tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post6481720925314162514..comments2024-03-26T18:28:06.391-04:00Comments on Evil Editor: Face-Lift 667Evil Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03879826770199639420noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-4292502858260269502009-08-27T21:42:51.556-04:002009-08-27T21:42:51.556-04:00Just briefly:
Teucer, the new query is miles bett...Just briefly:<br /><br />Teucer, the new query is miles better and sounds like something I'd need to take a look at. It sounds original, the level of detail lets me believe that things that look like plot holes are patched in the actual book, and you seem to be telling a story about people, not just making an obscure religious arguement.<br /><br />Well done and best of luck.<br /><br />Oh, and, for the record, I'm a dyed in the wool atheist, but I still read this kind of book if a) the plot sounds cool and b)it is talking about humans and why they are interesting.<br /><br />You've got me on both now.Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16496144988509668275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-26845031811504512532009-08-27T02:18:17.514-04:002009-08-27T02:18:17.514-04:00Matthew 10:28 reads, "Do not be afraid of tho...Matthew 10:28 reads, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."<br /><br />Mortal danger is scary, but I still have trouble comparing demons to aliens. Unless you've got very strange aliens._*rachel*_https://www.blogger.com/profile/03293167107180931700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-58091045198140663882009-08-26T13:35:15.925-04:002009-08-26T13:35:15.925-04:00I think I'd feel more confident facing down a ...I think I'd feel more confident facing down a snake if I'd already dealt with a bear. After all, the next time my cat comes trotting into the house with what looks like a snake, I'm sure I'll be calmer than last time.<br /><br />Ahem.nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-56573182570262412012009-08-26T10:21:45.594-04:002009-08-26T10:21:45.594-04:00~Aimee States, Robin S., I'm right here with y...~Aimee States, Robin S., I'm right here with you. Fifty comments! I would never have imagined!<br /><br />As to the current burning question, the answer will show up in the synopsis, which I believe is forthcoming. If EE has rejected my synopsis, then I'll explain the big <i>game-changing revelation</i> here for those who are still interested.<br /><br />I seem to be having some cognitive rift here regarding the question on whether aliens would be so bad after demons. If you wrestle a raging bear and survive, would you scoff at a deadly snake thirty years later? That fact that the one is <i>really</i> bad doesn't nullify the nocuousness of the other.<br /><br />Or, more to the point, don't you think your <i>great-great-grandchildren</i> would still find the snake harmful? They didn't fight the bear. All they have to go on re: the bear is <i>Into the Wild</i>.<br /><br />The Bible talks about worldwide floods, massive subjugation, plagues, entire towns smitten...but we don't say "ehhh, after all that, Nazis/mongols/global warming" doesn't seem so bad."<br /><br />(Well...maybe global warming...)Teucerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06841680456158086673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-19645654718360544632009-08-25T22:31:57.771-04:002009-08-25T22:31:57.771-04:00Wow. Late to the party. I love contention (anybody...Wow. Late to the party. I love contention (anybody here remember the biggie last year about...oh, what the hell...the thing where everybody jumps on the bandwagon..the Nazi-fied thing)....well, hell. <br /><br />Anyway.Robin B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11471528485010071521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-28008014523260605132009-08-25T21:36:42.592-04:002009-08-25T21:36:42.592-04:00I only said that because Tuecer may have an altern...I only said that because Tuecer may have an alternate and equally valid explanation for all of the events. I felt that while I could speak to the general ideas, I couldn't speak for the query or novel since I haven't read them.Dave Fragmentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17985158361431606939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-64570968584678790752009-08-25T20:10:18.002-04:002009-08-25T20:10:18.002-04:00Dave, why should Teucer furnish an explanation of ...Dave, why should Teucer furnish an explanation of anything? He/she wrote a query. Posted a revision. It was better. The end.Blogless Trollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03983848259551488867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-40728284336700002092009-08-25T17:48:22.435-04:002009-08-25T17:48:22.435-04:00Steve asked: Many of us, I think, would regard Sat...Steve asked: <i>Many of us, I think, would regard Satan and his legions of hell as pretty much the ultimate evil ... if ultimate evil has already been defeated, how do these less-than-ultimately-evil aliens pose any credible threat? Possibly this is explained in the book, but (since the question is bugging others besides me) it may need to be addressed in the query.