thisbluespirit: (reading)
thisbluespirit ([personal profile] thisbluespirit) wrote2025-10-04 08:29 pm
Entry tags:

A Cunning Art Fraud, Complete With A Goose

I will try and make a post again soon, but am now recovering from parental visit (due to me and the ME/CFS, not any fault of said parents). Yesterday, though, I got lucky at the BNA while searching for a newly-discovered address for an ancestor's siblings and found him accidentally involved in a plot to steal a painting by Petrus van Schendel. (London ancestors are v hard to find, especially when they have common names, but the joy of London is that every so often your relatives are briefly entangled with someone or something famous).

Anyway, the fraud was discovered, I was rewarded by a description of two rooms in a relative's house (29 St Mary-at-hill) and I thought some of you might enjoy the resulting magistrate's hearings:

A Cunning Plot )
missizzy: (jessiejames)
missizzy ([personal profile] missizzy) wrote2025-10-04 12:32 pm

(no subject)

The toucan on my bar has actually moved a little, but half an hour in, preview night has just sold out, and wait time is still at over an hour. Which indicates my odds aren't good. As I thought at one point last year, that could arguably turn out to be just as well. I'm now officially skipping NYCC for the second year in a row, but perhaps I'll go to that one again next year.
My train is now officially slightly delayed, too, though not enough to affect my plans of when I call for the Lyft to the station. I'm more or less packed, but there are still a few things I want to go before I go, mostly notably run and then empty the dishwasher. Emptying it might well be the final thing I do right before leaving.
yuletidemods: A hippo lounges with laptop in hand, peering at the screen through a pair of pince-nez and smiling. A text bubble with a heart emerges from the screen. The hippo dangles a computer mouse from one toe. By Oro. (Default)
yuletidemods ([personal profile] yuletidemods) wrote in [community profile] yuletide_admin2025-10-04 08:54 am
Entry tags:

Nominations Queries Post 3

We are 168 hours into tag approving! We began with 6078 individual fandom nominations to sort (where if two people submitted the same fandom, that would count twice towards the total). We have 210 fandom nominations still to sort. Please review the questions below to help us sort them quickly and correctly!

Please link your nominations page if telling us what to do about your nomination - thank you! Please either sign in to comment, or include a name with your anonymous comments, including replies to others' comments. Unsigned comments will stay screened. (You can find your own nominations at this link; keep in mind this gives you an 'Edit' screen where you can't actually submit any edits, but if you delete /edit, that's the page we're looking for.)

If we've processed any of your nominations and something doesn't look right, please comment (with your nominations page) to tell us about the problem and how you think it should be corrected. Questions are welcome.


Dragon's Dogma - Nominator, we won’t approve the group tag Pawn(s) (Dragon’s Dogma) as there is at least one specific Pawn. We can replace it with Arisen's Companion Pawn (Dragon's Dogma), which we approved last year, or remove this character, as you prefer. Please link your nominations page when you reply.

The Fox and the Hound (Disney Movies) - Nominator, we can't find characters who could be Tod And Vixie's Kits - could you clarify what you were thinking there please? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Ghost in the Shell (Anime & Manga) - this is nominated with Kusanagi Motoko, Batou, Kogusa, and Saito; meanwhile, we also have a nomination for Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex (Anime) with Batou, Hideo Kuze, Motoko Kusanagi, and Togusa. We would prefer to combine these under Stand Alone Complex but are open to hearing otherwise. Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Hell's Belles - Jaysea Lynn and Hell's Belles Series - Jaysea Lynn - Nominators, is For Whom the Belle Tolls the first in a series, or are these nominations a reference to the TikTok series related to the book? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Inner Gold - Lindsey Stirling feat. Royal & the Serpent (Music Video) - We’re wondering about “Lindsey Stirling's Character | Golden Dancer” specifically. Is that the violinist in the gold mesh played by Lindsey Stirling, or the character in red who becomes covered in gold also played by Lindsey Stirling, or are these the same character? Would you be open to us approving the video without characters, to more easily leave these interpretations up to a creator? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

LEGO Castle - This seems to combine more than one playset. Nominator, could you clarify what you are hoping for please? Also, which wizard? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Nestle's Alpine White "Sweet Dreams" Commercials - We'd appreciate some help with the character nominations. Characters nominated are:
  • Dancing Girl with sparkler #1 (Nestle)

  • Man in Farmyard (Nestle)

  • Man in Sweater (Nestle Ad)

  • White Wolf (Nestle Ad)

  • Woman in Coat (Nestle Ad)

  • Woman in White Hood (Nestle)

  • Woman on Beach (Nestle)

  • Woman on Swing (Nestle Ad)
Could we please check if the Man in Sweater is the same as the Man in Turtleneck approved last year? We'd like to approve Dancing Girls with Sparklers as a single unit, as it's not clear which one is #1 or what distinguishes her from the others. Lastly, we think that might be a fox rather than a wolf? For anyone curious, though please note the video does contain strobing lights… If you nominated this, please link your nominations page when you reply.

