5 Comments

Shelley was a dilletante and an a-hole. That being said, this story actually makes him a criminal.

Golly... sorta makes me regard his work... less.

Expand full comment

LOL! That's my Sean--just calling it as he sees it.

I 100% agree, of course. I probably like his poetry more than you do, but as a husband for Mary? He gets an F.

Expand full comment

One thought I have, story-teller to story-teller, is this: When filling out the details in your own story, let the story itself be the author. There are no historical facts to settle the issue. So allow what feels true to dictate what you type.

By the bye, one of the things you could do here is pull a Rashomon. Do it in the back quarter but not at the end; go Joyce without apology.

(Not available to you, but just FYI: Samuel R. Delany, in "Dhalgren", pulls a "Finnegan's Wake," except instead of a circle, the story is a Mobius Strip; when the end become the beginning all of the characters have inverted their positions.)

The lack of record means that no one gets to tell you the story except the Story itself. Something I've come to realize: I'm not the author, I'm merely the typist. I'll be beating away on the keyboard and thinking, "NONE OF THIS MAKES ANY SENS... oh, yeah. That DOES make sense ... " I hope when (faking optimism) mine comes out, the readers are as surprised as I was.

"Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid."

Expand full comment

I know exactly what you're talking about, and I agree. And I love, love, love those moments when it doesn't make any sense, and I'm swept along in the current of pure intuition and instinct. Best moments ever.

Expand full comment

All the makings of a 19th century reality show. I rarely read fiction, so my knowledge of these characters is minimal, but none of them come off covered in glory. But perhaps there were simply being honest, whereas today we cover up our foibles, sexual dalliances, and missteps until they're discovered and all Hell breaks loose.

Expand full comment