On the Women

"BlackSails"

When the “Gangs of New York” film came out, the documentaries followed behind, uncloaking the history and reminding me again of my sore lack of historical knowledge but appreciation of it as it obtain it now.  Of course, with my vast hard science educational background, I had no clue there was a “Five Points” in New York City, draft riots during the Civil War, and had no idea who Boss Tweed was.  So as I absorbed the documentaries like a paper towel I remember a phrase used:  “Where there were men, there were women.”  (Something like that).

When I think about that, yes, in most stories, where there are men, there are women.  When men are the main characters, what to the women bring to the table?  Answer:  Lots.  While I don’t think every story should be a woman manipulating a man, women drive the plot as supporting characters in many great stories.  Men and women have roles expected of them, generally:  Men carry the outward violence and women carry the subtle poisoning, be it for real or of convincing others to do their bidding. 

As a writer of a strong female protagonist, I like strong women in fiction.  Weak women (sorry Sansa) will make me put a book down without a lot of support (“A Song of Ice and Fire” gives support, thank goodness).  So what are weak female character traits?  Answer:  Petty jealousy, vanity, fearfulness with no apparent danger, and unabashed selfishness taking no stand for her children.   So what makes a strong woman?  Answer:  Fearless, protective of her children, unconcerned about civil obedience, independence, and the intelligence to work around the male counterparts who often have the upper hand and beat them at their game. 

With the list above, one would think much is expected of women in fiction, but I don’t think so.  One needs to look no further than historical brave women like my favorite Queen Elizabeth I prototype and go from there either before or after to find inspirational women that lived in this world.  When women today speak of challenges, I understand that, but the past challenges make for fascinating stories now.  Research inspires great females in fiction today.

Writers go forth and write something great for we readers.  We’re waiting to meet great characters, men and women.  Each has a critical role and neither less interesting.  Where there are women, there are men.

On the Complex Characters

"True Detective"

With my non-stop film/novel addiction, strong characterization baits me to a story better than any fishhook.  Once I’m introduced to the world, the situation, and the people (or non humans) I’m ready to know them.  What are their backgrounds?  What are their secrets?  What force that drives the plot also drives these characters?

I posted recently my review of “Dracula” in my article “On Lawyers, Blade and Real Estate.”  A huge strength in this still great novel is the introduction of the lead antagonist character in the beginning.  The lawyer inserts himself into the castle realm of a dangerous inhuman monster that over time we gradually came to know as the power vampire.  By the time the big chase begins, the reader knows the creature and is running along with Van Helsing and his brave comrades with unyielding determination to destroy the essence of evil.  When the story is over, I’m not thinking about the protagonists, as great as they are; I’m thinking about the complex character created in the Count.  Even by today’s standards he’s no small potatoes in development, power, and complexity. 

My favorite complex characters are people in our present time.  When I think about another person in general, where he/she was born?  What was the childhood like, the school, the past and present love experiences, employment or family responsibilities?  How does this person arrive to he what he/she is now?  All of us follow a path that creates what we are.  In characters their interaction with others reflects our own feelings and beliefs.  While it’s easy to say a man is “just a guy” (or "just a girl" for the ladies) there’s really no such person that simple when taking in the human experience.  On that level, people are all complex characters to a writer. 

I tend to like characters I can relate to.  They may be from the same area of the country that I’m from, or just having a “bad day” (we can all relate), or have a history of similar experiences I either sympathize with or endured myself.  When they see the world, I see the world.  Complex characters make mistakes.  People rarely live perfect lives with every relationship successful, every road taken found to be nourishing in some way.  Sometimes people take destructive turns in their lives and we see the behavior in stories leading to tragedy or redemption.

Writers, complex characters go beyond the comic book.  Their traits are mostly our traits, and when not, they are unusual and interesting.  Regardless of the details,  in great stories they remain with us.

On Plot Turners

"Layer Cake"

As a fan of fiction, I applaud stories that reel me in with not only unexpected endings, but with characters that lay low making the biggest difference when the story is said and done. 

The recent example I’ve written about the most recently is the history based “The White Queen” with Richard of York beginning as the quiet youngest son of York in the background of his elder brother Edward, always loyal, always present.  By watching the first couple of episodes one would find it hard to believe this is the same Richard as the infamous Richard III well known in Shakespeare’s play and something about a couple of young Princes that entered the Tower of London and were never seen again.  Richard’s involvement in the fate of the Princes is debated today, but true or not, his legacy will wear it because he was King at the time.

