Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: geeky
  • Music: SJ Tucker, "Cheshire Kitten."

FEED spoiler party!

Okay, folks, I've been asked for it, and here it is: the spoiler party for Feed. Anything goes in the comments on this post only. If you haven't read the book, I ask that you not click. If you have, feel free to jump in, ask questions, discuss, or just yell at me. I'm cool either way.

Game on!
Tags: feed, mira grant, zombies
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docpockets

May 13 2010, 04:22:52 UTC 7 years ago

WTF are epileptic teacup bulldogs?

spectralbovine

May 13 2010, 07:22:45 UTC 7 years ago

I certainly look forward to finding out.

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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docpockets

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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docpockets

7 years ago

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spectralbovine

May 13 2010, 07:25:07 UTC 7 years ago

Did Shaun ever do that interview with Emily? It was a big deal and then it was never mentioned again.

(I know you'll see it, but for anyone else interested, here's my review.)

seanan_mcguire

May 13 2010, 15:40:12 UTC 7 years ago

Yes, he did. It just didn't wind up getting included in the final text. I should probably write it at some point, as like a "DVD extra" for the book.

salexa

May 14 2010, 02:11:42 UTC 7 years ago

Wow. I am very glad that I am not the only one with a Damn You response to the book as I was bawling. I don't remember another book that I have read with quite that much punch.

I also appreciate the medical geekery involved in explaining the virus. There is a part of me that is hoping for a glimpse of what hospitals actually do in a post-zombie world, as there is so much in current medicine that could cause problems with the KA virus present.

seanan_mcguire

May 21 2010, 16:50:55 UTC 7 years ago

Dude, post-Rising hospital dramas are probably so different...

fullcontactmuse

May 15 2010, 01:35:16 UTC 7 years ago

Holy crap!

That was one hell of a ride, Seanan. In spite of me calling you names at certain parts while reading the book, I enjoyed it very, very much.

If I remember correctly, George makes the comment at the beginning of the book that she's 3 weeks older than Shaun. Does this mean that they are not actually related by blood? I suppose that it could've been a situation where George had to be delivered first for medical reason...

wendyzski

May 16 2010, 02:11:41 UTC 7 years ago

I figured that there was rather a lot of kids needing adoption in fairly short order, so they were genetically unrelated. But for all intents and purposes siblings.

fullcontactmuse

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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Deleted comment

Re: Damn it

seanan_mcguire

May 17 2010, 15:33:23 UTC 7 years ago

You're welcome!

gwynnega

May 16 2010, 21:20:04 UTC 7 years ago

As a writer, I admire the hell out of you for going there and killing George. As a reader...waaaaah, you killed George!!!

Loved the book, and look forward to the sequels.

seanan_mcguire

May 17 2010, 15:32:33 UTC 7 years ago

Thank you!

Hardest thing I think I've ever had to do.

darcy807

May 17 2010, 14:12:47 UTC 7 years ago

Seanan, I loved it. It's selling really well in my bookstore too...which might be because certain people are answering the question "What have you read lately?" with "Feed! It's awesome!" Just saying.

I have a question for clarification re: Ryman ranch. The horse Rebecca bridled, saddled and loaded her sisters on, it was post-amplification, so it was a zombie horse, right? I'm trying to figure out how her sisters got off of it - it would have to have been killed in some way. And horsies slobber so I'm guessing they had to spend some time at the CDC or equivalent getting decontaminated (plus there's that whole thing of being that close to zombies).

I'm very much a cat and horse person, so you had me thoroughly traumatized and I still love the book. I'm just trying to figure out how I can manage the wait until next May.

Thanks, Melissa

boojum

May 19 2010, 03:49:14 UTC 7 years ago

My impression was that all three of them were on the horse for a while. If Rebecca bridled it and got everyone on it while it was going through the stupid-but-not-evil phase of early amplification, she could then control it for a distance, push her little sisters off the back, and ride it further away from them. It would then be well into the evil phase, so eventually she'd lose control of it (or flying spittle would get her, as you point out), but her sisters would not only be away from zombie Rebecca and zombie horse, but also from the entire ranch full of zombie horses and stablehands.

It's not a foolproof solution, but if you're good with horses, a fast thinker, and trying to get your little sisters out of major danger, it's a reasonable bet.

(I'm a big sister myself. That was one of the parts that got to me.)

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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tsgeisel

May 17 2010, 15:46:05 UTC 7 years ago

This has sorta been buzzing around my brain for a while - the negative response that people have to George and Shaun wanting to share a room when possible.

I mean, they're siblings, and essentially twins. I expect that sort of attachment. And from a practical standpoint, wouldn't you want to share a room with someone who knows exactly where your dirty laundry will wind up, and all the little things in your behaviour?