Overcooked (Video Games) - Nominator, we’re not sure how “Customers (Overcooked - Video Games)” and “Passers-by (Overcooked - Video Games)” are two separate groups of characters that also cannot be distinguished from each other within the group. Can you help us understand what you were going for? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Phasmophobia (Video Game) - Nominator, could you please clarify the nomination of Ghost(s)? There seem to be several classes of ghost NPCs - we'd be willing to approve one of the other specific types, or potentially two, since you only used up three character slots. It also looks like 'Shade' is a subset of 'Ghosts' - please clarify? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Relic Master Series - Catherine Fisher - There is a group nomination for The Makers, but it appears to us that some of the makers are named and given individual characteristics. Nominator, could you choose a maker? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Riddick (2013) - Could we please get some information about how this stands alone from the rest of the Chronicles of Riddick saga? If you nominated this, please link your nominations page when you reply.

The Secret Garden - Simon/Norman - We're a little unsure if the character nomination of "the Dreamers" works, since it includes at least two named characters. Nominate, could you expand on your thinking or pick a specific character please? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Soulmate Goose of Enforcement Fandom Trope (Anthropomorphic) - This is causing us some difficulty! We feel this isn’t an anthropomophic fandom, as the goose is already a character, who isn’t in need of anthropomorphising. We don’t generally approve tropes as fandoms; nominator, would it work to nominate under the original tumblr post instead? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Trash Taste (Podcast) - This podcast is nominated without characters, but it's difficult to see what you're looking for aside from RPF of the hosts, as this doesn't seem to contain a fictional narrative. Nominator, please clarify what you were hoping for? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

We Are คือเรารักกัน | We Are (Thailand TV 2024) RPF, เขาจ้างให้ผมจีบนักฆ่า | The Heart Killers (Thailand TV) RPF, รักไม่ระบุสถานะ | Dark Blue Kiss (TV) RPF, เลือดนายลมหายใจฉัน | My Golden Blood (Thailand TV 2024) RPF - Many of these characters were also nominated under GMMTV Actor RPF, so we plan to combine all of these nominations into GMMTV Actor RPF. If you're making a case for an alternate arrangement, please link your nominations page when you reply.

West Coast Avengers (Marvel Comics) - Nominator, did you mean the 2018-19 reboot series? Your character nominations seem to relate to that run, so we'd like to approve as West Coast Avengers (Comics 2018-19), assuming that matches your intention. Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Zoo (TV 2015) - We can’t find the character “Alyssa Diaz”, but that seems to be one of the actresses. Did you mean the character “Dariela Marzan”? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Previous queries


13th Century CE Plantagenet Dynasty RPF - this category contains Edward II and Piers Gaveston, who are also both nominated in 14th Century CE RPF. We intend to approve these under the former category; let us know if you have concerns. Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Aliens (1986) - Nominator, these characters are also nominated under the broader fandom Alien (Original Movies 1979-1997), so we would like to merge your nominations in with the rest of the original movies. Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Batman: Arkham Shadow (Video Game) - we received evidence for this but would like more information, please. Could the nominator, or anyone else who knows this family of games, please help us understand how it is distinct? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

