with his more speculative boks he lost me, incest troubles me if it is done just for tittilating. ( not to mention twincest, as a twin myself - *shudders*).
And the sex were usually implied, not explicit in most of those books anyway, like it still are in most of these books come to think of it. Probably because so many of the readers are very young? And a few elderly ladies of course, but we hardly get shocked at anything you know ;)
One of my all time scifi favorites Samuel Delaney, wrote about gay and interspecies sex in the 70's and 80's. As a gay, black sci-fi author he was once described in an article as the coolest person on earth :) His books are unlike anything else, very strange and beautiful.
Sorry, this was a very rambling post, I probably have a fever, staying at home for the fourth day with a severe cold and getting bored too.
Anne wrote: "Sorry, this was a very rambling post, I probably have a fever, staying at home for the fourth day with a severe cold and getting bored too ..."I can't comment on the main points in your post, as I don't read fantasy or sic-fi, but I hope you feel better soon! Are you feeing too ill to tackle your TBR pile? It would seem a perfect remedy for getting bored. But I know that sometimes when you're ill it's impossible to concentrate enough for reading a book, and browsing on the Internet it just tasking enough.
Hj wrote: "Anne wrote: "Sorry, this was a very rambling post, I probably have a fever, staying at home for the fourth day with a severe cold and getting bored too ..."I can't comment on the main points in y..."
Thank you. I read a little, and do some knitting and sleep a lot. Today is a little better and I am looking through the samples on my Kindle, something I do when I am not up to tackling a whole book.
Anne wrote: "Hj wrote: "Anne wrote: "Sorry, this was a very rambling post, I probably have a fever, staying at home for the fourth day with a severe cold and getting bored too ..."I can't comment on the main ..."
I know I sound a little evangelical on the subject, But I think audio books are perfect when you're ill. Especially an old favourite, like Georgette Heyer - or Josh!!
I think publishing and film making industries took more chances back in the 70s than they do now. The market is so competitive and driven by the large corporations who are so bottom-line driven that it is more conservative now in what it chooses to publish or film than back then.Funnily enough today's science fiction readers are an odd lot. Some of them can be so narrow minded that they only want space-opera military SF and that's all. Many of them resist eReaders (which I find hilarious) saying they want the look/feel/smell of paper. If my book smells, I'm not a happy camper.
It's a vastly different climate today than it was back then. I wonder if the eReader market has opened up short stories and novellas for other genres as it has for romance. I read more short stories now than I ever have, and I used to subscribe to Asimov's Magazine to get shorts way back then to get them.
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I can't comment on the main ..."
Oh Anne, I hope you'll get well soon. To me it sounds like audiobooks might be a perfect thing for you right now... You could make a warm nest under the blankets and you wouldn't even have to keep your eyes open. :)
Anne wrote: "Susinok wrote: Sorry, this was a very rambling post, I probably have a fever, staying at home for the fourth day with a severe cold and getting bored too."Feel better!
I listened to your advice and downloaded a book :). Not any of Josh's since I have them all in e- book format already ( hopefully this don't mean a revocation of fan- girl status) but since audiobooks are quite expensive, I opted for a book I didn't have already The Hunger Games. I know they are for a younger audience, but it works well in audio and goes well together with both snuggling under blankets and knitting. An added bonus for a Norwegian, I learn how to pronounce some words I have been uncertain about :)
Anne wrote: "I think fantasy and sci-fi readers and perhaps publishers to an extent would accept more of unusual pairings than mainstream, also in earlier times..."I agree, mostly. The SF/F crowd, or at least most of the people I've met over the years at cons and other gatherings, have been accepting of different lifestyles and orientations, especially in their fiction, but also in RL.
I think Heinlein was a] full of himself b] crazy and not too stable. While I did read a couple of those books you're referring to, I found them tasteless and just icky. (I don't get the whole brother/twincest thing that fanfic writers seem so stuck on right now. Shares your shudders.) I do and have enjoyed a number of his juveniles though. Those are pure fun adventures.
