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The most recent episode of Bike and probably at least one more will feature violence. It's not something I enjoy writing about, although I find it challenging because I try to avoid it in real life as much as I can.
Unfortunately, I followed the characters into a dark area and it appears to be the only way out of this aspect of the story, and I am horrified that Cathy can give vent to such primordial actions to preserve herself and her loved ones, at the same time I'm sort of pleased she can do what is necessary. I'm not sure I could in her position.
In my adventure story Snafu, the violence is a bit fantastical, mostly aimed at magical thought forms, and the whole ethos is fantasy. In Bike, it's more realistic without I hope any sense of gratuitousness - doubtless, readers will tell me if it borders on that.
Angharad.
Comments
Doubtless you're correct...
... in your assumption that your readers will comment. :-)
Thanks for the warning though... Now that I have some time, I need to get caught up again. *sighs* Work & family committments are sucking up soo much of my time lately. Both very important, as one pays the bills and the other makes living worthwhile.
Nontheless, it does put a crimp in my reading and to a greater extent my writing time.
Annette
As I see it ...
... from your point of view the whole purpose of 'Bike' is for you to explore whatever issues crop up. Right now there's a bit of violence but it's small beer compared to (say) Ian Fleming's James Bond stories and certainly Stephen King who's writing skill I admire but can't stand his stories. I used to read books by Leslie Charteris (Saint), Dornford Yates and Hank Jansen that my father left lying around when I was about 12 (I spent much of my spare time reading anything I could lay my hands on then) and they all contained violence in some form. It didn't bother me then and doesn't now (usually) after all, it's fiction; no real people are hurt writing this book.
Don't forget, Nancy Cole's 'No Greater Love' contains far more violence either explicitly or implicitly than anything so far on 'Bike' and that, quite rightly, is a very popular story.
Without conflict there's no story. The conflict can take many forms that fall well short of physical violence but are often just as terrible. I still think there's a streak of mischief in your 'Bike' posting - you poke we loyal readers just to see if we squirm - and I admire you for it.
Geoff
Whoever said...
Whoever said that violence never solves anything is a moron (to paraphrase Heinlein.)
In a perfect world, nobody perpetrates violence upon anyone. The lion shall lay down with the lamb -- but that time is yet to come.
If someone wishes to perpetrate violence upon you or your family, you can either lay down and die -- and sacrifice your family; or you can defend yourself and your loved ones.
If the nonviolent chose to not defend themselves and their loved ones, the violent win hands down.
So, I am pleased that Kathy can put aside her gentle nature and protect her kids. It proves that she is a good mother, and worthy of the trust that the kids have in her.
Ray Drouillard
That need...
...however, is tempered by a cost, emotional and spiritual, and everyone could probably do well to think out very carefully ahead of time just what might be sufficient a cause to induce them to commit upon another the very thing they fear for themselves or for their loved ones. I agree with the right to defend oneself and one's own, even to the extent of extreme violence, but even the most justified killing in defense of the most innocent carries a great, sometimes crippling cost.
-Liz
Successor to the LToC
Formerly known as "momonoimoto"
Angharad, To Me
Cathy is doing what a mum would do to protect her family, nothing more.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Agreed, you write what the story demands
and this situation certainly demands it. Violence is okay as long it is NOT gratuitous violence. I am with Cathy though, I will not hesitate to kill to defend what is mine. End of story. There are authors who write their characters into an untenable situation knowing they have to pull an ex deus machina, a totally unrealistic expectation to say the least, to pull them out of it,
Anyway, more violence is not unexpected, as I can see some kind of car chase coming up as the enemy discover their dead employees. Since the enemy saw Cathy drive off, they will be quick on their tail.
Problem is they only have a have a tank of petrol.
FWIW - I am glad Cathy is good in a 'Fire' fight :).
Kim