#anyway though

[whetstonefires]

Do you have any opinions on Scholomance?

I do! I like it a lot. I really enjoyed all three books, blitzed through them easily and was much more excited to see how the plots unfolded than I'm used to these days, as a jaded adult, and I also really appreciated them as works of craft.

Especially the first one, I spent the whole time being all 'wow!' at how simple it was. So easy to read, but no waste. You really need to know what you're doing, to get that kind of pared-down elegance of form to work and still fit so much content in.

Like these are dense, there's a fantastic stylistic minimalism that allows El's character all the space it needs to breathe by making absolutely every other thing and person in the whole novel also do character work for her, which is exactly where the first person voice shines.

Also great use of character perspective to make the pacing feel really natural, so the fact that the first book takes three weeks, the second book takes one year, and the third book is like. Five or so incredibly stressful days spread out over the course of a few weeks? Doesn't feel imbalanced.

I actually got distracted from the story a few times by noticing the strength of Novik's technique. 😂 This is a me problem, in itself it's the opposite of distracting. Very low-profile.

I think the Scholomance is a great example of how far you can go in specfic when you aren't cringing from the label 'derivative,' because the Scholomance books feel very fresh ad clean specifically because nothing in them is concerned with standing out as 'original,' whatever that's supposed to mean, only with being well-executed and suitable to its task.

Hm, maybe that's where Liesel was born, the intersection of the efficient narrative style and the vast proportion of the story that concerns the maximization of utility and the instrumentalization of persons by themselves and others, and the forces that incentivize these behaviors. Or maybe she's just the narrative counterweight to Orion 'Head Empty' Lake lmao. How's that for a principle of balance, Galadriel?

I really did enjoy how beautifully it was laid out, over and over, in dozens of shades of humanity, how no matter where you go in an exploitative system almost everyone is being driven by the same survival instincts.

Because I don't think I've ever seen made so cleanly clear why you just can't expect any person or small group of people, no matter their level of goodwill or status, to unmake one of these systems from the inside; how it's not a matter of people being bad but of every single person being very...small.

And then not retreating into the idea of a person who is Big coming and breaking the cruel system from the outside as some kind of panacea, because 1) that is terrible, even if it's necessary and done in the best way possible and 2) that's not a sustainable answer to anything. Getting a balance between the protagonist being able to effect change and not subscribing to the great man theory of history can be really tricky!

Also did I mention, I love El, and I love most of the cast, even the dreadful ones. How am I going around with this many feelings about Li Shanfeng who doesn't appear until the actual climax?

The romance murdered me a bit, but it took up no more space than it absolutely needed to do its job, and I respect that. Also I appreciated Orion as a love interest; Novik has a slight record at this point of a version of that style of male love interest who's like a caricature of Mr. Darcy but old, which was shaping up to be my least favorite thing about her body of work.

...Orion is kind of like if you took the human king from Spinning Silver and gave him an alignment flip come to think of it, so he's not coming out of nowhere. Lmao.

Which reminds me (re: romance character typing) I've heard Novik didn't want it to be known she was astolat, which this series has renewed my sympathies if so. Because if I were a published novelist I wouldn't want people going 'you know, that resolution was really emotionally satisfying! reminds me of that fic she wrote where optimus prime and megatron get stuck in a hole underground and hatefuck about it.'

I don't even like Transformers. That fic almost made me cry. Actually I suspect it reads better if you don't like Transformers because I'm sure it does not give a shit about canon.

Anyway, whoever pointed out that one of the things El has going on is she's Enoby (and we're going to sit down and explore what the true reason to put your middle finger up at preps is, and what are some constructive ways to channel that socioeconomic wrath, and what it means that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism) was right and I'm not entirely over that either.

Fucking love El's mom as a character. Spectacular level of parent relevance and usefulness. A+.

Aadhya and Liu are also characters who fucking delivered.

Re: minimalism though, I laughed at the start of The Golden Enclaves when I realized that none of the enclaver characters who'd gotten development in the the first two books were from London, the enclave El was theoretically shooting for when we met her.

