What aunt_zelda Thinks: Jingo (+ early thoughts on 'Going Postal')

[aunt_zelda]

That was awesome, hilarious, and just as good (if not better) than Feet of Clay.
Well, I take that back. I think it's actually impossible to compare one Discworld book to another. While Feet of Clay was more a "whodunnit?! ... oh, and Cheery's a woman" Jingo is a lot less easier to explain and/or summarize. I mean, you've got:
*The general plot of an island that rises up out of the ocean and has two countries (I still don't get how  Ankh-Morpork counts as a country, I mean, is this like a city-state thing like they had in Renaissance Italy or what?) poised to fight a war over the smelly seaweed coated thing.
**Then there's Vimes being all kinds of badass and heroic and Genre Savvy and dragging most of the Watch along with him in his adventures.
***Then there's Colon and Nobby and Vetinari and Leonard who ... have quite possibly the best B-Plot in the history of fiction. I could go on and on about how much I squeed, laughed hysterically, and wanted to give Mr. Pratchett a hug for each and every one of those rocket-threatening, harem-pants wearing, randomly-juggling, and generally hysterical scenes.
****And there's also the bits with two fishermen squabbling stupidly about the island in an oddly Shakespearian kind of way. It brought to mind the scenes of the soldiers in Henry V talking about their lot in life, personally. Very meta. We've got kings and commanders and watchmen and madmen, and then we keep coming back to two stubborn guys in the middle of the ocean.
And I'm certain that I left some stuff out (my brain's been all over the place this week) so let's get to my main three thoughts:

1) Vimes is a badass.
When I read that scene where he throws down his badge (and all the rest of the Watch follows suit) I didn't even squee I was so awestruck. If it had been on TV I might have cried a little.
I love how the racism was really affecting him, despite him trying to emulate Gene Hunt so much of the time. (Well, not to Gene Hunt levels, he's more a watered-down Gene Hunt I guess ... argh, talk to me in the comments about this, I'm not making any sense.)
He saved people from a burning building. That fact might be forgotten in all of the hubbub in the book, but still, he rushed into a burning building to save people, and when he found out who started the fire he nearly killed them because there were people in the building. That's one of those things that is just so perfect for showing a character's character that I had to mention it.
He commandeers a boat with the power of his snark. And Detritus. (Who is, btw, swiftly becoming one of my favorite Watch characters.)
I loved Vimes' dealings with 71-Hour Ahmed, especially in Klatch. I could feel the tension, just reading it, and I loved how they were so very, very similar and so very, very different. Also: wall-slamming! *SQUEE*
Vimes arrests TWO ARMIES. HOW FREAKING INSANE AND BADASS IS THAT?! I mean ... wow.
He runs after a purse-snatcher in his silly outfit WITH HALF THE CITY AT HIS BACK. And that's THE END OF THE BOOK. Awesomesauce.

2) Vetinari, Leonard, Colon, and Nobby are my new favorite team.
I know they'll never get back together like that again, but it was so much fun while it lasted.
Leonard completely failing at kidnapping Colon and Nobby.
Vetinari being so. freaking. SEXY. BADASS.
Colon and Nobby trying and failing to be smart/blend in/do pretty much anything but be hilarious, which they succeed in time and time again.
The whole street-preforming bit ... good GOD ... *sporfleDIEZ* Nobby ... in harem pants. And Vetinari juggling. I don't know which one is the funnier mental image.
Vetinari IS SO BADASS THAT HE MAKES JUGGLING BADASS! (And I thought he hated street-performers? Doesn't he have them tossed into the scorpion pits?)

3) Slash. Slash slash slash slash slash.
Now, some of you might be a tad confuzzled about this last point of mine. Jingo is, by and large, not all that a slashy of book. (It's no White Night.) [Warning: do not click on that link unless you have read 'White Night' and are mentally equipped to deal with the hyperactive squee-fest I posted last year.] However, I would like to draw your attention to two facts we get in Jingo:
Vetinari is keeping Leonard, a mad scientist Expy Keet with a Heart of Gold (how many tropes is that?) alive when he really should have killed him to be on the safe side (how many people does Vetinari, Xanatos Gambit extraordinarie, let live when they're dangerous? Uh ... *scratches head*) and frequently visits him to have tea and look over his inventions. And have sex. I mean really, who keeps a mad scientist locked up in their house? (Ok, ok, that's more of a 'Leonard is useful to Vetinari because of his inventions' kind of thing, but it's not too much of a stretch to imagine that something happened between them at least once. 'Saddlery regions' and all ...)
Oh, and that exchange towards the end of the book about Vetinari asking Sam to handcuff him? And then insisting that Sam handcuff him? And then asking if they have shackles? And then saying that he's going to give the Watch a bigger budget to buy shackles? I ... I really have no words for that. I DARE YOU to read that bit and truthfully tell me that you see no slashiness there. I'm pretty certain that Vetinari has a thing for Vimes, which is annoying as a fanfic writer because Vimes kinda detests Vetinari and is oh-so-wonderfully-in-love with his badass, snarky wife. OT3? Do I DARE?