Another favorite plot turner is the comedy “Snatch” where to me the most important character is the dog.  Movie fans, check it out if you haven’t seen it; Brad Pitt is never a bad thing on a film and I love dogs.

One of my favorites all time low-key plot turners were from the film “Layer Cake” starring Daniel Craig.  If you haven’t seen this film, I highly recommend it if you like gangster films with a large cast of interesting characters.  When one million ecstasy pills are stolen from a Serbian illegal drug manufacturer, who will decide the outcome?  The middleman drug dealer makes the connections played by Daniel Craig.  But from there, will it be the powerful businessman Mr. Temple, his rival Mr. Price, the Serbian hitman Dragan (an awesome character), the loud gangster winnable Duke, or a known drug dealer with no connections to the other characters?  I won’t spoil the story, but when I think of the way it ended, it really makes sense when all is said and done, and I applaud the writing in the plot turning ending.  (Who really will wind up with illegal drugs to sell?)

In moving to Dark Fantasy, the most famous plot turner to me is Gollum of “Lord of the Rings.”  Despite the “trickesy” Hobbits, Gollum was not stupid and knew what he wanted the whole time.  Because of the events at Mount Doom, Gollum is arguably the most important character in the story, as Sauron wouldn’t have been defeated without him.

Writers, as we create our stories, we keep in mind readers look for plot turners.  When placed in the most unusual places sometimes the least likely character can give the biggest “bang” which is part of what makes a story great.

King Robert After the Games

King Robert Baratheon "Game of Thrones"

King Robert Baratheon stands before the lead Gastar characters Shevata and Zermon awaiting judgment for the afterlife.  Will Hell be his future?

“Zermon, I disagree with this.  King Robert Baratheon wasn’t perfect but he doesn’t belong down here in Hell, especially before you in final judgment.  Let me speak to him first.”

The large demon handed her a scroll.  “Normally I would agree.  But the Martell family insisted he be judged harshly for the deaths of Elia Martell and her children, the family of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen”

Shevata read the scroll and her face fell.  “Elia Martell and her young daughter were raped and murdered by Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch.  Her son, just a baby, was smashed in the head.  Their bodies were wrapped in Lannister cloaks and presented to King Robert before the Iron Throne in his victory.”

Zermon relaxed back on his obsidian throne.  “Pretty sick stuff, huh?  Shevata nodded.  He motioned with his hand to have Robert brought before them.  Shevata sat on Zermon’s right armrest of his throne. 

“King Robert, you appear to be here with some ill tidings.”  Shevata handed him the scroll.  He glanced at it then threw it down.  Still a large, strong man, his beard hid most of his face, and his obese belly stuck out like he was a woman close to giving birth.  In observation, Shevata had to admit to herself Joffrey seemed more like a King than his non-natural father.

“I don’t care WHAT you do with me, got it?”  Shouted Robert. 

Zermon smirked.  “Well King Pig Feisty, after King Mad Scab, King Crazy Kid, who else do we have from that barbaric world of bad Kings?”

“Call me what you want, damn ya!  I lost what I cared about years ago, so throw me in fire, cold, cut me, drown me, see if I give a shit!”  Robert shouted, and then turned at the short demons.  “What do you people drink around here?”

“This isn’t a party, King Robert.”  Shevata snapped at him with a whip, just missing him to get his attention.  “Did you or not give the order for the atrocities committed against the wife and children of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen?”

“Seven Hells, THAT’S what this is about?”  Robert became enraged, then calmed himself.  “I wanted Rhaegar dead more than anything and I’m in Hell because of it.  Fine.  When you lose something you love, I mean you really love with all you have; you’ll do the same.  If you’re capable of it.”  Robert’s glare gave Shevata a chill. 

Zermon shook his head.  “King Robert, you are a fat fool idiot.  People love all the time and take chances.  But you don’t murder innocent women and children because you didn’t get the woman you wanted, and you don’t become King Pig and turn your realm into a vision of yourself!”  He turned to Shevata.  “I want him racked.”

Robert stood defiant. Shevata loaded a tiny crossbow with a black needle and fired.  Robert disappeared in a flash of light, his soul destroyed.

“You take away all the fun.”  Growled Zermon.

The Gastar Pirates

Shevata, lead character of the Gastar Series

This except from the upcoming third Gastar novella features pirates!

