#La Coupe d’or

[silver-frog]

La parole est d’argent, le silence est d’or.

Ben du coup, je me tais...de toutes façons je n’avais rien à dire de plus...en fait pas grand chose, mais je préfère le préciser. C’est toujours mieux...ok, je me tais...rien de tel que le silence, ça repose. C’est bien de se reposer parce que la vie c’est parfois fatiguant, surtout ces bavardages incessants...tout ça pour ne rien dire...mieux vaut se taire...c’est mieux  ;o)

[cheminer-poesie-cressant]

(Source de la Cozanne, Vauchignon, lieu-dit, cirque du Bout du Monde)

traité provisoire pour une hydrographie poétique, les sources insaisissables des cours d'eau

il existe des rivières aux sources incertaines ; ainsi la Cozanne n’a toujours pas dévoilé son origine ; la grotte où elle pourrait prendre naissance au lieu dit le cirque du Bout du Monde, possède en effet différents points d’eau possible, dont notamment une cascade jaillissant du calcaire Bajocien, en cette petite vallée verdoyante où elle apparaît frêle et limpide, sonore et gracile (dans ses Impressions de voyage, Alexandre Dumas père en parlait en ces termes : « le sol se fend tout à coup sur une longueur d'une lieue et demie et sur une largeur de cinq cents pas, laissant apercevoir à la profondeur de deux cents pieds à peu près, une vallée délicieuse, verte comme l'émeraude et sillonnée par une petite rivière blanche et bruissante… » ) ; mais cela n’empêche pas son écoulement épanouie sur une courte terre de Cote-d’Or et de Saône-et-Loire et même dit-on, en sa vallée inférieure, d’étendre ses enchantements remarquables ; il existe donc des eaux dont la terre garde encore le mystère ; des eaux qui savent, qu'elles viennent d’un monde inconnu à l’homme

© Pierre Cressant

(samedi 6 mai 2023)

[transparentgentlemenmarker]

Jardin des tuileries, Paris

27 juillet 2024

Quand on y réfléchit la France a juste inventé les Jeux Olympiques modernes en 1894 par Pierre de Coubertin - Le Tour de France en 1903 par Henri Desgrange et Géo Lefèvre - Roland-Garros en 1925 par la Fédération Française de Tennis - La Coupe du Monde en 1928 par Jules Rimet - L’Euro en 1960 par Henri Delaunay (mais aussi la LDC et le ballon d’or) - La route du Rhum en 1978 par Michel Etevenon Hier soir était encore - quoi qu’en disent les polémiques - la preuve du génie créatif français. Quel pays.

[papillondusublime]

Comme je descendais des Fleuves impassibles, Je ne me sentis plus guidé par les haleurs : Des Peaux-Rouges criards les avaient pris pour cibles, Les ayant cloués nus aux poteaux de couleurs.

J’étais insoucieux de tous les équipages, Porteur de blés flamands ou de cotons anglais. Quand avec mes haleurs ont fini ces tapages, Les Fleuves m’ont laissé descendre où je voulais.

Dans les clapotements furieux des marées, Moi, l’autre hiver, plus sourd que les cerveaux d’enfants, Je courus ! Et les Péninsules démarrées N’ont pas subi tohu-bohus plus triomphants.

La tempête a béni mes éveils maritimes. Plus léger qu’un bouchon j’ai dansé sur les flots Qu’on appelle rouleurs éternels de victimes, Dix nuits, sans regretter l’oeil niais des falots !

Plus douce qu’aux enfants la chair des pommes sures, L’eau verte pénétra ma coque de sapin Et des taches de vins bleus et des vomissures Me lava, dispersant gouvernail et grappin.

Et dès lors, je me suis baigné dans le Poème De la Mer, infusé d’astres, et lactescent, Dévorant les azurs verts ; où, flottaison blême Et ravie, un noyé pensif parfois descend ;

Où, teignant tout à coup les bleuités, délires Et rhythmes lents sous les rutilements du jour, Plus fortes que l’alcool, plus vastes que nos lyres, Fermentent les rousseurs amères de l’amour !

Je sais les cieux crevant en éclairs, et les trombes Et les ressacs et les courants : je sais le soir, L’Aube exaltée ainsi qu’un peuple de colombes, Et j’ai vu quelquefois ce que l’homme a cru voir !

J’ai vu le soleil bas, taché d’horreurs mystiques, Illuminant de longs figements violets, Pareils à des acteurs de drames très antiques Les flots roulant au loin leurs frissons de volets !

J’ai rêvé la nuit verte aux neiges éblouies, Baisers montant aux yeux des mers avec lenteurs, La circulation des sèves inou��es, Et l’éveil jaune et bleu des phosphores chanteurs !

J’ai suivi, des mois pleins, pareille aux vacheries Hystériques, la houle à l’assaut des récifs, Sans songer que les pieds lumineux des Maries Pussent forcer le mufle aux Océans poussifs !

J’ai heurté, savez-vous, d’incroyables Florides Mêlant aux fleurs des yeux de panthères à peaux D’hommes ! Des arcs-en-ciel tendus comme des brides Sous l’horizon des mers, à de glauques troupeaux !

J’ai vu fermenter les marais énormes, nasses Où pourrit dans les joncs tout un Léviathan ! Des écroulements d’eaux au milieu des bonaces, Et les lointains vers les gouffres cataractant !

Glaciers, soleils d’argent, flots nacreux, cieux de braises ! Échouages hideux au fond des golfes bruns Où les serpents géants dévorés des punaises Choient, des arbres tordus, avec de noirs parfums !

J’aurais voulu montrer aux enfants ces dorades Du flot bleu, ces poissons d’or, ces poissons chantants. – Des écumes de fleurs ont bercé mes dérades Et d’ineffables vents m’ont ailé par instants.

Parfois, martyr lassé des pôles et des zones, La mer dont le sanglot faisait mon roulis doux Montait vers moi ses fleurs d’ombre aux ventouses jaunes Et je restais, ainsi qu’une femme à genoux…

Presque île, ballottant sur mes bords les querelles Et les fientes d’oiseaux clabaudeurs aux yeux blonds. Et je voguais, lorsqu’à travers mes liens frêles Des noyés descendaient dormir, à reculons !

Or moi, bateau perdu sous les cheveux des anses, Jeté par l’ouragan dans l’éther sans oiseau, Moi dont les Monitors et les voiliers des Hanses N’auraient pas repêché la carcasse ivre d’eau ;

Libre, fumant, monté de brumes violettes, Moi qui trouais le ciel rougeoyant comme un mur Qui porte, confiture exquise aux bons poètes, Des lichens de soleil et des morves d’azur ;

Qui courais, taché de lunules électriques, Planche folle, escorté des hippocampes noirs, Quand les juillets faisaient crouler à coups de triques Les cieux ultramarins aux ardents entonnoirs ;

Moi qui tremblais, sentant geindre à cinquante lieues Le rut des Béhémots et les Maelstroms épais, Fileur éternel des immobilités bleues, Je regrette l’Europe aux anciens parapets !

J’ai vu des archipels sidéraux ! et des îles Dont les cieux délirants sont ouverts au vogueur : – Est-ce en ces nuits sans fonds que tu dors et t’exiles, Million d’oiseaux d’or, ô future Vigueur ?

Mais, vrai, j’ai trop pleuré ! Les Aubes sont navrantes. Toute lune est atroce et tout soleil amer : L’âcre amour m’a gonflé de torpeurs enivrantes. Ô que ma quille éclate ! Ô que j’aille à la mer !

Si je désire une eau d’Europe, c’est la flache Noire et froide où vers le crépuscule embaumé Un enfant accroupi plein de tristesse, lâche Un bateau frêle comme un papillon de mai.

Je ne puis plus, baigné de vos langueurs, ô lames, Enlever leur sillage aux porteurs de cotons, Ni traverser l’orgueil des drapeaux et des flammes, Ni nager sous les yeux horribles des pontons.

-Le bateau ivre, Arthur Rimbaud

[aurevoirmonty]

"Baron Ungern von Sternberg… Comme un orage sanguinaire du Karma vengeur, il passa sur l’Asie centrale. Qu’a-t-il laissé derrière lui? L’ordre du jour sévère qu’il adressa à ses soldats et qui se terminait par les paroles de la révélation de saint Jean.

Que personne n’arrête la vengeance qui doit frapper le corrupteur et le meurtrier de l’âme russe. La révolution doit être arrachée du monde. Contre elle, la révélation de saint Jean nous a prévenus en ces termes: « Et la femme était vêtue de pourpre et d’écarlate, parée d’or, de pierres précieuses et de perles; elle avait à la main une coupe d’or pleine des abominations et de la souillure de ses impudicités. Et sur son front était écrit ce nom mystérieux: la grande Babylone, la mère des débauches et des abominations de la terre. Je vis cette femme enivrée du sang des saints et du sang des martyrs de Jésus. »"

Ferdinand Ossendowski, Bêtes, hommes et dieux (1924)

[alexar60]

La rencontre

Le mercredi 11 mai 1983, Arthur Dias de Almeida est appelé pour intervenir près de la ville de Sinop dans le Mato Grosso. En effet, d’étranges lumières ont été aperçues au-dessus de la campagne et de constructions neuves. Le policier ne fut pas le seul à avoir été sollicité. Deux avions de chasse brésiliens décolèrent, après le survol de l’Amazonie par un engin inconnu, et toujours à côté de la ville de Sinop.

Au début, Arthur pensait avoir à faire à des braconniers ou des trafiquants d’or. Il pensait aux phares de leur jeep vus de loin par quelques fermiers. D’ailleurs, il s’attendait à les croiser au détour d’un carrefour. Mais après une dizaine de minutes à scruter les environs, il découvrit avec stupeur que l’origine de cette luminosité, venait du ciel. En effet, il aperçut au loin ce qui ressemblait à un cigare volant dont les bords rayonnaient.

