Wuxia and Space (but also not space)
Mar. 14th, 2022 02:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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imperfectletterI finished Becky Chambers' 4th Wayfarers book, The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, last night. I had not expected to say up late finishing it, but once I started on the final few chapters, I couldn't stop. fiveforsilver was right when she said it was a good book - I might even argue that it's the best book in the entire series. The thing I like about Chambers' writing is the way she weaves points of view together, without overwhelming the reader and she did this in the 4th Wayfarers book exceptionally well. But, what I liked best, was the way the characters grew over the short few days they were together and the stories they told (themselves and each other). I also found the epilogue to be exceptionally powerful. A true hopepunk ending.
I also finished the second Legends of the Condor Heroes Series (by Jin Yong) book, A Bond Undone, while out taking a walk. This is a very epic series (in four parts) and extremely enjoyable. The series follows the life of Guo Jin, an unexceptional boy (young man in this book) who ends up learning kung fu through accident and sure force of will. The first book, A Hero Born, was basically his origin story starting before he was born until he's close to adulthood. This second book covers the next couple if years surrounding his 18th birthday (when he both no longer a boy but also not yet a man). Guo Jin gets up to lots of adventures (as expected) and falls in love and learns much more kung fu.
I like these books, but it was toward the end of this one when I had an epiphany. I watched The Untamed in 2020 and started Word of Honor and have been slowly watching it - these books are Chinese wuxia BL TV shows (though because they are Chinese, there is no actual boys love in them) that look very pretty - both the actors and the kung fu. The characters in both books use the martial arts in different ways - with weapons, their bodies, and musical instruments. Toward the end of A Bond Undone, there is a battle between two masters via their music and suddenly so much about the The Untamed and Word of Honor made sense. I am eager to start watching the latter again now that I understand a lot more what musical kungfu/martial arts is really about (ie inner strength).
I recommend both series, though I still have two more books left in the Legends of the Condor Heroes series to go.
fiveforsilver was right when she said it was a good book - I might even argue that it's the best book in the entire series. The thing I like about Chambers' writing is the way she weaves points of view together, without overwhelming the reader and she did this in the 4th Wayfarers book exceptionally well. But, what I liked best, was the way the characters grew over the short few days they were together and the stories they told (themselves and each other). I also found the epilogue to be exceptionally powerful. A true hopepunk ending. I also finished the second Legends of the Condor Heroes Series (by Jin Yong) book, A Bond Undone, while out taking a walk. This is a very epic series (in four parts) and extremely enjoyable. The series follows the life of Guo Jin, an unexceptional boy (young man in this book) who ends up learning kung fu through accident and sure force of will. The first book, A Hero Born, was basically his origin story starting before he was born until he's close to adulthood. This second book covers the next couple if years surrounding his 18th birthday (when he both no longer a boy but also not yet a man). Guo Jin gets up to lots of adventures (as expected) and falls in love and learns much more kung fu.
I like these books, but it was toward the end of this one when I had an epiphany. I watched The Untamed in 2020 and started Word of Honor and have been slowly watching it - these books are Chinese wuxia BL TV shows (though because they are Chinese, there is no actual boys love in them) that look very pretty - both the actors and the kung fu. The characters in both books use the martial arts in different ways - with weapons, their bodies, and musical instruments. Toward the end of A Bond Undone, there is a battle between two masters via their music and suddenly so much about the The Untamed and Word of Honor made sense. I am eager to start watching the latter again now that I understand a lot more what musical kungfu/martial arts is really about (ie inner strength).
I recommend both series, though I still have two more books left in the Legends of the Condor Heroes series to go.
