Bound & Bound--the Curse and the Captives

[Phranx]

Just saw this book. Looks very intriguing!

[Puppilull]

It is! So many layers to this story.

[Timothy M.]

Just saw this book. Looks very intriguing!

 

It is! So many layers to this story.

 

I agree - and I hope you have time off over Easter, because once you start reading, you won't be able to stop.

 

I also recommend reading AC's Judas Tree book.

[Defiance19]

Hi AC, 

I made it to the forum and I'm so very glad that I did. The comments here are great and some point out things I hadn't necessarily thought of before. Very interesting links too. You already know that I absolutely love this story, and how brilliant I think your telling of it is. I am looking forward to the further discussion of it here. 

[Puppilull]

I must say I was relieved to see the reply to my latest review. I was a bit nervous about connecting a passage from the Bible to a chapter about two Muslim men having sex... Perhaps not everyone would appreciate it. In Sweden, we are generally kind of laid back when it comes to religion and I tend to forget things are not the same in other parts of the world.

[Former Member]

I must say I was relieved to see the reply to my latest review. I was a bit nervous about connecting a passage from the Bible to a chapter about two Muslim men having sex... Perhaps not everyone would appreciate it. In Sweden, we are generally kind of laid back when it comes to religion and I tend to forget things are not the same in other parts of the world.

Well as you can see, you certainly did not upset me. And, if you think about it from another point of view, the Psalms are part of the Jewish faith, and naturally Islam stems from that tradition as much as Christianity does. I do not know for sure, but I would not be surprised to lean that David's songs are celebrated by Muslim people as well.

[Former Member]

Hi AC, 

I made it to the forum and I'm so very glad that I did. The comments here are great and some point out things I hadn't necessarily thought of before. Very interesting links too. You already know that I absolutely love this story, and how brilliant I think your telling of it is. I am looking forward to the further discussion of it here. 

Hello, and welcome! I've been enjoying your contributions in the form of reviews, so I look forward to your participation here as well.

 

Thank you for all of your support. I appreciate it tremendously!  

[Puppilull]

Well as you can see, you certainly did not upset me. And, if you think about it from another point of view, the Psalms are part of the Jewish faith, and naturally Islam stems from that tradition as much as Christianity does. I do not know for sure, but I would not be surprised to lean that David's songs are celebrated by Muslim people as well.

I had the same thought. It's basically the same god. It's just that so many people don't see it that way and although I think any god or religion should be able to handle a bit of sacrilege, I don't want to be unnecessarily disrespectful. There are ways to get your point across and still show respect.

[Former Member]

I should have posted this earlier, but here's a lovely pic of Sighisoara, the town where Vlad Tepes was born. You can see the spires making Emeric think that even Walt Disney would have castle envy.  

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0YOwGbjoRi0/TO1PozfK9mI/AAAAAAAABC8/Qko4v3xCMGw/s1600/Sighisoara-Tower-Clock.jpg&imgrefurl=http://kabirsani.blogspot.com/2011/12/real-life-of-vlad-impaler-dracula.html&h=480&w=640&tbnid=Je86ZznafftaqM:&zoom=1&docid=0-U8lAEiuJFXwM&ei=jFgYVb_PFMPEggTl5IHIDA&tbm=isch&ved=0CIIBEDMoXjBe

[Former Member]

Here are pix of the central keep of Targoviste Castle in Romania. Vlad the Impaler fended off a Turkish invasion from this fortification, and from this very tower.

 

What do you think..? Looks like a chessboard rook, no?    

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://iexploreromania.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/turnul-chindiei.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.iexploreromania.com/targoviste-the-residence-of-vlad-the-impaler/&h=547&w=730&tbnid=gMulrjbeqre4DM:&zoom=1&docid=sTp2mrmnPexC6M&ei=tgEaVbSyJMyegwSgvISgAw&tbm=isch&ved=0CGYQMygzMDM

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/targoviste-chindia-tower-citadel-16192890.jpg&imgrefurl=http://imgkid.com/targoviste-castle.shtml&h=960&w=1300&tbnid=eKLx_jpKK-OZ9M:&zoom=1&docid=mfmCy-N7frOH-M&ei=tgEaVbSyJMyegwSgvISgAw&tbm=isch&ved=0CFcQMygkMCQ

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/60/23/95/chindia-tower-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g304067-d554890-i23917023-Old_Court_s_Ruins-Targoviste_Dambovita_County_Southern_Romania.html&h=450&w=337&tbnid=onaQpFgf4nSJuM:&zoom=1&docid=w9VOL6ZaE0857M&ei=tgEaVbSyJMyegwSgvISgAw&tbm=isch&ved=0CHsQMyhIMEg

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/60/23/94/chindia-tower.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g304067-d554890-i23917023-Old_Court_s_Ruins-Targoviste_Dambovita_County_Southern_Romania.html&h=450&w=337&tbnid=DOJhX0k2qs-PRM:&zoom=1&docid=w9VOL6ZaE0857M&ei=tgEaVbSyJMyegwSgvISgAw&tbm=isch&ved=0CJEBEDMoXjBe

[Puppilull]

I can get a little depressed when I think of the atrocities and horrors we can subject other people to. Vlad did frightful things and it's not really getting any better with time. Just look at the state of many corners of the world today... To be reminded of our capacity to love can relieve some of those feelings. I just wish we could truly live together and let people choose their own path, no matter what that might be.

[Former Member]

I can get a little depressed when I think of the atrocities and horrors we can subject other people to. Vlad did frightful things and it's not really getting any better with time. Just look at the state of many corners of the world today... To be reminded of our capacity to love can relieve some of those feelings. I just wish we could truly live together and let people choose their own path, no matter what that might be.

