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Recent content by Roan Davidson

  1. Roan Davidson

    [Reading Group] March 2014: His Majesty's Dragon Discussion

    Re the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire: To me, it seems like an intense, interspecies bromance. And I imagine it remains a bromance throughout the series and doesn't turn into anything else, because logistics. (Although I'm sure some fanfic author somewhere has overcome that...
  2. Roan Davidson

    [Reading Group] March 2014: His Majesty's Dragon Discussion

    I didn't remember that, but even so--again, minor spoiler--when Laurence meets Celeritas for the first time, there is a paragraph about how everything he knew about dragons being useless without handlers, or only good for breeding unharnessed, was wrong. And a few paragraphs later, he thinks...
  3. Roan Davidson

    [Reading Group] March 2014: His Majesty's Dragon Discussion

    Good point. The book never tells us why dragons allow themselves to be subjugated to humans. As for feral dragons--I think that was a popular misconception, wasn't it? Doesn't Laurence discover (slight spoiler here) that these feral, handler-less dragons may well have positions of command?
  4. Roan Davidson

    Anarchist philosophy--details, resources, anything you've got

    When I was studying the Spanish Civil War--a time when Anarchists were a strong faction--I realized that this isn't just one thing. One popular form was about different guild-like groups of workers, all with self management and direct influence over government issues. I think this is what Wiki...
  5. Roan Davidson

    [Reading Group] March 2014: His Majesty's Dragon Discussion

    For me, the relationship was Laurence's saving grace. The guy was stiff, priggish and overly-concerned with making sure people showed him the proper respect--and, ok, he's a military man, so that makes sense--but at least he couldn't resist Tremeraire's instant and steadfast devotion. Both too...
  6. Roan Davidson

    [Reading Group] March 2014: His Majesty's Dragon Discussion

    Just finished. I'll give it a three-star review on Goodreads. Great concept, a decent story--but I've no interest in reading the rest of the series. I enjoyed it, but it didn't draw me in enough to keep going.
  7. Roan Davidson

    [Reading Group] March 2014: His Majesty's Dragon Discussion

    I'm well into part two. It's no hardship to read, and I find watching Laurence navigate his way in his new life more interesting than the way he was torn from his old life in part one. I like the tension between Laurence and Granby and how their relationship develops, and I'm curious to see what...
  8. Roan Davidson

    Contractions In Dialogue

    Vulcans apparently don't use contractions when speaking English--at least judging by Mr. Spock. Star Trek's audience has never seemed to mind. ;)
  9. Roan Davidson

    [Reading Group] March 2014: His Majesty's Dragon Discussion

    I agree. Plus everything I know about Laurence, I know only because the author told me. Laurence lists the things he misses from his life on land--opera, dining with good company, the girl he left behind--but since I've never seen him actively engaged with those things or that girl, they don't...
  10. Roan Davidson

    [Reading Group] March 2014: His Majesty's Dragon Discussion

    1. No, this is a new author for me. 2. I'll be comparing this one to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell, another magical alt-history of the Napoleanic wars (with the best footnotes ever), whether I want to or not! But it'll be fun to see the differences. 3. N/A
  11. Roan Davidson

    [Reading Group] March 2014: His Majesty's Dragon Discussion

    Is it all right to invite myself into the group? I've got the book on Kindle and would love to join the discussion.
  12. Roan Davidson

    Do you have to be a fantasy reader to be a fantasy writer?

    I think you should always read stuff in your genre--just for starters, if you don't love the genre, if you don't find yourself wanting to read it, there's no reason to write in it. Besides, you'll want an idea of what's out there, so you'll know how other authors handle things like...
  13. Roan Davidson

    Ever stop close to the end of your story and ask if it even makes sense?

    Yup. I suspect a story is never as good as I think it is when I'm on a writer's high, and never as bad as I think it is when all the self-doubts slam into me. This is why crit partners and writing buddies can be a good thing: they give us a shot at some objectivity.
  14. Roan Davidson

    Word Association Game

    Transmutation Darkvision
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