northie

The Mars house by Natasha Pulley. My rating: 5 (out of 5) stars Like other recent novels, this is both a great story and a shrewd commentary on current times. Western exceptionalism turned on its head, refugees, language barriers, how to start a new life, gender issues, and politics are all woven into this engaging, engrossing sci-fi/fantasy/romance. Life on Mars is difficult. Those who have adapted over generations can cope with the cold, the long, long winters, and the reduced gravity. Those who have recently arrived can't. However they have one advantage: strength. Earth strength. A strength that is both feared and needed by the resident population. January Stirling is a British ballet dancer and now, bewildered environmental refugee on Mars. Aubrey Gale is a Chinese-heritage, Mars-born politician, head of his House and a candidate for Consul. This is their story and it's one that draws you in and makes you care, really care, about what happens along the way. It should also make you think and reflect. And maybe, also consider mammoths.

Indeed. Here in the UK, it's more about policing people's appearance and enforcing 'acceptable' boundaries for how individuals should look. To me, gender is a social construct (distinct from biological attributes) and covers a wide spectrum, with 'male' and 'female' at either end and a considerable space in between. I am one of the in-betweeners. I'm glad you liked Julian. He is one of my more engaging characters.

He does, even though he's pushed into quite a lot of what happens. Most of it, actually. I get that. 🤨😄

I'm interested that you found it complex. Essentially, it's one Monday in Julian's life but, as you say, a lot happens. It stirs up all kinds of memories as some days do. Yes, Julian manages to fulfil the 'honest and open' mantra but he finds it very difficult. Much more so than he thought at the start of the story when the phrase kinda trips off his tongue without much regard to what it actually means. Thanks for reading. 😊

Thanks!. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks! The 'clever construction' was more a question of deciding this spot needed something else; then that one, then another. I'm pleased you appreciated the 'emotional depth'. I don't think you necessarily need to understand something before you can accept it happens and makes other people happy.

And just in time for Halloween as well. 🤨😄 Fun and actually really quite plausible story.

Adi, thanks for this short, spare, deeply felt offering. It is (largely) your truth and your lived experience and that comes across in spades.

One more summer's day in the city. Thunder rolled around mounded, purplish-grey skies which stretched from horizon to horizon. In the distance, shabby blocks of council flats appeared to reach up accusingly into the air, as if to blame the storm for any number of predicaments they and their tenants were currently experiencing. The lousy weather leached out any distinguishing colours, leaving only blacks and greys. And yet more greys. On either side of the main road, non-descript, flat

Doesn't everyone hate Mondays? Julian Palmer would normally agree without hesitation until one particular Monday threatens to turn his life on its head.

Thanks, Cassie, for a great story which so acknowledges that there aren't just two boxes into which the whole of humanity has to be stuffed. And this fluidity isn't a recent thing either. Those individuals or societies who police and shame how other people look, dress, or identify need to learn and accept this. Jay is brave and resourceful, giving his/her inner self room to explore, even though what results isn't always clear cut. I can appreciate that. I'm more non-binary than genderfluid, but I get that feeling of being outside the norm, of not fitting in. I'm pleased you offered Jay happiness and hope - everyone should have that chance.

Thanks for reading! I'm glad the story made such a connection with you.

Prompt challenges are best served almost without notice in my experience. 🤨😄 Looking forward to it. 👍

I'm fascinated at how the layout directs my reading and the voice I hear in my head. Would the poem sound different if it was conventionally set out? I guess so. Not better or worse necessarily, different. All part of the dark arts of the poet... 🤨😄

Thanks! I remember having fun getting Eric dressed up.

After a writing slump lasting far too long, it's giving me real pleasure to get my teeth into a long (comparatively) piece of fiction. Just got that final scene to do...

If I wasn't already trying to wrestle my own entry under control (aiming for 15k words), I might be up for giving this a go. Next year maybe.

Thank you! I was a writer trying to find their feet when I embarked on this story. I learned a lot as it progressed.

OK - in which case, would it be possible to add Review to the list? Seems like a word that'd be useful to staff blogs as well.

Previously when posting a new entry to my blog, Hearsay, I've been able to select my own tags. This time, the only option appears to be a list of tags used, I guess, with the staff blogs. I am only allowed to select from this list. Is this a change or a fault? I hope a fault. I get the same list whether making the blog entry or as here, after it's been published. Windows10 laptop using Chrome.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir My rating: 5 (out of 5) stars What an amazing novel! Hard science, suspense, so many emotions, shocks and surprises, and a most human of tales. Andy Weir does a fantastic job of marrying (astro)physics, gentle humour, and a very real, fallible hero into a story that caught hold of me right from the off and only increased its grip as the tension and emotions racked up. A man wakes up in what he deduces to be a spaceship. He doesn't know who he is, where he is, or why he's alone in outer space. It's a start that invites the reader to join in discovering the man's present, his past, and maybe the future. Andy Weir's imagination is breath-taking, yet almost everything, I'd guess, has its roots in some science or another. Yes, the novel is science heavy. Yet, it's mostly presented so that an enquiring reader can either understand the science or at least get the gist. Other times, it's almost just a part of the drama. Something to be experienced at the same time as our hero does. This is a book that demonstrates a profound belief in humanity, and how the actions of one lone human can change things for the better. In the current climate, that's a message that runs contrary to so much out there. A pleasure to read and re-read. I read about three-quarters in book format before starting again with the audio. Ray Porter makes the hours fly by, with some help from elsewhere. Being any more specific would give away the plot.

My favourite? Number 4, I think. For various reasons, there has been much less mowing this year in the UK. One of my nieces and I came across a multi-hued meadow in Herefordshire. She declared she could sit and watch that one patch of land all day without getting bored. That everchanging aspect is captured so well in what you write. Different land, yet the same. Your writing about nature is a constant source of delight. Thank you.

I can answer the badge element of your question with confidence (hopefully). You get badges for doing various things on site - visiting GA consistently, commenting, posting things, being followed, how many years you've been a member. It's possible for pretty much all members to get at least some badges. Clicking on the 'Recent badges' section of your Profile's Achievements area (towards the top on a laptop view) brings up all the badges you've been awarded. Most of them are self-explanatory. See part of mine as an example: As for ranks, Myr can correct me as necessary. My understanding is points which count towards rankings are earned mostly (entirely?) from interactions in the Stories part of the site. That can be posting stories (and chapters), reviews, and most commonly, making and responding to comments. Any member can grow their reputation but Authors can tend to have an advantage. As a general example, I'm 7,001 points short of progressing to my next rank (10).

He has for many people. He is a character I still love. Thanks for reading!

What a lovely selection. For Pride, yes, but also published on today's Pulse anniversary. They all radiate acceptance, hope, universality, and how we are part of nature, not divorced from it. 🌈😘