forthcoming books to buy

First-time novelist weaves £1m magic

Historical tale billed as 'Harry Potter for adults' set to be a
world blockbuster

> David Smith, arts and media correspondent
> Sunday February 22, 2004
> The Observer (UK)

> Watch and learn, Harry Potter, and stand by for some serious
magic. The company that championed the schoolboy wizard is about to launch one of the biggest marketing campaigns in publishing history for its new international blockbuster - but this time it's magic for
grown-ups. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by first-time novelist Susanna Clarke, is an 800-page epic about the rivalry between the last two magicians in England, set during the Napoleonic wars and featuring real-life characters including Lord Byron and the Duke of Wellington. Its combination of historical wit and spellbound fantasy has prompted comparisons with Jane Austen and Philip Pullman.

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more jay/silent bob recs

a funny thing happened on the way to the strip club, by deadgrrl. pg. absolutely fuckin hilarious, but spoilers for dogma. really don't read it if you haven't seen it. it will decrease your enjoyment.

gin-soaked boy by kelandris. quite enjoyable if you ignore the lyrics. this chick has a thing for songfic. however, i'd say she's second best in the fandom. she doesn't have deadgrrl's grip on character voice, though.

favor won, by kelandris. sweet, and dead cute. but far too angsty for the fandom. this one isn't going on the recs page.

changes everything, by kelandris. overly serious and angsty, so not for the recs page; but i REALLY liked the ending. so if you're craving the pairing... give it a go. but ignore the lyrics.

fire burn, by kelandris. pg. oh, my god, the CUTENESS of this high-school story--back when silent bob was bobby. it's really stuck with me. it's not that long, rather poignant, not that funny--serious still, and angsty, like kel does. however, it's set in the past, which separates it somehow; and it's very good, so i am going to rec it. again, ignore the lyrics.

the razors, ribbons and silk trilogy by kelandris: razors, ribbons, and the sharp edge in the silk. this series is, first off, EXCELLENT. it's also sweeping. i'm going to call it an serious!AU--gritty, a little desperate and sad, but wholly believable, although it was written, apparently, before jay and silent bob strike back. it covers their meeting (ages sixteen and twenty) and their whole history from bob's point of view, and while bob isn't quite who he is in canon, and jay isn't quite who HE is in canon, it's beautiful and believable. perhaps i should say it approaches original fiction.


it's been snowing all day and now i find out that it's really fucking tough to fly on a plane with a dog who's not teeny-tiny. today has been one humongous headache.