Another note, don't feel like you have to abandon any discussion just because the new story is posted, they can go on and on if there is still something to say, so Charles, post you historical information, I've been looking forward to reading it, and you slackers who haven't said anything yet, introduce yourselves! Some of you (and you know who you are) were the ones who came up with this whole idea, so come on over! :)
This is Gerard's friend Charlie here, and I thought I'd break the ice on this one. I have to say that it took me a while to really get a hang on what was happening in this piece. The prose was very detailed and evoked a nice scene for me, but the back story (the world) is very important in science fiction, and it took me most of my time reading to really get a sense for what was going on.
ReplyDeleteAs I still think I might be mistaken, let me throw my thoughts out there. Effectively, the main character is mortgaging his own life by stepping into this game. As in, if he loses, he'll be one of the people that they use to incubate this miracle cure (like the guy who is taken into the back room). Is that what everyone else got?
Since it took me almost my entire time reading to piece this all together, I guess the poker scene lacked a bit of the urgency that it acquired once I gained more of an understanding of the situation. Maybe that is intentional (I'd have to say it is, given the way the piece is structured). As it stood while reading, I thought it was a very accurate account of a high-stake poker game, which was fun to read. I just wonder if some of the tension in the piece is buried in the initial obscurity of the world's backstory, because we don't realize what's at stake until the hand has been played.
Anyway, I'm interested to hear what everyone else thought, and thanks for letting me participate in these discussions.
Charlie, thanks for getting the ball rolling. I agree that we're left in the dark as readers for much of the story line. I think that's why, for me, the ending gave me such sickening satisfaction. I was all like, "Ohhh . . . Oh! Oh my gosh!"
ReplyDeleteThat's all the time I have right now, so more later!
P.S. Masha, I'm loving the snapshots of the patron coffee cup in different positions and parts of the house.
ReplyDeleteI love all your photography, really, and often find myself wishing they were bigger. Is that not an option, or do you keep them small for personal taste?
Seth is almost always the photographer, he's amazing, isn't he! I think I make most of them small to avoid overwhelming the post, but I can go for bigger too. I'm so glad you like them! This mug is one of my favorites, I used to have three like it, but I sold two.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you noticed, and liked the whole 'coffee theme' in the photos, it's been fun!