I’m just going to go all meta on you and tell you the title for this week’s chapter of Magician’s Misfortune is deliberately inaccurate, sort of. Hey, it’s the big fight, the action-filled climax, and if you haven’t been reading this story before, you sure as hell aren’t going to read this chapter.
Oh, yeah, maybe you say to yourself, “Self, an action-filled climax? Maybe it’s got a great fight scene? Oh, yeah, definitely!” My first response is to ask why you call yourself “self” in your own thoughts. You got some sort of identity problem? And then I’m going to tell you that the fight scene (yes, there is one, thanks for blowing the suspense) is going to be absolutely meaningless unless you’ve read the rest of the story . . . unlike the big fight scene at the end of the Twilight movie series, which was absolutely meaningless even if you did watch the rest of the movies.
Anyhow, this is chapter 22, “All hell breaks loose,” that we’re talking about. The title isn’t just a hackneyed cliché; it bears a deep and profound connection to the weighty themes of the chapter.
That doesn’t really save it from being a hackneyed cliché, does it? (And “hackneyed cliché” is a redundant phrase, come to think of it.) And do you really believe me when I talk about profound themes in this story?? And the title isn’t even right, sort of, even though it is sort of right.
I’m not making this at all clear, am I? Good. Read the chapter. Then you’ll understand.
You think after what I’ve written I’m going to explain why I used this picture?
OK, here’s the deal. It’s WIlliam Blake, if by some off-chance your inadequate education didn’t include art history. It’s from his interpretation of Dante’s “Divine Comedy.” And yes, it’s set in a circle of hell. Which one? Think about Harry Eberhardt, and the answer should be obvious.
Sillyverse 
Love William Blake! Good choice.
Lucky for me, back many years ago I was dating a woman who loved to go to art museums. I knew almost nothing about art, so I decided to learn by picking up some 600+ page tome on art history. And when I went through it all, I fell in love with Blake and the Pre-Raphaelites. I’m still in love with both.
And I’ve just spent ages trying to find a painting I can remember, like I could almost duplicate it, but I can’t remember what it’s called, nor by whom. Except the painter was of the symbolism movement. Satan’s Harvest? Pluto’s Treasure? Something along that line. And I think the artist was French. EJ might know who/what I mean. Anyway, point, this one by Blake really reminds me strongly of it, despite they’re not at all the same. I think it’s the lines of composition. This one is all naked bodies on the sea-bed, being trawled into a net and dragged along into the (upper) distance. They don’t look dead. They look more like extras from a porn movie. Oh please, EJ, you must know the one I mean. Whisper it to BB & he then will tell me.
BTW, brilliant comedic introduction. How much do you charge? Will you write mine for me?
I have consulted EJ, who admits that your description does not bring a painting to mind. I can sort of recall something like that myself, but my attempts to find it on the web have been fruitless.
As for my charges for writing an introduction, I guess that would depend on the story. I doubt I could provide a good comic introduction to recent chapters of Feast Fables, though Alsalda has quite a few possibilities.
Yea, but won’t you agree, FF needs lightening a bit? I was really worried when writing that. It’s more ‘adult’ than I usually write for the blog. Different if it’s intended for normal publication. Then bring on the erotic, baby.
I haven’t yet run into any problems with “adult” material, though I do notice that one can set one’s blog to warn people what level of writing to expect. I’d never done it, primarily because it wasn’t an issue with Dragon Lady. Maybe I need to consider it seriously.
As for FF, so far it’s not exactly an upbeat story, and the comedy has mostly to do with people not comprehending each other. That could be played up a bit more; Alsalda is a case of more of that humor not detracting from the story, indeed driving home some of the issues.
Hmm. Something to consider.
Your description brought this one to mind, although it’s a romantic painting and it’s not sea bed (and maybe this isn’t the painting you had in mind): Death of sardonapolus by Delacriox: http://evergreen.loyola.edu/brnygren/www/Honors/Sardan.jpg
I thanks for link. Though it’s not the one, it could have been by Delacriox. It’s ringing bells.
BTW, checked it out. Can see why the name is familiar. But it’s not the one. Thanks for the thought. I expect it will come to me when I least expect it!