The new Mick Herron dropped on the 4th Feb; Slough House.
(I give it a hearty recommend BTW.)
But rather than spoilers I wanted to talk about how reality bleeds into a lot of current spy novels. And also how it seems that the international Intelligence community has finally tired of Uncle Vlad's way of doing things. I mean it's obvious that our spooks talk to novelists working on spook stories; and writers like Herron are included in one of the outer loops of the intel community - moving closer depending on their "soundness", no doubt.
Anyway, over the years I may have alluded to all the rumours about Uncle Vlad's time as a Berlin operative; that he was well-known in certain communities, and even had a future in them had he so chosen. (When it comes to spooks, quis custodiet ipsos custodes normally means spook-watchers like me.)
So, on page 40 of Slough House, Herron has this:
'"Rah-rah-rah Putin, homicidal Russian queen." Gay porn lost a superstar when he went into despotism, right? Could have been the new Joe Dallesandro.'
And later on the same page He calls Uncle Vlad "The Kremlin's Gay Hussar."
Methinks the pics will go viral soon. That seems to be the way these things work.
But even if the pics come out will it actually damageAuntie Uncle Vlad?
(I give it a hearty recommend BTW.)
But rather than spoilers I wanted to talk about how reality bleeds into a lot of current spy novels. And also how it seems that the international Intelligence community has finally tired of Uncle Vlad's way of doing things. I mean it's obvious that our spooks talk to novelists working on spook stories; and writers like Herron are included in one of the outer loops of the intel community - moving closer depending on their "soundness", no doubt.
Anyway, over the years I may have alluded to all the rumours about Uncle Vlad's time as a Berlin operative; that he was well-known in certain communities, and even had a future in them had he so chosen. (When it comes to spooks, quis custodiet ipsos custodes normally means spook-watchers like me.)
So, on page 40 of Slough House, Herron has this:
'"Rah-rah-rah Putin, homicidal Russian queen." Gay porn lost a superstar when he went into despotism, right? Could have been the new Joe Dallesandro.'
And later on the same page He calls Uncle Vlad "The Kremlin's Gay Hussar."
Methinks the pics will go viral soon. That seems to be the way these things work.
But even if the pics come out will it actually damage
(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 14:27 (UTC)No, I don't think such imagery will damage Putin. Not in the ways humanity as a whole needs him to become damaged-beyond-repair goods, anyway. Which, I suppose, will be a mixed blessing in its way.
(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 15:22 (UTC)Are there pics? I'm asking for science. *halo*That makes a weird kind of sense, it always seems to be the deeply closeted politicians who are pushing the anti-LGBT legislation.(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 16:36 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 19:16 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 20:19 (UTC)Just think, if Vlad hadn’t have taken a wrong turn he could have tried for that level of charisma and cool. And maybe got close.
To the best of my knowledge, RuPaul hasn’t sent out assassins to poison folk; though S/he was part of a notorious Studio 54 set that ended in a murder. Nevertheless, MsPaul is a pretty cool character. Auntie Vlad I think may have been a kinder soul than Uncle Vlad.
(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 16:01 (UTC)Maybe he let Vlad have a little creative control. If you're going to be outted, might as well go all the way and be known as a gay porn superstar.
(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 16:41 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 17:03 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 19:18 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 20:10 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 19:14 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 19:19 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 20:27 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 19:17 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 20:02 (UTC)I guess it depends which minor royal or pop star was involved in the specific case they may have documented too, obvs.
(no subject)
Date: 7/2/21 20:09 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 9/2/21 10:14 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 9/2/21 16:20 (UTC)I miss the highpoint of LJ sometimes. I think Vox_Diabolica taking over Convert_Me was probably when it jumped the shark; but it was always going to become less relevant when Reichsbuch got going properly. (I was part of the Convert_Me revolution - I'm not normally a revolutionary, but someone had to restrain the zealots.)
(no subject)
Date: 10/2/21 08:00 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 10/2/21 13:32 (UTC)