Update on the Drizzt/LOTR x-over

[wiseheart]

... which will be jastaelf's birthday fic. I've written 4 full chapters already, some of it is a way bit creepy, but I'm content with it. Chapter 5 is on its way.

I might have to post it un-betaed, though, at least for the beginning. Just as some of the Edhellond anniversary fics. Too many eskimos, too few fish... or whatnot. I'm tired, we have a heat wave, school starts on Monday, and I've already been called to the principal before the whole thing begins, so I'm having such joyous expectations - NOT! Don't expect me to be coherent.

Went to Vienna with Mum to end the summer with a nice experience. Got me the 3rd season of Buffy on DVD, the 8th season of Stargate and some Babylon 5 stuff I've never heard before. No Alien Nation, no Andromeda. I wish frigging amazon.uk would accept our money. They have such nice boxed editions, and in Region 2 coding, too... ah, well.

Almost finished the "Tales Before Tolkien" anthology of modern fantasy stories. Some of them were nice, some of them were utter crap. I'd like to write a few reviews about them, but just don't feel up to the challenge.

Wrote some kinky stuff, just for my own entertainment. An AU in which the Charmed Ones become kinky vamps. Lots of BDSM and violence. It's something that will be never even typed up, much less posted anywhere. But it helps me to deal with all the anger that has been pent up in me during the last six months or so.


Got the original Underworld movie, after all. It's... interesting, even though a bit too brutal for my taste. Liked the werewolf scientist a lot. Too bad he got killed. It's always the funny, quirky guys with personality who have to bite the dust. Looking forward to watch the sequel, soon.

Blade - the Series is finished on PRO7. Too bad the show was never picked up for a second season, although Blade himself is the least interesting character in the whole thing. I kinda liked Marcus Van Scriver, even if he was evil. larian would hate the show, as Kavan Smith dies a horrible death in it. *g*

More French picspam as soon as I get around editing my photos. Still hate the keypad of my new Notebook. Still miss my old PC. Still unable to access my saved work, due to the lack of some programs on said Notebook. *sighs* Life is complicated.

Comments

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

Maybe you could work out a swap with a UK friend to get the Amazon.uk stuff? You get your money changed into pounds, send them to a cooperative British friend, and the friend could order the stuff from Amazon.uk for you? It's a bit roundabout, but if it's the only way to get the DVDs you're looking for, it might be worth it.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

We did something like that with earonn last year. Amazon.uk accepts Euros as well, and she came to visit me anyway, so I could give her the cash without involving the bank. I'll have to go and consult the bank, though, in case I find someone cooperative, to see how much they demand for transferring the money and all that.

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Ooooooo! [jumps up and down in excitement] If I sent you an Amazon.uk gift certificate, would you be able to order from them some of the Region 2 DVDs you didn't find in Vienna?

After all, we must get you all the Tyr you need in a version that is compatible with your DVD player. Tyrus Deprivatus is a very serious condition, not to be left untreated for long, especially with the school year starting and Nassssty Principalssss calling usss in. Must have the Precioussssssss....

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Actually, that should work - unless I prove a frigging idiot again when handling this online shopping business. Last time I got that gift certificate for Amazon.de, I had to ask for makamu's help because I was simply unable to get it done on my own. *is ashamed*

But you are right Tyrus Deprivatus is a serious thing indeed. Especially when Amazon.uk has those nice box sets of whole seasons on sale. Or at least used to have back in June.

[jen-rock.livejournal.com]

"Got the original Underworld movie, after all. It's... interesting, even though a bit too brutal for my taste. Liked the werewolf scientist a lot. Too bad he got killed. It's always the funny, quirky guys with personality who have to bite the dust. Looking forward to watch the sequel, soon."

Oooooh, I'm glad you finally saw it. Did you recognize a lot of the locales where they filmed it or what? And yes, it's such a shame that Singe, the werewolf scientist dies in the movie. Which is why in my ongoing Underworld fic, he gets to live as does Lucian. Some parts of the story are set in the 1950's in various European countries so I have to keep looking up the political and geographical details of Hungary, Austria, the former Czechoslovakia, etc. It's the most work I've ever had to do for a fic but it's one of my favorites, so it's worth it:)

And the third season of Buffy is one of my favorites. There were so many great episodes and the season finale was awesome. ("Fire bad. Tree pretty. Hee hee.) Plus, it introduced Wesley who's one of my favorite characters even though he was a bit pompous and cowardly at first.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, it's funny, but I haven't reconized any of the locations. Must get Mum watch the movie, she's much better sense of orientation than I have. OTOH, it was so dark all the time that I probably wouldn't have recognized the street I live in. They must have filmed some parts in one of the underground stations, though, for the pillars seem familiar...

