So, I know people want some news on the wedding but, honestly at this point Erik and I are just enjoying being engaged--we haven't even set a date yet. We are thankful for all the (albeit unsolicited) advice from our friends and family on marriage though. It will probably be in California somewhere because we both love it here, it's just getting Erik's family over here and hoping some of his groomsmen make parole.
The Arcadians
A majority of this story changed drastically from what I planned it to be. It was originally more of a Da Vinci Code type thing where Alan's meaning of life, his world is turned completely upside down but, it over time became more socially conscious and something different. The idea for the Arcadian came from LiLe who asked me a question about Middle America back in chapter 3 or 4.
In this reality Middle America is empty except for Neo-Luddites who choose to live there. So, Arcadia refers to what was formerly Arcadia, Wisconsin. There are some little notes about it so, I will put them in list form :
* Eau Gaulle (Shai's last name) is a city in Wisconsin and so is Paris, his uncle's first name. Saron and Shai (pronounced Shy) are just names I like.
* The townships headquarters architecture is based on the Georgia State Capitol with the gold dome.
* This fictional Arcadia landscape is based on Middlebury College in Vermont.
The Neo-Luddites are based on the Quakers in Uncle Tom's Cabin. Having a group like the Quakers was an idea I always had for this piece and it was always inspired by the Quakers in that novel. The idea of taking care of strangers no matter what their past deeds had been or what brought them there. In fact, the Quaker family in the novel, the Hallidays have the same name as the Hallidays in the serial: Ruth, Rachel and Siamyn (which is a version of Simon so, it has nothing to do with fish. I changed the spelling so no one would catch on)
Side Note and Musings, um Ramblings ?
On a side note, Vincenzo Natali the director of Splice will be directing the film version of William Gibson's Neuromancer, one of the books I based some of the characteristics of this serial off of. I myself stand in awe of this mans work even if I can't follow half of it.
On that note, I like Lile re-read comments and someone asked me why I did not use a female protagonist. I don't have a reason except that Alan just came to me as a complete character. I will say that one of my issues with some CP short stories and books is the not so great female characters, I do kind of feel some of these authors (who are usually always male, have not come across one female) struggle with writing good females. There are certain words referring to the female anatomy you should not use in a sex scene . . .
In some sense Sara was my answer to this. I wanted to write a strong female character and in some sense she is the main character and Alan is just the plot device.
Does that make sense ? I didn't think so, I'll come back to this rambling later.
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Playlist
-1-Cello Suite #1 -- Bach/ YoYo Ma ( I like this music for a certain reason)
-2-Taking Over Me-- Evanescence (one of the songs from my original concept playlist. I know I need to stop with the "emo" music)
-3-Hazy by - Rosi G ( Thanks Pandora !)
Oh, so was I on to something then or did you already have that taken care of ? I can't believe that thing about women in CP, although is it really better for women in any other genre (I'm looking at you Dan Brown)
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny how he meets Allison and Allison is the reason Alan met Sara and the gang.
ReplyDeleteYou are so Lucky I wish I was engaged ):
ReplyDeleteIt's so weird how a search of Arcadia and De Gaulle don't turn anything up.
I never really got the sense that Allison was the 'other girl' until this chapter, he seems so desperate to save her. Although I also forgot about her as a character too. . . Brick Character ? maybe.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm am totally adding Allison to the AI potential list.
ReplyDeleteI like how the table of contents is easier to manage.
ReplyDeleteIt seems so nice in Arcadia, they should all just stay there.
ReplyDelete"I could break my arm ?,"
"No, the gun," she said
LOL, love it.
You and JB make me wish I'd paid more attention in English class so I could get all these amazing references.
ReplyDeleteIs the point of the bomb to kill people, the technology or both ?
WHY ! Alan why are you always screwing up *headdesk* er. . . not that I want them to kill people. . . but still
ReplyDeleteThat character from Neuromancer was Belle right ?
ReplyDeleteI totes see the Da Vinci code-ness of this web serial ecspecically with the "truths" and histories mentioned.
Oh, I love Georgia (ATL ! ! ! ) I should have known
ReplyDeleteI hope they don't kill Allison, she is so innocent.
I'm a little afraid of how you did the research to build a bomb . . . .
ReplyDeleteEveytime I hear the Cello suite all I think of is that smiley face American Express commercial, which is why it was a nice background sound for Arcadia.
ReplyDeleteEh, the Hallidays are great and all but it seems like Sara and the gang are taking advantage of them by using them as a front to kill people.