</i><br /><br />Teucer should furnish an explanation that squares with the novel and query. <br /><br />I can tell you that not all "End Times" (Christian eschatology) simply ends with Jesus Christ coming down from the sky on a throne of glory. That is not the Last Judgment. The "Kingdom of Christ on Earth" can exist for a millennium before the Last Judgment. The situation could be very analogous to Heaven and Hell right now with the "sheep" living in the Kingdom and the "goats" cast out into darkness. Milton creates the burning hell for Paradise Lost but Dante (an evangelical in his own right) posits a frozen hell in The Inferno. <br /><br />So if the new Kingdom can remain on earth for period of time before the Resurrection of the Dead and the return of the faithful to God The Father, then aliens can threaten earth without disturbing the apocalyptic prophecies during that period. <br /><br />There is nothing in scripture that says aliens are equals of men. They may not have a redeemer, they may not even have original sin. But then again, they might be the cast out "goats" of their own world. The most stunning alien revelation would be of a alien redeemer. That has serious implications. Kinda gets complicated, doesn't it? Ultra-deep metaphysics and religion. Philosophically messy, at least messy for me. <br /><br />The new version of Battlestar Galactica touched on religion like this with visions, prophecies, angels and stuff like that. It's those really tough questions that we all ask -- who am I? Why am I here? etc...Dave Fragmentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17985158361431606939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-52323754649997726862009-08-25T17:37:29.814-04:002009-08-25T17:37:29.814-04:00I love being gone for a day and finding 45 comment...I love being gone for a day and finding 45 comments to a religion based novel. I would snort if I wasn't drinking.Mamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04853842158606222286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-861932770214640302009-08-25T16:23:27.933-04:002009-08-25T16:23:27.933-04:00I read fiction that contradicts my personal belief...I read fiction that contradicts my personal beliefs all the time. I thought everybody did!nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-7911982184057548182009-08-25T15:30:24.818-04:002009-08-25T15:30:24.818-04:00I'm still a bit puzzled, though, by the way th...I'm still a bit puzzled, though, by the way these Perfirians fit into the religious background. Many of us, I think, would regard Satan and his legions of hell as pretty much the ultimate evil ... if ultimate evil has already been defeated, how do these less-than-ultimately-evil aliens pose any credible threat? Possibly this is explained in the book, but (since the question is bugging others besides me) it may need to be addressed in the query.<br /><br />While I agree with EE about the overall wonderfulness of <i>The Sparrow</i>, perhaps a more relevant (to this query) mix of religion and SF might be Olaf Stapledon's <i>Star Maker</i>. Stapledon might be described as a sort of vague theist - <i>Star Maker</i>, though, is a serious attempt to address the idea that God is, by definition, the God of <i>everything</i> in the universe, not just our small planet. The Perfirians, we must assume, are God's children too ... unless your query tells us different.Steve Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09836762265698458170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-6173942845107976962009-08-25T15:02:51.964-04:002009-08-25T15:02:51.964-04:00Well your proposed book, Teucer, has caused some s...Well your proposed book, Teucer, has caused some salvific themed debate.<br /><br />(There are not enough moments in life where I could use one of my favorite words "salvific". I just couldn't resist the opportunity.)Xiexiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265895952183646895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-90728708648077899232009-08-25T14:58:06.425-04:002009-08-25T14:58:06.425-04:00This blog is not a place to declare one's reli...This blog is not a place to declare one's religious beliefs. The author came for feedback about a query letter, not to convert anyone.Evil Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03879826770199639420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-4263879151383970122009-08-25T14:36:36.588-04:002009-08-25T14:36:36.588-04:00Teucer -
Many people I have met believe the Bibl...Teucer - <br /><br />Many people I have met believe the Bible says God helps those that help themselves, which you did reference and, which I mistakenly believed you thought as well. Clarifying that misbelief was really the only reason I responded. <br /><br />But - I never said I knew everything about the Bible - in fact I know very little of it. I study it, I attend worship, I read it - but yet I probably could tell you more about the LOTR than the Bible. <br /><br />I am not insulted or offended by your book idea. I am not going to read it because it contradicts my belief system about what is to occur after the Second Coming. I believe I will live the rest of my life in heaven - at peace, under the loving eyes of my father. I will not be fending off your space aliens nor will any child of man. I believe that after Jesus returns there will be no more suffering, hardships, disease or war. Again, this contradicts your book. <br /><br />Just as I have no desire to read alternative history - I have no desire to read your ideas about what will happen in the future. I have already received from the highest authority knowledge of what my future will be and the future of mankind.