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Thursday, December 2, 2010
What Steam Says About Magic
What I learned from the Magic in Steampunk panel in Seattle was a great way to look at the ways magic can be part of a story. You all know me, I don’t really think about these things, I just do them. I am a real straight from the hip writer. I aim, I fire…I never really took lessons. So I don’t always hit anywhere near where I thought I was going. (Which is where I think sometimes my struggle with genre comes from!)
But I do love magic in a story. Not the real artsy light-hearted magic. Nothing against Tinkerbell, but I prefer something a bit more complex. I used to embrace the real dark magic, but as I’ve grown older I’ve even grown a bit shy about that. I like my magic to run somewhere in the middle.
I like magic to be part of the worlds I build. Not the real main element, not the big star, but well, just part of the world. Like how our sky is blue, the grass is green and we breathe air. We don’t see any of that as magic, though our ancestors probably did.
This is one way to view magic when writing. The old one man’s science is another man’s magic way of looking at magic. The POV Magic trick. The characters are divided between those who embrace science and those who consider it magic. Now, you can create a world where the magic really is advanced science. Or one where the magic is only thought of as science. If you do this, know your science.
Or do what I do and make up a science, just make it sound convincing.
You can have your characters walk through a Magical World. The two authors on this panel named Narnia and Middle Earth. Now, I haven’t read Narnia, so not sure how that works. I have read the Tolkien stuff and I’m not sure I agreed with their listing it as magical. In a way, I suppose so. Everything in that world was imbued with magic. But it was also full of magical characters and had a magical plot.
If you take a non-native and toss them into a world like Middle Earth, ah…that works for me! It’s the sort of thing I like to do, to be frank. And not everyone who walked Middle Earth was magic. The men weren’t magic, nor were the hobbits or the dwarfs (for the most part.) If you took a muggle to Hogwarts…? Would that be the equivalent?
This is a tough one for me. I think of Nightside, a wonderful world created by Simon R. Green where it’s always 3am… That is a real magical world. Dark magic.
How about Magical Characters? Harry Dresden of the Dresden Files, Anita Blake, Rachel Morgan… Though the idea in all three of these examples is that the world is full of magic, it just isn’t terribly apparent to most of the inhabitants. Wait, that won’t work with Anita or Rachel. But it does work with Harry!
If I understood this idea, the characters hold the magic, use the magic, connect with the magic. And this seems to be the path most paranormals take. I’ve written magical characters, and it does present some real challenges as these characters always have to hide their magic from the rest. When Harry Potter is at Hogwarts, he can let it fly…when he’s in the muggle world, he has to hold it tight.
Some nice conflict inherent in doing this right! I’d like to see the magical character tossed into a totally mundane world where not only does no one believe in magic, it really doesn’t exist! That would really fun! Hmmmmmm!
And last, the panel discussed the Magical Plot. So magic is the world, or magic is the characters and…the magical quest. The journey to destroy the ring is the one where even those who don’t know Tolkien generally recognize the reference. The hero’s journey, the trip to the underworld…
I’ve done this, slightly. Generally my characters don’t realize they’re on a journey. I’m big on the inner journey stuff, haven’t done much with the great quest plots.
What’s funny? I never think of these things before I write. Again, just the way I write!
What about you? Any of these appeal to you? I know Hellie can speak about Hogwarts, Sin knows the Hollows…
What do like to read of these three types? Or write? POV? World? Characters? Quest?
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79 comments:
I'm not sure I understand the PO/v one but I've read the World, Character and the Quest ones. I thing Ron Paolini's Eragon story is world and quest style. And JR Ward is Characters.
I like to read most paranormal, except most of the 1st POV stuff. But I love paranormal and magic in general.
I don't know if I've mentioned but I think my next story (after I sluff through this one) has a (tentatively) gypsy heroine. Everyone thinks she's got the ability to impart good luck but she doesn't believe in it.
We'll see how it goes. Not exactly magic but a touch of something....
I've read (and enjoyed) Ron Paolini’s Eragon stories. I thought that he did an excellent job in world building. And his characters' motivations i.e. quests were believable.
I think what I like about writing "magic" is that it's an ability or talent just like anything else and the character still has doubts and insecurities about how good they are.