The Breakfast Club (1985) - Brian Johnson’s parents are distinct characters and so we are not willing to approve them as a unit. Nominator, would you like to pick a parent? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold and World of the Five Gods - Lois McMaster Bujold - given that the characters nominated under the canonical tag include some from Hallowed Hunt & the Penric and Desdemona stories, we would like to approve all of these together under World of the Five Gods. Any objections? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Corbenic (Catherine Fisher) - We won’t approve Arthur's Company Ensemble (Corbenic) as this is a group with named members. Nominator, would you like to pick one or two (since you’ve only nominated two other characters)? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Dream Cycle - H. P. Lovecraft - All characters nominated for this fandom (other than Worldbuilding) were approved last year in the fandom Cthulhu Mythos - H. P. Lovecraft; as we have overlapping nominations, we’d like to combine again the same way. We've heard from one nominator but would like to hear from the other. Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Enchanted Forest Chronicles - Patricia Wrede - We won’t approve the character nomination Morwen's Cats (Enchanted Forest) as they are all individually named. Nominators, could you please each choose a cat? (Scorn has already been nominated, and another nominator is fine with either Trouble or Fiddlesticks.) Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Hear Me Cry (1984) (CBS Schoolbreak Special) Craig and David’s parents are distinct characters and so we are not willing to approve each set of parents as a single unit. Nominator, would you like to pick two of the four parents? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

History Boys - All Media Types - Nominator, we won’t approve this nomination as All Media Types. Would you prefer the movie or the play? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

MAIJO Otaro - Works - We don’t approve fandoms consisting of all of a creator’s works, and the nominated characters appear to come from at least 2 novels. Nominator, could you pick one of Maijō’s works to nominate, along with the associated characters? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Midsomer Murders - All Media Types - Nominator, we won't approve this nomination as All Media Types. Would you prefer TV or books? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

夢中さ きみに。| Muchuu sa Kimi ni (Manga) - We also have a nomination for the Anime; the nominator of that fandom says they have not read the manga but believes these could be combined if needed. We've heard from two Manga nominators who are OK with combining under Anime & Manga; could we hear from the third please? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Oxford Time Travel Universe - Connie Willis and To Say Nothing of the Dog: or How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last - Connie Willis - To Say Nothing nominator, do you have any concerns about combining your nominations with the larger universe? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Palais de Reine (Visual Novel) - We can’t find the character “Astrud”. Nominator, is this “Astrad”, or is it just a different localization? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Terminator (Movies) and Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) - Nominators, please make your cases for splitting or combining these. May we combine them into (Movies 1984 1991 2019), since Dark Fate follows Terminator 2? Please link your nominations page when you reply.

Tron - All Media Types - We won't approve this nomination as All Media Types. Nominator, please pick a canon. Please link your nominations page when you reply.



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Please either sign in to comment, or include a name with your anonymous comments, including replies to others' comments. Unsigned comments will stay screened.
senmut: Cutter cradling the injured Redlance to his chest (Elfquest: Cutter with Redlance)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-10-03 07:26 pm
Entry tags:

Fandom Fifty: #32

2006, the year I asked my late partner's family for help and got told to tough it out and stick with it "for the kids" without them listening to how dangerous everything was getting.

Did I see any movies? Let's find out.

Well, six films stood out enough for me to write up )
missizzy: (evenstar)
missizzy ([personal profile] missizzy) wrote2025-10-03 08:03 pm
Entry tags:

(no subject)

Amid everything else, I have spent the past couple days still in a bit of disbelief that Jane Goodall is actually dead. I read two of her books for my science class in middle school, and they were the pair I loved reading most. I've been interested in chimpanzees and great apes at least a little since. (I would read Birute Galdikas' book too, largely because of Goodall.) Though it's only as an adult that I've come to understand how how big everything she spent her life trying to do was, and just how much respect and admiration one has to have for her. I haven't opened her books in many years, but now I'm wondering if maybe I should get them down from the shelf, and look again.
I also, of course, have now seen the first episode of Critical Role's new campaign. I've noticed before how the first episode of a new liveplay campaign, their third included, can be a little slow, but not in this one; I was engaged immediately. These were fourteen players who know both the game and each other well enough to keep one captivated even during the stretches of the episode when they were merely gathering together. And when towards the end of the episode... )
Right after this I'll probably get my suitcase down from the attic and start packing. I'll have enough to do tomorrow before I go to catch the train.
senmut: spooky cat on a jackolantern (General: Halloween 3)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-10-03 06:29 pm

Fic Or Treat 2025

Fic or Treat
[community profile] ficortreat

Asp's Door


DW username: [personal profile] senmut

Light is on for: All trick or treaters who come in good faith.

