I’ve recently read Doomsday Book, Connie Willis. These notes are about an aspect of the book, I didn’t really like. Spoilers.

Of course it’s drama and conflict. Of course our hero wants something and can’t get it right away. It’s the obstacles I, ahem, stumble over.

You can’t get what you want:

• Because you fell ill. Really ill.
• Because somebody else fell ill. Really ill.
• Because a lot of people fell ill and quarantine rules apply.
• Because somebody else has to authorise it, and they are on vacation for 2 weeks and impossible to find.
• Because somebody else has to authorise it, and they are arrogant and won’t listen to reason. (*)
• Because your question (or the answer) isn’t understood correctly.
• Because you talking to the other relevant person Just Isn’t Done, and you can’t figure out a way to do it in secret.
• Because your sense of duty says you should do something else.
• Because a 5 year old is being 5 and spoiled.
• Because a 12 year old is trying to stay away from that creepy guy.
• Because young people just don’t listen. (*)
• Because this one person is suspicious and schizophrenic and generally angry and negative. (*)
• Because this one person is overly protective of her son. (*)
• Because this one person thinks cheering up = listening to horrible Bible stories. (*)

The (*) means this rubs me the wrong way. Stupid, irrational people not listening. It’s supposed to be funny? Instead it bores me. And it happens a lot.