Heradel
Bill Peters
Autarch
Posts: 2620
Part-Time Psychopomp.
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« on: November 19, 2008, 02:14:16 am » |
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PC034: Clad In GossamerBy Nancy KressRead by Paul S. Jenkins (of the Rev Up Review and The Fix Online) “Tell me again,” I said.
The shorter, older one said smoothly, “Garments in subtle colors like shaded sky, Your Highness. As finely spun and light to wear as spiderwebs. Yet warm, impervious to water, and impenetrable by stinging insects.”
I nodded eagerly, as if I believed this nonsense. “And the magic…”
“Ah, the magic. Tell him again, Sorrel.”Rated R. for nudity. Contains fashion, or lack thereof.
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stePH
Actually has enough cowbell.
Hipparch
Posts: 3124
L, do you know, gods of death love apples?
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« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2008, 09:11:28 am » |
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Rated R. for nudity.
ummm ...  |
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God masturbates every time you kill a kitten.
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Heradel
Bill Peters
Autarch
Posts: 2620
Part-Time Psychopomp.
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« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2008, 10:30:19 am » |
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Rated R. for nudity.
ummm ... There's language which makes it definitely not ok for the immature, apart from the upright content of one of the scenes. |
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Zathras
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« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2008, 12:32:05 pm » |
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Wonderful twist on a classic tale. It held most of my attention, while part of it raced ahead, unwilling to wait for the final confrontation.
What a clever twist upon a twist. The confusion Jasper endured was amazing.
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stePH
Actually has enough cowbell.
Hipparch
Posts: 3124
L, do you know, gods of death love apples?
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« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2008, 07:43:11 pm » |
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Rated R. for nudity.
ummm ... There's language which makes it definitely not ok for the immature, apart from the upright content of one of the scenes. I was questioning the advisement of "nudity" in a text/spoken word story. "Mature themes" or "sexual content" sure, but "nudity"? |
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God masturbates every time you kill a kitten.
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RKG
Palmer
Posts: 52
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« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2008, 08:02:12 pm » |
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Rated R. for nudity.
ummm ... There's language which makes it definitely not ok for the immature, apart from the upright content of one of the scenes. I was questioning the advisement of "nudity" in a text/spoken word story. "Mature themes" or "sexual content" sure, but "nudity"? Dang, and here I was thinking you were being all clever and questioning whether he was actually nude. Another good story, BTW. I have really enjoyed the Nancy Kress stories on Escape Pod (especially Ej-Es: http://escapepod.org/2007/07/26/ep116-ej-es/). |
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rkg
101010
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stePH
Actually has enough cowbell.
Hipparch
Posts: 3124
L, do you know, gods of death love apples?
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« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2008, 09:25:25 pm » |
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I was questioning the advisement of "nudity" in a text/spoken word story. "Mature themes" or "sexual content" sure, but "nudity"?
Dang, and here I was thinking you were being all clever and questioning whether he was actually nude. No, I hadn't listened to the story when I made that first post. Don't make the mistake of thinking I'm clever. |
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God masturbates every time you kill a kitten.
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ajames
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« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2008, 11:09:02 am » |
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A+
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Talia
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« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2008, 03:46:35 pm » |
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I love this type of tale, and thought this was well done. The ending was particularly brilliant, with all that uncertainty, that not knowing, eating away at the protagonist. The way it was written made it so easy to get inside his head. I knew exactly what he must have been feeling at the end.. that gnawing uncertainty, the worry. That gut twisting feeling. I dont recall if it was stated so in the story, but I imagine he broke a bit of a sweat. I would.
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Zathras
Guest
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« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2008, 03:49:27 pm » |
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I love this type of tale, and thought this was well done. The ending was particularly brilliant, with all that uncertainty, that not knowing, eating away at the protagonist. The way it was written made it so easy to get inside his head. I knew exactly what he must have been feeling at the end.. that gnawing uncertainty, the worry. That gut twisting feeling. I dont recall if it was stated so in the story, but I imagine he broke a bit of a sweat. I would.
he *ahem* wilted |
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CoachPaul
Extern
Posts: 8
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« Reply #10 on: November 21, 2008, 02:07:09 pm » |
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I kept waiting to hear Santino in the background saying, "Andre, where's Andre?"