#ask #hoc est meum #Anonymous #scholomance #my sister's biphobia made an appearance when i was reading the second book and tried to tell her about this thing i was enjoying #still mad at her about it #anyway though #good! #wish i could ask novik what she was thinking by making a single-cell abortion work as human sacrifice #like is it just because magic works on intent so if you think the newly fertilized egg #that you couldn't know about without magic #is 'your baby which you are killing' #then it is? #for purposes of hole in reality making? #or does this story have a spot where its politics sharply reverse and human life begins at conception #spoilers #scholomance spoilers #especially in the reblog #lakjfaldkfs seanan mcguire has granted this rambled Circulation oh dear

[penguicorns-are-cool]

some people from older generations act like gen z is gonna come in and save the day and like

first of all, you're already old enough to vote and do all the things you could make an effort too. That's not to say there are no older people making an effort but they're generally not the ones saying gen z will save the day

there are a lot of gen z white supremacists, and neo-nazis, and andrew tate fans, and trumpies, and tankies, and trad-wives, and TERFs. There have been for a while. Like I don't think some of you guys understand how much of an effect the internet pipelines have had on gen z

then, while I understand this misconception, there are not that many of us who are super interested in politics in activism. A lot of us are very exhausted by it all and will not participate nearly as much as you think. Like yes voter rates will probably follow the upward trend because that has been worked into us, but some of y'all are acting like once all the gen z kids are out of high school we're gonna succesfully organize the entire working class and succesfully organize large scale strikes and blackouts that shut down the economy, or that we're gonna somehow take over most of the seats in the government and magically fix all the institutional issues

and like, no, sorry to break it to you but that's not gonna happen

It's definitely gonna help when all of gen z is out of high school and the boomers are not the majority of all voters for the first time in forever, but it's not like the entire world is gonna magically become all rainbows and sparkles and everyone's gonna get super accepting just cause gen z is here to save the day. there will still be all sorts of extremism and discrimination, and a lot of it will be coming from gen z and I know that cause it is happening right now.

It also really sucks for us cause that's a lot of pressure that you've all been putting on us to fix the world and it's a pressure a lot of us have felt since we were quite young and it's really not helping. Like it's nice that you have faith in us but as a high schooler who's trying to get into college and is worrying about transitioning to adulthood and the cost of going to college rn, the pressure to fix the world is not helping at all so please just stop

#we've been talking about reproductive health in anatomy class #and every time gender and sexuality #or abortion comes up #our teacher starts waxing poetic #about how gen z will save the world #and make everything so much better #and it's been really annoying actually #anyway though #please stop doing this #gen z #save the world

[insomniacirl]

Guys help I physically can't look at JRWI stuff anywhere without throwing up and crying and falling in love with them all over again every single time

#Anyway though #Episode 110!!! #Need to go watch that now (: #Smile (: #JRWI #JRWI Riptide #The Riptide Pirates #FNC #Jay Ferin #Ava Ferin #Gillion Tidestrider #Edyn Tidestrider #Chip Bastard #Captain Lizzie #Siblings #Sibling angst #Their sibling angst gives me heartburn. #Also just their angst in general. #Give my boy his heart back fr !!

[william-snekspeare]

Howdy everyone! Sorry I’ve been kind of MIA. I’ve been really busy helping with the set designs for the Tony awards.

If anyone watches the Tonys tonight—my main shows I designed for were Paradise Square and SIX: the Musical!