<br /><br />You have great passion, great imagination, from what I have seen you write well and I believe it is possible for you to relate your ideas about faith into your book without springboarding it off of Christainity or using the Bible as a tool.<br /><br />I don't wish to know or understand what your Christian beliefs are - especially if it is filtered thru your imagination. I am more concerned refining what my beliefs are and when I read fiction I wish to entertained.<br /><br />This does not mean you offended me or I condemn you - it means simply - I have no interest. <br /><br />vkwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-34911000752479965952009-08-25T11:17:02.435-04:002009-08-25T11:17:02.435-04:00I liked the revised version much better. It seeme...I liked the revised version much better. It seemed much more cohesive.Kelsey (Dominique) Ridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10646757546422013401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-52348654728609464572009-08-25T08:44:38.620-04:002009-08-25T08:44:38.620-04:00Anonymous 9:24 here again. (Sounds like biblical r...Anonymous 9:24 here again. (Sounds like biblical references!)<br /><br /><i>The Perfirian-Perfidy connection is intentional, by the way. It's a marketably sinister name bestowed upon them by the Sword.)</i><br /><br />Okay, the theological aspects don't bother me the least little bit, but this etymology surely does! It doesn't work and is sufficiently close and yet sufficiently wrong <i>seem</i> like... well, like a target missed for lack of research. Or a word subconsciously recalled and transformed into something else, the author not being aware of what s/he's done. It also sounds close to "Porfirian," but that's maybe a bit too obscure to worry about, unless a large part of your target audience is Hispanic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porfirio_D%C3%ADaz<br /><br />(The name "Porfirio" derives from the Greek <i>porphyry</i>, "purple," which is probably not of much help to explain" Perfirian"!)<br /><br />Admittedly my college Latin is a wee bit rusty, but I can't find a Latin root that would explain the "fir." ("Fid" is from <i>fidus</i>, "faithful," and I can find no Latin word at all with "fir," nor is there a "fir-," "fyr-", "phir-", or "phyr-" in the multi-lingual <i>Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms</i>) <br /><br />Though perhaps it's just that the Sword's Latin is even worse than mine...?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-75541394888621917532009-08-25T06:11:29.943-04:002009-08-25T06:11:29.943-04:00The revised query is much better.
While it doesn&...The revised query is much better.<br /><br />While it doesn't answer my original question of where did Jesus go, it provides enough detail to suggest you probably cover that in the book, whereas the first version didn't.Blogless Trollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03983848259551488867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-24682925627213417992009-08-25T01:17:25.217-04:002009-08-25T01:17:25.217-04:00I believe that even someone who thinks she knows e...<i>I believe that even someone who thinks she knows everything about the Bible could stand to learn from the unique perspective of a fellow traveler.</i><br /><br />Unique perspectives -- I fear them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-62617553905541618402009-08-24T22:40:06.103-04:002009-08-24T22:40:06.103-04:00vkw, I did not state or even suggest that "Th...vkw, I did not state or even suggest that "The Lord helps those who help themselves" is in the Bible anywhere. You are being needlessly contentious, and I understand why you refrained from joining the discussion for so long.<br /><br />I have to clear something up: I did not <i>rewrite</i> Scripture. In <i>Seraph</i>, the Bible contains a third testament that<br />comprises gospels relayed from the original Seven Soldiers who joined Jesus Christ to command the human race to victory. Everything prior to the Apocalypse remains as is, and rightly so.<br /><br />This book was written by a devout Catholic. It is overwhelmingly pro-faith, as reflected by the unwavering devotion of the main characters. The Catholic element is crucial to the book's message, and I'm not about to remove it for fear of offending people. I am as passionate about my faith (which helped birth this novel) as you are about yours.<br /><br />I will be utterly shocked if <i>every</i> non-Christian ignores this book for its religious bent and <i>Christian</i> throws a fit because it presents the faith from a different perspective. Forgive my bluntness, but if every reader is this touchy, then I've entered the wrong business. To condemn a book out of hand because you find it offensive baffles me. I believe that even someone who thinks she knows everything about the Bible could stand to learn from the unique perspective of a fellow traveler.<br /><br />(The Perfirian-Perfidy connection is intentional, by the way. It's a marketably sinister name bestowed upon them by the Sword.)Teucerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06841680456158086673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-43738025246438262422009-08-24T22:09:56.053-04:002009-08-24T22:09:56.053-04:00Exactly, vkw.
