Nightmares and Dreamscapes discussion
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Immunity
2023 Featured Authors Archives
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Jeffrey Caston -Featured Author - Immunity - June 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023
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So is this where that saying comes in "Lions, Tigers, Bears....""
HAHA!
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Very happy to hear that, Angel. I'm glad you are enjoying it.
Angel wrote: "Is anyone else hating Stant as much as I do? He is so pompous and callous. Worse, he’s not unrealistic—I can think of so many people who are very much like him...!..."The guy is a high-functioning psychopath.
Given work done in the separate fields of psychopathy and IQ, there are approximately 80,000 people in the world today (all ages) with an IQ of 150+ who are also full blown psychopaths without conscience or empathy of any sort.
What are they doing with their lives?
Graeme wrote: "The guy is a high-functioning psychopath.Given work done in the separate fields of psychopathy and IQ, there are approximately 80,000 people in the world today (all ages) with an IQ of 150+ who are also full blown psychopaths without conscience or empathy of any sort. What are they doing with their lives?
Politics?!? Oh wait, you said high IQ...! 😂
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The guy is a h..."
Graeme and Angel, thank you for these comments. One of the things I try to do is to create bad guys that a reader absolutely LOATHES. I aim for a given piece's "bad guy," as opposed to just an antagonist, I try to shoot for utterly despicable, yet compelling. Abel, (I hope) is a more complex, ambiguous antagonist. But Stant... He's supposed to be a monster.
He has cropped up in other stories and I intend to use him more in the future, so it was important to get his vileness right.
So I am pleased to see looks you guys are viewing Stant in the way I intended.
It's interesting you mention Abel's complexity. I'm at about 40% now and I almost dislike Abel more than Stant. Abel has a conscience but he's choosing to ignore it. That feels worse to me than being purely without a moral compass to begin with. I'm curious to see how Abel handles his moral dilemma as the story continues!
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That is a most excellent point, Theresa. Thank you! Stant can't really do the things he can do without the Abels of the world and at the end of the day Abel's submitted himself to Stant's control.
The Abels of the world are enablers of evil.I'm pretty convinced that psychopaths are aware of right an wrong, they just don't care.
Jeffrey wrote: "One of the things I try to do is to create bad guys that a reader absolutely LOATHES. I aim for a given piece's "bad guy," as opposed to just an antagonist, I try to shoot for utterly despicable, yet compelling. Abel, (I hope) is a more complex, ambiguous antagonist. But Stant... He's supposed to be a monster...."
It's not that easy to draw evil - I think.
I've been doing a lot of reflection upon the nature of evil and rulership (relationships based on power and control), and how the two tend to go together.
I'm curious to see how Stant, Abel and there project plays out.
50% - The doppelgängers are intriguing! I won’t say more, but I love how they’re incorporated into the story.
Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem) wrote: "It's interesting you mention Abel's complexity. I'm at about 40% now and I almost dislike Abel more than Stant. Abel has a conscience but he's choosing to ignore it. That feels worse to me than bei..."It’s true that purposely disregarding morals and principles is terrible but I can appreciate the difficult position Abel is in and I think that despite his commitment to the research, he does have a conscience.
“Abel kept finding ways to rationalize the horrors and atrocities he was committing, but deep down, he knew that would not—and should not—last.”
I think he genuinely believes that what he is doing will positively impact the greater good.
I also think that he’s afraid of Stant and what would happen should he choose to defy orders. I don’t think quitting is an option. He feels compelled to continue the research despite how unethical it is.
Interesting, Angel.It begs the question of how many people turn a blind eye, refuse to rock the boat, and generally succumb to circumstances when confronted by an evil choice?
Too many I suspect.
Chapter 31. The suspense is intense. What they are doing to her is torture, even if they hide their reasoning, behind a supposedly good reason.
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Abel was by far the hardest character to write and feel like I got him "just right" in terms of personality and moral conflict that I was hoping to achieve.
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A very good observation, MadameD. Thanks. It certainly gave me nightmares when I tried to put myself in her position.
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It begs the question of how many people turn a blind eye, refuse to rock the boat, and generally succumb to circumstances when confronted by an evil choice?
Too many I suspect."
You are probably right, Graeme. As it applies to the Penwall Corporation, in Chapter 7 (quite early in the book) however, if you recall (view spoiler)
Indeed, Jeffrey.Well said.
Evil has many tentacles in many pies...
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Well said.
Evil has many tentacles in many pies..."
Thanks, Graeme!
65% (view spoiler)Also, being a word fanatic, I just noticed that "vile" is an excellent anagram of the word "evil." That is all!
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Also, being a word fanatic, I just noticed that "vile" is an excellent anagram of the word "evil." That is all!"
Hmmm... as to (view spoiler)
And also quite apt as to the anagram! Great point!
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No worries, Sally. Your own pace is the right pace. We read for enjoyment so my attitude is always make it enjoyable. Have a great one.