#bragging a little bit I guess #I mostly just want some attention because it took… many hours of my life 🙏 #SIX was especially complicated to build. it’s a crazy light show #anyway though #not snakes #text only #Tonys #75th tony awards

[quil12]

I'm literally at the point where I have to give myself a mental slap on the wrist at the thought of starting a new fic lmao

#i have way too many going already #i need to finish some of them before doing more #but like... #i picked up this manga on a whim while i was at the bookstore #and its about this guy who basically becomes an indentured servant to these bakeneko #that basically means that theyre people who can transform into cats #but his dad was like obsessed with them and went into debt buying them a house and stuff #and then he died #so the mc basically just acts as their maid while they work to pay off the debt #its called im the catlords manservant #and like it sounds dumb but its good #i just bought volume 3 cause i want to read more #anyway though #after reading it my little gremlin brain was like 'you know who [insert name of character] reminds me of? Yu #Yu would enjoy being a bakeneko imo #so what if souyo?' #and thats what ive been thinking about lately #i have a whole plotline and everything #but i cant start working on it lmao #i cant do that to myself

[boy-above]

what is with peoples sudden disdain for vtuber designs lately? i've been seeing "it looks like a vtuber design" as a criticism or insult a lot recently and i don't get it. i've seen a lot of really cute vtubers with interesting designs. i think it's odd because vtubers can be just as varied and unique as any other character design. there's 2d ones, 3d ones, really simplistic cartoon ones, really detailed semi realistic ones. i don't know why it's considered an insult to be told your design looks like a vtuber

#i've been seeing that insult A LOT for a genshin character that leaked recently and i don't know why #which is funny because a lot of people also seem to dislike genshin character designs as well and i don't know why #besides the general lack of diversity regarding race and body type; that's something i have a problem with as well #but that doesn't automatically mean the designs are ugly or something like some people are insisting #idk i guess at least in terms of genshin im getting defensive over something inconsequential because i rly like the character designs lmao #ANYWAY though #marshal meows

[flythesail]

I feel like Andor poses a good question of "what exactly is fan service." Like they've been very adamant that Andor has none lol, and yet both weeks there's something where I'm pointing!! Omg hey!!

Maybe the mistake is thinking there's no overlap between "things a fan would like" and "things that make sense to be included in the story to give it further depth/just generally to be a good story." If you think of fan service as something being included to please the audience, isn't "a good story" that by default? Making fan service what, something unnecessary yet included anyway..?

It'd be weird if Andor could entirely stand on its own without reference to anything else. Impossible really, as it's literally a prequel to Rogue One.

#same thing with humor #it's not over the top but a dry humor and that's what makes it good!! #it has these elements just in a way that's appropriate for the story being told #but if you do compare it to other big franchise projects.. yeah andor is the odd one out #in a good way! #anyway though #tony gilroy rebelcaptain shipper confirmed #andor #flythepost

[hyperionshipping]

Btw im the #1 fan of cliches I need 2 write them more. Character confessing a thing and oh no the person who it's about walked in. Aaaah!!!! IM EATING IT UP!!!

#tricks rambles #anyway though

[william-austin]

HAPPY DAY OF BIRTH @thesquirrelqueer !!

idk I speedran drawing this because I was procrastinating after a nap but I needed to get my work done so 🤷‍♂️

HELP I JUST SAW YOUR POST I HAD THE BIRTHDAY CAKE ANS EVERYTHING 😭😭

#also don't mind the fact that I'm posting this on tumblr and instagram 😭 #okay its still the 21st while I'm writing this and I have music to write #😭 this was sitting in my drafts for a couple hours #can I also mention me trying to figure out your hair colour because- #omg #anyway though #have a good day of birth celebration ! #(I dont know why I call it that man-)

[crossdressingdeath]

Very important to me that all my "canon" DA protags have a Thing about big strong Qunari men.

#they'd all have a Thing about big strong qunari women if that was an option but alas thedas is APPARENTLY SHORT ON THOSE #BIOWARE. WHERE ARE MY BIG BUFF QUNARI LADIES TO FLIRT WITH AND LOVE AND MARRY #anyway though #sten and the arishok and bull are very good #dragon age

[seokwoosmole]

something tells me hanbin is preparing for a tour...

idk when

idk where pls say usa

but I feel like it's the final step in his global initiative project

and him releasing a lightstick...

I'm just getting those intuition tingles...

