How I Met Your Mother: fanfic challenge!

Over at barneyrobin I just posted the Persistence Fic Challenge, based on a bit of mysterious Barney & Robin dialogue from 3x13.

If you're interested in the characters or pairing, you're welcome to head on over, be generally awesome, and contribute! ...probably spoilers for season 3, though the challenge is not really spoilery.

Feminism in the Discworld? Maybe, maybe not.

This afternoon I read an interesting and thoughtful literary criticism essay analyzing the Lancre witches of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series from a feminist angle. On the linked page you can scroll down a little and it's available in PDF format:

Which witch is which?
A feminist analysis of Terry Pratchett's Discworld witches
by Lorraine Andersson

Abstract:
Terry Pratchett, writer of humorous, satirical fantasy, is very popular in Britain. His Discworld series, which encompasses over 30 novels, has witches as protagonists in one of the major sub-series, currently covering eight novels. His first “witch” novel, Equal Rites, in which he pits organized, misogynist wizards against disorganized witches, led him to being accused of feminist writing. This work investigates this claim by first outlining the development of the historical witch stereotype or discourse and how that relates to the modern, feminist views of witches. Then Pratchett’s treatment of his major witch characters is examined and analyzed in terms of feminist and poststructuralist literary theory. It appears that, while giving the impression of supporting feminism and the feminist views of witches, Pratchett’s witches actually reinforce the patriarchal view of women.

The essay was written in 2006 and therefore encompasses most of the Discworld canon, though it focuses only on the Lancre witches, with no word for characters in the other series, such as Susan, Angua, Cheery, Polly/Oliver, or Sybil. It's significantly spoilery for most of the witch books, but in a general way "things end well, naturally" sort of way that I don't think would particularly ruin the books for you. Nevertheless, you might want to skim the parts for the books you haven't read yet, if you feel strongly about it. I had to skim past the stuff for A Hatful of Sky because that's the only witch novel I haven't read yet.

( My thoughts and reactions, longish, no major spoilers )

The consistent and deliberate attention Pratchett gives to the dream or concept of sexual and racial equality in a professional world is worth acknowledging, even if his methods are not purity and rightness beyond all criticism. Having put out more than 30 novels set in the same "world", he's going to make missteps, and having now read everything up to Going Postal (33/35), I can see how his characters and writing have developed and matured. Ironically, Equal Rites (3/35), a novel more overtly about sexism than any other except Monstrous Regiment, is one of his weakest books, and includes concepts about women, men, and magic that he rewrites, ignores, or retcons in later canon.


Cross-posted to discworld. I would love to hear others' thoughts about this. Please, if you do comment, keep an open mind and respectful tone.

thinkgeek.com is a darling thing.

I want this shirt.

Description:

We decided to make a shirt in tribute to one of the first traumatic experiences in life -- the visit to the pediatrician. It involves hanging out in waiting rooms with sick kids, toys you're not allowed to play with because other sick kids have been touching them, and an oversized children's Bible as the only reading material for folks under 3 feet tall. When you finally see the pediatrician, he does something to distract you so he can give you a shot, and all you get in return is a lollipop. Not a fair trade.

Our 100% cotton black shirt features the phrase "You Never Forget Your First Doctor" under an inexplicable picture of an old-style British police phone box with a white starburst behind it. We have no idea what's going on with that.

I'm also waiting for the day that someone makes an external hard drive that doesn't look like a book or a modem, but...looks like a TARDIS. Or like a miniature model of Minas Tirith. Or something else profoundly cool and geeky. You think it's a generic desktop decoration...BUT IT'S A HARD DRIVE! Awesome, neh?

Tired of sparkly vampires?

If you're feeling down or annoyed or irritated with all the Twilight business, or if you're feeling like you want to read a book about a hot female lead and vampires and werewolves and magic, don't read Stephanie Meyers.

Read Patricia Brigg's trilogy about Mercy Thompson.

Whether you ultimately love it or not, I can guarantee it has the following:

1. Strong, independent-thinking female protagonist who owns her own business and is the opposite of a wet blanket

2. a hot love triangle

3. endearing supporting characters that grow and change over the trilogy

4. some cool-ass magic stuff

5. a murder-mystery plotline

6. werewolves and vampires and shape-shifters and faeries oh my!