Erfworld 148 - TBfGK, Page 135

[glissle]

It just struck me today that Parson might no longer have anyone to consult with or vent to, with Bogroll dead and the casters subsumed in the link.

With the eyebook hacked, I hope the trimancer can still exchange thinkagrams with Stanley / Jack.

[cyan-shine]

Awesome comic !

[The Antigamer]

It's definitely a Spider Robinson reference. Those books are amazing. If you haven't read them, you should.

[HandofShadows]

Excellent page. And what's left of the RCC is sooooo screwed. The question is who is left to fight over GK?

[shamelessmerc]

I don't know, I find Barbie anatomy more disturbing than male nudity.

Well said! I find the barbie anatomy very jarring, especialy since posture could have been used to disguise it.

It's a bit like all the people who have no problem with Dr Manhatten exploding people into bloody goo, but freak out that they were 'forced' to look at his member.

Grow up! Half the human race have one!

[noncaloric]

If the mountain is about to be uncroaked, and the pliers turn most uncroaked into dust ... lateral thinking indeed.

[Fjolnir]

I agree. 'Sexual' was the first word that came to mind, but it's not quite right...

It's more the kind of tension and energy that precedes a birth. More 'procreative' than 'sexual'.

Also, I love the way that the slightly different fonts emphasize and distinguish the personalities of of Sizemore and Wanda.

Between that and the facial expressions... the worry and dismay pre-linking, the intentness, sadness, rapture and glee in the link... I don't think the art of this page could be any better.

Jamie, you have outdone yourself again!
Oh and Rob, the writing is excellent as well. Almost poetic.

Sexual is incorrect though sensual, intimate, and possibly even erotic may all be fairly good qualifying terms for the scene unfolding here, the two characters minds are joined in a way designed to cause pleasure AND facilitate spell casting. A metaphysical coupling like this is certainly interesting because we thought the link was fairly uncomfortable to the casters, however it seems like it's a rather pleasurable experience, no wonder there's psychic backlash when they leave...

[Fez]

Personally, I was thinking it must be Callahan's General Goods because they probably sell Wanda's tools there.

I read a lot of SF and Fantasy, been reading at least 100 books a year for 3 decades. While the name sounds familiar I don't remember ever seeing one of his books on the shelf and having to decide whether to read it or not. None of the book covers are even remotely familiar.

As someone else said later, you should give them a try. I'm mixed on Robinson, but the Callahan's series is what made him as a writer. I am partial to the short stories from the era of Analog and other mags, so that's a plus as the stories derive from that background.

And its a shame how few books you see on the shelves these days in general. New SF/Fantasy is at a low point with romance/vampire/fantasy crossovers being far more popular, and older titles have a hard time getting a reprint unless one of a very small set of authors.

[Twad]

i personally think that the callahan reference is about the Dark tower novels from Stephen king. *'spirit' travels and stuff like that (vadassh?)

[TheTurnipKing]

Great page !

I just wonder how they can survive activating the volcano, as the lava might pass near the dungon

the Dirtamancer could presumably redirect magma flows within the mountain by closing some passages and opening others.

[Kyouhen]

I think Maggie's contribution to the link right now is allowing Wanda and Sizemore to see the entire mountain like that...

[raphfrk]

I think Maggie's contribution to the link right now is allowing Wanda and Sizemore to see the entire mountain like that...

But that would presumably be lookamancy.

[Kyouhen]

But that would presumably be lookamancy.

I dunno, I'd be more inclined to think that this is their minds being projected. Lookamancy might let them see what's going on elsewhere, but I don't think it would be enough to let them extend their powers to that point.

[raphfrk]

I dunno, I'd be more inclined to think that this is their minds being projected. Lookamancy might let them see what's going on elsewhere, but I don't think it would be enough to let them extend their powers to that point.

Ahh, would make sense for thinkamancy, it moves/expands their minds so they can see the whole mountain, rather than lookamancy which would allow them see from their current position.

[fendrin]

Ahh, would make sense for thinkamancy, it moves/expands their minds so they can see the whole mountain, rather than lookamancy which would allow them see from their current position.

Or perhaps it's how a dirtamancer perceives their rocky surroundings, albeit enhanced by the link. The role of a thinkamancer in a link is the link itself, and possibly as a safe point of contact with the outside world.

Name? Just "Lookamancer" now. Was called "Misty."

[Efogoto]

Well said! I find the barbie anatomy very jarring, especialy since posture could have been used to disguise it.

It's a bit like all the people who have no problem with Dr Manhatten exploding people into bloody goo, but freak out that they were 'forced' to look at his member.

Grow up! Half the human race have one!

Parson's Klog mentions that Erfworlders just pop in like the food, fully formed with basic abilities. They may well not have sexual organs.

[dr pepper]

We've been through this already. Yeah, erflings don't procreate, but they do have sex. Jillian and Ansom have sex. Wanda and Stanley have Sex. Mung tells Wanda he has an erection.

[Wadoka]

Well, the Epic Soundtrack just kicked in. I'm hearing "Ave Fortuna" in my head.

And re: GK, all I could think of was to begin reciting Hail Marys.

[Bassetking]

I just wanted to say...

Thank you. For the Callahan's reference. I was delighted to see it, and feel it complimented the comic perfectly.

[Zorfa_Tamanjoir]

I agree. 'Sexual' was the first word that came to mind, but it's not quite right...

You are right, to anyone who has the image burned into their brain its GOATSE that comes to mind, I mean look at the hands at the bottom. And now that is forever how you will see this page.

And does anyone think that Charlie is going to interfere somehow? Maybe breaking the link too early?

[ishnar]

You are right, to anyone who has the image burned into their brain its GOATSE that comes to mind, I mean look at the hands at the bottom. And now that is forever how you will see this page.