I like that POV magic trick. The little I've done with chemistry has seemed like magic. But that means I didn't get it. LOL
Jules, I agree. The way he depicts death and how it affects his characters is believable. Sometimes (a lot of times), in fiction, a death is only a catalyst. Someone's mother or father dies and it just makes them start a quest, but the character doesn't really grieve. Or at least, if they grieve, it's only in the context of "I'll get back at whoever did this to me." But Paolini's characters are heartbroken when people they love die, where at times it debilitates them and affects their entire outlook on the world, their ability to love, to function. It's in stark contrast to how mass media presents death in this age of desensitization.
Same goes for war. The characters never take killing lightly and it's never glorified. It's portrayed as brutal and gory and grotesque, even if it's deemed necessary. I like that. It's realistic, I think, even in his made up fantasy world. And I think it's a message our society needs.
PS, sorry for the tangent/rant above. But I remember when I taught that we read a book called THE SAMURAI'S GARDEN. It had a few references to sex, nothing explicit, I didn't think, but just overt references. We got all these parent calls. "Don't talk to little johnny about sex!" (These were seniors, therefore the chances little johnny knew nothing about sex were very very VERY slim).
But right after we read that book, we read ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT. There are some very stark, horrific war scenes in that book. But we didn't get one call about that.
Death is way more offensive than sex, I think. But it appeared that many disagree with me.
*steps off soap box.*
Sorry, carry on with the relevant conversation.
the character still has doubts and insecurities about how good they are.
I like this, Melissa. :)
Death is way more offensive than sex, I think. But it appeared that many disagree with me.
There's nothing worse than a gratuitous death scene.
Marn I think that a lot of people of people agree with you. But they don't say anything. Talking about death seems to be taboo in this country. Where as sex? Everyone seems to have something to say about sex.
To me, Harry Potter seems to encompass three of these at the same time. He's a magical character in a magical world on a magical quest. He can do magic--but has to hide it when he's in the muggle world; within the magical world he lives in, because magic can be performed OUTSIDE of Hogwarts, so they have to keep it from the muggles--and there are also squibs who are from magic families but have no magical abilities. The plot arc of the 7 books involves a magical quest to defeat Voldemort--not unlike the LOTR books with Saruman (?, however his name is)--and there are two magical sets of items they are questing for: 1) Horcruxes and 2) Hallows.
I can see where stories might belong more to ONE type of thing than another, but like most people--or stories, it's all really comprised of several layers. I think it's important to identify the layers so you can make sure you have established each layer effectively within your story. But you need all the layers.
It's like how with writing we differentiate between character and plot and setting--that's what this is doing, but they're emphasizing the MAGICAL aspect. Only you can't have a story with only character or only plot or only setting. Your story always has all of these in some way or another. You're always writing ALL of these.
I think the real question is what element do you enjoy creating most--the characters, the plot, or the setting...
“… just part of the world. Like how our sky is blue, the grass is green and we breathe air. We don’t see any of that as magic, though our ancestors probably did.” I see these things as magical, Chance. Magical as in enchanting, wonderful, marvelous.
Not magical as an hocus-pocus or a trick. I see the Wonder of Nature. The Power of Natural Forces at work. I think that it has its basis in science, natural science. And that a rational thinking person will concede that nature has its own force. Its own rules. And to understand these rules, and utilize their forces, you must understand the nature of the force that you’re trying to harness. It’s not magic. It’s science.
Which isn't to say that I don't enjoy it when an author includes elements of magic in their story. Magic as in the mystical.
I'm running out the door but wanted to say I'll be back to read and comment as soon as I can.
The vet visit is done and I think I could now qualify for the official Cat-Herding olympic team. This witch made me sweat!
Eye doc next. Be back soon.
Oh, and POV magic--I see that most in Time Travel or Fish Out of Water type books (i.e. Human goes to an alien planet or vice versa).
If I was going to write one of these "genres" (and again I don't think the last 3 are genres so much as elements of the same story, the quest)--I'd probably do the POV one because I like fish out of water stories. And I'm utterly uncreative when it comes to making an original "quest" type story. Most of the time I just read those books and go, "Oh, look, another quest for a ring/necklace/sword/stone of immortality. How original." But that's not the point of hero's journeys to be original--the point is the hero. Which is why character always matters more.
