Liz Williams: journal

It's one of those dark, rain-filled days. I'm sitting in the shop and have just finished some anthology revisions. Also got mugged by a short story idea thanks to a book I mentioned a while back: Stephen Smith's UNDERGROUND LONDON, which as well as being informative is also acidly funny (his account of going round the sewers in the company of a man who can kill rats with his hard hat - 'London Water's answer to Oddjob' - is priceless).

This, however, is a Boudicea short story idea, which uses the same main character as the antho story. I like it when a plan comes together, etc etc.

Reading plans for this evening incorporate a Sunday roast, some Merlot, the Observer food monthly and this week's Radio Times, which features one of those explanatory articles about TORCHWOOD. We don't have any of your fancy technology in this 'ousehold*, TV runs off t'mangle like it's allus done, so I will have to wait until Wednesday for this particular viewing pleasure - if it is. Until then, it's the fingers-in-ears, not-listening, not-listening approach to any spoilers.

I caught about 5 minutes of ROBIN HOOD last night, which is not long enough to judge anything, but it reminded me a bit of that Clive Owen Mockney version of King Arthur which I really liked but no one else seems to have done. But the jury remains out with regard to this version of RH. One rather cruel reviewer pointed out that it posits the invention of the hoodie several hundred years early, and, indeed, the sweatshirt. Robin the Hoodie?? Dave Cameron might be down with the young things, but I bet the idea of a modern fay outlaw gives Blair some sleepless nights.

Marion seems a bit of a feisty, saucy minx. Yawn. I don't read enough fantasy to know if this has been done - I bet it has - but one day I'm going to write a fantasy story about a heroine who is actually good at spinning etc and likes it, who isn't a tomboy and who doesn't see the point of swords. I like swords myself, but not exclusively. And it's not strictly necessary to go around killing people, whereas it is necessary (in this sodding climate, anyway), to wear clothes. So which is more useful?

*Actually, I'm lying, as usual. We have the Racing Channel.

Edited: Curse of the Typos strikes again. I meant 'modern DAY outlaw.' But actually...