#claidi

I don't know how many people remember The Claidi Journals nowadays, but I used to reread them regularly. Recently I picked them up again for the first time in ten, twelve, maybe close to fifteen years, curious if they'd hold up. They feel so much of their time, the late 90s, early 2000s, and as we all know, YA fantasy has changed significantly since then. I've also read a lot more Tanith Lee books since that time and was curious to see how the journals compare to her adult work.

Well -- I think they hold up. They're not high art, they're not perfect, but they're still extremely enjoyable. While they're not adult books, I think I did appreciate them more now that I'm older. Looking at the books and their publishing material, it was always very clear that the journals were first envisioned as a trilogy -- Wolf Tower, Wolf Star, and Wolf Queen -- and the fourth one, Wolf Wing, was kind of tacked on and felt separate (unnecessary?) But on this reread, I ended up feeling that Wolf Wing was pretty vital in rounding out the story. Even though it directly contradicts the ending of Wolf Queen, the original ending, in a very key way concerning Claidi's character and how she sees herself.

As for Tanith Lee's other works, The Claidi Journals weren't my first Taniths, but they were my favorites for a very long time. Having read so many more of her books subsequently, I can see how she loved returning to the same themes, and even world-design elements, time and time again. Some readers might find it redundant, but I don't mind. In a way, it's kind of comforting, as I feel like, as a writer, there are ideas I want to repeatedly explore. If Tanith Lee can do it, I suppose I can.

Speaking of, I've always known Tanith Lee was an influence on my writing style. Particularly the Claidi books -- their conversational grammar-bending tone, her unexpected use of imagery, the way she slants familiar things to make them bizarre and fantastical, her use of absurdity and humor. Rereading these books, I could glance back at different instances of my own writing and see it so clearly: Look at that, I'm still trying to sound like her sometimes.

Wolf Tower by Tanith Lee

All her life, Claidi has endured hardship in the House, where she must obey a spoiled princess. Then a golden stranger arrives, living proof of a world beyond the House walls. Claidi risks all to free the charming prisoner and accompanies him across the Waste toward his faraway home. It is a difficult yet marvelous journey, and all the while Claidi is at the side of a man she could come to love. That is, until they reach his home . . . and the Wolf Tower.

Going through my old folders I found this old fan art for The Claidi Journals (Wolf Tower, etc). I used to love that series, both for its narrative style and its offbeat tone.

ok so this was supposed to just be a little halloweeny TRC headcanon drabble but apparently it's a fic now, 700 words and counting, so here's a preview and i'll post the rest in like an hour probably XD

.

"How much did Matthew have to beg before you dressed up like that?" Ronan's scowl was far less intimidating -- not that Gansey was ever cowed by it, truthfully -- in light of the large arrow drawn in blue paint on his shaved head. The bright orange tablecloth he wore slung, toga-style, over one shoulder only served to undermine the expression further as he climbed out of the BMW and slammed the door behind him. His smile retained its edge, though, at least. "Four solid minutes of the word 'please', repeated over and over again, before Declan offered to pay my last two speeding tickets if I would just do it and make him shut up." Gansey fell in at Ronan's side as he strode up the car-crowded driveway, the open front door of a modest two story house their destination. "I'm surprised you took that offer," he said. "I would've expected you to make Matthew plead for eight minutes more, even louder, just to spite Declan." "Declan's face when he realized I had more speeding tickets that he hadn't heard about yet was worth caving early." Ronan kicked the tires of a rusty Buick and turned to look Gansey up and down. "What are you supposed to be, anyway? An aspiring yacht captain who misplaced his yacht?" Gansey leveled him with an unimpressed look. "These are just my regular clothes and you know it." He ignored Ronan's unrepentant sniggering in favor of checking Blue's text again. "Jane said she has a couple's costume planned for us but wouldn't tell me what it is, only that I should just come to the party in my favorite outfit." "Maybe she'll be in bright-ass green and you can be highlighters together." "Ha very ha."

.

Waterwaver? Icebreaker? Waterweaver? Waterwhisperer?… Iceskater lol. Icestalker? Idk if any of these are helpful

All I'm taking from this is "Strong-In-The-Arms Lindenshield"... so this was either part Icemark Chronicles or just written by a fan. I'm kinda rooting for Moonshine the warrior queen studying at New York Hogwarts if so XD TBH this sounds hilarious.

Oh gosh, I don’t know! 

“Arc V 127 - Plot Explained Part 2”

"literally pocking supernatural forces with a stick and hope for the best" is honestly the best explanation for most 'science bad' in this series I've seen

xD thanks

The funny thing is that Reiji actually showed us what was the most accurate example of science done right in anime (which is not saying much but still), when he mad his own pendulum cards:

He made different readings, using different subjects

There were prorotypes that were tested both on machines, and on people, and compared agaisnt the original ones

Mistakes were corrected.

Even before they were done, there had to be confirmation before mass releasing them in the market.