Captains...

[fajrdrako]

I was musing over my latest passion, Captain Cairo Azarcon from the Karin Lowachee novels, and it occurred to me how many captains have become heroes of mine, and how many I've written fanfic about. A list of the top ten:

1. Captain Mal Reynolds
2. Captain Sir Edward Pellew
3. Captain Frederick Wentworth
4. Captain Jean-Luc Picard
5. Admiral Aral Vorkosigan
6. Aragorn. Does it sound like cheating to list him? - I know he isn't featured as a ship's captain in The Lord of the Rings (except for the Appendix) but he was a captain and admiral of Ecthelion's fleet, and many of the qualities for which I love him are captain-like traits.
7. Captain Jack Sparrow
8. Captain Harlock
9. Corto Maltese
and now...
10. Captain Cairo Azarcon

I was wondering what they have in common besides the position of captain. Masculine heroic authority, perhaps. Independence - some to the point of being on the wrong side of the law, or at least ambiguous. Strength of character. With a few exceptions, they are self-made men one way or another.

Comments

[neonnurse.livejournal.com]

8. Captain Harlock!!!

I knew there was something extra special about you!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Big grin - proud to be extra special.

And - what's not to like about Captain Harlock, hmm?

[neonnurse.livejournal.com]

Nothing that *I* know of. Even if what I know of him is mostly from the French translation, Albator, Le Corsair de l'Espace!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It me plait en francais aussi. You can't have enough good graphic novels in this world.

I always intended to make myself a good Capt. Harlock costume, but never got around to it.

[neonnurse.livejournal.com]

Oh, I did that! Took me like three days without sleep, to have it done for a con. (0).(-) It's still around here...somewhere....

I wasn't graphic novels, though, I was in via anime. Had a friend who said 'you GOTTA see THIS!' :) You know how it goes.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Had a friend who said 'you GOTTA see THIS!' :)

Oh, I do, I do! And I've never actually seen the anime, though I'd like to.

I remember once seeing a brilliant Captain Harlock costume at a con. Probably not yours, though it would be possible... I don't ever remember what city it was in, or what costume I was wearing at the time.

[neonnurse.livejournal.com]

We have a couple of the various tapes around here. Since I am doing the jannowrimo my spare time is mostly going to that, but when you see me mention that I have started on my project of transferring tapes to DVD (with my Christmas machine I have unpacked but not yet tried out!), remind me and I will see if I can't get you a copy!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That would be lovely! Thank you.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Re. Aragorn, of course it's not cheating!

"I would have followed you, my brother, my Captain, my King."

*sniff*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes - canonical evidence for me - thank you for justifying my choice! I knew it was right! Trust Boromir for setting me straight.

(Though maybe 'straight' is not the word.)

*sniff*

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

I just added Warchild, Burndive and Cagebird to my wishlist. You are Eeevil! ;)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Evil? Moi? Oh surely not! Only 'evil' if you don't like the books. I suspect you will just because I did, which is no reason at all. But we do seem to like some of the same things. Some. (g)

Cagebird is the slashy one, and my favourite - not just because it was slashy (though that didn't hurt) but because Yuri is such a personality.
If you read it in order, Warchild comes first - written fist, though chronologically it's about the same as Cagebird - and it has a different ambience; I found Jos (Warchild) a little tame after Yuri (Cagebird), but he grew on me.

I'd never have read the books if I'd tried to start with Warchild, though, since the first chapter is not only written in the present tense (which I have learned to tolerate) but second person - which I normally find unreadable. I'd have stopped at the first paragraph if I even got that far. But having a trust in Lowachee after Cagebird I read on, and it was fine. That only lasts through the first chapter, and it's fine after that. Alternate sections of Cagebird are written in the present tense and I actually liked it - it had a purpose, and didn't bother me in the least.

Captain Azarcon, I'm happy to say, is in all of them - maybe least in Cagebird but his brief appearances made a big impression on me. Most in Burndive, where we even get to see him 'at home'.

Oh dear, I'm rambling in my enthusiasm. The Macedon is now one of the ships I can imagine and love, rather like Serenity, Enterprise, Indefatigable, and the Black Pearl.