30 Days of Blake's 7 - Day 18
May. 18th, 2026 09:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
julesjonesDay 18: Ideas that should have been used more
So. Many. Options for the original question. And they don't even all involve Avon and/or Blake. I'm going to answer the new version fromvilakins instead.
So. Many. Options for the original question. And they don't even all involve Avon and/or Blake. I'm going to answer the new version from
vilakins instead.One thing I would really like to have seen more of was Cally's telepathy as something other than "taken over by alien of the week". It's used occasionally in situations where it's obvious just how useful it is as a way to give a silent warning to the others. In Bounty:
CALLY [V.O., telepathing] Guards! Don't speak or make a sound. [Blake quietly crouches beside her, and they watch as the guards confer and then depart.]
CALLY My reflexes are dull. They almost fell over me before I heard them.
BLAKE I've forgotten how useful telepathy is.
CALLY Oh, I must practice that, too.
Yes, Cally, you must. Presumably you did, given that in Star One a telepathic warning stops Avon getting caught by a horde of not-hairy aliens and he manages to catch Travis instead. It isn't the only other example of telepathy being useful, but there seems to be a lot more screen time devoted to "Cally is taken over by aliens because she is a telepath".
Bundle of Holding: Runehammer EZD6
May. 18th, 2026 02:05 pmjames_davis_nicoll
This all-new Runehammer EZD6 Bundle presents EZD6, the tabletop roleplaying game of fast-moving mayhem from "DM Scotty" McFarland (TheDMsCraft on YouTube) and Runehammer Games (Index Card RPG).
Bundle of Holding: Runehammer EZD6
Let’s Talk About Our Favorite Used Bookstores
May. 18th, 2026 10:04 amjames_davis_nicoll
Here's to digging for treasure in the endless shelves of bookstores past and present…
Let’s Talk About Our Favorite Used Bookstores
30 Days of Blake's 7 - Day 17
May. 17th, 2026 09:51 pmjulesjones Day 17: Two characters you wanted to get together that never did
To a first approximation, "nobody". This was not something I was particularly interested in when I first saw the series, at least not strongly enough to remember 45 years later. Possibly Avon and Cally, since the friendship with a hint of more was canonical.
In spite of the hundreds of thousands of words of fanfic I have since written, my answer for actual canon hasn't really changed. It would not be the show it was if you had any of the main characters pairing up - no matter which pairing you had, it would throw off the dynamics of the group. This is actually lampshaded in Voice From the Past, when a remote-controlled Blake convinces Vila that the others are plotting against Blake by telling him that Avon and Cally have paired up on the sly. Avon and Servalan might have a Masochism Tango thing going on in series C and D, but it only works because they both know it would never work and don't actually do anything about it.
This might be (almost) the last one I do for the original list of questions, because most of the remaining ones are either "how am I supposed to choose amongst so many" or "does not compute". (It doesn't help that much of C and D I haven't watched for years, only selected episodes.)vilakins apparently has a similar problem and is thinking of coming up with some new ones, so I may follow along with those.
To a first approximation, "nobody". This was not something I was particularly interested in when I first saw the series, at least not strongly enough to remember 45 years later. Possibly Avon and Cally, since the friendship with a hint of more was canonical.
In spite of the hundreds of thousands of words of fanfic I have since written, my answer for actual canon hasn't really changed. It would not be the show it was if you had any of the main characters pairing up - no matter which pairing you had, it would throw off the dynamics of the group. This is actually lampshaded in Voice From the Past, when a remote-controlled Blake convinces Vila that the others are plotting against Blake by telling him that Avon and Cally have paired up on the sly. Avon and Servalan might have a Masochism Tango thing going on in series C and D, but it only works because they both know it would never work and don't actually do anything about it.
This might be (almost) the last one I do for the original list of questions, because most of the remaining ones are either "how am I supposed to choose amongst so many" or "does not compute". (It doesn't help that much of C and D I haven't watched for years, only selected episodes.)
vilakins apparently has a similar problem and is thinking of coming up with some new ones, so I may follow along with those.30 Days of Blake's 7 - Day 16
May. 17th, 2026 09:35 pmjulesjones Day 16: Best use of a hoary old trope
The entire concept of the show is "Robin Hood leading the Dirty Dozen in space", and I think it does it very well. There are many reworkings of Robin Hood out there, but I think this is one of the best. Blending it with 1984 as Robin's motivation makes it even better.
The entire concept of the show is "Robin Hood leading the Dirty Dozen in space", and I think it does it very well. There are many reworkings of Robin Hood out there, but I think this is one of the best. Blending it with 1984 as Robin's motivation makes it even better.
