I am guessing that this amounts to a prolegomena of the later stories. (Given that I have read only two and part of another so far.) Hopelessness and boredom figure in those. Not explained is how he got there. Was he able to use automata that are now withdrawn, leaving only the machines of torture visible to him? Or do conspirators live and breathe elsewhere? Or did the ruthless ones, their work at the remote house complete, climb into a vehicle rigged to detonate once they were far removed? Perhaps the victim and the planner are not one. The planner a reflection of the victim and we, in turn, our own reflection of him? What a delicious gift this writer has.
Wow, Ananymous. You are very kind. And you have a prodigious... vocabulary. I had to look up "prolegomena" ("preliminary discussion"), which I guess is a pretty accurate description.
I'm glad you enjoyed the story, and thank you for you kind compliments.
In the mind of every person who perceives pain as the excrescence of life then this must be the only possible disposal of themselves allowing full implementation of their fantasies but full well knowing that to the true lover of pain, that inflicted on others can only be prologue to what they must have for themselves.
I am guessing that this amounts to a prolegomena of the later stories. (Given that I have read only two and part of another so far.) Hopelessness and boredom figure in those. Not explained is how he got there. Was he able to use automata that are now withdrawn, leaving only the machines of torture visible to him? Or do conspirators live and breathe elsewhere? Or did the ruthless ones, their work at the remote house complete, climb into a vehicle rigged to detonate once they were far removed? Perhaps the victim and the planner are not one. The planner a reflection of the victim and we, in turn, our own reflection of him? What a delicious gift this writer has.
ReplyDeleteWow, Ananymous. You are very kind. And you have a prodigious... vocabulary. I had to look up "prolegomena" ("preliminary discussion"), which I guess is a pretty accurate description.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the story, and thank you for you kind compliments.
Are the victim and the planner the same person?
ReplyDeleteAdam -
ReplyDeleteYes, you got it. This is a suicide scenario.
- POW
It's one of those stories that, when you finish reading, you discover you've been holding your breath until the end. Not many around do that to me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, slave! That is quite a compliment. I'm glad the story captured your interest like that.
DeleteIn the mind of every person who perceives pain as the excrescence of life then this must be the only possible disposal of themselves allowing full implementation of their fantasies but full well knowing that to the true lover of pain, that inflicted on others can only be prologue to what they must have for themselves.
ReplyDelete