Torchwood: thrillseeking drivers...

[fajrdrako]

One thing I particularly love in fiction, is heroes who drive recklessly. They don't drive badly - these fictional heroes (they're usually heroes) never get into an accident or cause them. They are usually high-action guys like James Bond.

It doesn't count if they are race or stunt drivers or if they only drive wildly in chase scenes - I don't usually like car-chase scenes. It does count if they are habitually in a hurry, or just like to show off.

I'm thinking of heroes who drive wildly just for the joy of it - Bodie springs to mind, the prime example, squealing around corners and stopping on a dime, once doing so an inch from Doyle's front bumper. Perfect.

Then there's Aral Vorkosigan, flying drunk in his light-flyer through the chasms of Barrayar.¹ If I recall correctly, he was drunk enough to fall limply and therefore survive when he crashed. Admittedly, he was somewhat suicidal at the time. This doesn't lessen the appeal.

There's Johnson Johson, driving blind at night in the mountains of Yugoslavia.²

And how happy I am to add Captain Jack Harkness to the list. I was tickled to learn in Torchwood Another Life that Captain Jack doesn't have a driver's license. Of course he doesn't! He's not on record anywhere. Why hadn't I even thought of that? Now I'm reading Torchwood Slow Decay by Andy Lane, and it has some delicious passages about Jack's driving, like this from the beginning of chapter two:

Jack was driving. That was always a bad thing as far as Toshiko was concerned. Especially when she was navigating. He seemed to assume that when she said 'right' or 'left' then that abrogated any responsibility he had to check for other traffic, pedestrians, building, or, in one instance a few minutes ago, the existence of a roundabout which he then went the wrong way around.

A man accustomed to driving a spaceship has probably cultivated the wrong attitude for driving on simple two-dimensional roads. And as for parking:

'...Even if we did have a Torchwood helicopter,' Jack continued, 'where would we land it? SUVs are easier to park.'

'Last time we went out in this vehicle,' Toshiko said quietly, 'you parked it in the foyer of an office block. The time before that, you parked it in the middle of the Taff Bridge. I can't help feeling that finding suitable parking spaces is not high on your list of priorities.'

¹ Lois McMaster Bujold. I think this is in Shards of Honour, when Aral thinks he has lost Cordelia and is drinking heavily to dull the pain. Does anyone remember for sure?

² A reference to Dorothy Dunnett's novel Dolly and the Nanny Bird, or Split Code.

Comments

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

I think this is in Shards of Honour, when Aral thinks he has lost Cordelia and is drinking heavily

I'm pretty sure that is the end of Shards of Honour too - isn't there a bit where he says he only crashed once and A Nother (Bothari? Piotr?) says it was twice and that they'd poured him out of the flyer - and Aral gets all disturbed because he doesn't remember the second time at all.

Though I feel compelled to point out that it isn't just losing Cordelia, but having soaring public acclaim wrap him in rewards while his honour is shattered at his feet as well.

Damn it, you keep making me want to reread books that are a couple of hundered miles away at my parents' house!

Are the Torchwood books any good, btw? I've seen some mixed reviews.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

it was twice and that they'd poured him out of the flyer - and Aral gets all disturbed because he doesn't remember the second time at all.

Yes, I remember that! I love Shards so much, and Aral in it. And yes, it isn't just Cordelia. He goes through so much in that book.

Damn it, you keep making me want to reread books that are a couple of hundered miles away at my parents' house!

Well... if you were closer, I could lend you my copy. And the text is online, though I know it isn't the same.

Are the Torchwood books any good, btw?

I absolutely loved Another Life. The plot isn't anything special but the writing style, the wit, the characterization and the mood are all quite wonderful. It's way better than any of the Doctor Who novels I have read so far.

I have just started Slow Decay but I am also very impressed with it. I keep wanting to quote it to someone - as I just did here - so I suspect there will be more citations in my livejournal. Chapter One has a brilliant section characterizing Captain Jack as he stands on a roof looking down at Cardiff.

Better written than the Torchwood TV show, in my opinion.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

The text is online? I didn't know that.

So Another Life isn't the one I saw getting slated for having a Marty Sue and ripping off Superstar from BtVS then? Hm, I thought that was the title, maybe it was Border Princes though. I may give the two you've mentioned a go.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The text is online? I didn't know that.

Used to be, anyway. Handy for looking things up. I'll try to find the URL for you.

Another Life isn't the one I saw getting slated for having a Marty Sue and ripping off Superstar from BtVS then?

I don't know "Superstar" and I've heard all of Torchwood accused of Mary Sueism because of Gwen, though I don't see it myself - in fact, I think the accusation is silly. So I don't know if someone said that or not about Another Life, but I thought it was extraordinarily entertaining and a cut above most books based on TV shows - it was clever and the characterization was great.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

I'll try to find the URL for you - that would be cool, thank you. It's that or I get my parents to post down Shards Of Honour, Barrayar (can't stop at one), all the Sharpe books and my one-volume The Dark is Rising series (which I got reminded of by someone else recently). And that would be a large, expensive parcel.