Non-Stop by Brian W. Aldiss
May. 17th, 2026 08:56 amjames_davis_nicoll
Believing the Ship is the whole universe is just common sense. So believe the people in it, but they are not the orphans of the sky they believe themselves to be.
Non-Stop by Brian W. Aldiss
Right of Vengeance
May. 16th, 2026 11:57 ammarycatelli posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
booksRight of Vengeance by Thomas Doscher
Book 7 of The Vixen War Bride Series. Spoilers for the earlier ones ahead.
( Read more... )
Book 7 of The Vixen War Bride Series. Spoilers for the earlier ones ahead.
( Read more... )
30 Days of Blake's 7 - Day 15
May. 16th, 2026 11:46 amjulesjones Day 15: Character who didn’t get enough screen time
A day late again, for the same reason - Eurovision semi finals. Anyway...
Gan, of course. With that many main characters and only 50 minutes per episode, something had to give, and that something was Gan. His primary role is as muscle, and he's not as smart/obnoxious as the others so presumably less interesting to write - although he's perfectly capable of giving as good as he gets from Avon. "For a clever man you're not very bright". :-> In some ways he serves the same function as the Doctor's companion, being the one who tends to ground the others when they get a bit too carried away with whatever shiny thing has caught their attention/obsession/ego. Also the one who's frequently lectured at for "as you know, Bob" purposes. Even Avon manages to forget his own ego long enough to genuinely enjoy teaching Gan about some of the ship systems, minus the usual snark once he has a genuinely interested student. (And I do find that scene very believable.)
Some people see him as a violent thug only restrained by the limiter. But what he claims to have been sentenced for doesn't match that. Obviously, the word there is "claims", but it's all too plausible in the what we see of the Federation. He enjoys fighting the primitives in Deliverance, but doesn't give the impression that he'd kill them without the limiter inhibiting him. It reads much more as enjoying a wrestling match, one that he's only engaged in as self-defence. The truly chilling scene is on the London, when he points out to the guard that they only need the hand. (Seriously, who came up with that idea of security in a barracks cell with a bunch of potentially dangerous people who really don't want to be there?) With that he doesn't need to be actually capable of carrying through the threat, whether emotionally or through the limiter's control; he just needs to convince the guard that he is. And very convincing he is.
A day late again, for the same reason - Eurovision semi finals. Anyway...
Gan, of course. With that many main characters and only 50 minutes per episode, something had to give, and that something was Gan. His primary role is as muscle, and he's not as smart/obnoxious as the others so presumably less interesting to write - although he's perfectly capable of giving as good as he gets from Avon. "For a clever man you're not very bright". :-> In some ways he serves the same function as the Doctor's companion, being the one who tends to ground the others when they get a bit too carried away with whatever shiny thing has caught their attention/obsession/ego. Also the one who's frequently lectured at for "as you know, Bob" purposes. Even Avon manages to forget his own ego long enough to genuinely enjoy teaching Gan about some of the ship systems, minus the usual snark once he has a genuinely interested student. (And I do find that scene very believable.)
Some people see him as a violent thug only restrained by the limiter. But what he claims to have been sentenced for doesn't match that. Obviously, the word there is "claims", but it's all too plausible in the what we see of the Federation. He enjoys fighting the primitives in Deliverance, but doesn't give the impression that he'd kill them without the limiter inhibiting him. It reads much more as enjoying a wrestling match, one that he's only engaged in as self-defence. The truly chilling scene is on the London, when he points out to the guard that they only need the hand. (Seriously, who came up with that idea of security in a barracks cell with a bunch of potentially dangerous people who really don't want to be there?) With that he doesn't need to be actually capable of carrying through the threat, whether emotionally or through the limiter's control; he just needs to convince the guard that he is. And very convincing he is.
30 Days of Blake's 7 - Day 14
May. 15th, 2026 10:22 pmjulesjones Day 14: Character you relate to the most
I don't, really. Some overlap with Avon simply from being a scientist, but he is not someone I would want to live with, let alone be.
I don't, really. Some overlap with Avon simply from being a scientist, but he is not someone I would want to live with, let alone be.
Witch's Daughter
May. 15th, 2026 12:09 pmmarycatelli posting in booksWitch's Daughter by Sarah A. Hoyt
Book 2 of Magical Empires, but it does shift to new characters and fill you in the relevant first book knowledge. (Spoilers for the first book, though.)
( Read more... )
Book 2 of Magical Empires, but it does shift to new characters and fill you in the relevant first book knowledge. (Spoilers for the first book, though.)
( Read more... )
The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
May. 15th, 2026 08:59 amjames_davis_nicoll
All that stands between Isako and the satisfactory end of her career is one last job. How hard could it possibly be to accomplish one final task?
