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here be (more) dragons
Feb. 24th, 2009 04:53 pmIn further news of the Napoleonic Wars, I started reading Post Captain this morning, having been greatly edified at the Taruithorn banquet as to the joys of reading novels where you don't understand every third word (Mizzens! Topgallants! Futtocks!) and, further, the woobification of Stephen Maturin is not to be missed. I believe them. I'm still reading.
Which is not to say I don't still think everything is better with dragons. I'm still very impressed by Temeraire: I can't remember the last time I read something quite this compulsively, and actually I don't think I have since the first few Harry Potter books, because it's the same reason, that kind of ecstatic inventiveness in the way the whole world is built up, and something really original with the dragons. It's interesting, I think, that the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire isn't one I can really compare to anything else; it's not a platonic relationship and it's not a romantic one, it's not paternal although it starts out that way, and it's not done by half-measures - I think the great achievement of the first book is making it entirely believable and really very sweet, even in the absence of categories to put it in. It's kind of lovely, and it's also nicely telling that ( here be dragons, also spoilers - I'm up to the middle of Black Powder War )
The thing that bothers me at the moment, though, is the way the series is handling issues of race, history, and exoticism.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
soupytwist was saying that she was initially taken aback at how all the Chinese characters are evil to begin with, but reconciled to it later, because it makes sense: first of all, Laurence is a product of his society, and second of all, he really doesn't understand the behaviour of the Chinese embassy, and it's his confusion that's evident throughout. I agree with her for the most part: it's clear later that the characters have their own competing agendas and issues, and are as human as the English characters are. The thing that concerns me is, strangely, the setting. The narration is third-person POV, but loose - Laurence is clearly not the narrative voice throughout, and what bothers me sometimes is the lush description; it's all very lovely, but is it entirely necessary? Is it definitely not coming from a place of ooh, China, how exotic? I am honestly not sure. I'm tempted to say not, simply because the novels do so well at not being casually racist, and I may be predictable, but I absolutely love that the only thing Laurence and his father agree on is ( minor spoiler )
I think I'm learning to read more critically for these things, though. I don't know. I shall keep on reading.
(Also, still want to write that crossover. Stephen Maturin measuring a dragon. The dragon finding him a very strange human. Can you see that? I can see that. Yes.)
I should do some work. Pancakes later, hurrah.
Which is not to say I don't still think everything is better with dragons. I'm still very impressed by Temeraire: I can't remember the last time I read something quite this compulsively, and actually I don't think I have since the first few Harry Potter books, because it's the same reason, that kind of ecstatic inventiveness in the way the whole world is built up, and something really original with the dragons. It's interesting, I think, that the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire isn't one I can really compare to anything else; it's not a platonic relationship and it's not a romantic one, it's not paternal although it starts out that way, and it's not done by half-measures - I think the great achievement of the first book is making it entirely believable and really very sweet, even in the absence of categories to put it in. It's kind of lovely, and it's also nicely telling that ( here be dragons, also spoilers - I'm up to the middle of Black Powder War )
The thing that bothers me at the moment, though, is the way the series is handling issues of race, history, and exoticism.
soupytwist was saying that she was initially taken aback at how all the Chinese characters are evil to begin with, but reconciled to it later, because it makes sense: first of all, Laurence is a product of his society, and second of all, he really doesn't understand the behaviour of the Chinese embassy, and it's his confusion that's evident throughout. I agree with her for the most part: it's clear later that the characters have their own competing agendas and issues, and are as human as the English characters are. The thing that concerns me is, strangely, the setting. The narration is third-person POV, but loose - Laurence is clearly not the narrative voice throughout, and what bothers me sometimes is the lush description; it's all very lovely, but is it entirely necessary? Is it definitely not coming from a place of ooh, China, how exotic? I am honestly not sure. I'm tempted to say not, simply because the novels do so well at not being casually racist, and I may be predictable, but I absolutely love that the only thing Laurence and his father agree on is ( minor spoiler ) I think I'm learning to read more critically for these things, though. I don't know. I shall keep on reading.
(Also, still want to write that crossover. Stephen Maturin measuring a dragon. The dragon finding him a very strange human. Can you see that? I can see that. Yes.)
I should do some work. Pancakes later, hurrah.
