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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Oct 22, 2009 13:52:35 GMT -5
Chapter six of Realtors in the Cave.Even though Gorgon is revealed to be a villain, this bit of dialogue is proof that she is still compassionate at heart (even though her later involvement in the leech attack might prove otherwise). She actually reminds me a bit of Esme without the fashion obsession. Wonderful - and comical - use of the Snicket style here! This was a great twist to the story, and serves as an interesting parallel to the relationship between Fiona and Fernald in TGG. Well done on this. I like how you've used the bit from the canon about how no one is ever truly noble or truly villainous. I liked seeing Captain Widdershins take this sort of stand against Gorgon and the realtors, even if it does make him no less villainous than they. Another amazing chapter, though I do feel very sorry for poor Josephine. But at least we now know the story behind her fear of realtors!
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Post by Dante on Oct 22, 2009 14:13:14 GMT -5
Thanks, Emma. The moral ambiguity of the series is and was one of my favourite elements, and I try to incorporate it into character action. Widdershins was never perfect, but Gorgon will have some redeeming features. There are very few characters in the canon who I see as being truly irredeemable - two, in fact - and now that I think about it, I slightly regret not writing more about them.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Oct 22, 2009 18:37:58 GMT -5
You're welcome, Dante.
I forgot to mention in my previous comment, but I think Gorgon is one of the greatest villains I've ever read about in fanfic (or any story, for that matter), and you make her character so believeable. I know I still have a long ways to go before I've finished reading your fics, but out of curiosity does she appear in any more of them? It would be interesting to read more about her.
I know what you mean about many of the characters having the ability to reform: I understand it's a long-shot, but I strongly believe this capability to be true of Esme. I mean, Olaf was even more villainous than she (in my opinion, anyway) and showed compassion towards Kit in The End.
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Post by Dante on Oct 23, 2009 10:25:14 GMT -5
No, Gorgon doesn't appear in any of my other fics. My fanfiction doesn't really occupy a related space; they can each be read on their own. Gorgon serves a purpose in Realtors in the Cave, but it's not a plotline I really revisit.
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Post by Hermes on Oct 24, 2009 13:42:28 GMT -5
Looking the Part, chapters 1 and 2.
Ah, poor freaks! Though I'm glad they survived the fire.
You do a good job with the disturbing language - I was particularly struck by 'almost like real people'.
I'm wondering whether the gentleman who gave them the coats was anyone in particular.
I suspected manager Gill was probably freakish in some way before this was revealed - otherwise he was protesting too much. It makes sense for him to be ambidextrous, since ambidexterity is freakish only in the minds of those who 'suffer' from it.
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Post by Dante on Oct 24, 2009 14:22:47 GMT -5
Actually a story I'm not too fond of - when I wrote it, I was disappointed enough that I soon wrote the following tale to make up for it. One thing I should mention in this regard is that the story is largely inspired by the song " Freakshow" on The Tragic Treasury album by The Gothic Archies. If you're unfamiliar with it, this Dastardly Document contains transcripts of the lyrics. The song is heavy on this sort of thing. I don't think so... but I can't be sure; it's been so long, and like I said, I was never particularly fond of this story. I'd actually completely forgotten about this myself.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Nov 1, 2009 14:34:33 GMT -5
Chapter seven of Realtors in the Cave.This was an exceptional end to an incredible story, and I have much to comment on. I loved Josephine's hesitance in concern to her trust in Larry ( He might be a volunteer who thought her actions on the Queequeg were villainous, or a villain who thought her actions on the Queequeg were noble.). I can't help but feel this was one of the events that really opened the door to her fears of the world. This passage was beautifully written and very poetic, with a touch of macabre that stitches together the whole of ASoUE. At first, I thought the cab driver was Dewey because they're described as being "a skinny person", but it didn't take me long to figure out that it was actually Lemony. I think it was the photograph depicting the Baudelaire orphans and their parents that tipped me off. I loved the reintroduction of Gorgon at the end, because a little surprise when you're under the impression that everything has fallen into place is always a nice way to end a story. I must admit I found it quite humorous when Josephine started correcting Gorgon's grammar, even as Josephine is being threatened by her. I can totally picture her saying this in TWW. Or did she? (I think I've mentioned before that it's been a long time since I've read it, and therefore can't recall all of the details.) Goodness, but Gorgon is wicked, isn't she? Awesome, awesome villain, but verbally cruel in a way Olaf was. Anyway, this passage was the second (main) thing I feel marked Josephine's descent into her world of irrational fears. Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed your story, and I'm looking forward to reading the others you've written. It would also be nice if you started writing fics again, but of course that decision is all yours. I just think it would be great, because you're so talented and really know how to get the reader hooked, just as Daniel Handler has with us.
