The Best Journey in the World, Part 1
Dec. 1st, 2015 02:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tealinThe rerun of the Worst Journey radio play gave me cause to look back and see how far the last seven years have taken me. It's not often you can pinpoint one thing that has changed your life, and you as a person, so completely. Seen as a whole in retrospect I thought that story might be worth telling, so if you can forgive a little self-indulgence, here is Part 1:
Page 1
1. These two things I knew about the Scott Expedition were known because of a radio documentary on Shackleton which was broadcast on NPR in 1999, at the leading edge of the wave of Shackleton mania around the turn of the millennium. The general tilt of the documentary was 'Shackleton was an amazing hero who did amazing things and didn't lose a single one of his men, unlike Scott, the loser.' This is why I rankle when people say 'Oh, you're into Scott, have you heard of Shackleton?' Yes, I have heard of Shackleton.
1a. I also must have picked up Titus' last words somewhere because I remember getting the reference when hearing the Great Lost Sketch of the Scott Comedy Club, in which 'I am just going outside and may be some time' is presented as a passive-aggressive bid for sympathy. Wikipedia says it's in Fist of Fun but that show's format doesn't allow for what I remember ...Help?
Page 2
1. Back in the old days the iPlayer only archived shows for seven days. As they originally aired a week apart, and timing dictated I only got properly skewered after listening to Part 2 for the second time, Part 1 had already expired. I recorded Part 2 myself, but I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my friend who hunted down Part 1 on some torrent site somewhere. By the way, BBC, if you're reading this, if you ever decide to make this audio drama available for purchase I will so, SO pay you for it. With interest.
2. Same goes for the Gatiss docudrama, BBC. You know where to find me.
3. It shouldn't have taken me so long to read the book – I like reading! – but I was more afraid than I realised that I'd find out that the real story and people were anything less than what had become so precious to me, and I really wasn't open to more disappointment at that point.
Page 3
1. Chapters of epic epicness that were not covered in the aforementioned adaptations:
a) South Trinidad
b) The Storm
c) The Depot Journey
d) The Sea Ice Incident
e) The Second Return Party
f) The Polar Party (though they have been the focus of many other adaptations, so have been done some justice)
For someone whose favourite film by yards is Master and Commander, this is reading made in heaven, and ACTUALLY HAPPENED!!?
2. The first books post-Worst Journey were given by my family, so they have no right to complain.
3. I relate the story of my visit to the AMNH exhibit in this blog post. The formatting has gone a bit screwy but it's all there.
3. McLeod's Books. Definitely a gravity well in L-Space. The polar shelf is right by the checkout desk, which plays into a side story that I may have to describe someday, if anyone will believe me ...
Page 1
1. These two things I knew about the Scott Expedition were known because of a radio documentary on Shackleton which was broadcast on NPR in 1999, at the leading edge of the wave of Shackleton mania around the turn of the millennium. The general tilt of the documentary was 'Shackleton was an amazing hero who did amazing things and didn't lose a single one of his men, unlike Scott, the loser.' This is why I rankle when people say 'Oh, you're into Scott, have you heard of Shackleton?' Yes, I have heard of Shackleton.
1a. I also must have picked up Titus' last words somewhere because I remember getting the reference when hearing the Great Lost Sketch of the Scott Comedy Club, in which 'I am just going outside and may be some time' is presented as a passive-aggressive bid for sympathy. Wikipedia says it's in Fist of Fun but that show's format doesn't allow for what I remember ...Help?
Page 2
1. Back in the old days the iPlayer only archived shows for seven days. As they originally aired a week apart, and timing dictated I only got properly skewered after listening to Part 2 for the second time, Part 1 had already expired. I recorded Part 2 myself, but I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my friend who hunted down Part 1 on some torrent site somewhere. By the way, BBC, if you're reading this, if you ever decide to make this audio drama available for purchase I will so, SO pay you for it. With interest.
2. Same goes for the Gatiss docudrama, BBC. You know where to find me.
3. It shouldn't have taken me so long to read the book – I like reading! – but I was more afraid than I realised that I'd find out that the real story and people were anything less than what had become so precious to me, and I really wasn't open to more disappointment at that point.
Page 3
1. Chapters of epic epicness that were not covered in the aforementioned adaptations:
a) South Trinidad
b) The Storm
c) The Depot Journey
d) The Sea Ice Incident
e) The Second Return Party
f) The Polar Party (though they have been the focus of many other adaptations, so have been done some justice)
For someone whose favourite film by yards is Master and Commander, this is reading made in heaven, and ACTUALLY HAPPENED!!?
2. The first books post-Worst Journey were given by my family, so they have no right to complain.
3. I relate the story of my visit to the AMNH exhibit in this blog post. The formatting has gone a bit screwy but it's all there.
3. McLeod's Books. Definitely a gravity well in L-Space. The polar shelf is right by the checkout desk, which plays into a side story that I may have to describe someday, if anyone will believe me ...
Re: Love this story!
Date: 2015-12-06 07:33 am (UTC)Thank you so much! Aviation in WWI is definitely a cool topic of obsession, I can see how it would entice. I've heard it said that if you dip a toe in WWI it takes your leg off. :)