Norwescon 2007, in brief

It annoys me that here I got all excited about wanting to go to the filk at Norwescon this year only to have my voice utterly sabotaged by the bug that laid me low this past week. Bah. Antibiotics and codeine-laced cough syrup did at least get me there, but I wound up spending a good chunk of the con resting and reading.

Still, what little public wandering I did was fun. I blew a lot of money buying loot: I got a hoodie with this year's con logo on it (since I needed another hoodie), a whole pile of books (including rachelcaine's Morganville Vampire books 1 and 2 and Firefly: The Official Companion Volume One), two CDs (Heather Alexander's final, Everafter, and Traveler, a re-release of old Julia Ecklar material), and a pin with the Galactica logo on it. I was not able to get the Heather Alexander songbook, but only because the songbook was still at the printer's. I pre-ordered one and was heartily assured I would be receiving it over the next week or so.

I ran into Robin who I'd met at Writer's Weekend--she was running the flyer table for the Seattle Browncoats, and it was pleasant to bump into her again. Also met genkitty (ETA 9:05pm: Er uh, I mean, chirik; see comments below, thank you sianmink) for the first time, along with her boyfriend, and that was neat--Dara and I met up with them at the Alexander James concert, see below on that. Ran into pstratt in the Dealers' Room--in fact, he was helping run the corner booth for Book Universe, where I bought my pile of books, and he kindly asked how I was doing. Also finally, today, ran into technoshaman and cflute; solarbird and I showed up for the 2pm jam panel, though Dara was way more capable of playing an instrument than I was. Stupid illness. And I saw off-LJ friend Liz and her current boy Jeremy, and said hi.

The high point of the con was getting to see the Alexander James Adams concert, a fine live proof that he will be well equipped to continue the music of the Heatherlands. Dara is particularly impressed by him. Having been similarly impressed by The Doyle, I am charmed. ^_^

A good con, at least what I got to see of it! I hope that those who got to see more of it had fun too.

2007 Book Log #17-21: The Blood Series, by Tanya Huff

Inspired by the recent starting up of the TV show Blood Ties, I've gone and plowed through all five of the Blood books by Tanya Huff. These are all re-reads, but it's been long enough since I read them all that it was almost like reading them all over again. And it was a pleasure, especially after reading a lot more current urban fantasy--in her rather understated kind of way, Huff did her part to contribute to what you see in the more recent run of books.

First and foremost: as vampires go, Henry is a fabulous vampire character. He's got his share of hokey I Am Vampire schtick, sure, but by and large he is refreshingly clear of the woe-is-me angst you see in a lot of vamp stories. I also like Huff's treatment of vampires--that they're not actually really dead, but instead are living creatures that are dramatically changed. For example, they still have a heartbeat, albeit extremely slow. Second: I dig Vicki as a tough, no-nonsense heroine. Third: I really like that the mortal side of the love triangle, Michael, holds his own against Henry. He too is a fabulous character. And Huff's always fun to me to read just because queerfolk are involved in her stories too. Not in any special LOOKIT ME I'M QUEER way, but just... there. Part of the story. Like life. And! Fun to read fantasy novels set in Canada as well.

Of the set, I think my favorites are books 3 and 4, Blood Lines and Blood Pact--where we get an ancient Egyptian mummy trying to take over Toronto, and then, Vicki's mother dying and some scary Dr. Frankenstein-y things going on.

All in all, highly recommended for fun romantic tension and suspenseful action, neither of which ever go out of their way to be over the top with the Dark Dark Darkity Darkness. I approve. Four stars.