A Transcendent Experience

[justacat]

It's been a long time since I've ... well, reviewed, I guess, or maybe a better word is discussed? ... a fanfic here, mostly because I haven't read anything that inspired me to write, especially in HP. But over the Thanksgiving weekend I decided, somewhat halfheartedly, to give A Wizard Song by Telanu (somniesperus a shot (it can be found on her website). Oh

Comments

[cathexys]

I was grinning throughout your entire review, b/c...yes...you have hit upon many, many of the issues kitten and i have been going over and over in trying to understand the power dynamic between the two, the slow but consistent seduction of the reader, the sheer ability to work with and against canon at the same time.

But since you're having issues with pseudo-intellectualism, i'll shut up now :-)

Beautiful review, and I'm so very, very glad you gave it a chance, b/c to me, it represents some of the best hp has to offer...for all the reasons you so wonderfully elaborated!

[justacat]

Hey, I don't want to give the wrong impression - I'm up for a good, thorough, thoughtful, even intellectual discussion of this stuff any time - in particular I'm always fascinated to learn more about story construction and POV and related concepts, since I'm not a writer and it's not my area. I'd love to know more about what you and kitten (darkkitten I assume?) are discussing, and I'd love you to share your thoughts about the power dynamic (which I too find fascinating) and anything else - I'm dying to talk about this fic

[cathexys]

I was just kidding...I do know many people feel that the analysis part takes away from the fic, but for me as for many others, it only adds to it. (Plus, it would have been somewhat ironic if you'd hate analysis after you just wrote several pages of a most insightful one, wouldn't it :-)

As for our own analysis...yours is far more comprehensive and sophisticated, but some of our rough initial thoughts are here and the abstract (with lots of really good criticism) is here.

But once I'm more awake tomorrow, I'll probably have more to say about this post, b/c I really need to start writing, and what a wonderful way to get me jumpstarted :-)

[justacat]

Plus, it would have been somewhat ironic if you'd hate analysis after you just wrote several pages of a most insightful one, wouldn't it

I'm not sure about the insightful part, though thanks - I feel like I must have missed quit a lot. But you are right that it would be, ummm, ironic - hypocritical, really - for me to complain about analysis after writing this! No, I very much enjoy analysis of fic that merits it, though there does come a point when I start getting anxious about it - then I need to stop analyzing and just enjoy the fic. Finding the right balance isn't always.

But once I'm more awake tomorrow, I'll probably have more to say about this post

I'd love to hear more of what you have to say! (BTW, the abstract was fascinating; I couldn't get into the first post, though, because it's protected.)

[reginagiraffe]

Oh, c'mon, Cat, tell us how you *really* feel. It's okay. Don't hold back.

[beledibabe]

Uh, testify, sister! Brilliant analysis. ::bowing and scraping::

[justacat]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed :-)

Adding my two cents...

[lesadoreyl]

Excuse me for butting in uninvited, but man, AWS discussion! The fic that singlehandedly got me into HP and Snarry and made me go from 'Snape? Sex? In the same sentence? Eww!" to 'More! Gimme more!" *grins* Unfortunately, right now I haven't got the time to properly answer to this... *searches for a right word* Somehow calling it a review doesn't seem right. Essay or thesis would be more appropriate. *g*, not if I want to get any sleep tonight, so for now I'm going to give you a huge Wordy McWord on just about everything you said and comment on one thing that caught my eye.

and who are those three women who visit him in his dream -- Furies, perhaps? it's not clear yetThis came up on Telanu's LJ right after AWS was posted, and I'm pretty sure she confirmed that the women were indeed The Kindly Ones/Erinyes, and not in their nice incarnation, since they clearly state their names as Tisiphone, Megaera and Alecto. She also implied that they are pretty much the same deities as those in Neil Gaiman's The Kindly Ones. (I just about squee-ed

Re: Adding my two cents...

[iliadawry]

Taking a second to squee over your icon.

*squee!*

Re: Adding my two cents...

[lesadoreyl]

Thanks! *g* He is indeed squee-worthy in that pic. *pets the pretty pic*joins in the squeeing*

Re: Adding my two cents...

[justacat]

Wow, I obviously need to go back and read Telanu's LJ from the time AWS came out - probably should have done that before posting this. Interesting stuff about the Furies. I, too, am somewhat confused about their role in this story. Bulfinch's Mythology says "their task was to punish crimes not within the reach of human justice," and my understanding is that they were especially concerned with crimes like patricide. So I don't think they are going after Harry - rather, the idea that they're using Harry as a tool to get at Voldemort seems like a good one to me.

I also understand them to be a Very Bad Thing - but for the evildoer, whom they often drove mad. It is mysterious to me, at this point, what effect they will have on Harry - though I haven't read Gaiman; maybe that gives some hints? So far they seem to be acting as a voice of moderation and constraint, though it could be that moderation today will lead to more effective revenge tomorrow.

It'll be interesting to see what happens.

And thanks for putting my thoughts about

[sanj]

Lovely. Very well done.