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Post by Dante on Nov 2, 2009 3:57:47 GMT -5
This was an exceptional end to an incredible story, and I have much to comment on. Thanks very much, Emma. I'm really proud of RitC; I guess taking so long to start writing fanfiction gave me a lot of time to figure out how to do it right. I should think so, yes. Her fears of the world start with fears of its people; she no longer has any idea who she can trust or how she could possibly tell the difference between a noble person and a villainous person. It's a bit like a condensed and more depressing version of everything the Baudelaires go through. "Lachrymose" refers to tears, so I figured it was about time someone made use of that. I guess there might also be a nod to Lewis Carroll's Pool of Tears there Aye. Strictly speaking, it's the taxi driver from TWW/TPP, but since I think he's Lemony, then that's how I wrote him. I liked to think of him looking out for the Baudelaires, even if there's nothing else he can do. Aye, Gorgon's return was the sting in the tail needed to plunge Josephine into the terror she suffers in TWW. There's also the fact that Snicket's endings are rarely so neatly-packaged; no way were our "heroes" going to have an absolute victory. I'm pretty sure she said it in TWW - or failing that, maybe the movie. But even if she didn't, then she would, as you point out. She hasn't much else left. I was rereading the fic a little while ago, and that's definitely one of my favourite parts, because as you point out, Gorgon is so very cruel. That kind of harshness is quite rare, even in aSoUE. It's not impossible that I'll ever return to fanfiction, but I'm not sure I know my stuff as well as I did back in the day. But I keep on writing odds and ends, and besides, there are a good few fanfics of mine left for you to read here. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Emma; thank you for your comments.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Nov 3, 2009 14:41:42 GMT -5
Thanks very much, Emma. I'm really proud of RitC; I guess taking so long to start writing fanfiction gave me a lot of time to figure out how to do it right. You're welcome, Dante. I really adored the way your wrote RitC, and it amazes me that this was one of your first (if not the first) projects. You have a very professional style, and so I would've thought you'd been writing for quite some time. I like your comparison between Josephine's tragedy and that which the Baudelaires ultimately face. I suppose the only difference is that Violet, Klaus and Sunny are more willing to trust those around them. My vocabulary is fairly limited, and so I had no idea that "Lacrymose" refers to tears. Once again, I really liked the way you incorporated it into your story. I've always been convinced that the taxi driver from TWW and TPP had to be Lemony. Out of all the characters, he strikes me as the first one who would look out for the Baudelaires, considering his extensive knowledge of their lives. I agree. The endings of the books are never happy, and I like how you've highlighted that detail in RitC. It really strengthens the reader's impression that they're reading an official Lemony Snicket work. Yes, I'm willing to bet that it could have been in either the book or the movie. Perhaps the book, as I recall there were quite a few comical lines presented there. It's one of my favorite parts as well, not to mention one of the greatest villainous speeches of all time. It's like a harsher version of Esme's speech to the Baudelaires and Quigley in TSS when she lectures them about the so-called unimportance of being well-read. Well, you clearly know your details from the posts of yours I've read in The Burdensome Books section, and I do know you provided a lot of good feedback for the 667 Re-Read. I'm looking forward to reading more of your fics - next up I'm going to read Family Sabotage. RitC is definitely one of my favorite fics, and once again you're very welcome for the comments.
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Post by Dante on Nov 3, 2009 16:23:29 GMT -5
You're welcome, Dante. I really adored the way your wrote RitC, and it amazes me that this was one of your first (if not the first) projects. You have a very professional style, and so I would've thought you'd been writing for quite some time. Well, it was my first aSoUE fic, but back in the day I wrote some fairly lengthy and far less polished contributions to Chaotic Creativity, although they'd be buried very deep by now (and were pretty context-specific too, I think - you had to be there). I don't want to launch into a study of the situation, but what immediately occurs to me is that Violet, Klaus and Sunny have each other - Josephine has nobody. (See also Olaf, I suppose.) Your vocabulary seems fine to me. Keep on reading, and before long your verbosity will attain a transcendent quality. Aye. You can quibble about when the series is written or what Lemony's up to, but I envision him as a man who does what little he can. I think his appearance in RitC is a faithful representation of that. I mean, off-screen it's clear he lives a fairly action-packed life, right? Family Sabotage definitely plunges into canonical detail, but after that most of my fics are a bit more stylised or off-the-wall. Looking back after these few years, I think Realtors in the Cave is probably the best at imitating the style of the original.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Dec 12, 2009 10:40:14 GMT -5
Part one of Family Sabotage.This story combines all of the intrigue and mystery present in Realtors in the Cave. I love the way you've set the events through the eyes of an ordinary housekeeper (or perhaps she's not so ordinary, bearing in mind her position as a volunteer). I must admit I was a bit surprised when Bruce was revealed to be the prisoner in Room 597, but then again Handler has made it clear that it's often difficult to distinguish the villains from the volunteers. I like the emphasis to this in Bruce's words. Wonderful reference to the man with a beard but no hair and the woman with hair with no beard here. This is absolutely brilliant, and adds even more secrecy to the story. Though there's a possibility that Ernest could be telling the truth, there's also the chance that Frank could be lying. Will we ever know for sure? Hmm... *ponders* This last line is not only brilliance on your part, but really emphasizes Susan's cleverness. Lucky for her she's a quick thinker in pressuring situations. I knew immediately that the "three figures" and their companions had to be none other than the Baudelaires, Jerome and Justice Strauss. I really like how this eminent reunion is observed through another's eyes. Incredible use of imagery here. It's the perfect way to describe Dewey's shadowy exterior. Yet another brilliant use of imagery. I applaud you, Dante. In short, this is an amazing story, and you can bet I'll be keeping up with it!
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Post by Dante on Dec 12, 2009 13:18:08 GMT -5
Thank you for your comments. My aim in this story was to tie up some loose ends (or rather, loose beginnings) while presenting a view of life on the other side of the schism, which would be implausible if it was all cackles and petty theft.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Dec 13, 2009 12:21:18 GMT -5
I recall you mentioning doing some FanFiction on the islander's history. Reading your other stories, I strongly urge you to try. You're uncontestedly the best person for the job, and I'd love to read about such a topic.
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Post by Dante on Dec 13, 2009 14:37:01 GMT -5
I recall you mentioning doing some FanFiction on the islander's history. Reading your other stories, I strongly urge you to try. You're uncontestedly the best person for the job, and I'd love to read about such a topic. I suggest you consult #10, Memories of a Castaway.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Dec 15, 2009 18:09:35 GMT -5
Ah, I hadn't gotton that far. I'm still on Chapter Zero, or, Olaf on Briny Beach. I will take a look, though.
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