Blyddyn

I refer, of course, to the time Buzz Aldrin (age 72 at the time) cold-cocked a moon landing conspiracy theorist straight in his smug face after being accused of being a coward, liar, and thief.

Yes, someone was indeed dumb enough to tell a man so unafraid of death that he was willing to go into the void on a fragile explosive rocket, a coward.

Said dumbass was filming this confrontation as some sort of proof of moon fraud, but has instead captured this glorious moment of near-cosmic justice for us to loop for all time.

Welcome back to the arena, traveler. It is time for Round Three of the Stories World Cup, where the greatest myths on earth go head-to-head, and the tavern decides who survives.

Today’s bracket looks at the most terrifying dragons and great serpents of the ancient world.

Representing Wales is the apocalyptic fury of Y Ddraig Goch. Rooted deeply in the Mabinogion and the prophecies of Merlin, this legendary Red Dragon engaged in a subterranean war with the invading White Dragon that was so intensely violent it leveled mountains and shattered the earth. Watching young Everett hone his bladesmithing skills at the local forge is always impressive, but you quickly realize that no mortal steel could ever hope to dent those ancient, crimson scales.

Representing Finland is the creeping, freezing dread of Iku-Turso. Emerging from the dark, icy waters of the Kalevala, this colossal sea monster subverts the classic dragon trope entirely. It doesn't rely on hellfire to destroy its enemies. Instead, it is a primordial bringer of disease. It breathes plague and pestilence, rotting its victims from the inside out, making a fiery death sound almost merciful by comparison.

Which culture built the more terrifying legend?

Only to get told that 'oh, it's a tragic little story that's supposed to remind you to be grateful for what you have and also to show you the horrors of poverty. At least she's in a happier place now.'

And none of that ever sat quite right with me.

But Pratchett calls this out. He has Death ask the question of why no one came to help, about the reasoning behind letting this little girl die just for a sad story. It's poverty porn and also complacency in a systemic issue.

He doesn't leave you there though. Something is done to save her. Something is done to help. She is given a future. And no one knows who did it except for Death. She is given hope.

And this is something that I've found to be a through line on many of Pratchett's works, hope.

Yes things are fucked up. Yes things are awful. But there is always hope. There is always something that can be done.

And in just turning up your nose at an issue and saying, oh dear, that's very sad, you fail to take action and continue on with the problem year after year after year.

You’re welcome.

(ps. ratings and tags are from the authors, so don’t blame me if there isn’t sex in Adult rated fic)

…And A Bottle of Rum by Cynthia (1984)

Adult (NC-17), Established relationship, Bondage

A Change of Season by Charlotte Frost (1988)

 All Audiences, Established Relationship

A Light in the Darkness by Debbie C (late 80’s)

Adult (NC-17), Action/Plot

A Matter of Seduction by Sharon Pillsbury  (1989)

Adult (NC-17), First Time, Dubious consent

A Place of Red by Dovya Blacque (1987)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

A Private Obsession by CatalenaMara (1987)

Mature content (Teen)

A Shot in the Dark by Dana Austin Marsh (1994)

Adult (NC-17), Established relatioship, Humor

About Time by J S Cavalcante (1993)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

All That We Shall Be by Anna S Greener (2000)

Adult (NC-17), Angst, Established Relationship

All This Time by M E Carter (1999)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

And Our Tomorrows by Cynthia (1994)

 Adult (NC-17), Angst, First Time

Babes in the Woods by Dana Austin Marsh (1998)

Adult (NC-17), Action/Plot, Established Relationship

Belial by Mary Kay (1987)

Adult (NC-17), Action/PLot

Beyond Setarcos by GayleF (1978)

Adult (NC-17)

Bitter Glass by Killa (1996)

Mature Content (Teen), Angst, Character Study, Major character death

Brief Encounter by Amanda Warrington (1992)

Adult (NC-17), AU-ish, First Time

By The Book by Dana Austin Marsh (1994)

Adult (NC-17), Established relationship, Humor

Certainties of Being by M E Carter (1995)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Contemplations by Charlotte Frost (1988)

ADULT (NC-17), Established Relationship

Convalescing by Charlotte Frost (1987)

ADULT (NC-17), Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort, Hurt!Spock

Cover of Night by Killa (1998)

ADULT (NC-17), Angst, Erotica, First Time, Romance

Cries of the Children by Debbie C (1988)

All audiences, Pre-slash, Action/Plot

Desert Heat by Gayle F (1976)

Adult (NC-17), Angst, First Time

Echoes by Dovya Blacque (1985)

All audiences, First Time

Enterprising Tours by Dana Austin Marsh (1994)

Adult (NC-17), Humor

Fairy Tale Dreams by Dana Austin Marsh (1994)

Adult (NC-17), Pon farr, Humor

From Rags To Riches by Dana Austin Marsh (1998)

All audiences, First Time, Humor

From The Fields by Dovya Blacque (1984)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Full Circle by Killa (1997) sequel to Turning Point by Killa (1995)

(TP) Adult (NC-17), Angst

(FC) Adilt (NC-17), Angst, Established relationship

Gentleness by Charlotte Frost (1986)

Mature content (Teen), Established relationship

Getting What You Wished For by Dana Austin Marsh (1998)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Green Eyed Monster by Mary Kay (1987)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Have Another Good Night! by KS TLan (1980)

Adult (NC-17), First Time, Dubious Consent

He Who Waits by Mara Lyn Cade (1987)

