sundries

I had meant to do a full, actual thing on the State of the Union and then my stomach flipped out. I don't think it was gluten. I think I've either become seriously unable to consume dairy or caesin or that one of the new gluten-free products (I've found lots of new stuff suddenly) disagrees with me for some other reason (possibly related to brown rice, which has never been my friend). Anyway, it wiped out the rest of my night, including writing. I think I may need to go to an allergist, despite, thus far, having been more competent than my doctors.

Watched part of The Princess Bride the other night. If you know me at all, yuo know I maintain the movie does nothing for me. It's the sort of silly, broad comedy that has never moved me and I went on a totally lame first date to it, with a boy I wasn't into because one was supposed to eagerly accept such offers and so on and so forth. The whole thing is a trauma of lameness for me.

But anyway, I watched that swordfight that's all, "I have something to tell you, I'm not left handed!" "I'm not left handed either!" and it made me smile, rather perversely. That's all.

sci-fi fantasy lit column stuff - romance!

So as I work on the first intro article, I've been struck by a couple of ideas for future articles. One on great out-of-print stuff you should track down, and the other -- wait for it -- a Valentine's Day feature. Yes, that's right, the great (or completely compelling and utterly fucked up, to be more accurate) relationships in sci-fi and fantasy novels.

So far I've got a few on my nomination list (that is, some will make the piece and some won't) including Molly/Case from Neuromancer, Paul/Chani from Dune, Gentle/Pie from Imajica, Alec/Richard from Swordspoint, Phedre/Josclin from Kushiel's Dart, Asriel/Mrs. Coulter from HDM, Jodeau/Xas from The Vintner's Luck (this is the one most likely to get booted right now, as I'm using that book in the out-of-print piece).

But all of this speaks to my particualr biases of the moment. What am I forgetting? What haven't I read that I really should (I know, everything!)? Anyone got some f/f or poly ones for me to reference? I know they are in my brain somewhere, but they're not coming to the fore. As should be obvious from what's above, happily ever after not required. Also more hard sci-fi stuff welcome. I really like hard sci-fi, but I'm largely at a loss on it for this particular list (thank you, William Gibson for making me not look like a total pussy).