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Tell us what you think about the August Issue
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...the concept of mana sinks (although not uncommon in some fantasy computer games) in this case was suggested by Kevin E. in a post re: A Matter of Faith. He speculated that if Prufrock was so lethal to magic users, objects from his world might be dangerous, too (but in a more controllable way). So -- if you don't like the idea, blame him!
Mizu Ash, who got to read this one earlier, found Morgenstern's 'mercy' less plausible... )
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Bad, naughty Kevin! ;)
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Uh oh, I've been found out, I'd better go hide behind Githros... Er Githros, why are you turning pink and losing horns? :o
Kevin
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This is a good effort, but I have to admit that I liked the last one better.
Here is a dead, god-like wizard, who planned his takeover of the world since before he died. He's in a battle against his archenemy where if he wins, he takes the world in a cakewalk. All he's got to do is win, (just win, not win by a couple of touchdowns) and we're all his zombies, forever. He takes a hit, a good one, but rebounds. AND THEN LEAVES!
Does he insist that he only fight his greatest enemy when his enemy is at full strength? I thought his goal was the world, not beating Al.
When all is said and done, the story didn't actually progress very much. Al's still getting better. The College is still working on more magic "Q" gadgets. Morganstern is still PO-ed and howling for Al's head, but isn't ready to go the distance over him. I hate to sound overly negative, but this yarn comes off as a 'teaser'--a "tune in next week for more" TV spot.
Nate
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Before reading these comments, I took Morgenstern's premature exit (thankfully he wasn't smooth and pink!) to be him escaping because the attack had weakened him very much- but he didn't want to admit to that, hence his speech claiming to be allowing them a second chance.
Morgenstern doesn't seem that powerful when he is encountered, but there has to be a fight or the series would be over before it started. Moreover, it is intruiging to watch these underdogs battle against his might by thinking up new tricks. Morgenstern seems too arrogant to fight back in the same way; he thinks he is already a superpower.
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Here are my quibbles:
... However (that's really just a big BUTt), I didn't feel drawn into this story from the beginning. Yes, we have a wizard, he solves crimes with magic, he has a pet demon (who wasn't there, but was painted in well [PINK? LOL]), yes he schmoozes with magical professors who let him in on cutting-edge research. . . but where's the story? Where's the hook?
..._A Matter of Urgency_ (a little ironc comparing title and first scene) ...
-- david j
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...i love the names you choose, like Prufrock, which i assume relates to the origin world's lack of faith in magic and fixation with so-called scientific reality. am i correct?
Lee
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There's only one item that I didn't care for. The ending. The villian should have blown them away. Egotistical in strategies is one thing, egotistical in tactics is another. If you have your enemy down, you finish him. I lost a lot of respect for Morgensterm, feeling he was incompetent. He took on a comicbook flavor at that point.
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If you read all the posts you'd have seen my earlier remarks -- fear may have played a part in Morgenstern's hasty departure. Besides, the series would end on kind of a grim note if the final scene had the College Masters (the senior and, aside from Morgenstern and possibly Al, the most powerful wizards) arriving only to find three piles of ashes on the floor (all that would be left of Al, Janine, and Billy)! Morgenstern will probably regain the respect of those who think he wimped out this time when he next appears, as he will be more than 'a big green lightbulb' -- he will show that he is a skillful and knowledgable wizard who happens to wield enormous power.
Would you readers have been happier if Morgenstern had killed (say) Billy on the way out, just to be mean? Since he HAD defeated Billy himself (whereas Al had been exhausted upon arrival), he might have felt that doing so was acceptable under the Supervillain Code of Conduct ... You would? You're just prejudiced because Billy's a werewolf -- or maybe because he's a lawyer ...
(Grumble grumble critics mutter mutter)
Robert M.
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And no, I don't have anything against werewolves. Elves, maybe, but not werewolves. ;-)
I'd avoid saying that to Trixie if I were you, Jaimie.
LOL!
Dan
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The story, "Prufrock's Problem", originally appeared in Chad Cottle's Titan Webzine
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Are there other stories in the Al Majius continuum, (realizing that Prufock was not originally part of Al's world) that have appeared in other Webzines, but have not appeared here, and if so, any plans to submit them here?
Kevin
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Why do you ask? Do you have the feeling you've missed something?
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It's a two-fer shameless plug, a first for this lettercol!
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Shameless, indeed.
At least I managed to bring up "Just Another Day at the Office" in two other threads now, legitimately. ;D
Nate
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"Legitimately". Uh huh. Suuure. (I prefer to mention my stories as shining examples of what some other author has failed to accomplish in their work. You know, purely for their benefit.)
Robert M.
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