ionik27
Monday 25th August 2008 13:53 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| four knots in time, each with more than one path beyond, each depending on the one before and deciding the one after... And the four voices you chose were perfect!! Incredible, as always! |
gymnastgal19
Sunday 18th November 2007 18:48 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
wow! this was really neat!!! I loved how you had 4 parts and they all represented the different musical parts!!!
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Astrid
Monday 10th September 2007 13:19 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| My goodness, this is beautiful. You did an excellent job. |
| Friday 19th October 2007 14:15 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thanks; I'm glad you liked it. ~Ken |
rebekah_sc
Friday 7th September 2007 21:48 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| That was really intense...great job. |
| Friday 7th September 2007 22:53 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thank you. I'm honored. |
ColtDancer
Friday 7th September 2007 20:10 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
*sniffles*
Oh, what a powerful and POIGNANT piece! I had no idea what to expect when I read the title and brief description, and even when I started this I wasn't sure where it would lead. I could not have chanced a guess that would have in any way done it justice. What a brilliant little piece; I am in awe.
You've captured the essence of each timeline and their respective characters beautifully; the pictures were rather vivid as I read, and in the end, I felt so...distressed. I'm not sure how to describe it...it's just that tension that comes with knowing fate and choice are so entertwined, and sometimes dictate one another. Knowing what happens as a result of those choices (as the reader) makes it difficult to watch the characters in the time they are contemplating. Such a cyclical process. It makes me want to tantrum. OY.
Intriguing, masterful. Thank you so much for sharing!
~CD |
| Friday 7th September 2007 22:53 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
Thank you so much for those kind words. I'm delighted that the story spoke to you.
I understand the "distress" and "tension" you speak of. Someone or other once said that while reading or watching a tragedy, the reader/audience has the desire to shout at the characters to make them avoid their doom. I feel that way whenever I read The Persian Boy.
~Ken |
Wordgrrl
Thursday 6th September 2007 17:30 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
This story is just... Wow. The way you combined the different segments was sheer genius. Thank you for sharing this.
::: bowing, ala Wayne's World::: I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy...
javascript:smiley('');
H. |
| Friday 7th September 2007 22:50 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| You are very kind. (...No, it's I who am not worthy... ) ~Ken |
jenmusic
Thursday 6th September 2007 03:05 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
“Being a little child is nothing shameful, Harry. When you have someone who loves you – ” Her voice almost breaks, but she continues doggedly. “When you have someone who loves you, being a little child is a time of great joy.”
Wow. This was beautiful and powerful. The whole story is fascinating and well-told, but the Harry/Ginny vignette is stunning. Thank you for sharing this!
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Delfino
Tuesday 4th September 2007 16:16 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
Oh wow! This was amazing, but at the same time, very very sad.
But very well written. Thank you for writing this! |
| Tuesday 4th September 2007 20:47 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thank you for saying so. I'm glad you liked it. ~Ken |
dreamcoatmom
Tuesday 4th September 2007 15:15 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Lyrical and lovely, moody and evocative. Thank you for this interesting and engaging montage--it was a really wonderful escape in the middle of my day. The story for Ginny and Harry was particularly moving, and felt very, very intimate. Nicely done! |
| Tuesday 4th September 2007 20:45 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thank you for those kind words; I'm glad I gave you a nice break! ~Ken |
bbnaz
Tuesday 4th September 2007 07:19 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
Interesting analysis of music. Whilst it is an a capella in four movements, the dissonance between the movements make for interesting reading.
Would be interesting to hear it aloud. |
| Tuesday 4th September 2007 20:44 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thank you! I've always been fascinated by simultaneous songs with different lyrics that can be performed in opera. ~Ken |
freshwater
Monday 3rd September 2007 23:26 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
This is quite brilliantly organized and structured.....I love the interplay and reflection within and among the 'voices'. The issues they discuss are quite intriguing, also.
I think the 'bass' part must actually be a duet, with Ginny as harmonizing alto. |
| Tuesday 4th September 2007 20:43 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thank you very much. I do think that the Harry-Ginny scene needs to be a duet. ~Ken |
babigirl0324
Monday 3rd September 2007 13:27 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
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| Monday 3rd September 2007 19:40 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thanks. I think. Is "three dragons and a Ginny" a good thing? ~Ken |
narumi
Monday 3rd September 2007 10:35 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Cute. I like the parts with the Founders best. I feel like the James & Lily sections have 'been done' in other fics a lot, but the Harry portion was unique and rather unexpected. Well done. |
| Monday 3rd September 2007 19:39 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thank you! I'm glad you liked the bit with Rowena and Godric; it's the first time I've ever attempted anything with the Founders. ~Ken |
RIPHedwig
Monday 3rd September 2007 06:25 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| this was really, really good. it brought tears to my eyes with ahrry and ginny, but didnt make me cry, which is good coz im sick of crying everytime i read a fanfic! really well written and an excellent idea! |
| Monday 3rd September 2007 19:38 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thank you! Tears in your eyes but no crying? Sounds just about right to me. ~Ken |
CheddarTrek
Monday 13th August 2007 17:20 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Great story, I enjoyed it, though I'm not certain what I was supposed to get from it. That doesn't mean I didn't like it, just that I feel almost as if I've been left hanging. Above all though I liked your style here, what you call an "a capella" piece. |
| Monday 13th August 2007 21:40 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
Hi! I'm not sure what you were supposed to get out of it either. It's a mood piece, really -- a progression of feelings. Myself, I get caught up in the tension/irony between the parallel actions and feelings of the four singers and their great separation in time and space, especially considering that each event causes the next one. It's a sensation of my smallness in the enormity of human events and causalities. There may have been a hundred people feeling what I feel now, a hundred years ago, and I'll never know. That sort of thing. But I don't know if that's what most readers got out of it.
