Y'know, I have no real comments this week. Basically, I was mulling over Clarke's internal struggle with his own biases and prejudices and appreciating his efforts to overcome them.
Then Ganhkran hung a light on it. Nothing left for me to say, other than, oof, that was a hell of a speech in the interrogation room.
I'm enjoying Clarke's struggle to be better, and that despite having the best intentions is still finding it hard to shed life-long beliefs and misconceptions. He's become conscious of his unconscious bias, I suppose, but that doesn't mean it magically goes *poof* and disappears in a flash of progress.
There was a chapter that didn't get me excited (or part of it?) - perhaps it was because of the 'monsters' aspect, which I tend not to read or engage with. Funny, because there's a 'monster-ish' aspect to my Sci-fi saga I'm publishing at the moment. Not the one on Substack. I guess the thing that keeps me reading Tales from the Triverse is the detective aspect; loving it.
@MikeMiller below, there's always a 'dick'. There's always someone who pushes the MC's buttons letting the reader see more of who the character is/characters are on the inside. There less 'wooden' I think expression is. I don't recall, but does Holland have a chapter all his own? Where we see just how much of a dick he is and how much shit he can get into?
But the point about socioculturalism is always a good one. It can change the arc a character follows of course, but watching a character struggle is always 'fun', even if they don't change and their end is clearly seen from day one. You think to yourself: "Oh, this motherfucker's attracting bad." Take a swig of your coffee and keep reading to find out how.
Thanks, Robert! When I first thought of the idea for Triverse, I wondered where it would land:
1. By intersecting detective stories, scifi and fantasy, would I expand the audience and have broad appeal, making it more accessible?
or
2. By intersecting those genres, would I make them unappealing to the core fans of each? Crime fiction fans wouldn't get on with the speculative stuff, scifi fans wouldn't like the more fantastical elements, fantasy fans wouldn't like the police procedural pacing....
It doesn't overly matter as I'm having a blast writing it, but it's always in the back of my mind.
And you're right about Holland - part of his value to the overall story is seeing OTHER characters react against him. He reveals what other people are like, and forces them to consider their positions.
There have been a couple of Holland-POV sections. The 'Rendition' storyline was mostly from his perspective, I think.
Anyway, you'll be pleased to know that there's some proper detective work coming up in the next couple of chapters. ;)
So, I see on other social media the koth illustration here is based on a children's book character I'm unfamiliar with... All I'll add is it's good for fans of Zog you didn't draw them from the other side.
Good time to note it's always fun seeing Wong. The cheerful mortician is a common trope, but it usually works. Especially if you're Butters from "The Dresden Files," who has matured into my favorite character in the whole series.
Robert, as Simon said, there have been a couple of chapters from Holland's PoV, and, like all (well written) characters (and he is), he has his motivations and rationales, and even his mitigating factors (and, despite his personality, he's actually quite good at his job). Calling Holland "a dick" is a bit overly reductive, but it's also 1) true, and 2) funny (at least to Simon, I think).
Yes, Holland also serves as a counterpoint to Clarke - and it's a benefit to the story. Early Clarke was a lot more like Holland. Lola was a good influence on Clarke (which I'm glad to see stick), and now we have a nice contrast between the man who is attempting to grow and change for the better and the man who thinks he's fine the way he is, and everyone else is the problem.
Y'know, I have no real comments this week. Basically, I was mulling over Clarke's internal struggle with his own biases and prejudices and appreciating his efforts to overcome them.
Then Ganhkran hung a light on it. Nothing left for me to say, other than, oof, that was a hell of a speech in the interrogation room.
Also, Holland is a dick, but we all know that.
I'm enjoying Clarke's struggle to be better, and that despite having the best intentions is still finding it hard to shed life-long beliefs and misconceptions. He's become conscious of his unconscious bias, I suppose, but that doesn't mean it magically goes *poof* and disappears in a flash of progress.
There was a chapter that didn't get me excited (or part of it?) - perhaps it was because of the 'monsters' aspect, which I tend not to read or engage with. Funny, because there's a 'monster-ish' aspect to my Sci-fi saga I'm publishing at the moment. Not the one on Substack. I guess the thing that keeps me reading Tales from the Triverse is the detective aspect; loving it.
@MikeMiller below, there's always a 'dick'. There's always someone who pushes the MC's buttons letting the reader see more of who the character is/characters are on the inside. There less 'wooden' I think expression is. I don't recall, but does Holland have a chapter all his own? Where we see just how much of a dick he is and how much shit he can get into?
But the point about socioculturalism is always a good one. It can change the arc a character follows of course, but watching a character struggle is always 'fun', even if they don't change and their end is clearly seen from day one. You think to yourself: "Oh, this motherfucker's attracting bad." Take a swig of your coffee and keep reading to find out how.
Thanks, Robert! When I first thought of the idea for Triverse, I wondered where it would land:
1. By intersecting detective stories, scifi and fantasy, would I expand the audience and have broad appeal, making it more accessible?
or
2. By intersecting those genres, would I make them unappealing to the core fans of each? Crime fiction fans wouldn't get on with the speculative stuff, scifi fans wouldn't like the more fantastical elements, fantasy fans wouldn't like the police procedural pacing....
It doesn't overly matter as I'm having a blast writing it, but it's always in the back of my mind.
And you're right about Holland - part of his value to the overall story is seeing OTHER characters react against him. He reveals what other people are like, and forces them to consider their positions.
There have been a couple of Holland-POV sections. The 'Rendition' storyline was mostly from his perspective, I think.
Anyway, you'll be pleased to know that there's some proper detective work coming up in the next couple of chapters. ;)
So, I see on other social media the koth illustration here is based on a children's book character I'm unfamiliar with... All I'll add is it's good for fans of Zog you didn't draw them from the other side.
Good time to note it's always fun seeing Wong. The cheerful mortician is a common trope, but it usually works. Especially if you're Butters from "The Dresden Files," who has matured into my favorite character in the whole series.
Robert, as Simon said, there have been a couple of chapters from Holland's PoV, and, like all (well written) characters (and he is), he has his motivations and rationales, and even his mitigating factors (and, despite his personality, he's actually quite good at his job). Calling Holland "a dick" is a bit overly reductive, but it's also 1) true, and 2) funny (at least to Simon, I think).
Yes, Holland also serves as a counterpoint to Clarke - and it's a benefit to the story. Early Clarke was a lot more like Holland. Lola was a good influence on Clarke (which I'm glad to see stick), and now we have a nice contrast between the man who is attempting to grow and change for the better and the man who thinks he's fine the way he is, and everyone else is the problem.