You're not, Anon 9:24.Exactly, vkw.<br /><br />You're not, Anon 9:24._*rachel*_https://www.blogger.com/profile/03293167107180931700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-30744980929726568552009-08-24T21:24:30.714-04:002009-08-24T21:24:30.714-04:00Please tell me I'm not the only one who moment...Please tell me I'm not the only one who momentarily read "Perfirians" as "Perfidians."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-74533659481471659532009-08-24T20:36:09.600-04:002009-08-24T20:36:09.600-04:00No where in the Bible does it say "God helps ...No where in the Bible does it say "God helps those that help themselves." That's a myth.<br /><br />In fact there is a plethora of scripture in the OT and NT that says God helps those that ask, that worship, that praise, that suffer, that are humble and so forth and so forth. In fact, Jesus said that God blesses the righteous and the unrighteous. Mathew 5:43. (God loves all of his children and does not require anything in return. Salvation, however, takes faith and that a different subject.) <br /><br />I have stayed out of this because I absolutely refuse to discuss scripture or Christianity with those that simply want to debate dogma, and any comment I had on your query would involve such a discussion. <br /><br />Dear author - I am not reading your work but I very happy to live in a country that allows you to write a book that may insult, (or may not), many Christians without persecution. <br /><br />I actually think this may be an interesting book - if you took your interpretation of Christianity out of it.<br /><br />I think another Minion had a good point - why use Christianity or Jesus Christ in your book - you'll turn off people that are not interested in either and you will make no fans by writing your own scripture to those that do practice Christianity. And essentially, you made your own religion anyway. <br /><br />Why not make your own world, your own religion and thus possibly have a great novel that allienates no one?<br /><br />I am foremost a Christian and I do have a belief system based on the Bible that concerns the second coming. I am bit offended by your story only because I am concern that if your book is published those that do not know the Bible will believe your imagination has something to do with Christianity - when in fact it does not.<br /><br />I hope you put a disclaimer to that effect in your book, if it gets published. <br /><br />vkwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-52533734962679183912009-08-24T19:20:24.451-04:002009-08-24T19:20:24.451-04:00Calm down Anonymous. This isn't blasphemous ye...Calm down Anonymous. This isn't blasphemous yet. It's rude but not blasphemy. It actually squares with prophecy (except for the aliens). <br /><br />I'm not a big believer in "End Times" or eschatology (it's proper name). So this will sound a bit skeptical. <br /><br />Some Christian Eschatology distinguishes between the Second Coming and the Final Judgment. So this plot fits into the broad outlines of the "End Times." <br /><br />One interpretation of End Times is that there will be a tribulation and on the day of wrath, Jesus will descend from the heavens on clouds of glory surrounded by angels. Even the Rapture (the bodily ascension of the true believers into heaven) occurs before the tribulation and the Day of Wrath. After that, Jesus establishes the Christian Kingdom. It depends on which version of the End TImes you follow as to whether he "divides" the remaining human race into "sheep and goats" (see Matthew). However, this is the kingdowm of Christ Jesus on Earth, the new Church that remains on Earth for a Millennium. The Final Judgment is for all humans, both living and dead. Thus this second judgment is the Resurrection of the Dead and the return of the Kingdom of God to the Father. <br /><br />So this plot fits into eschatological thinking.<br /><br />And if you think that this is far out thinking or merely evangelical or pentecostal or whatever branch of Christianity, the Fathers of the Catholic Church established the Nicene Creed (in Latin, Credo). Four of the great articles of faith close the Credo: We believe in <i> one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.</i><br /><br />There is the End Times in common prayer: Christ unifies mankind in one Church, one baptism and gives us the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting in the Kingdom of Heaven. These are the pillars of Christianity. <br /><br />So I might play skeptic to the details, but the elements are there. <br /><br />Like I said above, if you're awake or not comatose, you might make it to the end.Dave Fragmentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17985158361431606939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-58072918460135016312009-08-24T19:13:35.824-04:002009-08-24T19:13:35.824-04:00Those interested in religion/science fiction mergi...Those interested in religion/science fiction merging may recall my recommending <i>The Sparrow</i> back when we were reading Mary Doria Russell for a book chat.Evil Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03879826770199639420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791026.post-91541693815306153132009-08-24T19:12:07.196-04:002009-08-24T19:12:07.196-04:00Xiexie, I can answer you with another wonderful Ch...Xiexie, I can answer you with another wonderful Christian cliché. This one involves the Lord and those who help themselves. Yeah, when it hits the fan, the big guys step up to the plate, but generally we've got to find our own way.<br /><br />Also, I hate to even bring this up, but I plan to cover a lot of Christ's and God's motives in the prequel. (Ugh, a prequel! Vomit!)Teucerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06841680456158086673noreply@blogger.com