Rants & Raves of Jasmine's Fiction

Shiny Superheroes

When it comes to the world of shiny superheroes (and supervillains), I'm a huge fan.  It’s true that some purist out there will think that I'm full of shit because I don't collect 1^st editions and use gloves and tweezers to handle my glossies, but heck, I love comic books.

Yep.  I love comic books.  Or if you really want to be PC; Graphic Novels.   (Fine, I know that as a girl I'm not supposed to like these things but to heck with social norms.)  There's just something about the uniformity, the layout, and all those sleek designs on glossy paper.  Not to mention how art and words fuse in perfect harmony into wonderful stories – so be it 30 years past or 30 years hence, we will (still) be enjoying comic books.  Sorry, Graphic Novels.

Seriously.  How else could we possibly fall in love with blind homicidal vigilantes (Daredevil); orphaned billionaire womanisers with genius intellects that spends all their free time when not fighting crime and indulging in their vices inventing cool stuff (Batman & Iron Man) and geeky nerds accidentally bestowed with apocalyptic powers trying desperately to cope with life (Spiderman & Hulk)?  How else can everyone in those imaginary worlds be perfectly built (ripped muscles, perfectly formed limbs, gorgeous faces and other uh, assets) and how else can super twisted evil geniuses take over the world?

And lkets face it.  Without comics graphic novels where would-Hollywood-find ideas on what movies to make?  Just Marvel Comics alone have spawned several blockbusters – Blade, Spiderman, X-Men (trilogies); Fantastic 4, Hulk, Punisher (duologies); Daredevil, Elektra, Ghost Rider, and the new and upcoming Iron Man.   DC Comics gave us Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Batman, (and the rest of the Justice League), V For Vendetta, Constantine, Teen Titans, Catwoman, League of Extraordinary Gentleman and Road To Perdition. 

I don't even have to mention (but I will) Frank Miller's fantastic artwork in his stories like 300 and-Sin-City-and his Robocop and Dark Knight. 

And please don't tell me that comics are only for kids!  If you feel that way, go do yourself a favour and go pick up the original 300 and you tell me if you will let your kids read stuff like that.  If that's too much for you, you can ask my mother to lend you her Modesty Blaise series.  :D  Its definitely lighter fare than a lot of the Dark Horse Comics stuff but its still geared towards adults. 

Of course its true that comics started out as child entertainment (back in the days before we had colour TV and iPods and X-Boxes) and there are many 'kiddie' comics that I still enjoy till today like Richie Rich, MAD, Beeno, Archie, Asterix & Obelix and the more family oriented ones like Zits, Pickles, Calvin & Hobbs , Peanuts, Garfield etc.  But for me, nothing quite beats the shiny superheroes & evil supervillains.

I recently rediscovered my interest for billionaire industrialist alcoholic womanising inventor Tony Stark or better known as The Invincible Iron

Man.

  In the light of all the recent hype over Superman and Batman, I forgot what the Avengers use to be like for me when I was little with Captain America leading the fore with his shield against BlackWidow from the Cold War, the caustic S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury and of course, the mysterious Iron Man in his power suit.

So last month when my hubby brought back home the Ultimate Avengers, (re-imagined to fit today's society, technology, mindset and scenarios) I devoured both DVDs like I was 8 years old again with my first glossy copy of Captain America & The Mighty Avengers.  And just last weekend I managed to find some time to watch the animated version of The Invincible Iron Man (vs. my favourite villain, The Mandarin).

What's not to like about him?  Aside from the womanising alcoholic part.  And the arrogant, disrespectful, egotistical part.  And the single minded industrialist part.  And the weapons maker part.  And the slightly psychotic, mommy attachment issues part.

Flawed superheroes that are actually human intrigue me more than the super meta humans / mutants / aliens etc.  Why?  Because I feel that flawed humans not only have to battle evil villains but their own demons as well.  And Tony Stark has to be one of the most flawed of superheroes. 

Orphaned at a young age when his parents died from faulty brakes in a car accident, the young 15 year old MIT Electrical Engineering grad's first project upon inheriting Stark Enterprises was to buy off that car company and fix the faulty problem.  Fast forward several years and he's off-in-Afghanistan-to-introduce his new missile design when the air force unit he is travelling with is ambushed and he is taken hostage with a serious injury – shrapnel lodged in his heart.