What's in the Bowl? Drabbles (Ask for fandom & character(s); if I know it, I'll give it a shot!), random internet links or pictures (you provide me a topic, I find what I like about it), or 5 Things meta (again, provide topic, fandom, or character)

Let Me Know: Ask for fandom & character(s); if I know it, I'll give it a shot! | you provide me a topic, I find what I like about it | Provide topic, fandom, or character

Other info: I don't typically do dark anymore, I will NOT do non-con or child-harm, and I reserve the right to say 'no' to anything that makes me uncomfortable while also promising to offer you a second chance
Whatever ([syndicated profile] scalziwhatever_feed) wrote2025-10-03 11:10 pm

Sunset, 10/3/25

Posted by John Scalzi

It’s been a while since I’ve put one of these up here, so, here you go. It’s a doozy. I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

— JS

astrogirl: (Bill Cipher)
astrogirl ([personal profile] astrogirl) wrote2025-10-03 04:31 pm

Art!

You know I have to post about this sort of thing here when it happens, because it makes me go "Eeeeeeeeeee!" a lot in excited, delighted tones, and I can't not share: someone did a little fanart sketch for my Gravity Falls fic "Congratulations on Your Apotheosis." And it is awesome to see not just a visual representation of something in my fic, but of this particular moment in this particular fic. Eeeeee!

Note: Art is spoilery for a climactic moment in said fic, may seem a bit weird if you're not familiar with the show (or maybe even if you are, depending on your shipping opinions, I suppose), and may not be viewable if you don't have a Tumblr account (which is one of the reasons why I have one, even though I never post there).
runpunkrun: combat boot, pizza, camo pants = punk  (punk rock girl)
Punk ([personal profile] runpunkrun) wrote in [community profile] fandomcalendar2025-10-03 08:26 am

Fancake Theme for October: Uncommon Settings

Photograph of the full moon encircled with added text: Uncommon Settings, at Fancake.
[community profile] fancake is a thematic recommendation community where all members are welcome to post recs, and fanworks of all shapes and sizes are accepted. Check out the community guidelines for the full set of rules.

This theme runs for the entire month. If you have any questions, just ask!
skygiants: ran and nijiko from 7 Seeds, looking faintly judgy (dubious lesbians)
skygiants ([personal profile] skygiants) wrote2025-10-03 08:05 am
Entry tags:
nuh_s: Photo of the Toy Soldier looking up at a blue sky. It is pale with a drawn-on mustache and red lapels on its black jacket. (Default)
nuh_s ([personal profile] nuh_s) wrote in [community profile] stargateficrec2025-10-02 10:07 pm

Conversational Minefields, by Jedi Buttercup (G)

Show: SG-1, Eureka (TV)

Rec Category: Crossover
Characters: Paul Davis, Jack Carter
Pairings: Gen
Categories: Gen, Crossover
Warnings: None
Author's Journal: [personal profile] jedibuttercup
Author's Website: Jedi Buttercup's Ao3
Link: Conversational Minefields

Why This Must Be Read: A fun, short crossover. The town of Eureka, for those unfamiliar, is a town of scientific geniuses ostestably gathered together to invent things the military can use. Jack Carter is the sheriff, a normal man in an abnormal place. And OF COURSE Paul Davis would be the Pentagon liason. It's just the sort of job he would have with his stargate program experience.

snippet of fic )
nuh_s: Photo of the Toy Soldier looking up at a blue sky. It is pale with a drawn-on mustache and red lapels on its black jacket. (Default)
nuh_s ([personal profile] nuh_s) wrote in [community profile] stargateficrec2025-10-02 10:06 pm

Lovely, by Martha (T)

Show: SG-1, The Sentinel (TV 1996)

Rec Category: Crossover
Characters: Daniel Jackson, Jack O'Neill, Blair Sandburg, Jim Ellison, Sam Carter, Teal'c
Pairings: Daniel Jackson & Jack O'Neill Friendship, Jim Ellison & Blair Sandburg Friendship, SG-1 Team & Daniel Jackson
Categories: Gen, Crossover, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Episode: The Light
Warnings: None
Author's Journal: [personal profile] saffronhouse
Author's Website: Martha's Ao3
Link: Lovely

Why This Must Be Read: "Lovely" is one of my favorite pieces of eldritch horror period and single-handedly got me to watch The Sentinel. It's rich and interesting and strange. An absolutely fantastic tale of strangers being forced (and/or choosing) to work together, friendship/love, road trips, the geometry of existence, and... income tax evasion. A quick note that this fic is gen, but the sequel is slash.