And the sex were usually implied, not explicit in most of those books anyway, like it still are in most of these books come to think of it. Probably because so many of the readers are very young? And a few elderly ladies of course, but we hardly get shocked at anything you know ;)
This I will agree with too. One of the things that I always enjoyed more than the overt was the implied. It's more fun to read in some ways.
I hope you feel better soon. No fun being sick.
Anne wrote: "I listened to your advice and downloaded a book :). Not any of Josh's since I have them all in e- book format already ( hopefully this don't mean a revocation of fan- girl status) but since audiobo..."Excellent! You need to get plenty of rest until you're well again. So just stay under those blankets and let books and yarn and knitting needles keep you company. (And maybe a cat or dog. They aren't worried about catching germs. :))
Hey KZ --Speaking of "what else are you reading" -- I just started reading your books for the first time this past week. I will definitely be reading more of them. :-)
I reaaaaaaallllly liked A Hole in God's Pocket, in particular.
And btw -- Happy Birthday this month, whichever day it falls on!
Susinok wrote: "If my book smells, I'm not a happy camper."LMAO.
I'm probably one of those odd science fiction readers of whom you speak. I do use and adore my e-reader, but I still love print books, for both sentimental and practical reasons. I love the smell of new (NEW) books, and they don't all smell the same. Crazy as it may sound, I think the smell of books tends to vary by genre. A lot of science fiction and fantasy books have a sweetness to them, while romance books tend to smell kind of news-printy (or don't have much of a scent at all), and kids' books have this unique smell I can't describe, but love. I'm guessing the differences have to do with what printers publishers use to print their books.
(I've been told I have a keen nose, and I can hardly walk past a bath and body store, much less into one, because it's like an assault of sickly sweet. Things like these make me think I might have a slightly-better-than-average olfactory sense--maybe knowing this will make my description above sound slightly less crazy??)
In any case. Smells. I've forgotten most of what I knew about brain anatomy, but basically, smells directly trigger memories in a way that other senses don't. (My memory, unlike my sense of smell, is crap. That a smell can instantly trigger a vivid recollection or even a flashback is like...magic to me.) There are some books that I can re-read and remember where I was when I read them previously. There are other books that smell similar to each other, so one book will remind me of another. The general smells of SF&F and kids' books remind me of childhood. And some books smell so unique that I actually associate the story with the smell. Tad Williams' Otherland (book 1) is like this for me; I can actaully recall its smell in my mind, and can remember impressions of the book.
So, for sentimental reasons mostly linked to smell, I like print books. But also for practical reasons, I buy my SF&F in printed form. I can't imagine reading a book with dozens of characters taking place in a spec fic world...on an e-reader. I need to be able to flip fast to recall people, things, and places. E-reading technology will need to vastly improve before I switch over to reading SF&F in e-form, because I don't read SF&F in a completely linear fashion.
On the other hand, I prefer to read romance and mysteries on my e-reader. For me, those are straight-shot stories, usually uncomplicated (unlike SF&F), and I can chomp through them faster in ebook form because I can only see one page at a time and have the progress bar to urge me on. Also, I can't cheat and read the end (a terrible habit of mine!).
So, both ebooks and print books for me, please. :)
K.Z. wrote: "Anne wrote: "I listened to your advice and downloaded a book :). Not any of Josh's since I have them all in e- book format already ( hopefully this don't mean a revocation of fan- girl status) but ..."No cats or dogs close by, but otherwise it is what I do. :) Thank you all for your concern.
Plainbrownwrapper wrote: "Hey KZ --Speaking of "what else are you reading" -- I just started reading your books for the first time this past week. I will definitely be reading more of them. :-)
I reaaaaaaallllly liked A ..."
Thank you!
Susinok wrote: "Many of them resist eReaders (which I find hilarious) saying they want the look/feel/smell of paper. If my book smells, I'm not a happy camper."Doesn't that depend on what it smells like? ;-)
You can count me with those people who love the smell of books, even the old and musty ones. I always have, always will. But that's not enough to make me give up my Kindle. :)
Christine wrote: "Susinok wrote: "If my book smells, I'm not a happy camper."LMAO.
