James Goss's Risk Assessment and why I like Ianto and Gwen as just good friends
This is almost spoiler free, but the character interactions are discussed a bit, no real plot details that aren't on the book cover.
The TW tie in novels will never win the Booker, but I do still feel a little disappointed sometimes in how they are at a trashy chick lit level of writing, still, guilty pleasure and I do enjoy some of them. James Goss still needs a few grammar lessons. I used to think that when one had a book published it was edited first, but I guess that has gone by the wayside over the years. Anyhow this one is much better than Almost Perfect, which contained the classic line "you're shrimp's are ready".
Risk Assessment is very funny. It has it's tongue firmly in it's cheek right from the start. There is a wonderful OC, Agnes. She is like Mary Poppins with nefarious intent. She awakens whenever Torchwood is in big trouble and swoops in, like an Ofsted inspection. Jack is terrified of her, and Ianto and Gwen respond the way one would to Mary Poppins really, much to Jack's chagrin. Jack turns to Rhys, and some rather wonderful Rhys awesomeness and hilarity ensues. I laughed out loud a few times, the plot is rather fun, with a monster straight out of a tacky 50's horror film. It's a lively, entertaining romp of a story. Here is a little quote:
"Really?" said Agnes "And what is an internet?"
"Oh", said Ianto "Well..um...a few years ago there was a project that linked every single computer in the world to form one enormous database of information"
Agnes nodded "And it became sentient and tried to destroy the world?"
Ianto shook his head "Actually mostly just shopping, dating and cats. ....
This scene is a part of a great conversation between Agnes and Ianto, Goss uses Agnes to draw out all three characters, and there is a lot of exposition about Jack's past, which is very entertaining.
Ianto is wonderful in this book, he is the canon Ianto of season 2 and the radio plays. There is a very funny scene where he gets drunk due to a misunderstanding. Jack is very sweet to him. Ianto and Jack are lovely, again their relationship is portrayed the way you would expect post season 2 and in the world of the radio plays. They are secure and comfortable, and Jack is constantly ruffling Ianto's hair.
Rhys, as I said, is a total star. To say much more would give some plot away, so I won't, but if you like Rhys, you'll love this book.
Gwen and Ianto are lovely in this. There is a sweet moment at the beginning when Ianto asks Gwen if she would like to bunk off with him. I really like these two as friends. I would say that Tosh and Ianto probably did make more natural friends. It is possible that Gwen and Ianto friendship was a little forced with the knowledge of the impending deaths, but I like the lightness of their interactions.
Now just a segue here, I want to admit that I find it difficult though, to cope with Gwen/Ianto as a pairing. I have three big problems with it.
1. It's like this, you are at school. There is a girl who all the boys fancy. She has very shiny hair. It is pretty depressing. Then one day a nice, clever boy comes along. You like him. He is the only boy in the class that seems to not fancy shiny hair girl. This makes you very happy. Then one day, the boy tells you that in fact the only reason he has befriended you is to get you to introduce him to shiny hair. Your heart, it sinks, as low as a heart can sink.
I feel like that when Gwen gets the one boy who on this show, doesn't fancy her, even if it is fan fiction. Which leads me to point two
2. In canon, there is no UST, there is no evidence that the boy fancies shiny hair. Unlike all the other men. He is just normal with her. Nice friends, yes, but that's it.
3. I admit, it's my problem. Post CoE, I can't cope. I really don't want to think about it. I've never been that great reading non canon pairings, mainly because they do get too out of character for me, but now, I feel genuine heart sink. Yes, I know, some therapy may be in order. (As if you could admit this type of thing to a therapist, bloody hell) I must just put the caveat that I have no problem with AU's, but if the story is meant to be canon, well then it's my boy asking me for shiny hair's telephone number, really.
The TW tie in novels will never win the Booker, but I do still feel a little disappointed sometimes in how they are at a trashy chick lit level of writing, still, guilty pleasure and I do enjoy some of them. James Goss still needs a few grammar lessons. I used to think that when one had a book published it was edited first, but I guess that has gone by the wayside over the years. Anyhow this one is much better than Almost Perfect, which contained the classic line "you're shrimp's are ready".
Risk Assessment is very funny. It has it's tongue firmly in it's cheek right from the start. There is a wonderful OC, Agnes. She is like Mary Poppins with nefarious intent. She awakens whenever Torchwood is in big trouble and swoops in, like an Ofsted inspection. Jack is terrified of her, and Ianto and Gwen respond the way one would to Mary Poppins really, much to Jack's chagrin. Jack turns to Rhys, and some rather wonderful Rhys awesomeness and hilarity ensues. I laughed out loud a few times, the plot is rather fun, with a monster straight out of a tacky 50's horror film. It's a lively, entertaining romp of a story. Here is a little quote:
"Really?" said Agnes "And what is an internet?"
"Oh", said Ianto "Well..um...a few years ago there was a project that linked every single computer in the world to form one enormous database of information"
Agnes nodded "And it became sentient and tried to destroy the world?"
Ianto shook his head "Actually mostly just shopping, dating and cats. ....
This scene is a part of a great conversation between Agnes and Ianto, Goss uses Agnes to draw out all three characters, and there is a lot of exposition about Jack's past, which is very entertaining.
Ianto is wonderful in this book, he is the canon Ianto of season 2 and the radio plays. There is a very funny scene where he gets drunk due to a misunderstanding. Jack is very sweet to him. Ianto and Jack are lovely, again their relationship is portrayed the way you would expect post season 2 and in the world of the radio plays. They are secure and comfortable, and Jack is constantly ruffling Ianto's hair.
Rhys, as I said, is a total star. To say much more would give some plot away, so I won't, but if you like Rhys, you'll love this book.
Gwen and Ianto are lovely in this. There is a sweet moment at the beginning when Ianto asks Gwen if she would like to bunk off with him. I really like these two as friends. I would say that Tosh and Ianto probably did make more natural friends. It is possible that Gwen and Ianto friendship was a little forced with the knowledge of the impending deaths, but I like the lightness of their interactions.
Now just a segue here, I want to admit that I find it difficult though, to cope with Gwen/Ianto as a pairing. I have three big problems with it.
1. It's like this, you are at school. There is a girl who all the boys fancy. She has very shiny hair. It is pretty depressing. Then one day a nice, clever boy comes along. You like him. He is the only boy in the class that seems to not fancy shiny hair girl. This makes you very happy. Then one day, the boy tells you that in fact the only reason he has befriended you is to get you to introduce him to shiny hair. Your heart, it sinks, as low as a heart can sink.
I feel like that when Gwen gets the one boy who on this show, doesn't fancy her, even if it is fan fiction. Which leads me to point two
2. In canon, there is no UST, there is no evidence that the boy fancies shiny hair. Unlike all the other men. He is just normal with her. Nice friends, yes, but that's it.
3. I admit, it's my problem. Post CoE, I can't cope. I really don't want to think about it. I've never been that great reading non canon pairings, mainly because they do get too out of character for me, but now, I feel genuine heart sink. Yes, I know, some therapy may be in order. (As if you could admit this type of thing to a therapist, bloody hell) I must just put the caveat that I have no problem with AU's, but if the story is meant to be canon, well then it's my boy asking me for shiny hair's telephone number, really.