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

Hello Xantief,

Thanks for your review. Glad you enjoyed the short story.

I see you've had the honour of having your own story featured in the UG. It was a well written and amusing tale, and congratulations for making it to the front page.

Hope to see more of your work there in the future.

Flame

Thank you Flame.

I was chuffed Friday, having both an EG and UG entry on the FP.
(Better put the QT on the acronyms PDQ, eh?)

The pressure is on!

I have a couple ideas at this point, but an idea in my mind is like a carboy of ale -- needs to ferment for a week or so.

Heres one: 'How a Nietzschean can find peace'...this comes from my study of Mencken (the fruit of which, I'm proud to announce, is destined for the EG)...Mencken was called the American Nietzsche, and I couldn't help absorbing some of the (supercilious, arrogant) tone of the social critic. Bad juju. My antidote might just be an essay in support of the attitudes that are regarded as 'stupid'.

More to come.

Thank you for visiting, Flame. I am interested in knowing more about you, and definitely enjoy your work.

Xantief

Quite an achievement to get both a EG and UG entry. Entries for the EG are always of the highest standards.

I like your idea for the essay. It should make a very interesting article, and I'll look forward to reading the entry.

About me: I've been around the site for almost a year and a half. I was first here with a different identity, but took a bit of a break, and started up again recently with a new ID. I've been writing for a little bit longer than I've been on the site, but coming here has helped me to improve and continue with my writing. I've had a couple of entries in the EG in the past but mainly stick to fiction. I feel I have a lot more freedom in this area.

I'm from Norfolk - which is a lovely area on the east coast of the UK. I live on the outskirts of a city called Norwich which is a very, very nice city. Having said that, I've travelled a fair bit and I've also lived in the USA, Hong Kong and Greece. I love to meet other people and learn a little about their culture.

How about you?

Flame

I live in California's central valley, on the I-80 corridor between San Francisco and Sacramento.
The Central Valley has been called the world's most productive farmland (three growing seasons per year) but is being encroached upon by the inevitable urban sprawl.

I was raised overseas (Army brat), mostly in Germany. After a career of my own in the military, I ended up in Vacaville. I share a house with my three adult sons.

Like you, I was here earlier in a different incarnation. Reinvented myself recently, and I'm happy to say that I'm now a bit more productive.

I visited London once in my youth. Enjoyed a splendid Easter week...and it took two weeks for a passable British accent to wear off.

I've also lived in Spain and Turkey...and spent some time in Saudi Arabia in 1991.

Ex-military...but an old hippy at heart.

Thanks so much for the , but I'm an man myself...easier on the tubes.

California. Very nice. I've always wanted to visit, but I never even got close.

Nice to hear you've travelled, it's a big wide world out there isn't it? Mine wasn't with the military, but I also have a grown up son who lives here with me.

I haven't been abroad this year but I'm popping over to Budapest in September. Really looking forward to that.

What inspired you to write?

Sorry about the have a couple of on me.....

I write pretty much as a hobby. In a venue such as this, I feel comfortable with my humble efforts. I have no real aspiration to write a book, for example, but literature as an art form is something I have always valued.

Who knows? I may find the focus and stamina to produce something worth reading.

I'm sure you are more than capable of producing anything you want!

You are quite lucky. You have a foot in both camps so to speak. Both the EG and the UG.

I must say I'm glad to see you over this side. We need more people like you.

Flame

I have the first half of a short story ready, entitled Stonecutter. I had started it many months ago, and have just been spending the last hours fleshing it out.
Part 2 is ... fermenting.

I'll give that priority, I think.

I'm afraid Nietzsche will have to wait.

And I'm pleased to be in good literary company.

You tell a great tale. Your story is beautifully written. You've managed to weave a sense of mystery into the story line.


Flame

Hi Flame,

Please remind me NEVER to assume that a story is 'half-done'...

What I presented thus far is merely the beginning.

The conflict is yet to come. I made the mistake of forcing the resolution, in my thoughts.

So, it'll be a little longer, but I have a good direction to follow. I'll continue pecking for the next day or so.

BTW, I have a dreadful name-generator. If you are familiar with names from a region and era (I had the Stonehenge-building epoch in mind, obviously), I would appreciate your input. Male, female...

I know it's late evening for you...here, it's the hot part of the day.

Best fishes,

X

Hi

Good to hear from you, it's never too late for me, I'm a night bird and also quite a good researcher.

Hope you're impressed. Please find the attached link which I'm sure will provide you with the information you require. Hope you're chuffed!

http://www.druidcircle.net/names-male-5.html

How did you come up with the idea for your story?

If I need any research on your side of the pond, can I look to you?

Flame

That's a good reference, Flame, I'll have to study deeply.
I'm also going to research the tools, methods, and patterns a little more. I'm stuck on the transport at the moment, as moving the stone is naturally an integral part of the story.

The ancient cultures have always fascinated me. Inca, Aztec, Maya, ...
You see their magnificent artifacts and are left wondering how those people lived.

I'll help you as I can for research.

One of my friends is from that part of the world, it's a lovely area. I'm not sure anybody knows how the stones were moved, a bit like the pyramids. A mystery! But I'm sure you can use your imagination. Did you know the stones are said to have fertility powers? People used to go and sit on the stones, but of course these days you are not allowed near them. Hence the population has decreased in that area in the last century, or so they say.

Seems we are both interested in the mysteries of life. I have my own set of runes, and books about the subject. You can always let me know if you need to know anything.

I used to write technical instructions when I was in the military, and sometimes my attention to detail went over the top. It's seductive, getting caught up in the minutiae, so I need to keep the bigger picture in mind.

As I complete portions, I'll post them here, and you can take the first look. You can be whichever sort of critic you like.

I'm off to do some research then, and I wish you a good evening.

I think I'd rather be a friend than a critic, but will help in any way I can.

My friend, I present the second chapter of 'Stonecutter'.

Beautiful prose. I adore this story. Bet you're chuffed with it too!

One small thing. Would Jossen actually be able to tell Ran had experienced a powerful dream just by looking at him?

Thank oo...

I'm weaving some of Castaneda's Don Juan into Jossen's character.

Don Juan and his group could 'see' peoples' moods, intent, and other states by interpreting characteristics of their auras. One of Castaneda's goals was to learn how to 'see'.

I really do not want to develop this theme too much...suffice it to say that a Loremaster perceives quite a bit.

But Dreaming was also a part of Castaneda's regimen. And it will predominate here, if the story stays close to my outline.

I'm pecking at the third chapter right now, which starts with some deep background narrated by Jossen. 'The Shadow of the Past'...?

Inevitably I shall have to include a love theme.

After all, Ran hasn't given any hint that he has ever been in love.

And Love makes the world go 'round...

Ahhh, now 'I see'

Dreams, another subject I'm very interested in. I have a guide entry on this very subject.

You certainly seem to know where you are going with this story. Looking forward to reading more.

Flame