and rest eternal sorely need

[incandescens]

One of those distinctly blah days. I don't think I'm ill, and I don't think it's a regular problem, and I did in fact get some definite work done on the Coding Clinic Index at work . . . then again, perhaps that is the problem, as I feel rather braindead tonight and haven't managed to get anything significant/interesting done. Pfeh.

Irritating.

And it was raining (though not the sort of level of storm that the people in the North are dealing with, thank goodness).

I did manage to obtain a copy of the Jerry Springer Opera and have been playing it most of the evening, then quoting bits of it at friends. I hope they will forgive this innocent enthusiasm. If not the lyrics.

Oh, and re Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories: I need more Card Points. And better cards, dammit. Blasted Moogles.

Currently reading Colleen Doran's Distant Soil graphic novel series. I wonder if it's worth doing an article on it for Aestheticism? It's not manga, but it is very beautiful indeed, and the central couple is male, and . . . well, it's a good series.

---

Channel Firing

That night your great guns, unawares,
Shook all our coffins as we lay,
And broke the chancel window-squares,
We thought it was the Judgment-day

And sat upright. While drearisome
Arose the howl of wakened hounds:
The mouse let fall the altar-crumb,
The worms drew back into the mounds,

The glebe cow drooled. Till God called, "No;
It's gunnery practice out at sea
Just as before you went below;
The world is as it used to be:

"All nations striving strong to make
Red war yet redder. Mad as hatters
They do no more for Christés sake
Than you who are helpless in such matters.

"That this is not the judgment-hour
For some of them's a blessed thing,
For if it were they'd have to scour
Hell's floor for so much threatening ....

"Ha, ha. It will be warmer when
I blow the trumpet (if indeed
I ever do; for you are men,
And rest eternal sorely need)."

So down we lay again. "I wonder,
Will the world ever saner be,"
Said one, "than when He sent us under
In our indifferent century!"

And many a skeleton shook his head.
"Instead of preaching forty year,"
My neighbour Parson Thirdly said,
"I wish I had stuck to pipes and beer."

Again the guns disturbed the hour,
Roaring their readiness to avenge,
As far inland as Stourton Tower,
And Camelot, and starlit Stonehenge.

-- Thomas Hardy

Comments

[dipping_sauce]

Currently reading Colleen Doran's Distant Soil graphic novel series. I wonder if it's worth doing an article on it for Aestheticism? It's not manga, but it is very beautiful indeed, and the central couple is male, and . . . well, it's a good series.

I'd read that.

Completely unrelated, are there any recent BD series you'd recommend? I want to pick some up, but I have no idea where to start.

[incandescens]

I like Rapaces and Scorpion (both by Marini -- Rapaces is modern sort-of-vampires, finished, Scorpion is historical swashbuckling and ongoing.) Also the Requiem series by Ledroit and Mills (dark fantastic linked to modern world, very twisted humour) and Le Troisieme Testament quartet by Alice, historical swashbuckler conspiracy. Also the 666 series by Tacito -- very warped Lilith-leads-demonic-invasion stuff, warning, sense of humour may offend many. Also big breasts.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

I seem to remember reading some Distant Soil a decade or so ago and thinking-- well, 'They order, said I, this matter better in France.' American comics never look as professional as BDs to me and their aesthetics are certainly not mine. (Course, often enough neither are the BDs'. Breasts, yes.) But y'know, if you were tempted to do an article in all your copious free time, we'd love to run it.

[incandescens]

While Distant Soil is rather scattered in its early episodes, it pulls itself together admirably as the series continues, and the main couple (powerful uke trapped by custom, seme slave-lover) are pretty enough to adorn a lot of manga. If I can get my scanner running at some point, I would be glad to do something -- the story is basically very shoujo in sensibility. I would really need to scan a few pages, though, to demonstrate the prettiness.

[avalonjones.livejournal.com]

I am very annoyed that they decided NOT to bring out the action figure of Leon from the first KINGDOM HEARTS game.

[archangelbeth]

I have the WARP Graphics version of A Distant Soil, as well. (She said she made some plot changes to the original which she wasn't comfortable with, and has redrawn several bits, but it's neat to have both versions anyway. O:> ) I can try to remember to dig it out sometime when you're over here...

She does, indeed, draw the pretty. O:>

[incandescens]

I think I have everything except Coda now, and that's not yet out, but thanks. :)

[tavella.livejournal.com]

Did she actually finish A Distant Soil? I know I brought two different versions and I don't think she finished either of 'em.

[incandescens]

I think the final part, Coda, comes out in March.

[tavella.livejournal.com]

Huh! I may have to get them, then. After the second time, I decided I wasn't going to buy another restart unless it got finished.