Après un moment de stupéfaction, il appela le commissariat afin d’obtenir de l’aide. Puis, il profita du déplacement extrêmement lent du véhicule, pour le suivre. Arthur demeurait fasciné par cette chose. Il se demanda si l’engin était habité. Peut-être était-ce une sorte de ballon sonde ou d’une expérience militaire ? La base n’était pas très loin. D’ailleurs, il entendit les deux avions de chasse passer à toute vitesse.

L’OVNI continua de se déplacer lentement. Il ne faisait pas de bruit, et se limitait à avancer au-dessus des bords de l’Amazonie. Enfin de ce qui en restait, car tout avait été rasé pour construire des fermes et des quartiers résidentiels. Un appel provenant de la radio avertit Arthur de l’arrivée de renfort. En attendant, il ne devait rien faire.

Le policier s’arrêtait de temps en temps pour rassurer des habitants sortis regarder le vaisseau volant. Il parlait calmement, prévenant que tout était sous contrôle et qu’ils pouvaient retourner chez eux. Puis, il repartait en direction des lumières visibles de la machine volante. Les avions militaires continuaient de tourner autour d’elle sans pour autant la gêner.

Cela dura un bon quart d’heure lorsqu’Arthur réalisa quitter l’agglomération. L’objet non identifié continua de voler puis s’arrêta brusquement au-dessus d’un enclos. Dès lors, l’agent descendit de sa voiture, continuant à pieds, la main posée sur son arme vers le champ, qui ne présentait rien de particulier.

C’est alors qu’une lumière jaune sortit de l’engin jusque sur le chemin. Arthur n’en croyait pas ses yeux, une forme vivante semblait descendre en glissant par le rayon. Aussitôt, le policier courut pour mieux voir l’individu. Il voulait être le premier homme à entrer en contact avec ce qui paraissait être évident, un extra-terrestre. Soudain, une réflexion envahit son esprit : « Et s’il était dangereux ? »

Plus il avançait, plus la raison poussait le policier à fuir. Malgré la peur au ventre, il continua d’approcher du point de chute de la lumière jaune. Il n’était plus très loin. Arthur remarqua une étable, les portes grandes ouvertes. Il n’y avait rien dans l’enclos. Il entendit le meuglement de quelques vaches. Celles-ci ne semblaient pas paniquer. Il approcha furtivement lorsqu’il vit quelque-chose sortir du bâtiment.

Ça portait une combinaison de cosmonaute. Son casque empêchait de voir sa tête. Il sortit calmement de l’étable puis s’arrêta, tout-à-coup, au milieu du chemin. Il ne remarqua pas l’agent Dias de Almeida, préférant observer les arbres de l’autre côté de l’enclos. Dans le ciel, on ne remarquait plus l’OVNI qui pourtant, continuait de stagner, sans faire de bruit, au-dessus de l’Alien.

Ne bougez-pas ! cria Arthur.

L’extra-terrestre tourna la tête. Il fit un mouvement de recul quand il découvrit le policier en train de pointer son arme. Il ne prononça aucun mot et attendit sagement pendant quelques secondes. Arthur ne savait que faire. Il braquait la chose en réalisant que personne ne savait où les trouver. Tout-à-coup, le visiteur posa brutalement sa main sur son ceinturon. Arthur comprit qu’il cherchait une arme et sans hésiter, il tira vers l’extra-terrestre.

Mais qu’ai-je fait ?

Il réalisa avoir oublié les sommations d’usage. Touché à l’épaule, l’ET entra précipitamment dans l’étable, immédiatement suivi par Arthur Dias de Almeida. Ce dernier tendait son arme et ciblait toutes les vaches qui se présentaient. Il marchait en tournant sur lui-même. Il chercha partout, dans tous les recoins de la grange. Lorsqu’il entendit un grincement, il aperçut le cosmonaute qui sortait en courant. Le policier tira une seconde fois avant de pourchasser le fuyard.

Mais en sortant, il n’y avait plus personne. Il leva les yeux. L’OVNI éclairait le ciel comme un feu d’artifice. Il s’éloignait d’abord lentement. Puis d’un claquement de doigt, il disparut totalement, ne laissant d’une petite trainée blanche à la place. Au même moment, les deux avions de chasse annoncèrent avoir perdu de vue le vaisseau inconnu en forme de cigare.

Hector Baumann quitta l’hôpital tout de suite après l’opération. Il gardait cependant son bras en écharpe afin d’immobiliser l’épaule blessée. La portière d’une voiture attendant sur le parvis s’ouvrit, l’invitant à entrer. Un homme attendait patiemment en lisant une tablette. Il ne regarda pas Hector s’assoir. La voiture démarra aussitôt dans un silence incroyable. Elle n’avait pas de roue, elle flottait sur l’air

Alors, le XXe siècle est comment ? demanda-t-il.

J’étais au XXe siècle ? s’esclaffa Hector.

L’homme tendit la tablette et continua de parler.

D’après le rapport sur la balle, oui. Elle vaut une fortune maintenant pour les collectionneurs et les musées. Ensuite, d’après un rapport retrouvé dans les archives du ministère de la défense Brésilienne.

Hector n’en croyait pas ses yeux. Il lisait le fameux document qui relatait son contact avec un autochtone. Celui-ci racontait avoir blessé un extra-terrestre. Dehors, un paysage urbain et gris dévalait le long des vitres. L’homme sourit en regardant un groupe d’écoliers attendre sur le trottoir.

Pourquoi avoir ramené une fiole de sang de bœuf ? Votre mission était de récupérer des graines d’arbres et de plantes disparues.

Quand j’ai vu qu’il n’y avait pas d’arbre. J’ai pris ce qui me tombait sous la main. Il y avait des vaches. Alors, j’ai fait un prélèvement. Par contre, j’étais censé débarquer au milieu de l’Amazonie bien avant l’arrivée de Christophe Colomb.

Il y a eu un bug, répondit l’homme. Ce doit être corrigé pour la prochaine expédition.

Le jeune cosmonaute spatio-temporel continuait de lire le rapport datant de 1983. Il trouva rigolo d’être décrit comme un monstre de trois mètres avec des tentacules et de gros yeux ronds. Il rit en lisant avoir été aperçu plusieurs fois durant la nuit, alors qu’il n’était sorti qu’une seule fois. Il comprit pourquoi le dossier n’avait pas été pris au sérieux. Du coup, la hiérarchie ne l’avait pas retenu dans leurs paramètres de probabilité d’incidents possibles. De plus, l’erreur de date  fut à l’origine de cette rencontre avec le policier Arthur Dias de Almeida.

J’ai fait retarder le prochain vol pour dans six mois. Je veux trouver la raison de ce bug de date. Je suppose que vous en serez ?

Je n’hésiterai pas. Les risques en valent la peine, réagit Hector.

Ce n’était pas son premier vol dans le temps. Il aimait visiter le passé de la terre et découvrir ce que l’homme a perdu…ou plutôt détruit. Son seul regret était de garder une combinaison afin d’éviter tout contact avec des maladies disparus, ou d’apporter de nouvelles maladies. Il aurait voulu plonger dans une mer dépolluée ou juste sentir une fleur.

La voiture s’arrêta devant une porte de garage. Elle attendit son ouverture avant de s’engouffrer dans un bâtiment connu pour être abandonné, mais classé « secret défense ».

Alex@r60 – novembre 2023

[mauvais--sang]

« C'est alors que l'incroyable se produisit. Sans rien changer à sa pose parfaitement protocole, la femme, tout à coup, ouvrit le col de son kimono. Mon oreille percevait presque le crissement de la soie frottée par l'envers raide de la ceinture. Deux seins de neige apparurent. Je tins mon souffle. Elle prit dans ses mains l'une des blanches et opulentes mamelles et je crus voir qu'elle se mettait à la pétrir, l'officier, toujours agenouillé devant sa compagne, tendit la tasse d'un noir profond. Sans prétendre l'avoir, à la lettre, vu, j'eus du moins la sensation nette, comme si cela se fût déroulé sous mes yeux, du lait blanc et tiède giclant dans le thé dont l'écume verdâtre emplissait la tasse sombre — s'y apaisant bientôt en ne laissant plus traîner à la surface que de petites taches —, de la face tranquille du breuvage troublé par la mousse laiteuse. »

— Yukio Mishima, Le Pavillon d’Or, 1956

[raisongardee]

"Ici, aujourd’hui c’est jusqu’aux gestes de notre vie privée que la lente corruption menace. Nous savons les plus purs d’entre nous infectés, car même au fond de leur misère, beaucoup d’ouvriers ne voient la révolution que comme une accession au Paradis perdu du confort bourgeois. Nous ne vous disons pas :"nous sommes plus purs", "nous sommes les plus riches", mais nous savons nos raisons. Nous ne sommes pas les premiers à avoir poussé ce cri d’angoisse de l’homme qui sent peser sur lui ce monde avec ses lois de politesse, sa police précise et inquiète, ses stocks d’or, ses armes qui tuent à coup sûr. D’autres l’ont poussé avant nous, qui n’étaient pas tous des politiciens, mais simplement des hommes : théoriciens politiques, poètes, agitateurs traqués ; un Blanqui, un Bakounine, un Edgar Poe, un Bloy, un Péguy, et c’est parce que nous le sentons peser sur nous comme une mort imminente que nous poussons l’éternel cri des premiers chrétiens, celui des ouvriers des faubourgs. "Il faut qu’un monde nouveau naisse." Un monde neuf pour que l’homme puisse vivre les principes éternels de liberté et de justice."

Bernard Charbonneau, Jacques Ellul, Nous sommes des révolutionnaires malgré nous, 1936.

[cicjapon2024]

Mardi 18 juin matin suite

C’est reparti pour aller découvrir le pavillon d’Or, recouvert de feuilles d’or (15e siècle) situé toujours à Kyoto dans un cadre paisible au bord d’un étang.