And does anyone think that Charlie is going to interfere somehow? Maybe breaking the link too early?

If that happens I give up.

[Kyouhen]

You are right, to anyone who has the image burned into their brain its GOATSE that comes to mind, I mean look at the hands at the bottom. And now that is forever how you will see this page.

And does anyone think that Charlie is going to interfere somehow? Maybe breaking the link too early?

I could see Charlie wanting to interfere, as an animated volcano would no doubt ruin his little plans to get his hands on Parson. Unfortunately the Archons are out of move and have no way of getting into the dungeon until the next day, and by then Parson will have had a full turn with his beast.

[Zorfa_Tamanjoir]

I could see Charlie wanting to interfere, as an animated volcano would no doubt ruin his little plans to get his hands on Parson. Unfortunately the Archons are out of move and have no way of getting into the dungeon until the next day, and by then Parson will have had a full turn with his beast.

But Charlie has hacked the Eye-books, and isn't he, by virtue of his artifact, the premier thinkamancer in the world? Maggie already mentioned that he could get into Parson's head, why not a weakened, casting-distracted Thinkamancer? Though no contact is being initiated from GK side.

[Goshen]

Or perhaps it's how a dirtamancer perceives their rocky surroundings, albeit enhanced by the link. The role of a thinkamancer in a link is the link itself, and possibly as a safe point of contact with the outside world.

Agree. I also think that the joined mind is able to pour the power of three casters into doing what it wants to do at any one time, which had to begin with perceiving. Next, the trimancer will put all its power into animating the mountain, etc.

Sexual is incorrect though sensual, intimate, and possibly even erotic may all be fairly good qualifying terms for the scene unfolding here, the two characters minds are joined in a way designed to cause pleasure AND facilitate spell casting. A metaphysical coupling like this is certainly interesting because we thought the link was fairly uncomfortable to the casters, however it seems like it's a rather pleasurable experience, no wonder there's psychic backlash when they leave...

Yes, it looks like Maggie is managing the experience for maximum efficiency. Cold and efficient, she would torture them if she thought it would produce a better result, but casters are likely too complex and too cerebral for that to work well. Although, Wanda would probably like that too.

Well said! I find the barbie anatomy very jarring, especialy since posture could have been used to disguise it.

Word! Usually, when I see no-genitalia male figure it makes me fear for my own member, like it may disappear from too much sexless time in my books and blogs. That said, a neutered Sizemore did not bother me too much, because he is a rather neutered personality anyway. You can bet Wanda's self-image has all it's woman-parts.

It's a bit like all the people who have no problem with Dr Manhatten exploding people into bloody goo, but freak out that they were 'forced' to look at his member.

Now, there you have really hit the nail on the head! It is a fundamental hypocrisy in Western civilization (not that others are better or worse) that violence is okay but sex is bad. All over the entertainment media people are shot, stabbed, killed, raped, and humiliated. Most of the imagery is directed at women, plenty toward men and even children are not safe. Sex is also depicted all over the place, but in a strangely repressed manner.

Do you remember the scandal around Janet Jackson's 2004 prime time boob exposure at the superbowl? Given the media frenzy at the time, it was like a giant tit-monster had loomed over the horizon and crushed America. The case is *still* in litigation!! Get over it, people, It's just a boob.

Finally, a prediction: The Arkenpliers will be used against the uncroaked lava-monster.

...off soapbox...

[djharr]

Speaking of getting creeped out, am I the only one that found Spider Robinson's stuff more and more creepy as time went by? He was a rabid fan of Heinlein, and seems to have had a similar progression as a writer. Start writing interesting fiction, then start bringing in weird elements, and end up with everyone f*cking their way to happiness and universal enlightenment. And I mean EVERYBODY. Your mother, your best friend, your dog...

Yuck.

I was cleaning out my bookshelf today, and just threw out all the Spider Robinson stuff, because it was so disturbing.

[VariaVespasa]

I've only ever read his early Callahans stuff, but I've met him, back in the late 80's/early '90s. He's just slightly a hippy, and, um, yeah, so I'm not surprised his stuff has verged towards the odd since then. I'm sure his wife being a soto zen monk just helped that right along. :P I made the mistake of going to his "Spiders choice" video night at V-con one year, and it was.... arty and unengaging... To me, at least. So just enjoy that of his work that you can, and disregard the rest, however much or little that may be. No biggie. :)

[Lombard]

Am I the only one who gets the Goatse reference? Disturbing...

lol I'm thinkin that reference is all in your head, dude.

[MReav]

Um, seeing as how they don't reproduce the human way, I'm wondering if that is the natural representation of their genitalia.

[Gez]

Um, seeing as how they don't reproduce the human way, I'm wondering if that is the natural representation of their genitalia.

Considering they don't nurse children, their females shouldn't have boobs either. It's trimanceric Volcanuncroakspell-O-Vision; not a documentary on Erfworldian anatomy.

[Kyouhen]

But Charlie has hacked the Eye-books, and isn't he, by virtue of his artifact, the premier thinkamancer in the world? Maggie already mentioned that he could get into Parson's head, why not a weakened, casting-distracted Thinkamancer? Though no contact is being initiated from GK side.

I think Charlie can only hack the Eye-books because they act as a medium for Thinkagrams. Or at least something similar to Thinkagrams. He can tap into them so he can have conversations with the holders without having to use an actual Thinkagram. I don't think they ever make it clear whether or not Charlie was able to access the notes Parson had put in there. Otherwise I think he needs to be closer to the target or have the target make contact with him first. The Arkendish would be just a little overpowered, especially for a mercenary, if he could tap into people's minds at will and make them do whatever he wants.