Great writing, great characters, and great story developing - with even some philosophical debate between the protagonists !
*subscribes and re-subscribes*
*subscribes and re-subscribes*
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Very deep philosophical lecture there. While I can freely admit I think that Alain/Rubashov is a hard-core communist crack-pot, he is one that has the fervor of a fanatical devotee of that flawed idealogy. And as all fanatics, he is quite dangerous not only to himself but to any and all whom find themselves opposed to he or his beliefs.
We now all know Alain/Rubashov's foundation, the question is, will Ian follow suit or will there be something that causes him to find his own path?
As I have said before, very nice work, E!
We now all know Alain/Rubashov's foundation, the question is, will Ian follow suit or will there be something that causes him to find his own path?
As I have said before, very nice work, E!
Long overdue comments and feedback
Sorry about the slow feedback...RL has taken a hand...
The next update should come sometime this week...it is in the early stages of its molding.
You have put your finger on Alain's character quite well. This is the update I was struggling with earlier, since I am not a 'hard-core communist crack-pot' but he is...I needed to wait for him to talk to me. Judging by the reactions, he did a good job. And yes, he is a dangerous man...how the heroes interact with him and others like him will be spelled out in the future of the AAR. Thanks for the praise...coming from you, it is high praise indeed!
Thanks! I've appreciated your continued readaarship and comments. Glad your enjoying the story so far!
Thanks! Coming from another 'king' of character development, I am quite honored you think so. I hope I haven't portrayed the French in an offensive way...I must admit, I know very little of their history and culture. If you see anything that ought to be corrected, let me know. I'd be happy to learn.
Sorry about the slow feedback...RL has taken a hand...
The next update should come sometime this week...it is in the early stages of its molding.
Draco Rexus said:
You have put your finger on Alain's character quite well. This is the update I was struggling with earlier, since I am not a 'hard-core communist crack-pot' but he is...I needed to wait for him to talk to me. Judging by the reactions, he did a good job. And yes, he is a dangerous man...how the heroes interact with him and others like him will be spelled out in the future of the AAR. Thanks for the praise...coming from you, it is high praise indeed!
rcduggan said:
Thanks! I've appreciated your continued readaarship and comments. Glad your enjoying the story so far!
Atlantic Friend said:
Thanks! Coming from another 'king' of character development, I am quite honored you think so. I hope I haven't portrayed the French in an offensive way...I must admit, I know very little of their history and culture. If you see anything that ought to be corrected, let me know. I'd be happy to learn.
A very poignant end to a long, deep discussion!TheExecuter said:
I really am enjoying this story! It's got some good depth, and I like the complexity you're interweaving with the mysterious "voices".
I'll watch this space! Good job!
Rensslaer
Very interesting set of updates. The last was very compelling. And although Alain is obviously communist, his rhetoric was almost Nietzchian. Frederick Wilhelm would have been proud of the boy.
What is good? All that elevates the feeling of power, the will to power, the power itself in man.
What is bad? All that proceeds from weakness.
What is happiness? The feeling that power increases--that resistance is being overcome.
I preach not contentedness, but more power; not peace, but war; not virtue, but efficiency. The weak and defective shall perish; and they shall be given assistance: that is the first principle of the dionysian charity.
What is bad? All that proceeds from weakness.
What is happiness? The feeling that power increases--that resistance is being overcome.
I preach not contentedness, but more power; not peace, but war; not virtue, but efficiency. The weak and defective shall perish; and they shall be given assistance: that is the first principle of the dionysian charity.
Aphorism 2: The Anti-Christ (1888) Friedrich Nietzsche
TheExecuter said:
It is our Royal pleasure to subscribe to this AAR, which has met our Kingly expectations and beyond.
As for portraying France in an offensive way, heck, it's 2007, I'm not sure I would even notice anymore ! Nah, don't worry, I have found no reason to let slip the poodles of war - yet !
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Oi!
"reduces my updating speed to something approximated by El Pip."
Why I oughtaaa!
( )
"reduces my updating speed to something approximated by El Pip."
Why I oughtaaa!
)
Finally got the chance to get caught up over here, and this is marvelous work! Excellent writing, crisp scene structure and setting and rich characters thus far. Count me in for the rest of the ride.
Feedback
Thank you sir! I hope to keep your interest for the long haul...things should get a little bit more action packed as we move into the war zone.
Thanks for the praise. Hopefully I can maintain the level of 'interestingness' as we move forward.
Interesting point you make. As I've never read Nietzche, I'm intrigued by the parallel. It seems Nietzches argument is a trifle one sided to me though.
Your majesty will be gifted with an update, a transitional update to be sure, but an update nontheless!
Thanks for taking the time to catch up...don't worry about missing too much, we've only just begun! Update coming up shortly (tonight! I swear!).
Rensslaer said:
Thank you sir! I hope to keep your interest for the long haul...things should get a little bit more action packed as we move into the war zone.
grayghost said:
Thanks for the praise. Hopefully I can maintain the level of 'interestingness' as we move forward.
Interesting point you make. As I've never read Nietzche, I'm intrigued by the parallel. It seems Nietzches argument is a trifle one sided to me though.
Atlantic Friend said:
Your majesty will be gifted with an update, a transitional update to be sure, but an update nontheless!coz1 said:
Thanks for taking the time to catch up...don't worry about missing too much, we've only just begun! Update coming up shortly (tonight! I swear!).
TheExecuter said:
Actually, they are. Nietzche is an interesting read though. Some of his stuff is quite humourous.