J’imagine que jour de beau temps, il doit être encore plus éblouissant 🤩

Pas toujours facile du coup de prendre des photos…

Le banzaï plusieurs fois centenaire

Un petit bus en bonus 😉 avant de reprendre la suite du programme

[secretagentspydetectiveninja]

My (somewhat unhinged) tierlist of Arsène Lupin books and (even more unhinged) thoughts on them

S-tier: L’Aiguille creuse, 813, Le Bouchon de cristal, La Comtesse de Cagliostro, L’Agence Barnett et Cie, La Demeure mystérieuse, La Barre-y-va

A-tier: Arsène Lupin gentleman-cambrioleur, Les Huits Coups de l’horloge, La Cagliostro se venge, Les Milliards d’Arsène Lupin

B-tier: Arsène Lupin contre Herlock Sholmès, L’Île aux trente cercueils, Les Dents du tigre, Victor de la Brigade mondaine, Le Dernier Amour d’Arsène Lupin

C-tier: Les Confidences d’Arsène Lupin, L’Éclat d’obus, La Demoiselle aux yeux verts, La Femme aux deux sourires

D-tier: Le Triangle d’or

My reasonings and thoughts are under the cut because they got exceedingly long and rambly. I started off trying to be sensible but it appears I progressively lost my sanity as I went along, sorry about that. I read the first ones a long time ago so my recollection of those are much fuzzier than more recent books. Also I read them in French so I have no idea what they’re called in English and was too lazy to look it up (this thing has taken me long enough already). Spoilers abound.

In publication order:

Arsène Lupin gentleman-cambrioleur (Arsène Lupin Gentleman-Thief)

This one is awesome, it really got me into Lupin stories in general. At first I was just reading it to practise my French and so that I could understand the references in the Netflix show, but I ended up genuinely getting into it.

(The Netflix show is great, by the way. I now understand why he named his son Raoul, the context behind “Ganimard”, the vibe in general... Assane Diop is really a fantastic modern-day Lupin!)

Getting to hear about smol Lupin pulling off Baby’s First Heist was very cute!

I still think Miss Nelly is one of the more fun “girlfriends of the week” so far, and I like that she showed up in more than one adventure, as a treat. I hope she’s having a good day.

I also like how Maurice Leblanc, the author, is just... there?? He’s just some guy who is there, who Lupin recounts all his adventures to, and then Leblanc writes them and publishes them. Their friendship is adorable, honestly. I too would want to write myself into the story as a self-insert to be besties with the main character, that’s so valid of him.

Arsène Lupin contre Herlock Sholmès (Arsène Lupin vs. Herlock Sholmes)

At first I actually wasn’t that keen on the full novel format of this one, where it’s one large story rather than multple smaller and moderately unrelated adventures -- but I did still enjoy the book! Basically I thought some of the fun was lost because more time is spent building up the larger plot that previously would have instead been time spent on getting to see Lupin doing his usual funny shenanigans. That being said though, in later books I actually do love the full novel format and it works well for more serious adventures, and the delayed gratification of getting to see the payoff to all that buildup is great. Just not so much in this particular novel (or maybe I need to reread it, it’s been a long time). I still did enjoy it though

The back and forth between Lupin and Sholmès is very fun -- they both take turns outwitting each other, which is nice, because neither is made to feel smarter than the other and they’re very equally matched as far as opponents go. I didn’t even know who I was rooting for some of the time, hehe.

This book was where I first realised that Lupin’s love interests have that “girlfriend of the week” format, because there’s no sign of Miss Nelly here and he’s got a new love interest instead who never shows up again after this. Some girlfriends of the week are more fun or interesting than others. This one was pretty good! I like that she was his partner in crime, helping him out with his shenanigans. I don’t remember much else about her. (Some old-timey sexism is, naturally, to be expected.)

Imagining this Sholmes as the one from the Great Ace Attorney games makes it all very, very funny btw and I highly recommend it

L’Aiguille creuse (The Hollow Needle)

THIS. THIS ONE. OH MY GOD. THIS NOVEL. I SWEAR TO GOD

No really this one changed me. It came into my house and smashed a barrel over my head, killing me instantly. I was in SHOCK when I read it. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I was reading voraciously and near the end I unfortunately had to stop to do life things and the whole time I couldn’t stop thinking about it. At the first opportunity I ditched everything else to sit back down to eagerly read more and finish it as quick as I could. My mouth was hanging open by the end. I was in awe. I had no idea a Lupin novel would make me feel such emotions.

(This one is my favourite, I think.)

So like, here the novel format really shines, because it’s all part of a larger adventure, except this time Lupin isn’t only against Sholmès, he also has to contend with Isidore Beautrelet, who is probably my favourite one-off character in the entire series.

For starters, he’s JUST A KID. He’s this poor little teenager who should be focusing on his school and exams but instead is getting caught up in all this madness, and all this because of his own sense of justice. He doesn’t have to put himself in such danger but he repeatedly does, because his conscience won’t let him just leave it.

And Lupin in this one!!! He comes across as much more of the villain this time!!! He’s actively very menacing at times, which I absolutely LOVED. Usually we’re rooting for him, since he’s the protagonist, and even though he’s a thief he’s very much a Robin Hood-type and incredibly honourable, so we want him to win. But this time!! This time!!! The poor little kiddo Isidore gets just as much “screentime” and attention! We don’t want him to get hurt! We want him to win too! And there’s this brilliant clash of wishes here, where we still want Lupin to get away with his crimes, but we also want to see this plucky kid detective succeed, and the emotional buildup of that is phenomenal.

Especially because Lupin basically agrees with the audience here. He doesn’t want this kid to get hurt, he even ends up reluctantly caring about him because he sees aspects of himself in him! He wants him to be safe! But he also knows that the kid is truly a formidable opponent who can’t just be ignored because of his age, so the question is: how far do you go, to scare him off? What if none of that works? What then? What can you even do that’ll sit right with your own conscience? How much are you willing to hurt a child? How much will you let him be traumatised? Especially one who has come to mean something to you? What can you do when you see him like your own son, yet he only sees you as his enemy?

(Man, can you imagine if THIS had been the conflict in the Cagliostro revenge book? Lupin having to fight against his actual son, but properly?)

The scenes within the actual “aiguille creuse” near the end blew my mind. I think I was shaking when I was reading it. The invitation letter left on the table. The slow climb up the tower. The distant sounds of the police. Everything. Lupin, the ominous, terrifying Lupin, having been one step ahead the whole time.

AND THEN. AT THE END. IT WAS ALL FOR NOTHING. BECAUSE SHOLMÈS. SHOOTS. RAYMONDE.

I cannot get over it and I won’t for as long as I live. Lupin was ready to give it all up -- and he did! These treasures he’d spent YEARS amassing, he gave all that up! He was going to stop! He was going to return to a fully honest life! To be with Raymonde, to soothe his own soul! But then Sholmès!! Fucking!! SHOOTS RAYMONDE!!!!

And that’s it, that’s the end!! It has a tragic ending!!! It completely destroyed me!!!!

I mean, Raymonde was an awesome girlfriend of the week, she literally shot Lupin himself earlier in the book before getting together with him, she’s a badass, and for her to just die like that -- and at the hands of Herlock Sholmès, of all people!!!! What the hell!!!!

813

Another favourite. Absolute banger of a book. You go into it thinking “who names a book ‘813′ lmao what even is that” and then it proceeds to rip out your heart and soul and eat them in front of you.

First of all, I had been hoping, wishing, praying that a girlfriend of the week would turn out to secretly be evil. And voilà! Here we have it! And it’s so good!

Seriously, Dolorès was already fairly good as a gf of the week, but when the reveal happens, ALONGSIDE LUPIN ACCIDENTALLY KILLING HER AT THE SAME TIME, god that really got me. That was INSANE.

This whole thing was tragic as hell, in fact. Lupin ending up leading to the deaths of three people when he usually prides himself on never committing murder, it really shatters his own sense of self-trust and it’s no wonder he tries to kill himself at the end. Like, he accidentally kills one and then desperately tries to save the others, in vain, and has no one to blame but himself.

Not only that, but his flaws are on full display in this novel, which, THANK GOD. Look I love him being the mastermind thief who’s a genius and always on top of everything ever, but this time we get to actually see through that to the man beneath the mask. It’s grittier, it’s darker. He isn’t perfect. He can’t control everything. And god, does he try because he is Arsène Lupin and he has to be that larger-than-life gentleman thief, everything has to go perfectly. But in this book things go wrong, it spirals out of control, he can’t handle it, he loses patience, he loses his mind. He can’t see that the villain is the woman he loves, who was right in front of him the whole time.

And then there’s that. You know. Geneviève. Hecking Geneviève.

This made me feral, I tell you. I picked up on the hints very early. I guessed it was coming. And it made that reveal at the end SO INSANELY GOOD.

The way he kept visiting, only wanting the best for her, trying to move around the threads of her life like a puppet on a string, and Victoire calls him out on it because -- he can’t do that! He keeps trying to control people, convincing himself it’s for their own good, but it all falls apart because he can’t accept the fact that not everyone wants what he wants! Sometimes it’s better to leave well alone!

And he learns this with Geneviève before it’s too late, thankfully, deciding to leave her be and not to interfere with her life, and even though he was going to tell her the truth he just can’t bring himself to because it’s such a selfish wish when she’ll be better off not knowing, not having her life ruined like that in a time period where there’s much more judgement on these things, and she’s already perfectly happy taking care of the children at her school, he sees how happy she is... and as he breaks down into tears, Victoire finally asks him, is Geneviève his daughter, and he says yes... god... that’s his fricking daughter...

I’d guessed it so early on and the final confirmation was just. It was perfect. Absolutely perfect. That’s his DAUGHTER. And she’ll never even know. I’m going emo just remembering it. I literally cried over this. The Cagliostro revenge book wants what 813 has.

