Zoe: So you two were kissin'? Book: Well. Isn't that... special?

'Our Mrs. Reynolds'


Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.

There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."


Dana - Jan 13, 2025 9:26:36 am PST #28096 of 28127
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.

After today's article about Gaiman (it's basically expanding on the stuff that came out last year, so I do not recommend anyone force themselves to read it), I'm thinking about the books on my shelves. I know this is something we've been through before and will again, and I think any approach is valid.

I don't want to get rid of my Sandman books, but am I ever going to be able to read them again? If the argument is that other people were involved in its creation--artists, letterers, colorists, etc.--then can I put it in the same bucket as the Good Omens TV show, or even the Good Omens book, where other people were involved in its creation? If that's the standard, do I get rid of my copies of Neverwhere and Stardust and Coraline? Even books have editors and copy editors and cover artists.

As far as Whedon and Rowling go, I decided not to let them take the work from me, but I was more involved in those fandoms. Am I still able to read and enjoy fanfic for Good Omens or Sandman?

I know this is a debate that will never end, and I'm not saying anything new.


Steph L. - Jan 13, 2025 9:39:07 am PST #28097 of 28127
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe

I've been thinking the same things, Dana. I did get rid of my Harry Potter books, but that decision was honestly 50% "Well, I need the room on my shelves anyway, so these can go." I'm keeping my Good Omens book for now. I feel like I can't throw Pratchett out with Gaiman.

And that is a rough, ROUGH article to read.


Dana - Jan 13, 2025 9:55:31 am PST #28098 of 28127
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.

The fact that we're getting ready to move is also prompting me to consider getting rid of them. But I guess I would give them to the library, and that feels a little icky because people who borrow or buy them probably won't know the context. But they probably also wouldn't lionize him.


Atropa - Jan 13, 2025 10:50:09 am PST #28099 of 28127
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.

I haven't read the article YET, but Pete has, and told me it's an extremely rough read.

He also said that, after reading the article, he realized that I was somehow very lucky in the mid 90s when I met Gaiman and hung out with him at conventions, because I was the sort he preyed on.


Dana - Jan 13, 2025 10:54:36 am PST #28100 of 28127
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.

Seriously, if you have any concerns at all about reading the article, don't. It's really bad.


Steph L. - Jan 13, 2025 11:02:30 am PST #28101 of 28127
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe

It's very, very bad. I didn't know the specifics of the article before I read it, and it's triggered me pretty hard (I don't mean "grossed out;" I mean "almost called my therapist." But I'm feeling steadier now.). In the interest of preventing anyone else from being triggered like that, I want to be really clear about the content of the article; I am going to whitefont the trigger warnings (because, again, they are just that bad; this way if someone doesn't want to read even the trigger warnings, they don't have to). The article contains graphic descriptions of: sexual assault/rape, nonconsensual activity involving more than one type of bodily fluid, child abuse (which is separate from), child sexual abuse (in the form of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child).

Again, it's very very bad.


Dana - Jan 13, 2025 11:20:38 am PST #28102 of 28127
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.

It was the stuff with his kid that I was really not prepared for.


Steph L. - Jan 13, 2025 11:23:30 am PST #28103 of 28127
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe

Dana, same. That's what triggered the hell out of me. He is loathesome.


JenP - Jan 13, 2025 1:00:54 pm PST #28104 of 28127

That was horrific. I don't have any hard decisions to make, because while I wasn't *not* a Gaiman fan, the only thing I ever did was watch Good Omens. And I see they've pulled him from production of S3 and given it only a single 90-minute episode to wrap up. And I guess I saw one episode of the Sandman series.

Completely different note - I came in to say that I have finished all the novels in the Expanse Series. That was a fun romp. I do have a compilation of all the shorter works to get from Overdrive today, so I can continue for a bit anyway, and I'm on S4 of the show and not rushing through. It's a bummer to leave a whole universe like that.


Laura - Jan 13, 2025 1:31:06 pm PST #28105 of 28127
Our wings are not tired.

I was a big Gaiman fan and am just sick to my stomach.

I loved the Expanse novels so very much and was disappointed that the show didn't continue. I may need to check out the audiobooks and listen on my trip north this year as it has been long enough that I will have forgotten a lot.