ReplyDelete"I could break my arm ?,"
ReplyDelete"No, the gun,"
Love it, Sara is an awesome character.
I suppose it's because so much of Alan's interaction with Sara is indirect but it feels like he is sort of a one man band with sidekicks.
ReplyDeleteKeep the emo music coming Shawna, it really sets the mood. Is Rosi G an Indy artist ?
ReplyDelete"Just wait here, they are harmless," I said referring to the Dorys. . . I mean except that Minnie's a drug addict going through withdrawl oh, and watch out for Jean he hides knives on him.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I had to.
^ *dies*
ReplyDeleteThe title of the post was so misleading I was afraid there was no update. This chapter seemed short but it had some sweet moments (Well, Minnie and Jean anyway)
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really heroic the way Alan saved Allison. I also like how the first letters in their names are AL
ReplyDeleteYa know you could have called Simon The Quaker From THat One Book, and I still wouldn't have figured it out because it's not on google.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to think no one is AI, just saying.
ReplyDeleteAlso I hate it when men use .. . terms, uh !
Vincenzo Natali, is too cool of a name for a guy from the midwest ! Will you and Erik be going to see the movie.
ReplyDeleteIs alan a plot device ? I mean wouldn't the events that took place in the web serial happen weather he was there or not. I was glad that he wasn't some type of Macguffin.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the first chapters there is a slight shift in the tone the web serial takes, though I find this version highly entertaining.
ReplyDeleteLavendar and Bark tea, eh ? Is that a real thing. People seem to like thier tea in the future.
ReplyDelete*goes to Teavana*
Am I the only one who wants to know what Sara did with the flowers, I mean did she give them to her kids ? Use them to make the bomb ?
ReplyDelete^ oh, shiz I see. She used the vase for the bomb.
ReplyDeleteWhen Alan sees Allison he says he put the bomb in his pocket. How big is the bomb ?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the "proximity block " was invented with the help of JB !
ReplyDelete^second
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteLinda-- You were on to something. I'd love to hear what you have to say on Dan Brown. I mean I do think his females are a little flat.
CranberriVodka-- It is kind of funny but, they did put a planning into why they took Alan. I will get into this later.
Picture_girl-- You have to google Arcadia and Wisconin together and their tourism page shows up.
Carleigh-- He is saving her because he doesn't want to hurt her family. In my head they flirtedd some but were never very intense. I suppose she is a brick character
Picturegirl-- There is a list ?
Lorrie C- Yeah, glad you noticed. They would all go crazy there. To them is is the equivalent of being Amish.
LOTR_Mom- I thought it was funny too ! I love those kind of jokes.
Nurse Tine RO-- What a username,Tina ! It is to destroy the technology and the lives are secondary to them.
Maylights-- Yes, he screwed up but he did it for a good reason.
Ashyln-- Belle, Minnow and Sara are inspired by Molly Millions in Neuromancer and Allison is inspired by a character in a different story . . .
Trichelle -- I love it too, ecspecially the housewives ! *guilty pleasure*
Sawlisa-- honestly I didn't do any because I am to paranoid to type bomb in a search engine. I really am.
HappyApple-- It just felt like good montage music to me. I don't remember the commercial.
Marcia-- They kind of are but, Sara only builds the bomb outside the Arcadia Township so they have no idea at all what she is doing.
Biteme-- I love it too !
Natalie-- Let me look up that trope and get back to you.
Clementine-- I have no clue but she was on Pandora.
Darcy_lover-- lol, seriously. You make a good point.
Princess- I miss writing longer chapters, I really do. I am trying to make them longer.
CAgirl-- Yes, that is odd on my part but, I love that name for her so much !
Heidi- Actually if you google that phrase the wiki page on UCT is the third link.
Tabby- It is really odd. I'm not saying you shouldn't talk about the female body at all but, for a sex scene that is supposed to be "sensual" don't use the the L term,
Silver_Phoenix- I'm not sure. The story in itself is pretty complex, but why not !
sugarcoookie-- he kind of is a plot device. If it weren't for Alan they would have killed Morriseey successfully the first time and never found the Life Summit.
Calista - I agree with that and I may have an explanation. I was just wetting my feet at that point, though.
RedRose-- I'm not sure but, bark is what people used before Aspirin for pain and Lavendar has calming properties.
MakeMeLALA-- I see her throwing them in the trash. She only wanted the vase.
'Nillalatte-- The bomb is the size of a baseball but, guys have deep pockets
October S & LiLe-- Not even close. I knew I'd have some explaining to do with this one.
Thanks you guys !