Oh for crying out loud!

[nineveh_uk]

“He had once owned the finest lyric soprano in Europe” does not refer to Peter Wimsey’s having been a particularly gifted boy treble. Not even as a pun.

Meanwhile, the WIP is still being recalcitrant. Fine, Troy, if you don’t want to be snogged senseless by Mr Scotland Yard 1938, back in the queue you go. I have therefore started proper work on the infamous Wimsey/Potterverse Mpreg, though don’t expect it any time soon. For one thing, it may take me a little while to recover from the horrors of the research.

Still a few of the prompt-based drabbles to go, but nearly there. This prompted me to think (via circuitous neural pathways) first how much Thrones, Dominations might be improved by zombies, and then how much Thrones, Dominations might be improved by almost anything.

For example, from p. 305:

‘All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well,’ said Peter, returning to her half-an-hour later. ‘You were quite right, Harriet; it is surprisingly easy to solve things by a little straight talking between intelligent adults if one can only throw off the shackles of tradition. Bunter has agreed not to get married and to stay, and I have agreed to the occasional threesome.’

Finally, George Galloway praised in traditional Bedouin verse (and remarkable Grauniad spelling):

George the intrepid, that symbol of pluck

Comments

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Don't. Really. All the good bits are recycled, and, oh, it's just naff.

[aunty_marion]

I read both of them as, essentially, fanfic. They're pretty good as pastiches of the original stuff. (It's rather like reading some of the Star Trek published schlock that's out there, and contrasting it with some of the good stuff by Diane Duane or John M Ford.)

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I have tried the reading fanfic ploy, but can't pull it off - they have an official status that makes me get out the scalpel!

I do think that parts of T,D are well done - specifically the mystery plot. But I'd so much rather the Estate had chosen to release the manuscript than have a continuation done. Also, I disagree with a lot of the choices JPW made with the MS (of which I have read most, but not every page in detail). Why miss out Gerald sizing up Harriet at dinner (and confirmation that she is indeed a bit flat-chested), Harriet's grilling on Peter on why he didn't just apply himself to getting her into bed, a more interesting Lady Severn and Thames, and so on. And I just dont' think she really 'gets' Peter and Harriet. Presumption just magnifies these flaws, and reads rather too like a historical novel. Also, in both cases there is a problem with the murder, in that whilst I don't quite agree with whoever it was who said of Sayers that "the murder is anciliary to the purpose", all the books have much bigger themes than catching the murderer, and in neither continuation does this happen.

[bronze_ribbons.insanejournal.com (from livejournal.com)]

Why miss out Gerald sizing up Harriet at dinner (and confirmation that she is indeed a bit flat-chested)

*perks up*

Harriet's grilling on Peter on why he didn't just apply himself to getting her into bed

*twitches*

a more interesting Lady Severn and Thames

DAMMIT. *starts working out logistics of making a side-trip to Wheaton*

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Wheaton itself was fascinating in an anthropological sort of way (and also indeed in a natural history way, given that I saw chipmunks and fireflies and American robins) and a bit scary, but the staff in the Wade Centre were lovely and helpful, and if you find yourself in the vicinity (work trip to Chicago...?) I'd definitely recommend it.

[bronze_ribbons.insanejournal.com (from livejournal.com)]

I have tried the reading fanfic ploy, but can't pull it off

Likewise. The official status wouldn't faze me, but I seem to recall finding Presumption!Harriet unforgivably insipid.