Oct. 31st, 2014

jack: (Default)
Santa Olivia is an urban fantasy by author Jacqueline Carey, used to writing the high-fantasy Kushiel books. Except it's not technically urban fantasy because the changes are covert genetic modification which is enhanced strength and speed described as "a bit like being a werewolf" rather than magic, but it feels very much the same.

A plague ravages north and central america, and war reignites over the depopulated border territories, and American throws up a permanent military cordon is thrown up north of the border. But it traps in a small town, where the survivors of the plague aren't allowed out either way, and are kept secret from the outside, and the town exists in an uncomfortable symbiosis with the army base.

The story charts one of the genetically modified soldiers, a woman from the town who falls in love with him, but is primarily about her son and daughter.

The werewolf character is described as literally missing the emotion of fear, not typically a good thing, and this is tackled head on in how it might apply to a child of all ages.

There's a recurring boxing subtheme, which I found handled very well. I think that was where I picked up the recommendation; someone said the boxing had been researched and was reasonably realistic.
jack: (Default)
12 hours until I have to decide if I dare do nanowrimo. My head is filling with worldbuilding ideas, but no plot. Are fictional encyclopedias a thing yet?

More seriously, I'm less rushed off my feet than most years, but I'm busy with lots of stuff, I'm not sure I can devote enough time this month to writing a whole novel. But I do want to devote more time to blitzing on a hobby for a little bit, especially ones where I have something to show for it afterwards.

Who ended up doing yuletide this year?

Is anyone trying NaNoWriMo?

(Usual disclaimer: Every year when people talk about nanowrimo someone gets really defensive and says "everyone who does NaNoWriMo thinks a 50k word unedited novel is a path to instant published success". I don't know anyone who thinks that, if you want to debunk that idea, please go find someone who believes it and don't try to persuade me :))

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