Have been in an historical fiction mode recently. Oh my god, not that they're historical fiction, but if you ever see a book of Grimm's Fairy Tales lying around cheap, grab that shit asap. They're just hilarious in the most disturbing way possible and appear to contain no coherent moral philosophy whatsoever, which is refreshing.
TH White's The Once and Future King is marvelous, I would definitely recommend to anyone with the faintest interest in Arthur legends, the Middle Ages, Just War theory, or even that English type of self-deprecating, ironic humour. He can turn a beautiful phrase, too. Don't be discouraged by the Disney movie. I'm really surprised that we didn't read it in the course I did on Medievalism; it's very pomo. But I suppose it lies between Malory and Zimmer Bradley on the radicalness continuum (if you've read either of those but not this, what are you waiting for??????), so maybe that was why. Anyway it's got a rep as a classic for a reason.
So I was reading about it on wikipedia and in a note on other versions of the Arthur Legend I saw that someone had written a novel positing a relationship between Mordred and Lancelot. Being in the "Lancelot is gay as a slightly straight carousel" camp myself, I was intrigued and had a devil of a time tracking down a copy.
It's called Mordred, Bastard Son, by Douglas Clegg, and I must say, avoid at all costs. This is the first book I've had to stop reading after ten or so pages since Eragon (sorry Eragon fans!); the writing manages to be atrocious and boring at once, can you imagine? I was so disappointed!
But luckily immediately afterwards I came across Slow Water, by Annamarie Jagose, a NZ writer. It's set in 1836 and covers the passage from England to Australia, and the relationships that develop on board, especially the one between a clergyman and the third mate. It not being set on a man-of-war I was a little lost at the start (I was like, where are the lieutenants? Why aren't they practicing gunnery?!) but Jagose is quite the genius, she manages to write in an "historical" mode like O'Brian, but, like O'Brian, in a style uniquely her own. It's just gorgeous and simple and subtle and moving.
I highly, highly recommend it to age-of-sail fans, and people who like queer fiction. Australians and New Zealanders I'm sure will also get that antipodeal kick out of it.
TH White's The Once and Future King is marvelous, I would definitely recommend to anyone with the faintest interest in Arthur legends, the Middle Ages, Just War theory, or even that English type of self-deprecating, ironic humour. He can turn a beautiful phrase, too. Don't be discouraged by the Disney movie. I'm really surprised that we didn't read it in the course I did on Medievalism; it's very pomo. But I suppose it lies between Malory and Zimmer Bradley on the radicalness continuum (if you've read either of those but not this, what are you waiting for??????), so maybe that was why. Anyway it's got a rep as a classic for a reason.
So I was reading about it on wikipedia and in a note on other versions of the Arthur Legend I saw that someone had written a novel positing a relationship between Mordred and Lancelot. Being in the "Lancelot is gay as a slightly straight carousel" camp myself, I was intrigued and had a devil of a time tracking down a copy.
It's called Mordred, Bastard Son, by Douglas Clegg, and I must say, avoid at all costs. This is the first book I've had to stop reading after ten or so pages since Eragon (sorry Eragon fans!); the writing manages to be atrocious and boring at once, can you imagine? I was so disappointed!
But luckily immediately afterwards I came across Slow Water, by Annamarie Jagose, a NZ writer. It's set in 1836 and covers the passage from England to Australia, and the relationships that develop on board, especially the one between a clergyman and the third mate. It not being set on a man-of-war I was a little lost at the start (I was like, where are the lieutenants? Why aren't they practicing gunnery?!) but Jagose is quite the genius, she manages to write in an "historical" mode like O'Brian, but, like O'Brian, in a style uniquely her own. It's just gorgeous and simple and subtle and moving.
I highly, highly recommend it to age-of-sail fans, and people who like queer fiction. Australians and New Zealanders I'm sure will also get that antipodeal kick out of it.
