Lame, lame, lame.

[gement]

Octavia Butler died Friday at the age of 58. This makes me very sad. I didn't always like her books, but they always made me feel challenged and uncomfortable, which means I was thinking. I only learned from the obit that she was local and a non-driver, so we may have riden the same buses. Ships passing in the night.

Also the cat was clawing the carpet right next to me trying to get a reaction, so I held her down by the shoulders and neck, and she held still for a bit and then made a little squeak sound that sounded like "ack I can't breathe!"... and I just meant to say I'm bigger than you, not I keel you, and now I'm afraid that I've accidentally broken trust and she'll be scared of me.

Also I need to pick a new advisor and I'm fretting. Not such a good day from the inside of my head, though the weather is pleasant.

Comments

[morinon.livejournal.com]

Actually, until the cat has accepted your dominance, it's about right to do that.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

I've never read Butler. Which of her titles do you recommend as a gentle introduction?

[gement.livejournal.com]

The first I read of her, and still my favorite, is a short story called "Speech Sounds." It's about what happens to culture when language breaks down.

For novels, I'll list several options, depending on which other things you might be in the mood for. Before anyone lynches me for any of these comparisons, I think one of Butler's strengths was writing in multiple moods and on multiple themes, and I compare her to other authors in terms of theme and tone, not necessarily writing quality.

My entry book was "Mind of My Mind," which is modern, urban, has psychics, and left a strong Heinlein flavor in my mouth in terms of plot structure. For more of an Anne Rice flavor I'd suggest "Wild Seed," which spans several millenia of the selective breeding program that leads to MoMM. If you're in more of a creeping alien incesty Orson Scott Card mood, try something from the "Xenogenesis" series. If you want a good werewolf flick, "Clay's Ark".

[onyletris.livejournal.com]

Our cats have been very forgiving. The best cat discipline we've found is to give them somewhere they CAN do whatever they are doing, maybe reward them with cat nip or tuna for doing it in the right spot --- and myst them with a water bottle if they claw on or jump where they are NOT supposed to.

You said you need to pick a new adviser? What does your adviser give advice on?

[gement.livejournal.com]

Library grad school. I can't place you, though I guess by our mutual friend SamVimes that you might be a Wuzzle? Do I know your face?

[onyletris.livejournal.com]

Samvimes, is my best friend's poly lover. :) I am poly-friendly; in full support of responsible, succesful poly relationships. I am not in a poly relationship myself --- since I don't think seeing only other girls counts as poly. I'm not seeing any other girls right now either. Hoping to find someone. I actually ran across your profile on ok-cupid; and you mentioned your livejournal name there.

My okcupid profile is EpiphanyInBloom.

Look me up :)

---- Chantae'

[artdreams1.livejournal.com]

gratefully, the face probably doesn't look like a ferret. Or a duck

[artdreams1.livejournal.com]

I have chased black velvet cat around with a tennis racquet when I'm really pissed at her and she still loves me. It's one of our little games. She knows what things really get my attention.

Good luck on the advisor

[garillama.livejournal.com]

O.o

[gement.livejournal.com]

Hey now. We loves the black velvet cat.