tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220285230636101823.post7652302435702364051..comments2024-03-28T09:04:42.135-04:00Comments on Rip Jagger's Dojo: Anger Management On Almuric!Rip Jaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936426877024852134noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220285230636101823.post-81969136206345850392012-07-04T03:06:17.602-04:002012-07-04T03:06:17.602-04:00Steve - And likewise. It's good to hear that s...Steve - And likewise. It's good to hear that someone else sees Esau's...er salty nature. :)<br /><br />Taranich - Thanks for the info on the creation of the story. Otto Binder is a name to conjure with, not one I'd have thought of. <br /><br />And while I do find Esau unlikeable, I do think he's fascinating. Pungently disagreeable characters can be compelling, but in Esau's case it's very hard to develop any empathy for him since he seems such an utter brute. He is defined by his anger for sure, and maybe if the story had seen him moderate that as he becomes part of the culture he admires, then it might make better sense thematically. He's a misanthrope for sure, a pure example and that's compelling on its own I suppose. <br /><br />Rip OffRip Jaggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936426877024852134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220285230636101823.post-16042340246978009382012-07-03T23:24:21.496-04:002012-07-03T23:24:21.496-04:00I'm rather interested by your dislike of Esau,...I'm rather interested by your dislike of Esau, more so because of your reasons for disliking him ar the exact reasons I find him so fascinating: he's a man who is completely unsuited for modern civilized life, but rather than adapt or present himself as some sort of noble savage, he almost seems to purposely rebel against it. His own hostility just breeds more contempt and resentment, until eventually it boils over when he goes too far, the only escape being offered offworld. As a result, he takes to a savage world like a duck to water. It's a psychological case study of the vicious cycle of hate and violence. It's a bit like Robert Neville in <i>I Am Legend</i>, who some criticise for his latent misogyny: part of me thinks "well, yes, that's kind of the point."<br /><br />Regarding the authorship: Morgan Holmes' detective work leaves zero doubt that Almuric was incomplete, since it was advertised in Weird Tales as being unfinished. Exactly who finished it is more a matter of debate: Holmes puts a strong case for Otto Binder, though Otis Kline's also been put forward. Generally speaking most who have studied the matter seem to agree that it's all Howard with (at most) some alterations up until the final chapter, which is either drawn from Howard's synopsis (Howard tended to dwindle into synopses in his drafts) or written whole cloth.Taranaichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176999342965850175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220285230636101823.post-39519252844766750092012-07-03T18:14:40.849-04:002012-07-03T18:14:40.849-04:00When I read "Almuric" with an eye toward...When I read "Almuric" with an eye toward doing a NUELOW Games e-book edition, I said to myself, "I'm going to have do some trimming to make Esau just a little less prickish if I do this."<br /><br />I don't know we'll ever do one... but I'm glad to know I'm not alone in my reaction to that character. :)Steve Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11263633883997493518noreply@blogger.com