Forced to build weapons for the enemy, he instead, builds himself a bulletproof power suit complete with pacemaker, artificial heart and flamethrowers and uses it to escape and once he's back home, he advances the design to include jet propelled flight abilities and a MASSIVE arsenal of weaponry AND, he paints it red and gold.  PRETTY!  He’s my kind of superhero – flawed, inventive, with no superhuman abilities to speak of but he can hold his own, with change to spare.

And I guess I really like Tony Stark because in all the comics and animations he looks like the sexiest man alive:  Oded Fehr. PHWARRR.  Unfortunately, in the new upcoming Iron Man movie (summer 2008), Robert Downey Jr. will be playing him. :D  Small consolations.

So now, while I await with bated breath for my hero to appear on the silver screen, I’m going back to my glossies. And my oogling of the sexiest man alive.  Enjoy folks!

The Wheel Of Life Turns Again

Constantly, consistently renewed; endless in the threads the Maker has created for us.  I know it has been a long while since my last post – I just haven’t had the time or the subject to commit anything down here until now.

Dear readers, it is with deep sadness that I pull myself out of my everyday madness to bring you this news. Some of you may feel unaffected by it as you may not be familiar with this man’s epic work but this is for those of you who have been touched by his words and shared his world.

Two days ago, the man named James Oliver Rigney Jr. or better known as Robert Jordan, author of the Wheel Of Time series; lost his long and agonising battle to a heart condition.

It seems only yesterday when I first spied Eye of The World on my dorm mate’s shelf and I asked him about it. Promptly handing me the book my mate said only 3 words - “It’s really awesome!” 

And like a hungry wolf in the midst of lambs, I devoured all 7 books that were written at the time and eagerly awaited for more.  (11 books have been published at this date, and the 12^th remains unfinished)  The imprint that his words and ideas left on me will remain with me forever.

The seals that hold back night shall weaken,
    and in the heart of winter shall winter's heart be born
    amid the wailing of lamentations and the gnashing of teeth,
    for winter's heart shall ride a black horse,
    and the name of it is Death.

- from The Karaethon Cycle:
The Prophecies of the Dragon – Winter’s Heart (book 9)

Robert Jordan, I alongside your family, friends and the millions of fans around the world, will mourn the loss of your genius, creativity and talent. May your legacy forever immortalise you.  And in your own words, ‘may you shelter in the palm of the Creator’s hand, and may the last embrace of the mother welcome you home’.

The Balance

I just finished reading through the first book of Sergey Lukyanenko’s fantasy horror tetralogy (meaning 4 books) Ночной дозор.  And I’m a little mind f**ked right now.  His philosophy is so twisted it boggles my puny little mind.  And as much as I love his writings (I’m tearing through the 2^nd book Дневной дозор now) I feel the need to curl up into a little ball in a corner somewhere and let it all sink in.

Anyway, before I get really deep into the twisty bits here’s the storyline in a general overview:

For as long as humanity existed, there have been ‘Others’ among us.  Magic users, shapeshifters, undeads; all soldiers in the eternal struggle between Light & Darkness.

The Light protects all, the Darkness destroys all.  So for many millennia both side waged their war, using any means necessary to achieve victory before the realisation that if the war was to continue, neither side would survive.

So a Grand Treaty was struck between the leaders of the two parties, making a set of laws to govern the way all Others use their powers.  And to uphold this truce, the Soldiers of Light created the Night Watch and The Soldiers of Darkness created the Day Watch to ensure that neither side would violate the Treaty.

And so thus the Balance is created.  And this is where my mind gets a little scrambled.  You see, as a Soldier of Light, you can’t just simply compel people into becoming saints and doing good whenever you feel like it.  As a Warrior of Darkness, you can’t just rampage as you please, consuming everything in your path and sowing hate and despair.

The Treaty states that no one can be forced to do good or evil; people must be allowed to choose freely for themselves.  So for each good deed a Light Other does, it allows a Dark Other to destroy something in return.  And vice versa.  The Balance must always be kept in check.

