tearing myself away from the internet

[spatz]

*sigh* Looks like the computer might be down for the count permanently. At least everything is backed up, save a few notepad files, and I rescued my Yuletide fic (such as it is) to Google Docs shortly before the end.

So, having been forcibly freed from my laptop, I went to see Cloud Atlas and Lincoln, and read Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, finally. Cloud Atlas and Lincoln were both beautiful, though I came out desperately wanting fic for Cloud Atlas, and having a few thoughts in that direction - after Yuletide, maybe.

As for Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, I thought it was lovely, funny fluff, which is not surprising as it's the Ivan Book. I can't BELIEVE no one told me it was a marriage of convenience novel! I'm too good at avoiding spoilers, I guess? I don't have very deep thoughts about most of it - Buried treasure! A farewell to Cockroach Central! Tej was darling and very suited with Ivan, and I thought it was appropriate that their relationship was very smooth and honestly physical and drama-free (after the marriage).... until their families threw a wrench in the works. Story of their lives, eh?

It was cool getting Tej's outsider POV on Barrayar and all of Ivan's friends and family - like getting a description of Vorkosigan House, after years of Miles scampering through without noticing anything - though I think it suffered from Crossover Syndrome, i.e. indulging in the urge to have characters tell hilarious stories about the things the audience knows happened, which sometimes works and sometimes you're like "That's...really classified, isn't it?" and can get a bit exposition-y.

I adored what we saw of Simon and Alys - ugh, I love them so much! Especially Ivan's relationship with Simon, how it was sort of fondly awkward on both sides, and Ivan's insight. In general, it was nice to see how Ivan *got* people, because he underestimates himself, and cons everyone else into doing the same, yet he was often the one who figured things/people out. Simon was *bored*, ahahaha. I wonder if LMB's setting up a book with the two of them. Yes please!

The set piece where ImpSec HQ sinks was...god. So beautiful. When people started rappelling off the roof, I was literally crying with laughter. And Simon's not-face of glee! Ahahaha, genius. And then Mark turning it into a museum, ye gods, how perfect. It's good to be reminded that Mark got all of Miles's devious creativity, he just turned it towards business instead of mayhem.

I really wanted more of Byerly and Rish, because I thought they were sweet in a twisty, spy-nanigans way. The way she described him was amazing, but so not enough. Let's hope for fic!

Because the Jewels were all named Pearl and Topaz, etc, I kept picturing them as Raksura, and then having to edit out the tails. Awkward....

Yeah, that's all I got. Time for my brain to go to bed, I think.

Comments

[philomytha]

Reading CVA was basically one long delighted squee. Ivan and Tej, Alys and Simon, crazy plots and ImpSec sinking - I about died at that bit. And oh yes, Ivan's surprising bits of competence in getting people and getting Simon - and I loved him being good at his job too, that was nice. And Ivan and Simon having adventures would be FANTASTIC.

[spatz]

I realized, after getting two comments about it, that I wrote that paragraph in a way that implies I wanted an Ivan-Simon book, when I actually meant Simon-Alys! *facepalm* Though Ivan and Simon would be hilarious and awesome, as well. I just think LMB would be awesome at writing political intrigue a la high society with Alys.