Former Member

LOL that is so funny. I do realize I'm trying to 'sell' you the idea of Denmark as a nice holiday place, but why not ? It will get less as the story progresses, but it's also because if people complain about a lack of descriptions or they want to know what Danish food is like, I can tell them to check out the forum.

The Amazing Race episode in Denmark said that Copenhagen was just rated the best place to live in Europe by some lifestyle magazine. So it must have a lot going for it    

I look forward to each new chapter - but I also look forward to Headstall's comments. Reading them makes the story even more poignant and important and beautiful. So thank you AC for a sad, but hopeful chapter    and thank you Gary for another stunning review.

I agree! Gary, please keep your comments coming, they add so much to every story they grace on GA.

This is a reply to ColumbusGuy's chapter one review left here: https://www.gayauthors.org/story/ac-benus/thecodewordnovellafive/chapterreviews/1

Thank you, ColumbusGuy! In terms of the poems, I clearly remember there being a section on WW1 poets in our 8^th grade reader. The more and more I think about what we were actually exposed to, the more impressed I am with my formative education. That 8^th grade book had Steinbeck's Red Pony, Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream (which Miss Horrell had us act out with costumes and props, etc – and I played 'The Wall,' or the actor who was playing the wall in the 'play within a play' section), and other stories that I'm sure I can recall later on. Beyond that, Miss Horrell challenged me with some major reading assignments to do 'book reports' on. I mean, were other kids given Great Expectations to read at age thirteen..? I know I was! And of course, she knew. She knew I'd love it and get a lot from it. In terms of the poems in this novella, I was inspired to create my own based on all the wonderful and basically out poets of the time, like Siegfried Sassoon and his love Wilfred Owen. Wings is one of the greatest same-sex romance movies of all times, the winner of the very first Academy Award for Best Picture, and the film that made my 10-year-old father bawl like a baby at the kiss scene. He told me all about it himself. I hope you watched the small clip I attached showing just the kiss, as those two actors really are incredibly handsome (and hot!).   

About the time settings, I don’t make a big deal about them, because the story is contemporary with the way American kids act both today and 'back then.' But the first novella is set in the spring of 1978, and the clue is that Simon, thinking back to last summer, remembers being told that Star Wars is a new movie (which came out in '77). In Farther Along, all the songs playing on the radio are hits from April 1979. In From the Depths, Jodie talks about the newest movies, like Midnight Express, and the sequel to Halloween, and Paxton's car is a brand new 1980 Nissan Z (plus Dustin's obsession with Queen). In Unafraid, this is the spring of 1981, and Simon talks of his covetous feeling towards two of another boy's handheld computer games – Blip and Digital Derby – both of which I had in the 7^th grade (hehe).

http://retrothing.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83452989a69e2012877a5c8a7970c-pi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynv-xpN25JE (Seeing it in action again really makes me smile!)

So now with The Codeword, we are in April of 1982. All the novellas are set in spring, as Simon is in the spring of his life, and I make much of the sight and scents of the natural world around him to compare and contrast with the closed-in feel he gets about the life the adults have chosen to lead. 

This ties into your last point that Simon is better grounded, and he is now that he has left the Church behind. You shall see more of this as the novella unfolds; he is however still pretty clueless, especially on the vibe about Blakie that Jodie is laying down for him to pick up. Ah, boys – we can be so dumb sometimes!      

Thank you for a great review!

Well, I like where the series of flash pieces is going. I think there is lots of subtle stuff for readers to pick up on, and I hope Jay can help Miles see himself as deserving of a shot at love. 

Cheers!  

Silly Author - That's a no brainer - He forgot Kristin was coming to Denmark as well, and Evan and Jacob can't be there because it makes it soooooo much harder for things like comparing how alike or different the twins are in some areas and for momma to tell embarrassing stories about when they were little! If they were present the conversations would be interspersed with "Don't tell him that!" and all sorts of things that would potentially change the subject and end the important part of the conversation.

Well, in defense of my brain (or what's left of it ), I certainly remembered that Sis is coming too, but my suggestion is based on notion that Russell is dying with curiosity about how the whole "Evan and Chris thing" works. He naturally wants to compare/contrast the similarities and differences between his own reality with Jacob. He would want to get Chris alone, but it would be cute if the twins' mom finagles her way into the mix as well - she'll have just as much motivation to assure herself that Chris and Jacob are suitable spouses for her boys.

So I think, Kitt, you are I are perfectly aligned in our thoughts - now it's up to Timothy M to 'make us happy!' Hehehe 

Not to change the subject, BUT (lol), The Amazing Race just visited Copenhagen and I would like you - Tim - to write in a visit to Ida Davidsen for the visitors! Come on, do. It could be fun as maybe a place for Chris, Isa and Russel to get to know one another, especially as it will be the first chance for any of them to get acquainted (and you'd want to do away from the pressures of Evan and Jacob). 

hint, hint

Hi everybody,

I took the liberty of posting my own attempt at the challenge. Let me know what you think, and yes - the second one is meant to humorous 

https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/blog/513/entry-14908-poetry-prompt-2-haiku/

I saw above that AC is a fan of Space: 1999, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one out there!  I have always had a weakness for science-fiction in any format--most of my library is that or historical.  Of course, we now conjecture that the loss of the Moon would be a huge disaster altering our axial tilt and rotational speed, but that was incidental back in the '70s. 