(Also, his friendship with Victoire is always so heartwarming. Well, I say “always”, but it’s angsty too, because she’d much rather live an honest life, but she loves Lupin too much to ever betray him or refuse to help him. The fact is, she’s like a mother to him. They’re family. And the way she actually did stick up for Geneviève so much when Lupin was trying to heck around with her life... did she guess it from early on too?)

There’s also that morbid, dark, macabre scene where this guy tries to hang himself... it was written so well, it wrecked me. The lead up to the moment, him falling unconscious, Lupin cutting him down and putting another dead body in its place, and then the guy wakes up and sees what he believes is his own corpse hanging there and he starts to believe he’s losing his mind or having an out-of-body experience as he’s dying, and Lupin using it to manipulate him into working for him, so he could control him like a puppet, the way he was trying to do with his own daughter too, and in the end the guy dies anyway, and Lupin almost kills himself too because he can’t bear the weight of everything his actions have led to... Do you understand just how feral this makes me??? This exquisite angst??? This shocking darkness????? I was NOT expecting anything like this from a Lupin novel and it was like being repeatedly stabbed in the most amazing way possible

In fact I’m skimming back over the hanging scene and my gOd it’s even more amazing than I remembered -- Lupin telling the guy he’s giving him one more chance and to choose between life and death, and he holds him at gunpoint, and the poor guy picks life!! He picks life!! His near-death experience traumatised him!!! But in order to live, to take the place of the corpse, he has to resemble him, so he must chop off his own finger, and he’s terrified but Lupin makes him do it!!! It’s insane!!! And even Lupin on the inside feels so disturbed at everything he’s had to witness this evening, everything he’s had to do!!! AaaaAaAaaaaAAAAAAAAA

Le Bouchon de cristal (The Crystal Stopper)

One more banger. This one was just amazing. (I call these three the trilogy of bangers, because they are. Well, angst bangers. There’s a trilogy of comedy bangers later.)

The pace in this one was more frantic. Or maybe that was because I read it so fast? A lot of it blurs together in my mind, I should probably reread it at some point...

But anyway: I love, love, LOVE in this one that for most of the book, Lupin is losing. He’s constantly being outsmarted by an extremely formidable foe and is scrambling to catch up. We’re used to Lupin being the one doing that to others -- and he’s used to it too! He hates feeling so powerless! It’s fantastic just how vulnerable we get to see him!

The plot of poor little Gilbert being falsely accused of murder, and desperately begging for his boss to save him before his execution, and Lupin doing his damndest to get this poor kid freed in whatever way he possibly can and being thwarted at every possible opportunity, it’s SO good. I love Gilbert so much. He has so much faith in his boss and Lupin does not want to let him down. (I also loved that Gilbert’s lawyer has so much faith in his innocence too to the point of crying over it and desperately trying to convince other people, I thought it was very sweet.) And the fact that he does manage to save him in the end makes me so happy.

The adventurey stuff with the villain Daubrecq was good too, if somewhat convoluted at points. He’s a genius, a creep, absolutely terrifying, absolutely brilliant, and constantly one step ahead. Every time you think Lupin’s got him, it turns out to be part of some overarching plan and he’s outwitted you once again. It’s so wild. It happens so often I was almost getting tired of it by the end, haha. But what an end!! The paper turning out to be hidden literally in his glass eye! It had been there the whole time! the madlad

Clarisse was pretty cool too. I like that she cared so much about her son, and I’m obsessed with how she just straight-up ditched Lupin at the end. Iconic. She’s so valid lmao I’m such a hoe for characters turning people down

No because a lot of the times, his GOTWs (girlfriends of the week, I cannot be bothered to write it out in full every time) will die at the end somehow, or turn out to be evil so he doesn’t like them anymore, or they’ll just never be mentioned ever again so they presumably split offscreen because Lupin has attachment issues or whatever. But Clarisse just wasn’t even into him? Or at least, she was, but there was never any chance she’d actually go for him, since she doesn’t like thieves, and Lupin just had to deal with it. Good for her! Honestly! And good on Lupin for going for a milf this time -- usually his GOTWs are hot single ladies but it’s nice to know that he’s into older women and mothers too I guess

And the contrast between Daubrecq and Lupin, who both like Clarisse but go about it in different ways -- Daubrecq blackmailing her into marrying him and trying to guilt trip her into kissing him by threatening her son, while Lupin just leaves her alone at the end because he clearly understands the meaning of the word no (at least in this book *cough*) and isn’t interested in getting with someone who isn’t interested back... good boy Lupin, good

Les Confidences d’Arsène Lupin (The Secrets of Arsène Lupin)

I... don’t remember this one. Like at all. I definitely read it, but...

Looking back at the chapter list I think it was just a bunch of mini-adventures like the first book, which is cute. I have very vague recollections of some of them and those recollections are pleasant. I’m sure I enjoyed it I just can’t remember lol, it clearly didn’t leave enough of an impression on me

L’Éclat d’obus (The Shell Shrapnel)

And now we reach the first of the “Not Actually A Lupin Novel” books. Like, this is clearly just an original work. It doesn’t have the same tone or style or even genre as the other Lupin stories. And there’s also the fact that LUPIN ISN’T IN IT. Oh sure, he’s offhandedly mentioned once, for all of about two paragraphs. But not only does he not even make a physical appearance, those few little paragraphs were added in a later edition of the book. The original just didn’t have him mentioned at all. Like, I cannot stress enough how much this is NOT a Lupin novel. Not in the slightest. They will tell you it is, but they are lying.

Buuuuut I still read it anyway, so here are my thoughts :D

I’m not a fan of gritty war novels, but that being said, I didn’t dislike it. I think it was well-written and the story and mystery were good, despite the fact that it’s clearly and obviously WW1 French propaganda with no effort whatsoever made to hide it. I also liked the characters and their motivations etc, though I think it would have been cooler if the girl’s mum really was bad after all, rather than it actually being a misunderstanding. Or whatever the plot was. I don’t remember it clearly enough now.

Diversity win! The evil war general that killed you father is genderfluid!

Okay lmao but seriously, I like that the villain was just this irredeemably evil girlboss. Like, good ol’ Dolorès was the villain in 813 but she was pretty conflicted and torn up about it and suffering from mental illness and clearly a sympathetic character. But this war general lady? A true evil girlboss and I stan. There’s no “oh but she’s a ~woman~ so she’s all ~weak~ and ~soft~” as was typical for the time period, they’re just like “nope she is straight-up evil and also terrifying and god she needs to be shot asap”. And then she gets shot. Brill.

(I mean, I’m not knowledgeable about the historical and social context of WW1-era Europe so this could have been a “look how scary and evil these German ladies are, not like our sweet and soft and feminine French ladies uwu” but I have no idea.)

Also, despite being a war novel, I like that it doesn’t glamourise it much and does show the brutality and horrors of trench warfare and how it ruins people’s lives, even people who you think of as “heroes”. Probably helps that it was written while the war was still going on.

Oh and the main couple were pretty cute. I don’t even remember their names now but yeah they were cute.

Le Triangle d’or (The Golden Triangle)

Another “Not Actually A Lupin Novel” novel, though at least Lupin does actually show up and do some stuff this time. Not much, but he’s there and mildly plot-relevant.

That being said... I did not enjoy this book. Sorry. I’m sure it was very good and a lot of people loved it, but not me.

The main character annoyed me. A lot. Idk man, I just didn’t like him. I also didn’t like his love interest -- she felt very flat and the two of them didn’t even have any chemistry. It was flatter than a piece of paper. I was hoping they’d both die tbh lol

The torture scene was raw as hell, I liked it. Wait, am I getting a different book mixed up with this one? I think there was a torture scene in an earlier book too but I can’t remember which one... Might’ve been Le Bouchon de cristal? Well whatever, all torture scenes in this series are good because I love it when characters suffer and are put in Situations

Also, I sort of liked the Sims-esque scene of the protagonists getting locked in a house where all the doors and windows are boarded up and they have to starve to death. I mean, I was totally rooting for them to die so that lessened the imapct somewhat and made it significantly funnier than it should have been, but still.

Also it has to be mentioned. This book was written in 1918 and it shows. For its time period it was probably considered quite acceptable, even forward, but by today’s standards... no, it’s definitely racist. It’s nice that Ya-Bon is clearly a good guy and friends with the protagonists (and close friends with Lupin in particular, who deeply trusts him, which was awesome) but uh, yeah. There’s still a lot that comes across today as racist and it makes for quite the uncomfortable read. But, y’know, baby steps, it was good for 1918, historical context and all that, it’s nice that today we can look back and acknowledge the racism in it while still acknowledging that for its day it was better than many of its contemporaries, etc.

L’Île aux trente cercueils (The Island of Thirty Coffins)

The third and thankfully last of the “Not Actually A Lupin Novel” trilogy.

This one was freaking DARK. And CREEPY. And DEPRESSING. I call it the “murder island” book for a reason. There’s something so sinister about thinking you’re going to get to meet your long-lost son but then the kid you think is your son just up and muders like 20+ people in front of you and wants to crucify you and there’s like a cult and... yeah, this one was a bit macabre. I liked it though

THE DOG WAS SO CUTE. I LOVE YOU TOUT-VA-BIEN. YOU’RE ADORABLE. BEST CHARACTER.

I also like that the protagonist is a woman this time. She’s not even some generic #Girlboss, she’s a middle-aged woman with a child and plenty of depth to her! In general, she’s awesome.

I didn’t really like the sort of... inevitability of inheritance sort of thing going on though? Like that if you’re a good person then your children will be good, and if you’re a bad person then your children will be bad... It happens quite a bit in these books and it really annoys me. You are not bound by what other people in your biological family have done, okay, you are YOU, end of. I think it would’ve been more interesting if her son really was evil, tbh. I did like the evil child though I think he was funny

Speaking of funny, the abrupt tone shift when Lupin shows up pretending to be the druid guy gave me so much whiplash. I cannot even begin to describe how much that “Ah ! la barbe !” line felt like a direct punch to the face. It took me OUT. And from then on it’s literally just slapstick comedy. Like, even Lupin himself acknowledges the wild tone change, it’s so bizarre. This is like, a good three quarters of the way into the book too. You’ve already read hundreds of pages of sheer angst by this point and then it hits you with the clownery. Unbelievable. Top tier comedy. Mad.