So imagine a world where you have the ability (saying that you’re a Light Other) to cure a village suffering from the Plague.  You do just that but it was unsanctioned, and in order to keep the balance, you will be arrested by the Day Watch and put to trial which will ultimately end in your permanent termination.  Then in order to ‘fix’ your little tip or power in favour of the Light, the demons of Darkness will kill/eat/ the same amount of innocent people that you saved.  And it would be justified by both parties.

The duality of things really caught me – its-Newton-’s-law at its most basic:  Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.  The simplicity of this philosophy is what makes Lukyanenko’s writing so compelling, and so freaking complex!  And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  That’s not even the main story yet!

Reading the Ночной дозор kinda made me feel like I was watching The Matrix for the first time – all the “What If” possibilities.  And it freaks me out.  Not to mention this book makes me wanna learn to seriously read Cyrillic/Russian so I can read it in its original language.

I’d write more but I’m too busy finishing off Дневной дозор now. Dasvedanya!

Blood & Chocolate

The girl wipes the sweat off her brow as she steps back after fastening the last buckle in place.  Admiring her handiwork she brushes a tuft of damp red hair off her face as she unfurls her pack of tools.  Dangling like a limp puppet from the rafters above was her comatose quarry.  An evil smile creeps onto her face as she selects a small scalpel.

Looking up at the would-be thief, her smile stretches.  Her free hand trails along the long wooden table till it reaches a box of chocolates. Selecting one at random, she delicately bites into the confection, savouring the contrasting flavours of the bitter chocolate and sweet caramel filling.  Licking her fingers she picks up a bottle of smelling salts and waves it under the nose of her bound victim.

The intruder jerks his head back as the foul odour unceremoniously rips him back to awareness.  Blinking hard he shakes his head to clear it.  Surveying the room, his expression changes first from confusion to panic; and then to anger as his discovers that he is bound, stripped and helpless.

She watches him in amusement as she sucks the remains of the first piece of chocolate from her fingers.  Did you find what you were looking for; she asks him sweetly.  He answers her with an ugly snarl.

She tsks benignly as she drags the blunt end of the scalpel across his bare skin.  Is that any way to talk to a lady; she chides him.  He could do nothing but glare impotently at her, willing himself not to flinch at the touch of the cold steel on his naked body.

You picked the wrong house to break into you know; she continues, all the while tracing little patterns on his skin.  Unless of course THAT is what you came for; her sentence trails off.  He remained impassive but small beads of sweat forms on his exposed skin as her knife came to rest on his lower abdomen.

Now what shall I do with you and your sparkling company; she asks as her expression changes to mock thoughtfulness.  I will not be a very good host for my guest of honour if I don’t at least try for some festive entertainment.  And oh, where are my manners now; she covers her mouth with her hand in a scandalised parody.  Picking up the almost new box of chocolates she kindly offers him a piece, ignoring the fact that he was bound and dangling from her ceiling. 

You don’t like chocolates; she frowns at his unresponsive form.  No matter, more for me then; she indifferently returns the box to the table.  You know, chocolates have this wonderful chemical in them called endorphins, and it makes people happy; she prattles cheerfully.  Picking up another piece of chocolate she looks up into his eyes.  You know what else makes me happy aside from chocolates; she asks him expectantly.  When no answer was forthcoming, she smiles beatifically and pops the truffle into her mouth.  Blood; she says.  There is nothing quite like the smell and taste of blood and chocolate.

With that she turns the knife that was resting on his lower left abdomen carefully.  With calculated precision, the blade slowly punctures his skin.  An involuntary gasp escaped the thief’s mouth as she expertly guides the sharp edge to part his skin in the shape of a large triangle about the size of a hand span.

A small trickle of crimson fluid starts to ooze from the shallow cut.  Oh, my; she exclaims without taking her eyes off the wound.  Dipping her head slightly, she seductively drags her tongue across the triangular incision, pausing to kiss the area clean.  The slight sting of her chocolate stained saliva did not even register to the thief but his body struggled against his bonds to recoil at the contact of her mouth.

