Author Topic: PC145: Hart and Boot  (Read 18696 times)

Talia

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on: February 22, 2011, 04:24:27 PM
PodCastle 145: Hart and Boot

by Tim Pratt.

Read by Amy Elk.

Originally appeared in Polyphony 4.

“You have any money?” Pearl said. She didn’t have any more bullets, but she could hit him on the head with her gun, if he had something worth stealing.

“I don’t think so.”

She sighed. “Get out of that hole. I’m getting a crick in my neck, looking down at you.”

He climbed out and stood before her, covered in dirt from head to toe, naked except for a pair of better-than-average boots. Hardly standard uniform for a miner, but she didn’t get flustered. She’d seen her share of naked men during her eighteen years on earth, and she had to admit he was one of the nicest she’d seen, dirt and all, with those broad shoulders. Back in Canada (after seeing the Wild West show, but before deciding to leave her husband) she’d had several dreams about a tall, faceless man coming toward her bed, naked except for cowboy boots.

Apart from the dirt, and the lack of a bed, and her not being asleep and all, this was just like the dream.


Rated R for: sexuality, language.
« Last Edit: March 15, 2011, 02:35:58 PM by Talia »



Wilson Fowlie

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Reply #1 on: February 23, 2011, 05:32:22 PM
I enjoyed this.  I'm a little bemused that Pearl managed to get herself knocked up by a manifestation of her own fantasies.  That's some weird kind of parthenogenesis, that is.  But I guess it proves that she has a fertile imagination.  :D

Besides admiring Pearl's strength of character and sympathizing with her frustration with society continually underestimating her, I liked that Pearl decided, jujitsu-like, to use that fact as its weakness.  And I enjoyed her non-lateral solutions to her problems - the payback to the governor was particularly lovely, though I'd have preferred to see him brought down a bit.

And, although hearing "propriety" pronounced "propety" was a touch jarring, I thought Amy's reading was generally good.

"People commonly use the word 'procrastination' to describe what they do on the Internet. It seems to me too mild to describe what's happening as merely not-doing-work. We don't call it procrastination when someone gets drunk instead of working." - Paul Graham


Wilson Fowlie

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Reply #2 on: February 23, 2011, 06:18:12 PM
For those who enjoyed this story and want to see more of Pearl Hart, check out this yarn.

"People commonly use the word 'procrastination' to describe what they do on the Internet. It seems to me too mild to describe what's happening as merely not-doing-work. We don't call it procrastination when someone gets drunk instead of working." - Paul Graham


ElectricPaladin

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Reply #3 on: February 23, 2011, 06:38:09 PM
My enjoyment of this generally awesome story was harmed by a lack of sympathy for Pearl. I mean, she was stylish and interesting, and her characterization was extremely strong. She was also a murderous, larcenous, cold-hearted bitch. I understand that being a woman in 1800s America was rough, but she liked to rob people for fun, blatantly used and manipulated everyone around her, and at least once tried to kill a woman out of a momentary fit of pique.

While I normally have a place in my heart for anti-heroes - admittedly, a small place, as anti-heroes are not my favorite idiom - I found the ending a little too disturbing. I mean, Pearl is going to raise a kid. Pearl - borderline, antisocial, possibly even sociopathic Pearl - is going to raise a kid. I shudder to think what kind of childhood that poor kid is going to have.

So, in the final arithmetic, a clever and well-written story, with a strong voice and a fascinating permise, but I just didn't like the character enough. I think I would have preferred her to either experience a little more growth or rot in prison for the rest of her life :-/.

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ElectricPaladin

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Reply #4 on: February 23, 2011, 07:58:00 PM
For those who enjoyed this story and want to see more of Pearl Hart, check out this yarn.

I liked this Hart and Boot a lot better: stylish villains rather than unsympathetic antiheroes, Hart as a violent sociopath somewhat redeemed by her strange relationship with Boot, Boot as an alien thing rendered somewhat human by his strange relationship with Hart. I thought this story was a lot stronger than the one we just heard.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2011, 07:59:57 PM by ElectricPaladin »

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Wilson Fowlie

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Reply #5 on: February 23, 2011, 08:13:11 PM
For those who enjoyed this story and want to see more of Pearl Hart, check out this yarn.

I liked this Hart and Boot a lot better: stylish villains rather than unsympathetic antiheroes, Hart as a violent sociopath somewhat redeemed by her strange relationship with Boot, Boot as an alien thing rendered somewhat human by his strange relationship with Hart. I thought this story was a lot stronger than the one we just heard.

I like what you have to say, except: Spoilers, man!

