h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

'Experto Credite'
Well...not having seen the episode 'Fragile Balance' I know I'm missing a chunk of pre-plot. I'm guessing this has to do with either a younger version of O'Neill. The initial part of the story had me wondering whether I was reading it right, whether it was Carter and O'Neill having the kid

Mood and atmosphere were good, very in keeping with the show and the dialogue. Speaking of the dialogue, it was nicely done and felt right. As a self contained story, if you ditched the external references to Stargate it would still work as a sentimental piece and it would work well. You put over the feeling of helpless terror that a father has when the actuality of kids is thrust upon him very nicely. I liked this!

moving on, heart full of optimism, we get to:

'Habeus Corpus'
Again, moments that capture the mood of the show well - O'Neill stepping out of the shadows at a disconcerting moment, for example, is well in keeping with it.
The boffing is well handled, especially because it re-inforces why these people didn't make the SGC. The idea that they only need one another for mutual relief and otherwise share a kind of easy contempt is well illustrated.
Good characterisation, mostly through some excellent dialogue (seems to be a strength of yours thus far), helps move this missing scene along. The pacing is good and the foreshadowing of later events is also nice.
Particular kudos for having the Maybourne stamp all over the piece without him actually being in it.

'Inter Nos'
Almnost a cutting room floor scene. You could imagine this being scripted for one of the more introspective episodes and then maybe being discarded at the last moment for reasons of timing.
You seems to have Jack O'Neill down pat.
The only thing that rang false about this was the Ultimate Answer reference. I've never imagined O'Neill to be a reader, let alone a reader of Douglas Adams. However, it's still banter of the type that the two would indulge in.
Daniel is well portrayed too.

So far, so good. I will take a break here, because I have to prepare the house for the assault of Gradientlings, and get back to this after the long weekend. Thanks! Three fun reads in an afternoon is a good thing.

Oh thank you for reading that stuff!!

You really need to see Fragile Balance to understand my fic, my hubs has and he still doesn't get what I wrote, it may really be only for the diehard Stargate fan!!

Habeus Corpus is one of my favourites - so I'm especially flattered about what you said there. Maybourne is one of my absolutely favourite characters, but he's hard to write, except as an off-stage character.


Inter Nos - well, I wrote that to wind someone up. But as soon as I wrote Life the Universe and Everything, my fingers and brain automatically put 42, there's no escaping that one. Although I do like to think that "my" Jack O'Neill has a passion for British Humour.

It gets a lot more rubbish from here though, although I do like one of the others... is that awful, liking my own writing?

I hope the Gradientlings are keeping well. Cool name!

The Gradientlings are well. They are at school, having spent the weekend ( a long one, for President's Day) being ill and attempting to help Mrs G. and I paint the outside of the house.

So...I'm backed up with housework and will therefore get to the rest of the fiction tomorrow/Thursday, once the monsterous backlog of laundry has been beaten off with a stick.

How's the househusbanding, anyway?
More power to your, and Mrs.Gradient's, elbow(s)

We did that for 18 months and it was fab, fab for me and fab for the kids.

I'll incorporate it into a novel one day!

The househusbanding, like most things, blows hot and cold.

I find that after a weekend I really look forward to the kids going to school so that I can tidy without them immediately wrecking the place again.

it's dull, because this housekeeping lark is not what I'm good at and is keeping me from doing the things I am good at, but it's also fun because I get to do a bunch of stuff that I otherwise wouldn't. And, of course, spending time with the Gradientlings is very much a game of two halves, Brian.

Sorry. It's very much a see-saw. When they're happy and well behaved, it's a joy. When they aren't, it's not. None of us slept well last night, for reasons no one understands, so everyone will be tired and crabby when they get home and I'm supposed to keep the peace. I have therefore dragged out my little blue UN beret and will be peacekeeping until they all sleep.

I know what you mean about tidying! I have given up. What I really would like (which I just had, so I can't moan) is a weekend (or six) away from the family, because all my downtime is spent with them.

ho hum

tell them you'll send them to Cirith Ungol if they misbehave
it works for mine

I tried that. They asked me if it is in England, and then asked whether they'd need new clothes for the journey.

I'm going to stick with grounding and threatening them with Oven Cleaning Duty.