Get off me you filthy animal; he screams in revulsion.  Frowning, she scowls darkly up at him.  Filthy you say; her voice betraying her anger cracks slightly.  Nay, I’d think not.  It is people like you who should have the honour of that title.  Filthy indeed; she spits out the word like it was rancid.

Snatching up another piece of chocolate, she chews viciously on it before moving back to the triangular patch of incised skin.  Choosing another knife much like a spatula, she maliciously gouges out a corner of his epidermis and with a single yank; she rips it clean off his muscles.  Ignoring his agonised screams and the intoxicating smell of fresh blood as it spills out on her fingers and onto the floor; she drops the spatula and picks up the scalpel again.

Not bothering to clean her hands or to dispose the piece of skin, she makes another selection from the box.  Using his detached flesh like a handkerchief, she uses it to pick up a square of chocolate. Greedily, she puts the entire lot into her mouth, devouring everything, sucking her fingers clean at the end.  Shuddering in pleasure at the taste, she turns back to her whimpering guest.

Rot in hell, filthy demon spawn; he valiantly coughs out between rasping gasps.  Frowning again, she purses up her lips.  I’ve told you not to use that word; she scolds him like one would scold a misbehaving child.  But seeing that the lesson was not learnt we shall have to try again; she says.  Moving the knife higher up on his torso till she reached his sternum she then cuts in another triangle all the way to his clavicles.

Digging in deep, she takes care to engrave the lines in his breastbone and ribs.  The pain proved too much for the thief and he passes out from the shock.  Nonplussed she seizes the bottle of smelling salts and revives him.  No my sweet, it won’t do for you to be daydreaming; she tells him firmly as he comes to.

Go to hell; he curses her again, his voice weak from the pain.  A smirk curls at the corner of her mouth.  Leaning close to him she runs her tongue along the edge of the new incision, licking up the bright red rivulets.  In the corner of her eye she observes him in amusement as he trashes uselessly, her tongue seemingly giving him more discomfort than her blade.

Get away from me; he almost shrieks in desperation.  Laughing, she taunts him.  Are you not enjoying my hospitality?  Or perhaps you’d prefer me to venture a bit lower; her voice was husky as she seductively slides her hand down to fondle his naked crotch.

I’d rather die; he spat vehemently.  Narrowing her eyes, she takes her hand away from him.  That can be arranged; she shot back.  Dropping the scalpel she picks up the spatula again.  Starting from the bottom of the triangle, she peels the corner patch of skin upwards slowly.  His howls of agony echo throughout the room and she closes her eyes in enjoyment.

Reaching over to the almost empty box of chocolates she chooses one from the two remaining pieces.  Sulking petulantly at the final confection nestled in the pretty container she looks up at him.  My last two pieces; she tells him sadly.  That means I will have to speed things up.  I should have gotten a bigger box had I known you were going to be this much fun.

Placing the second last piece between her teeth but not chewing on it, she grips the torn corner of skin from his midsection between her thumb and forefinger.  Applying even pressure, she slowly and cleanly peels off the sectioned off patch of skin as his screams grew to a crescendo before dying off as his senses shut down in self defence.

It was only when she had the entire piece of skin in her hands that she began to feast on the chocolate that was already in her mouth.  Moving quickly as his blood was dripping down onto the floor in alarming amounts; she revives him one last time with the smelling salts.

Shivering violently from his rapidly draining body fluids, he was barely lucid at this point.  However, she made him watch as she stuffed his skin into her mouth as she made a meal of his flesh and blood.  Patience, my sweet, we are almost there; she tell him soothingly between mouthfuls.  At her last swallow she waits as he gasps wordlessly for a while before finally whispering to her; finish it you filthy animal. 

With practiced speed she removes her clothes and drops them into a pile on the bloodied floor.  Picking up the last piece of chocolate she looks him in the eye.  Oh I fully intend to finish it; she says.

Sliding the chocolate between her lips, she steps closer.  His eyes widens at the sight of his naked tormentor’s body as she mutates before him into a very large and carnivorous animal ‘Canis lupus’.  Snarling rabidly in hunger, the snow white wolf circles him once and the last thing that he ever saw was a white blur lurching for his throat.

