The Zoo over Ambuscade Street

I'm currently reading Light by M. John Harrison, an author who I'm not very familiar with. I'm currently borrowing Things That Never Happen from Stacey, a collection of his short stories, but it didn't really click with me. I've only read the first four or so stories in the book, though, and I wasn't really in a thinking sort of mood when I read them, so that might be part of the problem.

I picked up Light on the earnest recommendation of Neil Gaiman, who calls it one of his favorite science fiction novels. I didn't bother to read the summary either on Amazon or on the flap of the book before I started it, and was therefore caught extremely off-guard by what happened in the first three pages. It was kind of nice...I may have to start blind-reading books like that more often.

Thus far it's a fairly dense book, and I haven't been giving it the amount of attention it really deserves. I may have to go back a few chapters and start over as a result. It's really, really good, in a "there's lots of strange things going on, and I know there's connections of a strange sort between these disparate storylines, but I haven't the faintest idea where this is going" sort of way.

It kind of reminds me of Cryptonomicon, in that I feel like I would really benefit from a couple physics or quantum mechanics classes before I reread it. In the case of Cryptonomicon, I took a bunch of math classes (Linear Algebra, Computer Security, et al) before I reread it, and the math parts of it made much more sense in a later reading. Light is kind of like that, but only kind of. Maybe. I'm not sure yet.

I started reading Tales of the Cthulu Mythos, but it annoyed me, because there are only two actual Lovecraft stories in there, and I already have both of them in other collections. Bleh! I'm not sure what I'll read after I finish up Light. Maybe I'll make another list of what's on my "to read" shelf and ask for opinions. Pity I don't have any more unread Sherri Tepper, as that seems to be what I'm really in the mood for. Stacey has my copy of Hyperion, so I can't embark on the Cantos until after I get that back. Provided she doesn't want to borrow the rest, that is...

[EDIT] I should note that any book that has a giant yellow duck attempting to shove itself into a diner is OK by me.

Dave Barry has tackled my pet issue, with all his usual brilliance.

Truthfully, I'd vote for him over either of the two current major candidates. The Most Boring Man Alive (aka Nader, the only person to ever put me to sleep in less than five minutes, literally) likely isn't going to be on my ballot, either, so there goes that choice. Damn this state...

It looks like there are going to be some new shounen-ai anime series coming out in the next year. I don't know much about either, but some of the art I've seen from Loveless looks gorgeous. hinadori has some other pictures up, one of which is currently adorning my desktop.

I need more pretty pictures.

If the people I'm sending stuff to (you know who you are) want my wallpaper collection burned as well, let me know now.

Fairly complete list of shows starting next month in Japan here.

This is what's caught my interest thus far:

-"Windy Tale" (I know nothing but what you have there, but "interesting and artsy" sounds good)
-"Kannaduki no Miko" (maybe, I'm a little iffy on this)
-"Fantastic Children" (already licensed by Bandai)
-"Tsukuyomi - Moon Phase"
-"Bleach"
-"Harukanaru Toki no Nakade - Hachiyosho" (I am intrigued by your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter)
-"Gankutsuou" (Must! have!)
-"Beck"
-"Zipang" (Oooooooo....)
-"Rozen Maiden" (So pretty...it'll probably suck)
-"Black Jack"
-"Gakuen Alice"
-"Meine Liebe" (Yum. It doesn't matter if it sucks, it's damn pretty)

Not that I'll get to see any of these until they're licensed...I'll have to make the choice to buy or not buy any limited boxes based only on word-of-mouth. If I keep my AnimeTakeout subscription I'll be able to watch them there without much financial risk, but I'll miss preorder discounts (for limited stuff only) if I wait.

I hate having to pick shows based on hype. There are a few people who'll be watching some of these shows who have similar tastes to mine, jpine for one, so I'll have to watch for their opinions.

Note the time. It's 12:09 here. I just got the following email:

Please note that the meeting for the 20th was cancelled.

The meeting was rescheduled for today at 10:00AM in [meeting location].

The Quarantine Plans to be discussed are for building [the one I'm in charge of].

Hopefully, we'll see you or designated representative 10:00AM.

Sometimes I really, really wonder why I bother coming in at all.