Les Dents du tigre (The Teeth of the Tiger)

Back to an actual Lupin novel where he’s the protagonist again, hallelujah! Though he’s not really stealing stuff in this one, which sucked, but it was still good. Actually, I remember this one being very weird -- like, the solution to the overarching mystery was just very odd and strange and I’m not sure it felt entirely earned. But still, I did enjoy it.

There was this one scene in particular that was absolutely mind-shattering, it blew me away. I start biting like a rabid animal. It was where Lupin was being hunted by the police so he hid in the walls of the building, but then couldn’t escape without being caught, and he slowly started starving to death and losing his mind and willpower and going delirious, and then when he realised the house was going to blow and that people were going to die, he desperately tried to find a way to escape so he could warn everyone and he called for help but nobody came and he eventually, half dead, managed to get his arm to reach the telephone and then despite literally being in the process of dying he managed to get the warning across, just about! And he succeeded!! Just in the nick of time!!! GOD that bit was too good

Les Huits Coups de l’horloge (The Eight Strikes of the Clock)

This one was interesting, being essentially several shorter stories but all connected to each other by an overarching story, which I really liked -- it’s like the perfect combination of buildup and drama of the longer novels, and the fast pace and fun of the short stories. Like episodes of a TV show. (Later on the Barnett book does it too, and I love that one so much...)

Hortense is one of the best GOTWs, and I think a lot of it is because she actually has chemistry with Lupin beyond just “she’s a pretty lady so he’s into her”? I mean, yes, there’s that too, but the two of them are genuine friends and she’s pretty much his partner-in-crime sidekick sort of person for the most part, which felt like a fresh dynamic, and I really liked their interactions. Sometimes these Lupin romances can get kinda stale but this one was actually good. They felt more like real people than the usual fantasy mushy romance. I know I don’t read these books for their realism, but still, my standards for fictional romance can get quite high...

La Comtesse de Cagliostro (The Countess of Cagliostro)

Oh. Ohoho. OhohoHOhoOhOhHOHoo.

This one is crunchy. I love it.

Usually I’m used to considering Lupin around my age or older but this book specifically takes place in the past, in the 1890s, where Raoul (shush I’m calling him that) is only 20 and god he’s sooooo adorable. Idiot swooning hormonal mess, bless him. I love him dearly. He’s so funny and stupid. Literally all his problems are caused by being a raging heterosexual (for now *cough cough Barnett book*). Silly little cute-pie.

On the name Raoul -- in the first book he used that name when talking about his very first heist when he was 6, and he’s used it multiple times since then, in multiple books. Whether or not it’s his birth name, it does feel like his “true” name to me. Arsène Lupin feels like more of a stage name or something, the larger-than-life gentleman thief, while Raoul is the man beneath that. I suppose it’s reminiscent of the difference between Flynn Rider and Eugene Fitzherbert, really. They’re both him, but in differring ways.

Anyway!! Raoul ghosts his gf to go after this other hot girl, Joséphine, and since she’s evil and doesn’t want him to get caught up in her evil life she tries to keep him away but even though he’s feeling conflicted about the fact that she’s a thief (and the fact that he dumped his old gf so suddenly, poor girl) he’s so horny he can’t stop simping for her and then she gives in and makes out with him and keeps him on her boat so she can snog him whenever she wants and it turns out she’s a yandere?? AND a girlboss who gaslights and gatekeeps??? It feels like a modern day fanfic and I mean that in the positive sense

Seriously, it’s so delicious, all the angst when Raoul realises the truth about Joséphine, who then tries to kill his ex or something since she’s a yandere and she’s super angry... It’s wild. This book is wild. There is so much weird love-hate. It’s glorious. I bet people wrote smut about it.

And then at the end, he gets back with his ex and marries her and they have a kid but then she dies and THE KID GETS KIDNAPPED BY JOSÉPHINE???? Even at the time I predicted half the plot of the later Cagliostro vengeance book almost immediately, guessing that she’d try and raise the kidnapped son to turn against his father or something sufficiently angsty like that, and I wasn’t exactly wrong. GOD.

La Demoiselle aux yeux verts (The Damsel with Green Eyes)

I... didn’t much care about this one, tbh. The GOTW didn’t feel like a real person, just a bunch of traits slapped together to make a hot lady love interest. Honestly I’m not really that into the books which are just mushy love stories where Lupin saves his damsel in distress a bunch of times. He’s supposed to be a thief! Let him steal!

Like seriously, I think he had more chemistry with the blue-eyed English woman at the start than with... god I don’t even remember her name. The love interest. He didn’t even KNOW her, and even when he thought she was a murderer he was fine with kissing her like 5 minutes later (tho um dude you should probably ASK HER FIRST, come on man)... Hello, did la Cagliostro teach you nothing???

Anyway the mystery was okay, there wasn’t much fun adventurey stuff, I didn’t care about the romance, worst GOTW. All in all a mid book.

That being said it did have this one epic scene -- you think all is lost and there’s this long buildup, this brilliant long buildup, and the guy opens the piece of paper and there’s the drop: “Marescal est une gourde.” (”Marescal is an idiot.”) Flawless. I laughed so hard. I love that scene. Lupin’s such a troll sometimes.

And also after the end how he continues to constantly troll Marescal with the “Un peu de feu ?” thing, it’s not only hilarious, but the fact that it’s implied he’s doing it for years afterwards, overlapping with other books like 813! So while all the angsty heckery of 813 is going on, at some point or another, he’s trolling Marescal in the background! Continuing to gaslight and torment him! Absolutely fab, I can’t get over it.

L’Agence Barnett et Cie (The Barnett & Co. Agency)

GOD TIER BOOK. GOD TIER. (Excuse me in advance, I’m gonna be a little unhinged for the next few books.)

Okay so this one is another one where they’re short stories, but completely connected to each other so you still get that overarching plot. Except this time? This time it’s super light-hearted, all the way through, and it’s perfect. I love this one to pieces. I’d say this one is the funniest.

Firstly it’s because Lupin (who’s going by the oddly English name “Jim Barnett” here lmao) is LARPing as a detective now and he is clearly having so much fun. Like he tells people his services are free, but after he’s solved the case he just steals from them. He literally just robs them. It’s so funny

The mysteries are pretty good too, and solved in an interesting manner. I always love hearing the Poirot-esque explanation at the end it’s awesome

But most of all this book is great because of BÉCHOUX MY BELOVED. Béchoux best character. Ganimard wants what Béchoux has. This is like a platonic, reversed, comedy version of the Cagliostro angst and I’m so here for it. Actually, did I say platonic? Make that ambiguously platonic. Lupin, former raging heterosexual, is entering his bi era and you know what, good for him. Good for him.

Okay but seriously, these two are besties, worsties, boyfriends, exes, married and divorced all at the same time. It’s like Looney Tunes. They keep breaking up because Béchoux, a policeman, keeps suspecting that his bestie Barnett is actually Arsène Lupin and is stealing from his clients, so he gets mad at him and stops talking to him, then later he’ll come crawling back every time because he needs his help solving a case again and Barnett’s all like “aww babe, I knew you couldn’t live without me <3″ oh my god it is so gay.

They even start tutoie-ing each other (using informal pronouns) because Béchoux did it once in a fit of anger and then Lupin started doing it as a proof that they’re super close (and probably to mess with him too, he loves doing that) and then Béchoux just... also does it too? Even though he claims to hate this guy and want to arrest him? But he continously doesn’t and instead carries on being his boytoy twink malewife friend and asking for his help all the time??? They’re in love your honour

(All that said, Lupin does go and fuck Béchoux’s ex-wife and it’s implied he did it mostly to annoy Béchoux. Like, that is very much a thing that canonically happens. Béchoux is livid. It’s bloody hilarious. Funniest thing to happen in any of the books hands down.)

On the formal vs informal pronouns thing in a bit more detail: basically in French, the informal you is “tu” but it can be used as “tu (derogatory)” or “tu (affectionate)”. Lupin frequently uses the former on his enemies when he’s fighting them, as a way to show his lack of respect for them, to insult them, to have power over them, etc, and they do it back. But he uses the latter with people he considers close -- Victoire, some of his love interests, sometimes his friends or subordinates. And in this book, Béchoux got mad at him and used tu (derogatory), but then Lupin starts doing it back but affectionate, and then Béchoux..?? also starts using tu (affectionate)???

I have no idea how translations into English (and other languages that don’t have the T-V distinction) conveyed that change in tone but in French it’s fricking awesome. Damn right they’re close and care about each other. It sticks even when they’re mad at each other and it’s the sweetest thing.

La Demeure mystérieuse (The Mysterious House)

I was so pleasantly overjoyed to see that Béchoux was back in this one, I’d genuinely thought he was just going to be a one-off but no! He’s here! And just as tsundere for Lupin as ever! A BOYFRIEND of the week, you could say! Or more like multiple weeks!

Okay but this book was pretty cool, the mystery was pretty cool, and a lot of this one was very very funny. The Van Houben guy was hilarious. The villain was interesting -- for a while I really didn’t know if he was going to be good or bad, because he did save Lupin’s life, and just... yeah it was pretty interesting, though I was mentally punching Lupin in the face like “Get! Your! Jealousy! Issues! Under! Control!”

I do like that Lupin ended up being close friends with Régine. It’s a nice change to see him care about a single and attractive lady without really being into her and genuinely enjoying her company in a completely platonic way. I wish it happened more!

I also love that his GOTW didn’t actually get with him at the end!! Yes she was into him but she said she wanted to remain friends instead, and he accepted that! And then they went on holiday together to hang out with each other and !!! That was so good!!!! So good!!!!!!! I’m such a hoe for that!!!!!!!