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eytanz
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« Reply #11 on: November 22, 2008, 04:20:51 pm » |
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Wonderful twist on a classic tale. It held most of my attention, while part of it raced ahead, unwilling to wait for the final confrontation.
What a clever twist upon a twist. The confusion Jasper endured was amazing.
I agree entirely. Great story, building on a tale we all know but taking it in a new direction, and a pitch-perfect conclusion. |
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MacArthurBug
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« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2008, 09:27:25 am » |
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I adored the uncertain ending. The "twist" the the more well known story is vary acceptable IMHO. I love "classic tale" twists and clever retellings. I was nursed quite litereally on nursery rhymes and fairy tales. As an adult I've re-discoveredm my favorite stories and am truly loving it. Twists and re-tellings add the spice to the "happily ever after" in a way that is refreshing and also quite honest to these stories much darker and dirtier roots.
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Oh, great and mighty Alasdair, Orator Maleficent, He of the Silvered Tongue, guide this humble fangirl past jumping up and down and squeeing upon hearing the greatness of Thy voice.
Oh mighty Mur the Magnificent. I am not worthy.
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hatton
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« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2008, 03:54:36 pm » |
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Excellent story, though I'd have to challenge Twain's statement at the closing ("Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.") in today's world . Ask anyone in marketing and you'll know that sex sells.
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eytanz
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« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2008, 04:18:10 pm » |
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Excellent story, though I'd have to challenge Twain's statement at the closing ("Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.") in today's world . Ask anyone in marketing and you'll know that sex sells.
It's normally not the naked people that are calling the shots, though. It's the people behind the camera who have the influence. |
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deflective
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« Reply #15 on: November 24, 2008, 05:40:00 pm » |
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Listener
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« Reply #16 on: November 26, 2008, 06:20:38 am » |
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Reading was fine.
I expected more of a twist -- Jasper would give the clothes to Florian, for example -- but in the end the clothes would be real to everyone except Jasper. And maybe they were. I just think the reader could have used more definitive proof. I wouldn't have minded the ending either way -- the clothes being real, or the clothes not being real -- but I just wanted to KNOW.
Far too much attention, I feel, was given to the princess's breasts. I think her exotic nature could've been handled without those details. The same with Jasper's wang. I mean, yeah, I think that would definitely weigh heavily on the mind of a naked man in clothed company, but again I think it was done a bit clumsily.
Liked it some, but didn't love it.
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wintermute
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« Reply #17 on: November 26, 2008, 08:45:07 pm » |
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I wouldn't have minded the ending either way -- the clothes being real, or the clothes not being real -- but I just wanted to KNOW. I thought not knowing was a good way to go, myself. |
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Science means that not all dreams can come true
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LadyIndigo
Palmer
Posts: 22
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« Reply #18 on: December 11, 2008, 05:11:23 pm » |
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I wouldn't have minded the ending either way -- the clothes being real, or the clothes not being real -- but I just wanted to KNOW. I thought not knowing was a good way to go, myself. I thought it sort of was the point, yes? The idea that the prince, who I think I liked more than I should have, essentially is destroying himself believing everyone is as wrapped up in secrets and lies as he is. You never really CAN know, in a world like that. I guessed the twist but was kept on edge anyway, because the story made me unsure enough as to whether it was going in that direction, and the payoff was still excellent. I liked the subtle racism and sexism on the prince's part - unsettling until you realize it purely IS through his eyes, as are most of the -isms we carry, and it damages him as anything else in the failed plot. Not sure if I like the boy from the original tale putting in an appearance. It broke the flow of the scene, somewhat, like it was there because it had to be, but it also lent the interpretation that maybe the crown prince caught on from that, wasn't an idiot, and beat his brother at his own game. |
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Kaa
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« Reply #19 on: December 12, 2008, 11:45:08 am » |
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I loved the ambiguity of the ending, even though I predicted pretty much how it would end from early on. But that didn't bother me, which I think is the mark of a good story. Retold fairy tales turns out to be one of my favorite sub-genres. Tanith Lee published a collection of short stories some years back called Red as Blood with many stories of this type in it, and in spite of the fact that I haven't read it in years, this story stirred memories of it and it's now on my bedside table, awaiting a new perusal. If my vote counts for anything, I vote for more of this type of story.  (And more of other types, as well, of course. But this is all about me. ) |
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