Author’s note:  I was at a loss on what to write for my blog when I had this dream that practically begged to be written.  I hope you enjoyed this.  I did immensely.  Maybe someday I will turn it into a full fledged story but for now, that’s just about all the violence I can handle for the day.  Kudos and brickbats are all welcome to the usual address.  :)

Bookwormy

I in a bit of a writing dry spell recently, be it blogs or my short sexies or even trying to finish editing my unfinished works.  This is mostly due to the fact that I have been on a mad reading binge and I’m currently finishing up 4 different books simultaneously.  While I don’t claim to be (that) well read and my taste in books presently happens to be quite firmly in the Fantasy genre (you know - magic, swashbuckling, elves, faeries & dragons?) but you know what?  We all need a little bit of magic in our lives so here we go.

The 1^st of these novels is the 2^nd book of Raymond E. Feist’s Darkwar Saga – Into A Dark Realm.  This carries the story on from the first of Feist’s series; Magician, following the story of a kitchen boy named Pug.  Years down the road Pug, now a powerful magician is desperately trying to eliminate a threat that will destroy the peaceful worlds of Midkemia and Kelewan.  Leading a desperate mission to a malevolent empire called Dasati, Pug and his companions hope to gather vital information to defeat the enemy.  As with all of Feist’s works, I DEVOURED this book within several hours of non-stop nail-biting reading and I now find myself clawing at my eyes with symptoms much like drug withdrawals awaiting the next book Wrath Of A Mad God.  Only the greater powers know when it’s coming out.  I will itch and twitch in the meantime.

The 2^nd of these books is the 2^nd book of Robin Hobb’s Soldier Son Trilogy – Forest Mage.  It concerns the story of young Nevare Burvelle, a second son of a baron trying to make a place for himself in the greater scheme of things first as a cadet in the

Cavalla

Academy

(cavalry) and then trying to fight the demons within when an ancient Tree Woman of a savage race claims a part of his soul.  Entertaining as Hobb’s writing is, I sometimes find her protagonist(s) to be a little on the whiny/stand-alone-complex side.  Classic example of this can be found from her previous books, The Farseer Trilogy and The Tawny Man Trilogy.  But nevertheless, I highly recommend her works all the same.  :)  Psst, start with her Liveship Traders Trilogy, its awesome!

My 3^rd book is also a 2^nd part book of Trudi Canavan’s Age Of The Five Trilogy – Last Of The Wilds.  If you have read my previous blog about Canavan’s Magicians Guild Trilogy you would know that I’m a HUGE fan of hers and this series is no different.  Following Aurora’s humble origins to her being chosen as an avatar of the 5 Circlian Gods when her friendship with an outcast atheist Dreamweaver threatens to destroy her future when war is forced upon them by a neighbouring nation.  Being torn between her connection to the Dreamweavers and her loyalties to her Gods, and having to fight off a mysterious plague and the return of their vicious adversaries, she is forced to make choices that will change the world forever.  I was RIVETED to every page – so far no one I’ve read has made me switch loyalties from one character to another quite like Canavan.  The 3^rd book Voice Of The Gods is already out in the States but I’m looking to complete my set of the British edition (I will insist on ENGLISH) so wait I must for it to be released here soon.  Sigh.

My 4^th book is the 1^st of Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series (which after a long and painful hunt on this side of the planet proved fruitless before a chance bargain bin book dig did I finally managed to obtain this).  The story is set in the times of the Napoleonic Wars, where Dragons are bred for use as airborne warships.  The series focuses on the title dragon, Temeraire, as he is hatched on a British Naval vessel and attaches himself to the Captain.  I find this to be very reminiscent of the Dragonriders Of Pern (by Anne McCaffery) but Novik style is very well thought out and the pace she sets for her stories are just marvellous!  I haven’t finished this yet but trust me, I’m savouring every word.  You seriously don’t feel the need to skip paragraphs in case you miss something.  I’m now officially a Novik fan.  Oh and btw, if any of you kind folks feel the need to help me source out book 2 & 3 I will be eternally grateful!

