Pride, Prejudice, Polygamy and... zombies.

[fictional]

It's no secret to anyone who's talked to me for more than ten minutes about books, but just in case there's anyone of you to whom that doesn't apply, in my opinion Pride and Prejudice may be the most perfectly structured novel ever written. I think it is shocking in its sheer, staggering brilliance. And snark.

The P&P industry's taken a new turn though... and I gotta say, I can't wait!

Because you know what? Zombies make everything better!!

No joke: this is Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth... battle the undead!

And get a load of this: just green-lit, Pride and Predator: i.e. P&P meets TORCHWOOD.

Who's coming with me when this shit hits the screen???

Also found on the intertubes today: thoughts on polygamy from MsNBC. What do y'all make of that?

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

Well, for starts, that's not _technically_ polygamy.

You know the rest.

[sykii.livejournal.com]

Just curious- how it is not polygamy?

[rm.livejournal.com]

Oh, in the way that upon doing a google proves that I'm a moron.

[sykii.livejournal.com]

Google pwns us all eventually. I suspected you were thinking of polygyny.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Oh the sanitariness of it all.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yes. It sounded both boring and tiring.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile, regency alien movie!!

[rm.livejournal.com]

I can't believe you think that is a good idea.

Although it makes GDL's answer to all questions with "Predator!" much funnier now.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Hey, I watch Torchwood. I think lots of improbable things are a good idea ;-)

[sykii.livejournal.com]

I am so there.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

*dances*

ZOMBIES. Maybe you will actually enjoy the book that way???

[sykii.livejournal.com]

I've come around on the subject of good old Jane.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Really? *is excited*

Still, everything IS better with zombies. And aliens.

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

i saw zombies and everything else just melted away

no one, i mean NO ONE, i know shares my love of zombie movies (except you, apparently)

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

This is why we are internet wed, no?

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

yes
yes, it is

and if we were in the same city, that zombie flick would so be date night

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

In our polygamous internet union!

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

wahay!
i can bring my non-boyf and all my other internet husbands and wives, too?

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

If they like empire waists and zombies, sure!

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

pretty costumes for one half
and blood and guts for the other
perfect

[mellacita.livejournal.com]

I love Pride and Predjudice. I loved it when I first read it, I love reading it again and again, I even love certain adaptations of it. I may even read JA fanfic. I also don't have a functioning semicolon until I get the new keyboard, so forgive the comma splices. I'm not a big fan of zombies, but Darcy and Elizabeth might help me work through that. *g*

As for polygamy, polyandry, polyamory, or whatever it actually is...if there is good communication and mutual consent, bring it on.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

You have a Darcy icon. YAY!

I just... Darcy & Elizabeth battle zombies! I find the sheer audacity of it charming. Way more than the average Darcy & Elizabeth solve mysteries, or whatever.

As regards the adaptations and fanfic -- I always look, I'm always hopeful. If we're speaking of books though, I find they're either too slavish, and miss the spirit of regulated hatred and clear-sighted acerbic-ness and well, fun, or they don't... add anything. I find Heyer to be an exception, but... I think her world building stands on its own and is first class, and also, the lady could turn a phrase on her own, without endless crappy imitations of "it is a truth universally known..." Still, hope springs eternal and all that, and I read every single one I can get my grubby little hands on.

Your ability to speak on Miss Austen sans a working semi-colon is eminently laudable.

Also, the um, Elton John movie really does sound like JA meets Torchwood. Two great tastes?

re: polygamy -- I think it's a perfectly respectable relationship format, and I've engaged in such myself. Much harder than monogamy in some ways however, due to the complications of more variables. Much easier in others, so whatever floats one's boat, I suppose. I just thought the article... sounded really sanitary. Which is not how I think of sex and relationships. It was a tonal quality quibble, rather than a content quibble.

[mellacita.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. The article did sort of skate over things, but I am not surprised given the fact that it is a truth universally known that such relationships inevitably cause a certain percentage of people think of patriarchy, subjugated women who can't cut their hair, and large compounds hiding from the law. Or as something those 'weird' people in far parts of the world do. Even when none of these apply. Perhaps I am a pessimist, but I was a bit pleasantly surprised there were as many positive reader comments as there were.

As for JA fic and adaptations, not much even gets close to the original, but I do enjoy the pursuit!

JA meets Torchwood. Life is now complete. LOL.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I am a pessimist, but I was a bit pleasantly surprised there were as many positive reader comments as there were.

I must confess I did not venture into the comments.

But yes, I completely agree with all you've said. In my days of reading trashy romance novels set in harems (ah, for those halcyon days of youth, and searching for the dirty bits in bodice-rippers) I always appreciated the ones which showed that not all relationships are so... easily mapped.

[valancy-joy.livejournal.com]

"empire waists and zombies" *snorfles*

I am dubious, as I am a fan of one, and not the other... but Torchwood is winning me over to the kewlness of zombies,so...

:0)

as to the other thing, as an aging spinster, I may have to amend the phrase to be "all the good ones are ...having way more fun than me" :0)))

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Torchwood... the gateway drug. *g*

I wonder... what about a Cpt. Jack Harkness/Jane Austen crossover???