So, you do have an Underworld fic? Will have to check out your ff.net profile again. Yay, Underworld fic! Should you have any questions about Hungary, I'll try my best to answer them.

So, you're a Wesley fan, too? I do love him so much, he's a wonderfully flawed character who can grow to surprising heights at the most unexpected moment. I've got a huge, convulsed vampire-crossover-AU in which he makes quite the career as the Precept of the - hypothetical - Los Angeles Legacy House. *g*

I liked the first three seasons of Buffy very much. She was an interesting character up then. I began to disike the series starting with Season 4 - she turned into an immature, unpleasant bitch from there on. Although I did like Riley and the other two Initiative guys a lot. But again, I'm a devoted Spike fan, so probably completely biased...

[mistry89.livejournal.com]

I have The Dark Elf Trilogy (Collector's Edition) in my TBR pile - I will get there one day! I'm not sure how I missed out on these (have read RA Salvatore in the past), but this has been waiting for 2 years (since the last time I went to Wellington).

Good luck with the new notebook - may equivalent programs present themselves forthwith :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. *g*

I must admit, I'm not terribly impressed by Salvatore's writing. I had to take the "Icewind Dale" trilogy to the fitness studio to read it while exercising, otherwise I would never have gone through it.

IMO, the Dark Elf trilogy is somewhat better - he had to do some world-building here instead to just rattle down stereoptypical adventures - but I'm still moderately impressed. My favourite part was "Exile", where there was at least some characterization, but all in all, I find Salvatore a fairly mediocre writer. Not a bad one, but not a particularly good one, either.

Of course, comparing anyone to Tolkien, Ellis Peters, Ursula K. Le Guin or Larry Alexander means that I'm a very picky reader. But honestly, I've read fanfiction that was better written, and not by only one fanfic writer.

I'm considering giving Elaine Cunningham's stories a try. I've grown curious about Liriel Baenre. Although, for my taste, the whole "Forgotten Realms" universe has too many weird deities and too much magic, and most races and characters are generally unlikeable. Oh, and I don't like the Dwarves being such unhewn people and most humans being lying weasels.

As I said, I've been spoiled by authors who give me heroes I can like and identify with. *g*

[mistry89.livejournal.com]

I read The Hobbit, Moomintrolls, Lloyd Alexander's Prydain, Maren's Little Owl, and the Uncle stories by the time I was eight. I'm stuck on what I now know as High Fantasy :)
Despite E R Burroughs, Rider Haggard, J Norman, Peake, Brooks, Eddings, Donaldson, Douglass exposure (one had to take whatever made it waaaay down here back then!) I still need a Hero I can like. I make an exception for Freidman.

Early Pern/McCaffrey, Lackey, Scarborough, L Norman, Bujold, well - I could go on and on :)
I confess that I like a Flawed!Hero (not usually to the extent of CS Friedman), and a huge admission ..... I like Aragorn more post-movie than before (even on re-read, I bung movie!Aragorn in, and it works better for me). He seemed too perfect (despite the obstacles in his way and the weight of destiny on his shoulders), in the books (when I first read LOTR at 14), it was Legolas I wanted to know more about, the Eorlingas needed expounding upon, , and the Hobbits I worried over (I seemed to consider the Men Of Gondor bloody lucky to have other races/species so worried about them!).
I do like Flewelling (actually, she may have been a bit of a realisation).

I've always read for the relationships in stories, as much as the plot. Which possibly explains why I adore series (although these days some series seem more like money-spinners than genuine tales-that-need-to-be-told).

Having read a considerable amount of Sci-Fi and MurderMystery/Crime as well, the idea of relationship overiding plot holds true (with the note that world-building is also necessary, so a Jennifer Crusie loses over a David Weber in the comedy department).