Thanks,
Ken |
EmeraldPrincess
Monday 13th August 2007 14:50 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
This is one of the best things I've ever read.
Rhetor, when you write, what is that you're thinking about? You weave this tale that has me feeling every movement and wishing for the never end.
If you plan to write a book, which I plead that you do, for I will love it, it would have merit.
Ah, well, I sound idiotic in the stupid way that is me.
Great job on this!
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| Monday 13th August 2007 15:23 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
You're very kind. Thank you so much; I'm honored.
For this story, there were many things I was thinking about at once. The first thing I wanted to do was something that would have the feel of music -- several voices singing at once. Then I wanted those voices to be very far apart from each other. Then I wanted them to be connected by causality -- the first one causes the second one causes the third one. Then, I dunno, I thought it'd be neat to start with the founders, and Rowena came into my head. And I thought about James, and about the decision to make Peter the Secret Keeper, and I thought of what the end of Harry's life might be like. And then, honestly, it was just a matter of writing what seemed to happen next in each scene. I know that's not much of an answer, but with this story that's what happened.
I'd love to write a book, or some original stories, someday. But I think it'll be a while before I have that much confidence. But your statement of confidence means more to me than you probably know.
Thanks again,
Ken |
afanfictionaddiction
Tuesday 17th July 2007 21:16 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Well crafted, I love the musical analogy too. |
| Wednesday 18th July 2007 17:43 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| I'm glad you liked it. Thank you! ~Ken |
Ari
Monday 16th July 2007 19:58 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Oh, wow, Rhetor. Brilliant and moving. I love it. Now you know why I voted for you over me, eh? |
| Wednesday 18th July 2007 17:42 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Ari, did you really? I'm touched and amazed. Thank you! ~Ken |
girlyswot
Monday 16th July 2007 07:15 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Well, I'm glad to know I voted for yours, Ken! Truly, this was a really impressive piece of writing showing your trademark lightness of touch as you deal with complex themes and long timespans. The interweaving of the four voices worked wonderfully to create a sense of rhythm, harmony and counterpoint. And we know enough of their backstory to recognise that the four voices are all part of the same larger story, that encompasses both tragedy and victory. I'm sorry the competition collapsed because I'm sure you would have won, and I'm very glad that I didn't even try to go up against this! |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:46 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
Thanks, Ros! I'm glad you saw the linkages between the four parts; that was the hardest part for me to pull off. My idea was that each of these stories is a link leading to the next one.
You know, while the Challenge was ongoing, four members of my Flist privately e-mailed me to tell me which story was mine, and all of them were correct. Mary claimed that she could recognize me just based on the way my Author's Note was written! Am I that easily recognizeable?
~Ken |
anniep
Thursday 12th July 2007 04:40 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Beautiful and poignant. Bravo for a work well done! |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:41 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thanks so much. I'm honored. ~Ken |
DailyProphetReporting
Thursday 12th July 2007 02:58 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
The style of this is so unconventional it takes some getting used to, but you just pull it off so well. The way you progressively shortened the segments gave it a nice rhythm so it felt more and more like music or poetry as I went along. That's obviously very sophisticated written.
You've also got everyone perfectly in character, and most of all, you really nailed the theme. The anticipation -- and all the emotions that entails -- comes through really well in every segment.
So, very, very well done. I liked this a lot. |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:40 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thanks, KC. It looks like the story did for you what I was hoping it would do for readers. I'm glad you noticed the rhythmic part too. ~Ken |
Grandma Kate
Monday 9th July 2007 14:02 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Your Author's Note made the piece all the more interesting. Bravo! |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:36 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thanks, Kate! I value your opinion (but you already knew that). ~Ken |
pyromain
Monday 9th July 2007 12:00 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| This is quite different, I like all four story lines in this story, maybe the rowena best of all. I think this is a nice twist to write a story and I think I like your style. |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:35 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thanks! I'm glad you liked the story; I hope you'll take a look at some of the other things I've written, now that you know who I am. I like the Rowena scene a lot too. ~Ken |
ves.heill
Monday 9th July 2007 10:07 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| When I first started reading this I'll b honest and say I didn't think I would enjoy it - I don't care much about the founders in general, and I've never gotten into maurader's era fics. But this surpassed my expectations. Very good work - I really enjoyed this. All of it. |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:33 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thank you! I'm glad you stuck with the story despite the negative indications at the start. Actually this is the first time I've written anything that was about the Founders or the Marauders, so I'm glad it worked for you! ~Ken |
Delani
Monday 9th July 2007 08:09 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
Oh I have to admit that the quartet analogy drew me in--you see, I dabble in theory and musical performances and it was absoltuely wonderful to have that kind if comparison for this situation. Well done; I can't wait for your name to be unveiled!
