Hee! I hope Bucer has proven more engaging as the day has gone on.
Even though said something about having a Grand Theory that this fic would extrapolate, I'm not sure it is so much a theory where all the pieces fit, as opposed to some really interesting connections I was noticing and wanted to poke at. Yes, I did intend to write Laura as the final Cylon--but also Number One, the first Cylon--and I think there's at least a decent chance I'm right about that. And her role is like that of Athena's--yet Sharon is also Athena, I think (both literally, in her call sign, but figuratively as the immortal who was so attached to humanity that she would give up her immortality). I can't keep the actual cycles straight in my head, so I'm not sure whether Athena's death brought on the current cycle of time or not.
What I wanted to do with time was more to look at cyclical time and linear time together and play with them a bit. In her Razor commentary, danceswithwords mentioned that for a people who believe in cyclical time, bringing the human race to its end must indeed seem apocalyptic: if time is cyclical, there is no end. But then I remembered that "apocalypse" actually means "revelation"--and probably should only mean "revelation" in BSG 'verse because our misnomer of apocalypse=end of humanity comes from Christian eschatology. So perhaps Kara is the harbinger of the revelation that will bring humanity to the end of cyclical time (the image of the tiny cyclical time mandala in the Temple of Five in contrast to the linearity of the pillars strikes me here).
What, then, is the revelation? Partly, perhaps, that Laura is the First and Final Cylon. But she's still also the Dying Leader, I think, and she's the one to bridge both human and Cylon and bring them together by taking away the particular inequity that's bound to happen when one group is mortal and the other isn't. They're all going to find Earth together--that much seems clear (it's not as though they've managed to outrun the Cylons so far). So how might they begin to work together to make this actually work?
But I tried to leave the fic open-ended enough to accommodate varying theories--and mine, I'm sure, will be rendered obsolete by the actual season 4. And there are pieces of the puzzle I can't fit in very well. What's up with Baltar, for instance? (He's bound to be important.) How exactly are the Final Four going to be involved? (My guess is that they're a Cylon faction that wasn't all about the whole destruction of humanity thing--perhaps they'll help with the peacemaking?) And what happens after the end of my story? Like I said, I tried to leave a few questions unanswered, 'cause I'm kind of a fan of ambiguity and open-endedness, in case you hadn't noticed!
And I say all this not to be all "here is the definitive reading of my fic" because no. There is no definitive reading of this or anything else, and my opinion is one of many. But those were at least the ideas that were informing the writing. Maybe one of these days I'll do proper meta speculation, but at the moment I'm pretty pleased with doing it this way!
As I just said to nikej, for some reason I trust RDM to do right by Laura. I feel like she's been set up to play too important a role in this story--whatever that role ends up being, exactly--for the writers to let it end without realizing the potential of this character. There has been some flailing around for a number of the characters, including Laura, in the past season, but I would like to think that with the end in view, the writers will be faithful to their characters and their story. Perhaps I'm optimistic. Of course, I also think that she either needs to die or be a Cylon (or, um, both), given the way she's been set up. Yes, I'll be terribly upset to let her go, but I'll be even more upset if she just goes on doing ordinary presidential things and getting all cute with Adama right up to the end of the show--that would be a betrayal of the character.
As for scripture stuff, I went back and forth about making up bits from the Book of Pythia (which I did end up doing--some of it's bits we get from the show interspersed with bits I invented) or using biblical prophecy. My theory about the use of "All Along the Watchtower" in the season finale was that it was really an allusion to the book of Isaiah (chapter 21 was clearly part of the inspiration behind Dylan's lyrics), so I played with trying to use that. I also got the idea that the Final Four might work as the four horsemen of the apocalypse, so I re-read Revelation when I was trying to decide whether or not to do anything with them. Ultimately, I decided against it for the fic, but I do suspect the Bible may end up informing the way the BSG mythology plays out.
Then I love how differently Sharon/Athena and the Caprica Six react toward reaching the center.
"There's nothing so terrible about death" is the line that Leoben (or not!Leoben? who is he--I'm still trying to figure that out) says to Kara in "Maelstrom." I was very meh about "Maelstrom" at the time (aside from the paint!sex scene, which is possibly one of the hottest things I've ever seen), but when I rewatched it for this fic, it grew on me. There's something going on there with death and acceptance and destiny that I'm not sure I quite have my head wrapped around yet, but I'll bet it's going to end up being pretty important.
Anyway, let me say again how very thrilled I am that you like your fic!!!
runawaynun ordered me to read this ;P. IT'S AMAZING. seriously, you just melted my brain and my heart. I'm almost dead from the awesome (I don't know how I'm going to survive S4). *memorizes*
And s4 is almost here!!! I do hope it at least approximates the level of mind-blowing that I'm hoping for. I have this rash optimism that since there is a fixed number of episodes in which to conclude the story, the writing will be tight and focused, rather than the loose baggy monster of s3. *crosses fingers*
it has continued to haunt me all day. I was just subjecting my roomie to an explanation of your theological premise about mortality and the cycle of time.
