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#I know bookshops like that

everysongineverykey · 9 months

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good omens the book, 1990: see, queen is so ubiquitous in london these days that if you leave a tape in a car for too long, it'll inevitably morph into a best of queen tape. which is why their megahits are playing in crowley's bentley all the time! isn't that a funny and topical joke?

good omens the show, 2019-2023: yeah crowley's car has a hands-free call system and also only plays cassette tapes. yeah it's whatever don't think about it. what's an incredibly earnest and passionate queen love song we can play during this scene where crowley tries urgently to reach aziraphale

#good omens #this is so funny to me. they have it's a hard life in s1e1 when he's trying to call aziraphale about armageddon #you're my best friend in s1e5 when he's racing to the bookshop to see him #good old-fashioned loverboy in s2e1 when he's racing to the bookshop to help aziraphale stay safe while hiding gabriel.#in the 90s it would've been a joke about how everywhere queen was. today it's just like. this gay loser's car knows about his crush #and deliberately plays cheesy classic love songs when he's going to see him to bug him about it #and he's just accepted it into his life. i love it #AND somebody to love after he's presumed aziraphale's dead! i know that was diegetic but the bentley WOULD. you know it would

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hedgehog-moss · 1 year

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do you ever read scifi or fantasy in french? i am trying to read more sff that was originally published not in english but it's not easy to find 💀

I do! It’s not my favourite genre but one of my friends loves it so I read a bunch of SFF books every year ahead of her birthday to try and find a gift for her. I’m glad I do this because it’s allowed me to discover N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy which was amazing, and I don’t know if I would have picked it up otherwise!

Here are some French-language authors I’ve read or plan to read (unfortunately English translations are few and far between :( I bolded the names for which I found English translations—if you read in another language you can check out the non-bolded authors, there are often translations available in other languages long before English ones)

When it comes to classics you've got Pierre Boulle (Planet of the Apes of course; also Garden on the Moon, which is (deservedly imo) less known), Jacques Spitz (La Guerre des mouches—it was translated but not into English), René Barjavel (The Ice People, Ravage, Future Times Three—I read them a long time ago but I remember them as very sexist even by French classic standards), Bernard Lenteric (La nuit des enfants rois), Alain Damasio (La Horde du Contrevent—maybe too recent to be a classic but it’s everywhere. I was surprised to find no English translation!), Bernard Werber (I feel like he rehashes the same 3 ideas again and again but some of his earlier stuff was fun), Alexandre Arnoux (Le règne du bonheur), Jules Verne of course, Stefan Wul (Oms en série which was adapted into the film La Planète sauvage—Fantastic Planet in English. I like the film better!) And some I haven’t read: Georges-Jean Arnaud, Serge Brussolo (I liked his Peggy Sue series when I was in middle school but it spooked me so much I haven’t dared to pick up any of his SFF for adults, like Les semeurs d’abîmes), Élisabeth Vonarburg.

Newer authors: Estelle Faye (L’arpenteuse de rêves, Un éclat de givre—I tend to like her worldbuilding more than her plots); Sandrine Collette (The Forests—if you count speculative fiction as SFF) (I didn’t like it at all personally but others might), Jean-Philippe Jaworski (I really liked Janua Vera; didn't like Gagner la guerre but it was mainly because I have a low tolerance for rape scenes in fantasy books) (he’s about to be translated into English according to his editor), Stéphane Beauverger (Le déchronologue)

More authors I haven't yet read: Pierre Pevel (The Cardinal's Blades—I've been told it's "17th century Paris with dragons"), Romain Lucazeau (Latium), Laurent Genefort (Lum’en), Christian Charrière (La forêt d’Iscambe), Roland Wagner (La saison de la sorcière), Aurélie Wellenstein (Mers Mortes—I love the synopsis for this one), Magali Villeneuve (La dernière Terre, trilogy)