I'm probably one of those odd science fiction readers of whom you speak. I do use and adore my e-reader, but I still love print b..."
Ditto, only in my case, it's touch. I love the feel of paper in my hand. There's nothing like reading a well worn, favorite book - like my ancient copy of Dune (bought in 1986) with its rounded corners and softened cover. You can't get that with ebooks.
I'm presently reading some paperbacks, and I just don't like the format as much as my e-reader. The print is too small and I notice the strain of holding the pages back after awhile. Not a big deal, but I'm not enjoying it as much as I used to. Spoiled much?! I have a couple of children's books that were my Grandmothers, those are great to have in paper format. The history just oozes off of them.
So, for current reading e-books. However, physical print is just part of some books' intrinsic character. 8)
I like books as objects, then they obviously have to be paper, old friends or new glossy ones with pictures (I have some lovely children's picture books). And I like books as stories, which also can be on my Kindle or audio ( see, I am already a fan) as well as dust smelling paperbacks or new hardbacks smelling of fresh print and glue. It doesn't have to be just one or the other. Admittedly e- books have saved me from getting buried in paper.
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..."
:-D
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You're kidding!
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Right. But no real sex, correct? Which is to say, no explicit sex. Explicit sex seems to have been -- and may continues to be -- the deal breaker.
In fairness there are genres now -- mystery, for example -- where sex, even detailed romance -- is HIGHLY frowned on.
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I can't comment..."
Or for a really dull task like sorting papers or cleaning closets!
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You're feverish, poor lass, so I forgive your TERRIBLE TASTE in buying someone else's audio book.
:-D
Seriously, you just need to relax and rest, Anne. An audio book is a great choice.
Josh wrote: "In fairness there are genres now -- mystery, for example -- where sex, even detailed romance -- is HIGHLY frowned on."I must guiltily admit to being one of the frowners, at least in the case of a certain UF series I'd been following. I adored the hero, whom I found quirkier and funnier and far more engaging than Butcher's Harry Dresden.
As soon as the author's editor (alas, at a publisher known primarily for its erotic romance) urged the author to give this guy a girlfriend/soon-to-be wife, I bailed. It destroyed the character for me. His lone-wolf nature had been part of his charm.
Josh wrote: "Anne wrote: "I listened to your advice and downloaded a book :). Not any of Josh's since I have them all in e- book format already ( hopefully this don't mean a revocation of fan- girl status) but ...":)
Lou wrote: "One of the under appreciated bonus of ereaders is that I can use they built-in dictionary to look up words. It comes especially handy with period fiction. I also like highlighting favorite parts. S..."True! I LOVE the dictionary feature. My vocabulary isn't spectacular, so words that I would normally gloss over I can now understand.
And Reggie reminded me, I do love the fact that I can set my e-reader down without holding the pages. This allows me to read when my hands are otherwise occupied (but my eyes and attention are not!). Especially for books like Josh's, which I absolutely cannot put down, I love this about e-readers.
Ahem. I just re-read what I wrote, and believe I should clarify: What I MEAN is that I can do things like cook and eat while reading.
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I think that's very true. I mean, it has to be. Look at Mercedes Lackey's The Last Herald Mage trilogy. That had a gay romance (well, sorta two romances) at the forefront of all the action and this series was written at the end of the 80's. True, one character dies, but then another steps in to take his place. So, it's not like Brokeback Mountain where he just dies.
Also, Wraeththu by Storm Constantine goes even further to change humanity into one gender that can either reproduce or produce the seed, depending on mood, amount of love and other things. One body for two typically separate functions. And that was written in the 80's too I think.
So, yeah, sci-fi/fantasy has likely always been more open to non-binary genders and same-sex relationships. Lucky them.
Mod
Just looked up ocelot the other night. Yep, I'm catching up on my Josh fiction. YAY! Still lots more to go though. But that's a good thing too. I'm so enjoying my reading right now. :-)
Jordan wrote: "I'm getting used to having that dictionary feature myself. Slowly though. I'm still used to either figuring out a word via the words around it, or just not bothering because there was no dictionary..."When I'm reading on paper, I'm not kidding you, I have to restrain myself from touching the words I don't know...
