Snowflake Challenge #3

[justanorthernlight]

Challenge #3

Create a wish list of fandom things (podfic, graphics, playlists, canon recs translations, research help, vids, sky's the limit!) that you'd like to receive. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

1.) Vids (or vid recs) from fandoms involving space ships, set to sea shanties. Particularly vids focusing on the ship(s) i. It is taking all of my restraint not to turn this into a manifesto on why someone who isn't me should make a Star Trek vid to this particular cover of the song Day of the Clipper, because I'm not sure that's what this prompt is about.

2.) Sci Fi/Fantasy book recs (would also welcome nonfiction recs).

3.) Murderbot Diaries fanwork recs, particularly fanart. (I got a box set of the first four novellas for christmas and am currently obsessed. The only reason I haven't finished Exit Strategy already is because I got distracted by fic).

4.) Star Wars: The High Republic Phase I fanwork recs.

Comments

[sixbeforelunch]

It is taking all of my restraint not to turn this into a manifesto on why someone who isn't me should make a Star Trek vid to this particular cover of the song Day of the Clipper, because I'm not sure that's what this prompt is about.

Oh wow, I can't vid but I totally agree that this would make an awesome Star Trek vid.

[justanorthernlight]

I can vid, but the idea of combing through and sourcing all of the clips for it would make me want to quit vidding altogether.

The line "the sails will mend their tatters and the mast will rise again" is (to me) just so perfect for all of the iterations of the Enterprise sort of rising from the destruction of the old ones, and "wooden beams and human dreams are all that make her go" encapsulates so much of the weird (in a good way!) parts of TNG.

Someone should definitely use "the sails will mend their tatters and the mast will rise again" as a fic title, though.

Sci-Fi Rec

[nsfwords]

The Chronicles of Alsea by Fletcher Delancy is excellent science fiction!

Re: Sci-Fi Rec

[justanorthernlight]

Sounds interesting, thank you!

[hamsterwoman]

My favorite Murderbot fanworks tend to be on the odd side, like this brilliant sonnet and this fantasy AU (gen, T, 7k) and 5 settings change AUs (gen, T, 1k)

More straightforward ones (that you may have already found):

On The Trail Of The Killers Of My Father (3765 words) by nenya_kanadka
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries), Original Characters
Additional Tags: The Revolution Will Be Televised, Sanctuary Moon, Fandom, Robot Uprisings, Post-All Systems Red
Summary:

I never set out to start a robot uprising when I came to Pelling Station. I just wanted the leaked pilot of the new Sanctuary Moon spinoff, On The Trail Of The Killers Of My Father.

#101: "An Inevitable Conclusion; But With Makeouts" (2103 words) by raven
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Dr Mensah, Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries)
Summary:

After Murderbot makes a run for it, Dr Mensah decides she's going to watch Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon from the beginning.

Also, here's a cool animatic

[muccamukk]

I was about to rec that murderbot fic, which is of course completely unbiased.

Also the very first Murderbot story on AO3
My Immortal Sanctuary Moon by st_aurafina
The shock cancellation of Sanctuary Moon leads the Murderbot to seek new forms of entertainment.
(Her crossover fic is also fantastic)

The Exchange by winterhill
Murderbot hitches a ride on a starliner, makes a friend, and saves space Yuletide.

[hamsterwoman]

Hehe, it's an objectively great fic! :D (and "On The Trail Of The Killers Of My Father" is an awesome title :)

Looks like I never read the "My Immortal" fic, probably 'cos it wasn't in Yuletide -- I should remedy that! I did love the crossover and was considering reccing it (for justanorthernlight: I was able to enjoy it without knowing one of the fandoms at all)

[justanorthernlight]

Ah, I will check those out! I skipped over them during my initial browse-through because I had a burning desire for human POV on the events of All Systems Red and was kind of laser-focused on finding it, but now that I've satisfied that itch they look interesting.

[justanorthernlight]

I'm down for weird fic, lol! I did read the Inevitable Conclusion one (my tried and true method for reading fic when I haven't caught up with a canon is to go to the last page of Ao3 and work my way forward until I hit major spoilers), but I'm checking out the rest!

[hamsterwoman]

Oh, right, I should've said: the poem is spoilery for Network Effect, but I think everything else is OK once you're done with the 4 novellas.

[justanorthernlight]

Good to know!

[wearing_tearing]

Some book recs:
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark - it's a Fantasy set in an alternate Cairo in 1912 where some very suspicious (and maybe magical) murders happen.
Megan E. O'Keefe's The Protectorate series - space opera about two siblings separated by time (and other intriguing circumstance) who fight for the same goals.
In Light of All Darkness by Kim Cross - true crime nonfiction novel about the Polly Klaas kidnapped and how it changed aspects of kidnap/missing children investigations.