Anyhoodle, I picked up Going Postal today. (I really need to stop buying so many books, my shelves are overflowing and my money is running low ...) And I freaking love it. Why? Because Moist is an anti-hero you have to like in that 'awwww, lookit the little trapped con man, isn't he cute? *glomps him*' way and Vetinari is freaking awesome right off the bat and I love him. I loveloveloveLOVE Vetinari. *SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*

(Help, I don't know how to stop reading the Discworld books out of order! *falls asleep hugging Going Postal*)



Comments

[phoenixjustice.livejournal.com]

WELCOME BACK! <3 *hugs*

(It's no White Night.)
There's not a lot that IS that slashy! XD

(Help, I don't know how to stop reading the Discworld books out of order! *falls asleep hugging Going Postal*)
lol we'll figure it out! Don't worry! XP Man, from all you've said, I definitely have to start getting the Discworld books. I read like the first two or something but that was a WHILEEEEEEE ago, so I can't remember anything.

And there is nothing wrong with picking up an OT3! It's so hard to find good ones of those. (Hearing OT3 makes me think of a few ones, but mostly Spoony/Linkara/Insano. *_*)

And while I help you with your out-of-order book problem (oh and don't feel bad about having a ton of books and little room and money--I'm in the same boat. Plus I have over 100 manga as well O_O) maybe you can help me with MY problem lol.

As much as I love me some Linkara and Insano and Nostalgia Critic and-- (well Ask that Guy too but he is EVIL, if entertaining. xD) I can't stop thinking about SPOONY. Not that is a BAD thing, just I can't get him off my brainnnn.

oh and I just posted a fic over at heroes_contest, if you'd like to go read it. I like how it turned out (even if it took writing till 6 in the morning to finish it. >_>) And they're also going to do a special crossover prompt over there soon too, which I will DEFINITELY be writing for. I FINALLY decided that it will be Heroes/TGWTG. (Yes, you heard that right. XDDD)

(Also can't wait to work on more DW S5! I was thinking that I would like to bring in Sarah Jane at some point, if we could. =D)

[aunt-zelda.livejournal.com]

WELCOME BACK! <3 *hugs*
Awwww, thanks! *hugs you back*

There's not a lot that IS that slashy! XD
Except for Torchwood.

lol we'll figure it out! Don't worry! XP Man, from all you've said, I definitely have to start getting the Discworld books. I read like the first two or something but that was a WHILEEEEEEE ago, so I can't remember anything.
You'd love them. Apparently, as newbies, we're not supposed to start with the first ones. *shrugs* Wikipedia has a lovely chart that explains which books feature which characters that's been extremely helpful. I highly recommend the Watch books, but there doesn't seem to be any definite way to read the Discworld books.


And there is nothing wrong with picking up an OT3! It's so hard to find good ones of those. (Hearing OT3 makes me think of a few ones, but mostly Spoony/Linkara/Insano. *_*)
Ooo, that's a good one! (Might be one of my Love Triads, like Linkara/Marzgurl/Insano.) I'm quite fond of Neal/Peter/Elizabeth from 'White Collar.' It's the hat, and the FoeYay, and the happy marriage.

I can't stop thinking about SPOONY. Not that is a BAD thing, just I can't get him off my brainnnn.
Good thing his voice is soothing! and his rage is sexy.

And they're also going to do a special crossover prompt over there soon too, which I will DEFINITELY be writing for. I FINALLY decided that it will be Heroes/TGWTG. (Yes, you heard that right. XDDD)
Oooooooooo! Sounds great! *doesn't want to think about how far behind I am on Heroes* Actually, I should probably come to terms with the fact that I've quite Heroes, shouldn't I? La la la DENIAL IS FUN! *cries*

[phoenixjustice.livejournal.com]

Awwww, thanks! *hugs you back*)
=D The treehouse wasn't the same without you!

Except for Torchwood.)
And that. xD Jack has been a naughty, naughty boy...

You'd love them. Apparently, as newbies, we're not supposed to start with the first ones. *shrugs* Wikipedia has a lovely chart that explains which books feature which characters that's been extremely helpful. I highly recommend the Watch books, but there doesn't seem to be any definite way to read the Discworld books.)
Seriously? Hmm, interesting. Yay for random reading! lol

Ooo, that's a good one! (Might be one of my Love Triads, like Linkara/Marzgurl/Insano.) I'm quite fond of Neal/Peter/Elizabeth from 'White Collar.' It's the hat, and the FoeYay, and the happy marriage.
I like Linkara/MarzGurl/Insano as well XP. And from what I've seen of White Collar, I like. I like Burn Notice too--mostly because of Bruce Campbell XD

I can't stop thinking about SPOONY. Not that is a BAD thing, just I can't get him off my brainnnn.
Good thing his voice is soothing! and his rage is sexy.