The setup has faded like a mirage of memory to reveal - a gripping story.Ch 27. Someone is both weapon and shield, and they don't know it.
Congratulations, Jeffrey - this is very good story telling.
Graeme wrote: "Congratulations, Jeffrey - this is very good story telling."I agree completely. I would love to see this on the big screen—it would make an excellent movie! Jeffrey, you should really consider writing the screenplay.
Graeme wrote: "The setup has faded like a mirage of memory to reveal - a gripping story....."(Replying to my own comment... 'cause I note it has multiple interpretations...)
I just want to clarify the use of mirage above, I'm referring to Sarah. Her view of her life is a mirage of a school-girl living in a sane and safe world where truly horrible things just don't happen....
Of course, as the book progresses - that mirage must evaporate...
Thanks Angel,Yeah, agreed. This could easily translate to the screen.
Graeme wrote: "Graeme wrote: "The setup has faded like a mirage of memory to reveal - a gripping story....."(Replying to my own comment... 'cause I note it has multiple interpretations...)
I just want to clari..."
Thank you for the clarification! Nicely put, too. Sarah’s relatively calm life has certainly come undone.
I can almost feel her great discomfort on the confinement table—hot, itchy...feeling claustrophobic. Just dreadful!
You're ahead of me in this, Angel.I'm sure to catch up in the near future.
So sorry, Graeme. It just occurred to me that I should probably add more spoiler tags. I hope I didn’t reveal too much.... 😬
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This is extraordinarily high praise, Graeme. I'm genuinely touched.
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I agree completely. I would love to see this on the big screen—it would make an excellent movie! Jeffrey, you should rea..."
And more genuinely touching extraordinary praise. You two are gonna get me emotional for sure!
Very kind of you to suggest this Angel. That would be an amazing dream come true. I candidly don't know the first thing about screenplays. I think I shall have to look into it!
I'm hoping I can finish reading tonight and share my review in the next day or two! I've enjoyed this book and I'm glad I was able to be part of the group read. :)
Angel wrote: "So sorry, Graeme. It just occurred to me that I should probably add more spoiler tags. I hope I didn’t reveal too much.... 😬"No problem, all good.
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I figured that (view spoiler)
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I look forward to reading your thoughts, Theresa. I'm thrilled you were able to join the read. It's been wonderful interacting with you and seeing your comments. Hope you have a great day. The weekend's almost here (fortunately -- I'm adding an electronic sigh here).
Jeffrey wrote: "Angel wrote: "Things really heat up in chapter 51! [spoilers removed]"I figured that [spoilers removed]"
Yes to this!! (view spoiler)
Jeffrey wrote: "I look forward to reading your thoughts, Theresa. I'm thrilled you were able to join the read. It's been wonderful interacting with you and seeing your comments. Hope you have a great day. The weekend's almost here (fortunately -- I'm adding an electronic sigh here)."I'm doing the Happy Weekend Dance over here. This has been the longest short week ever! 😂 Also, you asked about Culver being a local chain. Yes - it's technically called Culver's. It was started in Wisconsin. They have the absolute best burgers and frozen custard. All stuff I don't need to be eating these days. 🙃😬😂
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We have them here too in Florida but I haven't ate there yet. So they must be dotted here and there around the U.S. I thought they also had ice cream too.
Marie wrote: "We have them here too in Florida but I haven't ate there yet. So they must be dotted here and there around the U.S. I thought they also had ice cream too."Ok, so, a real frozen treat connoisseur will tell you that there is a huge difference between frozen custard and ice cream. Culver's serves frozen custard. It's made with egg yolks, which keeps the mixture from crystalizing when it freezes, resulting in a much smoother and creamier dessert than ice cream can ever dream of being! Ok. I just let my true frozen confection snobbery out! 😂🍦🍧🍨 But it's sooooooo goooooood. 🤤
Ch 31. And I've been reflecting upon imprisonment and its relationship with Evil, and then this comes along...
Graeme wrote: "39% in.Just wondering if secretary Susan has a [spoilers removed]
I'll read on to find out."
Great question, Graeme!! :)
It's hard to put into words how much I loved the last few chapters of the book! So much tension and suspense. (view spoiler)And then the Epilogue!! Wow. (view spoiler)
My review will be written and posted this evening after I'm done with my work day. :)
Glad you enjoyed the book, Theresa. I hope to speed up my reading now it's the weekend.
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
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Thanks Angel. It was psychologically brutal on me the way this played out. I had sort of started revamping and doing heavy-duty professional editing I believe in like 2018. Then I released it in 2020. Yikes. But as far as biological warefare goes, yes, I do find that has a special kind of malice involved in developing germ warfare. For (view spoiler)[every good that could conceivably play out with this kind of research -- like vaccines and medical treatments, the equal and opposite force would be developing germs as weapons. And I also had in the back of my mind the whole Pacifica thing in the Food series and how the Pacificans would use the Immunity Project research to protect itself and as a sword to cow the neighboring nations. (hide spoiler)]