I wouldn't have got it without the SCP Foundation series.

Anyone else read Scott Lynch's "The Lies of Locke Lamora"? by Laburnum on 2009-01-23 22:21:00 UTC Reply

Because I just finished it today and DEAR GOD IT'S AWESOME. Naturally there's not much fic for it, as always with stuff I like, but maybe that's a good thing. Anyone want to chat about the book? Please warn for spoilers if you've read the second book "Red Seas Under Red Skies", though, because I haven't. Must buy it ASAP.

Anyone else have a habit of finding undeservedly obscure books? I seem to keep finding stuff nobody in the circles I run in online has heard of. First Spellsinger, then Simon R Green's work, now this. Maybe we could make a big list of books we think other people should read, and we can go pick stuff off the list if we're bored or our parents are nagging us about what we want for our birthdays ...

And we could totally do a PPC version of the Gentlemen Bastards' "liar" drinking routine.

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And to avoid double-posting: New mission up! by Laburnum on 2009-01-24 16:42:00 UTC Reply

Part One of the sporking of a fic called "Hand Maidens", in which Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Draco Malfoy are dragged into a weird alternate universe by a Princess Sue and turned into beautiful handmaidens. Yeah.

http://chelonianmobile.livejournal.com/66420.html

Tee hee hee. by Maudlin Hart on 2009-01-26 12:27:00 UTC Reply

Doesn't brass, when worn next to the skin, discolor it to green or black?

Depends how much you sweat by The Trojanhorse on 2009-01-26 20:09:00 UTC Reply

But yes, generally brass (and electroplate-over-brass, if the electroplate is worn) will discolour your skin green if it's snug against your skin and you a) sweat a bit or b) have what the jeweller I talked to referred to as 'weird skin pH' (I haven't investigated yet to see if it IS a pH issue, so take that with a grain of salt) and, like me, cause every metal except gold to tarnish and leave colourful residues on your skin. I *used* to wear about half a pound of assorted metals on my wrists, until I realised that the amount of black and green on my skin made it look like I was a victim of domestic abuse. I also got through gallons of silver polish every month, trying in vain to keep my bangles actually silver, instead of grimy black.

-Trojie, apparently verbose today ...

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Looks like Ron will have to be taken to Medical ... by Laburnum on 2009-01-26 22:30:00 UTC Reply

... both to get the foetus removed and to get the green stuff scrubbed off him.

the poor boy by The Trojanhorse on 2009-01-26 22:31:00 UTC Reply

I find that ordinary soap isn't too effective for removing tarnish from skin, but Swarfega works quite nicely, if it helps ...

D'you like what we have so far of the mission? by Laburnum on 2009-01-27 00:08:00 UTC Reply

Without being too spoilery, it's going to set the foundation for a little bit of a longer storyline later in the OFUR year, so I want to get it right.

Speaking of getting it right, I have a potential joke based on Asian folklore and I don't know if it would come across as odd to use it. See, this mission is set pre-Macrovirus, so Makes-Things would still be around, and according to the Wiki he was born in Korea. Agent Drake is a vulpine shapeshifter from an anime continuum, therefore he is to all intents and purposes a kitsune. The Korean relative of the kitsune is the kumiho, which is axe-crazy evil and eats people. Drake is not any more evil than most assassins and does not eat non-Sue people, but the railgun might make people wonder about the "axe-crazy" bit. I was thinking of Makes-Things asking Drake if he's sure he's not a kumiho after Drake expresses some inclination towards violent behaviour. Does this sound okay?

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Haven't read the mission yet by The Trojanhorse on 2009-01-27 00:10:00 UTC Reply

But will when I get home from work.

The joke as you explain it would work, but without the explanation I wouldn't have got it. Some of the more anime-etc inclined agents might, though :)

I wouldn't have got it without the SCP Foundation series. by Laburnum on 2009-01-27 00:28:00 UTC Reply

Was reading them today - Google 'em if you like really scary stories. See, the internet does teach you stuff.

I will include an explanation in the fic, because S&S will be there too and they'd ask what he was talking about.

Not sure. I know copper does. by Laburnum on 2009-01-26 14:49:00 UTC Reply

Frankly that's the least of the agents' worries at this point, but I'll still go look it up.

Meh, it made Zotz crack up. by Maudlin Hart on 2009-01-27 16:23:00 UTC Reply

Me: Brass bra? Doesn't brass turn skin green?
Him: HAHAHAHAHA! So she would have green- (gestures)
Me: Yes. (snickers)
I love my costume jewelry, so I tend to have green fingers, wrists, and ankles.
It's still hilarious.

I'll get a reference in. Good for a gag. (nm) by Laburnum on 2009-01-27 17:31:00 UTC Reply

alas by Pads on 2009-01-24 02:55:00 UTC Reply

I haven't read it. Got an online link to it? Will read it if you can give me it.

Here's the author's site and the Amazon entry. by Laburnum on 2009-01-24 10:51:00 UTC Reply

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lies-Locke-Lamora-Gollancz-S-F/dp/0575079754/ref=sr11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232794094&sr=8-1

http://www.lockelamora.co.uk/

Nice complicated worldbuilding (though I admit I'd like to know why the Bondsmagi haven't seized more power than they have, what with being superpowerful and all ... ah well, suspension of disbelief), characters who are awesometastic without being too Stuish, lots of blood and gore and cussing. Fun all round.

Ooh, it's been a while... by Sara on 2009-01-24 02:53:00 UTC Reply

...but yes, must agree. Pure win. And "Red Seas Under Red Skies" is fantastic as well.

Hm...let me think... "East" by Edith Pattou is good, as well as the David Valentine series by an author whose name I can't remember off of the top of my head.