XI
October, 1936
October, 1936
The chandeliers jangled again. Every few seconds, the four chandeliers in the ballroom would shake and create a rather somber jangling. The palace in Madrid had been taken over by the junta in charge of the city’s defense and Alain had disappeared with a collection of officers several minutes earlier. Ian surveyed the orderly rows of tables, each manned by a girl furiously typing away. The incessant clicking pervaded his thoughts and reminded him of the regular noise of the trains that had brought him this far.
The train from Paris had eventually stopped in Foix, where Ian and company emerged and began their overland trek. They set out into the mountains on foot, and arrived in Lerida on the first of November. At Alphonse’s urging, they had traveled only by night. Once in Lerida, Alphonse had arranged transport to Madrid and then disappeared, ostensibly to find his way to his Basque brothers on the northern front. They had all lunched together at a café not far from the train station and sent him on his way with several toasts of wine. The good mood the alcohol imparted helped ease the impact of sharing the same space as a half-dozen chickens in the back of a lorry for the last several hours into Madrid.
A low rumble and the chandelier jangle interrupted his reverie and Ian looked down to notice one of the typists smiling at him. The moment their eyes met, she quickly looked back down at her typewriter and continued banging away. A door across the room opened and Alain beckoned from within the room. Within the door stood Alain and two Spanish officers. Once Ian and Eddie had sat down the two officers began speaking rapidly in Spanish. Fortunately, Alain saw Ian’s discomfort and alarm and began patiently interpreting, intentionally speaking slowly in an effort to encourage the officers to continue in a more relaxed manner. As the meeting went on, Alain explained that due to the now frequent shelling and bombing of Madrid, the republican government had recently relaxed the restrictions on the hiring of mercenary foreign pilots. A large explosion echoed outside and the sound of the chandelier’s familiar jangle interrupted the meeting. At this point, the officers produced two identical, official looking papers and placed them before Ian and Eddie on the desk. Alain explained that the rather formidable documents specified the terms of the government's offer. After a few minutes of exposition on the main points of the contract, Ian signed with a flourish of his pen. After sharing a celebratory bottle of wine with the officers, Eddie and Ian were told to return in the morning for their transport papers to their assignment.
Madrid was a city under siege. Every man had a weapon, every street was barricaded. At every other street corner, armed men were checking passes and looking menacing. Alain weathered the scrutiny with aplomb, turning to Ian after one such tense encounter: “General Mola has boasted that he has a fifth-column within the city ready to rise up when the time is right. We must be on our guard.” He led the way to the Florida Hotel.
When Ian returned the following morning, he found that he and Eddy were being sent to a flying field near Los Alcazares for the purpose of being checked on their ability as fighter pilots. They were given a railroad pass and a safe-conduct certificate and informed that the train would leave that afternoon. Alain took them too the train station and said his farewell. "We will meet again. I'll be checking up on you two..." Ian last image of him was his stalwart frame striding back up the street, his Tokarev pistol flapping on his hip.
Three security checkpoints later, Ian finally hauled his bag into a first class carriage. Compartment three was a standard European car compartment, meant to accommodate six passengers. Ian opened the door and was met by seven Spaniards. Ian and Eddie were unable to communicate in Spanish, nor the locals in any other language; but very soon everyone was helping to stow the baggage on the overhead racks. Both sides tried to make conversation for about an hour, but the language barrier was too great. Late that evening the train pulled into Chinchilla, where the conductor informed the two Englishmen that their train to Los Alcazares would be by early in the morning. After a night of sleeping in the train station, Ian was woken by a train whistle and stepped out into the clear air just in time to see a freight train laden with T-26s roar by on its way to the front. Every other flatbed had a 50-caliber anti-aircraft gun fully manned. The sight of this modern weaponry had a calming effect on the nagging doubts that still assailed his mind over the rashness of joining this conflict. A half-hour after that, the passenger train to Los Alcazares arrived and the boys climbed aboard.
The windows of the car had been broken and the walls of the compartment had been scarred by shrapnel. Ian used his coat to brush down the wall to minimize the chance of getting splinters in his back and settled in for the next leg of the journey. Two Spaniards arrived and took up their seats. After determining that the language barrier would again hinder communication, the Spaniards opened a couple of bottles of red wine and words became unnecessary. Thus they passed a very pleasant afternoon and evening.
Los Alcazares station was deserted when the train pulled in. Ian and Eddie were escorted off the train by the conductor and left to their own devices. The wind moaned down the platform and Ian moved toward the shack at the end which seemed to serve as the station masters office. Pushing open the door, Ian discovered a grizzled, white haired old gentlemen snoring softly at his desk.
Ahh , Espana ! What a sad story during this time period ! A great setup for the next phase of your narrative !
canonized said:
Oh, stop getting all weepy, sheesh.
Another fine chapter sir. Now, we are going to start getting into the meat of the story...just as soon as they get their planes...which are probably going to be some cloth covered, moth eaten, bi-planes.
Ian certainly has joined full on by now. It's rather fascinating given his initial distaste. One wonders how "on board" he will be once the killing starts in earnest?
grayghost said:Oh, stop getting all weepy, sheesh.
Another fine chapter sir. Now, we are going to start getting into the meat of the story...just as soon as they get their planes...which are probably going to be some cloth covered, moth eaten, bi-planes.
LOL =( The dawn of modern aviation is the twilight of the Spanish Empire . - cry cry - haha , but really , can't wait to get into the full swing of all these prophecies of the dreams ; i'm keeping my eye peeled for that beautiful woman !
Great update !
It's time for Alain to get his baptism of fire and discover war's gritty reality behind its romanticized appeal ! Let's hope he'll soon see the T-26s roll at his side to support his Brigade's advance against the Requetés !
It's time for Alain to get his baptism of fire and discover war's gritty reality behind its romanticized appeal ! Let's hope he'll soon see the T-26s roll at his side to support his Brigade's advance against the Requetés !