genficathon, exercise, Falco

[deralte]

For a series I still have slight problems with, I'm reading through the Falco series by Lindsey Davis awfully fast. Must take time out soon and actually work on dissertation beyond reading a few articles on cannibalism.

Exercised today. Judging by the way even my fingers are aching atm, I probably went too far.

I should mention that there's still a lot of undone challenges for saeva's Genficathon here and if you had a fic in there, or haven't recieved your challenge, or simply want to pick up an orphaned challenge, it's the place to go:)

Comments

[casfic.livejournal.com]

So what do you think of Falco?

[deralte.livejournal.com]

Well, now that I've settled into the series (I'm in the middle of Poseidon's Gold) I'm quite fond of him, even if I spend half my time wondering how Helena puts up with him. I'm somewhat frustrated by the limited pov of the story, but not as frustrated as I was by the Hornblower series. Davis' characerizations and descriptions are nicely done and I've yet to spot a historical mistake (not even when Falco's in Celtic areas, which are my specialty in this time period). One thing that continues to annoy me is when the flow of the story is broken up to acknowledge future events like Pompeii, or the way you're told that the day was going to be very bad more often than not, then she goes on to show you how bad the day was. Uncessary and annoying really...

I think the things that bothered me about Falco (how his prediction of bad things always, always came true and the really random spell in the mines in the first book(character building, but also unnecessary in many ways...) He's not a gary stu, but things do work out for him way too often and I can usually guess how. He does have a number of flaws, though what served to convince me the most of his humanity is his continued failure with Helena and communication (although he is getting better at this point), even if Helena does seem to convienently turn up right where Falco ends up having to go, time and again. Helena also has even more character than he gives her credit for, since I'd never have put up with him or his life.

[casfic.livejournal.com]

I had a look at Davis' website and she admits that when she wrote the Silver Pigs she thought Helena was going to turn out to be the bad guy. I think it was her first novel, so she's developed a lot since then. I liked them from the start, but they do get better, although we knew that some things are never going to happen, like Vespasian actually paying Falco all the money he owes. In recent novels she's been back in Britain, with a visit to Fishburne palace, and another to the stews of Roman London.

[deralte.livejournal.com]

I figured Silver Pigs was her first novel, and that's basically why I read more since they could only get better or much worse. Luckily, they got better:) Her characterizations are more solid and defined and she's decided a few things (like Falco thinks Geminus might be his father in Venus in Copper, but then is quite sure he id in the later books which is a bit different... I'm far too nitpicky.) I'll look forward to him being back in Britain again (even if I get the impression someone will have to kidnap him to get him there again), though I have a ways to go:)

[scionofgrace.livejournal.com]

You have an MST3K icon! Rock!

"Wow, these guys make the Chicken-men of Krankor look superconfident and dignified."

[deralte.livejournal.com]

If you check out dirk_digital's website he has loads of them:)

Such a lovely show.

[tritoneclarinet.livejournal.com]

Sigh... I miss that show.

Hi, I drifted in from reading your Uric series and I've found myself hopelessly stuck, so I friended you. I hope you don't mind.

[deralte.livejournal.com]

No worries:)