Re: Warriors of Love
 

Today, I polished Chapter 1 of Volume 8 "Margaret Again". This quote isn't new (I think that it's carried forward unchanged from "Odalisque") but it struck me afresh as I reworked the material. Dashing Daniel is offering some ale to Juicelle:

“Here you are, your ladyship,” he almost snarled, “as clear as your conscience and foaming like rabies.”

Re: Warriors of Love
 

Also from "Margaret Again" Chapter 1 is Juicelle's first remark to Tuerqui:

“If you’re alive,” Juicelle said after a long pause – her voice affectedly languid, “it would be polite to speak. If, on the other hand, you’re a blesh carcass, I’d advise you to stop breathing before you’re eaten.”

Having been writing, recently on this thread, about Through the Looking Glass, it occurs to me that Juicelle's speech echoes Tweedledum and Tweedledee's first remarks to Alice:

"If you think we're wax-works," he said, "you ought to pay, you know. Wax-works weren't made to be looked at for nothing. Nohow!"

"Contrariwise," added the one marked "DEE", "if you think we're alive, you ought to speak."

Blesh being slave flesh slaughtered for meat, Juicelle's version seems to me more sinister.

Re: Warriors of Love
 

And, returning to the ceramic castle, could this flat roof be the one to which characters go (in both "Jane" and "Margaret Again") in order to conduct secret conversations?

http://www.ligotti.net/picture.php?a...pictureid=1883

Re: Warriors of Love
 

I'm in the process of polishing "Margaret Again" Chapter 3. Polishing, for me, involves reading every word out loud (then changing as necessary, re-reading, and so on). Chapter 3 includes a number of remarks from an army sergeant. While polishing these, I tried reading them aloud in an approximation to a sergeant's voice. Doing that, I soon developed a slight sore throat. How do real sergeants manage to sound as (I believe) they do?

Re: Warriors of Love
 

I just wrote this as a Visitor Message... But thought I'd copy it here for more general circulation (in case others are unaware of this):

I am currently working on a projected series of 12 novels called "The Warriors of Love". Of the 12, 4 are to be an extended re-write of "Odalisque". Currently, one non-"Odalisque" "W of L" novel exists, and 2 that are expansions of the first half of "Odalisque". I'm about a quarter of the way through writing the third of the novels that was formerly part of "Odalisque".

Currently, these novels exist only as collections of computer files (I've sent them on CD to a number of people). But I'm thinking of using Lulu.com to publish one or two of them as paper and ink books.

Re: Warriors of Love
 

Oh, and I've discovered that the ceramic castle is probably very old. It was formerly the properly of Granny Harvey (my Great Aunt Ada, who -- I'm pretty sure -- died before my birth in 1946). She lived at 50 Torquay Drive, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex -- and my eldest sister recalls visiting Granny Harvey (before the Second World War, I'm pretty certain):

"I remember as a small girl (& Wendy even smaller) visiting 'Grandad' Harvey balding and fairly static in an armchair in the corner. He was round, balding, smiling and smoked a pipe. 'Granny' Harvey did the talking she was like Dad but sharp faced and always called us little chaps which we didn't like."

Amongst the furnishings of Granny Harvey's sitting room was a china cabinet which housed (amongst other things) the ceramic castle.

http://www.ligotti.net/picture.php?a...pictureid=1885

Re: Warriors of Love
 

Congratulations on your hard work on this staggering concept of a twelve novel canon. Judging by reading the first one on-disk, these are also readable separately.
And good luck with the print versions.
des

Re: Warriors of Love
 

Here is a more or less random example of how "Odalisque" is changing as it becomes part of "The Warriors of Love".

First, the start of "Odalisque" Chapter 25:

Chapter 25

War

Under my feet, the once smooth hallway floor felt rough – scratched by the passage of heavy objects. Bright sunlight spilt through the high windows, all but turning the polished wooden panels into mirrors, but casting deep shadows amid the recently piled boxes. A large open packing case smelt of wood shavings. The doorbell clanged loudly and, before I had time to answer it, sounded again – even louder.

At the threshold, a messenger shifted impatiently – like a tightly coiled spring. She wore the livery of Berenice Blackheart and carried a sealed envelope. A broad belt over her right shoulder supported a sheathed sword – not an ornate weapon – but clearly one of deadly purpose. Her expression was grim and resolute.

“I am to see Lady Isobel, in person,” she said, “and at once.”

“Indeed,” I replied, my attempt at hauteur wilting under her gaze. “I’ll see whether she’s prepared to receive you. If you’d just unbuckle your sword belt…”

Pushing past me, she growled – “Out of my way, slave. I’ll keep my sword.”

Fearful for my mistress’ safety, I tried to bar the messenger’s progress. Roughly, and showing considerable strength, she thrust me to one side. It was as though I were in the grip of a nightmare – untrained as I was in martial skills, my efforts succeeded only in earning me a few bruises and some small cuts. The armed woman strode purposefully, while I scurried behind trying to raise the alarm.

Now, "The Warriors of Love" Volume 5 "Tuerqui" begins thus:

Chapter 20

In which my mistress departs, absorbed into political danger, students march into the dangers of war, and life is by no means safe for us slaves.

The hallway floor rasped the soles of my feet – its once smooth surface scratched by the passage of heavy objects. Bright sunlight spilt through high windows, all but turning the polished wooden panels into mirrors, but casting deep shadows amid the recently piled boxes. A large open packing case smelt of wood shavings. The doorbell clanged loudly and, before anyone had time to answer it, sounded again – even louder.

“Can you get that, Tuerqui?” Squirmanne asked. “I need to open this second crate before…”

“Right you are,” I responded, “no problem.”

“Thanks, sweetie.”

At the threshold, a messenger shifted impatiently – like a tightly coiled spring. She wore the livery of Berenice Blackheart and carried a sealed envelope. A broad belt over her right shoulder supported a sheathed sword – not an ornate weapon – but clearly one of deadly purpose. Her expression was grim and resolute.

“I am to see Lady Isobel, in person,” she said, “and at once.”

“Indeed,” I replied, my attempt at hauteur wilting under her gaze. “I’ll see whether she’s prepared to receive you. If you’d just unbuckle your sword belt…”

Pushing past me, she growled: “Out of my way, slave. I’ll keep my sword.”

Fearful for my mistress’ safety, I tried to bar the messenger’s progress. Roughly, and showing considerable strength, she thrust me to one side. It was as though I were in the grip of a nightmare – untrained as I was in martial skills, my efforts succeeded only in earning me a few bruises and some small cuts. The armed woman strode purposefully, while I scurried behind trying to raise the alarm.

Re: Warriors of Love
 

I seem to have published a book today:
Jane by Peter Jeffery in Science Fiction Fantasy

I haven't seen a copy, though, and can't guarantee how it's turned out.

It says:

Jane
by Peter Jeffery
This item has not been rated yet
Paperback, 442 pages

£16.99
Ships in 3–5 business days
Jane is an ordinary person: a junior fiscal inspector, a sixteen year old civil servant under the majesty of Berenice I, by the bounty of the goddesses Empress of Surrey. The extraordinary women who wield power in the imperial hierarchy have assigned Jane to audit the accounts of an independent company of light cavalry, in the war zone that is Essex. The company is commanded by Modesty Clay with whom Jane falls in love. Her unwise emotional attachment leads Jane into a world in which she needs to grow up very quickly, a world in which the Empress herself takes a personal interest.

Re: Warriors of Love
 

Incidentally, if you click on the link to the book, and then click on "Preview" you can read the front cover, title page, first nine pages of text, and back cover.