Fandom #39: The Goblin Emperor
Jun. 26th, 2017 04:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trace_by_echoI had this fandom in my Assorted Fandoms post for some time, but my list of recs has recently ballooned. This book, which won the Locus and almost won the Hugo and Nebula awards, is a very political fantasy story about a despised younger son suddenly inheriting the throne. Racism, sexism, homophobia, class issues and their causes are all discussed, and the politics focuses on progressivism (or, well, the fantasy version of it) and Maia's difficulties in converting a conservative court to accept his pro-female, pro-worker policies. And of course it features intrigue, assassinations (both successful and attempted), canonical same-sex marriage, witty wordplay, women who want to duel their fiance's enemies, and a ruler who opts for mercy and justice over personal revenge. Basically this book has most of my favorite things. Whenever I pick it up, it's almost impossible to put it down, even though it's almost 500 pages long. Everyone, read this book!
Mostly, I read gen fic that covers other POVs, as the book is entirely through Maia's eyes, and small explorations into missing scenes or continuations. Any pairings, other than the canon Csethiro/Maia, will be marked.
FIC:
Canon-Adjacent (Does Not Require Changes to the Book):
~but I will hold as long as you like, by roachpatrol. A short exploration of how Csethiro makes a mistake in dealing with her betrothed, and fixes it. Complete.
~can't fight against the youth, by Sour_Idealist. Idra's impressions of the events in the months from the death of his father (and grandfather, and uncles) through the various coups of the winter. He has an idea of what he needs to be doing, but needs some help to get there. Complete.
~Dawn, by bigsunglasses. A "five times" fic with dancing as the framework, it's really about Vedero before and after the rise of Edrehasivar VII (the brother she knows virtually nothing about), and how he contrasts to the other men in her life. Although this fic only hinted at the possibility, I very badly want her to become an ambassador and thereby fulfill her duties to the Ethuveraz without being forced into marriage. Complete.
~Policies of the Dynasty, by Prinzenhasserin. Succession crisis? There's a person in charge of sorting out the competing claims, who for once has a busy day. Complete.
~The Stairs Beneath The Heart, by hermitknut. The book retold through the servants of the Emperor, who have their assumptions shattered upon meeting their new master. WIP.
~sword and shield, by maesilju. Beshelar's first impressions of the new emperor, and how his opinion evolves into respect and friendship. Complete.
Canon-AU (Diverts From Canon At Some Point):
~A Birthday Gift for Maia Drazhar, by Zhisanin. Varenechibel IV decides to send a courier as a whore to his son on his sixteenth birthday. It happens to be Csevet. Csevet/Maia, WIP.
~Courier, by kessarin. At age sixteen, Maia runs away to become a courier. WIP.
~The Archduke and the Glorious Dragon, by Imaginary_golux. Maia's maternal aunt Shalean heard her nibling was in effective exile, and refuses to leave him in Edonomee. Maia has a much better childhood being raised by a lady pirate and her lionwoman wife. Eventually the turmoil of the Ethuveraz must reach them, and Maia must choose his duty carefully. Complete.
--->A sequel/side-fic of sorts, The Pirate Prince covers Csethiro's POV when she meets her somewhat exciting betrothed. Complete.
~The Winter Emperor, by Island_of_Reil. Shevean does not let Maia see Idra before banishing him to the monastery. The Ethuveraz goes to hell, and Maia needs to escape assassins and prevent future civil unrest on his way to reclaim his throne. He's materially aided by the sudden arrival of his secretary. Csevet/Maia, and by the end Csethiro accepts him as Maia's partner adjacent to their marriage. Complete.
Post-Canon (Follows Canon But Goes Into The Future):
~An Unquiet Beast, by bigsunglasses. Hesero, wife of Setheris, is grappling with the sudden knowledge that in the decade he has been parted from her, he was a child abuser. She must find a new purpose in her life beyond supporting her husband - could allying with the new empress be it? Past Hesero/Setheris. Complete.
~Chiaroscuro, by Faebreath. Every emperor must have his portrait. WIP.
~Chenelo's Treasures, by song_of_staying. One of Maia's maternal aunts sends him a box of his mother's belongings, left behind when she married Varenechibel IV. Complete.
~Continuing Education series, by Bomberqueen17. A continuation of canon, with the inevitable exploration of sexuality that Maia needs before marriage. Bonus of Vedero as the leader of a queer counterculture, and a nice burgeoning romance between Csevet and Beshelar (who fail a lot at communication, and so are not on the same page regarding their trysts). WIP series.
~Give My Hands True Purpose, by nooziewoozie. The newlywed emperor and empress get used to married life. Bonus for Maia's characteristic generosity being logically extended to the bedroom. Complete.
