insaneneko

Stargate Universe

I saw bits and pieces of the first episode, and it's just...stupid. I had some problems with the beginning of SGA, but this makes SGA look like a masterpiece of characterization and plotting. Also, they seem to be copying the look and feel of Battlestar Galactica (from the LACK of lighting to the "dark" themes to the sex). The only bright spot was the genius kid who basically gets kidnapped. I thought I wouldn't like him, but he turned out to have common sense and wasn't obnoxious. Amazing! I'd rather him run things than the adults, frankly. I grossed myself out slashing him and the icky icky main scientist dude for kicks. They were, sadly, the most interesting characters. The others were VEERY insubstantial. And dumb.

Eien no kinou by Eda Yuri and illustrated by Yamada Yugi

Zombie love stretched out to an entire book, desperately attempting to be all poignant and angsty and sad. Needless to say, it totally failed for me. I think it could have worked as a shorter story, but by the end I was rolling my eyes and mocking the tender moments. The Amazon Japan reviews are more favorable, so YMMV.

I’ve been rereading Shitsuji no tokken (The butler’s privilege) by Eda Yuuri, a BL novel I’ve come to really like. It features the master-servant situation, a favorite of romantics everywhere. Harada Shinobu applies for a normal position in a big pharmaceutical company only to be recruited for a position as a personal secretary for the grandson of the company founder, a reclusive man who works primarily out of his house. Nogisaka Otoya has obsessive compulsive disorder. He always wears gloves, and requires those around him to wear them as well. He can’t stand being touched, and constantly washes his hands. He’s touchy, willful and insanely fastidious. His butler Tomimasu has tried finding him a secretary, but every single candidate did not work out, driven away from his unpleasant demeanor. Shinobu is affronted by the sharp-tongued Otoya, but he realizes Otoya figures that he won’t last long like all the others. He decides to prove Otoya wrong and manage to make it through the trial period. Then he can spurn Otoya and “win.” Of course things don’t go like that. The novel shows the gradual (oh so gradual) building of trust and caring between the two. It is careful about showing that progress is slow, and is often one step forward, two steps back. For the most part, the events in the novel aren’t too far out (in as much the entire premise is already far out enough that everything that happens seems rather logical and reasonable) and are integrated into the narrative well.

The core of the novel is Otoya and Shinobu’s relationship. It’s wonderful how the reader and Shinobu slowly come to realize just how messed up Otoya is. We learn pretty early on that Otoya isn’t afraid of getting other people’s germs but of spreading his own. He is trapped in a world of his own psychosis, and while intellectually knowing the truth can’t break free. I was like Shinobu, feeling terribly sad for Otoya after a while. The story is extremely romantic, but in a sneaky way. The focus is so much on the master-servant bonding that it was only after I reread the novel did I realize how much of Shinobu’s declarations and acts of utter loyalty and devotion are just so supremely romantic (Okay, maybe I’m just dense or something ^^;).

The writing is smooth and easy to read. There weren’t much in the way of really annoying word choices (that this genre tends to be full of) or really silly phrases (that I guess are supposed to be flowerly, but end up sounding juvenile). The characters were fleshed out and well-developed. The author established a baseline of rationale and back story that made the actions of the characters believable and natural. I did have some problems with the novel, but they aren’t major.

( Some more babbling )

Another thing I really like about this novel is that the illustrations, by Sasaki Kumiko, show men with some bulk. They are in their mid to upper twenties, and wouldn't have reedy gaunt teenaged bodies.

( Some illustrations )