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And I keep hearing stories about little kids who don't understand how to use a print book. The thought scares me. If little kids are too used to swiping or poking at pages... where on earth are we headed? Or, where are they headed? Oiy.
Jordan wrote: "Anne wrote: "Susinok wrote: "Josh wrote: "I think this had more to do with the publishing climate at the time -- and the fact that books were aimed at a mainstream fantasy audience, not the gay fic..."The Left Hand of Darkness
I am laughing out loud at the image of children trying to figure out how to use a print book. Oh, man...
Lori wrote: "The Left Hand of Darkness "That's the book I wanted to quote as well.
I've just finished
by Madison Parker. Absolutely heartwarming. And it costs only 0,99!I had found it thanks to the blog (I think) KZ recommended:
http://2boysinlove.blogspot.ch/2012/1...
See also Cole's review: http://coleriann.com/2012/11/22/sock-...
Did it pop out nice and crisp, like new notes?
Lori wrote: "Candice wrote: "Lori, I agree about not always having to have the sex "on screen." What I was referring to might be more a just-me kind of thing, but I doubt it. I'm always excited to get to that p..."Thank you, Lori. I'll go back to the first book and look at the ending. I missed it, huh? I'm glad.
Anne wrote: "Candice wrote: "Anne wrote: "Becky wrote: "Candice wrote: "I get these samples and by the time I apply myself to read some, I have no idea what it's about, why it appealed..."I figure that saves ..."
Point of knives is set between 1 and 3. Whether more are coming, I have no idea but I hope so.
Josh wrote: "Candice wrote: "This is just stupid. And from 2 obviously smart authors, incomprehensibly foolish of them...."
I think this had more to do with the publishing climate at the time -- and the fact ..."
That makes sense. I didn't realize that these were older books; I never checked.
"Susinok wrote: "Speaking of endings (and bad endings...as in badly written). In a romantic suspense book I read, it was mainstream m/f romance, the epilogue was so over the top sugary sweet and rid..."Josh wrote: You're kidding!
Sadly I am not kidding. I lined out the entire epilouge. I think I forgot the cat. The book is Pamela Claire's first I-Team book, Extreme Exposure.
I read the second book, which was also a good story until the epilogue where yet again the heroine QUITS HER JOB which she was so fired up about in the first place, to be home with kids. The message was so 1950s it made me sick!
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by Madison Parker. Absolutely heartwarming..."Thank you! I read it this evening, was laughing out loud, and finished it with a big smile. A truly sweet story on so many levels.
I am reading Hostage by R.D. Zimmerman. It's central plot revolves around three HIV positive people who kidnap a right-wing Senator and threaten to infect him.It's pretty grim, but I am so absorbed into the story. I'm old enough to have seen the beginnings of AIDS when I was in Jr. High in 1978 and onwards through the 80s and 90s.
My 9th grade Spanish teacher was one of those cretins who thought HIV was a deserved retribution to gays. When she said that in class, I was so horrified I shut down and never did one more bit of work for her. I was a good student, and I made a D minus in that class because of my reaction to her outburst.
My own knowledge of HIV sort of dates back to the time of this book, which was written in 1997. I don't know how manageable it is in 2012, but I am a bit skeptical of some of the m/m romances that have HIV characters, but I don't know. In the back of my mind it is still the epidemic that is portrayed in this book.
Antonella wrote: "I've just finished by Madison Parker. Absolutely heartwarming. And it costs only 0,99!I had found it thanks to the blog (I think) KZ recommended:
http:/..."
I looked the book up on Amazon and was reading the summary and thinking, "Huuuuuh?" Then, I realized I was reading the About the Author. *facepalm*
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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Ahem. We all know and love a certain bookstore owner who also got a dog named Scout -- also because he h..."
Ah but did the dog come with the perfect husband, two perfect children and retirement from a high powered career to become the happy housewife?