Mutterings From Cassandra

My LJ friend Alex Voy alexvoy has provided a link to a genuine horror story.

I wish I could say that this article surprised me, but it doesn't.  I see this sort of historical cluelessness among my students all the time.  For extra credit (and what must be personal masochism), I sometimes give them a ten-question quiz on major facts in American history.  Believe me, it's not all that difficult -- stuff like, "In what decade did World War I occur"?, "When did US women receive the right to vote in federal elections?", "Who was Dwight David Eisenhower"?,  "What major event in American history occurred from 1861-65?"  Most of the scores are under 50%.  Students aren't much better with current events or US government basics, either:  Their responses to questions such as "What is the Patriot Act"? and "What is an electoral vote?" say more about kids' imaginative ability to invent answers than to show actual knowledge

 

It's not that these students aren't bright; most of them are.  But somewhere along the line, many of them have never been shown how and why history (and history in the making) matters.  Part of it is just the ego and shortsightedness of youth.  But part of it is a failure of education.  The adults in their world haven't managed to convince them that they should care about the past, probably because many of the adults don't care themselves.

 

In some ways, I can't blame them -- what use has history been to us lately?  I'm a history obsessive, and in the past few years, what good has my knowledge done me?  All it does is make me terrified and pissed off.  It seems as if historians and scientists have become nothing more than modern Cassandras -- doomed to give true prophecies about the future while no one in power listens.  Look at our so-called leaders:  Despite all sorts of historical and scientific evidence, the Bush administration continues to deny the effects of global warming, seems unable to realize that history has shown torture to be a fairly ineffective method of getting accurate information, ignores what history tells us about how natives usually respond to foreign invaders, and on and on. 

 

No wonder I prefer to spend time in Roddenberry land, even with all its sexist and nationalist limitations.

 

Of course, good capitalist consumer that I am, spending money sometimes helps, too.  I spent a fine afternoon last week in IKEA , a Swedish home-furnishings chain.  Their marketers and designers are sheer geniuses.  Somehow, they manage to price and display their wares so that I am simply compelled to buy them.  The only thing I really needed was a desk lamp (black, halogen, modernistic design, $6.99, bulb included.)  But do you think I walked out of that store with a bill for only $6.99 plus tax?  Ha!  I also bought a set three colorful plastic storage boxes (green, purple, turquoise) for which I have no real use.  But they were $1.99!!  And tiny strings of battery-powered rice lights.  Do I need them?  Oh, right.  But . . .they were 99 cents.  And came in three different colors.  Could you have turned down an ultra-designed set of twenty (that's right, twenty) kitchen storage containers plus a cool small plastic pitcher for $5.99?  I certainly couldn't.  And don't even get me started on their bookshelf deals (I own 3500 books and counting.)  The only reason I didn't buy a dozen was that they wouldn't fit in my car.  To top it off, the store cafeteria offers ten Swedish meatballs, red potatoes, and lingonberry sauce for $3.99.  It was as close to heaven as a secular humanist like me can get (at least within driving distance and not involving sex.)

Rec Meme

seemag has offered a lovely meme:

I'm reccing at least five stories in various fandoms. If you see your name on this list, please rec five stories or five authors in your fandom (or a multitude of fandoms, if that's your thing), and let me know about it here in the comments (i.e., leave me a link).

Several of her equally intelligent, discerning friends have responded.  I've been delighted to find some of my stories among the recs (thanks!)  So of course I have to provide a list of my own, since the reccers' writing is among my most-admired.  I will be unable, however, to restrict myself to only five recs.  But since the meme says only "at least" five stories or authors, I don't think will actually be breaking any rules.  Unless you count the fact that I am reccing both authors and stories.  Then I am breaking rules. 

In order alphabetical. . .   (All stories and writers are from the Star Trek: Voyager fandom)

"Absumption" -- by the Emu -- A wonderful example of how a fanfic writer can take a canon story and make it exponentially better.  This story asks the fascinating question, "What if there had been survivors when Voyager crashed in the episode 'Timeless'?"  Am I quite convinced that Janeway would have had sex not long after receiving a full blood transfusion?  No, not really.  But then again, how do I know what one might do after one's starship has crashed and nearly everyone has been killed?  I love this story.

 

Alex Voy is one of the best of what I consider the "second generation" VOY writers (namely, people who started in the fandom after I did!)  I love her quiet, perceptive depictions of Janeway.  Some of my favorites:

"Perspective" -- It's all in how you look at it.  I love good stories about Janeway told from the pov of original characters.

"Resonance" -- a grown-up look at Janeway, Seven, and Torres

 

august is the creator of the "Archipelago of Angst," my favorite VOY site of all time. (No, not because it hosts me.  But because the other writers in the "Islands" are some of VOY's very, very best.)  Among the august stories I recommend --

"I Do Not Think of Her Often" is the first Janeway/Kashyk I ever read, and I think it encapsulates exactly the tensions, power, and angsty appeal of that relationship.

"In the End" -- by august and Ghostwriter -- Okay, so I don't really believe that Janeway would have gone senile and died at quite so young an age.  But that's a mere quibble.  The elegaic atmosphere, the way the sex scene beautifully serves character and story, the maturity and believability of Paris's voice -- all combine for a fine piece of fanfic.

 

Boadicea is probably my favorite VOY writer ever, although the choice is by no means easy.  Among my favorites of hers:

"Farr Haven" -- The only reason -- and I mean the ONLY reason -- that I'm even willing to acknowledge that the painfully-embarrassing canon story "Fair Haven" even existed is that it allowed Boadicea to write this superb explanation of what really happened.