Alright but when I was reading the previous book and unexpectedly shipping Lupin and Béchoux to hell and back, I was thinking “well that’s because I’m reading it in the 21st century with a modern understanding and view of the text, the queer subtext surely can’t have been intentional at the time” but then I read this book and I’m like ah... okay no yeah this is just bi. “Il fait de vous ce qu’il veut... et de toutes les femmes d’ailleurs.” “Et de tous les hommes aussi.” That combined with him not ending up with either of the girls, and him and Béchoux getting even closer... well it certainly makes one think.

Also I can’t remember if it was this book or the next one so I’m just gonna put it here but at one point he called Béchoux “délicieux” (three guesses what that translates as) and like... I can’t be certain that he’s never described other guys like that before because I can’t remember, but he DOES frequently describe his girl love interests like that! Very frequently, even! With openly and unambiguously romantic connotations! I just... is this supposed to be read as flirting? Is this just me reading it in 2023, or did people in 1928 catch it too? Am I going mad??

La Barre-y-va (The “place-where-the-current-reaches”?? idk how to translate this one, it’s a place name so maybe I’ll just not bother)

It got gayer. I loved this book. Very fun. Good mystery. All that jazz. Now back to the queer stuff because oh boy.

First of all half the time Raoul (yes he’s back to Raoul again) is calling Béchoux by his first name, Théodore, instead, which is... really something. Also Béchoux just inexplicably had a key to his flat even though no one’s meant to know where Raoul lives. It’s never explained. Like Béchoux why do you even have that. And then he invites Raoul to stay with him on his holiday (oh my god they were roommates). Raoul also said he had constantly been thinking about him and compliments him profusely in a physical sense in a way that maybe sounded different in 1931 than it does today but it sure does seem different with a modern eye and they’re just. There’s a lot.

(There’s also this quick little “oh you’re totally like a brother to me”  that never came up again which made me laugh so hard. It’s like the Sailor Moon English dub cousins thing. Like lmao who is buying this. Nice try.)

Also at one point while Raoul’s dancing with joy he grabs Béchoux and puts his arm around his waist and spins him around and lifts him in the air. No I am not making this up. His GOTWs are literally watching and cheering them on. Oh yeah, Raoul has a polycule this time btw

In fact Béchoux gets a GOTW too this book! And Raoul interrupts them just as they’re about to kiss, if that didn’t make things obvious

And there’s more -- Béchoux’s GOTW turns out to be like mildly evil and also already married and Béchoux gets mad and leaves her, and in the meantime Raoul gets dumped by both his GOTWs because they don’t want to be in his polycule anymore, then Fate or Destiny or whatever makes him go to a certain place and he sees that Béchoux now has his own polycule with his mildly evil GOTW and her husband -- and Raoul is so pissed off he grabs Béchoux by the arm and drags him outside, all the while complaining like “how could you be going out with those criminal peasants when I’M right here and so much better than them?? I need to save you from yourself” (I’m not making this up I promise) and it’s super ridiculous and it’s like he doesn’t even know how to deal with his own emotions, so he just KIDNAPS BÉCHOUX and stuffs him in his car and drives off with him and Béchoux’s complaning that he doesn’t have any time off from work for this and Raoul says he’ll sort it out and that he’ll buy Béchoux new clothes and a toothbrush or something and IT’S SO WILD. HOW WAS THIS EVEN WRITTEN. IT’S NOT EVEN SUBTLE ANYMORE. PLEASE TELL ME I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE SEEING THIS. MON DIEU. THESE BITCHES GAY. TANT MIEUX POUR EUX. TANT MIEUX POUR EUX.

La Femme aux deux sourires (The Woman With Two Smiles)

*Megamind face* No Béchoux?

Sigh... my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined. Welp, anyways, moving on...

Raoul you fucker. No I’m serious -- he’s a fuckboy now and I hate it. (Not that he wasn’t already, a lil bit...) I can excuse stealing from people but I draw the line at kissing someone when they told you not to and clearly doesn’t like it and also lying to your harem of a million girlfriends.

Zero chemistry between him and his GOTW(s). In fact, it’s the opposite. It’s like anti-chemistry. I don’t even like her very much but I still think she deserves better. Raoul you should’ve just stuck with Princess Olga. She was right to dump you though and her husband yelling at you was hilarious

Also there’s some new policeman guy but it’s not the same... I just want him (Béchoux) back 😔...

That being said, the book did pick up later on and get better, and the plot twist was actually pretty cool. So was the meteorite thing. Was it a ridiculously ridiculous coincidence? Yes, but it doesn’t beat out the ridiculous balloon dropping a rope in the exact right place thing from one of the earlier books so it’s fine.

Also, these books are getting bolder as time goes on? I noticed more and more harsh language used, and very strong implications of sexual assault (previously I’d say the closest it came to that was Le Bouchon de cristal, which didn’t go quite that far). It’s not necessarily darker, because nothing can beat 813 in that regard, but it does feel “edgier”, especially coming directly after a trilogy of light-hearted adventures.

Oh!! And he totally does joke about being bi in this book so I will choose to believe it. When his GOTW mentions being jealous that he’s in love with someone else, he pretends she’s talking about his (male) sidekick first. And then later when he talks about how everyone keeps falling in love with him, he rattles off the names of a bunch of people including male characters and god why wasn’t Béchoux in this book dammit could you imagine--

Victor, de la Brigade mondaine (Victor, of the Vice Squad)

No thoughts. Head empty. Utterly gobsmacked. Flabbergasted. Speechless.

No but this one started off so slow, and it was so little about Lupin and I didn’t think much of Victor, it was all just a lot of convoluted and repetitive investigation and every side character is cheating on their spouse in a middling stale soap opera way so it didn’t exactly captivate me...

But then Victor starts playing 4D chess, and that’s where it gets good. And I thought, oh, I have to play 5D chess in order to see where this is going. Maybe even 6D chess. I have to consider all the possibilities. AND THEN. I GET COMPLETELY BLINDSIDED BY LUPIN PLAYING 10D CHESS. RIGHT AT THE END.

My god, I was so shook I couldn’t even speak for several minutes. I’m not even going to say the exact details because I don’t even want to spoil it. I have to reread this one at some point and see what it’ll feel like now, knowing what I know. I know the first half is boring af but that payoff... god, that payoff. A work of art.

Also, the name “Beamish” is so funny to me for some reason. Is that what French people think English surnames sound like? I mean, I don’t doubt that there is probably someone out there with that surname, and it certainly does sound English, but it also made me cackle like an idiot every time I read it. Like oh yeah that’s that English bloke, Beamish. BEAMISH. Why is it so funny to me

La Cagliostro se venge (The Countess of Cagliostro gets her revenge)

I liked this one. I thought it was going to shred my soul to ribbons but it actually ended up being surprisingly wholesome and nowhere near as angsty as I was expecting. Like, the beginning of the book even TELLS you it’s gonna get angsty, really building it up, ominous, like the opening to a horror movie, with all this “these poor happy characters have no idea of what they’re about to go through...” and then... Well, there’s death alright, but overall the book was just... fine. It wasn’t that dark lmao, no shocking angstfest

(And that’s not a bad thing! It was actually quite a pleasant surprise!)

Joséphine is dead in this one, which was sorta disappointing because I thought it would be fun (if very traumatic) for Raoul to see her again, but I do love that his reaction to finding out that she’s dead was “OH THANK GOD, I FRICKING HATED HER.” So iconic.

The thing about Félicien being his son... I do love that he swings between lowkey disliking him and suspecting him, and being proud of him in a “hell yeah that’s my boy!!” way, and he’s so awkward about being a dad and doesn’t even know if he’d be a good one, and in the end doesn’t even tell Félicien. It doesn’t have anywhere near the emotional impact or angst of Geneviève from 813 imo but it’s still pretty fun.

AND THEN THERE’S ROLANDE. She’s not a GOTW but she is one of the best Lupin girlies of all time. The fact that she managed to trick literally everyone, AND got her revenge on the bad guy without Lupin’s help or even knowledge, outsmarting him, masterminding the whole thing behind the scenes... She’s so cool. Rolande you’re so freaking cool. What an absolute ledge. Definitely one of the stand out parts of the book. I need to reread it at some point and focus specifically on her rather than being distracted by the Félicien stuff because WOW.

Les Milliards d’Arsène Lupin (The Billions of Arsène Lupin)

Oh my god I am trying so hard to recall what the actual plot of this book was because the only thing sticking in my brain is THE SCENE WHERE BÉCHOUX FOUGHT A TIGER. HE FOUGHT A FUCKING TIGER WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT??? WHAT EVEN WAS THAT??? AM I DREAMING??? DID THIS HAPPEN??? BÉCHOUX LITERALLY FOUGHT A LITERAL TIGER???????????

Okay but Béchoux being back was such a lovely surprise. He was quickly mentioned as being Lupin’s enemy, to which Lupin was immediately like “no the frick he isn’t???” and then he actually shows up, and Lupin is calling him “policier de mon cœur” and “Béchoux de mon cœur” and hitting on him... I’m not making this up. He literally calls him that. Like canonically. In the text. Openly.

And Béchoux is trying to catch him again and still does help him but also betrays him and LUPIN SETS A TIGER LOOSE ON HIM. IT’S UNBELIEVABLE. MONSIEUR LEBLANC HOW DID YOU EVEN THINK OF THIS, I JUST WANNA TALK

OKAy tiger aside, Béchoux aside...

I liked Patricia, I thought she was a really cool GOTW and has a great investigative streak, which was nice, although it would have been nicer for her if she could get on with that investigation without getting sexually assaulted every five minutes. Like seriously, what was with the creeps in this book? Leave her alone!!

Also her son is adorable and very cool. I wanna be like “are ya winning son?” at him.

Also there was the mafia. Lupin fights the mafia.