I just realised that I have made a switch from male fantasy writers to female fantasy writers.  I guess it’s because I used to find female authors relatively ‘dry’ – Janny Wurts & Mercedes Lackey and at some point even Anne McCaffery wasn’t exactly intriguing to me unfortunately.

I was all about Robert Jordan’s Wheel Of Time and David Eddings’ Elenium & Tamuli, the Belgariad & Malloreon; and his Dreamers series.  Let’s not forget Terry Brooks’s Shannara series and the legendary R.A. Salvatore with his massive Forgotten Realms epic.  And I don’t need to speak of J.R.R. Tolkien of course.  I make it a point to read at least one of his books every year and with his latest posthumous completion from Christopher Tolkien (J.R.R.’s youngest son) called The Children Of Húrin you can bet good money that I will be poring over it soon enough.

The other book I’m awaiting desperately with bated breath is from a very well known British female author.  Her 7 part series about the adventures of a young wizard has made her a household name and book sales around the world have made her richer than the Queen of England.  5 movies have been made to date, several words has been inserted into our English vocabulary (muggle being one) and people queue up overnight and dress in costume for her book launchings.  Nothing since Star Wars has there been this much hype over an author and her works.

I don’t even need to name drop.  This is none other than the great J.K Rowling and her Harry Potter series.  The 7^th and final book; Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows is due to be released in July so as soon as I finish these 4 books that I’m reading, I’ll be tearing through book 1 to 6 again (for like the 50^th time) as a lead up to book 7.

I know some of you out there feel the need to ‘fight the taste of the masses’ and NOT *gasp* read her superb works, you seriously don’t know what you are missing.  Yes Dale, I’m talking about you.  The way Rowling weaves her words, it is so complex yet her humour and the way her characters connect with each other make it a very easy read.  My sister loved it so much she went out and procured for herself the entire set of the books on CD so that she may listen to it while commuting.

Anyway, that’s enough from me for now.  If you feel the urge to pick up these books but are doubtful that you may not like them, I can guarantee that you will – (not to blow my own trumpet but) my writing style and humour reflects all my author idols – so if you have read my works and liked them, be assured that you will love my book recommendations.  Specialis Revelio!

New Hobby

You know how I hate it when people find out that I blog the first thing they ask me is “so what else do you do besides blogging?”  It insinuates that I have no life other than sitting in front of a PC pulling thoughts out of my arse and typing it down.  C’mon dimwits, I blog about my life and the things that I do, what the flaming hell do you mean what else do I do???

So.  Since I haven’t really had a life outside of my [brand new 20 inch high def Samsung LCD monitor woohoo *rubs monitor in affection*] PC, the equation is simple.  No life = no blog. 

Yes it was Merentha drama again.  But all that aside, I decided to take a sabbatical and concentrate on something else in my life.  It sucks up just about the same amount of time and energy as that blasted text game but without the drama.  Folks I’ve found a new hobby.

No I didn’t covert to that blasted World of Warcraft.  LOL.  Although I have been offered several times by the very wonderful Kemenkel that he’ll buy me my account, I have sadly declined such a generous offer.  One addiction at a time folks.

So what’s this new hobby?  Writing fictional and consensual erotica.  Yes please tell me that I’m a depraved pervert.  I haven’t heard that enough lately.

What’s so hard about writing erotica, or ‘pornography’ as some of you more prudish and uptight people would ask?  PLENTY!

1. Making it Tasteful – have you any idea how difficult it is to make it descriptive yet not fall into the trap of using too many x-rated words for genitalia, copulation and the like.  No F-words, no C-words yet making things explicit and exciting – NOT clinical.

2. Storyline – its not just about 2 strangers meeting up and going “oh lets do it” and proceeding to boff like bunnies on bromide.  I still have to somewhat set up a believable scenario with believable people.  And believe it or not, believable sex.  Let’s not forget that it still needs to be entertaining.

3. Hustle & Flow – its not all just lick, suck and f***.  There should be a flow to it; spontaneous, yet planned to a degree as not to be too haphazard.  Then there’s the continuity issue.  Setting the mood, getting clothes off, foreplay, getting into position, switching of positions, actual coupling, climax, wind down etc.