~Passage, by bigsunglasses. A few years post-book, Idra is at university, dealing with the toadies and the ones who judge him by his mother. He bumps into a woman who's also used to being judged by her family. This Idra & Paru Tethimin friendship is lovely. Complete.
~Studying the Stars, by bigsunglasses. Author's summary: "Maia's aunts all take an interest in Vedero's passion for astronomy." Complete.
Mostly, I read gen fic that covers other POVs, as the book is entirely through Maia's eyes, and small explorations into missing scenes or continuations. Any pairings, other than the canon Csethiro/Maia, will be marked.
FIC:
Canon-Adjacent (Does Not Require Changes to the Book):
~but I will hold as long as you like, by roachpatrol. A short exploration of how Csethiro makes a mistake in dealing with her betrothed, and fixes it. Complete.
~can't fight against the youth, by Sour_Idealist. Idra's impressions of the events in the months from the death of his father (and grandfather, and uncles) through the various coups of the winter. He has an idea of what he needs to be doing, but needs some help to get there. Complete.
~Dawn, by bigsunglasses. A "five times" fic with dancing as the framework, it's really about Vedero before and after the rise of Edrehasivar VII (the brother she knows virtually nothing about), and how he contrasts to the other men in her life. Although this fic only hinted at the possibility, I very badly want her to become an ambassador and thereby fulfill her duties to the Ethuveraz without being forced into marriage. Complete.
~Policies of the Dynasty, by Prinzenhasserin. Succession crisis? There's a person in charge of sorting out the competing claims, who for once has a busy day. Complete.
~The Stairs Beneath The Heart, by hermitknut. The book retold through the servants of the Emperor, who have their assumptions shattered upon meeting their new master. WIP.
~sword and shield, by maesilju. Beshelar's first impressions of the new emperor, and how his opinion evolves into respect and friendship. Complete.
Canon-AU (Diverts From Canon At Some Point):
~A Birthday Gift for Maia Drazhar, by Zhisanin. Varenechibel IV decides to send a courier as a whore to his son on his sixteenth birthday. It happens to be Csevet. Csevet/Maia, WIP.
~Courier, by kessarin. At age sixteen, Maia runs away to become a courier. WIP.
~The Archduke and the Glorious Dragon, by Imaginary_golux. Maia's maternal aunt Shalean heard her nibling was in effective exile, and refuses to leave him in Edonomee. Maia has a much better childhood being raised by a lady pirate and her lionwoman wife. Eventually the turmoil of the Ethuveraz must reach them, and Maia must choose his duty carefully. Complete.
--->A sequel/side-fic of sorts, The Pirate Prince covers Csethiro's POV when she meets her somewhat exciting betrothed. Complete.
~The Winter Emperor, by Island_of_Reil. Shevean does not let Maia see Idra before banishing him to the monastery. The Ethuveraz goes to hell, and Maia needs to escape assassins and prevent future civil unrest on his way to reclaim his throne. He's materially aided by the sudden arrival of his secretary. Csevet/Maia, and by the end Csethiro accepts him as Maia's partner adjacent to their marriage. Complete.
Post-Canon (Follows Canon But Goes Into The Future):
~An Unquiet Beast, by bigsunglasses. Hesero, wife of Setheris, is grappling with the sudden knowledge that in the decade he has been parted from her, he was a child abuser. She must find a new purpose in her life beyond supporting her husband - could allying with the new empress be it? Past Hesero/Setheris. Complete.
~Chiaroscuro, by Faebreath. Every emperor must have his portrait. WIP.
~Chenelo's Treasures, by song_of_staying. One of Maia's maternal aunts sends him a box of his mother's belongings, left behind when she married Varenechibel IV. Complete.
~Continuing Education series, by Bomberqueen17. A continuation of canon, with the inevitable exploration of sexuality that Maia needs before marriage. Bonus of Vedero as the leader of a queer counterculture, and a nice burgeoning romance between Csevet and Beshelar (who fail a lot at communication, and so are not on the same page regarding their trysts). WIP series.
~Give My Hands True Purpose, by nooziewoozie. The newlywed emperor and empress get used to married life. Bonus for Maia's characteristic generosity being logically extended to the bedroom. Complete.
~Passage, by bigsunglasses. A few years post-book, Idra is at university, dealing with the toadies and the ones who judge him by his mother. He bumps into a woman who's also used to being judged by her family. This Idra & Paru Tethimin friendship is lovely. Complete.
~Studying the Stars, by bigsunglasses. Author's summary: "Maia's aunts all take an interest in Vedero's passion for astronomy." Complete.