[valancy-joy.livejournal.com]

there are not a million miles between ex-time agent Jack and Wickham.

swooshy coats have appeal in many eras!!

"Hart and Harkness... breaking hearts and fortunes our specialty."

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Dear god. I... I... Someone needs to write this.

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

Title - Hart and Harkness
Author - laurab1
Pairing – Jack/John
Rating – PG-13/12
Length – 200 words
Spoilers – 2.1 KKBB and 2.13 Exit Wounds
Summary – Time Agents on a pleasure cruise in early nineteenth century England.
Disclaimer – Jack, John and the Bennet sisters are not mine. I hope Jane Austen would have approved of this ;)
Feedback is loved and appreciated :) Enjoy!

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Agents in possession of the entirety of time and space must be in want of a shag. (http://laurab1.livejournal.com/361117.html)

[jo02]

Cpt Jack Harkness has the charm, manners and elegance to fit right in any Jane Austin crossover!

When will it be ready to read?

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

I do not know if I have the skill to render it appropriately. But if you hear of any, please let me know immediately.

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

Here you go ;)

Title - Hart and Harkness
Author - laurab1
Pairing – Jack/John
Rating – PG-13/12
Length – 200 words
Spoilers – 2.1 KKBB and 2.13 Exit Wounds
Summary – Time Agents on a pleasure cruise in early nineteenth century England.
Disclaimer – Jack, John and the Bennet sisters are not mine. I hope Jane Austen would have approved of this ;)
Feedback is loved and appreciated :) Enjoy!

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Agents in possession of the entirety of time and space must be in want of a shag. (http://laurab1.livejournal.com/361117.html)

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

That is awesome-sauce. Lol. Now we know where Cpt. John got the coat!

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

Yes! Thank you :)

[qthelights.livejournal.com]

I thought that polygamy article was fascinating.. and then I read the comments and wanted to throw up. Ergh. people can be so awful.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Were people asshats? I confess I didn't read the comments...

[qthelights.livejournal.com]

oh yes, they were. hellfire and damnation.

actually, most of it was "gross" or "sick" etc.

[qthelights.livejournal.com]

Actually what I found most interesting about the article was that a) it was the woman writing it b) it had initially been her with two men, not a husband with many wives (which is always a big problem with the argument for me, if it was all so equal and loving then it shouldn't always be one man with a harem of women) and c) that she was very articulate, sensible and stated why it worked for her.

[contrarywise]

I so need that book! The cover art sends me into fits of gigglesnorting.

I read the MSNBC article earlier today. As these things go, I thought it was pretty good--not sensationalistic or overdone, and the author comes off as a reasonable person with multiple relationships instead of someone proselytizing for her lifestyle. Too many mainstream articles on polyamory seem to almost purposefully miss important points about the subject and end up flogging the weirdness.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

I know, the cover art is the best, isn't it???

I guess the thing of it is with the poly article, I am all for it. And the reception/acceptance and what have you. But the thing that irritates me is the tendency to neaten things which aren't neat... like relationships, all of which I've ever encountered are messy and complicated -- whether between two, three or ten.

[contrarywise]

Well yeah, but try to find a one-page online article on a subject of similar complexity that does any better. Mainstream Web site + word count limit = KISS. My main issue with the article is that it comes off as a neatly middle class, we're-just-like-other-folks-except-there's-more-of-us apologia. I've seen far too much of that in LGBT politics, thankyouverymuch.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

OMG. I knew about PP&Z, but I didn't know about the sci-fi film. Oh win. This is all a lot of fun to geek about and anticipate. Here's hoping the execution is worthwhile.

Plus, holycrapzombies. I love zombies. LOVE. (And am also actually afraid of them. Ask me about my first flat here in CoMo sometime.)

I have mixed feelings about the polygamy article. It was nice to see a not-sensationalized article in which a woman is extolling the virtues of her family's relationship style (and in which is is clear it that she was an active mover in making it happen), but it was kind of painfully suburban.

Still, it's so unusual to see something that positive and comfortable with itself in the mainstream. I'm glad it exists.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

We are constantly planning for the zombie apocalypse. No, really. The point is whether they can climb, isn't it? If not, it's possible to make defenses.

I'm glad it exists too, and comfort/communication = important. I just... am annoyed at the tendency to try and neaten that which cannot be neatened. Relationships are complicated. And not solved by an endless biweekly family meeting.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

Biweekly family meeting kind of makes me want to bash my head against something, to be honest. I mean, seriously. I have enough meetings at my dayjob. Please to not be making my personal life any more of a job than it already is.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

And, I guess the assurances of straight-ness. We cuddled all night, but there was NO SEX AT ALL. WE ARE TOTALLY NORMAL kthxbai.

But yeah. biweekly family meeting makes me think of camp. and not in a good way.

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

I meant to give you these links last week XD

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Austen-Jemima-Rooper/dp/B0014T7ETQ

http://community.livejournal.com/tw_flashfic/31846.html - Miss Cooper and the Unconventional Earl (Heyer-alike)

http://community.livejournal.com/tw_flashfic/33598.html - Sir Ianto and The Unconventional Earl (Heyer-alike)