Apropos - Rowlings Plans

[erastes]

Well, I've just finished the three books of Apropos by Peter David - "Sir Apropos of Nothing", "Woad to Wuin" and "Tong Lashing" and those of you who know me, and know the books will know how delighted I was with the last chapter of Tong Lashing and at the same time how very dissapointed.

Look - it's Apropos, I wasn't expecting the big Happy Ever After, but ....

I can't turn into hypocritical Erastes here. I can't say that I want my medieval fantasy hero to be accepting and liberal of homosexuality, because it's bloody unlikely and I was the one who said they want characters with believable mind-sets. David sets up a "smoking gun" in the first section of the book when Apropos meets the gay warriors and he clearly says how much it creeps him out and how he considers them an abomination. As usual, David lulls you into a false sense of security, and we smile quietly at The Gay Mousser and his boyfriend, even if we are more accepting of them (and secretly wanting Apropos to see them shagging)

I realised early on that Veruh Wang Ho wasn't all she appeared to be - after all, Apropos had kept saying that any woman he got involved with was either a loony, a betrayer and not what she appeared to be, and Entipy, the Lady Kate and the princess bear that out, I didn't expect Ho to be any different.

However David completely surprised me, and I suppose it wasn't until that point that I stopped reading them as pulp books and realised just how talented a writer he was. Ho IS the love of Apropos' life, once more Fate sideswipes Apropos and hands him the biggest irony of all, that his love, his soulmate is a man.

Oh Apropos. I could cry for you, really. I understand completely why you did what you did - you were under so much stress, had endured so much pain. You'd learned what it was like to care more about others than yourself (although you'd always known, even if you'd buried it deep) you had seen things which were enough to break the strongest and then finally, life gives you the love of your life and it's the biggest irony of all.

But I admit to holding my breath and hoping that it was all a dream and that you hadn't gone Hiroshama on their arses. I so wanted you to be happy, Apropos, and I like to think that if you'd given Veruh a chance you could have been (the sex was the best you've ever had, even you admitted that) - but you are a unique creation and I know deep down that you could never be, no matter what. In the end, you truly gained the title you'd been given, and you so didn't deserve it. I don't know if I want more of you, or not.

Thank you Peter David, I skimmed through these books and enjoyed them on a surface level, and will now read again slowly to take in the scathing introspection on the human condition. Apropos will stay with me forever and I think he's up there in the top three of fantasy characters with Lazarus Long and Sam Vimes.

Bravo.

And spotted on darklocket's LJ the (unsurprising) news that Rowling will be releasing all sorts of background stuff after she finishes the series. I knew she would, although perhaps she'll do them for charidee - i hope.

What concerns me is that - as always seems to happen when she releases any backstory or information (Bill's birthday/age anyone?) she gets is WRONG a lot of the time and ends up making it worse creating more inconsistencies and plot holes than were there in the first place (and that's saying something) I WILL be buying the last book - I'm a completer when it comes to series' of books (I have - to my shame - every single Dune book ....) but I WILL be sporking it, if it deserves it (and after HBP I can't imagine that it will be any better) and I WON'T be buying any of the Expansion Packs.

Perhaps Rowling should take a leaf from Apropos' book - literally. Now that I could support wholeheartedly.

Talking of HBP Sporks - have you read THIS GREAT SPORKING? It's very American and a bit slangy but very very VERY funny.

Comments

[ejab62.livejournal.com]

Enjoyed the sproking - the Fun Facts were quite hilarious. He *does* has a point, though. *g*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I died laughing at the bear!

[semioticwarrior.livejournal.com]

You always have the most interesting book recs. Despite the spoilers, I'm going to give these books a try.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Your icon is very apposite. And yes, they are very good books, I started reading them as fantasy parody, and they are, but they go as deep as you want them to, and you'll love/hate Apropos and feel the same for him as he does about himself. One of the best Anti-heroes around for my money.

[tammylee.livejournal.com]

Hahah! Excellent spork!
I may have to try your book rec out. *adds to wishlist*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

well he's not everyone's taste, but I can't help but like him, I like self serving bastards.

*G*

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Re: Apropos.. I tried reading the first of that series, I really did--a good pun will always get my attention--but he was such a tedious SOB I just gave up. And from what you've said.. no regrets, either. I'm awfully tired of characters who can't live up to their potential, but always sink below it. That may be one possibility of human nature--it's not the whole of it.

Re the Mike Smith site, I'd have thought more of him if he didn't spend so much time explaining why he had to read a book he hated. Poooor baby. But the snarking was funny, once he got into it. I've always read that book title as "Half-Baked Prince" with the mental image of the Artist Formerly Known As, so it's always been tough to take it seriously.

I particularly liked the bear.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

He doesn't improve, in fact he gets steadily worse, but that's what I like about him, he's Rincewind's darker brother!