Here, here. To paraphrase my darling Melville

 

"When a man’s religion becomes really frantic – when it is a positive torment to himself and makes this earth of ours an uncomfortable place to lay our heads – then I think it's high time to take that individual aside and argue the point with him."

Edited April 1, 2015 by AC Benus

[Former Member]

I can get a little depressed when I think of the atrocities and horrors we can subject other people to. Vlad did frightful things and it's not really getting any better with time. Just look at the state of many corners of the world today... To be reminded of our capacity to love can relieve some of those feelings. I just wish we could truly live together and let people choose their own path, no matter what that might be.

BTW, Puppilull - I just read your chapter 4 review for Denn's Mobile Circus and wanna say, wow, you are so sharp! When I read the chapter the first time I did not get what was going on, but you figured out who the 'other Micah' was right away! I bet you continued immediately on to the next chapter, didn't you..? I know I had to!      

[Valkyrie]

I think your set-up of Vlad talking to Lazlo and Gretza worked.  You gave us two different perspectives of the horror that he inflicted and seeing the man vs the vampire that we're used to seeing when the name Vlad Tepes is uttered is a nice change.  I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next. 

[Puppilull]

BTW, Puppilull - I just read your chapter 4 review for Denn's Mobile Circus and wanna say, wow, you are so sharp! When I read the chapter the first time I did not get what was going on, but you figured out who the 'other Micah' was right away! I bet you continued immediately on to the next chapter, didn't you..? I know I had to!

 

Well, I was a bit puzzled, but I refused to believe meeting the wolves was all a dream.

 

The story is like Pringles. Once you pop, you can't stop. Or well, I fell asleep. Much like Micah...

[Timothy M.]

Vlad Terpes scares the fuck out of me, I had nightmares after editing those chapters where he appeared.  

[Former Member]

Vlad Terpes scares the fuck out of me, I had nightmares after editing those chapters where he appeared.  

Ohhhh, Tim, I'm so sorry.

[Timothy M.]

Ohhhh, Tim, I'm so sorry.

 

Well, it wouldn't be a Gothic novel if it wasn't scary, would it ?

[Puppilull]

And it just got scarier. Visions becoming realities.

[Defiance19]

I'm glad ColumbusGuy mentioned the Odin reference. The Ravens were his seers, but he had two wolves too. Soo, does that mean whomever embodies the raven, is on the same side as the wolves or is that completely separate as Odins wolves weren't werewolves, I don't think. You know, AC does this thing where he leaves these tid bits kind of in passing, but everything is connected. Every 'ahh' moment brings about even more speculation and theories. I am so looking forward to the next 3 story arc, also as it looks like the connection between Em and Sil, and Junayd and Ahmed are on a similar thread.

[Former Member]

And it just got scarier. Visions becoming realities.

Yes, phantom flesh and blood, Wuahhhhhaaa hhaaaa

[Former Member]

I'm glad ColumbusGuy mentioned the Odin reference. The Ravens were his seers, but he had two wolves too. Soo, does that mean whomever embodies the raven, is on the same side as the wolves or is that completely separate as Odins wolves weren't werewolves, I don't think. You know, AC does this thing where he leaves these tid bits kind of in passing, but everything is connected. Every 'ahh' moment brings about even more speculation and theories. I am so looking forward to the next 3 story arc, also as it looks like the connection between Em and Sil, and Junayd and Ahmed are on a similar thread.

Thanks for saying this...it delights me to see all the speculation floating around, it really does. I'll start posting the next suite of three chapters soon. Ahmed and Junayd are taking their partnership to the next level

[ColumbusGuy]

I've noticed that AC scatters bits and pieces through his chapters, and yet, like all mystery writers, will leave unmentioned certain clues until the last chapter.   And we all know that besides the horrific aspect, the mysterious also figures in gothic novels. Shame, and at the same time, kudos to you, my friend.

I did some studying of Norse mythology and the sagas while looking into my family history...we've lived in the US since the 1840s, but only in my dad's generation did they stop passing down the language and traditions of Germany--due to the sentiment against those things after WWI and WWII. I picked up the language in college, and that spurred me to delve deeper. I don't know if it's just me, or a deep instinctual thing for most ethnic Germans...but I am never calmer or feeling more secure than when I'm surrounded by trees and forests.

On the religious front mentioned above, I've read the Torah, the Bible and the Koran, each has it's good and bad points--mostly bad in the way men have twisted the essential message of these writings to support intolerance and violence against their fellow men. I've studied Wicca, oriental beliefs and some native practices, and even Asatru as a revival of ancient Norse beliefs...but right now, I'm leaning in the direction of some Deists--there was likely a Creator, but the world is run on its own without his intervention now, and it is up to us to make this world a place fit to live in harmony with other men and nature.

AC is forcing us to look at the roots and dark cellars of human nature, showing us things we'd rather not see, but must for things to work out for the best in the end. Hope remains in a place we may find it thanks to Pandora's shutting the lid on that damn box.

[Timothy M.]

I guess Ahmed declaring his love for eternity should delight our hearts. and I do wonder if Em and Sil will happen to see the inscription?

But somehow all I can think of is our brave soldier pleading for Junyad to say 'I love you' in return, and not getting his wish. Why, oh why?

[Former Member]

I guess Ahmed declaring his love for eternity should delight our hearts. and I do wonder if Em and Sil will happen to see the inscription?

But somehow all I can think of is our brave soldier pleading for Junyad to say 'I love you' in return, and not getting his wish. Why, oh why?

Poor, buddy. You know Junayd breaks down later and says it, and you know he feels it too - he loves Ahmed, no doubt about that. I think he knew the moment he slammed the soldier against the wall and covered his mouth to stop him from 'singing' those dirty words.

 

All is well with their love, I'm not giving away the story to reassure you of that basic fact.