"People commonly use the word 'procrastination' to describe what they do on the Internet. It seems to me too mild to describe what's happening as merely not-doing-work. We don't call it procrastination when someone gets drunk instead of working." - Paul Graham


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Reply #6 on: February 23, 2011, 10:40:40 PM
I read this one in the titular short story collection, and mostly have to echo EP.  I liked the story, but man was it hard to root for Pearl...



danooli

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Reply #7 on: February 24, 2011, 12:05:41 AM
wow, this story was a fun little romp, but i also agree that Pearl wasn't a very sympathetic character.  I really, really wanted to want to root for her. The end does make me hopeful that she has changed and that her baby and she will live happily ever after. That John Boot's goodness finally rubbed off on her.  But, I'm naive like that.

I was reminded of the Marla Mason series by Tim Pratt after this.  The relationship between Pearl and John Boot was kind of similar to Marla and her associate Rondeau  :)



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Reply #8 on: February 24, 2011, 01:18:33 AM
  I did not like this story at first, due in no small part to Pearl being pretty unlikable, but it grew on me as it went. Overall I quite enjoyed it.

  As the story progressed I found myself seeing Pearl as Haruhi Suzumiya. I guess because they are both complete sociopaths. I think this helped in my enjoyment of the story though.

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timpratt

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Reply #9 on: February 24, 2011, 04:22:09 AM
Just a note that my Pearl Hart is based on the real Pearl Hart, about whom you can read a bit here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Hart

I came across various sources about Pearl and Joe/John Boot, many of them contradictory, and of course as a writer I picked and chose which pieces to believe and include here, and I simplified and combined things a bit, too. I intended this story as a sort of secret history, though -- I didn't want to violate any known facts about her history, while putting forth a fantastical explanation for parts of that history. (That Wikipedia entry, which says Boot became a trusty and rode off in a wagon, is a lot less interesting than other versions I've read, where he simply wasn't in his cell one day. Obviously I went with that one.)

The other story linked upstream is a bizarre weird western alternate universe story, and I played rather faster and looser with Pearl's personality there.



danooli

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Reply #10 on: February 24, 2011, 11:51:21 AM
I was reminded of the Marla Mason series by Tim Pratt after this.  The relationship between Pearl and John Boot was kind of similar to Marla and her associate Rondeau  :)


I just wanted to add, upon reflection, that while Marla is one helluva badass character, she's a whole like more likable that Pearl.

Now, knowing that Pearl was based on a real life person...well, she's a tad bit more intriguing!



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Reply #11 on: February 24, 2011, 02:18:18 PM
Just a note that my Pearl Hart is based on the real Pearl Hart, about whom you can read a bit here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Hart

I came across various sources about Pearl and Joe/John Boot, many of them contradictory, and of course as a writer I picked and chose which pieces to believe and include here, and I simplified and combined things a bit, too. I intended this story as a sort of secret history, though -- I didn't want to violate any known facts about her history, while putting forth a fantastical explanation for parts of that history. (That Wikipedia entry, which says Boot became a trusty and rode off in a wagon, is a lot less interesting than other versions I've read, where he simply wasn't in his cell one day. Obviously I went with that one.)

The other story linked upstream is a bizarre weird western alternate universe story, and I played rather faster and looser with Pearl's personality there.

Hey, neat!  Thanks for posting that link, Tim.  I had not heard of the real Hart and Boot.

This story was fun.  Yeah, Pearl was not exactly sympathetic, but I enjoyed her manner of storytelling and I was curious how she ended up so it didn't particularly bother me that I wasn't rooting for a happy ending. 

I did think she was not so smart to get herself locked up in a real penitentiary just for her pride, assuming that somehow Boot could get her out.  She didn't think that one through much... but that's pretty consistent with her character, so it works.

Her method of escaping prison was an interesting one that I only figured out when she told Boot she wanted his baby.  Good twist consistent with the rest of the story.  Well told!



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Reply #12 on: February 25, 2011, 04:33:53 PM
I really enjoyed this story, and knowing it is based on historical events brings a whole new, enjoyable twist to it (thanks for sharing that information, Tim).

I have to say I didn’t have the problem others did with finding Heart to be unsympathetic, yes she did some bad things, but in the end I found her plight to be rather moving.  I have to admit, some of that stems from the soft spot I have for characters who are almost a force of nature.  But I also empathize with the desire to be truly free and I see Heart trying to grab freedom in what may have been the only way open to her (and it certainly seemed to me that it seemed to her to be the only way open to her).



jenfullmoon

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Reply #13 on: February 25, 2011, 05:26:02 PM
I enjoyed Pearl for what she was: foul but entertaining. And it's interesting how Boot was (sorta) the love of her life and her voice of reason, as well as his reason for him to stay around. I still wonder how a semi-corporeal guy keeps impregnating-- and yeah, I'm unnerved by her finally deciding to become a mother herself-- but...