I remember reading All's Quiet on the Western Front. What a depressing novel. Every time it's brought up, I just remember how I felt after I was finished; I couldn't tell you specific things about the story itself, only how I felt when I was done.
Never understand how death is acceptable, but sex never is.
Jules, I'm neither comfortable talking about sex or death. I'm an equal opportunity avoider.
Marn - I like a light touch of magic in an otherwise mundane world. The POV magic? Well, if you're an ignorant savage, that train is magic. If your're an engineer it's not.
Except when it is...but that's how I like to twist things about.
When a gypsy reads someone's fortune, it can be magic or it can be advanced telepathy and the natural talents some human beings know how to use. It can also be pure trickery. ;-)
Julie - I remember when the Eregon series came out. I was working the bookstores still and I looked at this huge big book, shelved in YA and slunk away. I'll take your word for it. ;-)
Melissa - I'm with you on this! I remember one of the argument/discussions I had with a writing mentor had to be the idea of magic in a book didn't necessarily make it a paranormal. So, she does magic, she still has normal problems. And if magic is just something she does as opposed to something she is...then why can't a witch be a character in a historical? Or a contemporary? And no always a paranormal?
I didn't win this, btw.
Back to the subject of magic.
Just don’t go overboard. Make your magic believable. Make it pertinent to the story.
That’s very important. Otherwise the story gets lost.
The magic in Eragon was believable if memory serves me right. It added to the story. Not distracted.
I have to admit that I am not a big fan of that over the top hocus Pocus vodoo-who-doo lets call it magic crap. It annoys me. Why? Because in the ancient world practitioners of what we modern people call magic were highly educated highly trained individuals. Mostly women. Most were priestess. Trained in the art of mathematics, physics, biology, physiology, theology … Back then they were called Entu Priestesses. Gods Wifes. Today they’re called Scientists. Physicians. Engineers… It’s not magic. It’s Knowledge. The culmination of hard work and a through education. So my opinion, calling something magic, is actually very disrespectful to the individual performing the act that is considered magical.
Marn - That sounds like something I can totally get behind. I love it when a book or movie depicts the reality of death and how it hits a person.
It's a similiar discussion to the one about stopping to have sex while in the midst of a chase scene. No way. Well, when a loved one dies you might get up the next day and brush your teeth and fall in love next month...or you more than likely don't.
My old fav B-Movie, when Balducci is fighting a deadline to fix a part so they can escape the seamonsters...he has to stop and wipe his eyes behind his visor, remembering the Laila is dead.
It's a tiny scene, but it is perfect!
Oh, so with you on the rant, Marn. "NO, they can't use the word nipple! But sub-atomic machine gun being used to slaughter innocents? Okay! But no nipples!"
My therapist would have something to say about denial of death. Make it impersonal, make it something distant and we numb ourselves to it. Then it won't hurt so much.
Or be so scary.
Ha.
Honestly? I think that They called it magic because women were doing it. And there was a time, especially in Western Europe, when women were not allowed to be educated. So instead of admitting that the woman knew what she was doing They would say "Oh its magic!"
"They and people like them annoy me," said Julie as she waved two fingers through the air. Followed by the word "Begone!"
Intriguing post, Chance. I don't read a lot of the fantasy type things everyone else is familiar with, so the details in the comments are going over my head. :)
I like the magical realism of Sarah Addison Allen's books. It's part of everyone's world, and while it's fantastical and mystical and ENCHANTING to the rest of us, in their world it's normal, and they just accept it. A tree rolls apples towards people it doesn't like, expressing its emotions. A book that someone needs to read appears on their doorstep. A woman gives crazy items to people, not knowing why they need it, but they WILL need it later, and they're glad they have it.
I also love fish-out-of-water stories, because I love to see how the characters rise to the challenges of a new world.
Followed by
A wicked laugh.
Well, Hellion, in Jim Butchers, the Dresden Files...the world may hold magic but it isn't a character in the book because the vast majority of the world's population either doesn't believe and if they did believe, they can't do magic. So, no magical world.
It could slide into POV Magic, if when they do see magic they decide it's just science. But they don't do that either. They consider their nuts or that gangs are running amock.
Each book features a sort of mini quest, or case, and though there is the overreaching quest of Harry's fight to stay alive and defeat whatever bit of evil he's up against...I don't think, until the last few books, it goes the quest route.
