Scott Hawkins
Hey Christopher,
I kinda-sorta did come up with it myself, parts of it anyway, but I think its also kinda-sorta true. Really.
I remember reading an account of a guy in Africa who got jumped by a lion and, as one does at such times, settled in to get eaten. It so happened that one of his buddies happened by and shot the lion. The guy lived.
According to Mr. Formerlunch, it actually didn't hurt. He remembered it happening, more or less, but there wasn't any major pain. Just, like, tugging sensation. I've also read similar statements by people who've survived been tortured ("it's like i was floating above myself") and another by a woman who survived being mauled by a bear.
Keeping in mind that I wasn't writing a research paper, I do think there's something to that. Also, the bit about the gazelle (or whatever it was) kind of waking up, taking one look at the lions having lunch, then noping back out? THAT I actually saw, albeit on one of the nature shows. That poor critter had at least three lions munching away and his (her?) guts were spread out like a picnic lunch. (S)he seemed weirdly unconcerned about it though.
The part I made up was the idea that it was the lion actually doing something to make this so. That kind of fit with the general Unsuspected Forces tone of Mount Char. It also suggested the counter ability--what if a lion (or whatever) could, if they chose, heighten the unpleasantness of being eaten?
So, I guess the answer is that I read parts of it and frantically elaborated.
I kinda-sorta did come up with it myself, parts of it anyway, but I think its also kinda-sorta true. Really.
I remember reading an account of a guy in Africa who got jumped by a lion and, as one does at such times, settled in to get eaten. It so happened that one of his buddies happened by and shot the lion. The guy lived.
According to Mr. Formerlunch, it actually didn't hurt. He remembered it happening, more or less, but there wasn't any major pain. Just, like, tugging sensation. I've also read similar statements by people who've survived been tortured ("it's like i was floating above myself") and another by a woman who survived being mauled by a bear.
Keeping in mind that I wasn't writing a research paper, I do think there's something to that. Also, the bit about the gazelle (or whatever it was) kind of waking up, taking one look at the lions having lunch, then noping back out? THAT I actually saw, albeit on one of the nature shows. That poor critter had at least three lions munching away and his (her?) guts were spread out like a picnic lunch. (S)he seemed weirdly unconcerned about it though.
The part I made up was the idea that it was the lion actually doing something to make this so. That kind of fit with the general Unsuspected Forces tone of Mount Char. It also suggested the counter ability--what if a lion (or whatever) could, if they chose, heighten the unpleasantness of being eaten?
So, I guess the answer is that I read parts of it and frantically elaborated.
More Answered Questions
Megan
asked
Scott Hawkins:
Some really excellent world-building in The Library at Mount Char. It felt like a mix of different mythologies converging together, sort of a re-alignment of all our theories and beliefs and legends. What gave you the idea for the library, and for the scale of its studies?
Deborah
asked
Scott Hawkins:
I'm tickled peach (ha, ha) that you live in Atlanta, too. Will you be doing any local book signings or other appearances? Also, I would really, really love to be a beta reader for your next book. Do you have a list, or does your publisher handle that; if the latter, how would I go about contacting the appropriate person?
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