My new favorite review of The Hobbit: [link]

So funny.

...Neither have I

Incluing is an SFF term invented by Pamela Dean or Jo Walton (or maybe Mike Ford); it refers to the kind of exposition that deposits information gently into the text, rather than in massive infodumps like prologues written as encyclopedia entries, or whatever.

It gives the reader the opportunity to assimilate the information a little more organically and naturally, and doesn't bring the narrative to a stumbling halt (like, for instance, "The Council of Elrond", which is basically the complete opposite of incluing).

I'm disappointed by the lukewarn reviews The Hobbit has been getting, not least of which because I want to see it again and nobody wants to go with me!

[edit: This, however, is totally fair:

"I am so handsome at you right now, Gandalf."]

it refers to the kind of exposition that deposits information gently into the text, rather than in massive infodumps like prologues written as encyclopedia entries, or whatever.

Ah! I like that sort of thing.

I like that sort of thing.

Me, too! It is more rewarding to the reader, as well, in that she gets to say, "Oh, so that is how that works!" instead of yawning through another two-page essay on the mechanism of magic in this particular universe.

There are some writers, however, who take incluing too far. t Stares meaningfully at Pamela Dean Those writers are prone to inclue plot, which can make the story almost impossible to understand without very close reading and rereading.

GRRM does that too. There are huge things I wouldn't have gotten unless people had pointed out the clues to me.

Here's the short story that became Looper: [link]

And at that length, I don't feel pushed to prod for logistical issues. Go figure.

I cannot decide if I need to see The Hobbit before I go home for vacation or afterwards...frustrating.

Jessica, I'd totally see it with you! Twice!

also accurate in that review, though

Kili is Legolas.

True. He is also either Merry or Pippin.

He's kind of the dwarf multitool.

Also, did anyone else keep thinking James Nesbitt was made up to look like Peter Dinklage?

I need to see it again, mostly because I want to, but in part to play BBC Actor Bingo.

(And, of course, to see Beautiful Coward Lee Pace again)

Plei, do you want me to ping you when we go see it this week? Since I'm working from home all week, we are going to sneak off and catch a matinee or something.

We saw Skyfall last night. That was fun, even if I left the movie kind of surly because of Dame Judy being killed off. But it was fun eye candy, and the Bond girl (no, I don't think I ever knew her character's name) had fantastic lipstick.

In terms of Judy Dench - I'm hoping she comes back as best Bond villain ever