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Marc2b -> RE: Roland and Allison (7/21/2014 7:43:21 PM)
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A few parting notes:
Thank you for your comments.
As I said earlier, the reason’s I wrote it was practice and fun but I am glad you enjoyed it.
You might be interested in how the story came about. In the 22nd Gor novel there is a scene near the end of the book where the main character, Doreen, is punished for trying to bargain with her Master. She is whipped and then made to sleep on the ground at his feet. When she wakes in the morning she finds that, sometime during the night, her Master had placed a blanket over her. I found that a very touching scene as it spoke loads about her Master despite his sternness. I found myself wondering what her Master was thinking as he did that, as he looked upon her sleeping form. This story is, essentially, my version of that scene. In many ways the whole story is leading up to that final line.
I went through several false starts with various time frames, narratives and viewpoints before finally settling on the idea of a single day told from Roland’s perspective. In some ways this hampered me as it meant I had to fill in some time (Roland’s checking his supplies in the forest) but it also gave me a chance to explore the society in which Roland and Allison live and the more ordinary aspects of a day that is not at all ordinary for the title characters. It gave me a chance to explore what happens between the whipping and sex scenes we usually associate with BDSM writing.
I think the strangest thing as I was writing was the realization that this story was not about “whips and chains” but about a young man finally assuming adult responsibilities (within the context of his culture, which means there will still be plenty of time for some drunken carousing with his friends).
Characterization was my biggest concern. I wanted all the characters to come across as actual personalities – particularly in the case of Allison. One of my biggest criticisms of the Gor books is the fact that most of Norman’s slave girl characters are lacking in any personality whatsoever. They are robotic “yes, Master” machines and after a while they all (with a few notable exceptions) become the same cardboard cutout character. I wanted Allison to come across as an actual person.
In particular, it always bugged me that Norman frequently portrayed his slave girls as always happy to be slaves. Sorry mister Norman but I ain’t buying it. Despite what joys they may attain in slavery there are going to be moments where there is nothing wonderful about it. Being sold might be an exciting experience in some aspects but it is also going to be a terrifying experience simply because her future is unknown.
Another aspect of Norman’s writing I didn’t like was that the power exchange was portrayed as absolute not just in the legal terms of the society portrayed but in the moment to moment, day to day, terms of everyday living. The men are always in control (except, of course, when the plot required a set up for a later revenge scene) but doormats are boring (in reality and well as in literature). It was important to me that, despite living under a law that gives her no power, there was room for Allison’s personality and intelligence to assert itself.
There are other things in which I wanted to differentiate myself from Norman, too many to list but I will mention one more. I cannot recall a single instance of men ever dancing in the Gor books. It has been a while since I’ve read the Gor books (and I haven’t read the last few ones) so I might be wrong but it certainly didn't happen very often. Well . . . men dance. In celebration of triumphs or just because, men dance and I decided early on that Roland was going to dance with enthusiasm and passion. He has much to celebrate after all.
quote:
I think that is why this story has captivated me so much - have you considered taking it much further and have them build their homestead - turning their land into a community with Robert, Marcus, Henry and Oliver? I'd love to see how the girls fare under Allisons tutelage, she has already shown she has spunk but also a soft side... I want to know how they get on with tilling the land, sowing seeds that maybe don't properly germinate, the trials of a hard winter but the promise of new growth in the new season - maybe finally getting that pumpkin pie...
At this time I have no immediate plans to revisit Rolland and Allison’s world. I took me a long time to write as much as I did, although that is largely due to getting bored (you re-read something seventy times, you get bored with it), or frustrated and setting it aside for anywhere from a few weeks to a few months in order to recharge my creative juices. I have several other stories that I have started and need finishing. One in particular is drawing my attention again . . . what a technically modern (I.E. automobiles, computers, cell phones, etc) society that practiced Gorean like slavery would be like.
Still, it would be interesting to visit Harold’s Stand and its people again. I did write in the possibility of a sequel with Roland’s dream when he dozed off just before dinner. I was a little ambivalent about it too. I have no supernatural elements in the story at all with the possible exceptions of Roland’s dreams. I made sure to point out the possibility that his dream about his mother may be just that, a dream, and the same could be said about his other dream. Then again, it could be a prophetic warning about danger approaching from the north. Roland lives in a dangerous world . . . the possibility of a raid from some enemies is quite real. I’m knocking around a few other notions about such a story in my head including multiple viewpoints (instead of just Roland’s viewpoint each chapter would be told from a different character’s – Roland, Allison, Robert, etc. – viewpoint. I am also curious to explore how the slave girl’s would act when the men are all away (say, off on a hunt). I have no doubt that Allison would keep things orderly and make sure that all chores would be done but I am also sure things would be more relaxed and the conversation quite interesting.
Also, if there is one thing lacking in the story it is an actual battle scene (as opposed to Roland’s recollection of a battle).
Time will tell.
Thanks again.
Peace and prosperity to you and yours,
Marc2b
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