The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
Unquenchable Fire (Unquenchable Fire, volume 1) by Rachel Pollack
May. 14th, 2026 09:01 amjames_davis_nicoll
Chosen One Jennifer Mazdan would prefer to let destiny's call go through to voice mail.
Unquenchable Fire (Unquenchable Fire, volume 1) by Rachel Pollack
30 Days of Blake's 7 - Day 13
May. 13th, 2026 09:12 pmjulesjones Day 13: Favourite guest character
So many to choose from in series 1 and 2, fewer but not non-existent in series 3 and 4. I'm going to go with the first choice asvilakins and for the same reason. Bellfriar and Gambrill from Killer are well-developed characters, who show that there are still decent people in the Federation. They're so well written and played that it hurts to see their fate.
So many to choose from in series 1 and 2, fewer but not non-existent in series 3 and 4. I'm going to go with the first choice as
vilakins and for the same reason. Bellfriar and Gambrill from Killer are well-developed characters, who show that there are still decent people in the Federation. They're so well written and played that it hurts to see their fate.30 Days of Blake's 7 - Day 12
May. 13th, 2026 07:25 pmjulesjones Day 12: Favourite villain
Missed posting yesterday, so you'll get two today. Favourite villain is Servalan of course, although her Sleer incarnation managed to be both over and under-written as a result of Surprise! Fourth Series! Honorable mention to both editions of Travis.
Does Carnell qualify as a villain? I'm not entirely sure he's unambiguously one - he strikes me as closer to a neutral for hire, even if he's officially a Federation employee.
Single episode villain is actually a duo, in the form of Krantor/Toise. And yes, I typed it that way very deliberately. :-> And honourable mentions to Vargas, superbly played by Large Ham BRIAN BLESSED, and Bayban the Butcher, played by Colin Baker in Large Ham mode. Apparently I like Large Ham villains...
Missed posting yesterday, so you'll get two today. Favourite villain is Servalan of course, although her Sleer incarnation managed to be both over and under-written as a result of Surprise! Fourth Series! Honorable mention to both editions of Travis.
Does Carnell qualify as a villain? I'm not entirely sure he's unambiguously one - he strikes me as closer to a neutral for hire, even if he's officially a Federation employee.
Single episode villain is actually a duo, in the form of Krantor/Toise. And yes, I typed it that way very deliberately. :-> And honourable mentions to Vargas, superbly played by Large Ham BRIAN BLESSED, and Bayban the Butcher, played by Colin Baker in Large Ham mode. Apparently I like Large Ham villains...
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, volume 1 by Rifujin Na Magonote
May. 13th, 2026 08:56 amjames_davis_nicoll
A selfless act of heroism costs a homeless NEET his life. Waking in an unfamiliar world, he resolves to do better in his next incarnation.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, volume 1 by Rifujin Na Magonote
Recent Reading: How to Love Your Daughter
May. 12th, 2026 06:46 pmrocky41_7 posting in booksThe other book I finished during my voyage through the southwest was How to Love Your Daughter by Hila Blum, translated from Hebrew by Daniella Zamir. This was book [checks notes] #17 from the “Women in Translation” rec list. It’s about an estranged mother and daughter; as the mother peers through the windows of her adult daughter’s house from across the street, she ponders what went wrong in their formerly loving relationship.
How to Love Your Daughter is a cerebral kind of novel that swims back and forth between Yoella’s present, desperately reaching after the daughter who’s walked out of her life, and Yoella’s recollections of raising Leah.
The twists and turns of their relationship are subtle, almost too subtle. Both characters come off slightly neurotic, fussing about every minor interaction and seeming, to me, to invent problems where none really existed. In the end, it’s not so much a long-deteriorating relationship, which is what I expected, as it is Yoella making one decision that forever alters Leah’s perception of her.
“No one warned me my love could destroy her,” Yoella says about Leah at one point and that’s the core of it. Yoella adores her daughter, almost beyond reason. And it’s that very willingness to put Leah above everyone and everything else that eventually pushes Leah away from her, which is such a perfect tragedy.
I saw another review that said this book was both too long and too short, and I think there’s some truth to that. There are drawn out middle sections which don’t necessarily add much, but the ultimate break and subsequent efforts at reconciliation by Yoella don’t get as much room to breathe as might have benefitted them.
However, the ending is an exquisite microcosm of the tension of the whole novel, leaving you wondering about unreliable narrators and perceptions. Some people felt that Yoella gets off too easy—I would recommend rereading the section where Leah talks to Yoella about her reality/fantasy of Dennis writing her a letter.
I don’t know that either Yoella or Leah comes off as really sympathetic here, but they do come off very human, full of flaws and self-justifications and irrational reactions. And maybe sometimes it’s just human nature to create a tragedy where there didn’t have to be one.