I can see the Harry Potter did, but though all types of magical plotlines may weave into a magical story, they don't all have to.
And I have to laugh, Chance, that you love magic and the mystical, but you want realism when it comes to the sex-during-the-chase-scene. :)
Julie, I agree that all of that is magical... Or as the religious term it, a miracle of creation. But as a magical force one can summon into your hand and cast...the green of grass doesn't really cut it in a book of paranormal magic! ;-)
Hellion - I really like the fish out of water stuff. And I still think a twist, with the mighty wizard suddenly in a world without magic might be fun.
Sorta like the Madison Avenue diva suddenly having to haul water the old fashioned way!
I haven't read the Dresden files--for a number of reasons (i.e. male author, mystery/action, magic aspect, not a romance)--but I'll take your word on it. I think I would still say the story is more about the mystery/quest and the magic is just an element that makes the story different from other mysteries and quests--but I don't think you're arguing that. I think you're just talking about the various elements where magic is displayed--so for Dresden, it's in the character rather than the world because in his world, there is no magic. (Though quest might also be magic-based since the villain seems to have magic too???)
I don't read a lot of paranormals, but when I do, I'm noticing now that they're almost all the magical characters type. I like the books where the characters can do something magical, but not everyone else can, or they have to hide it from the world at large. And I really love the ones Melissa mentioned where the character themselves is unsure or less-than-confident in their own abilities.
So many intriguing options, though, in all the varieties you listed!
Julie - But real magic is something to respect also. ;-) This is where making it real comes into it.
At somepoint in my vast Caribbean series I plopped a planet of uber scientists into the mix. Scientists who insisted every bit of magic they saw was just science they didn't understand yet, but they would! And it would go faster if one of these people who did this so called magic would just allow themselves to be dissected...for the sake of science!
So, the disrespect can flow both ways.
Donna, sounds like an intriguing read! I'm rather fond of the magic just being part of the crowd thing.
Like waltzing vampires on Tortuga. No one blinks twice!
I keep meaning to start the Dresden books, but neither my library nor my local Barnes and Noble has the first book in the series. Maybe I'll put that on my Christmas list :)
Hellion - Sorta! I mean there is magic in the world, or Harry wouldn't be able to draw on it. But it isn't seen or experienced by the vast bulk of the world. They deny it exists. It isn't part of the world view.
And he has small quests/cases though I don't think that is generally accepted as the QUEST of folklore. I think Harry is on a quest, but more a good guy looking to defeat evil than in a must find some talisman to defeat the greatest evil. It's a tricky distinction!
Hal - The earlier books aren't fantabulous, but they are nice quick reads and establish the world building, then as you keep going, wow! the last two left me astounded.
I think all stories are a hero's journey, even if you're not looking for a ring/sword/etc. It's just the nature of storytelling. I think mystery novels hit the same sort of story beats that LOTR would because story beats are the same. LOTR is just "traditional" and the mystery would be more "modern".
Julie – But real magic is something to respect also.
Its not magic, Chance. Its mystical. It's the Elemental Power that some individuals can tap into. Just like some computers can pick wifi. Or radios can pick up signals. Or cell phones. Those objects were made to do that. Just as some people are genetically predisposition to tap into the into that power. That's why so many priestesses came from the same line. It's not magic, Chance. It's a birthright.
Well, Julie...maybe in our world. But when creating fiction, I think it's important to establish that magic can be even more real than what you speak of. And again, it's a very POV sort of thing.
A scientist can give the whole rhyme and reason of why an apple is red, but a mystic will express why this is a blessing.
In a book, a magician may know how to use that red as a sympathetic draw to bring a blush to the cheek of a girl, or draw her ire or turn the water to wine...
Hel - Yeah, every book has a quest. But the massive, life shattering, world saving quest like Frodo and Harry Potter travel is far beyond what most books strive for.
I don't know if that is because it's considered hard to write or it's too easy to write it badly...
“NO, they can’t use the word nipple! But sub-atomic machine gun being used to slaughter innocents? Okay! But no nipples!” LOL!!
I also have been meaning to pick up the Dresden books. I just found a cute used bookstore/book swap this week. I'll check there.
And it would go faster if one of these people who did this so called magic would just allow themselves to be dissected…for the sake of science!
eek... creepy....