Sorry, I'll shut up now. One of the reasons I adore fanfic is that those notions that I think need exploring are also considered important by other people - and they are capable of following it through :) As a book addict, I confess that I've spent far less on books in the last 6 years than before - and my purchases are far more selected. I make sure I buy any fanfic author who is published (despite otp's and prefs), and I respond to any rec's made by the "community". My TBR pile is no smaller, but I know there are gems awaiting me ( as opposed to the "Take these to the book exchange" situation I had before!

During filming I was on the Tolkien newsgroups, rather than the Yahoo! and LJ communities - so my own thoughts were never expressed (NG were predominantly male and anti-PJ (I was there during the Arwen-at-Helm's Deep phase), so I was just following them for info .... odd, considering they were filming right here!).

No, I really will shut up now (my connection has died twice since I started typing, so whether or not this gets through is a punt).
Cheers!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Heh! I absolutely hated movie!Aragorn, but again, there wasn't much I liked in the movies as a whole, aside from Sam, Bilbo and Gollum, so... Oh, no, I actually liked Boromir a lot, but that's about it. I'm very anti-PJ and have been since the beginning. But the good thing is that we can like very different things within a fandom and still enjoy the fandom as a whole... and even be civil to each other, right? :)

I haven't read much of English-speaking fantasy beyond the authors I've mentioned before. When I was young, few things were translated into Hungarian, and you couldn't get the books in original. Now, they do translate various things, but only the wors crap of it, and getting decent books is still complicated. Also, books have horrid prices right now, so I always think twice before buying one. *le sigh*

You are right about fanfic, though. Aside from exploring POVs and events the original did not, it's also free - and if you don't like something, you can just hit the Back button and don't have to fume about having wasted your money. *g*

[mistry89.livejournal.com]

I hadn't considered the translation thing - we are such an unimportant part of the English-speaking world that we only got those few things that were designated as "easy sellers", even if one found a bookstore prepared to order a special book, it could take 8 months to get to to you. Your English is very good - is it a lack of availability? If so, let me know your wish-list for old stuff - a lot of it is v cheap second-hand here.

To me, the movies reminded me that I needed to re-read (and with a 10 yo at the time, it was great opportunity to introduce JRRT to a malleable mind! We went on to see FOTR 16 times at the theatre, TTT 12X, and ROTK 6 times together. I have the DVD's - all 3 versions.

I may be biased (because he is a Kiwi), but despite losing the Barrow Wights, Tom Bombadil, and introducing Horse-Thief-Arwen, I was fairly happy with the movies. My biggest relief was the lack of the Scouring - I've always loathed that whole section. On fanfic, I adore pre-LOTR, gap-fillers, and post-WOTR stories, but dislike Valinor ones. And it is even more than being free, you can get rec's from people you know like stories you like, so it more that you don't waste time (if I actually sat down and read my physical TBR pile I wouldn't be back online for a year! Spending money on books is a real problem for me - I am able to resist all sort of temptations at the shops, but my book-thing is so bad that my son and I had to introduce a rule ... "Can visit more than one shop a day, but if you buy a book at one shop ... that's it!".

He is now 18 and went to stay with his dad in June overseas ..... *sigh* I miss him, but am beginning to appreciate the "space" :)

I spend my "free" time online immersed in the fandom - in one way or another, and as I don't watch tv (my satellite offering sadly ignored) apart from the odd documentary, this *is* my chosen time-waster. Hence my disgruntlement at my rotten dial-up (can't get broadband) access.

Cheers!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Actually, I didn't mind the omission of Tom Bombadil or the replacement of Glorfindel with Arwen; she needed to be established somehow for those who didn't know the books in advance.

What I really hated was the majority of the casting (Frodo, Aragorn, Faramir, Éowyn, Elrond, Arwen, Háma, etc)the character rape in many occasions (again, Aragorn, Frodo, Faramir, Denethor, Gandalf as soon as he became the White), the idiotic "Arwen's fate is bound to the Ring" subplot and how Gimli and Denethor were handled. And the stupid exorcist scene in Meduseld. Gah!

But the landscape was gorgeous, some of the sets (Edoras and the Hornburg above all) absolutely stunning, and I liked Bilbo, too. If only the Elves didn't look like cloned Barbie dolls and the Orcs as leprosy patients...

I know what you mean with the book addiction. I'm facing the problem of outgrowing my room every third year or so, and the TBR pile is growing and growing and growing.. *g*