Re-reading Bujold again

[trixtah]

Best ever quote:

I don't want [political] power. I just object to idiots having power over me.

Oh, and while I'm on the topic of reading, two annoyances. Why o why did I get that David and Leigh Eddings book out of the library? I knew I'd hate myself, and I do. The book was Polgara the Sorceress, and it's one of the Belgariad books, which are absolute tripe, but were entertaining enough on the initial read. But. O dear god, but. Apparently the last 40 years haven't happened for the Eddingses. Apparently women (even mighty sorceresses) play stupid "battle of the sexes" crap to manipulate the poor stupid men who don't realise that women really rule the world.  And men. (Sure they do, it's obvious).  Women also have special knowledge and skills that men can never hope to gain, such as knowing what someone really thinks by the marvels of feminine intuition.  I would open the book to get a quote... but I can't do it. Feh. It's bad enough when men come up with sexist bullshit, but when women do as well, it drives me right up the wall.

Then I read Beastmaster's Circus by "Andre Norton" and Lyn McConchie. Why why why do (did) established authors allow such tripe to come out under their names? Ok, I realise Andre Norton was practically on her deathbed at the time, but how did she get hooked up with this "co-author"? I read a couple of collaborations Norton did with PM Griffin, and they were fine (despite the fact I still can't get over Jellicoe on the Solar Queen having a love interest - he's queer, for god's sake!) What's worse is that Lyn McConchie is a kiwi. The plot is ok, but the writing is absolutely 100% crap. All the sentences are about 10 words each, except for the occasional longer one that comes complete with comma splice. A fact needs to be repeated about three times in as many paragraphs, preferably by different characters.

There is an entire plot point about booby-trapped cages, which one of the ambiguous characters has been aware of all along, and which isn't mentioned at all until the time comes to have a crisis because of it. Ok, you can err on the side of squid-on-the-mantelpiece, but to have the ambiguous character be working in and around the cages constantly and observing from his POV, not to mention a couple of people staying in one who apparently don't need to take any precautions... until it's time for a rescue attempt (not of the people), and then suddenly there's a booby trap? Puhlease. Oh, and the protagonist is saved by her unknown brother (of course, that was amply telegraphed about 150 pages before the big denouement) after conveniently redeeming himself and dying in the process. GAH.

Comments

[saluqi.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I have a work colleague who had a hard-scrabble immigrant working class upbringing here in Australia. He says that working class people don't want equality, they want to be the boss. He also says that middle class people are the kind of people who espouse the view in that first quote. It seems he is not correct....

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Hm. I think there are two "get ahead" types, actually (there are plenty of sheep, let me tell you), but they both have that underlying philosophy of "I ain't gonna be oppressed no mo'".

The first is as you say, the kind who wants to be the boss and/or clamber over whatever bodies are in the way to get to the top of the heap. I put most "native entrepreneurs" into that category as well, like those Maori who sold off land from under their tribes for the sake of a dozen muskets and a fur stole.

The second is your classic socialist syndicalist. Your colleague has an extremely ahistorical view, to be honest. Socialism was the original "power to the people" - while a few middle-class academics and sympathisers enunciated the aims, they didn't do all the work. That whole propaganda exercise about the "leftie liberals" only being middle-class is an extremely recent innovation.

Of course, you get the ones who mix and match, like your union organisers who get a bit of "power corrupts", and start ripping off their "brothers". If they weren't the first type to begin with.

And also, in our countries, we have quite a blindness about the parameters of the working class. We don't have the "class traitor" like there is in the UK. You could just about boil the commonly-perceived class system down to "no-hopers", "battlers" and "rich" (or whatever the locution is that the upper-middle-classes and above use about themselves).

Finally, there might be a touch of differences in how immigrant populations choose to get ahead vs already resident working classes. And cultural influences as well, perhaps. We supposedly believe in an egalitarian society - people coming from the Old Country may not have that ingrained belief. If getting ahead meant becoming part of the aristocracy (however that's defined), then that would probably have some influence as well.

It's certainly an interesting topic. It also brings me back to my wondering whether having a more socialist world-view compared to the "take what I can get" kind is somehow genetic. What makes one person go one way and someone else the other, even in the same family and the same environment?

[weibchenwolf.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed the Belgariad, and (less so) The Mallorean. I got into Belgarath. Then Polgara was 'ok'. Then one day I was rereading them for the n'th time and noticed all the stuff you've just mentioned (and more!).

I can't read them now. I also have issues with the lack of continuity between the Belgariad and Belgarath, and Polgara. Sheesh.

I did like the slave dance in Polgara though. I want to dance like that (daggers and all) ;)

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I noticed the patronising "men are from mars and women are from venus" rubbish in the first books, but there was enough plot for me not to get too bogged down in it. It just put the books on the "do not bother to re-read" list. As for continuity, heh, I think that kind of thing really only bugs me with stuff that I care about.

I liked the slave dance too, it must be said. Frankly, I think that Polgara would be hot if she got over her sexist bullshit (and was into girlies too). Oh, that reminds me of another thing - that whole intelligent, powerful woman ready to give it all up to her boring lumpish (yet devoted) man and be fulfilled having babies trope. I mean, what does she see in Durnik? Mind you, I wonder that all the time with normal het relationship setups.

[weibchenwolf.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could get 'into' Polgara. She's got too high an opinion of herself.

*grins*I try not to ask 'what do they see in X' too often, cause then I start wondering what my partners see in me...

[filkferengi]

The slave dance reference reminds me of Tom Smith's song "Dervish." You can listen to it or buy it here: http://filkertom-itom.blogspot.com/2007/03/030-dervish.html The lyrics are on that page too.