Recent Comments

11/1/20, 10:47 AM
> I just thought that the mention that the Wizard was missing might be a subtle hint. > I considered having them discover him sitting in the car waiting, still obsessed with Vance, starving and filthy and afraid to leave the car for fear of the aliens (ala CUJO). But as you said... narrative clutter. Besides, Joe is a more experienced driver -- bet he bought his Jag from the Wizard, as well.
10/31/20, 10:54 PM
> Frankly, I left him out of the story for the same reason I got rid of Mr. Mac – it was just one more character that I would have to deal with that I didn’t need. That's fair. Keeping around characters who have served their purpose creates narrative clutter. I just thought that the mention that the Wizard was missing might be a subtle hint. I'll be curious to learn his final fate come Chapter 21.
Nutiper
10/31/20, 9:12 PM
Gosh, I know I'm biased because I got to watch this story being written, but I just love how cozy & autumnal this feels. A spooky, nostalgic, melancholic atmosphere... Plus, I always relate so heavily each time I read this line: > The first time that Sawyer turned that smile on Lock, the young man hadn’t been sure whether he wanted to befriend him or *be* him. I love these characters!
10/31/20, 11:31 AM
> Wait, I just noticed something: Wizwell is MIA. > Confession: I didn't know what to do with the Wizard. It's possible he was transformed, of course -- right there in the hornets nest, that's the most obvious conclusion. It's possible on the first day, when all the symbionts were compelled to the field, that Vance's power over the Wizard wore off and -- as you say -- he just got the hell out of Dodge (or in this case, Garden City). Frankly, I left him out of the story for the same reason I got rid of Mr. Mac -- it was just one more character that I would have to deal with that I didn't need. Replacing Mr. Mac with Joe gives me a humorous bit to work with -- Mr. Mac likes the boys' flagrant sexuality, and Joe is put off by it. The boys' constant attempts at seduction become funnier with Joe constantly rejecting them. You'll see a little more of this relationship in chap 19. There is a "role call" of sorts in chap 21, which I'm writing as I respond to this, where I have to decide the Wizard's fate one way or the other. We'll see what I write.
10/31/20, 11:01 AM
Wait, I just noticed something: Wizwell is MIA. I completely glossed over it in the heat of the moment, but in the process of rereading the chapter, I noticed that Joe only volunteers to drive when the Variants mention that they don't know where their driver is. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Wizwell got the hell out of dodge when they all got to the farm. Knowing you, I have a feeling that's going to come into play in a future chapter.
10/31/20, 12:51 AM
> As nycboot said above, the military guys didn’t interest him. I felt the same way. > It's my fault! I had to slow them down by a day, because I realized if they'd gotten out when I wanted them to -- around chap14 -- at their speed, they would be too far away when I needed them. So I had to stall them and that slowed the sub-plot's energy. I'll make up for it in future action. I'll win you over yet.
10/30/20, 11:42 PM
As nycboot said above, the military guys didn't interest him. I felt the same way. I still do, not in a bad sense, just in a preference rating. But the escape scene excelled. It was alive and full of action with an erotic undertone, and the smell of sweat, that we have all fantasied about seeing in military or action movies. I very much enjoyed it. When Dobie went into Spiderman mode, my only thought was my face in his ass.
10/30/20, 9:23 PM
My only regret is that it can't be next Friday already. The question of what the Deputy will be like once he is host to a Great One has been on my mind ever since Lane revealed his plan. And I take this as confirmation that my guess as to the crucial difference between the Great One hosts was correct...
10/30/20, 9:16 PM
> You didn’t mention it here but I’m really curious about the new “Great One” and what’s to become of the deputy. It seems that when a human becomes a great one, most of his human desires are removed and he’s just a vessel for the symbiont. > As originally plotted, this chapter had three vignettes, but after finishing the soldiers' section, I'd already crossed 4K words. I like a chapter length to be around 3-3.5K, so I decided to punt the third vignette to the opening of Chap 18. In terms of plot flow, it's a strong move, but it would have answered your question. All we know of Great Ones at this point is based on our observations of the Great One in Kansas. We mentioned a few chapters back that when Old Man Bowden transformed into the Great One, his physical body died -- and was subsequently revived by the plant. In my opinion, the union of the Old Man and the Great Plant was not equal, so it's not a true symbiosis. In that case, the plant seems to be running everything, using the Old Man's memory and knowledge as a behavioral template. The Deputy is young and strong and willful. Whether he becomes the same type of Great One as the Old Man has yet to be revealed -- until chapter 18...
nycboot
10/30/20, 7:23 PM
A wonderful chapter - thank you! It's interesting that at the outset, it seems as if the symbiont totally took over the human host. But now we see that there's a lot of nuance there (at least for now?). The soldier subplot never really interested me that much but I see it supplies a lot of momentum and build up to the various threads. You didn't mention it here but I'm really curious about the new "Great One" and what's to become of the deputy. It seems that when a human becomes a great one, most of his human desires are removed and he's just a vessel for the symbiont. Anyway, lots of good stuff to ponder and j/o to. :)