tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904298510069073946.post185761685573099966..comments2024-01-21T11:22:28.211-08:00Comments on The Ants Of God Are Queer Fish: Reading the Argo Cycle part 2 - Archipelago Ch. 1: Hans & Marie & the Poetry-Eating SquirrelsDaniel Otto Jack Petersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07278782665152906956noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904298510069073946.post-66428198090210404542021-05-27T10:22:59.347-07:002021-05-27T10:22:59.347-07:00I keep returning to this passage. It works even be...I keep returning to this passage. It works even better read aloud. When I got to the punchline "... wallabies can't read" my son cracked up. <br /><br />It is very patiently written and demands patient reading. We start with the reverie on green eyes, clacissism, and the color "vair". This sets the tone, and prepares us for what to expect. Then we have two tall tales in Marie's imagined voice about Her Hochheimer and Belloc/Biloxi before launching into the tall tale about Shakes Pearson. <br /><br />There is an often obeyed unwritten rule of threes in storytelling. In the overarching structure of this passage, Lafferty does give us three tall tales. However, the story of Shakes has four parts, giving us six tall-tale interludes. This allows for four verses of Hans' poetry. Why take so much time to let these thoughts full out? In part because this is a drunken reverie, and the thoughts meander like that. But underneath that he brings he brings it to s close with laser-like focus. Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04415345283350861149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904298510069073946.post-14628447032627326062016-03-11T10:31:31.374-08:002016-03-11T10:31:31.374-08:00In some ways this is a very complex passage. At fi...In some ways this is a very complex passage. At first, it is straight narrative explanation that Hans is in love, but then it transitions into Hans' reverie about Marie's eyes and classical allusions to green. There is no clear point of transition, but you realize at some point that the point of view has shifted from an external narrator to Hans' own internal stream of thought. Then Marie's voice in his head transitions very cleverly to her voice in their actual conversation, though that transition is signaled concretely by the two sentences, "Marie talked so in Hans’ mind as he waited for her at the Lotus Eaters. Then she came in person and sat down with him."<br /><br />Kevin Cheekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17615258563790520320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904298510069073946.post-27500804754061156602016-02-25T10:10:08.798-08:002016-02-25T10:10:08.798-08:00Gregorio, I couldn't have said it better (or e...Gregorio, I couldn't have said it better (or even that good). Thanks.<br /><br />Curtis, good to have you here! 'And Walk Now Gently Through the Fire' was about the fourth or so story I read by Lafferty (this was back in the mid 90s) and it lit a fire under me with its wonderfully odd theological/spiritual theme mixed with the kind of post-apocalyptic ecosystem setting. It's been a favourite story for me ever since and is probably what catalysed me into starting on the long, thrilling journey of collecting everything by Lafferty that I could. Hope to see you round!Daniel Otto Jack Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07278782665152906956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904298510069073946.post-88710217695740468882016-02-25T07:29:45.473-08:002016-02-25T07:29:45.473-08:00hmmm. i 'was' or 'am?" the "...hmmm. i 'was' or 'am?" the "PurplePoet" just above. Just added my 'name and url' which i have not done before. Sorry. When i said i was 'new' i meant it. i mean i am rather old, but 'new' to this.Curtis Delk Rosehttp://www.touchingtheimpossible.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904298510069073946.post-51543172134903787172016-02-25T07:24:36.354-08:002016-02-25T07:24:36.354-08:00Just about as new to this as a sperm cell, but ‘An...Just about as new to this as a sperm cell, but ‘And Walk Now Gently Through the Fire’ infected me shortly after it was injected into the book world, (never to be forgotten!) and now Y'all are making me want to read everything Lafferty has written. "Thank You for Your contribution to my continuing education!"PurplePoethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10133634352734452307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904298510069073946.post-47095699625913941042016-02-25T05:46:31.734-08:002016-02-25T05:46:31.734-08:00In some ways this is Lafferty at his most Joycean;...In some ways this is Lafferty at his most Joycean; this almost reads like a lost episode from Ulysses in the way that the passages shift effortlessly from one subject to another subject, and even from time frame to time frame (classical, medieval, modern), all without losing the thread of the narrative. Yet it is still uniquely stamped in every line by Lafferty's signature use of language and humor. As you say, this is vintage Lafferty.Gregorio Montejohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680587833045387301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904298510069073946.post-40050473658347617952016-02-24T23:50:21.197-08:002016-02-24T23:50:21.197-08:00So glad to hear it cracks you up! It really tickl...So glad to hear it cracks you up! It really tickles me too, especially the more times I read it. It's such an involved passage that I wasn't sure others would see much of the humour in it. I've also been the one being looked at as I bark loud laughter. But only by my family at home so far, heh.Daniel Otto Jack Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07278782665152906956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904298510069073946.post-57150865987334488482016-02-24T16:46:28.929-08:002016-02-24T16:46:28.929-08:00This is dangerous to read at work. At first I coul...This is dangerous to read at work. At first I could suppress the chuckle, but as it grew into an irrepressible gasping guffaw, I was getting looks from my co-workers. Fortunately, they're used to me by now.Kevin Cheekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17615258563790520320noreply@blogger.com