Head Cold and Other Broken Bits
Jan. 24th, 2012 11:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lydamorehouseI caught that thing that seems to be going around, the dreaded head cold. Luckily, it seems to be fairly mild. I took two nights off, crashed early, and that seems to have done something. I still have a stuffy, runny nose, but it doesn't seem to have gotten much worse than that.
I took advantage of being sick and laid in bed yesterday watching Aime. A friend from KSW suggested FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST when he heard that I was a fan of BLEACH. (Netflix had been agreeing with him for some time, I might add.) I can see how this show could be awesome, but I got to the episode called "Cry of the Chimera" and I had to stop. Ten years ago, I probably would have had no problem with the show, but things have happened to me since that make it impossible for me to deal with certain themes in literature/shows. I can no longer cope with the death of innocents. When little kids (and animals, I've discovered,) go splat, I'm out. As a bonus, in this episode, we get a two-fer, cute dog *and* cute girl get it. Ironically, one of the things that my friend said to recommend of this series is that I would get all the action of BLEACH, but "actually care for the characters." Alas, the opposite is true. The more "real" the violence (which, in this case, seemed a bit gratuitous to me), the less I trust, so the less I'm able to invest in the characters.
Ironically, I care a great deal about the characters in BLEACH precisely because they can be run through with a gigantic sword and they get up, wrap a couple of banages around themselves, and live to fight another day. Hell, we're even reassured that the Hollows don't die in that show, just get recycled into the Cosmic hourglass (except those killed by Quincies, of course.)
I can care about characters like those. The ones who make friends only to watch them get mutilated and then die (splat against the wall, no less,)... hmmmm, not so much.
I wish I wasn't broken like this, believe me. But the fact is, I am. I will have to find some other Anime to entertain me. (Luckily, BLEACH actually has not ended in Japan....)
Also, if people decide to start "reccing" things, let me tell you something else I've discovered about what I like in my Anime: I like semi-adults as main characters. I realize this cuts out a LARGE amount of Anime, but I can deal with the very manly 15 that Ichigo is supposed to be (especially since he looks 20.) Edward was supposed to be, what, 13? He looked 11. I often fantasize about BEING these heroes, so I prefer to be a near-adult if I have to be a teen at all.
I LOVE this whole spiritual stuff that was present in both BLEACH and FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST. A lot. So, Netflix and my friend weren't wrong about that one bit. More, more, more, please. The other commonality that I really liked about both? A corrupt government. Yeah, that's always an easy hook for me.
I don't mind the alternate universe/SF setting of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, but I ADORE the psuedo-ancient Japan of the Celestial City of BLEACH. Dudes wearing robes with swords.... yeah, that works for me.
Also, I think (no surprise to those who know me well) I like "boy" stories. Sword-play, fighting, magic, and boys/men. I wouldn't be adverse to trying some with women heroes, but right now I'm liking the way these stories get told because they tend to be about honor and justice (and being SURPRISINGLY adept at whatever skill is needed to make you awesome.)
:-)
In other news, my agent and I got the year-end report for the sales of RESURRECTION CODE. No surprise, my numbers sucked. I already knew from watching BookScan report on the book, no one has bought it much. (Yes, an e-book is supposed to be coming out sometime this year. I still don't know when.) Sigh.
I'm not surprised, however. As much as I hate to say this, I think the AngeLINK series ran its course some time ago. It doesn't surprise me that, nearly a decade later, there aren't a lot of people STILL hungering for more stories in this universe. Yes, you, my diehard fans, are to be commended and rewarded for still loving it (reward: more coming in the Gaylaxicon program guide!) Plus, I intentionally wrote it for my fans, and not for new readers. I think, too, it was a tough sell for the Mad Norwegians, since they don't do a lot of original fiction.
I probably could have done more to promote it, but, honestly, I don't know HOW. All the things that seem to be the best (getting readers to recommend it to others, what they call "viral" marketing) are magic. I can't ask someone to tell their friends how much they loved my book. It just has to happen.
I am still planning to have e-book versions of the original tetrology available (fingers crossed) in time for CONvergence. That gives me until July. So, I'm doing my best to continue make these books available.
It's just sort of depressing news. I do think, however, having a new science fiction book out, has helped me personally, tremendously. I don't think I'd have nearly as many invites to various SF conventions otherwise. So the project was worthwhile on that front.
I'm also trying to think about other science fictional things I could write. I ended up enjoying the background world of the short story "God Box" that I just sold to Dybbuk Press for the Biblical Horror anthology. I'm wondering if there isn't more there for me to mine.
So, there you go. Let the recommendations for Anime flow!