And non-French, non-anglo SFF authors: Maryam Petrosyan (my review of the Gray House last year was that I understood maybe 1/3 of it but I liked it anyway!), Hao Jingfang (haven’t read her yet), Arkady & Boris Strugatsky (idem), Jaroslav Melnik (I’ve read Espace lointain (originally Далекий простір) but didn’t like it much), Andreas Eschbach (The Carpet Makers), Walter Moers (I read The City of Dreaming Books back when I was still learning German and found it very charming), Liu Cixin (I loved The Three-Body Problem but The Dark Forest was so sexist it made me not want to pick up the third volume), Lola Robles (El informe Monteverde, translated as Memoirs of an Interstellar Linguist), Elaine Vilar Madruga (Fragmentos de la Tierra Rota), Tatiana Tolstaya (The Slynx), Karin Tidbeck (Amatka), Emmi Itäranta (Memory of Water, The Moonday Letters), Angélica Gorodischer (I’ve read Kalpa Imperial and found it only so-so but it always takes me a while to warm up to characters or a setting so I struggle with short story collections. I’ll still give Trafalgar a try) Also my favourite fantasy book as a kid was Michael Ende’s Neverending Story, I was obsessed with it. I re-read it in the original German a few years ago and it was still great.

#ask #book recs #i feel like sff has long had a poor reputation in france. like it's seen as 'not real literature'#not necessarily by readers but by literary awards and mainstream outlets that promote books #the genre doesn't get a lot of attention from those so it's hard for authors to become well-known #it's often seen as a genre for kids and teenagers—i know i had an easier time finding sff books by french authors when i was younger #scifi for primary school kids like christian lamblin's le survivant or philippe ebly's space operas in bibliothèque verte #or sff for middle school kids: the peggy sue series; linus hoppe by a-l bondoux; more recently the nuées series by nathalie bernard #but yeah in the adult sff aisle of nonspecialised bookshops it's mostly anglo authors + always the same handful of french ones

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goatbeard-goatbeard · 6 months

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I don’t buy that Crowley is jealous in the coffee shop, he’s just amused and playing it up for the humans

✨ however ✨

when Aziraphale is absolutely determined to help a bouncy, innocent fugitive from heaven, and will not be talked out of it… if Crowley was only worried for his safety, he probably would have stayed

but I think he sort of senses why Aziraphale has to help this specific flavor of angel, why he stubbornly refuses to be swayed by fear (this time). and that, much more than the nakedness, gives Crowley feelings that he can only express with Lightning

because on the one hand it’s sweet that Aziraphale is saying “I was wrong to chicken out back then, I should have helped you” but then the you-insert in this situation is motherfucking GABRIEL lmaooooooooo

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ineffably-poetic · 7 months

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goddamnit crowley and azzy seriously need to fuckin Talk. every meta i read usually boils down to “aziraphale and crowley both try to keep each other safe but don’t understand that that’s what the other is doing and so it all goes to shit” and it hurts every time but DAMN just TALK. we better get a LENGTHY discussion of emotions in s3 or i’m gonna explode

#good omens #ineffable husbands #crowley #aziraphale #good omens 2 #gos2spoilers #like there was one i just read where it was like #azzy gives away books for crowley and crowley doenst know it’s for him #azzy is willing to give away the bookshop #and crowley thinks he’s giving away THEM #ughhh it’s so #tragic #better end happily for the sake of my sanity #good omens meta #good omens 3 #go2 #aziracrow

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writerfae · 9 months

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The fact that many bookstores have their fantasy books right beside or very close to their children’s/teen’s book section shows how many people think the fantasy genre isn’t for grown ups, in this essay I will-

#no I’m joking there’s no essay #but it is suspicious I think #not that I knew enough bookshops that I could even hold this theory but #in most of those I know it’s like that #writer speaks

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nuclearanomaly · 1 year

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Do you take returns?

What if I went insane an posted old writing just because [Modern | Bookshop AU. | wc 1695 ]

The bell above the door tinkled softly, just loud enough to be heard over the quiet murmur of the radio drifting through the small used bookstore. From the back of the shop Ninira couldn’t see the door or the potential customer who entered, despite the fact that she was currently poised atop a stepladder. The filled shelves and other haphazard stacks of books created a series of walls between her and the store’s entrance.

“Good afternoon!” She called blindly, heaving a particularly hefty book into its new place on the shelf. She’d been organizing all day, though that wasn’t anything new. Since taking ownership of the shop she’d been organizing it. Slowly making her way through the mountains of books and attempting to place them in a semblance of order, something that customers could, at the very least, browse without confusion. It had turned out to be a monumental task, but it at least kept her busy since the customers that came to her small used book store were few and far between.