 

Several observations I have about the series: I always liked Barry Morse who played the chief scientist--some thought he was dry and boring, but not me.  I also thought the blond Eagle pilot was hot, although the sideburns populart then were a big turn-off.

 

The second season I thought was a let-down since the show had then been tailored to sell in the American market--I think that's why there wasn't more of it--the old fans hated the new style, and the new Americans thought it was too 'stuffy'.  I never caught on to the Maia character, though her powers were cool.

 

This just occurred to me thinking about it: am I the only one who sees the communicator devices as vaguely penis-shaped?  Now the image of talking into one could make you squirm.

 

On a semi-related note: I loved three movies from the mid-70s, Planet Earth, Genesis II and Strange New World..all about coming back from suspended animation to a devastated Earth...all were by Gene Roddenberry.

Can't forget either, the Logan's Run movie and tv series, which sorta sucked, but that brings up a tv series called Ark II, which was pretty neat.

About Earth devastation, there was an episode of the show in which the moon and the survivors somehow swung back around to within hailing distance of Earth. The planet was in total shambles, as the pull away and loss of the moon wrecked the entire 'old' ecological balance. 

I have both series one and series two on DVD. When i first got them a few years ago, i was pleasantly surprised to see series one really was as 'dark' as i remember it as a kid. It is psychologically tense, and sometimes down right driven to be a horror show. I completely agree that series two took a turn, but in my mind it was an attempt to 'lighten the show up.' Perhaps you are right in thinking that this shift slightly alienated the old viewers, and failed to garner any new ones - so the show was dropped. 

I still feel the first series, with all of it dark introspection, is still among the very best SciFi out there. The pilot episode i've attached above is a great foretaste of the show's oevrall mindset. These people are alone, and the crush of space gets into their heads and drives them mad. 

Thanks ColumbusGuy for your comments!  

OMG I just realized that I did see Space 1999 as a kid and loved it ! But on Danish TV it was called Moonbase Alpha, so I didn't catch on when AC mentioned it. Maia was the character who could shape-shift, right ?

Wow, buddy! If you had just peeped at the vid i attached you would have seen Maia et al! lol. Somehow i knew you loved it, and don't ask me how....

I'm sorry AC, I thought that much more time had passed since he saw Ralph in the vestry...I got the idea that the Dustin episode happened in between those incidents.   And, while a Lutheran kid, we didn't put kids through spritually claustrophobic schooling beyond Sunday School and Catechism lessons--which I managed not to take since we couldn't go at that time due to my father's two jobs.

 

Well, you are not mistaken. The Ralph meeting in the vestry was three years ago, but Simon had no idea what was going on until last week. No idea until the priest laid a hand on Simon's leg; that was the moment that Simon 'understood' the probability of why Ralph had been so upset, and why all the warnings were going around about never being alone with the priest. Up until that point, Simon really did not imagine anything like that was possible. That all changed 

Here are some thoughts on Chapter 4 of Unafraid:

 

I was going to review it, but I need to think about it--so many things raging and warring inside: Father Strathmore's hypocrisy and cold-heartedness, Simon's slow withdrawal from his surety in Catholocism--but not yet ready to see the Church for the hollow institution it is, the betrayal of Terry and his self-deception, and his concern for Jodie.  I was so sure that Strathmore was going to molest him, and wanted to scream for him.

 

I don't know these things, but is it possible for Simon to refuse Confession and still go to school?  And why do we not hear anything of his parents?  Can't they see anything going on with him?  Are they religiously intolerant also?

 

Okay, got this out somewhat logically.

 

And, thinking some more just a minute ago in a private message to AC:

 

I saw that everyone was generally so upbeat about Simon being more courageous, but it seems to me that it is coming at too great a cost right now, and is making him hesitant or unwilling to admit his disaffection with the Church.

 

Jodie tried to tell him to confess only those things which were true sins, and not anything he thought was not the Church's concern--alas, he was still too programmed to do that.

Thank you, ColumbusGuy for posting your thoughts here.

The forum is best for a back and forth, as everyone can participate.

I think Simon does not know how much power he has. He is unaware how 'frightening' he is to the very balance that Terry and Father Strathmore need to keep their unhealthy equilibrium. So in that regard, I too feel he's heroic and triumphal when he stands up and calls 'bullshit' on both of those men. He still is troubled though, and you say it best when you talk of his "slow withdrawal from his surety in Catholicism." He is coming to wonder what's so holy about all of it, if it comes from a place not connected to a human heart.

The next and final part contains the final puzzle piece that Simon needs.

I am so glad you asked about his parents, because if you remember in the first novella, Simon is asked why he and his parents do not come to church regularly on Sunday. Simon's answer is basically that his folks like to sleep in. So, they are not religiously intolerant; they are religiously passive. Simon has not relayed to them that anything is amiss, because remember Simon only figured out what happened to Ralph one week ago. The question now becomes, who can he confide in? And, will be feel safe enough to do so.