Marn - Yeah, it was creepy and set up some great new freaky things for Miranda to deal with. BWHA HA HA!
No, they don't have a life-shattering world saving quest in EVERY book because it would be boring. Just like if every book were about cookies, kittens, and boys next door--it would be boring. Not everyone wants to read about a ring/sword quest to save the world in every story. I can barely tolerate it in the 7 or 8 stories I've read that contain that platform. It's just not my preferred story--I honestly feel when I read something about a quest for a ring or sword, "God I've read this before" and then my brain starts dissecting the story to find the beats for structure. I don't even enjoy the story or characters anymore.
But you have a rake and wallflower type of story, where the quest is something silly like pretending to be a fiance or whatever, I'll read a million of those. I never think, "God, not another rake!"--I'm just immediately immersed in the quest. But that's just my preference for story type.
And I think everything can be rather life and death or earth-shattering in every story. That's the whole point about making sure your motivation, goal and conflict are clear in your characters and you do a good job of expressing the emotions of the characters. No, not everything is Armageddon, but I don't think it's fair to brush it off as not as important. It's like puppy love. It may be puppy love, but it's real to the puppy.
I myself like young adult novels because their angst is valid to me. Fitting in yet being individual are themes I enjoy; and it's always life or death. *LOL*
Hel - I don't mean to sound like I'm downgrading the smaller quests. I mean more in the grand academic structure of the word THEME...well, it almost always has to be an armageddon situation.
Because yup, one person's not finding a husband by the end of the season is earth shattering though to a hobbit looking to save the world, not so much. It is definately a matter of perspective!
But when creating fiction, I think it’s important to establish that magic can be even more real than what you speak of.
I wholeheartedly agree, Chance. Not only does a writer need to strive to make the magic "more real". They need to show that it is really Normal in their story's world. It can be practiced subtly. It can be practiced in secret. But it is it is a normal part of life in that world.
At least for the practicioner! (I just know that isn't spelled right!)
But I gotta get out for a dog walk, and heading downtown. Will be back in a bit!
In the world of perspective and grand academic structure of the word THEME, it always seems the MAN'S perspective is the rated higher, you know, due to keeping it all in perspective. How death is much more a big deal than finding the love of your life could ever be.
It's like what Marn was saying earlier--how things that have to deal with death are never a problem with being read in school, but the moment sex is introduced, OMG, bring out the pitchforks.
Manly topics are revered; girly topics are denigrated.
Hel - Please, don't get me in that line of fire! I agree, wholeheartedly...
I've seen quest fiction swing everyway there is and it is all about perspective.
I really got to see to the dog. Her perspective demands I drop everything and see to her NEEDS!
Well, I might catch up on this by next week. This discussion looks over my head anyway.
*grabs and drink and wonders back into the party fray*
Poor, Chance.
I hope that you have a magical walk! :)
I cheated and dropped her off a daycare. She loves that place and now I can do some shopping, eat lunch with the husband and finish my edits! Yup, I think I'm on the last content edits with my editor. I'm losing arguments right and left, but it is making the book better.
Damn.
What is it Dr. Phil says? Something about being right don't get the bills paid?
Though I would sure like to right sometimes!
Bosun! You'll be able to follow this...come back! Though a good drink right now does sound more than pleasant!
Looks like I won't be able to participate in the RT Saturday Bookfaire. I can do the electronic expo, with my print book, but it's doubtful I can do the Saturday one due to how it will be distributed. Blast. Well, means I can wear my normal dog pjs to the event and just goof off!
I've finally caught up. This is a very interesting discussion.
1.) I like the idea of sliding the magic into specific areas and agree with Chance that you can have one or two approaches and not all. (Yes, that means I'm disagreeing with Hellie. Wouldn't be the first time. *g*)
2.) Totally agree on the sex/death thing. Makes me NUTS. Like the Janet Jackson thing. The boob heard round the world. ONE boob, and it was covered more than some bikinis would do. But you'd have thought someone shit on the camera lens.
If they'd have simulated some violent video game, brains spewing, blood splattering, and senseless killing all around, NO ONE would have cared.
Pisses me off.
3.) I don't write any of this. LOL! Or read it. I think Donna and I are pretty much the same on this. Though I like the stories she mentions. The Allen's books? I'll need to look those up.