Well, it was an interesting story!



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Reply #14 on: February 25, 2011, 06:20:11 PM
I enjoyed the story, and didn't have a problem with Hart as the protagonist. It seems my reading includes a fair number of these types... Westlake/Stark's "Parker" novels for example; Parker is a professional thief who does not particularly enjoy killing people but will not hesitate to do so if it is the most efficient way to get his money. Westlake's Dortmunder is staunchly nonviolent; burglary is his modus operandi, but he's still a criminal. And many Zelazny protagonists are self-centered and amoral prats.

(So I still can't figure why Jayne and Mal really put me off Firefly.)

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tinygaia

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Reply #15 on: February 25, 2011, 07:46:12 PM
Pearl reminded me of an elderly relative I once had in east Texas. That woman wasn't friendly to anyone for anything and she didn't care what you thought about it. It made me feel like I knew Pearl. I was rooting for her and wanted her to "win". (It's like they say, "He may be a bastard, but he's our bastard.") I was happy with the way this one ended.



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Reply #16 on: February 25, 2011, 09:52:44 PM
Good story, good telling. Honestly the only part that I felt was weak was that John Boot just... appeared. I kind of wanted there to be more to that. But I really liked this one overall.

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BlueLu

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Reply #17 on: February 26, 2011, 05:12:48 PM
I enjoyed that immensely and liked Pearl a lot--not that I'd ever want to run into her.  Thought Amy Elk's reading was particularly good. 

Lena


zoanon

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Reply #18 on: February 27, 2011, 05:44:50 AM
Damnn y'all, Pearl is a gal I can really get, a fine Canadian gal sticking it to the man!
loved the story, kinda wishing I could find a boot of my own at the moment ;)



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Reply #19 on: February 28, 2011, 03:23:12 AM
PrattCastle. Hah.


iamafish

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Reply #20 on: February 28, 2011, 10:30:50 AM
i should whine about the lack of alt history on podcastle more often! That's two in a row.

Good story. I like my heroes dark and mean sometimes, although I would have liked for Heart to have had some redeeming qualities. Boot was a lat more interesting, but his slave-like dedication to Heart was a bit annoying (i know, that was the point).

I thought the story might have been based on some historical reality. The large timespan over which the story took place and a couple of oddly specific pieces of narration gave it away.

Nice story, very fun, interesting points made about the treatment of women in, well, history in general, pretty much.


stePH

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Reply #21 on: February 28, 2011, 03:20:01 PM
PrattCastle. Hah.

Just keep Spencer and Heidi out of here. I can't stand those useless Pratts.

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danooli

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Reply #22 on: March 01, 2011, 12:32:15 AM

Just keep Spencer and Heidi out of here. I can't stand those useless Pratts.

I'm so happy that it's only due to Joel McHale that I understand that reference.  But, it did make me chuckle.  :D



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Reply #23 on: March 01, 2011, 11:56:17 AM
I really enjoyed this story, because of Hart's character.
I like protagonists who break the standard mold of heroes. A good, dark hero once in a while is very refreshing. Like many of the other dark heroes mentioned in the thread, Hart was someone I could identify with. I would never go out and live the life of an outlaw jacking semi-trailers, but I certainly feel for her. Having the story told by what everybody else sees as the victim is quite refreshing. She just wanted to have fun, live the life of dark glory.
And when she was done? Well, then it was time to grow up and start a family. That kid is going to have an amazing life. Traveling the country with his mother, hearing all her talks, visiting colleges and universities all over the world...
Hart had a fully fleshed-out personality, full of sharp edges and counterpoints. She felt like a real person, one who I wouldn't mind buying a drink for in exchange of a story or two. (But nothing more, I do have standards :P)
In contrast, Boot was a little one-dimensional. I'm not sure if he was supposed to be that way or not, but I didn't really see him as a character, more as a plot device.
In any event, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
It was great. It was magnificent. It was Tim Pratt.

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Reply #24 on: March 01, 2011, 02:25:38 PM
In contrast, Boot was a little one-dimensional. I'm not sure if he was supposed to be that way or not, but I didn't really see him as a character, more as a plot device.

I think Boot's simple character was completely intentional.  He is a reflection for her desires in men, and her desires are relatively simple.



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Reply #25 on: March 01, 2011, 09:19:51 PM
I was a bit confused at the end, apparantly the story has a message about how women are treated? I think the fact that Pearl was a horrible human being kinda took away any chance of that message getting through, when she got a mild punishment because she was a woman, i didnt think "oh no, she is being regarded as less important than a man" i just thought "I wish they would have locked her up for the rest of her life, i really hate her".



