Book: Ancillary Sword

Book: Ancillary Sword
Rating: 5 of 5.
Short review: The second in the series that started with Ancillary Justice, the series continues with spaceships and feelings. There are super beings in multiple forms, denying their humanity while being so very, very human.  If you enjoy Star Trek more than Star Wars, this is a series for you.

Longer version -- not spoiler free. Be careful.

This series is absolutely amazing. I'm a bit jaded on my science fiction; I know the tropes and have expectations from 30 years of reading it. But, this series man.

Here we've got a galaxy spanning human civilization. Well, wait. I say human. But, is the Lord of the Radch really human? Are you human if you have a thousand bodies spread out over 10,000 light years? Is it a human civilization if the space ships are sentient, love their Captains, and have thousands of humans turned into extensions of the space ships? What does gender matter?

And that's not even to mention a glorious point of diction. The language of the Empire has no gender. No he/his/brother. Its all it/its/sibling. To translate into english, the book uses gendered expression continuously and consistently -- and unless speaking to someone in a language demanding gender, all pronouns are female. In a genre dominated by men, that is striking. 

Those are questions dealt with -- and delightfully never answered! -- in the first book. This second tome in the series addresses entirely different questions:
-- In a society claiming propriety, justice and benefit are intertwined, what does it mean when the low end of the ladder is never taught how to be proper?
-- To what extent does an imbalance of power make relationships impossible? How about sexual relationships?

Most of this book takes place in a minor system, which the protagonist went to as the sister of someone she loves is there. The lives of millions are changed, the government of a world is altered, and it hinges on the live of one person for another. And a tea set.

Always tea. Tea is the hallmark of civilization, and marks propriety, justice and benefit.

I'm happy to discuss. I'm a bit late to the party.

Books are, basically, the best thing in the world.

Books are, basically, the best thing in the world.

I read a lot. I read a lot of science fiction. I try to have deep thoughts about the fiction I read, and to read books that make me a more empathetic person. That is, I strive to consume to become a better person.

My wife, Dianne Harris , thinks I read a lot more books than I think I read. I think it is right around 20 books a year, she claims in excess of 50. We're going to find out! This, my first collection, will house all books I finish in 2016.

For each book, I'll include a rating, a short review, and as much additional words as I want to include.

I've set this up as public, so by default everyone in my circles is in. I think?

Anyway, feel free to opt out if this is not your cup o' tea. No harm feelings.

I am not so smart: I am 80% through Ancillary Sword, the second book of the beautiful series that starts with...

I am not so smart: I am 80% through Ancillary Sword, the second book of the beautiful series that starts with Ancillary Justice.

There's a character who I dislike as a human being, and enjoy as a stock villain. He's a dick canoe.

And, throughout the novel, he is referred to as she. And my brain keeps rejecting that gender, and saying "that dude is a dude". Then I notice every character is a she.
...
..
.

And I realize something emphasized really hard in the first book: the language doesn't have gender.

The characters don't care, and their words have to be translated into my silly language -- which does have gender. For those characters spoken of in only the main language, there is no implied gender whatsoever!

I only realized it when reading the author's webpage. Because I am not smart.

Here's an update to the slowly-forming schedule for the Indie Games eXplosion at Dreamation 2016.

Originally shared by Michael Miller

Here's an update to the slowly-forming schedule for the Indie Games eXplosion at Dreamation 2016. The holidays are past and we need your games! Come out and help make the con more amazing!

http://ipressgames.com/index.php/igx-update/
http://ipressgames.com/index.php/igx-update/

I've been trying to figure out how to phrase the resolution for this new year's.

I've been trying to figure out how to phrase the resolution for this new year's.

I think I finally got it: To speak up whenever I see intimidation tactics in use, whether against me or others.

This is the place where I morally fail the most, and where small interventions of mine could have the largest possible gain. At first I thought of this as "tell cops they are pig fuckers", but that's not quite right. either -- that would escalate the situation. Instead, this is more "if a cop is harassing people (invariable PoC), speak up about it"

I'm not entirely sure how to do that. It may be as simple as "Officer, you are using dangerous intimidation tactics that making me feel unsafe in my neighborhood. Please stop.", but that's too wordy.

When seeing a manager speak ill to an employee, it might be "George, the way you treat Kathleen is inappropriate. I hope you'll do better in the future." Luckily, no one at my office uses intimidation tactics where I can see it, so that's less likely to come on. (Ignoring, of course, the compulsion of capitalism.)

When seeing a man stalk a lady at a bar (what? I don't go to bars.), it might be "Asswipe, leave the girl alone. Back. The. Fuck. Off.", but that will lead to escalation.

My biggest concern with all of these situations is they are, arguably and perhaps correctly so, none of my business. Is it my job or moral duty to intervene when a cop is an asshole in public, or when a manager treats an employees poorly? Or, when a dude treats a lady like an object?

I'm not sure how to do these without causing undue escalation -- the T is strong in me -- but, if I don't try I can't get there, can I?

#36in16

#36in16

Epi's new gaming contest. I'm in it to win it this year!

First one of these for me, so I'll start at the Intermediate Level: In 2016, I will play 36 games, each with at least one person I have never played with.

I think this'll be easy for me, and that I wouldn't find the Advanced level fun. (Advanced level is 36 games, all with people you've never gamed with before.)

So:
#3: Splendor on January 2, played with Joe.
#2: Between Two Cities on January 2, played with Elizabeth.
#1: Cat Scientists on January 2, played with a bunch of people.

Hooray for attending parties that extend my gaming circles!

Am I doing this right? Do I need names?

Gah.

Gah. I get so angry. Most of the time, I can live without being aware of the injustice in the world, because I'm a white guy with good diction.

Then I have a discussion on our society's great sins with other white guys, who can't see it. And that makes me so angry.