[justanorthernlight]

All of those look great, especially the Protectorate series. I love sibling relationship in fiction!

[tsuki_no_bara]

i don't vid but i love the idea of spaceship vids set to sea shanties. it seems so perfect.

have you read any becky chambers? the wayfarers series is kind of cozy scifi in which not a lot happens but the worldbuilding is fantastic. my favorite is record of a spaceborn few (#3) followed by the long way to a small, angry planet (#1). you don't have to read them in order.

i'd also rec a memory called empire by arkady martine which is much less cozy (it starts with the new ambassador from a mining colony being sent to the heart of the empire to investigate her predecessor's death) but also has some really neat worldbuilding and is partly about what it feels like to fangirl a culture and a people that want to swallow yours whole.

and a nonfiction book i really liked that might unfortunately be out of print - prince borghese's trail: 10,000 miles over two continents, four deserts, and the roof of the world in the peking to paris motor challenge by genevieve obert. the original motor challenge was in 1907 and involved five (i think) cars racing from (you're going to be shocked :D ) beijing to paris at a time when a significant portion of the world wasn't even paved. in 1997 the british classic car rally association did it again but with way more cars. genevieve obert and her co-driver were one of only two all-women teams and the story of the race and the people who drove in it is fascinating. if you can get your hands on it i highly recommend it.

[hamsterwoman]

my favorite is record of a spaceborn few (#3)

Oh wow, someone else whose favorite Wayfarers is "Record of a Spaceborn Few" -- I don't think I've met anyone else who agreed with me on that, lol. (but my second favorite is A Close and Common Orbit)

[tsuki_no_bara]

do most people prefer the long way to a small, angry planet? i haven't read a closed and common orbit yet but i'm guessing it's good.

[hamsterwoman]

I've seen people list different favorites from the other three, but have heard 'Records' cited as a LEAST favorite quite often.

[justanorthernlight]

I have read a couple of the Wayfarers series. I liked A Closed and Common Orbit, but The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet didn't work very well for me, personally, and I haven't kept up with the rest of the series since. I might have to give them another try!

Prince Borghese's Trail looks really interesting though, and it looks like there are a couple of used editions available! I've heard a little bit about that race (I think as an anecdote in a different book), but haven't read anything that focused on it.

[anagrrl]

For 2 - How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu is a great read.

[justanorthernlight]

That looks very interesting, adding it to my list!

Wish Granted!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> 2.) Sci Fi/Fantasy book recs (would also welcome nonfiction recs). <<

I've found a few recently with quite good worldbuilding.

Hunter by Mercedes Lackey
Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and it’s taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake of the catastrophe. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous creatures fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.

A Terrible Fall of Angels by Laurell K Hamilton
Meet Detective Zaniel Havelock, a man with the special ability to communicate directly with angels. A former trained Angel speaker, he devoted his life to serving both the celestial beings and his fellow humans with his gift, but a terrible betrayal compelled him to leave that life behind. Now he’s a cop who is still working on the side of angels.
https://www.laurellkhamilton.com/book_series/a-terrible-fall-of-angels/

And this one is still in my to-be-read pile because I just got it, but you have to see this just for the description:

River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey
In the early 20th Century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true.
Other true things about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two.
This was a terrible plan.
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/31445891

Re: Wish Granted!

[justanorthernlight]

Thank you, River of Teeth looks very entertaining :D

Re: Wish Granted!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yay!

I'm probably going to read that next. It just looks so weird and tempting.

[glassesofjustice]

Dr. Mensah Fan Art

[justanorthernlight]

I love it!

[severina]

Two of my favourite books I think might fit the scifi/fantasy genre a little.

C. Robert Cargill's Sea of Rust is set in the aftermath of a robot/human war. The robots won. (This is not a spoiler.) And Day Zero is a prequel starting at, well, the first day of the uprising, and focusing on a robot caretaker and its charge. You don't necessarily have to have read Sea of Rust to understand Day Zero. I adore them both, but probably love Day Zero a little bit more.

Cargill is also the screenwriter of one of the Dr. Strange movies and Joe Hill's The Black Phone, among others.

[justanorthernlight]

That does look really interesting, thank you!

[marginaliana]

A SF book I recently read and would rec: Divinity 36. Found family, cool worldbuilding, very charming.

[justanorthernlight]

Added to the list! I read Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series quite a few years back and enjoyed them, so that looks extra interesting.

[fresne]

Self rec for Murderbot - The Basics of Information Security, which was a yuletide assignment a few years back and is the only time I have written a story leveraging both the original material and information security standards.

For new fantasy novels, have you tried the Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo. They are fantasy stories about storytelling.

[justanorthernlight]

I have added your fic to my "Read after finishing Network Effect" list. I love a good appreciation for information security.

I haven't tried anything by Nghi Vo yet, I'll add that one to my list.