Great, I finally get here and everyone is gone.
Fine.
Thanks, Bo'sun! I think you can have certain elements without all of them! And yup, the violence/OK sex/evil stuff drives me crazy. No wonder we're so screwed up in this country about sex.
And the Allen books do sound interesting, don't they? I'm in a Borders, maybe I'll take a sec before heading out to meet hubby for lunch...
Great, I finally get here and everyone is gone.
Fine.
Oh? Oooooh! Oh my gosh, umm, I think it's my fault. We're talking about it so ... umm ... I thought that I would do a scientific experiment. Remember when I waved my fingers through the air and said "Begone"? Well. Umm. It was a ... Yeah. You tell 'em Capitan. Who knew it would work over the Internet? Maybe I'll see if I can turn Donna into a zombie ...
Common Say "Yes", Donna. I need too practice before I have to go to all of those holiday dinners with my husband's relatives ...
You tell ‘em Captain.
*droll look* It's magic.
I think my in-laws already are zombie enough, but thanks for the idea!
I got another huge chunk of holiday shopping out of the way, almost done!
I have two big chunks of editing on the MS and then it will be done...until they want more done...
*shakes head
I actually enjoy all three, and if the plot involves high adventure as well, then that's a real treat.
I think Terry Goodkind's 'Sword of Truth' is a good example. It has a magical world, magical characters, and a quest. And the adventure is gripping. The main characters are close enough to human to make it all fairly plausible which is a huge plus for me as I don't really go for fairies at the bottom of the garden. :lol:
Magic achieved by pushing the boundaries of known science can be good. It tends to class as SciFi rather than fantasy but the boundaries are blurred. Psychic phenomena in particular is an interesting area to explore.
The boundaries of main stream science are actually also becoming quite blurred at present. One can find fairly reputable scientists trying to invent anti-gravity machines for exploring the galaxy (Paul LaViolette), Solving the energy crisis by extracting energy from vacuum fluctuations (Hal Puthoff), Telepathy in dogs (Rupert Sheldrake), Remote Viewing, Weird astronomical effects, Map Dowsing .... The list is growing all the time. The one unifying factor invoked for theoretical understanding is the well known limit of Quantum Theory. There are consequently many approaches to find what if anything underlies the basic quantum world. VioLette has even brought back the aether in a highly modified form.
My point is that science is extremely liquid and exciting at present. As though we are on the threshold of new awe inspiring breakthroughs in understanding. The fiction writer simply has to grab some of it, expand it with imagination, add some romance and Voila!
Fabulous blog Chance. :D
God, the weather is awful over here at present. Perhaps Miranda could warm it up a bit .... if she comes this way! *smile*
I'll try and read all the posts when I warm up a bit!
Do you want some warm weather,Q? Say yes. ;)
I'll say yes for him, Julie. He's reading the comments...
*&%^$() !!!!!
I had a great reply and then my fingernail hit the wrong key! Blast...
Let me see...where was I?
Q? I was just thinking about you. A lady in line with me at Starbucks said she'd heard from a scientist friend of hers that time was in fact moving quanifyingly faster than it used to.
I told her, "I know a quantum physicist, I'll ask him?"
Well?
And telepathy in dogs! Of course! Cats too, but they seldom lower themselves to actually communicate with us lower life forms.
And aether is returning to vogue? How exciting!
This is why I love science, it really is limitless! (As long as cooperate sponsors stay out of the labs...)
Hey, I'm back. Why did I get volunteered to be turned into a zombie? *confused*
As for the Sarah Addison Allen books -- her first one, "Garden Spells", is the most popular. I also enjoyed the second one, "The Sugar Queen", altho some folks didn't because they wanted "Garden Spells, Part 2". The most recent one was disappointing, only because it felt like a first draft, so I cannot recommend that one, which is too bad, because it was an interesting premise.
Wait a minute...I have Garden Spells somewhere. I remember buying it because it sounded interesting but then it got sucked into the blackhole clutter of my house... Had a cover with a woman slightly bent over in a garden, as if she's inhaling the scent of a flower?
I'm almost positive I had this book at one time... might still be in the vortex...
