Sugar bowl as interstellar pig?

[TheAsh]

Has Daniel Handler ever commented on William Sleator's writings? I was rereading Interstellar Pig, and I noticed the obvious parallel between the pig and the sugar bowl - something everybody wants but nobody knows why.

[Dante]

I cannot recall Mr. Handler ever commenting on this intriguing author; and fans have taken pains to document every recognisable allusion he's made, and even read many of the books he's referred to simply for that reason. But a McGuffin is in and of itself no uncommon device.

[TheAsh]

Feb 17, 2020 16:02:12 GMT -5 Dante said:

I cannot recall Mr. Handler ever commenting on this intriguing author; and fans have taken pains to document every recognisable allusion he's made, and even read many of the books he's referred to simply for that reason. But a McGuffin is in and of itself no uncommon device.

I was referring to the plot device that everyone thinks its desirable but in fact it's dangerous.

[Hermes]

My first thought was 'well, that's a striking new theory of what's in the Sugar Bowl'. But apparently not.

(I think, though, that the point of the McGuffin isn't 'no one knows why' so much as 'why isn't important to the story'.)

[Optimism is my Phil-osophy]

I know how you felt Hermes. I thought it was a style text from the bear

[TheAsh]

Feb 17, 2020 17:32:26 GMT -5 Hermes said:

My first thought was 'well, that's a striking new theory of what's in the Sugar Bowl'. But apparently not.

(I think, though, that the point of the McGuffin isn't 'no one knows why' so much as 'why isn't important to the story'.)

Well, I wasn't going to suggest it without knowing that DH is familiar with the work. But if you do think it's the interstellar pig, its funny how 100% of all the references work out.