James Goss's Risk Assessment and why I like Ianto and Gwen as just good friends

[fide_et_spe]

This is almost spoiler free, but the character interactions are discussed a bit, no real plot details that aren't on the book cover.

Comments

[lone_star_woman]

I really don't like Gwen/Ianto pairing either for the same reasons. Of course, I wonder why every single relationship seems to have to boil down to sex. Friendship is nice, too. Maybe it's just me.

Admittedly, right now, even Gwack is a bit of kick in the teeth for me even if there is canon UST. Yeah, I need major therapy.

[fide_et_spe]

I'm sure I need therapy, it's just ridiculous. I can't read the gwack, not at all. It's PCSD. Post CoE Stress Disorder. See the BBC should pay for counselling. They could have at least set up a helpline.

I have said that in another comment, about the friendship thing. I genuinely think there is no need to find reasons for them all to shag. Sure if it's a fun, aliens' made them do it type story for a porn battle, why not? But in terms of the relationships, I genuinely believe that they can probably control themselves. Most of us manage it in our workplaces.

[lone_star_woman]

I had trouble with Gwack before CoE, but the paranoid person inside of me is whispering that Ianto had to go in order to get Jack and Gwen together. (I'm fairly certain Rhys's number will be up in the next series.)

Yes, I can sort of see the whole aliens made them do it thing. But PWPs, especially hurt/comfort ones where I'm wondering how the characters even have the energy for sex? No. Just no.

[fide_et_spe]

Oh yes I have never liked it, but it just feels worse now. Let's face it, there was nothing in CoE for the Jack/Gwen fan. He actively rejected her at the end. I just can't conceive where they will go with it all.

I think the type of PWP you refer to is interesting in the sense that I really doubt those things happen in real life, or at least very rarely, but they are common in fiction, and in movies as well.

Comment may contain SPOILERS!

[caledonius72]

I loved Risk Assessment - bad grammar and wilful misuse of the comma too.

I cried with laughter at a scene early on, involving polish ;-). Mr Goss writes that kind of good humoured trashy very well - but I felt the aliens were believable, great hubris in the TW attitude to them. I did take umbrage at his bad research re: when things happened and what people were wearing; and there was one FORESHADOWING scene that felt a little out of place, a little heavy-handed compared to the rest of the book.

Gwen & Ianto as friends I love - two Welshers up against the intergalactic conman. I think Gwen's mellowed out a little, and Ianto has come to terms with her "Gwen-ness" - each has changed and they fit better.

Re: Comment may contain SPOILERS!

[fide_et_spe]

Hey icon. Yes I agree with everything you say, although I don't quite know exactly which scenes you mean. I'll go back to the book and check or you can spoil in the reply given your header warning,

I think Gwen reminds me of so many of my Welsh friends, and I love that about her, Ianto is also a type in his own way, so yes I like that as well.

Good humoured trashy, yes that's it.

Re: Comment may contain SPOILERS!

[caledonius72]

Bottom of page 20 = crying with laughter.

Page 66 for the FORESHADOWING.

If Agnes became Assessor in 1900/1901 (shortly before Victoria died), and she's not much older than Gwen, then...
- How could her room remind her of the Crimean War which was from 1853-1856?
- she would have been "frozen" in 1900s fashions, but the crinoline (mentioned frequently) was popular between 1855 to 1865?

I know these are small things but they annoyed me - lol

Re: Comment may contain SPOILERS!

[fide_et_spe]

Actually I meant to put the knob quote in my review! You just reminded me. I loved that bit a lot.

Oh yes, that conversation. Mmm.

I hadn't even thought about the Crimean War comment. You are right though, it is inconsistent. I know they write these books quickly but 10 minutes on wikipedia is all they need!

[fide_et_spe]

Yes I love that in the radio plays, they are very sweet. I love them in "The Golden Age"

I'm surprised if a fan doesn't like the book. Unless from a literary POV, but lets face it, they are all trashy novels, so I doubt it would be that. I guess if you were die hard J/G fan. There is a scene where Jack makes an explicit choice of Ianto over a Gwen, and it's nice because it's a humourous scene, but written in a way that he does indeed make his preference very clear. So yes, some of that stuff would upset those who don't like Ianto, or J/I. The aliens and OC's are really great fun.

[misswinterhill]

Oh! I want to get this one now :D Ianto/Gwen friendship and Ianto/Jack strong relationship! Yay!

And that punctuation/grammar fail is hilarious! I need to go back and look for it now.

[fide_et_spe]

I'm really surprised you didn't notice! As you wrote one of the best Almost Perfect tie in stories. I did like this one a lot better. It is just really funny, and the characters are so lively and dynamic in this. I think you will love the OC. I deliberately haven't given her surname away, but I noticed that other people have on LJ, because her surname is a joke in itself, one that I know you will like.

For someone who doesn't understand grammar, Goss is clearly a Dickens fan.

I don't get why this construction "was stood" or "was sat" There is a redundant verb there, it's "Jack stood" or "Jack was standing". Goss uses this all the time. It's bad english. He never will win the booker with that. Mind I get depressed at how many people get published and make a good living from writing with some basic writing errors. His script for "The Golden Age" is splendid though. I suppose you can't hear those mistakes on the radio.

[michele659]

Sorry about the weird way the sentences are oddly disjointed. I'm having a bit of trouble with my mouse and the controls are all screwed up.