Torchwood...

[erastes]

Three days to go....

From Firefox - a review of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang -

Finally, in James Marsters, the series has found a truly spectacular guest star. Swaggering out of the rift like an escapee from a glam-rock convention, his Captain John is Jack with no moral compunctions, an utterly charming, utterly ruthless sociopath who is more concerned with keeping himself amused than doing the right thing. He sparks off every team member fantastically well (The confrontation between him and Ianto is a particular standout) and his cocky, swaggering delivery really helps with the episode's breakneck pace. Chibnall has said that John is something of a statement of intent for the series and based on this appearance, that bodes very well for the future.

Hubba hubba....

Swordspoint!

 

I loved it loved it loved it! Questions under the cut if you have read it. 

 

It was probably far too clever for me, and far too clever for the way I read it (rushing through it like a maniac) - and it proves how much I liked it because I am going to start reading it again tonight, nice and slowly, now that the secret of Alec is revealed and I can see the inferences here and there and work out what the bloody hell everyone else is up to.

 

I love a good political twisty twisty tale!  I appreciated the non-magic of the book, too. I understand that one or both of the sequels have more magic in them, so I may not bother with them.  If I have any quibbles it was that there were certain aspects that we didn't see enough of - I would have liked even more of the power struggle that was going on, would liked to have seen more of how the structure of the world was arranged and seen more of Diana particularly.

 

I also found Michael's persona a bit wasted - was he just Ferris's replacement?  Kushner seemed to spend a lot of time building up his part, only to shuffle him off to the Wool place and have him seemingly happy in commerce. I thought that he and Richard were going to meet up or something - the story seemed to be very much heading in that direction but it sort of fizzled out.

 

Perfect ending (if a LITTLE bit "Sam Gamgee-ish" sort of "Well, I'm back.")  I guess 20 years ago means "no sex" :)

 

And of course, like all good books leaves me crying for more. I read Red-Cloak and The Swordsman whose name was not Death and enjoyed again the rapport that Richard and Alec had, and the way they have of almost non-communication and the way they tease each other. I loved particularly the "I'm only loved for my sword" joke - it gave a real feeling of affection between them both.  I'd LOVE to have read the story of how they met but I guess that's what fanfic is for.

 

So, what about the other books? Should I try them? Will I be dissapointed for the lack of the boys?

 

In other news, I've been buying books!  Namely: The Loom of Youth, Hindoo Holiday, The Mask of Apollo and A Single Man (by Waugh, Ackerley, Renault and Isherwood respectively)  also something which could be amusing called erotic tales of Templar Knights of which I don't hold out much hopes of literary merit, but I might be pleasantly surprised.  I'm just happy to keep finding new gay historicals.