"The Middle of the Night" introduced me to Janeway bdsm and to the idea that bdsm narratives in general could be very powerful and thematically revealing.  Previously, I confess that I had considered such stories to exist just for the kinky fun of it.  This fine story changed my mind.  It's still my favorite Janeway/Kashyk.

"Name" epitomizes a lot of what I love about Boadicea's work:  the understated power of her spare style, the unexpected but totally believable ways of looking at Janeway, her understanding of character, her insights. 

"Open Water", a Janeway/Owen Paris, is a coda to the sixth-season episode "Good Shepherd."  In the canon version, Janeway says several uncharacteristic things, such as claiming that she's afraid of water.  This story is not only a fine corrective to canon silliness, but it's also one of the most perceptive depictions of the aftermath of torture that I've read in fanfic.  The last line is a classic.

"Suede" -- It's listed as a Tuvok/Kashyk, but it's really about Janeway and the terrifying power of love.  Scary.

 

"A Kiss on the Body Electric" by Jane St. Clair.  The "middle-aged captain" at her fiercest, frailest, and sexiest.  It's a grand exploration of a compelling Janeway/Seven dynamic.  And it has leather jackets.

 

"Knocked Up" by Michele Masterson is virtually the only Janeway/Chakotay pregnancy story I've ever liked.

 

"Life's Challenges" and its sequel, "More Challenges" -- by Bridget Cochran --  (J/P) -- One of the most interesting a/u conceptions of Janeway I've read; I just can't resist the idea of bad-girl Janeway and Fleet-golden-boy Paris.  The writing style may suffer from a few awkward constructions, but the characterizations will pull you in.

 

Liz Barr writes eclectic Janeway.  Among my favorites . .

"The Book of the Dead."  I'll even put up with my icon dying if it happens in stories as good as this one.

"Cold Hands, Cold Heart"  Janeway/Nicoletti.  And it works!

"Three"  I love "Tripartite Trek" stories.

 

Monkee -- In true Roddenberry tradition, monkee writes a kinder, gentler Trek.  When I want to get away from angst and pessimism, there's nobody better.  Among my favorites:

"A Good Man is Hard. . .to Program"  Hahahahaha.  Hahaha.  Hahahahahaha!  Take that, you forever-to-be-despised-and-reviled canon authors  of "Fair Haven."

"No Strings" has a sentimental place in my heart because it was my first J/P and a very satisfying one, at that.  I don't even mind the J/C ending.

"Surrounded by Idiots"  Janeway has finally had all she can take.  Hilarious.

"The Woman in Black" was written not long after the Voyager Season Six promo photos appeared, the ones featuring Kate Mulgrew in hot black with hot boots.  I knew it was only a matter of time until those boots ended up in fanfic.  Monkee/Mary does them full justice.  A Janeway/Kashyk from Chakotay's pov.

 

nanda is one of the islands in the "Archipelago of Angst."  She's moved on from VOY fandom, but I wish she'd come back.  Perhaps my favorite of her stories is

"So Much Beyond" -- nanda describes this J/C as "dark and dysfunctional," which means it's my kind of story.  It perfectly captures for me the manipulative power and even ruthlessness of Janeway, traits that I believe no successful leader is ever without.  Such people are painful and difficult, even to themselves.  But like Chakotay, we're fascinated by them.

 

Penny Proctor writes thoughtful Janeway in the tradition of Rocky and m. c. moose.  If you can read only two, choose

"A Little Diversion" -- Long, cool woman in a black dress (guess who?)

"Revisionist History" -- an epic well worth the reading

 

Robin Lawrie writes a Janeway that makes me very uncomfortable, a Janeway whose power sometimes makes her evil.  I don't agree with this depiction, but the stories are very powerful.  The ones that most disturb me (in the best of senses) are

"Caregiver" is probably the most painful Janeway story I've ever read.

"Choose Again" depicts the nastiest Q on record.  I wish he weren't so believable.  Oddly enough, this story is also a very poignant J/7.

"A Lover's Touch" reminds us of an aspect of Janeway/Seven that we usually choose to ignore:  the Borg are ALIENS.

 

Rocky writes really intelligent Janeway fic.  I love the "Glory Days" universe, co-written with seemag.  Others I love:

[Bad username or unknown identity: " totally converted me to this particular pairing.  Not that I saw it coming in "Interlude"!  ]

[Unknown site tag][Bad username or unknown identity: " is a fine Janeway, Tuvok friendship story.]

[Unknown site tag] 

[Bad username or unknown identity:  is one of the few writers who can get me to read outside the VOY fandom.  I like her stories so much that I've even forgiven her for the triplets.]

[Bad username or unknown identity:  is just what it says -- a beautiful, poignant Janeway/Picard]

[Bad username or unknown identity: "  And another.]

[Unknown site tag] 

[Unknown site tag][Unknown site tag][Bad username or unknown identity: is one of my favorite writers of literate Janeway misery.  Some fine ones--]

[Bad username or unknown identity: is the essence of Janeway/Kashyk.  Right here.]

[Unknown site tag][Bad username or unknown identity: the first "stylus" story I read.  Very memorable.]

[Bad username or unknown identity: " -- Several views of Janeway by her crew members.]

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"Winner Takes All" -- by Julie Levin Russo -- Another Janeway bdsm, this time with Seven.  Powerful, scary, revealing.