Your Sounis Story

[openedlocket.livejournal.com]

On a sudden whim (okay, maybe I've been procrastinating my exam preparations), I've found myself on LiveJournal and this community after 3 years of LJ inactivity. I was so happy to find Sounis still active. Reading the posts took me on a trip to memory lane...

I found the Queen's Thief series about 6 years ago, at the age of 13. I found Sounis not long after I finished the 3rd book and was quite active for a while, writing some fics, trying to take part in discussions. This was the first fandom I was been actively involved in and, in hindsight, it's done a lot for me. In any other fandom, I probably would never have felt comfortable enough to get involved.Remembering how insightful and supportive this community is made me realise how much Sounis has helped my growth as a reader, writer and as a critical thinker. I have so many memories of Sounis randomness as well: a fight for Costis's hand in marriage, Leggotolia, tales of the late-King of Sounis writing fanfiction...

IN SUMMARY
Sounis has played a significant part in my life, and I've only been in this fandom for 6 years. I remember that a few of you have been in this fandom since the books first came out in 1996- which was almost two decades ago. That got me curious: what's everyone's Sounis Story? Any particularly interesting recollections from the early days of Sounis? Fond memories, embarrassing tales? A random update on your latest knitting project, undertaken to while away the hours until the next book? I'm looking forward to hear from everyone again.

Comments

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

I read the books at a transitional time for me--end of highschool, beginning of college. At the time I had a habit of getting a big pile of books at the library, starting all, finishing the good ones, before taking them all back to get a new batch. The Thief was part of one batch, and I liked it, but I couldn't immediately start on QoA until I got my next batch.

With QoA, I did something I've never done before or since--I LOST a library book. So I told myself I wasn't allowed to get the sequel til I found it.

I never found it. I gave up a few weeks later and allowed myself to read KoA.

I KoA five times in a row within a week. I NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT IT and I knew nobody IRL who had read the book. Enter internet.

The most recent post when I first found this community was one where we were discussing OTHER books that we were reading and enjoying because it was taking so long for the next book to come out. And we speculated that Megan must not really be writing that next book. She was probably knitting.

While She Knits was born! Just as I became a member of the community! Maybe because of that, WSK has always been my favorite part of what goes on around here. I love discusing MWTs books and the randomness, but its been nice not to have to guess at whether a book is going to be good. Now I know who to ask. :-)

[openedlocket.livejournal.com]

It occured to me how ironic it is that it was QoA you had lost. It mirrors a certain thief leaving certain library for good to marry a beautiful but not very kind queen. Perhaps that copy has found its Attolia somewhere out there. Or maybe I'm letting my imagination take this a bit too far.

I had borrowed the books when I read them for the first time as well. Took me a while to give them back to my friend as I kept...forgetting (yeah let's use that word) to return them to her.

Speaking of While She Knits, I need to scour those posts for book recs. After my exams, I plan on mentally consuming what is equivalent to a small library to make up for the hours lost to math.

[manderelee.livejournal.com]

My Sounis story started when I got tired of my old fandom (in which I spent about 8 years). As a teenager, I never really read much, but in search of something to do when I suddenly found myself with lots of time, I went to the library and checked out lots of books. During the summer between my high school and first year of University, I discovered the Queen's Thief series!

I remember checking out QoA and KoA the week when I started University, and I still remember how nervous I was about going to college, but it was okay, because I could read QT in the subway! And I know that it might be a weird thing to be thankful of, but I really do consider QT as one of the things that made my transition (and not to mention my 1.5hr commutes) easier.

As soon as I finished them, I put CoK on hold immediately. That was around the same time as I found Sounis, and I remember being a loner in between classes, and going to the library computers to read all the discussions. And it was just so much fun!

Then I started getting involved here. I drew some pictures, wrote some fanfics, and sometimes I participated in the discussions, but I think I've always enjoyed just sitting back and reading what everyone else has to say. Like you, I have Sounis to thank for making me a better and more attentive reader. I might have developed an unfair standard for books, but I think that's a side-effect I'll gladly accept. And I don't know how many times I've said this before, but Sounisians are the smartest, kindest, funniest people I've ever come across online.

[openedlocket.livejournal.com]

I might have developed an unfair standard for books

I commiserate with this on so many levels. I now have little patience for in-cannon contradictions, shoddy world-building and one-dimensional characters. I'm all the better for it...though sometimes my mom will complain I take the fun out of everything by over-analysing it.

[lylassandra.livejournal.com]

I've been reading them since the beginning, and I have to say, they've burrowed their ways deeper into my heart with each reread, and with age. I find something new to appreciate each time and I just adore them. My mom read me QoA to pass the time while I was in labor in 2010. I can't picture my imaginary life without them.

[filkferengi]

I've been on the Lois McMaster Bujold list ever since I first went online. Lois' natural pace is about a book every couple of years, so in between, she'll sometimes recommend and discuss what she's reading. Authors, books, movies, fandoms [anime, Bollywood, etc.] When Lois recommended mwt, I found the books & devoured them. The worldbuilding & characters were so amazing! I was adding mwt to the interests on my profile, when I clicked on a link and found a whole community of merry, waggish, delightful reprobates.

I enjoy how everyone contributes to building the culture of the community. Rosie's told here how While She Knits started up. One of the things I'm most gratified about is being one of the inciters of the BYU fen getting together. We all enjoyed those meetings, with pictures, fabulous food, and all sorts of hijinks. While not as active as it used to be, the community is still a fun and vibrant place. It's the first place I always post something cool, and someone always cares.

Here, have a fun video from the German filk convention last week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pXcFa5rzEs [not that I was there; a friend shared the link]. The performers are from Seattle.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I had just finished reading QoA and Thief (yes, in that order. I know!) in 2005 and just *had* to talk to someone else about them. There was a very small fandom over on some fantasy/sci fi site I can't remember the name of, and a fabulous discussion at Readerville, which has been defunct for several years. But I just needed to keep discussing and wait for the next book. And Rowana and Eddis started this site. I lurked for a few weeks and then KoA came out and daily discussions started. It's the only fandom I've been a big part of and it has meant a lot to me over the years. You guys are amazing--so smart and kind. It's been a great experience. I'm very sorry that people who have been a big part of the site have wandered away. I miss them. Some high points--meeting Peggy, Pascalle, and Megan in Dayton, getting together with Em, Ro, Emmaco, and Hebe in London, and Baltimore with Peggy, Megan, and Willow. I'll never forget those great days.