“Afternoon.” The reply that came was smooth, refined, and unlike anything she’d heard in her shop before. She knew the usual customers, the grunts of old men, the cooing voices elderly women, and the ramblings of the regulars; this was none of them. Cautiously, and curiously, she climbed down from her stool and crept towards the front of the store.

The voice belonged to a man. Even with his back half to her, and she only just peeking out from behind one of the store shelves, she was sure that he was perhaps one of the most stunning men she’d ever seen. He was undoubtedly the most beautiful man that had ever set foot inside her dusty little store. She watched as he browsed one of the bookshelves casually, hands clasped behind his back, his raven hair catching in the late afternoon sun that was just starting to shine in through the front window. He radiated refinement from his posture to his clothes and Ninira’s initial feelings of awe were slowly replaced with suspicion. He looked as though he could afford the whole store, what need would he have for a dusty used novel.

He may be the prettiest but he was not the first of his type to enter her store. Usually they were sleazier than him. Sauntering in and trying to bully a price out of her for the shop on the up and coming street. Prime real estate they called it. Not for sale was what she called it.

Ducking back behind the shelf she took a breath, preparing herself for the roundabout conversations that were to come, before stepping out beside the front desk. “Are you looking for something in particular today?” She asked in her best customer service voice.

The man turned his gaze drifting down to her and his eyes a shocking blue. He smiled warmly and Ninira once again had to firmly remind herself that there was no way this man had any good intentions.

“Browsing mostly, though perhaps you can help me… I’m looking for a gift for a friend.”

Ninira blinked. That was the last thing she had expected. Was he in fact genuine? “O—oh, of course!” She fumbled, suddenly aware, under his gaze, that the last lot of books she had been sorting had left large dusty streaks on her shirt. She hastily brushed at them. “What kind of book were you looking for?”

He gave his chin a thoughtful tap, “they’re… an artist so to speak, so something along those lines.”

“I have a display of art books in the front currently, if you would like to look at those.” She hesitated before adding, “they’re probably the nicest ones I have in stock at the moment.” It was the truth, they were fine collections of traditional Hingan art, yet she was reluctant to sell them. For very foolish reasons since her display had not enticed the buyer she had hoped for despite having it set up in the front window for a couple weeks now.

Her customer’s smile deepened to something akin to a smirk. “No... I saw those and don’t think they’ll suit his tastes. Do you have anything different?”

Ninira’s suspicions returned. He was amused by her offer? She frowned slightly, hoping it looked more contemplative than annoyed. He was playing her after all... He’d buy a book in good faith; or more likely watch as she struggled and failed to find the perfect book. Then make some comment about how she should give up on the store. Well he could try.

Ninira turned and started down one of the cluttered aisles. “The other art books are back here.” Fortunately she hadn’t moved them much since she’d dug through them all to make the window display.

She weaved her way around haphazard stacks, books unable to fit on the already full shelves before stopping beside an overflowing shelf, and an open box filled with excess books. “Here…” she gestured to the box, “sorry for the mess.”

He smiled that warm smile and knelt to look through the box. “It seems like you’re in the process of moving things around here.”

“Yes. I’m trying to have less of this.” She gestured to the general clutter surrounding them, unsure why she was telling this in the first place. “And more something that someone could navigate on their own.”

“A wise idea for a business. Do you not have help?”

Ninira sensed the warning flags once more. “No… But I make do.”

“That’s a big job to tackle alone— ah.”

Ninira watched, baffled, as he pulled a book titled How to Draw Action Anime and Manga from the depths of the box. His devious smirk returned as he held it up. “Perfect.”

It dawned on Ninira that perhaps the person he was plotting against was the recipient of this book rather than her. She felt some tension lift from her shoulders. “Are you sure?” She asked politely.

“Positive.” He started to rise but paused and looked at her. “Though... do take returns?”

Ninira nodded.

“Wonderful! It’s just… he might already own this one, you know?”

—

“What the actual fuck is this?”

Estinien stared at the book that had been unceremoniously dropped into his lap mere moments before. The wide eyed spiky haired abomination on the cover stared back.

“A book on Hingan art.” Aymeric was unable to keep the smug amusement out of his voice as he took a seat. Estinien’s apartment was already cramped but he’d managed to squeeze in a chair alongside the couch, coffee table, and entertainment unit that occupied his living room. Aymeric sat in the armchair now, an infuriatingly pleased look on his face. “Just like you asked.”

