h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: of fugues & fireflies | a.k.a. Grand Mal - A4210642
Author: sadi_ranson_polizzotti - all in a golden afternoon.... - U1636801

Sadly Sadi is no longer about and what a shame it is. Still, there's no reason to let her work languish, unappreciated and unread so I'll simply put it out there for all to enjoy.

It's very good, isn't it? And stands alone despite being a first chapter.

I don't think sadi_ranson_polizzotti ever understood h2g2.

Oh how right you are Waz. I visited her Web Site just the other day and know she's still about and active, the thought of trying to convince her to return a strong one as she has as much talent for fact based writing as she does 'Our' kind. Perhaps in time, with a bit of luck and the air of change she just may, the site as a whole benefiting from such

Talent alright, but from what I remember her PR threads were as if two different languages were being spoken.

And I was never sure the copyright issues were clear - which is a bit awkward.

Most of my favourite UG pieces are fact based, btw . If not all. I like a pretty firm underpinning of fact.

Not just her PR treads I'm afraid, I found that to be true in most of her postings. I always suspected it was because when one is used to being at the head of the class so to speak patience is often in short supply and as we both know patience is a virtue one must possess in life and sometimes doubley so here, at least if one is looking to 'succeed' in either of the Guides.

Sadly it seems as if patience and talent seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum when art is involved. And just as sadly I can't find the appropriate Smiley for this situation Hey! solved my own problem

Patient people aren't talented and talented people aren't patient? I wouldn't go along with that.


One bit I wasn't sure about in this piece was the idea that epilepsy can develop by progressing from brief absences to a major event. A bit of researching is neither confirming nor contradicting the idea.

I've a take on the talent thing though it's only my personal opinion. I believe that art is fueled by impatience, driven by the desire to create. And therein lies the crux as the artist must excercise patience, making sure everything is pefect in the minds eye and all while compelled to press forward by that very impatience. It's ying/yang in practice, juxiposing polar opposites to complete the whole, a juggling act worthy of the center ring in the great circus of life. Is it any wonder that there are so many 'tortured' artists?

Speaking generally, and not related to Sadi - there are tortured artist, yes, agreed. Self-destructively so, sometimes. And sometimes they have no choice in that, other times it's a self-indulgence, other times it's assumed for the 'look', imo. I'm not comfortable fitting anyone into pigeon holes, Spy. I also believe that everyone has a talent, if they could just free themselves to find it.

This is beautiful, evocative writing.

I'm not sure that it has enough shape to be a chapter - it's more of a sketch.

You're oh so correct Waz, pidgeon holes are most uncomfortable places to dwell, especially so when one keeps getting shoved into them by so many who simply refuse to understand that not everyone fits a certain classification.

I do agree that many so called 'Tortured' artists are not but mere posers. Those who really couldn't help themselves, Dadd being an example that comes quickly to mind after the recent discussions are of an entirely different lot and sadly it seems that they are the most self destructive. Then they are others who convince themselves of their own greatness to justify that self same behavior, one Jim Morrison being a prime example, more hip than good IMO.

I've found that the problem lies not in finding ones talent so much as being able to indulge in such, time, finances and other commitments so often making the practice of such talent nothing more than a dream, something to long for with little to no hope of ever being able to pursue. That in itself is torture of another flavor but just as bitter a pill

Congratulations Sadi_ranson_polizzotti.

Your entry, 'of fugues & fireflies | a.k.a. Grand Mal', was picked out by the <./>underguide</.> Miners in December. We'd like to give it the Underguide's h2g2 Frontpage spot for week.


The Underguide's QA comment on the nomination, in case you are interested, is:
Good narrative and description, with some evocative phrasing. This passage doesn’t go anywhere, though, and the ‘part of a novel’ justification comes across as a cop-out in that respect. Some reservations about the way that epilepsy is described. Progression to grand mal seizures is far from inevitable. ‘Letter to Caleb’ (already in the UnderGuide as 'Waltz KO') is very much better piece of writing.


Picking up on the QA comment on the progression of epilepsy, we'd propose to change 'In time, I will have the Big Bad, The Grand Mal, but not yet.' to 'In time, I think I will have the Big Bad, The Grand Mal, but not yet.' to make it clearer this is the boy's interpretation, and not risk unnecessarily worrying anyone who might be themselves, or have someone close to them, experiencing brief absences.

We'd also want to present it on the frontpage without the notes at the beginning and end so that it stands alone as a piece of writing in its own right.

If you object to this, please say and we can discuss. (I know you've not been around recently, but we can do this retrospectively.) An UnderGuide Polisher will be in contact also, and might have other polishing suggestions. If you are around, you could discuss this here on this thread or with the Polisher.

Thank you for posting the entry here on h2g2, and many thanks also to spynxxx for finding it in h2g2's undergrowth, digging it up and submitting it to the AWW. That's deep mining.

And the UG version is here, should anyone care to take a look...

A31601981