Meandering Starre

I recently finished reading the Revelation Space “series”– the first four books and the novella Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days. There are apparently 8 short stories out there and another book set in the same universe but stand-alone from the first four. The first four books are no small accomplishment. Each has over 500 pages (585 Revelation Space, 694 Chasm City, 694 Redemption Ark, 756 Absolution Gap) and a rather complex story structure along with a decent level of technology and physics. The series is a space opera–spanning ~300 years (with touches beyond in both directions), several star systems, and characters that appear in multiple novels in changing roles (in the novel sense–protagonists in one novel become secondary characters in another).

[Note: There is a new book, The Prefect, which is apparently set in the same universe, but stand alone.]

The universe Reynolds created is impressive and impressively well developed. Each world has a different history, a different mix of people, and different issues. He creates groups of people, almost subspecies, with vast differences from appearance to belief system. While there are aliens, which are also created with fascinating depth, they are not developed as fully in the tales (thought the development is clearly there) as the focus is on human or human-hybrid characters.

On a first read, not looking for issues, I find the immense universe to be almost flawlessly presented. In fact, I only noticed one thing, and it was in the last 4 pages of reading, that he neglected to account for. There are Pattern Jugglers, a collection of marine organisms that record the minds (including memories) of anyone who swims in them and have recorded a vast store of minds from the first aliens to swim in them ages ago. Swimming in the Jugglers results in a temporary near paralysis and floods the human with “chemical bliss” (Diamond Dogs, page 160). It occurred to me that this would probably lead to people becoming addicted to the Jugglers, like anything else humans get their hands on that causes chemical bliss (some may like the near paralysis too). However, Reynolds never mentions this. But this is rather small issue, and may have never been worthy of mentioning in the areas where the Juggler are mentioned.

But this is the only issue I found. Otherwise the series is amazing in how beautifully and thoroughly developed his universe is. Even without such good writing and interesting stories, the universe alone and its details and development make the series worthy of the vast amounts of time it takes to get through it.

Bill recommended the series and I am quite glad he did. The first book especially takes a while to get into. While the writing is good there is just too much that is not explained. It was not until about halfway in that I figured out what the book was about. The second book was similar, and since it took place in a different part of the universe, there were still issues with the unexplained. By the middle of the third book, things all finally begin to click and there is enough that has occurred that I no longer had issues with the unexplained. Most of the unexplained did come out through the process of the story.

I must also note that Reynolds wrote these four books and novels while also working as an astronomer at European Space Research and Technology Centre. This man is in no way a slacker. The Revelation Space series came out one book a year, the first in 2000, the last in 2003 with the novella also coming out in 2003, while he was working as an astronomer. As I said, these are not small books either. There are people who make me look lazy, and he is one of them! He has since given up the astronomer gig and is now writing full time.

So, overall, I highly recommend this series, but only if you have a good bit of time to dedicate to it. His writing is strong, the character development impressive, and the universe expansive and thoroughly developed. I was quite hooked into the series and looked forward to whenever I got a chance to read it. But if you can’t put a book down until you finish it or don’t have the time to be entangled in a space opera I suggest waiting until you can dedicate time to enjoying the immersion.

As high heels continue to infiltrate the few spaces left where society doesn’t deem them necessary, such as running, there is one place I never considered high heels going–on babies’ feet. However, someone not only did imagine high heels on babies, but created a company that makes them: Heelarious. The heels are called “crib shoes” and, before you freak out, are all soft with fabric pillow-like heel (from what I can tell). The name, Heelarious, does suggest these are something of a joke, but I am not so very sure how much of it is a joke. Certainly, legitimately selling heels for babies would (I hope) cause public outcry. So, perhaps the name is their counter—“we see these soft crib shoes as a joke”–maybe even a social commentary for you feminists out there. Okay, even I doubt the later, but a feminist can hope, can’t she?

Photo: Copyright of Heelarious

Unfortunately the ironic commentary is overruled by the fact they are actually selling these pink and animal print heals, along with the occasional cowboy boot with soft spurs, and for regular price of $35-39.95. So, they are very commercial, of course. Yet another thing women have to buy to be “feminine”? But these women are 0-6 months old.

While they are not “real” heels, I do wonder how the pillow heel may impact babies as they become mobile. Certainly stepping on a pillow heel doesn’t help balance anymore (and likely less) than the wooden stack heels I own. At least these do not appear to hurt feel and the body in the ways regular heels can. They do say “Not intended for walking (heel will collapse with weight). Not intended to harm children in any way.” However, I think the harm is caused by suggesting babies should wear heels. I won’t even get into arguments about how the heel is something of a sex object and this is, arguably, sexualizing our babies.

The Daily Show’s Kristen Schaal has an interesting discussion of women’s right, heels in general, and these heels

After being a fan for more than a year, I’ve now read a story for Escape Pod. well, not a whole story, just part of one. I’m the interviewer in “How I Mounted Goldie, Saved My Partner Lori, and Sniffed Out The People’s Justice.” Stephen, of Escape Pod, was the dog. My throat hurt for him while we were reading it. While I’ve not listened to it yet, the story is a good one, so I recommend going right to the site and giving it a listen (and then subscribing to Escape Pod if you have not already).

I realize I must be besieging whichever readers have not run screaming from my training posts with more traning posts. So here is a non-training post. Short and sweet even (well for me, Meb).