I've heard all of Torchwood accused of Mary Sueism because of Gwen
Really? I don't see Gwen as a Mary Sue either, though I can see how some people might. I find it fairly inexplicable why the other Torchwood characters, particularly Jack, think she's so wonderful - which is a recognisable Mary Sue trait. Though so far Gwen doesn't appear to have violet eyes, a mysterious and painful past that is far more traumatic (in a way that left no ugly scars) than any of the other characters, superior powers to every other character or a really cool weapon that only she can wield and she isn't always right about everything... and she hasn't tried to set up Jack and Ianto yet either. So overall not particularly MarySueish.

But whatever the book was, the comment was definitely not referring to Gwen - it was about a new male character who apparently really did read like a wish-fulfillment fanfic Marty. I had a look on Wikipedia, and it sounds like it was Border Princes that I saw reviewed that way, I think I just got mixed up because the post I was remembering reviewed about 3 at once.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

that would be cool

I sent the URL to you by email.

my one-volume The Dark is Rising series (which I got reminded of by someone else recently)

I didn't know it ever appeared in one volume! Have you read it yet? I read the first book and was somewhat underwhelmed; haven't decided whether to read the others.

I find it fairly inexplicable why the other Torchwood characters, particularly Jack, think she's so wonderful

Agreed. This is one reason I postulated that she might be psychic; there's just enough textev to make it plausible, and if gives Jack a good reason for wanting her around. Otherwise I can't see she's much of an asset to Torchwood. She doesn't have a connection to the Doctor (however tenuous) the way Ianto and Toshiko do. She isn't a genius like Toshiko or Owen. If Jack wants someone ordinary he could just grab someone off the street.... Though "ordinary" is hardly a word I'd use for Gwen, either. She's a emotion-generator.

Of course, it could just be that Jack thinks she's cute and sexy. For Jack, that might be reason enough to hire an employee.

I haven't read Border Princes yet. It seems to be the least popular of the three. I'll let you know when I get to it.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

*checks email excitedly* Got it, thanks!

I didn't know it ever appeared in one volume! Have you read it yet? I read the first book and was somewhat underwhelmed; haven't decided whether to read the others

Oh yes, I read them all when I was a child. Though I have to admit that the cover of the book scared me too much to try them for ages! (It has a stained glass window design on it with a skull and some other creepy things).

The first book, Over Sea, Under Stone, I think is by far the weakest - it was written quite a while before the others I believe and isn't as connected to the others, or as intense (it feels like it's for younger readers to me). I think that is why they are starting the film adaptation with the second, The Dark is Rising, which won at least one award for children's literature and is just fabulous - chilling and intense and hard in some of the choices that happen, with old myths woven in beautifully.

The other three are just as good as The Dark is Rising - Over Sea, Under Stone gives a taste and it's good to have read it for things that happen later, but the sequence doesn't really get going until the second book. Susan Cooper is particularly good at building a very unsettling atmosphere and some of the scenes from the later books still stick with me as being very powerful (and creepy, some of them).

This is one reason I postulated that she might be psychic; there's just enough textev to make it plausible, and if gives Jack a good reason for wanting her around.

Yeah, that would work for me though I'm not sure it was what the writers were thinking. I can see Jack wanting someone with some real-world investigation skills to bolster his team of bad-at-social-interaction geeks, someone who can deal with the public and the police for him, and who's trained in procedures and techniques that the others presumably aren't. And Gwen does seem to do some of that for them, but I would think Jack would also want a bit more than that rather than just enticing the first policeperson to catch his eye.

Of course, it could just be that Jack thinks she's cute and sexy

It probably didn't hurt! Maybe Gwen caught his attention, and then he looked her up and decided she had useful qualities... I don't really see how Jack could know that Gwen had psychic abilities at that point.

Though "ordinary" is hardly a word I'd use for Gwen, either. She's a emotion-generator.

"We're running low on empathy again! Hook up the emotion-generator, quick!"

Probably not quite how you meant that phrase, but it did give me a lovely image of Gwen as a kind of smiley device in the Hub that Jack turns on when he thinks everyone is getting too jaded...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Got it, thanks!

Great.

It has a stained glass window design on it with a skull and some other creepy things

Neat. I don't recall ever seeing those covers - but I don't recall seeing the books much in stores, and a compendium volume, not at all. Perhaps it wasn't marketed to Canada...?

t feels like it's for younger readers to me

Yes, I thought that, and it seemed fairly superficial to me. Or perhaps the material that was actually there didn't seem to fit with the weightiness that was implied to be there. Thanks for the encouragement about reading the second book.