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The ship rocked slightly as the sailors pushed it quietly away from the docks with poles.  The rising tide would take them out further to sea at sunrise, within the hour.  Four men sat around the mast, looking down at a chest sitting in a cabin with the door open to them.  “See that?”  Said Tyrus.  “Half of that is mine.  The rest of you divide it up to the last man.  I don’t care if you have to throw each other overboard.”  A small torch made him look formidable with his long beard, wide hat, and wide sword at his belt.  “If any of you make a wrong move, I’ll show you your guts.”

The other three men, appearing younger without beards, mumbled amongst themselves and nodded.  “It will get us back home.  That’s all we ask.” Muttered one of them.  The old man smiled.

“Robbie, you’ll never get rich as a pirate always wanting to go home to his Mommy.  What will you do, send a letter telling the King of Gastar we withheld most of the fortune for traded goods?”

The young man turned pale.  “No.”

Tyrus sneered, “There’s a reason people call we pirates ‘scum.’  Do you know why?”  Robbie shook his head.  Tyrus laughed.  “Because we are. “  He motioned to the other two men.  “Out with him.”  The others grabbed Robin by each arm, dragged him across the deck, with him screaming with terror and silenced when thrown overboard.  “That wasn’t so hard was it?”  Tyrus said to the others.  “Now, let’s set sail and see how many more we need to lighten our load to add to our pockets.”  As he turned a dark shape appearing to be a man pushed him down on his back, rolled him over face down and put his knee into the small of this back, and jerked his head backwards.  Other shapes did the same with the rest of the crew.  As they held them, the ship became still and quiet.  A cold wind swept across the deck.  Silently, a tall shape walked toward them; the torchlight revealed the shape of a tall, statuesque woman, dressed in a black tunic, boots, and leggings, like a man.  Her raven-black hair tumbled down her back and her eyes sparkled like the stars in the sky.  The only color was her bright red lips, perfect in shape, glistening as if she weren’t real.  With one hand, she picked up the chest; inspecting its contents, then put it on the dock like it was an empty box.  She walked closer to Tyrus, kneeling with her face close to his. 

“’Pirate?’”  She said in a low rumbling voice.  “Thieves all look the same to me.”  She ran her fingertips down his neck, drawing amusement from his terror.  “Always so afraid, you ‘pirates’ when caught stealing, yet you think you’re clever.”  Her smile revealed perfect white teeth, glistening in the dim light with her other features, fine as a doll.  She stood up and looked at the dark shapes.  “Now.” She commanded.

Robbie swam in the cold water as fast as he could back to the docks.  At the point he was certain to drown, he felt someone grab him and drag him to the dock and he climbed upon it and caught his breath.  A cloak was thrown around him and he heard a young girl ask him if he was all right.  Though he shivered, he felt his strength returned to him.  He looked back toward the ship as the sun rose, and thought of Tyrus and his betrayal of him and how many other young sailors he would murder on his voyage.  As he watched the ship, he gasped in surprised.

The ship suddenly became ablaze in a huge ball of fire.

 

Gastar and Greyjoy

Theon Greyjoy & The Bastard of Bolton "Game Of Thrones"

The Bastard of Bolton has Theon Greyjoy in a bad way in "A Song of Ice and Fire" and "Game Of Thrones."  Let's see if the lead characters in the Gastar novellas can help Theon out a bit.

“Are you kidding me?”  Zermon lumbered behind Shevata as she turned the lock of the gate behind the castle.

“If I had more faith in the Greyjoys, I’d leave it be.  His sister is a good, well-meaning fighter.  But that’s not what her brother needs.”  She raised her brow to Zermon and he smirked. 

“Once we enter the room, I’ll secure it, you take the Bastard.”

“What do you want me to do with him?”

Shevata shook her head and shrugged.  “For once, Zermon, I couldn’t care less.  Use your limited imagination.”

“I’ll be following you, my sweet.  Have you the gate?”

Shevata scowled at him.  “Shhh!”

As the approached another door, she opened another lock and they entered a room dimly lit with a torch.   It’s center stood Theon trussed up to a rack, blood and sweat dripping from his body.  Shevata walked in.  She raised her hand and the doors slammed shut.   She walked up to Theon and began to cut his bonds.  “Asha?”  He muttered. 

“No.  Shh.”  She removed the rope from his legs, and began to cut the binding from his arms.  She felt a hand on her right shoulder.

“Just who in the Seven Stinking Hells are you” Said the snarling voice.

Shevata stopped and stood still, keeping her back to him.  “Take you hand off me, you stinking Bastard.”