I took advantage of being sick and laid in bed yesterday watching Aime. A friend from KSW suggested FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST when he heard that I was a fan of BLEACH. (Netflix had been agreeing with him for some time, I might add.) I can see how this show could be awesome, but I got to the episode called "Cry of the Chimera" and I had to stop. Ten years ago, I probably would have had no problem with the show, but things have happened to me since that make it impossible for me to deal with certain themes in literature/shows. I can no longer cope with the death of innocents. When little kids (and animals, I've discovered,) go splat, I'm out. As a bonus, in this episode, we get a two-fer, cute dog *and* cute girl get it. Ironically, one of the things that my friend said to recommend of this series is that I would get all the action of BLEACH, but "actually care for the characters." Alas, the opposite is true. The more "real" the violence (which, in this case, seemed a bit gratuitous to me), the less I trust, so the less I'm able to invest in the characters.
Ironically, I care a great deal about the characters in BLEACH precisely because they can be run through with a gigantic sword and they get up, wrap a couple of banages around themselves, and live to fight another day. Hell, we're even reassured that the Hollows don't die in that show, just get recycled into the Cosmic hourglass (except those killed by Quincies, of course.)
I can care about characters like those. The ones who make friends only to watch them get mutilated and then die (splat against the wall, no less,)... hmmmm, not so much.
I wish I wasn't broken like this, believe me. But the fact is, I am. I will have to find some other Anime to entertain me. (Luckily, BLEACH actually has not ended in Japan....)
Also, if people decide to start "reccing" things, let me tell you something else I've discovered about what I like in my Anime: I like semi-adults as main characters. I realize this cuts out a LARGE amount of Anime, but I can deal with the very manly 15 that Ichigo is supposed to be (especially since he looks 20.) Edward was supposed to be, what, 13? He looked 11. I often fantasize about BEING these heroes, so I prefer to be a near-adult if I have to be a teen at all.
I LOVE this whole spiritual stuff that was present in both BLEACH and FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST. A lot. So, Netflix and my friend weren't wrong about that one bit. More, more, more, please. The other commonality that I really liked about both? A corrupt government. Yeah, that's always an easy hook for me.
I don't mind the alternate universe/SF setting of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, but I ADORE the psuedo-ancient Japan of the Celestial City of BLEACH. Dudes wearing robes with swords.... yeah, that works for me.
Also, I think (no surprise to those who know me well) I like "boy" stories. Sword-play, fighting, magic, and boys/men. I wouldn't be adverse to trying some with women heroes, but right now I'm liking the way these stories get told because they tend to be about honor and justice (and being SURPRISINGLY adept at whatever skill is needed to make you awesome.)
:-)
In other news, my agent and I got the year-end report for the sales of RESURRECTION CODE. No surprise, my numbers sucked. I already knew from watching BookScan report on the book, no one has bought it much. (Yes, an e-book is supposed to be coming out sometime this year. I still don't know when.) Sigh.
I'm not surprised, however. As much as I hate to say this, I think the AngeLINK series ran its course some time ago. It doesn't surprise me that, nearly a decade later, there aren't a lot of people STILL hungering for more stories in this universe. Yes, you, my diehard fans, are to be commended and rewarded for still loving it (reward: more coming in the Gaylaxicon program guide!) Plus, I intentionally wrote it for my fans, and not for new readers. I think, too, it was a tough sell for the Mad Norwegians, since they don't do a lot of original fiction.
I probably could have done more to promote it, but, honestly, I don't know HOW. All the things that seem to be the best (getting readers to recommend it to others, what they call "viral" marketing) are magic. I can't ask someone to tell their friends how much they loved my book. It just has to happen.
I am still planning to have e-book versions of the original tetrology available (fingers crossed) in time for CONvergence. That gives me until July. So, I'm doing my best to continue make these books available.
It's just sort of depressing news. I do think, however, having a new science fiction book out, has helped me personally, tremendously. I don't think I'd have nearly as many invites to various SF conventions otherwise. So the project was worthwhile on that front.
I'm also trying to think about other science fictional things I could write. I ended up enjoying the background world of the short story "God Box" that I just sold to Dybbuk Press for the Biblical Horror anthology. I'm wondering if there isn't more there for me to mine.
So, there you go. Let the recommendations for Anime flow!
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no subject
Date: 2012-01-24 06:18 pm (UTC)from the more 'recent' : Soul Eater - action/magic, teens are the main characters, hunting down demons, witches, etc.
Last Exile: teens/young adults, sort of steampunk/alternate world
old school: Ranma 1/2 - teens are the main characters, comedy, martial arts
and by recent I mean something that has never been on VHS.
... and I really enjoyed Resurrection Code.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-24 07:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-24 06:33 pm (UTC)Vision of Escaflowne might work -- it's my favorite of all time, still.