I'm inclined to share your assessment of S3 vs. S4. everything I've heard Mary et al say about what's to come sounds frighteningly awesome.
I haven't really been paying attention to cast comments about the new season--partly spoiler avoidance and partly just my mind being elsewhere--but I'm glad to hear their comments sound promising! Way back at Dragon*Con last summer, Aaron Douglas was really excited about what they were filming then (though Jamie Bamber seemed less excited by what they were doing with Lee--but he didn't elaborate), but that's about the last time I paid any attention to any of it. I suppose we'll start finding out soon enough!
And once again, thank you for your comments on the fic. This thing haunted me for a month and a half; hopefully it won't subject your brain to quite the same treatment!
Even though said something about having a Grand Theory that this fic would extrapolate, I'm not sure it is so much a theory where all the pieces fit, as opposed to some really interesting connections I was noticing and wanted to poke at. Yes, I did intend to write Laura as the final Cylon--but also Number One, the first Cylon--and I think there's at least a decent chance I'm right about that. And her role is like that of Athena's--yet Sharon is also Athena, I think (both literally, in her call sign, but figuratively as the immortal who was so attached to humanity that she would give up her immortality). I can't keep the actual cycles straight in my head, so I'm not sure whether Athena's death brought on the current cycle of time or not.
What I wanted to do with time was more to look at cyclical time and linear time together and play with them a bit. In her Razor commentary, danceswithwords mentioned that for a people who believe in cyclical time, bringing the human race to its end must indeed seem apocalyptic: if time is cyclical, there is no end. But then I remembered that "apocalypse" actually means "revelation"--and probably should only mean "revelation" in BSG 'verse because our misnomer of apocalypse=end of humanity comes from Christian eschatology. So perhaps Kara is the harbinger of the revelation that will bring humanity to the end of cyclical time (the image of the tiny cyclical time mandala in the Temple of Five in contrast to the linearity of the pillars strikes me here).
What, then, is the revelation? Partly, perhaps, that Laura is the First and Final Cylon. But she's still also the Dying Leader, I think, and she's the one to bridge both human and Cylon and bring them together by taking away the particular inequity that's bound to happen when one group is mortal and the other isn't. They're all going to find Earth together--that much seems clear (it's not as though they've managed to outrun the Cylons so far). So how might they begin to work together to make this actually work?
But I tried to leave the fic open-ended enough to accommodate varying theories--and mine, I'm sure, will be rendered obsolete by the actual season 4. And there are pieces of the puzzle I can't fit in very well. What's up with Baltar, for instance? (He's bound to be important.) How exactly are the Final Four going to be involved? (My guess is that they're a Cylon faction that wasn't all about the whole destruction of humanity thing--perhaps they'll help with the peacemaking?) And what happens after the end of my story? Like I said, I tried to leave a few questions unanswered, 'cause I'm kind of a fan of ambiguity and open-endedness, in case you hadn't noticed!
And I say all this not to be all "here is the definitive reading of my fic" because no. There is no definitive reading of this or anything else, and my opinion is one of many. But those were at least the ideas that were informing the writing. Maybe one of these days I'll do proper meta speculation, but at the moment I'm pretty pleased with doing it this way!
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
As for scripture stuff, I went back and forth about making up bits from the Book of Pythia (which I did end up doing--some of it's bits we get from the show interspersed with bits I invented) or using biblical prophecy. My theory about the use of "All Along the Watchtower" in the season finale was that it was really an allusion to the book of Isaiah (chapter 21 was clearly part of the inspiration behind Dylan's lyrics), so I played with trying to use that. I also got the idea that the Final Four might work as the four horsemen of the apocalypse, so I re-read Revelation when I was trying to decide whether or not to do anything with them. Ultimately, I decided against it for the fic, but I do suspect the Bible may end up informing the way the BSG mythology plays out.
Then I love how differently Sharon/Athena and the Caprica Six react toward reaching the center.
And for this you should thank gabolange! ;)
"There's nothing so terrible about death" is the line that Leoben (or not!Leoben? who is he--I'm still trying to figure that out) says to Kara in "Maelstrom." I was very meh about "Maelstrom" at the time (aside from the paint!sex scene, which is possibly one of the hottest things I've ever seen), but when I rewatched it for this fic, it grew on me. There's something going on there with death and acceptance and destiny that I'm not sure I quite have my head wrapped around yet, but I'll bet it's going to end up being pretty important.
Anyway, let me say again how very thrilled I am that you like your fic!!!
Reply
Reply
And s4 is almost here!!! I do hope it at least approximates the level of mind-blowing that I'm hoping for. I have this rash optimism that since there is a fixed number of episodes in which to conclude the story, the writing will be tight and focused, rather than the loose baggy monster of s3. *crosses fingers*
Reply
I'm inclined to share your assessment of S3 vs. S4. everything I've heard Mary et al say about what's to come sounds frighteningly awesome.
Reply
And once again, thank you for your comments on the fic. This thing haunted me for a month and a half; hopefully it won't subject your brain to quite the same treatment!
Reply
Leave a comment