The Unpublishable

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:23 pm

i don't get that one, what is it supposed to be about? O.o

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:51 pm

An idea that I didn't quite have the patience to develop as much as it might have been. The basic concept is a riff off Alan Moore's comment in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen that Britain has always had trouble distinguishing between its heroes and its monsters. The idea is a sort of secret agent to the Crown, but unlike the sauve or heroic types that save the day these are the most complete and utter bastards that Britain has ever produced, answerable only to the highest echelon of the government, and who commit monstrous crimes.

The first episode - and I really hesitated on whether or not to show the first recruitment or commission - takes places before the battle of Crécy, and I think borrows overmuch from the Roanoke bit of 100 Bullets. The implication the reader is supposed to get is that one man walked into a French hamlet and systematically murdered everyone, walking house to house, whole families - and for no apparent reason; the murder of the hamlet was the cover for the real crime.

The second episode is about the secret murder of the Princes in the Tower, and I think this is where I started to really lose the thread of things because I could have been much more explicit and detailed in the murder and disposal, but I wasn't feeling up to writing goreporn. It also introduced the symbol of the Bastards, the broken cross under the crown.

The third episode conflates the Monster of Glamis Castle, and Jack the Ripper; basically giving the idea that the "Monster" was a Bastard who lived in secret when not committing horrible acts on behalf of the crown.

Fourth episode shows the evolution of the process, closer to the secret agent roots - modern day (14 years ago), with a dark-skinned female being chosen as a Bastard. The suggestion with the village is that the hamlet-murdering of the first episode has become a test or initiation of sorts for new bastards, and the Brits are using the Kosovo conflict as cover. Brings the whole thing around again.

But again, I think I did poorly with this. It should have been longer, more developed, more episodes. It might be a reasonable lead-in to the adventures of the Bastard of '99, but I don't know if I feel like writing that, considering how badly I think I bungled this one.

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:58 pm

Ah, i see now.
Yeah, on a second read it does become a bit more clear.
Not much though, and since when does one down work? O.o

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 6:55 pm

Today on the Unpublishable, a brief sentiment in prose: "Et in Arkham ego." http://www.the-unpublishable.com/2013/0 ... m-ego.html

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 11:25 pm

very nicely written that one

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 3:31 pm

Not even blizzads can stop the Unpublishable! Today is "Giantfall," a cosmic phantasy. http://www.the-unpublishable.com/2013/02/giantfall.html

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 12:35 am

reads a bit like something from the marvel universe O.o

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:26 pm

Today on The Unpublishable, a fable for those with a certain experience with and respect for young girls: "The Girl Who Conquered Hell" http://www.the-unpublishable.com/2013/0 ... -hell.html

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:58 pm

reminds me of my girlfriend . . . fear the cute ones, indeed, for they are scary as fuck . . .

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:33 pm

I really, really hope you weren't dating an 8-year-old.

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:49 pm

no, certainly acted like one from time to time though . .

erik · Post by **erik** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 2:59 am

Ancient History wrote:I really, really hope you weren't dating an 8-year-old.

Hey, don't knock it. I had a 6-year-old girlfriend.

The girl in the story doesn't remind me at all of her tho.

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 3:35 am

I'm assuming you were also six at the time or you're measuring in years other than earth-years.

erik · Post by **erik** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:11 am

Korgan0 wrote:I'm assuming you were also six at the time or you're measuring in years other than earth-years.

Assume away. It was about 10,000 days ago tho.

And I looked something like this around that time.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:59 pm

Space remains my favorite frontier; find out why with "Marswalker" on The Unpublishable: http://www.the-unpublishable.com/2013/0 ... alker.html

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:44 pm

not very spacy though to me O.o
more like a western than scifi o.O

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 1:43 am

Today on The Unpublishable, a rumination on a strange treasure: "Tolkien's Ashtray" http://www.the-unpublishable.com/2013/0 ... htray.html

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 4:49 pm

Fans . .

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 4:53 pm

That's a real item, btw. Though I have no idea what it looks like or if it still exists.

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 5:01 pm

now why ain't i surprised? O.o

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Mar 08, 2013 7:46 pm

More weird west on the Unpublishable this week with "Paid For." http://www.the-unpublishable.com/2013/03/paid-for.html

100! One more month for the two-year anniversary.

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Fri Mar 08, 2013 8:06 pm

"You said when we meant that you had sins to pay for."

you mean met i think.

Once there came a ribbon of darkness slithering across the path, and he raised the horn to break its back but halted when he saw those amber eyes meet his own. So the rattler smiled and carried on its way, and he went on his own.

There were seven cities on seven hills under seven dawning suns, and between them green valleys brown with buffalo and dear, and the smells of mesquite, bacon, corn, and bear fat came on him on the wind.

deer i guesss.

this was a nice story.
mood just right and nice scene descriptions

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Mar 08, 2013 8:14 pm

Fixed, and thanks.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:26 pm

Before artificial intelligence there was...Tulpa. This week, only on The Unpublishable: http://www.the-unpublishable.com/2013/03/tulpa.html

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:22 pm

i don't get that one.
and at least you are consistent in what little mistake you make.
gasping not gasped and i am not really sure wether or not things like "Now his labours were truly begun" and "When the time was come, he took up the knife" are wrong or some strange writing style i do not recognize.