Naruto Shippuden -- people do die... but rarely, and not kids, and not splattery (the one death that sticks out most had basically the stylized blood from the mouth). Sometimes people die and then come back.
One Piece -- apparently NO ONE permanently dies in this series except people in flashbacks (that is, if Character A lost his parents at an early age, the parents are still dead, but if you see a bad guy hit with a collapsing mountain that then explodes in a Krakatoa-scale eruption, he'll show up again 150 episodes later).
no subject
Date: 2012-01-24 07:06 pm (UTC)And, thanks for the recs!
no subject
Date: 2012-01-24 07:29 pm (UTC)In FMA, secondary characters can die, the primaries won't -- although Things Will Look Grim For Our Heroes a lot. Most of the Cool or Lovable characters dying takes place earlier in the series; there are really two "Driving Deaths" of the series (both series): the little girl (and her dog), and Maes Hughes, who shows he's incredibly brilliant and badass for a normal human but has no idea what he's up against and gets killed because of that. But not without a fight, and not without having a lasting effect on the plot.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-24 09:32 pm (UTC)Nina (the girl) and Alexander (the dog)... I'm glad their deaths aren't as meaningless as it seems at the end of "Cry of the Chimera."
Like I said, I may go back to it. I can't say I'm not interested in the plot so far.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-24 09:39 pm (UTC)Nina and Alexander -- in both series -- are key motivators for everything Ed and Al do after that point.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-24 08:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-24 09:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-24 10:12 pm (UTC)GetBackers: Weird Tokyo, a mystical motherzone that's part real, part VR, characters with nifty superpowers and backstory out the wazoo, mysteries that need solving, and a polite madman with scalpels and a swishy hat. And -- heroes in their late teens, or something. High school+. ;)
In other news, thanks for the reminder re. Resurrection Code, I really need to get my arse in gear and buy it. I inhaled the others (thank-you-for-writing-them!), so I look forward to losing myself in that one, too.
And lastly, if you're into fanfic, here's an epic Bleach collab: http://incandescens.livejournal.com/750926.html
no subject
Date: 2012-01-25 05:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-25 06:57 am (UTC)"In a distant future, after cataclysm that wiped out much of the Earth's population, man has moved west, so to speak, living further out in the frontier of the solar system. But unfortunately, the justice system has yet to catch up to such a vast territory of space. This where bounty hunters like Spike, Jet, Fay, and Ed make a living, or at least try to. This cool quartet wonders through space looking for the next big bounty, all the while getting into one misadventure after the other with little money to show for it."
Amazing animation, story, and wonderful music. :D
(I'd give up on the original FMA and watch Brotherhood instead. Then you won't be dissappointed)
I've just found your blog a couple days ago and am excited to buy a copy of your newest AngeLink story. It's been so long since I first read them I may have to reread them. XD
no subject
Date: 2012-01-25 09:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-25 01:39 pm (UTC)(And if you resort to google, the genre you have described is "shounen," or "anime/manga marketed towards boys.")
Seirei no Moribito (Guardian of the Sacred Spirit) - main character = spearwoman named Balsa. She's trying to save lives to make up for the one's she's taken, and it looks like the last one is going to be a prince whose father wants him dead.
Rurouni Kenshin - an older series that goes on for ~200 episodes. Kenshin is a famous samurai who fought in a government uprising & killed lots of people. Now, he tries to atone for his sins and will only use the flat side of his blade. But when his friends are threatened, how will he defend them?! Etc. Bonus points for many characters being historical figures.
Code Geass - I put a big stipulation on this b/cc there is death & war and stuff, and not everyone gets to fight another day. BUT. Your like of "corrupt government" is what led me to rec this. Premise of the series is that Britannia has taken over the world. People in Japan are referred to as "Elevens" (they live in Area 11), there's a resistance movement against the government, a royal family, etc. It's basically piles of political intrigue, giant rollerblading robots, chess-like strategy, and an anti-hero.
Planetes - a favorite of many people. In the future, space debris is a problem, and picking it up is a job reserved for people at the bottom rung of the job ladder. But if space debris is left to float, it can damage ships & kill people, or fall to Earth & damage it. People have left the Earth because it's become uninhabitable. There are some anti-government storylines in here that are super interesting; overall, though, the characters are what make the plot most interesting, and the story examines socio-economic class pretty closely.
Witch Hunter Robin - I can't remember how violent this is, sorry. Witchcraft appears in people due to genes. Witch police hunt down the witches, and try to keep their existence secret from the larger public. The protagonist (a witch hunter) can start fires with her mind, though. INTRIGUE FOLLOWS.