(no subject)

This is a quick Transact update. I have now been waiting for my connection for 16 months. They did send me a letter today, explaining why the delay, which is an improvement.

When I get Transact you will be able to ring me while I am online. Won't that me nice. (Note the sarcasm - I will expect it when I see it and not before, after 16 months.)

I will do a more interesting post tonight, I promise. Maybe on chansons de geste.

(no subject)

I have been thinking about introductions all day. When I read the prologue in the Young Adult novel on my review list, I thought of introductions; when I saw the first few minutes of Supernatural, I thought of introductions; and when I had to walk past my little library of Medieval fiction I suddenly remembered that a whole section of my PhD was on introductions. My only excuse for memory lapse is that it was an historical study, not a literary one. Unless you count me having submitted the thing 18 years ago. Age raddling the memory. That is what it is.

When I mentioned chansons de geste in my earlier post, that was what I was referring to. The trouble is, we are between storms and there is no guarantee I will have time to compose a decent post tonight. In fact, my storm-sense tells me there is every likelihood I will have to get offline very soon.

So watch this space. I will tell you about Old French epic legend introductions tomorrow (from a writer's point of view - not a rehash of my doctorate) and romances the day after. If anyone shows any enthusiasm I might branch out into other genres or specific works. Unless my attention has wandered by then. Anyway, chansons de geste for certain. Promise.

From a writerly point of view, introductions to Medieval literature are *interesting*. A reader (hi, Phil!) noticed that the introduction to my novel promised different things to most modern fantasy introductions. I am afraid I copied the concept from the Old French prose romances, in a moment of evil (or Medi-evil, as the case may be). So these are my writer-roots and it won't hurt to get back to them for a day or two.

Besides, without medieval history I go into a decline. And Gillian in decline is a sad, sad sight. Also dangerous - that is when I tend to practical jokes. I realised I was heading in that direction when I surveyed my loungeroom. Currently it is all bubbles, covering the rug, trapped in spider webs. Pretty, pretty bubbles. See, the Middle Ages beckons.
Watch this space.