And I agree, he should have listened to Jodie, but then again, when he said that he kissed a boy he was answering a direct question about what he and Terry were up to. It's Strathmore who then told Simon it was wrong, although Simon never really thought that. (That was such a nerve-racking tightrope to walk when writing that scene, it gave me panic attacks that it would all seem forced, but I think it worked out.)    

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts here      

Late to the poetry prompt party again!

 

Haikus Here: https://www.gayauthors.org/story/percy/mygawritingprompts/7

Thanks for joining, there's always room! 

Ha, yes. I pictured snow-cones too at first, maybe because I'm closer to winter than summer here.

 

Oh, and I'd like trying to write a sonett some time.

Aditus, I have been thinking about the steps needed to 'get there' with the Sonnet. Please stay tuned and Irri and i can work our way through the process. It might take a few prompts, but it should be fun trying.   

I gave it a try.

 

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/dolores-esteban/gawritingprompts/51

Dolores, I really like your spring cleaning poem. An open window is a great metaphor for the transition from season to season!

 

I didn't think I could get into these but reading these haiku's has really made me think. I really like these so far!

Here is mine. Spent the entire day learning what a haiku was, sad since I lived in Japan for several years and never heard of them. But all well, learn something new everyday.

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/rook-lee/prompt/2

 

Rook Lee, i am really impressed with your hunting Haiku. I know there are lots of Tanka and other Japanese poems about hunting as a ritual of autumn, but i don't think i have ever seen one in English. It's a great idea.    

 

Don't have a place elsewhere to post my attempts (yet,) but here goes:

 

1. In a secluded patch of nature

 

 

Butterflies flying –

 

Here, there and everywhere

 

On blossoms alight.

 

 

 

2. Urban Sight

 

 

Ice balls, topping cones,

 

Licking, slurping, tongue-twirling –

 

Small children delight.

 

I agree with Jaro. I love the 'ice balls' - that's the exact kind of summer image i hoped to see, one that is a couple steps beyond the usual, LOL. To my mind that speaks of summer just as well as anything else. But, i have to say that when i read it, i pictured snow-cones as opposed to ice cream. Either way, both poems are great.  

Was wondering what happened to the poetry prompts Well, back to the drawing/writing board. Thanks for an enlightening lesson on the Haiku!

Thanks Rano. We are shooting for a fresh poetry prompt to appear towards the beginning of every month. If you have any ideas, or a have a form of set verse that you have always wondered about, please feel free to shout it out.

And naturally, that goes for everyone! I love a challenge too. 

Such an interesting post on Haiku, Al. I'm very impressed with your information. Thanks for the inspiration. Will get busy!

Thank you, Jaro! I am a poet first, and prose dabbler second  

Such an interesting post on Haiku, Al. I'm very impressed with your information. Thanks for the inspiration. Will get busy!

Thanks for your comment, and for your participation!!! 

Me.

Can't wait to check it out!

Ok, I don't know why it seems so difficult compared to a tanka! It's like those two extra lines last month have ruined my discipline completely. I've had to write one "personal" haiku  just to limber up.

Right, these are harder. I agree

The first chapter of the fourth Novella is up. This story has never been published on GA before, and I can't wait to see what you think of it.

I may be wrong, but I think this is the first time you are seeing the title... Is that correct, Tim? I would be interested to find out your initial reaction - for as you know, I struggled with the name of the piece.   

 

Dragør see http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag%C3%B8r

I always like to see how wildly different Wiki pages are in various languages. Above is Timothy M's original Danish page, and here is the more paltry English language version 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag%C3%B8r

I for one am always amazed at how other people can reflect and comment upon a work I have written in ways that make me see greater significance. Through a personal message exchange on GA I have given recent attention to what exactly the relationship between Jake and his father means in the first novella, Judas Tree.

It suddenly seems profoundly clear to me, and I can say I had never framed it in quite this understanding, but the way we see Jake's father bully and abuse his son because of a perceived trait (which in this case is a cruel assumption that the young man is Gay) is the way intolerant religious dogma tells LGTB youth that God perceives and wants to punish them.

In the novella, Jake's father 'blames' his son for a trait, that if it exists, is as inborn as the boy's chestnut-colored hair. So in that same light, haters who prop-up a rueful God say He does the same to Gay people – granting an inborn feature that He is then supposed to hate. The manic nastiness, and physical abuse of Jake's father, is a mirror to show the intolerant of same-sex love what they are creating as a god-image, and that it is frightening and sad. His father creates a living hell for the boy, to punish him for the way his father made him, and everyone can see this attitude of a 'caregiver' must be wrong. Wrong, because as Simon ponders, God's love must be greater than even the greatest love a mother or father can bless upon their children.       

So Novella Three has been concluded with two chapters posted at the same time. Thank you for not making us wait, AC. I'm glad I don't have to be depressed for a week before the catharsis of the last chapter. I can spend the rest of the weekend contented in knowing that Simon and Dustin had a whole spring of innocent friendship - and a nice summer in front of them.

Thank you, Timothy M for all of your generous support.