Melissa: The little I’ve done with chemistry has seemed like magic. But that means I didn’t get it. LOL
Chemistry was my first love in science. All those strangely shaped glass flasks and apparatus used for distillation and the like seemed magical to me. If you found it magical, then you definitely got it! :wink:
Marnee/Julie: Death is way more offensive than sex, I think. But it appeared that many disagree with me.
There’s nothing worse than a gratuitous death scene.
Marn I think that a lot of people of people agree with you. But they don’t say anything. Talking about death seems to be taboo in this country. Where as sex? Everyone seems to have something to say about sex.
Life is sacred, or should be, and both sex and death are closely linked with life so should be treated with respect.
Course sex can be fun as well which makes it more 'talk-worthy' I think.
Helli: HP etc etc etc
Absolutely! *yawn*
Julie: I see the Wonder of Nature. The Power of Natural Forces at work. I think that it has its basis in science, natural science. And that a rational thinking person will concede that nature has its own force. Its own rules. And to understand these rules, and utilize their forces, you must understand the nature of the force that you’re trying to harness. It’s not magic. It’s science.
I always find science magical. One is studying how the creator screwed the world together and some of the tricks that he used are truly magical, awe inspiring and wonderful!
Sorry guys, gotta go.
Will read the rest tomorrow!
Oh Chance's comment on time:
Cosmologists often speculate that the fundamental constants of nature may change over astronomical time periods ..... but thats because they are struggling to understand. Does your friend's scientist friend feel that he's aging more rapidly? *grin*
Wait! I think it was the idea that it isn't just our perception that as we age time moves faster, but that it actually does!
Q - love you!
Uncharacteristically cold seems to be the new norm everywhere!
*LOL* Thanks, Q, I'm sorry I bored you with HP. I was trying to argue from what I knew. HP's magic is the only magic that has ever really truly fascinated me. Everything else was boring or like too much other stuff.
We'll try to send some good weather to you guys. Deerhunter told me I jinxed him and weather in his sunshiney neck of the woods was uncharacteristically cold.
You’re right, Chance. It is Uncharacteristically cold … everywhere. It is almost as if … our everywhere is someplace different from the somewhere we were before!
*Gasp *
OMG! Somehow the ship ended up to one of your alternate universe! Didn’t it? And It has something to do with that strange mirror hanging in your cabin, Doesn‘t it ?
*Gasp *
OMG! … I remember now. Things started to get all strangish when …
*Gasp *
OMG! You asked me to help you pooper scoop dead monkey poop , and I said “Sure, Chance. I'll be glad to help. When its cold day in H*!!” OooohMyyyyyGawddddd!
BWAH HA HA!!!!!
Well. Speaking of magical nirrors and an alternate universes and adventures and magic have you heard about this thingie that Chance has been working on Go on , Chance ...
I know I have no shame. If I did ... I wouldn't be hanging out with you guys! AhAhahaaaaaaaa-umph!
*splash*
WTH? I've gone overboard again!
Kraken! Hey! Pick up that wretched woman who fell overboard and toss her back up here, kay? We don't like to let folks escape. Don't worry, she likes slime!
Really. You Gotta love the way the Lady laughs. Such gusto. Such a joy for life ... Such a pain in the arse! Come on Lucy Furh. Quit laughing and throw down a rope. And at the one that has the noose on the end of it!
Oh? Chance's Kraken.
I love the smell of Kraken Slime the mooring.
Get it? Moorning? Its from Apiratelypse Now.
God, that is so bad.
Throw her back in!
AHAHahaaaaa There's more, Chance. Make that moor!
famoose quotes from tadaaaaaaa
Apiratelypse Now
I love the smell of Kraken Slime the mooring.
You know, one time we had some swill & got bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I woked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' drink or toddy. The smell, you know that sardine smell, the unholy swill. Smelled like …
*sniffSniff*
*ponderPonder*
Unwashed Gentry!
Don't be hatin'!
And yes its sad that I spend my time rerhyming stuff. But its better than plotting total world domination.
And finally
Hey, I’m back. Why did I get volunteered to be turned into a zombie?
Because Donna … It makes Sense. Really.
I figured “Hey Donna would be a natural at being a Zombie. She’s had so much practice at being one at her This-Is-killing-my-soul-and-I feel-like-one-of-the-walking-dead-but-I-gotta-eat jobs.”
Nothing is better than planning world domination. Period.
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