4. Grammar – spelling, tenses, grammar, and conversation set up.  Not to mention how I want to write the story.  Should I do 3^rd party narrative? Or male/female point of view?

5. Shock Value – should I put in some really nasty, depraved stuff?  Some people swings from chandeliers and lets insects crawl all over their genitalia for pleasure you know.

That all being said, I have several completed works for your reading pleasure.  Those of you who are not on my mailing list may click on my Email Me icon for the stories.  Now remember, these stories are EXPLICIT and GRAPHIC in nature so please, do not be a dumb idiot and open them at work/school or in a public place because undoubtedly you will get worked up and I will not be held responsible for your hot and bothered-ness.

Sorry for the long absence folks. I did miss you all very much but I’m back now!

It’s Been A Whole Month! Where Have I Been?

I rarely ever leave this alone for so long.  In fact the last time I left my blog untouched was the 5 month space between my first and second blog.  Why you ask?  Because I’ve been sick and alone at the office without the luxury of being able to take a couple of sick days off to sleep off my germs and meds.  And I’ve been OMG, reading!

Actually it was kinda nice to take a break from writing for a bit.  Unlike some of my dear mates who actually write for a living, I write for pleasure and although that sometimes make me a little laissez-faire about getting off my rear and throwing something together, its still waaay more enjoyable than having deadlines poking you in the back.

So I’ve been busy reading someone else’s writing and wow it was worth picking those books up at the sale!  Trudi Canavan is currently in the top 5 list of my favourite writers (R.E. Feist and J.K. Rowling tops that list currently) with her Black Magician Trilogy.  Most awesome indeed! 

It begins with the 1^st book, The Magicians’ Guild.  Each year, the streets of Imardin are purged of the poor and homeless by the powerful Magicians' Guild, and each year, gangs of local youths protest and resist, usually without effect. But this year, one such youth manages to injure one of the magicians, revealing herself to magically gifted. What follows is the hunt for the rogue magician Sonea, who believes the guild will kill her if they find her, while the guild are far more concerned with the damage she could do to herself and others if not found in time.  While Sonea goes into hiding with the Thieves, bargains are struck and the plot thickens...

I won’t give away any more regarding the next book and one thereafter but although I found the 1^st book relatively slow, the 2^nd and 3^rd (and in my opinion the best book of the trilogy) fantastic so pick it up and read it when you have the time. I finished all 3 books in 4 days, not including the extra day I spent re-reading the 3^rd book.   If you are opposed to actually shelling out money for literature please feel free to contact Jasmine’ Library. Opening hours are from 9am to 9pm daily.  Up to 3 paperback books may be borrowed for a period of one week and any lost or damaged books are to be replaced and dinner is to be bought for the librarian or she will eat you alive.

Anyway, I’m off to read Trudi Canavan’s 2^nd trilogy; Age Of The Five. I have the 1^st book in hardcover.  I’m currently waiting for Kinokuniya to call me regarding the 2^nd book sometime this month. I'm climbing the walls.

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night

It was a dark and stormy night.  A fire crackled and danced in the fireplace.  She sat there in the shadows staring at the flames.  And she waited.

Suddenly an icy gust of wind swept through the room.  The fire vanished into ash.  In the darkness she knew she was not alone.  In the middle of the room, there He stood.  Shrouded and reeking of evil He beckoned her over.  Trembling, she stood to face Him.

“What do you seek?”  His voice was like Fire and Brimstone.

“I seek a love who knows not of mine for him.”

“And what do you want of this love?”  Ash and dust swirled about Him.

“I want him to return my love!”

“And what is it the price you offer?”  Despair wailed in the distance.

“The second half of my life I pledge to you.”

“It is done.”

And He was gone.  She was alone in the darkness.  And alone she wept.  But the next day the man she coveted returned her love tenfold.  For seven days and seven nights they lived in happiness.  And on the eight day, she died.

As she stood in chains before Him on His throne she screamed at Him in anger. 

“Why did you take me so soon?  I pledged half my life to you!” 

He smiled at her.

“Ah, but a fortnight was all you had left to live.”