Aw, Leisure Books. Truly the pinnacle of romance publishing.

I would like to gather together all the people that think 2012 is a significant year in the species' survival, and ask them to walk through their belief system. And then I'd walk through a couple counters--probably verbatim from a couple websites, to most clearly indicate that this information is out there for any taker.

I would filter off anyone (::sob::) that had a change in their belief about the end of the world, and hand the rest to the portion of the entertainment industry that cannot resist playing into this bullshit.

I'd tell them "This, this is your audience. Until you come up with a storyline that's an interesting twist on the "2012 is when we stopped writing down the calendar" explanation, or some product that's just so much fun the ridiculous premise doesn't significantly hamstring it (good luck with that...), please restrict your advertising to them. Leave the rest of us alone."

And then I'd cut off all communication and travel between their 2012 believer/panderer enclave, except for one button. They hit their button to tell us they have a story that's so good, we should look. If they fail to entertain, we kill the executive producers. If they succeed, the entire cast and crew can come over to our side.

We also have a button. Starting 2013, anyone on the outside can hit it at any time. It sets off a klaxon and strobe lights for a three minute period everywhere in the 2012 enclave. That button works forever. The "we have a story" button stops working at the end of this year.

It's August, 2012. If a 2012 = The End, OMG! story hasn't hit the presses already, it's too late—by whatever eschatological perspective one might have.

I have a SWTWC question (whitefonted for Amy): if your weakness is LAUGHTER, why the hell would you go around with a carnival? People have fun and laugh at carnivals! That's like invading a planet that's full of water when your weakness is water.

What kind of book reader are you?

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P-C, it is a weak point in the plot, but I handwave it with the theory that Coodger and Dark's carnival may trigger laughter, but it's the screamy, uneasy type of laughter, the laughter that comes from being unsettled but wanting to hide it. While the laughter that defeats Mr. Dark is the full-fledged, open hearted laughter that comes from understanding the ridiculous nature of existence and being delighted by it.

Hi, my name is Jilli, and I have a lot of feelings about this book.

Yeah, I guess I can buy that, although it sure seems risky! The whole "defeat them with laughter and happiness" is something I've seen before in other stories, but it just didn't make as much sense here (and I had to roll my eyes when Charles KILLED MR. DARK WITH LOVE and then they BROUGHT JIM BACK FROM THE DEAD WITH LAUGHTER). Still, that scene with the smile on the bullet was FUCKING AWESOME.

For me, the The whole "defeat them with laughter and happiness" trope is a reaffirmation of don't maintain an "ironic distance", don't be concerned with being "grown-up" and oh-so "cool, but embrace everything wholeheartedly! Be enthusiastic, be willing to look like a crazy fool, know that there are horrible awful things that happen and still allow yourself to feel and wonder.

Huh. I just realized that what I really want out of life is to be part of a carnival like Coodger and Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show, but with Charles Holloway as the ringmaster. Still spooky, still unsettling, but with heart and unbeatable optimism.

(Note to self, call dad tonight.)

I loved that essay! And this is partially me.

Suggested book-buster reads: Whatever you like, but buy a Kindle.

I am so a book-buster! I love the analogy to Lennie from "Of Mice and Men".