I would think Jack would also want a bit more than that rather than just enticing the first policeperson to catch his eye.

I think he ought to hire Swanson. He could do it. He could pay her more.

it did give me a lovely image of Gwen as a kind of smiley device in the Hub that Jack turns on when he thinks everyone is getting too jaded...

And then organizes a game of basketball. That's our Gwen.

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Yep, it is in Shards, and it's Bothari who mentions out just why the "repairs" on the lightflyer are taking so long... Aral observes that it's disturbing to have a gap in one's memory and Bothari pointedly agrees (it's after he has his "therapy" to wipe out his memories about Prince Serg and co).

I don't recall if there's been discussion on the Bujold list about the theme of memories running through the Vorkosigan books (possibly before my time), but it's an interesting one.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I do love Shards so much, and Bothari's role in it.

The way memory is treated in the books is interesting, yes. One could write an interesting essay on it. And no wonder Memory is such a powerful book, chosen by so many for that desert island!

[cyberducks.livejournal.com]

Jack probably drives like he loves - enthusiastically and fast - but not safely.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well said. That's it exactly. He does it with gusto.

[lacesforalady.livejournal.com]

Would Lymond count as a reckless roof-jumper?

Well, actually- he's more or less reckless about everything in Checkmate, so maybe not.

OK, I think I need sleep.

Oidche mhath.

needs sleep

[lacesforalady.livejournal.com]

And by Checkmate I clearly meant Queen's Play. Although he does do some pretty reckless bowling in Checkmate.

Re: needs sleep

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And which book would you say Lymond was not crazy and reckless in? That quiet book about him tending his garden and reading his books, that Dorothy Dunnett neglected to write?

He's a live-fast die-young kind of guy. Except he didn't, I'm happy to say.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Would Lymond count as a reckless roof-jumper?

Absolutely. Put him in a car on today's roads, and he'd drive the way he lives.

Delightful, scary thought.

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

You think Jack's still following the rule of active camouflage? The SUV isn't invisible but it would be very easy to find if he parked it in the middle of a foyer.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yup, that monster vehicle there in the middle of the foyer, that would be reasonably easy to find again....

It would explain why the police in Cardiff are always so pissed off with him.

[luinecu.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the love for Jack's reckless driving, heee.


... didn't he accidently run over a Weevil in Another Life?

Still, the scene with the consequently dead Weevil, brilliant.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That whole sequence in Another Life with Jack and the dead Weevil in the rain was wonderful - thanks for reminding me! Such a perfect Jack-train-of-thought thing, funny and sad and clever. It was great.

[spherissa.livejournal.com]

I am confident you're right about the Vorkosigan quote having recently read Cordelia's Honor.

It's all that driving to an inch isn't it? Very sexy. I misdoubt me how I'd feel if I were in the vehicle (car, phaeton, space ship etc) though -- unless I had great faith in the driver.

Even Lord Peter in Gaudy Night races with Harriet to get the gift. Until he notes her discomfort. So sweet.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's all that driving to an inch isn't it? Very sexy.

I think so!

I misdoubt me how I'd feel if I were in the vehicle (car, phaeton, space ship etc) though -- unless I had great faith in the driver.

I had an uncle who drove like that on the 401. Everyone else used to have fits but I loved his driving. He never had an accident.

Lord Peter in Gaudy Night races with Harriet to get the gift.

Yes! Perfect! Add him to the list!

[ceruleancat.livejournal.com]

Dorothy Sayers' Peter Wimsey is a speeding driver (not one of my kinks though). he points out in one of the books that speed is simply not one of the things he's afraid of, and it balances out all those fears.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, perhaps it's the element of fearlessness that appeals to me.

[toomuchfandom.livejournal.com]

Leroy Jethro Gibbs from NCIS is a baaad driver. Likes to drive fast, fast over country roads(nice and bumpy...) and take sharp turns tossing his team members against the windows. (so does Ziva David, but she's not a man)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Maybe I should watch NCIS. Is Gibbs the character played by David McCallum? I don't know who Ziva David is, but I didn't mean to imply I had a gender bias here - just that I don't recall having come across a female hero with this trait.

[toomuchfandom.livejournal.com]

Gibbs is played by the lovely Mark Harmon and David McCallum is indeed in NCIS, playing Donald ' Ducky ' Mallard.

Ziva is a female. Her first episode is in season 3. She's an Israeli and a killing machine.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'll try to remember that Gibbs is played by Mark Harmon.

Ziva sounds cool.

[toomuchfandom.livejournal.com]

OH Ziva is quite cool. She's still not 'dumbed down' like most writers do after 2 or more seasons of a strong female character in a tv show.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Don't you wish they wouldn't do that?

[toomuchfandom.livejournal.com]

Yep I do! But oh well, am not a member of The Powers That Be LOL.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No, and they just don't come and ask our opinions!