I’m so sorry, I’m really trying to remember other things about this book but that tiger has my entire brain in its teeth right now. She’s the best character. She’s out here living her best life. Here you dropped this queen 👑

Le Dernier Amour d’Arsène Lupin (The Last Love of Arsène Lupin)

(Now I know this one is sort of “unfinished” considering Leblanc didn’t get to fully edit it before he died, and it does feel rough around the edges compared to the other novels, so I’ll take that into account when Judging™ it.)

This one was sooooooo cute! Lupin has made it his life’s goal to help give education and opportunities to underprivileged children and to promote world peace! He’s so wonderfully hopeful and idealistic in this one! He even adopts two children! I guess he finally feels able to be a father, something he didn’t really feel that he could do before with Geneviève or Félicien? At first he was hesitant, not wanting them to see him as their father, but by the end he’s so fond of them and protective over them, they really have become his children and he properly adopts them... Anyway that was all very soft and fluffy and cute.

The children in question, Joséphin and Marie-Thérèse, are the best part of the book. Hands down. They’re so cool, doing all this sneaky spy stuff to help Lupin (or rather the captain “Cocorico” which is such a cute name wtf) and their sibling dynamic is adorable and they’re very brave and smart and are clearly learning a lot on the job. I’m very proud of them and so is Lupin. What an iconic brother-sister duo.

I like Cora, I think she’s cool. Considering the setting of the book is the early 1920s you can already see the shifts in attitude towards the social mobility and freedom of women compared with earlier books, as well as a shift away from strict classism, and Cora feels somewhat more “modern” in that sense -- she wants to be friends with who she wants, she doesn’t care for what appears “proper” or “respectable” to high society.

That being said I had absolutely zero interest in her love story with Lupin. I’m so sorry but it was just so boring. Their love for each other could have been platonic and it wouldn’t change a single thing and would have fit a lot better, in my humble onion. Seriously, for a story literally called “Le Dernier Amour d’Arsène Lupin” I sure don’t care about said amour. Bro, you’ve already fallen in love a million times, this one is no different, she’ll be gone in a year or two just like the rest before her, she’s too young for you anyway, like who even cares at this point...

(Also, once again, can the GOTW go five hecking minutes without some creep trying to sexually assault her?? Like I know casual sexism is to be expected from books written so long ago but damn... I’m glad the kids got revenge on Carbett for her.)

It was fun to see the kids talking in more modern-sounding French and more slang, rather than the very Belle-Époque vibes the books usually have, that was pretty cool and really did cement the fact that time has passed and this truly is the LAST book.

The mystery wasn’t that great and the climax felt underwhelming, but tbh I’ll chalk that up to this manuscript being essentially a draft, since I’m sure it would’ve been more exciting and interesting had Leblanc had the time to rework it. All in all a nice end to the series though!

[de-gueules-au-lion-d-or]

Lounès Darbois: Paris ce n’est pas une ville pour “investir”, où n’importe quel putois mondial aurait droit à son “pied-à-terre”. Paris c’est la concentration du génie pratique français de la construction et de l’art ornemental passés par de crucifiants essais et erreurs étalés sur des siècles, trouvant début 17ème son type classique fixé dans la pierre calcaire et le toit d’ardoise, pour enfin en obtenir fin 19ème-début 20ème siècle, une merveilleuse résurrection néo-classique. Paris c’est pour les Français seuls, c’est “pour nous, à nous, chez nous”. Les squatteurs étrangers qui y résident n’ont pas été une seule fois capable de créer un seul bâtiment qui ait le quart de la beauté du plus laid bâtiment érigé durant l’âge d’or 1880-1914. Ce ne sont pas des parisiens ce sont des squatteurs de cavités laissées vacantes par les morts à la guerre et il y a un terme pour les gens qui cherchent ce mode d’habitation: des troglodytes. Et pas plus que de génie pratique, quantifiable, mesurable, concret, ils n’ont de sens esthétique du mode de vie. En vêtement, en gastronomie, en choix de locomotion ils sont lourdingues et nuls. Ils foncent aux grossiers commerces crasseux, aux viandes mal saignées étalées sans bardage sous les présentoirs sans feuillage, à côté de cela comparons ce qu’est une boucherie française traditionnelle, une boulangerie, une cordonnerie bien tenue, avec travail en tablier. Et l’ambiance de frénésie gaie des samedi après-midi de Paris jusque vers 2010, avec ses familles françaises nombreuses, ses jeunes femmes habillées, coiffées, ses darons sans ventre en manteau longs et chaussures cirées qui passaient en coup de vent acheter la tarte aux poires du déjeuner, toute cette petite beauté gratuite de la rue, la vraie France organique, parquet et lambris, ascenseur à grillage et escalier à tapis serti de tiges de maintien, tout le savoir-faire d’hommes inconnus d’avant, qui avaient des vrais beaux noms de provinces francophones, pas ces noms trafiqués de tricheurs importés, de gougnafiers qui n’ont jamais rien embelli et qui se prétendent des droits sur nous. C’est le ressentiment? Mais le ressentiment contre une telle exploitation, un tel mensonge, une telle colonisation forcenée alors que nous n’avions rien fait, cela ne s’appelle pas ressentiment cela s’appelle du sang qui crie justice, un véhément redressement qui renverse la pensée contre soi-même, cela s’appelle la Grâce, et merde et cent fois merde aux catégories nietzschéennes et à leur engrenage mental incapacitant. La vie organique d’abord bordel! Et l’évidence, l’intuition, l’instinct d’abord. Nous disons ce que nous disons pas pour l’avoir “pensé” (penser la société...) mais pour l’avoir expérimenté, payé sur le terrain depuis 20 ans, depuis 50 ans même pour certains, et il faudrait s’inhiber l’évidence par respect d’un philologue allemand d’université qui n’a jamais vu venir l’invasion barbare contrairement aux grands Français Art Déco, les Céline, les Morand dès 1925 avec L’Europe galante, dès 1928 avec Magie Noire? Et Lapouge même avant. La vraie impulsion révolutionnaire c’est ça, et tout ce que ça induit.

[anathriveline]

Les clans du ciel - La quête d'Ellie (Skyborn 1 - Sparrow Rising) Jessica Khoury Jeunesse, Bayard, 2024

Ellie rêve de rejoindre la garde royale des Ailes d’Or, qui protège la population des attaques de gargouilles, les monstres tapis derrière les nuages. Mais c’est une mission réservée aux castes supérieures de Faucons ou d’Éperviers, et Ellie est née Moineau. Résolue à participer malgré tout à la course de sélection des gardes, Ellie s’échappe de son orphelinat. Elle croise alors le chemin de Nox, un jeune Corbeau. Il l’entraîne malgré elle dans une aventure périlleuse, qui va bouleverser le destin d’Ellie et sa vision du monde… Une trilogie de fantasy haletante L’autrice, Jessica Khoury, nous entraîne dans une aventure sans temps morts, portée par des personnages attachants en quête de vérité, dans un univers aussi original qu’accessible pour des lecteurs à partir de 10 ans. De nombreux coups de cœur libraires et des lecteurs enthousiastes. 4,5/5 sur Babelio. « Alerte, nouvelle série palpitante et captivante ! » Science et Vie Découvertes

[transparentgentlemenmarker]

En quoi manger des œufs le matin est une idée judicieuse. Nourrissant, pas cher, et plutôt savoureux s’il est bien préparé, l’œuf est un aliment que l’on ne doit pas oublier. Et en consommer au petit déjeuner peut être une excellente idée ! Il vous permettra de démarrer la journée avec le plein d’énergie mais sera également très utile pour contrôler votre poids ou pour améliorer vôtre santé riche en vitamines et en minéraux. Il contient des vitamines A et D, de la vitamine E et de la vitamine K. De plus, il est riche en iode et en sélenium (un antioxydant intéressant), mais également en phosphore ou en fer. Enfin, il contient de nombreux caroténoïdes, très bénéfiques notamment pour notre vision. Un condensé de bienfaits pour l’organisme dans un si petit aliment, c’est idéal de manger des œufs le matin il peut vous permettre de perdre du poids. En effet, l’œuf est un aliment faible en calorie 80 Kcal il permet de tenir plus longtemps entre chaque repas. Fini le grignotage, vous pourrez suivre un régime plus facilement sans ressentir les effets de la faim. Utiliser un coupe faim est une des règles d’or pour ne pas perdre la motivation lors d’une cure amincissante

The egg is very rich in vitamins and minerals. It contains vitamins A and D, vitamin E and vitamin K. In addition, it is rich in iodine and selenium (an interesting antioxidant), but also in phosphorus or iron. Finally, it contains many carotenoids, very beneficial in particular for our vision. A summary of benefits for the body in such a small food, it's ideal!

[dre-amin-g]

[Un soir que je regardais le ciel – Victor Hugo]

Ce poème d’amour, écrit par Victor Hugo, est un magnifique hommage à la grandeur de l’amour et de la nature. L’auteur compare les sentiments amoureux à l’immensité du ciel étoilé, offrant une vision romantique et poétique de l’amour.

_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_

Elle me dit, un soir, en souriant :

– Ami, pourquoi contemplez-vous sans cesse

Le jour qui fuit, ou l’ombre qui s’abaisse,

Ou l’astre d’or qui monte à l’orient ?

Que font vos yeux là-haut ? je les réclame.

Quittez le ciel; regardez dans mon âme !

Dans ce ciel vaste, ombre où vous vous plaisez,

Où vos regards démesurés vont lire,

Qu’apprendrez-vous qui vaille mon sourire ?

Qu’apprendras-tu qui vaille nos baisers ?

Oh! de mon cœur lève les chastes voiles.

Si tu savais comme il est plein d’étoiles !

Que de soleils ! vois-tu, quand nous aimons,

Tout est en nous un radieux spectacle.

Le dévouement, rayonnant sur l’obstacle,

Vaut bien Vénus qui brille sur les monts.

Le vaste azur n’est rien, je te l’atteste ;

Le ciel que j’ai dans l’âme est plus céleste !

C’est beau de voir un astre s’allumer.

