(no subject)

[kbk]

nostalgia_lj told me to write a review of Love and War (NA, Paul Cornell) and I can't really be arsed, but given that all I did today was sleep, read that, and browse ebay for a late bday present for the boy...


I had been expecting quite terrible things from what I've heard about the NAs in general, and was actually quite pleasantly surprised towards the beginning, that the relationship between Seven and Ace seemed to be going strong. Also, I thought Benny was pretty cool. I still do, actually, though she's perhaps over-interesting with her several tonnes of baggage. But the whole Jan thing just did not ring true to me.

For starters, my Ace would not fall in love with some guy she hardly knows - like him, perhaps, but not to that extent - especially not one that's already claimed. Then there's the whole "special powers" thing that he and Christopher have, which is... interesting, and the explanation possibly makes sense, but at the same time is so obviously a thing to be used. Seriously, there was no way in hell that man was going to survive the book.

The bad guys were quite scary, and ick, which is pretty cool, in a way, because it's quite hard to get grossed out by words, but this worked. But the inconsistency of the effect of the parasite bugged me, and I don't think it was explained, particularly, not beyond "you get infected and then join the group mind" - also, the group mind thing wasn't particularly... visible? They all had all the knowledge, but seemed to be under individual control, and... dunno. bit off.

You'd think somebody would notice, though, that the planet doesn't actually have a viable ecosystem. Just... really would.

Also, not my Seven. Yes, manipulative little git when necessary. In this case? Not necessary. And overdone. And the explanation for the vagueness makes sense, in a way, but it feels like an excuse for the Doctor to let Ace slip away and not do anything about it until it's too late - not that it was, imho, I think she would have forgiven him if he'd stuck around a little longer - because if he talks to her she will forgive him. Just... that's their thing, dammit!

And the gods being real, and everyone being a bit too violent, and... not convinced. Oh, and, thingy. Julian. How the heck did he get eaten by the Hoothi? Ace went to his funeral. Suggesting he died. And... how the fuck? And the "oh you can fight it enough to save the day" - bullshit! A race that's survived that long by taking over other races is going to have some pretty fucking sophisticated control systems, and Julian has been in there, buried, for centuries, and he's a human, which, sorry, but not the best thing in the universe, and just... no!

And, and... guh. Not my Ace. Not my Seven.

It was an all right book, as these things go - well paced, nice descriptive work, some strong characterisation on the minors - but the predictability and the sheer wrongness of the major characters let it down.

Also, the archaeology student by name of Paul Magrs? Could not take seriously.


Is that enough? I can't be bothered doing any more because I'll just get upset.

Hmmmmmm. Ought to sleep, or... something. cannnnot be arsed.