snippet of fic )
nuh_s: Photo of the Toy Soldier looking up at a blue sky. It is pale with a drawn-on mustache and red lapels on its black jacket. (Default)
nuh_s ([personal profile] nuh_s) wrote in [community profile] stargateficrec2025-10-02 10:05 pm

you can hardly blame him for wanting to send backup, by Jedi Buttercup (T)

Show: SG-1, Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Rec Category: Crossover
Characters: Jack O'Neill, Buffy Summers, Daniel Jackson, Teal'c, Sam Carter
Pairings: Buffy Summers & SG-1 Team
Categories: Gen, Crossover, Episode: s08e04 Zero Hour
Warnings: None
Author's Journal: [personal profile] jedibuttercup
Author's Website: Jedi Buttercup's Ao3
Link: you can hardly blame him for wanting to send backup

Why This Must Be Read: Grin. This is a fun crossover. Buffy has had some prophetic ideas of where she's needed, leading into the melding of her fantasy genre with SG-1's scifi without betraying either. If you enjoyed Buffy in her pink halter top in the Initiative, this is the fic for you. She is also so similar in some ways to Jack and just as physically strong as Teal'c. This series delights me.

snippet of fic )
ozma914: Haunted Noble County Indiana (Default)
ozma914 ([personal profile] ozma914) wrote2025-10-01 10:24 pm

A Haunted, but Official, Book Press Release

I promise to post something not related to the new book next week! 

 

 Yes, it's true: News releases still exist, and authors still release them. Where they fly after that--it's hard to tell. Some authors might find this template useful; if anyone wants to, feel free to send this off to the media/social media/internet thingy/newsletter/skywriting airplane of your choice.

 

NEWS RELEASE

Albion Authors Write the Haunted History of Noble County

 

An Albion couple steps into the supernatural with their new book, Haunted Noble County, Indiana.

Published by The History Press, the book is part of its Haunted America series, and comes out on August 12th. Mark R. Hunter and Emily Hunter spent over a year researching the book, and collected stories from many sources, including eyewitnesses.

“Every area has ghost stories,” Mark explains. “We just put them together and added pictures.”

 

 

 

 

Some of the stories are well known to locals, including the legend of Spook Hill, which inspired a famous poem by Indiana’s former State Poet Laureate. Others stem from events from Noble County’s history, such as the hanging of a horse thief and accused murderer at Diamond Hill, near Ligonier. Still others were told directly to the Hunters, including their favorite: “The Thing In the Basement”.

Do the authors believe?

“I’ve seen a few things,” Mark admits, “and I keep an open mind. But most of the people we talked to directly are absolutely convinced they saw something supernatural, and we respect that.”

They were also able to dispel some rumored hauntings, and in a few cases were disappointed to find no stories at all. “Look at the Noble County Old Jail Museum,” Mark says. “How could a place that atmospheric not be haunted? But we found no ghost stories there.”

 

 
Photo by Mark R. Hunter, who had a lucky lighting day.



 

 

Many of the stories they did find were from normal homes, but historical hauntings include places such as the former Kneipp Springs Sanitarium in Rome City, The Strand Theater in Kendallville, and the former Noble County Asylum near Albion.

The resulting book, Haunted Noble County, Indiana, is available on the Arcadia Publishing website, the Hunters’ social media sites, their website at www.markrhunter.com, and various retail locations around Noble County.

It’s not the Hunters’ first foray into local history. Together they produced the books Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights: A Century or So with the Albion Fire Department; Images of America: Albion and Noble County; and Hoosier Hysterical: How the West Became the Midwest Without Moving at All.

Mark R. Hunter is also the author, with Emily’s help, of two humor books: Slightly Off the Mark: The Unpublished Columns, and More Slightly Off the Mark: Why I Hate Cats, and Other Lies. He also has three published books set in Noble County: the novels Coming Attractions, Storm Chaser and its sequel, The Notorious Ian Grant, as well as a related short story collection, Storm Squalls. His young adult adventure, The No-Campfire Girls, is set in southern Indiana. Another novel, Radio Red, is set in Michigan.

Mark is a 911 dispatcher and volunteer firefighter in Albion, and Emily is a trail guide at the Pokagon State Park Saddle Barn. He blogs at https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/ or substack.com/@markrhunter, and can be found hanging out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter/.

 

Note to Media: Mark and Emily are available for questions and interviews, and can be contacted through the website at www.markrhunter.com.