Adult (NC-17), Bottom!Spock, Bondage

Joyboy by Syn Ferguson (1988)

 Adult (NC-17), AU, Action/Plot, Angst, Character Study, First Time, Hurt/Comfort, Underage sexuality

Little Sorrows by Dovya Blacque

Adult (NC-17), Angst, First Time

Lotions And Potions, Etc. by Dana Austin Marsh (1996)

Mature content (Teen), Crack, Established relationship, Sex toys

Meat Dreams by J S Cavalcante (1994)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Memories by Debbie C (1988)

Adult (NC-17), Angst, Major Character Death

Never and Always Lovers: A Ni-Var for Two Apart by Carolyn Spencer (1997)

Poetry, All audiences, Pre-Slash, Character study

Night of the Dragon by Gayle F (1978)

Adult (NC-17), Angst, Established relationship

Nightvisions by Carol A Frisbie, Susan K James (1979)

Adult (NC-17), Angst, First Time

Nothing To Sneeze At by Dana Austin Marsh (1993)

All audiences, Humor

Of Dark Places by Mary Kay (1987)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Of Peacefulness, Happiness and Forgiveness by Charlotte Frost (1986)

Adult (NC-17), Established relationship

Out of the Big Black (series) by Rae Trail (1999-2004)

Adult (NC-17), Crossover TNG/TOS, Established relationship. Action/Plot

Parted From Me by Dana Austin Marsh (1992)

 Adult (NC-17), Major Character death, Action/Plot, Angst, Established Relationship

Permutations by Dana Austin Marsh (1993)

Mature content (Teen), Humor, Established relationship

Portraits by Charlotte Frost (1990)

Adult (NC-17), Action/Plot, Angst, First Time, Hurt/Comfort

Poses (1977) by Leslie Fish sequel to Shelter (1976)by Leslie Fish

(Shelter) Adult (NC-17), Non-con, First Time

(Poses) Adult (NC-17), Angst

Prisoners by KS TLan (1982)

Adult (NC-17), Dubious consent, First Time

Private Moments by Charlotte Frost (1987)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Proximity Breeds Contretemps by Dana Austin Marsh (1995)

Adult (NC-17), Humor

Re-Emergence by CatalenaMara (1983)

Poetry, All audiences, Character Study, Pre-Slash

Ritual Cleansing by KS TLan (1980)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Rumour Has It by Dana Austin Marsh (1994)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Shared Spaces by Dana Austin Marsh (1990)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Sharing the Risk by Killa (1998)

Adult (NC-17), Angst, First Time

Sharing the Sunlight (Series) by Jenna Sinclair (1991-2005)

Adult (NC-17), First Time, Established relationship, Angst, Humor

Strong Medicine by Killa (1998)

Adult (NC-17), PWP, Established relationship

Surrender by Killa (1997)

Adult (NC_17), Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Bondage, Dominance/submission, Dubious consent, Non-consensual sex

Technical Hitch by KS TLan (late 90’s)

Adult (NC-17), PWP

Tenants of the Heart by Carleen (1992)

Adult (NC-17), Pon Farr, First Time

The Birthday Two-Step by Dana Austin Marsh (1994)

Adult (NC-17), Humor

The Blending of Two by Charlotte Frost (1989)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

The Deep End of Emotion by Dana Austin Marsh (1999)

Adult (NC-17), Pon Farr, First Time

The Diver by Carolyn Spencer (1995)

Adult (NC-17), Angst, Character Study, First Time

The Faces of Love by Charlotte Frost (1988)

All audiences, Angst, Character Study, Established relationship

The Hustler by Courtney Gray (1981)

Adult (NC-17), AU-ish, Prostitution, First Time

The Image of Perfection by Debbie C (1991)

Adult (NC-17), Action/Plot

The Kiss by Amanda Warrington (1994)

Adult (NC-17), Action/Plot, Angst, First Time

The Misunderstanding by Debbie C (1988)

Adult (NC-17), First Time, Action/Plot

The Need For Stars by Carolyn Spencer (1993)

Adult (NC-17), Angst, Established relationship

The Omni by Dana Austin Marsh (1989)

Adult (NC-17), Established relationship

The Only Way by KS TLan (1982)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

The Power of Suggestion by Dana Austin Marsh (1997)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

The Price (1981) by Syn Ferguson prequel to Courts of Honor by Syn Ferguson

(The Price) Adult (NC-17), Action/Plot, Angst, First Time, Hurt/Comfort, Hurt!Spock, Pon Farr, Explicit violence, Rape

(Courts of Honor) Adult (NC-17), Action/Plot, Angst, Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort

The Tie That Binds by Dana Austin Marsh (1999)

Adult (NC-17), Angst, Established Relationship, Kolinahr, Pon Farr

The Tribble With Troubles by Dana Austin Marsh (1999)

Adult (NC-17), Established relationship, Crack

The Vacation by Rae Trail (1999)

Adult (NC-17), Established relationship

The Vigil by Debbie C (1991)

All audiences, Pre-slash

The Word Withheld by J S Cavalcante (2000)

Adult (NC-17), First Time

Unto Harvest in Fullness of Time by M E Carter (1999)

Mature content (Teen), Established relationship

Vigil by CatalenaMara (1985)

Poetry, All audiences

When the Cat’s Away by Dana Austin Marsh (1994)

Adult (NC-17), Established relationship

I learned this from a German friend (she might have been messing with me):

a German friend (she might have

been messing with me):