Le monde est plein de merveilleuses choses.

Douce est l’aurore et douces sont les roses.

Rien n’est si doux que le charme d’aimer !

La clarté vraie et la meilleure flamme,

C’est le rayon qui va de l’âme à l’âme !

L’amour vaut mieux, au fond des antres frais,

Que ces soleils qu’on ignore et qu’on nomme.

Dieu mit, sachant ce qui convient à l’homme,

Le ciel bien loin et la femme tout près.

Il dit à ceux qui scrutent l’azur sombre :

« Vivez ! aimez ! le reste, c’est mon ombre ! »

Aimons ! c’est tout. Et Dieu le veut ainsi.

Laisse ton ciel que de froids rayons dorent !

Tu trouveras, dans deux yeux qui t’adorent,

Plus de beauté, plus de lumière aussi !

Aimer, c’est voir, sentir, rêver, comprendre.

L’esprit plus grand s’ajoute au cœur plus tendre.

Viens, bien-aimé ! n’entends-tu pas toujours

Dans nos transports une harmonie étrange ?

Autour de nous la nature se change

En une lyre et chante nos amours.

Viens ! aimons-nous ! errons sur la pelouse

Ne songe plus au ciel ! j’en suis jalouse ! –

Ma bien-aimée ainsi tout bas parlait,

Avec son front posé sur sa main blanche,

Et l’oeil rêveur d’un ange qui se penche,

Et sa voix grave, et cet air qui me plaît ;

Belle et tranquille, et de me voir charmée,

Ainsi tout bas parlait ma bien-aimée.

Nos coeurs battaient ; l’extase m’étouffait ;

Les fleurs du soir entr’ouvraient leurs corolles …

Qu’avez-vous fait, arbres, de nos paroles ?

De nos soupirs, rochers, qu’avez-vous fait ?

C’est un destin bien triste que le nôtre,

Puisqu’un tel jour s’envole comme un autre !

O souvenirs ! trésor dans l’ombre accru !

Sombre horizon des anciennes pensées !

Chère lueur des choses éclipsées !

Rayonnement du passé disparu !

Comme du seuil et du dehors d’un temple,

L’œil de l’esprit en rêvant vous contemple !

Quand les beaux jours font place aux jours amers,

De tout bonheur il faut quitter l’idée ;

Quand l’espérance est tout à fait vidée,

Laissons tomber la coupe au fond des mers.

L’oubli ! l’oubli ! c’est l’onde où tout se noie ;

C’est la mer sombre où l’on jette sa joie.

[alioversus]

D'été

Semestre | La République des Granges | 2024

A. Que la cloche sonne. Cela sent l’enterrement provincial, et la chaleur estivale. Le cercueil est loin d’être la chose la plus lourde à porter. Le deuil, peut-être. Ou juste le soleil, le chapeau. L’eau qui coule sur le front en réponse à l’eau absente du lit asséché — et l’autre, absente du lit désormais. À jamais. Des regards intimidés, comme des moucherons, errent au-dessus de l’allée de l’église. De circonstance, tout est de circonstance : gestes polis, maladroits, empruntés. Condoléances. La gravité d’un jeune prêtre déjà fort dégarni, le rayon qui traverse les vitraux et se réverbère au sommet de son crâne. On hésite à chanter. On hésite à s’éventer. On hésite à s’évanouir. Eh bien, danser maintenant ? Je n’ai pas beaucoup connu le bois de ces bancs, pas beaucoup respiré cet air poussiéreux, pas beaucoup serré ce chapeau entre mes mains tremblantes. Ce matin était encore gorgé de bourdonnements, de frémissements, de promesses qu’on ne tiendrait que rarement. Il parle de quelqu’un d’autre que la défunte. Il parle de l’amant du monde, qui pour nous tous s’est sacrifié. Il y aura eu beaucoup de violence, et il nous faut à jamais le répéter. Des clous pour sceller une alliance, des clous pour sceller la boîte… Nous nous levons dans un nuage d’encens, un numéro de yo-yo. C’était l’été, soixante ans plus tôt. C’étaient les motifs fleuris de la petite robe et les cuisses se découvrant de plus en plus, au fur et à mesure qu’elle allait à vélo. Toutes ces joies simples désormais comme un coup de couteau. 

B. La cavité est parfaitement rectangulaire, profonde, à côté des tas de terre triangulaires. La corde glisse entre leurs paumes calleuses. Il n’y a plus rien à dire, juste à la regarder rejoindre l’ombre, l’enfer, la paix. Le vent souffle dans les arbres jaunis, par intermittence. C’est le moment de pousser les soupirs. Piétinant, on se succède, on jette sa dernière salve par-dessus le sapin. Les vieilles amies s’écartent peu après, un poing refermé sur la bouche, tête baissée. Il est assourdi. Il regarde ses pieds. Il sait qu’il devra lui aussi mourir. Il en est en partie consolé. De l’ouest semble venir un orage, enveloppé de granit et gonflé de pluie d’or. Les oiseaux sont au courant. Ils désertent le cimetière. Chaque humain regagne son automobile. Il ne rentre plus chez eux, il ne rentre que chez lui. 

[sporcafaccenda]

《L’anxiété technocratique en France : les romans du Fleuve Noir « Anticipation », 1951-1960》 par Bradford Lyau Traduction de Simon Bréan

Peter RANDA

《La solution de Vandel n’est pas la plus radicale des solutions aux problèmes de la technocratie. Cet honneur revient à Peter Randa, sous le nom duquel soixante-dix-neuf titres d’« Anticipation » ont été signés par André Duquesne. Les trois romans qui se situent dans les limites chronologiques de mon étude sont tous sortis en 1960 et forment une trilogie : Survie, Baroud, et Les Frelons d’or. À chaque fois, Randa exalte, d’une manière plutôt dramatisée, les vertus d’une forme extrême d’individualisme. Le point de départ SF de la trilogie a à voir avec la modification chirurgicale de certains humains, destinée à leur permettre de vivre sur Vénus (sans retour possible sur Terre). Alors qu’ils explorent leur nouvel environnement, ces colons rencontrent une race humanoïde modifiée de la même manière, en provenance de Saturne. Ces groupes vont chacun de leur côté. Mais deux d’entre eux, un ancien Saturnien et un ancien Terrien, suivent une voie à eux. Unis par l’idée qu’ils sont tous deux des individus sans planète, ils décident d’explorer l’univers ensemble. À la fin de "Baroud", leurs voyages les ont conduits à une nouvelle forme de conscience cosmique, que Randa cerne dans ces termes :

"Il existera une mentalité de l’espace qui ne ressemblera en rien aux mentalités planétaires. (…)

"Sur chaque planète, l’évolution s’est poursuivie avec une tendance de plus en plus marquée vers la ressemblance. Dans l’espace, le contraire se produira. (…)

"Finie l’ère des collectivités où la personnalité est contrainte de s’effacer. L’espace ne peut appartenir qu’aux individualités. Le danger constant va remettre tout en haut de la hiérarchie les chefs indispensables. Périmée sur Terre, cette notion reprendra ses droits dans les étoiles où les nécessités quotidiennes ne permettront plus les longues discussions stériles. (…)

"L’hégémonie prendra une nouvelle forme. Ce ne sera plus une nation ou même une planète qui dominera, mais une race intermédiaire (…)

"Une race qui ne sera de nulle part, donc de partout." (p. 180-181)

Certaines idées ici pourraient s’entendre comme venant de Stapledon. Mais il s’avère que ce n’est pas le cas. Randa est complètement opposé à toute sorte de « collectivité », qui serait de toute façon hostile à l’individualisme qu’il revendique. S’il faut en chercher une, il a plutôt une affinité avec le libertarianisme à la Heinlein. De fait, beaucoup d’aspects de "Baroud" peuvent nous rappeler plus spécifiquement le "Between Planets" de Heinlein (1951), dont le protagoniste en vient à cette révélation : « il ne resterait pas sur Terre… Pas plus que Vénus – ou sur Mars. Il connaissait maintenant sa place – dans l’espace… L’espace était son foyer » (p. 216). Que Randa, quand il mentionne une « nouvelle forme » « d’hégémonie » ne soit pas en train de penser à une forme spécifique d’organisation sociale devient évident au cours des "Frelons d’or". Cette œuvre montre la première rencontre extraterrestre que l’ex-Terrien et l’ex-Saturnien aient faite depuis qu’ils s’étaient lancés ensemble dans l’espace. Ils tombent sur une planète où une espèce de frelons intelligents contrôle mentalement une race humanoïde (une simple piqûre suffit à placer un individu sous la coupe des frelons). Les frelons ont quant à eux un esprit ruche et suivent les instructions d’un pouvoir central. Les explorateurs finissent par découvrir le centre de commandement pour le détruire. Mais ils se refusent à rester pour aider les humanoïdes. Leur logique, comme le dit l’un d’entre eux, est que ces créatures « des hommes, après tout… ils repartent à zéro, mais ils ont leur intelligence et de nouveau un instinct de la conservation humaine. » (p. 188) De par cette posture, les personnages de Randa se distinguent clairement des Chevaliers de Vandel, du Corps Stellaire de Steiner, et de leurs équivalents. Les premiers sont prêts à se battre pour la liberté des gens, mais pas à intervenir dans leurs vies de toute autre manière. De plus, les deux voyageurs eux-mêmes demeurent des esprits indépendants, des individus sans attache – ni lien contraignant – avec aucun ordre social particulier ; et cela correspond bien à l’emphase anarchiste de Randa, l’importance qu’il accorde (comme dans Les Frelons d’or) à la destruction d’un système social oppressif. De ce fait, même s’il ne fournit pas de représentation négative de la technocratie en tant que telle (le monde des frelons est au mieux un exemple marginal), on ne peut douter que Randa partage les inquiétudes d’un Vandel ou d’un Guieu en ce qui concerne les conséquences d’une telle société pour la liberté humaine.

#Peter Randa #Anticipation