D and B

Scouts'Honor was excellent. Though I don't know baskeball as a game at all well, the mode of portraying Lyle as a standout player by throwing in undefined terminology was not obtrusive, and it was again a story of character development and "the good guys winning against bigotry" that is Altimexus' forte. I was a trifle disappointed in the last two stories -- they were good writing, to be sure, but seemed almost like interior chapters in a multichapter story rather than short stories with a common setting and shared characters, the thing that makes Naptown Tales stand out. This one worked where they did not, or not anywhere near as well.

This post has two purposes: A. To express surprise at the lack of comments on Altimexus's fine work. and B. To let him know that the link to "Fagball" on his Naptown Tales index is still grayed out, with text indicating that it's 'coming soon'.

CJ after drinking tequila, in his younger days:

Is he sure he heard that correctly? Not a voiced dental stop for the initial sound instead of the unvoiced one he heard?

But he did not shoot the sheriff! Oh, wait a minute -- wrong Eric (and we've got the song backwards too!)

But...but...but... There's a whole big cliff on LaPalma sliding slo-o-o-o-wly into the Atlantic! (Best kind of cliff to leave hanging at the end of the story!) Wonderful job!

Apparently nobody is terribly interested in continuing discussion here except for me. First, thanks for the wonderfully informative answers to my last post. I'm very curious as to the events of chapter nine. I'm guessing that these issues get resolved in upcoming chapters -- but their reactions struck a slightly jarring note.

Well, after that chapter, all I have to say is, it's a good thing that in MY universe, the boys' grandfather shot the Goat!

First, let me say how much I'm enjoying "Summer Internship" (and the Naptown Tales generally, something I've been remiss in complimenting you on, Altimexus). Now, a couple of comments: First, it seems like this is moving somewhat slowly compared to your usual Naptown material -- but that may have to do with the multi-chapter format. You do have your readers wondering what's going to happen next -- the mark of an outstanding writer. Second, I note the planned stories include one with a tragedy that brings everyone back together and ends the series. While it's certainly your prerogative to do this, I had hopes of seeing a story about David's presidency and the (apparent assassination) that ends it -- based on the extensive foreshadowing you've done of that. Are there any plans along that line? Third, asked here because there isn't really an appropriate place, what happened to the second "handicapped" story mentioned as a sort-of-sequal to "Love in a Chair"? I know relocating and a new job screwed up your plans on that, but there's been nothing since -- is it "up on blocks" for the foreseeable future?

There is only one reasonable answer to this poll: :jerry:

For the record, I stopped writing those capsules when almost nobody responded to this thread, figuring that they were not of interest to most GA readers. As W.L. notes, there are a number of stories left unaddressed above (more than he listed, in fact). In fact, W.L. contributes to a collaborative piece due out sometime soon.

That was just amazing! Although the foreshadowing is getting a bit thick on the ground.

CJ's definition of "tense" is obviously, "triangular canvas temporary dwellings in which one can get a restful sleep." (See TalonRider's post elsewhere.)

I must rise to the defense of the Goat (having arranged for him to be shot, stuffed, and mounted in another story). The term "cliff hanger" is customarily used metaphorically, for ending a chapter on a suspenseful note. Clearly, in this case the Goat has not included a traditional metaphorical cliff hanger. His is literal: Wikipedia on Cumbre Vieja

Just for the record, though I'm not particularly a Clay Aiken fan, I do have some background to offer. We are friend with a family who are neighbors and fairly good friends of the Aiken family. They described them as moderately conservative and strong churchgoers. I suspect strongly that serious concerns about family entered into Clay's timing on coming out -- along, of course, with establishing his career (see comments on being out vis-a-vis a music career in "Let the Music Play"). I am glad his mother is standing by him.

Let him know we've got his "guest appearance" drafted for his review, as soon as he's somewhere where he can read it.

Bill, I'm really glad to see you with functioning eyes and back at work on the revisions. Congratulations and best wishes for continued good health! I'm curious about your plans when you've finished revising Book 8. Will you simply revise the final three chapters that "tied off loose ends" in the original version, or will the Currie saga continue on (I hope!!!)?

I found this to be a worthy continuation of this terrific story sequence. My only concern is that it "telegraphs" a lot of future plotline -- although that's based on the assumption that the previsions Altaf was given were accurate statements of a deterministic future, not necessarily a valid assumption. BeaStKid, I noticed that this story takes place less than 200 KM from where you live, though across the border. I wonder if you have any comments about the verisimilitude of what you hear going on over there.

Well, I'll just mention to be careful; you never know where the Goat may pop up! **cackle**

Limericks have always been the vehicle for bawdy verse, both straight and gay. Try your hand at writing one (or if you insist post a classic). Here's one I composed: Said a gay astronaut name of Nigel As he flew with his boyfriend to Rigel, "When in bed I've got him I slide smooth into his bottom Because we use lots of K-Y gel!"

Said the Goat and our Shady Steve As with false clues they hope to deceive, "If you think this is complex, Wait and see what comes next! And Chapter Ten, you just won't believe!"

[snarky political comment mode ON] You mean you never realized what the GOP strategists meant by a "come-from-behind" victory?" [snarky political comment mode OFF]

Truly a sad day for the GBLT movement. In fact, you could argue that the modern fight for gay right egan when Del and Phyllis teamed up with Harry Hay to work together for "homophile rights" back in the 1950s. One poignant note: all the obituaries said: "Her wife Phyllis Lyon was at her bedside as she passed away" or words to that effect. They were a married couple for 55 years, legally recognized as one for less than one -- but that's a cosmic change from the past.

Something that has always worked well for me is to (re-)read an incident of abuse, bullying, self-righteous judgmentalism, etc., and channel the outrage I feel into the anger my character(s) ought to be experiencing in the situation I've set up for them. (If you can do it -- I can only rarely; some can't at all -- "immersing" oneself in one's character, so that I'm feeling his/her reactions, also works well. If you can write first-person, this may be the way to go.)

As regards similar stories, may I recommend Roland's The Unit, hosted on The Story Lover's Home. The basic thesis is, suppose a secret Army project to genetically modify kids to become super soldiers. Now, what happens when one of these kids rebels against his onerous programming and training, and escapes? A caveat: the story is part of the Clan Short Universe family of stories, and while the first 20+ chapters are completely plausible in our world given the assumption of genetic modification, it does end up tying into the main CSU plotline. (I mention this because some people get very upset when the assumptions they've brought to a story get knocked into a cocked hat by the storyline.) ============= I very much loved Kombat Kids, which I read recently and enjoyed greatly. I do have to comment that I have not been able to get into Attack and Response, which I started reading as the announced sequel to KK -- because it requires a familiarity with yet another set of characters that I had not encountered, from the first chapter on. That's not a putdown of the story per se, much less of the other story, but a personal reaction to having been "dumped" into a presumed familiarity with both stories, one of which I hadn't read. I'd love to see a "true sequel" to KK that deals with what happened between KK and A&R.