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Reply #26 on: March 02, 2011, 03:02:04 AM
I think that was the point. It would be easy to write a story in which a woman gets treated poorly because of her sex, but the interesting thing about this story was that Hart was treated better than she deserved because she was a woman, and she actually resented the fact. Interesting twist on a fairly common trope


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Reply #27 on: March 02, 2011, 02:19:41 PM
I think that was the point. It would be easy to write a story in which a woman gets treated poorly because of her sex, but the interesting thing about this story was that Hart was treated better than she deserved because she was a woman, and she actually resented the fact. Interesting twist on a fairly common trope
Spot on, Fish! I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right. When you look at it like that, remembering how women were regarded back then, Hart is almost reacting like a disabled person who doesn't want special treatment. Her behavior makes sense in that case.



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Reply #28 on: March 02, 2011, 03:19:06 PM
I think that was the point. It would be easy to write a story in which a woman gets treated poorly because of her sex, but the interesting thing about this story was that Hart was treated better than she deserved because she was a woman, and she actually resented the fact. Interesting twist on a fairly common trope
Spot on, Fish! I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right. When you look at it like that, remembering how women were regarded back then, Hart is almost reacting like a disabled person who doesn't want special treatment. Her behavior makes sense in that case.

But she was fine with using her woman-ness to trick coach drivers into stopping for her to rob them. A bit inconsistent there. Admittedly, she had tried it "the guy way" first. But still.

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Reply #29 on: March 02, 2011, 04:14:34 PM
I think that was the point. It would be easy to write a story in which a woman gets treated poorly because of her sex, but the interesting thing about this story was that Hart was treated better than she deserved because she was a woman, and she actually resented the fact. Interesting twist on a fairly common trope
Spot on, Fish! I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right. When you look at it like that, remembering how women were regarded back then, Hart is almost reacting like a disabled person who doesn't want special treatment. Her behavior makes sense in that case.

But she was fine with using her woman-ness to trick coach drivers into stopping for her to rob them. A bit inconsistent there. Admittedly, she had tried it "the guy way" first. But still.

True, but I think that inconsistency was fitting with her character.  That is, I don't think the character was badly written, I just think that she's a hypocrite.



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Reply #30 on: March 03, 2011, 12:14:30 AM
wow that was cool

i couldn't tell how long this took place in but i still liked it.



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Reply #31 on: March 03, 2011, 08:26:17 PM
Oddly enough, I pictured this in my head as rather cartoonish, I mean, as an actual cartoon.  It's weird, it hasn't happened before.  And not only that, but they were animals.  Like coyotes or something.  Awesome. (I was working on my dissertation so maybe I was looking for some extreme escapism.)



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Reply #32 on: March 03, 2011, 11:31:27 PM
I thought that this story was a really fun, surprisingly deep, romp in alternate history. I don't usually like Tim Pratt stories--don't kill me!--but this one was smart and dark and a little sad, while being fun. I liked that Hart was very flawed--mostly through her inability to love and destructive boredom--but through her extreme energy was able to create something anyway. I liked that Boot was beautiful and exhausted, seeming to live only through Hart's insistence. He sort of reminded me of some really depressed people I knew when I was a teenager.



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Reply #33 on: March 10, 2011, 01:53:05 AM
I first read this story in the Hart and Boot anthology. I liked it ok.

Now I've heard it here. And I *loved* it. I'm so glad the Escape Artist crew plays as many Tim Pratt stories as they do, because the tales work So Well in audio!

I'm also fascinated to learn that Hart and Boot were based on real people. Thanks for the research tip - and, I'm off on the internet rabbit trail!



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Reply #34 on: April 26, 2011, 03:55:49 PM
I found this story immensely satisfying in the way Hart was portrayed. During the first part of the story, in a weird way, I was rooting for things to fall apart for her because, well, she was pretty stupid. To me, she acted like a spoiled brat who used the excuse of "they treat me this way because I'm a woman" to justify the mayhem she caused. It wasn't until the govenor visits her in the cell and she *really* experienced sexism enough to start thinking about her situation and using her brains, not just reacting to it, that I finally started rooting for her.

Now I'm going to have to read up on the real Hart.

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Reply #35 on: August 17, 2011, 04:23:27 PM
I was back in South Dakota a few months ago to visit family, and while I was there we went to Keystone, one of the little tourist trap towns out in the Black Hills.  I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just wandering in the general direction that the family was wandering, looking at anything that caught my eye.  One of the things that caught my eye was a book dedicated to the subject of female outlaws of the Old West.  And sure enough there was a section on Hart (and Boot) there.  Was fun to see that.  :)