Del |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:31 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Hi, Del. I'd forgotten about your musical background. Did you notice that the piece could be done as an octet or nonet instead of a quartet? ~Ken |
Neli P
Sunday 8th July 2007 22:49 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| What an original, well-writen, wonderful story! Four voices, four lives skillfully played into the Finale The last two lines made me cry, but I love it. Great job! All my best wishes for this Challenge |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:30 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thanks, Neli; I'm glad you liked it. ~Ken |
girl from ipanema
Sunday 8th July 2007 21:02 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| you are either hwimsey or antosha, but my money is on hwimsey. this is LOVELY. Have you thought in writing a long on about the founders? they sound just right and so interesting. |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:30 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
Being mistaken for Hwimsey and Antosha is probably the nicest compliment I've ever received. Thank you!!
This is the first time I've ever tried writing about the founders, but they seem like really compelling characters, don't they? Rowena became much more of a mystic -- almost a Buddhist, I think -- than I expected, and I had a lot of fun making Godric really gruff. |
lantis222
Sunday 8th July 2007 19:14 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Very nice. I really liked the telling of four different stories and all with life changing consequences. You did a really goo job. |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:27 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thanks so much! ~Ken |
nerd2006
Sunday 8th July 2007 18:10 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Wow, interesting. And very good, too. What was it that was wrong with Harry? |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:27 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Hi. Thanks! Actually I don't know what was wrong with Harry. It was something serious, though... |
girlspell
Sunday 8th July 2007 12:03 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| This story was beautifully choreographed. You took four different situations and each one was synchronized with the other. Wonderfuly idea to tie four voices seperated by time. |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:26 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thanks, Rachel. I'm glad you liked it. |
aurora luminis
Sunday 8th July 2007 09:55 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| This is certainly a daring and creative piece. You have given us four stories: the first three having endings we already know, one of them disastrous. The last ends happily right before our eyes because someone made the right choice. The work you put into it is impressive. Yet, I confess to being very uncomfortable with the portrayal of Harry. Basically he belongs to JKR--her property, her creation, her child. There is no way that I myself can see JKR’s Harry as a coward unwilling to suffer his destiny. He may not like it; he often does not in the books. Who would? But Harry never runs from it, nor even shows the slightest leaning towards being suicidal. Even deeper: Harry Potter understands in a way that is amazing his personal responsibility for others. He would know that you cannot give an example of just throwing the towel in when it gets too tough, you cannot undermine others in their own struggles in life, sometimes far more suffering. But I am older and age gives a chance to see what the example of courage, real courage can mean to others...this Harry lacks it. I do appreciate the underscore that it is love and support that helps people to turn from suicide. |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:25 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
Thanks for this very thoughtful review. I'm 47; does that count as "older?"
I agree with your major premise, which is that Harry in fanfic should be consistent with Harry in canon. I also agree with your primary minor premise, which is that Harry in canon is brave and does not run away from his problems. But I don't think I agree with your secondary minor premise, which is that to choose to die quickly, rather than by a slow, wasting disease, shows either cowardice, suicidal tendencies or lack responsibility towards others.
Harry in this story has discharged his responsibilities towards the world and is now faced with a problem which confronts primarily (solely?) him and his wife. The route he is contemplating seems, to him, to be more merciful for both of them. Now, he's wrong about that, but that's neither because he doesn't love his life nor because he's cowardly. He wants to save pain for Ginny, and to save indignity for himself. Neither choice is less "brave" than the other -- his error was in underestimating what it would mean to Ginny to be able to care for him in his last illness. My own experience with people facing illnesses like this, and with their caretakers, has been far too varied and complex for me to think of either decision as uniformly "better" or "braver."
Anyway, the main point of the story is that Harrydoesn't choose to kill himself. |
St Margarets
Sunday 8th July 2007 06:25 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| Aw, I love the complexity of four stories happening at once - yet you use the simple act of a character pacing to link the stories. The anticipation theme is rendered beautiful in the pacing and the tone as you speed the pace of each story until there is an either/or moment - the final note being the life-changing decision. Beautifully done. And I have to say, I'm glad Ginny won that round. |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:17 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Thanks, Mary. We've already discussed the story offline, so I'll just thank you again, and agree that I'm glad Ginny won that round too. |
Loriel Eris
Sunday 8th July 2007 05:23 | Quartet for Separated Voices |
| That was fantastic. I finished this with a tear in my eye. |
| Monday 16th July 2007 09:16 | Quartet for Separated Voices (Author Response) |
| Aww! Thanks so much. ~Ken |