Oooooooooo! Sounds great! *doesn't want to think about how far behind I am on Heroes* Actually, I should probably come to terms with the fact that I've quite Heroes, shouldn't I? La la la DENIAL IS FUN! *cries*
lol! Not sure what season I'll set Heroes in. And also not sure if I'll do the TGWTG x-over yet, or x-over Heroes with Nightmare on Elm Street (just got back from seeing it. XP Also, I could either make it a crack!fic--yeah I could have NoES and crack it out =P or make it more serious...*shrug*) I'll figure out what I'm going to write here soon...*sigh* Probably TGWTG though; I want to try and make it work; it's a x-over that most wouldn't expect, or expect to work, so I would love to prove that wrong.

[phoenixjustice.livejournal.com]

I mean really, who keeps a mad scientist locked up in their house?))

*points to icon*

Well he doesn't have him locked up in there, but he chooses to live with him! =O XD

[aunt-zelda.livejournal.com]

*points to icon*
Well he doesn't have him locked up in there, but he chooses to live with him! =O XD
Heh heh heh ... I was wondering who was going to make that connection ...

[phoenixjustice.livejournal.com]

Heh heh heh ... I was wondering who was going to make that connection ...)
hee! Great minds think alike. XD Or would that be crazed fangirls think alike? (lol Insano fangirling over Linkara in fics is always awesome. XDDD)

[a-mae-zing.livejournal.com]

I still don't get how Ankh-Morpork counts as a country, I mean, is this like a city-state thing like they had in Renaissance Italy or what?
That's the general impression I got-- there's Sto Lat and Quirm...

1) Vimes is a badass.
TRUTH. He's also the most Genre Savvy guy on the Disc-- though admittedly the vast majority of the people there Know How Things Go in These Situations.

Nobby ... in harem pants.
This mental image will never not be funny.

I'm pretty certain that Vetinari has a thing for Vimes, which is annoying as a fanfic writer because Vimes kinda detests Vetinari and is oh-so-wonderfully-in-love with his badass, snarky wife.
You can't leave Lady Sybil out of the mix! And unless you want to leave Vetinari lonely, it looks like the only solution is indeed a threesome. xD

Anyhoodle, I picked up Going Postal today. [...] And I freaking love it.
Going Postal and Making Money were some of the first DW books I read. It only gets better! :D (apparently the 2011 Pratchett book is going to be Raising Taxes, so not too long of a wait!)

I really need to stop buying so many books, my shelves are overflowing and my money is running low ...
There's a couple of 'book-trade' sites out there that can help with that! http://bookmooch.com/ is a good one. :)

Help, I don't know how to stop reading the Discworld books out of order!
Figuring out what you have yet to read is half the fun? xD

Just a heads up: Sam Storyteller has some of the best, most hilarious DW (and HP, and Doctor Who, and...) fanfiction out there, once you're ready to dive into the fandom. ;)

[aunt-zelda.livejournal.com]

That's the general impression I got-- there's Sto Lat and Quirm...
Yeah, it's just something to mentally adjust to after reading things without city-states for years and years.

TRUTH. He's also the most Genre Savvy guy on the Disc-- though admittedly the vast majority of the people there Know How Things Go in These Situations.
I love Sam. He's like Gene Hunt but not as outwardly mean ...

This mental image will never not be funny.
Every time that gang showed up in the book I sporfled like crazy. Oh, Nobby ...

it looks like the only solution is indeed a threesome. xD
*grinz* Yes indeedy. I keep getting vague ideas for fic and then getting busy with something else ...

Going Postal and Making Money were some of the first DW books I read. It only gets better! :D
I started with 'The Color of Magic' and then read 'The Light Fantastic' and then read the graphic novel of those two. Then I read 'Equal Rites' and then 'Feet of Clay' and then 'Jingo' and now I've read 'Going Postal' ... I really need to figure out if I'm going to read them in the order of publishing, the Witches books, the Watch Books, or the Moist books.

There's a couple of 'book-trade' sites out there that can help with that! http://bookmooch.com/ is a good one. :)
That's the problem, I don't want to give up any of them either! *sighs* I'll have to find SOME books to trade in ...

Figuring out what you have yet to read is half the fun? xD
That's a hard thing to come to gripes with as one of those 'must read in the right order! Ack!' people ...

Just a heads up: Sam Storyteller has some of the best, most hilarious DW (and HP, and Doctor Who, and...) fanfiction out there, once you're ready to dive into the fandom. ;)
Ooooo, thank you very much!