random thoughts

trying to write more is an interesting thing. generally speaking most writing isn’t particularly interesting or meaningful. “writing more” is usually a means to an end. that end being writing that you actually (and actively) care about. it’s a muscle. muscles need to be worked, so here i am, working out while i’m sick.

i just finished a set of four sci-fi noir detective novels by catherine asaro. they star major bhaajan, who has every single trope you can think of all layered together into a pulpy wonderland that mixes science reality with science fantasy, and yeah i guess that’s what you call science fiction. i started with the 4th book in the series, yeah ⁴⁄₄ and after finishing it decided more was on the docket. a few months later and i’m through every single one. i came away, not really sure how i felt about them overall. i mean there has to be something to be said for racing my way through the whole series. as soon as i finished one, i loaded the next up on my xteink (shoutout to baen books for their drm free library). they were good. not genre-defining, or mind-blowing (although i will concede the mysteries got more and more intricate with every book). just good. and i loved it.

one thing that gets lost in our constant need to have a take online is that things are allowed to just be good. there are so many ⁷⁄₁₀ video games that people adore while others wouldn’t spend any time with. i don’t know that if someone else loaded up undercity they would stick with it. they might be put off by its lack of subtlety, or by reading the phrase “barbarian warrior goddess” for the 50th time. but as i read, i warmed up to these staples of the series. it was almost comfort food by the end. and my reward for gaining that familiarity was a romp of 4 mysteries and a science lesson here or there. this doesn’t even take into account how well her work transported me into a world i will never know. subtlety be damned.

throughout my life experiencing other’s media, i’m constantly reminded of the classic line from [title of show]: “i’d rather be nine people’s favorite thing, than a hundred people’s ninth favorite thing.”. the major bhaajan series may not be my favorite but if someone asked me, i would say it’s one of my favorite things.

now reading: the twelve chairs