“I asked for the book on traditional art that was in the window!” Estinen snarled from his own spot on the couch, “not this!” He brandished How to Draw Action Anime and Manga angrily at his friend.

“Ah, the one in the window. I apologize, I didn’t see that one.” Aymeric’s face cracked into a grin. The bastard. He knew full well about the book sitting in the bookstore’s window. Estinien had been eyeing it for a while now and despite the fact that the aforementioned bookstore was directly across the road from his soon to be tattoo parlor he’d yet to venture inside. Too busy he’d told himself. If he was at his shop it was to work on the renovations needed to get the place open. After all, he had a schedule to keep and no time to waste browsing a bookstore. It had absolutely nothing to do with how cute the store owner was and the prospect of having to talk to her.

“You’re taking this back.” Estinen tossed the book at his friend.

Aymeric deftly caught the book before tossing it back across Estinien’s living room. “Unfortunately I’m terribly busy, much too busy to return your book. Besides,” he folded his arms. “It’s a gift! Quite rude of you to demand that I return it. If you don’t like it, the receipt is inside, you may return it. Or exchange it, whichever you prefer.”

Estinien opened his mouth to argue but Aymeric continued. “Don’t give me you’re too busy with the shop spiel again. It’s directly across the road. Perhaps you could use some of the precious time you spend looking through the front window at the store to go over there instead?”

Estinien scowled.

“I’ve done you a favour! You have a reason to go now, not that you didn’t already. You go in, exchange the book your horrible friend bought you. Maybe ask the cute owner if she’d like some help moving some of the books around? She looks like she could use a hand in there. Take her out for a coffee afterwards?” Aymeric’s smile grew as the flush crept up Estinien’s face.

He rose, discarding the art book onto the coffee table as he made his way to the kitchen and wrenched open the fridge. The line of beer cans stood waiting on the top shelf and he grabbed one, cracking it open and taking a long drink. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

From the other room Aymeric sighed. “Of course you don’t…”

Estinien returned to the living room, tossing Aymeric his own beer before slouching onto the sofa. He was only slightly disappointed that Aymeric didn’t open the can immediately and cover himself in a shower of beer—he had given the can a few extra shakes just in case. Aymeric of course had the foresight to set the can aside, the bastard.

“Well if you do nothing I do hope that, for your future clients sake, you decide to put up some blinds. I wouldn’t want you tattooing my arm only to be distracted when your neighbour across the street slips out for her lunch.”

Estinien took an angry sip of his drink. “I’m not going to get distracted.”

“Hm, evidence proves otherwise.” Aymeric retorted, finally tempting fate and opening his own drink. He did not get sprayed much to Estinien’s further disappointment.

#ffxiv #Bookshop AU #Ninira Nira #Estinien Varlineau #Aymeric de Borel #trivia time i wrote this AGES ago when I really first started to even think about Bookshop AU #we're talking the most basic of thoughts surrounding this AU #this predates me giving Estinien a band #despite how old this is I still do like it #I love wing man aymeric #I love him being a little shit #he deserves to be a little shit to his best friend at times #this also never got finished because I didn't know where to take it or how to end it #and despite numerous re-reads it has never offered up a conclusion #so it just kind of dwindles and dies #so in a fit of delusion I decided what if I just post it then I can stop feeling like I need to finish it and move on #so here we are #y e e t #writing: mine

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patrice-bergerons · 9 months

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I want the next good omens fic I write after the current one to be something in which Aziraphale and Crowley are forced for [plot reasons yet to be determined] to be human for a week. Where it becomes abundantly clear that despite the time they spent on earth:

neither knows just how much maintenance a human body requires to be alive and reasonably well

they have to work together to figure it out with some close calls (looking at you Crowley and your six shots of espresso)

but they also figure out that alongside the massive pain of constant maintenance are the equally human joys they never experienced before. aziraphale when he's just woken up and smiling blearily. the taste of fresh bread and cheese and honey when you are starving. the feeling of a blanket (or better yet an arm still) over your shoulder when you are cold. and touch. just sending wild electric sparks across your skin.

#good omens #fic ideas #also crowley having violent nightmares about either his own fall #or the bookshop fire - nearly losing aziraphale #i also don't know whether to set this like. btwn s1 and s2 so it's canon divergence OR #after the s2 divorce when they aren't even speaking to one another

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