The trouble with reading in different genres

[sholio]

I'm currently experiencing an amazing case of cognitive whiplash from switching authors. XD

I just got done reading the first two books of Sarah Monette's Mélusine series, which is basically somewhere between fantasy and (gay) gothic romance, rife with lush descriptions of eerie stone passageways and effete noblemen giving each other longing looks. And now I'm reading Eric Flint's 1632, which includes such passages as:

He hefted the big .357 Magnum. The weapon was a Smith & Wesson Model 28 Highway Patrolman fixed-sight revolver, tucked into a clip holster. Fortunately, Mike had insisted on dress pants using a belt instead of suspenders. He attached the holster to the belt and shoved the ammunition in the rented tuxedo's deep pockets. Then he went over to Dan's Cherokee and took out the shotgun.

Brain: *derails*

EDIT: It's been pointed out to me that 1632 has been made available by Baen Books at their online library if you want to read it, or just want an electronic version to go with your paper version! (If it still works the way it used to, you can download for free, though you're encouraged to donate if you like the book.)

Comments

[naye]

...oh. Oh, I see what you mean. (This has me giggling helplessly for absolutely no reason. It's not that funny. Is it?)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Hey, *I* thought it was funny. XD There's just something so completely wrong about juxtaposing the two books like that!

I'm enjoying 1632, though. It totally cracks me up that one of the first people these displaced modern Americans meet in 1632 Germany (aside from rampaging soldiers trying to kill them) is a highly educated Jewish physician's daughter who thinks *they* are the woefully uneducated ones because she'll start talking about Greek philosophy and logical theory, and they're all "Uh, what, who?" *g*

[derry667.livejournal.com]

Hang on! "1632" is actually set in the year 1632? I originally thought it would be, but then when I read all the modern gun stuff, I assumed that the 1632 must refer to something else.

Now you've totally derailed MY brain too.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Yes, they're actually, literally in 1632 -- the premise of the book is that a West Virginia coal-mining town, complete with lots of confused and heavily armed coal miners, gets dropped down in the middle of Germany during the 30 Years War. (There *is* an explanation, of sorts, but it's really better just to go with it...)

[derry667.livejournal.com]

Ah. My brain was just having trouble switching from they're in 1632 to they're not to oh, they really are. The book's premise actually sounds kinda fun, if you "just go with it" ;-)

[with-apostrophe.livejournal.com]

30 Years War? I might have to read this. The date where my interest in History stops is 1648 - being the end of the 30 Years War, of course.

Plus, just having bought myself "October Sky" (DVD) which is set in a coal mining town...

Hmm - though the exerpt you included did seem a little too testosterone driven for my tastes...

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

It does depend on what you like to read. It's a very Heinleinian book -- better living through guns and martial law, etc., which, again, can be good or bad depending on your reading inclinations and political bent. I'm enjoying the characters and the setting seems pretty well researched (though I know little about the time period, so take that with a grain of salt).

[kensieg.livejournal.com]

what do you mean testosterone driven? Women like guns just as much! Although I'll admit that I just like 'em as tools. Die Goblin Die! I'm not a gun geek. I know enough to kill an intruder, and imo that's enough. Shoot 'em. Make sure of 'em. Call the cops.

[with-apostrophe.livejournal.com]

Well seeing as the extract mentioned MEN with big guns, and a full description of one of them, THAT'S what I meant as "testosterone driven".

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Heh. And you would be exactly right. This is definitely a book of the "Man with Guns and Girls" variety. (One of my big WTF?s in the book so far is why the heck they haven't tapped the local women as part of their citizen militia. They're making a big deal about how their labor force is strapped and they need everyone they can get to defend the town. So, uh ... smart move, guys, excluding half the population! *smacks them*)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Be that as it may, the only people in this book toting guns are the men. *g* Not that women can't be into guns too (and books about rough'n'ready mountain boys with guns) -- but this book is so drenched in testosterone it practically reeks of it! I'm quite enjoying it ... but I think "testosterone driven" is a fairly accurate description.

[sp23.livejournal.com]

complete with lots of confused and heavily armed coal miners

*wince* I'm pretty sure I don't what to know just what clods the author has the coalminers being.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Not at all, actually -- at least I don't think so. They're socially conservative guys who like their guns, but they're not idiots or pillaging'n'plundering bastards. (That would be local Germans. :D )

try john ringo if you want some REAL dissonance ;>

[catdancerz.livejournal.com]

baen books seems to specialize in the he-man style of fantasy fiction...alternating with the ultra-feminine fantasy witches who cow men while combing their hair and giggling...what they clearly need is some slash writers to bridge the gap there :>

Re: try john ringo if you want some REAL dissonance ;>

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Ha! They do, don't they? And this is definitely a book of the "man with guns and girls" genre, albeit a good one.

[derry667.livejournal.com]

LOL! Now what could you possibly be thinking with all that big macho gun talk?

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

*laughs* What indeed?

summer reading

[annieglennie.livejournal.com]

OMG, these sound too good to pass up. off to the lib. today. gotta love summer reading

Re: summer reading

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Which ones -- the Sarah Monette ones or the 1632 ones or both? :D

With 1632, there are apparently quite a few of them under that "brand" by different authors. The Eric Flint one (that I'm reading) is the original and the start of the series.

Re: summer reading

[annieglennie.livejournal.com]

I am going to pick up both as I haven't read either author, but the storms here have been nasty and I'm just not leaving the house if I dont have to till the sun shines. Just finished John Sandford's new Lucas Davenport novel and I do love mysteries and his are all set in MN (ya sure) what's not to love. Annie

[greyias.livejournal.com]

Hee! The gun description just makes my morning.

BTW, I love the phrase "cognitive whiplash". XD

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

It describes the feeling very well!

[spark-force.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, wow. I did a minor research paper on Baen Books a while back, and-- yeah. That's them, alright.

Is 1632 any good? I keep seeing it and contemplating picking it up, but have yet to bother.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying it, though I think it *really* depends on what you like to read. If you like Heinlein, you'll probably like this; if his books and politics irritate the crap out of you, I imagine this one will too.

[spark-force.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I like Heinlein's juvenile's quite a lot, but can't stand most of his adult works. Still, 1632 sounds interesting, and I have a huge thing for time travel. Might pick it up the next time I'm at a library.

[kensieg.livejournal.com]

it's available for free at the baen books website www.baen.com

[spark-force.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks.

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

Heh. The purple prose of High Fantasy versus 1632's plainspeaking coal miners could definitely strip a few gears.

Ah Mike. Hildago true and pure. Though I do love Scott Higgins and the trailer park boys best.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Stripping gears! That's exactly the feeling!

*loves Mike just a bit*

[amalthia]

I think i've read almost all the 1632 series. (a new book just came out but I haven't read it yet.) They are fun to read and highly addictive. :)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Yep, lots of fun! I think my dad has most of the rest of them; I might need to get him to send them to me.

[kensieg.livejournal.com]

they are available as e-books at the baen website!

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks for the heads-up! I didn't know that, and I keep forgetting about Baen's (completely awesome) free book policy.

[zeixx.livejournal.com]

Hi, de-lurking just to say thanks so much for mentioning "Mélusine"! I definitely wouldn't have missed this series for the world. It took me about two days to devour the first one, and I'm impatiently waiting to go get "The Virtu" and "The Mirador" tomorrow. Thanks so much for naming such an excellent series!