Books question

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

Okay, another question about the novels, specifically the last two. I was reading the IMDB message board for RD and there was a thread on the books - the commenter said "The Last Human" is NOT a sequel to "Backwards," but instead, that each book is that particular writer's sequel to their last joint novel, "Better Than Life."

I post this here for two reasons. One, you guys are the best bunch of discussers (and the only ones I'm familiar with so far) of Red Dwarf, generally. Second, there's an element of possible slashiness here, I suppose. TLH ends with Lister and Kochanski getting busy recreating the human race, Rimmer dead and his son still alive (and somewhere out there, I sure hope somebody's written an OT3 - not a triangle - with Lister/Kochanski/McGruder just on principle *G*). "Backwards" ends with teenage Lister and the Cat escaping a universe where Kryten and Rimmer have been killed, into an alternate dimension where Lister and the Cat had died. (No Kochanski in sight; that was handled at the beginning of the novel.)

Is this true, that each is just a sequel to BTL? Have you ever heard this - is it common knowledge and I'm just the ignoramus? Or is it untrue?

Oh, and if they're each a BTL sequel, I suppose the question becomes, what does this say for each writer's vision of the R/L relationship? Just to keep it more on-topic.

Comments

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed far too much how happy Lister was to see nano-Rimmer come into the quarters in "Back in the Red." (That scene was also one of the inspirations for mine and Nat's long story we're working on finishing - it's in the way Rimmer approaches him when he walks in. Hopefully soon, you'll see what I mean *G*.) Incidentally, that season is also how I could actually accept an L/K/R OT3 either in fanfic or in the highly unlikely event it ever came to pass in canon. Once Kochanski was relieved of being the Rimmer stand-in, I appreciated her more (although I did like her in S7 despite Naylor's best effort to make her alt!Rimmer). For Naylor doing S8 himself, I thought it was terribly humorous, far more than S7. Seriously, I hated the tone in the latter part of S7.

I don't know if you can write comedy for toffee, but that Ace series is still in my mind even after all these weeks. In fact, when I did my musical Ace-fanmix thing earlier this spring, that story was why I chose a few of the songs I did. I confess I have a bit of a struggle with the end of the series as it stands, with Rimmer's memory and all that, but the entire series was just very good.

(Animated series? Episode? Was this a BBC show or a Web thing? Did you write an actual episode or a fanfic?)

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

that Ace series is still in my mind even after all these weeks. In fact, when I did my musical Ace-fanmix thing earlier this spring, that story was why I chose a few of the songs I did.

You see that right there? That compliment made me smile so wide I think it might fall off my face ;-) Thank you, I'm honoured.

I confess I have a bit of a struggle with the end of the series as it stands, with Rimmer's memory and all that, but the entire series was just very good.

Cos of the 'rock falls, everyone dies' feel? ;-) Meh, I wanted Rimmer's Return to link canon to canon (VIII to BTE) and I didn't think he'd ever be the same again if he was still a hero of sorts, if that makes sense?

Plus...I wrote 'The Prophecy' and am currently chapter planning 'Cosmic Castaway' as a continuation of the Ace Chronicles - where the return of his memories spells a lot of trouble for all involved. I'm in the middle of writing Year 3 of the Ace Chronicles on ff.net (124 Days) - shall I let you know when it's posted in complete form on AO3?

(Animated series? Episode? Was this a BBC show or a Web thing? Did you write an actual episode or a fanfic?)

Haha! A tricky one to answer so bear with me. Started as a fan project but picked up quite a following (including Bobbly Llew himself who tweeted about it!) We got the nod from Grant Naylor productions to continue, as long as we could faithfully prove we weren't going to make any money from it.

Unfortunately, only a pilot and Christmas 2009 episode (which I was script consultant on) has been made so far. I wrote an episode called 'Juno' (hmm familiar? ;-D)

Here's the opening credit sequence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzNiK6t8pHU

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

If you're dealing with him actually getting his memories back, I can handle that. It just - I dunno, it had a "Bobby Ewing in the shower" feel to it, and I was all "Boo! He doesn't get to forget all that!" (Don't hit me! *G*) But then I read the story with the soothsayer in the marketplace after the series and it gave me all kinds of hope that it wasn't over. :-)

If you're actually posting, I would definitely take a link to that on ff.net if you wouldn't mind. (Yeah, I'm that eager to read more of it, LOL)

You know ... that animated thing looks interesting ... if you guys ever get around to doing some more of that ... I like to write ... Yeah I'm a shameless self-promotion whore. (Admittedly my "TV writing" is limited to an unsold Star Trek:TNG script from my pre-Internet days, and fanfic.)

Oh, and the opening sequence is adorable! Who drew that??

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

If you're dealing with him actually getting his memories back, I can handle that. It just - I dunno, it had a "Bobby Ewing in the shower" feel to it, and I was all "Boo! He doesn't get to forget all that!" (Don't hit me! *G*) But then I read the story with the soothsayer in the marketplace after the series and it gave me all kinds of hope that it wasn't over. :-)

LOL! Now that did make me giggle. Gah, I can't win. ^__^ I get some feedback saying it was great I returned everything to canon and others who ask me to write follow-ups where he should remember. Hmmm... now I'm TOTALLY confused how I should leave the ending of Cosmic Castaway... ;-)

If you're actually posting, I would definitely take a link to that on ff.net if you wouldn't mind. (Yeah, I'm that eager to read more of it, LOL)

Of course! It's incomplete so as long as my slow writing processes don't piss you off then feel free to have a read: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5908333/1/124_Days I always appreciate your feedback (damn good writer as you are).

Yeah I'm a shameless self-promotion whore.

It's ok, I am too ;-) I was about to say submit it via the official site but it appears to have been removed. Hmm...might speak volumes about their decision on whether to continue right now! :-S

Oh, and the opening sequence is adorable! Who drew that??

Ahh now that would be the lovely Kevin - http://www.karcreat.com/

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

You know how writing is. You can't please everyone and yourself simultaneously, LOL.

Maybe it's been removed because there are going to be more series with real actual actor bodies involved? Hee! (I'm of two minds about that - do I want more series? I kind of think I do. But I admit I'm trepidatious about watching beloved characters get long in the tooth IF their characterization doesn't progress along with that. Like the Rimmer in BTE was more like early-seasons Rimmer and less like post-Rimmerworld Rimmer. If that makes sense. Just IMO.)

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

But I admit I'm trepidatious about watching beloved characters get long in the tooth IF their characterization doesn't progress along with that. Like the Rimmer in BTE was more like early-seasons Rimmer and less like post-Rimmerworld Rimmer. If that makes sense. Just IMO

Oh no, I agree whole-heartedly. I think I was slightly disappointed with BTE with the lack of comedy, and Rimmer's character was strangely jarring. Hey ho. Here's hoping they come up with a winner when they start filming...