SERIOUSLY, I AM FREAKING OUT WITH GLEE HERE. CAPSLOCKING, EVEN.
Okay, I can get myself under control. This is so, so, so unbelievably excellent and fabulous, and ohmy. I am angry at myself for not getting to see this sooner! (Was unexpectedly away, and oh, I was worried that I would miss this. But I did not!)
This is perfect! Not only in a control freak "yay, exactly what I wanted!" kind of way, but in every other way as well. The setting! I am not the only one enticed by these odd AU settings, hooray. I really like the way in which the time, setting, and so many things can be completely changed, but there are still solid constants to Hotspur, and his world. All the rhetoric in the original that seems so, well, weird, and mostly a cover for grabbing power rings true here, and I'm not sure if it's Hotspur's essential honesty, or the political climate, but it finally works, here.
Oh! Let me say a few more adulatory things. I adore the first line in a completely, uh, Platonic way. After the war, Hotspur doesn't trot off to school like what mates he had could afford it--smacks to him of middle-class pretensions, and he's one to call a spade a spade. Oh my. I've been thinking about first lines, and this one captures the tensions in the plot, and Hotspur, as well as presaging everything that is to come. The structure of it is lovely, as well; it's peculiar, but that would be how he thinks.
Easier if the fragments have no names. OH. I just re-read Pat Barker's Regeneration, and some of those scary combat sequences have just stuck with me. (As they are supposed to, I get it. Thanks for your useless platitudes, Barker. ANYWAY.) I think that this section, and indeed, so much of the story, reflects how much Hotspur has been shattered by the war, and the overwhelmingly impersonal nature of it all. Which, of course, I am realizing, is what would probably terrify Hotspur the most, the generalized and inescapable nature of modern combat. That is why he is so compelling, though; because that freaks everyone out, and he's not an outlier at all, in emotional ways, even as he's physically far braver than most. (Or all.)
Speaking of! Hal! I generally don't have much of an opinion, either way, but lately I've been wondering about how much of a jerk he actually is, and clearly, the answer is a REALLY BIG ONE. Hotspur had asked, standing with his back to the sluggish water at the base of the valley. "Not much," Hal had answered flippantly, and seriously, for real, I nearly died here. The mood is perfect, even in a few words, and Hal is exactly as he would have been, to Hotspur. That is, kind of a jerk, and not exactly sure where he stands with anyone, much less the Northumberlands.
Alright, this comment is not all about me, but I have a short thing to freak out with happiness at, and that is the appearance of Northumberland Senior and Kate. Terrific characters, and without nearly enough attention, and you have absolutely done them justice here.
(W)hen the king's guard had opened fire Hotspur hadn't even thought. Just like shooting grouse in August. GOOD HEAVENS, AUTHOR-PERSON. That is simply totally great, and I already know that it will stick in my head pretty much forever, because this AU did happen, and it did happen this way, and it is so perfect, I cannot even think anymore. I know this is getting awkwardly postmodern, but things should have happened this way (well, not that I would actually wish death on anyone, but) and if I want it hard enough, it will be true.
AND THE LAST TWO PARAGRAPHS. Everything is so wrong, but here, this is how things could have gone, and it's completely compelling, and quietly a disaster. Oh, Hotspur. Oh, entire world.
This is the most wonderful thing I could ask for ever, except I didn't really ask for it, and it is your beautiful brain, and intelligent mind, anonymous author-person, and okay, there is no good way to end that sentence. Wonderful and amazing, and I may have to pepper you with questions about this, and I am preemptively sorry for sounding like a creep in this, but oh, this is just so good. So very very good.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-08-04 04:41 am (UTC)OHMY.
SERIOUSLY, I AM FREAKING OUT WITH GLEE HERE. CAPSLOCKING, EVEN.
Okay, I can get myself under control. This is so, so, so unbelievably excellent and fabulous, and ohmy. I am angry at myself for not getting to see this sooner! (Was unexpectedly away, and oh, I was worried that I would miss this. But I did not!)
This is perfect! Not only in a control freak "yay, exactly what I wanted!" kind of way, but in every other way as well. The setting! I am not the only one enticed by these odd AU settings, hooray. I really like the way in which the time, setting, and so many things can be completely changed, but there are still solid constants to Hotspur, and his world. All the rhetoric in the original that seems so, well, weird, and mostly a cover for grabbing power rings true here, and I'm not sure if it's Hotspur's essential honesty, or the political climate, but it finally works, here.
Oh! Let me say a few more adulatory things. I adore the first line in a completely, uh, Platonic way. After the war, Hotspur doesn't trot off to school like what mates he had could afford it--smacks to him of middle-class pretensions, and he's one to call a spade a spade. Oh my. I've been thinking about first lines, and this one captures the tensions in the plot, and Hotspur, as well as presaging everything that is to come. The structure of it is lovely, as well; it's peculiar, but that would be how he thinks.
Easier if the fragments have no names. OH. I just re-read Pat Barker's Regeneration, and some of those scary combat sequences have just stuck with me. (As they are supposed to, I get it. Thanks for your useless platitudes, Barker. ANYWAY.) I think that this section, and indeed, so much of the story, reflects how much Hotspur has been shattered by the war, and the overwhelmingly impersonal nature of it all. Which, of course, I am realizing, is what would probably terrify Hotspur the most, the generalized and inescapable nature of modern combat. That is why he is so compelling, though; because that freaks everyone out, and he's not an outlier at all, in emotional ways, even as he's physically far braver than most. (Or all.)
Speaking of! Hal! I generally don't have much of an opinion, either way, but lately I've been wondering about how much of a jerk he actually is, and clearly, the answer is a REALLY BIG ONE. Hotspur had asked, standing with his back to the sluggish water at the base of the valley. "Not much," Hal had answered flippantly, and seriously, for real, I nearly died here. The mood is perfect, even in a few words, and Hal is exactly as he would have been, to Hotspur. That is, kind of a jerk, and not exactly sure where he stands with anyone, much less the Northumberlands.
Alright, this comment is not all about me, but I have a short thing to freak out with happiness at, and that is the appearance of Northumberland Senior and Kate. Terrific characters, and without nearly enough attention, and you have absolutely done them justice here.
(W)hen the king's guard had opened fire Hotspur hadn't even thought. Just like shooting grouse in August. GOOD HEAVENS, AUTHOR-PERSON. That is simply totally great, and I already know that it will stick in my head pretty much forever, because this AU did happen, and it did happen this way, and it is so perfect, I cannot even think anymore. I know this is getting awkwardly postmodern, but things should have happened this way (well, not that I would actually wish death on anyone, but) and if I want it hard enough, it will be true.
AND THE LAST TWO PARAGRAPHS. Everything is so wrong, but here, this is how things could have gone, and it's completely compelling, and quietly a disaster. Oh, Hotspur. Oh, entire world.
This is the most wonderful thing I could ask for ever, except I didn't really ask for it, and it is your beautiful brain, and intelligent mind, anonymous author-person, and okay, there is no good way to end that sentence. Wonderful and amazing, and I may have to pepper you with questions about this, and I am preemptively sorry for sounding like a creep in this, but oh, this is just so good. So very very good.