As I was writing my last post Ani’s song “School Night” came up on iTunes. Whenever I hear this song, it makes me stop and think. She does a great job of making one feel what they “main character” of the song feels–the struggle of love and overcommitment to another love, even if the struggle is foreign to the listener. The lyrics are so well done. And the part about the mom… Why don’t I share (okay not so short):

what of the mother
whose house is in flames
and both of her children
are in their beds crying
and she loves them both
with the whole of her heart
but she knows she can only
carry one at a time?
she’s choking on the smoke
of unthinkable choices
she is haunted by the voices
of so many desires
she’s bent over from the business
of begging forgiveness
while frantically running around
putting out fires
- ani difranco “School Night”

What can I say, Ani rocks!

As a runner, I am very careful about what I put on my feet when running. I am also a bit of a shoe horse and love funky shoes of the heeled sort. However, I do not combine the heels with the running. That would be insane, right?

Well, regardless there is a stiletto heel race for women in Amsterdam. It is not too long, 380-yards, but the stilettos must be at least 3.5 inches! Sounds like torture to me! In fact, I think my facial expression would be the same as the woman in second place.

The prize is $15,000 and the winner, when asked how she would spend the prize, smartly said she would spend it on “anything but high heels.”

Image from CNews.

I could rant for quite a while about how true this comic is. In stead (beyond these few words), I’ll let it speak for itself:

For those of you who own cats and are jealous of all the cool dog clothing and accessories out there—be jealous no more. Now you can buy wigs for your cats!

I kid you not. Wigs for cats. I know no self-respecting cat that would wear a wig. I think most cats may find a wig to be a really fun toy, but not a fashion accessory. I have no idea how the person got the cats to stay still for these pictures. My best theory is drugs—the cats must be drugged. Oh, and the wigs ain’t cheap. Can you say $50?! Now that is an expensive cat toy! It does come with a nice metal wig toy case!

I love this line: “When not in use, the wig should always be stored in its pawproof case.” We all know why that is. Translation: “When you are not torturing you cat by making them wear a wig, put the wig back into this cat destruction-proof tin before the cat can destroy the wig. But do be careful as the cat may try to destroy you as soon as the wig is hidden since you tried to make her wear it.”

[side note: look up destruction-proof on Google and the first link has to do with cat toys. Too funny!]

I think I will keep my cat’s self-respect and my $50 bucks. I have better things to spend the $50 on—like my own accessories (shoes!).

Okay all that said I do kinda like the pink and blue ones…

Since becoming a triathlete my husband has begun watching the televised Ironmans. I’ve watched one previously with him and today watched a bit of the Ironman Hawaii with him. For those who don’t know, the Ironman Hawaii is THE Ironman. People must qualify for it and it is the world championship

About 5 minute into my watching I made this comment “they really need a commentator who has actually done a triathlon.” I don’t even require a commentator that has done an Ironman, but any old triathlon, even a sprint. Or maybe a marathon, or some endurance event in at least one of the three areas. Something! He was clueless. He even made some rather insulting comments at few points. He does not understand why it means to be an endurance athlete and many of his comments made this clear. I got the most pissed off at this one: “sunset at the Ironman makes you ask yourself questions about why people would want to punish themselves and for so long.” Yes, the Ironman is just an exercise in masochism. Pretty soon they will come out with a line of leather Ironman gear, complete with self-flogging devices. Come on! I don’t know any endurance athlete who does it for the punishment. The reason a person does an Ironman has nothing to do with pain or punishment. It may have to do with accomplishment, meeting a goal, the endorphins, a desire to push one’s self, and much more. But not punishment. I’ve never heard anyone say “I’ve been such a bad girl/boy today so I’m going to do an Ironman. I need the punishment.”

Obviously, he has no idea of what he is talking about. Can’t NBC do better? Get one of those retired professional Ironman athletes or even your average triathlete to be the commenter. Goodness, my husband and I would be better than this commentator. Now that would be a cool job. NBC, give us a call. We’d be happy to do the commentary for the Hawaii Ironman. We may need a few weeks on location before it…

Commentary aside, it is always cool to watch these. As something of an endurance athlete and a triathlete, I can feel their pain and accomplishment and understand, to some degree, what is gong on. Plus, just watching people accomplish such a difficult race is inspiring. Chrissie Wellington, the first place woman, had never competed in an Ironman before. She won, and it was her first! This is amazing. People work for years to qualify and more years to do well. She also won her first marathon. I wish I had her genes.

Yes, Dumbledore was gay, according to JK Rowling, who was speaking at Carnegie Hall (from a boingboing post). I am sure this will give the book burning, school library banning, anti-Harry Potter zealots new fuel for their fires (literally and figuratively). But, it is nice to see more gay characters in fiction, especially “children’s” fiction (fantasy). It is too bad that this acknowledgment came after the last book and that Rowling did not make Dumbledore clearly gay and out in the series. Perhaps Rowling is suggesting that Harry lives in a world where things like race (various characters) and homosexuality are such a part of the society that they do not need to be “noted,” but somehow I doubt this.

Now I need to reread the series to get the hints (Grindelwald, for instance, is apparently one of Dumbledore’s loves, which explains a ton). I already wanted to reread it based on the Snape explanations in the last books (vague to not give any spoilers). Now, I just have more to read for.

Okay, I’m trying something. A test of sorts. Besides I apparently like e-stalkers. Who doesn’t right? So, if case you did not guess it, I am *trying* twitter. But twitter works best if you have lots of cool people that you are… twitting with. So, if you are a cool person (and if you read this you have to be at least kinda cool, or kinda bored) and you have a twitter account let me know who you are and I’ll follow you and you can follow me and we can fill the world with simple harmony. Or at least we can stalk each other (in a non invasive scary way, because real stalking is not actually a good thing. This post in no way supports real stalking. And I say this as someone whose been cyber-stalked). BTW I am Starre (can’t believe there was no Starre!).