#while I personally think he can do anything in the world #I dont have a rounded enough grasp on his intl popularity in terms of a dedicated fanbase so would he be able to hold a solo concert? #or would it be with another artist? #maybe a cool opener? #or is he still at the stage where he would open? #I don't think it would happen but a lee hi x b.i tour would be SO COOL #their vibes are similar enough where both of their music would be enjoyed across the board #though im sure there's an overlap of fanbases too #not only that they have enough collabs together to take up some shared stage time #what is it now 4 songs? 3? #anyway though #it's unlikely but I can dream #b.i #Kim hanbin #hanbin

[urostakako]

2, 5, 11 (can be whatever fandom you like)

ty for the ask!!

2. Are there any popular fandom OTPs you only BroTP?*

i feel like for csm any otp anyone could ever have automatically becomes a brotp because i don't see anything romantic there lol. and for kny sabigiyuu, they were twelve year olds blowing raspberries idt anything was going on there

5. Has fandom ever ruined a pairing for you?*

jjk for satosugu lmao. also there's nothing really wrong with akiangel and I wouldn't say it's ruined but there's also not much in the story about them and it's annoying seeing like everything about them

11. Is there an unpopular character you like that the fandom doesn’t? Why?

i've said this before but rika, because she's awesome and it's not my fault that other people are too dumb to see it because they're so focused on their poor uwu baby yuuta :/ also i guess makima? i like her because i hate her lol she's a good antagonist

#rip i forgot everything ive ever watched ever #anyway though #snekpops <3 #ask game #aricouldyounot

[insomniacirl]

Fun Fantastic Mr Fox facts:

It's my all time favourite film

It's very much my childhood movie

/comfort movie

Me and my dad used to watch it together

The rest of my household didn't like it

Me and my siblings would get upset about not understanding why people work differently to us and my dad would use the Fantastic Mr Fox 'different' gesture to help describe it

"Still painting thunderstorms?"

Why do people never talk about that

I'm sure they will in time

And how Kylie's biggest fear is thunderstorms

And obviously it's just visually a stunning film

It's directed by Wes Anderson

Feel good music on a Walkman

"We're wild animals."

"Wish him luck boys."

"What a beautiful creature."

"Would you've told me if I didn't kill you first?" / "Never."

"Redemption? Sure. But in the end, he's just another dead rat in the garbage pail behind a Chinese restaurant."

"My suicide mission's been cancelled. We're replacing it with a go-for-broke rescue mission."

One of my all time favourite quotes lmao

#I could talk about this for hours #Anyway though

[rowanisanidiot33]

it feels like there’s such a lack of bipolar representation in the media ;-; so when i learn more abt it i’ve decided to explain my experience bc i am that cool B)

#bipolar #actually bipolar #and another thing i’m pretty sure bpd and bd aren’t the same thing but #people tag it that way #(i understand u can have both simeltaniously or however it’s spelled but) #(i mean when they put like all bpd tiktoks in a compilation marked bd) #am i overreacting- #am i wrong T^T #anyway though #manic #hypomanic #bipolar disorder #bd

[g0ttal0ve101]

you wake up to this wyd

#I’M CRYING SO LOUD RN 💀💀💀 #IT’S THE WAY THEY’RE STANDING I CANNOTTTT #THIS PICREW GIVES OUT AN EMOTION I CAN’T EVEN PROCESS #dw max is wearing socks so it’s not gay lmao #lamoalaoalalaooa #ANYWAY THOUGH #oc: lucian williams #oc: maximillian collin

[quil12]

I just got some of the Persona 4 Manga and I opened it and...

It's the boooyyys

#persona 4 #persona #souyo #i just got home from a night out doing karaoke #and i had a package when i came home and it was that #truly great #i dont think i have a voice anymore though #cause i was trying to talk to my cat and i was struggling #i sang things ill never say by avril lavigne #almost by bowling for soup with my friend #and then death of a bachelor by panic at the disco #but there was this guy who kept hitting on my friend even after she told him she had a partner #and apparently he thought her partner was me #which like #she is gorgeous and i am a lesbian #so i wasnt mad about #but man needed to fuck off #one of her guy friends told him to go #so that was good #anyway though #its the boyssss