He spun her around and reared his hand back to deliver her a hard blow to the face.  As he did, Zermon grabbed his arm and yanked in backwards, breaking it at the shoulder, and the Bastard screamed in pain.  Three other men charged at the same time.  Shevata ducked their attacks to remove the hood from Theon’s head and cut him free.  Zermon broke the neck of one, kicked another so hard in the abdomen across the room, he fell dead against the wall, and put his fist through the remaining one. 

“Take the Bastard’s cloak and clothes.”  Shevata eased Theon from the rack and sat him on the floor.  She handed him water and he drank with haste.  She helped him get a shirt on and wrapped the cloak around him.

She turned and Zermon held the Bastard in the air with one hand.  Blood poured from his mouth.  “What did you do?”  Shevata nudged Theon away from the blood.  Zermon tossed the Bastard’s tongue on the floor.  “Hurry now.”  Zermon slammed Ramsay, gasping in pain to the rack and they tied him to it so tight it cut off blood flow to his limbs and they left his right arm backward as it was broken.  Shevata backed away looking at the floor and dropped an orange coin to the floor.  The fire pit to hell opened inside of the room.  The Bastard’s eyes widened with terror.  “Forget it Bastard, this is what you’ve sought since your birth, you vile excuse for humanity.”  Zermon lifted the rack and lowered it into the hell fire amongst the lower demons, securing it to burn, but not for him to reach bottom so he could climb out and exist in hell as a demon. 

When they finished, she picked up the coin and the floor returned to what it was.  They turned to Theon.  He said, “What…what will you do to me?”

Shevata knelt in front of him.  “After we kill every skin peeler in the Dreadfort, we’ll make sure you sister gets you back.  And if Daenerys Targaryen doesn’t burn the rest of your disgusting family, we will.”

On Beating the Readers

"Jurassic Park"

When Indie writer John Locke published his “how to” book about selling books, I’ve noted before an important point he made:  You may not be a great writer, but you will need to be an entertaining writer. (Paraphrased).  Putting aside any controversy about Locke, he clearly writes entertaining novels that people like.  His point couldn’t be closer to the truth about novels. 

When I download a book to one of my e-readers, I hope and expect to be entertained, if it’s fiction or non-fiction.  Good writing isn’t only good grammar, punctuation, and format (an editor’s term…what does that mean….) it’s also about entertaining the reader.  For example, the hoopla and blasting of “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer:  Maybe she wasn’t Evelyn Waugh amongst writers, but people found her books entertaining (even if I didn’t), so good for her.   The main issue I had with the novel was that the writer wasn’t willing to push the danger hard enough to reel in the reader.  In other words, there was little doubt the teen lovers would be together and things would work out without a major challenge. (My focus is “Twilight” here.)

I like fiction to take me on a ride.  I dislike roller coasters, so books are a great substitute.  My favorite examples are books by ace author the late Michael Chrichton.  “Timeline” begins with a group of people travelling to medieval France by means of a device, but everything goes wrong in the first five minutes so they are left on their own in a violent world where history underestimates pretty much everything.  Almost every chapter ended with a character being slung to the ground with a sword over his/her head.  I had to power-read it to relieve myself of the agony of the story.  Today, it’s one of my favorites.

Chrichton really beat up the readers in the book “Jurassic Park.”  Because of the success of the film, when I talk about the book, many say “Oh, right.  I just saw the movie.”  Noooo.  The book for me was an exercise in displacement horror as the writer placed we poor readers on the menu of the dinosaurs, running like hell from the T-Rex with the kids for half of it, dodging the Pterodactyl, mercifully left out of the film and last but not least, we were inside with the scientists as several Velociraptors dropped through the ceiling munching out, not bothering to kill their prey first.  By the end of “Jurassic Park” I needed a drink, a vacation, and didn’t want to see a lizard on my deck for weeks.  However, the book is fantastic.  I will never read it again.

Lastly, I always mention “Revolutionary Road” because it’s a banner book for author brutality to readers.  We think we’re reading about 1950s “Blaming on the ‘Burbs” but I when I finished the book, (the film doesn’t carry the message as well) I needed to stop, look at my life in the suburbs, and realize April Wheeler was a lost soul. 

While we read and write beautiful books, or novels that take us to interesting places, some writers will press the gas pedal and drive the reader into a wall.  I say, bring it writers.  I like a good ride and can handle a reader beating…once in a while.