But I get the impression that there's a vibe beyond just brother/sister that they're projecting, or that strangers are projecting onto them, or that *I'm* projecting onto them, even though you really haven't said anything to indicate that there might be anything other than a close brother/sister relationship.

I guess the other part of it is that they're both so work-obsessed, they don't seem to take any time for a social life and that Shaun seems to mask his dating habits.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Answer as you do (or don't) feel the need.

On a completely different (and lighter) topic, what do sports look like post-rising? Obviously large, live spectator sports are out, but are the more traditional sports still possible via webcast? Not football, obviously (it seems a good hard hit could cause enough trauma to triger a KA activation), but baseball? Have professional bowlers become new heroes? Is it all about video games and Shooting/Archery? The mind (mine anyway) boggles at the possibilities.

morvoren

May 18 2010, 08:42:18 UTC 7 years ago

When my husband read it, he said that he was surprised that they weren't a couple, given the general codependency, etc. that they had. Add that to the general suspicion about co-ed rooms that society today has (and the post-Rising society may share), and the oddness that siblings of the opposite gender would share a room, and you get the negative responses.

(At least, that's how I saw it. YMMV.)

paradisacorbasi

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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tsgeisel

7 years ago

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erinwrites

May 17 2010, 21:15:01 UTC 7 years ago

Seanan, that was so maddeningly brilliant that I'm still not sure how I feel. I was totally and utterly blindsided by George's death. Buffy? Sad, but expected. I was prepared for Shaun to go, which I'm sure is what you *wanted* us to think! ;)

But yeah, killing your first person narrator in the first book of a trilogy? Gah. Blargh. I was incoherent for several minutes, crying and swearing and refraining from throwing the book across the room. (If I'd been home alone, I might have put the book in the freezer, ala Joey on Friends.)

I curse your name, and bow to your evil genius.

seanan_mcguire

May 21 2010, 16:34:28 UTC 7 years ago

I take your curses and your bows as my due.

Yay!

fullcontactmuse

May 17 2010, 21:28:51 UTC 7 years ago Edited:  May 18 2010, 05:43:46 UTC

Couple of tech questions:

The Apple XH-237. Is that Apple the same as the Apple Computers Corporation of today? I envision it lookin like a Mac Mini with an opening for a hand.

The monitors in the van: I pictured them as mounted flat panels, like an LCD or OLED monitor. However, when Shaun shoots George and the bullet passed through to the monitor, you described it as caved in, making me think it's an older CRT.

Why am I asking? Because I have a cool idea. :)

Edit: On more question, particularly from a technical consultant on this project. What type of round was loaded in George's .40 pistol that Shaun killed her with?

seanan_mcguire

May 18 2010, 14:35:35 UTC 7 years ago

1) Yes.

2) There's a mix, depending on how they're mounted. A lot of the van tech is visibly out-dated, internally cutting-edge, thanks to Buffy.

3) No clue.

fullcontactmuse

7 years ago

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Dear Mira

trektone

May 18 2010, 01:50:41 UTC 7 years ago

As I'd only read the first few chapters when your Borderlands event happened, I was thinking about the Rising and such at the point you "called on me." One of the things I was curious about then and, now having read the book, am still curious about is how long it took to get back into space, if at all.

It seems you considered the technologies that account for transmitting all the lovely info from/to the various devices, and I wondered if any required satellites.

One aspect I look forward to in your "proposed" anthology: space zombies!!!


Lastly, I may or may not do a write-up, but I wanted you to know I enjoyed FEED a great deal. I considered waiting for all three Newsflesh books to be published, but went ahead with the first book. I definitely look forward to the rest of the trilogy.

Love,

Joey

Re: Dear Mira

seanan_mcguire

May 21 2010, 16:47:55 UTC 7 years ago

Space is definitely a factor. We need the satellites, and there are actually some groups who feel that the only way we're going to escape KA is to abandon the planet. They're nuts. But they have some clout.

So glad you enjoyed the book!

Re: Dear Mira

paradisacorbasi

7 years ago

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morvoren

May 18 2010, 08:52:24 UTC 7 years ago

Holy cow this book! I cried when Buffy died, and when George died, and while movies get me a lot, I NEVER cry with books. This was brilliantly crafted, taking so many things that I enjoyed and braiding them together into such an in-depth, impressive world and characters.

I preempted a number of books on my husband's To Read list because I wouldn't shut up about FEED. Once he picked it up, he refused to put it down until it was done, even though that meant he was up until 3am on a work day. :) Now both he and I are sad that it'll be another year until we get more in this world.

Once question that we both shared: will we ever get a complete explanation of what each hazard zone level is? I know a few of them were listed in FEED, and the US states were classified into the different zones on the website, but they aren't all there.

seanan_mcguire

May 18 2010, 14:34:26 UTC 7 years ago

Maybe yes, maybe no; it depends on whether it can happen organically. If it doesn't look like it's going to, I'll get with Orbit and set up some "know your hazard zone" posters or something.

sanity_cheque

May 18 2010, 20:16:04 UTC 7 years ago

I just finished reading Feed night before last. I really loved the book, loved it loved it loved it.

