In which I am a delicate flower about spoilers

[snick_backup]

I have a ridiculously low spoiler threshold. I'm one of those people that doesn't like to read book reviews until after I've read the book. I treasure the shock or the gradual build-up of discovering things on my own. In general, I don't want to know if character X ever reappears on the show, or that A and B hook up down the road, or that Childhood Issue #2 is a major theme of the whole show.

I had the luxury of watching BtVS almost spoiler-free; I'd never seen so much as a clip before I started, and although while watching the show I stumbled across some things online I didn't want to know, there was a whole lot I had no warning for. For example: the entire Spike/Buffy ship. As in, I had no idea it was going to happen. (It was a very nice rock I'd been living under. Quite cozy.) Thus every step along the way - Crush, Intervention, The Gift, After Life - was gloriously uncertain.

While I don't have that same luxury with the shows I'm watching now because I know stuff via fandom osmosis, I still want to form my own opinions of characterization and arc execution and so forth, and it's easiest for me to do if I have as little idea as possible about what's coming.

I definitely don't want this to discourage commentary on my TV posts, because I love hearing from you guys! Sharing my reactions with all of you is at least half the fun. I just wanted to give a general head's-up about where I'm coming from and ask that you be gentle with the delicate flower. :)

Disclaimer: this is not directed at anyone in particular, but is sort of a "for future reference" post that I just hadn't thought to make before.

Comments

[snickfic]

Hair spoilers I can live with. *g*

I have not yet read Cryoburn! It's saved on the hard drive, but I've been reading hard copy books and haven't gotten to it yet. Also, I'm feeling a little hesitant because Diplomatic Immunity was such a disappointment, although I gather that Cryoburn is better than that.

[diamondtook862.livejournal.com]

I was the same. Actually, I stopped reading Diplomatic Immunity about a year ago when I got to the sperm (page one). It's only after Cryoburn came out and both my close friends said it was great (right after spoiling, grr), that I went back and finished it. Cryoburn is good, though imho, little lives up to Shards of Honor. :)

[snickfic]

I confess, Shards of Honor is not one of my favorites. The Bujold touch is already there, and Cordelia is grand, but the romance element is still too strong, or something. It doesn't feel as mature to me as some of her later books. My favorites are Mirror Dance, Memory, and A Civil Campaign, in no particular order. And I love the fact that although they are excellent, they are all completely different from each other.

[diamondtook862.livejournal.com]

They certainly are different. I like the romance. ;) and Cordelia saving Miles.

I need to read Mirror Dance (my friend warned me off it but it's silly, she just doesn't like things that upset her and I'm not that way at all). I was going to put Memory up there with Shards of Honor, but decided to be shorter. I'm with you with that one. I didn't like Cetaganda much though... I liked Komarr a lot. Seeing a pattern here? :)

[snickfic]

Hmm, there does seem to be a whiff of romance about your choices... *g*

Actually, Cordelia saves Miles in Barryar, doesn't she? And I quite liked that one, I think because Bujold wrote it later.

I did like Cetaganda a lot, mostly for the worldbuilding. I found the whole Cetagandan culture fascinating. But as you may have noticed, I'm a total sucker for that sort of thing.

Mirror Dance will blow your mind. There is torture and a lot of psychological ickiness, but she handles it really well, IMO, and everything with Mark is just... it defies description. Or my description, anyway. *g*

[diamondtook862.livejournal.com]

Actually, Cordelia saves Miles in Barryar, doesn't she? And I quite liked that one, I think because Bujold wrote it later.

Oh, sorry. I think I got both in one book.

I love Mark. :)