 




 

 

 


WIL WHEATON dot NET ([syndicated profile] wwdn_feed) wrote2025-10-02 07:56 pm
Whatever ([syndicated profile] scalziwhatever_feed) wrote2025-10-02 04:00 pm

The Big Idea: Seamus Sullivan

Posted by Athena Scalzi

Greek mythology is a mythos that is full of despair, anguish, and characters that can’t seem to a catch a break. Author Seamus Sullivan brings us some of these familiar ancient characters in his debut novel, Daedalus is Dead. Follow along to see how Sullivan’s relationship to his son contributed to the inspiration of this classic myth retelling.

SEAMUS SULLIVAN:

Years ago, when I first tried to write about Daedalus in the form of a ponderous and contraction-free short story, Maria Dahvana Headley gave me some characteristically thoughtful line edits, and one note in particular stayed with me. She had gone back into my draft and added contractions, explaining that a lot of writers instinctively reach for “I am” rather than “I’m” when writing something set in antiquity, but at the expense of distancing the story from the reader. Contractions allow for intimacy, and intimacy is what the story demands.

Years later, I tried to write about Daedalus again. I had become a parent, and the first year of my son’s life overlapped with the first year of the global COVID-19 pandemic, a brutal police crackdown on protests, the January 6th insurrection, and other delights. I was deeply angry with men, with a society built to accommodate the worst impulses of men, and with myself for being part of it. With Headley’s note at the back of my mind, I framed the story as Daedalus’s direct address to his late son, Icarus. I’d worked in this mode before, a parent directly addressing their child. There was an assumption in there somewhere that any kid born in the present day would, before long, start observing the world and demanding that the adults explain themselves.

For me, Greek mythology’s appeal has always had something to do with grandeur, with the glory and tragedy of an imagined past, sure, but also with scale and awe and durability. Maybe that’s just how it feels when you read the stuff as a kid. Writing in the Mary Renault style wouldn’t work for me – I didn’t have the skill or the eye for anthropological detail to pull that off, and anyway there was no point in pretending I wasn’t doing the literary equivalent of shaking my fist at the world immediately outside my window. So most of my narration’s intimacy came from my own day-to-day, which largely consisted of carrying an inquisitive baby around and explaining things to him, and for the grandeur I went back to Homer.

Emily Wilson’s Odyssey translation had been out for a few years by then, so I went over passages from that and from my older, Stanley Lombardo Iliad translation. Those helped with the details of how royal households worked (slave labor and all), what funeral rites were like, and a general idea of how to convey that sense of grandeur in vernacular-friendly language that would pull readers into this imagined version of a bronze age society. Wilson’s Odyssey introduction was a great resource for social context and for how composition and performance of Homeric verse might have worked. In the spring of last year I got to see Wilson perform the opening lines of The Iliad for a packed New York Public Library audience, in the original Greek, with enviable gusto; I came away with a deeper appreciation for the artistry and energy that kept these texts alive, in performance and print, for millennia.


Magpie-like, I accumulated images and ideas from other sources. Much of the opening chapter, describing the escape from Crete and the fall of Icarus, comes from Ovid. The Homeric Hymn to Demeter, an intensely affecting depiction of a mother’s search for her child, has a haunting image of an older woman seeking work at the village well as a nursemaid, and this influenced my back story for Naucrate, Daedalus’s wife and Icarus’s mother. (Naucrate has a name and a job description, household slave, in Pseudo-Apollodorus, but we don’t have much surviving information on her character beyond that.) I learned about an old tradition of reluctance to mention the king of the underworld by name, referring to him only through indirect titles, and worked that into the book as well. While Daedalus, the character, has an extremely dry sense of humor, I did my best to put some jokes in, because there are jokes and boasts and coarse insults in Homer, and because I find people do crack jokes when they’re under constant stress.

All this research made the book genuinely fun to write, even though it’s a book about things in the world that make me intensely sad and angry. I did my best to make the book fun to read as well. Only an egomaniac would seriously entertain the hope that his work will stick around as long as Homeric verse, but I do like to think about the comfort and collective enjoyment that audiences would have found in hearing very old myths performed and retold centuries ago, including the many, many versions of those myths that haven’t survived into the present day. If my own version can provide some of that enjoyment for you, if we can both shake our heads, together, at the terror and grotesquerie and grandeur of the world we inhabit right now, I’ll feel like I did my job. 


Daedalus is Dead: Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Bookshop|Books-a-Million|Powell’s

Read an excerpt.