My main sticking point was probably my own fault. I read the book as if it was a series of blog posts from George. When I got to the point where she was infected and actually writing a blog post, I kinda got thrown out of the narrative for a while. Double shock to the system. My brain is STILL going "But... you can't kill the narrative character in mid-stream!"

Anyway, I loved the book. Will you marry me and have my zombie babies? :)

paradisacorbasi

May 19 2010, 12:34:01 UTC 7 years ago Edited:  May 19 2010, 12:40:22 UTC

And zombie babies makes me wonder if the birth trauma has ever triggered KA in the infant, or worse, in the mother giving birth. Do mothers have to go into delivery chained down so they don't chomp on their doctors if birth trauma sends them into spontaneous conversion?

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

May 26 2010, 17:40:47 UTC 7 years ago

Oh, yay!

Thank you. :)

silvertwi

June 1 2010, 18:26:00 UTC 7 years ago

Dear Seanan,

That was the most amazing book I've read. Probably in my lifetime, because I can't think of anything else that left me that stunned upon finishing the book and that kept me on the edge of my chair throughout the entire book.

I don't hate you. I didn't hate you at any point in the book. I fucking LOVE you. That was the best ride I've been on in a loong time.

I WANTED to bawl my eyes out when George died, but my family kept deliberately interrupting me while I was reading starting at right around that point and it was distracting. Ten pages later I finally hid in my room to finish the thing. I'm still mad at them for not letting me reach that point of release with their questions. You, however, I just think you're brilliant. I posted that on my facebook wall and may have convinced a friend or two to read it...

I am definitely reviewing this, although not on my lj.

Also, I am going to re-read it for a closer reading and to see if a second time through won't make me cry.

This book? Just made my top ten list. And it's near the top of that if not #1. Oh my god. If Deadline tops this, you will be my favorite person EVER. I'm going to make everyone I know read Feed who's ever enjoyed a book even remotely like this. Even if it means I have to buy more copies. Seriously.

Feed: Ur doin it rite.

seanan_mcguire

June 14 2010, 19:14:34 UTC 7 years ago

AWESOME.

Thank you so much.

snowcoma

June 9 2010, 10:16:25 UTC 7 years ago

I was okay when Buffy died. When Lois died, I had to put the book down for a few minutes during which I did not like you very much, but I thought about Lilly and Alice and how much you love cats, and I forgave you. And then...


Feed is the first book I've read since my depression eased enough to let me focus. I adored it, and had fun zombie dreams, and was ready to slather my LJ with Feed icons. I just finished it a few minutes ago. I'm going to give it a few days before I decide how I feel about it.

I can't stop crying, and I'm fighting the urge to call my mother at three in the morning just to hear that she's okay and to tell her that I love her.


Damn, that was a fine book.

*heart*

snowcoma

June 11 2010, 05:05:23 UTC 7 years ago

Okay, I've decided I love it. I'm already making plans to loan my copy out, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next two.

I still feel the need to leave you with this macro:




Re: *heart*

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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Mira Grant is prone to cackling and has never tied anyone to the train tracks, she swears...

snowcoma

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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kyrielle

June 29 2010, 04:42:17 UTC 7 years ago

I took FOREVER to start reading this. I've owned it since the first day it was released, but I didn't want to read it until I had the cope to...cope. I'm not a horror girl, and assurances that it has a more human-based than zombie-based (despite the zombies) horror didn't really reassure me since that kind of stuff hits me hard.

Then Scott picked up the book and started reading it since I hadn't. And couldn't put it down. So I idly snatched and started reading in fits and starts.

I didn't cry. I was just silently heartbroken, staring. I knew - I knew when the "mosquito" bit. But I also didn't want to. Wanted there to be something special about her to save her. Wanted the concoction she was injected with and her own immune system to do something unusual and save her. Of course, if it had, that would have been hard to believe....

...but oh my GOD I wanted it to happen. I'm in shock. I want George back. I miss her.

Not that you don't know this, but...that wasn't FAIR! *wails*

seanan_mcguire

July 6 2010, 15:37:55 UTC 7 years ago

I know.

I'm sorry.

I miss her, too.

Rereading the book, so now I have another question...

paradisacorbasi

August 10 2010, 02:38:40 UTC 6 years ago

Cruise vs. Gore: Tom Cruise, I think. Oh, the hilarity that must have been.


But my real question is who was the TV Sitcom star who opened fire and caused an outbreak she was then blamed for?

Re: Rereading the book, so now I have another question...

seanan_mcguire

August 10 2010, 16:23:17 UTC 6 years ago

No idea!

Re: Rereading the book, so now I have another question...

paradisacorbasi

6 years ago

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