Posted by jukkahoo
Today we celebrate the Independence Day by staying at home and checking out the wardrobe on people at The Party. Many Happy Returns Fair Maiden of Finland!
I'll start with some smoked oaked porter from Querkus. The smokiness is light, but there's plenty burned, roasted, malty flavours. As porters go, this one is delightfully fullbodied and Byzantine, but it's still very easy to drink. I now have craving for chocolate.
I don't remember really reading any independence stories this year, but Elizabeth Moon's Remnant Population has some independent thinking in it. Moon was squarely in the middle of one of the many Racefail™'s we've had in the fandom. She was wrong but some her detractors weren't looking all that much better in the end. Anyway.
Remnant Population is a story of Ofelia, an old woman, who decides to stay put, when her colony of settlers are moved away from their planet. Apparently they are really bad settlers and the powers that be want some new ideas and blood on the ground. And blood they shall have, since the hitherto calm original inhabitants of the planet come and massacre the newcomers.
When the aliens move to Ofelia's town, they find out that perhaps these ugly creatures that cannot speak or understand their language are after all, sentient beings. And then more humans arrive.
I liked this one a lot. It's relatively short, compact novel with interesting cultural differences and genuinely alien aliens. Not to mention a fairly uncommon main character. Recommended.
I guess I should choose a rousing interpretation of some nationalistic anthems for the song tonight, but I don't think I cannot do that. Instead, I'll link (once more) to something horribly accurate and at the same time deadly funny presentation of us Finns. The "song" for today is: The Finnish way of drinking by Robert Gustafsson.
<addenda> Ooops, I seem to have forgotten to include a film here. My bad. How about Attack the Block (2011)? This little gem of a mix of gang violence and alien invasion is something definitely not for everyone. The plot is pretty much The Warriors meet The Gremlins and hilarity mayhem ensues. Deadly aliens start to fall from sky and kill people in the hoods. Local juvenile delinquents decide to take action and cue violence. No heart of gold gansters here, effing foulmouthed thugs (played by real-life street kids) who begin the film by mugging and robbing our future female lead. It shouldn't possibly work, nut all in alla, Attack the Block is fun rollercoaster ride told by an idiot, full of blood and gore, signifying the hopelessness of a suburban youth. Or something. <addenda>
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