gymnastgal19
Wednesday 15th June 2011 15:42 | That Terrifying Momentum |
| woh... that was intense! I figured that there was something like that going on with Scott... I cant wait to read more |
| Tuesday 5th July 2011 02:12 | That Terrifying Momentum (Author Response) |
| Nah, don't bother. It's all downhill from here. Oh, wait, you did continue. |
xaphanea
Saturday 6th November 2010 07:35 | That Terrifying Momentum |
| Again, it continues to amaze me how you keep the canon characters so in character. Dumbledore is perfectly believable here. And Scott's whole explanation... so creative! It just blows my mind, the basis you create here and then the expansions on the whole Kharadjai culture, or whatever I should call it. So very interesting. Onward! |
| Wednesday 17th November 2010 08:27 | That Terrifying Momentum (Author Response) |
This chapter was a nightmare to write. It's pure exposition, from start to finish, and it's still only the tip of the iceberg.
The challenge was for Scott to deliver the entire setup for his presence as well as establish a few of the limitations he has. There's also tons of hints and allusions to additional information that can't be included without doubling (more like tripling, or quadrupling) the chapter length. Almost the entire scene is just two people sitting at a desk and talking to each other. It's literary suicide.
I rewrote it multiple times, and then after I posted it I rewrote it twice again. It's still not what I want it to be. |
kopfsalat2000
Sunday 12th September 2010 19:31 | That Terrifying Momentum |
the talk with the hat is sooo cool ;-)
i've just started reading your story and i fear i won't stop until morning... |
| Sunday 26th September 2010 07:02 | That Terrifying Momentum (Author Response) |
| You might want to take a break. I myself just stayed up all night as a write this, and I'm already regretting it. |
DaniKay
Monday 4th May 2009 15:32 | That Terrifying Momentum |
“I sort during the Sorting, strangely enough, Mr. Kharan. When that day comes, sit on the stool in the Great Hall, and I will sort you with the others… but not before. It just isn’t done, you understand.” And you get to make me the weird kid on my first day, getting sorted into sixth year. “I’m a simple hat, Scott Kharan, and I must take my pleasures where I can find them. A very good day to you.”
Laughed SO hard during that! Brilliant!
Anyway, I was almost right about the time traveller thing. Haha, sort of off but still. But the whole thing is sort of confusing. Amazingly brilliant, but confusing. But, I guess that's to be expected with a Universal Saviour-Helper (for lack of better wording)
Must have been a pain in the bum to come up with all that stuff Scott explains to Dumbledore huh?
DaniKay
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| Wednesday 6th May 2009 20:47 | That Terrifying Momentum (Author Response) |
Must have been a pain in the bum to come up with all that stuff Scott explains to Dumbledore huh?
Not really. This chapter represents only a small fraction of the Kharadjai backstory that I had already established. A lot more has been left out than was included. The real pain was in writing a chapter that was almost entirely exposition in a concise manner that also wouldn't bore the reader. I'm not sure I entirely succeeded on that point. |
midnightwriter1213
Saturday 3rd May 2008 14:04 | That Terrifying Momentum |
Wow! A very revealing flashback! I apologize sincerely for not having reviewed the last chapter, I read part of it on vacation, but was prevented by a few deadlines from finishing it and reviewing. I've been rather busy with reality as of late, but today I seem to have made time for more leisurely things like reading lovely fanfictions like your own. The concept that you've invented here is one of the most original things I've read in a long time. I'm wondering, do all Kharadjai have last names similar to their titles, or was Scott Kharan being a Kharadjai just a coincidence? It seems obvious to me by the way that you explain it that if Voldemort had instead chosen Neville instead of Harry as the one to complete the prophecy, then Neville would have been the Prime in this situation, no? Scott's personality is so fully developed, so 3-D and realistic, that it's very easy to relate to him, and yet so difficult. In the previous chapter, he's very blunt with the Trio, and he's very hard to understand and fathom. But in this chapter, humbling himself to be called a "contingency plan", he's very easy to have empathy for. I'm very excited for this next chapter, because each time I receive an e-mail notification that you've updated, I am intrigued and kept in suspense until I read the new installment in its entirety, similarly to Rowling's actual books. I'm very curious as to where you got the ideas for the premise of Scott's work and purpose, and all the words that you use. Is that too much like asking a magician to reveal his secrets?
Eagerly awaiting another thrilling chapter,
~MidnightWriter |
| Sunday 4th May 2008 22:01 | That Terrifying Momentum (Author Response) |
The similarity between 'Kharan' and 'Kharadjai' is pure coincidence, though since both the character and the concept matured simultaneously over a long period of time there's probably a connection, but not a canonical one.
Who the Prime is doesn't really matter in that regard, yes. Whoever is the focus of the Prophecy becomes the Prime. In this case that dubious honor was passed onto Harry, though contrary to Dumbledore's belief Scott would tell you that it was hardly random. Scott believes that Harry was fated to take up this task long before he was ever born. I couldn't tell you which one of them is correct. The only thing it changes is that Scott feels some measure of satisfaction towards Harry, feeling that he's up to the job, or at least has the potential to be a shaped into a weapon. Scott wouldn't think that Neville could handle it (though personally I believe the events of book seven prove Scott wrong in that regard).
I'm glad you find Scott's character to be realistically complex. I've tried to let the reader get to know him before he actually explains who and what he is, that way hopefully my readers become attached to him as a person and not just as a random imposition upon the HP canon cast. His motivations are certainly obscure, yes, and he doesn't even understand himself sometimes.
A word of caution, however: you've said that you found it very empathetic that Scott would humble himself to label himself a contingency. You need to keep in mind Scott's objectives during this chapter - Dumbledore was intended to feel the same thing that you do.
The nature of Scott and his work is simple enough. He was a character I invented in order to mentally include him in all my favorite books, movies, games and etc. As I understand it most people self-insert themselves, but apparently I didn't consider myself interesting enough for that. He's never really been me, I always see him in third person. His job as a Kharadjai was created to give him a reason to be in those books and movies in the first place. As for the terms and such, get used to those. I've got a whole document full of Kharadjai acronyms and terms. They're a very militarized society, and have acronyms for just about everything.
Thanks for reviewing. The next chapter will introduce Scott's elusive sister. |
Chatmandu
Thursday 1st May 2008 09:22 | That Terrifying Momentum |
My first impression is "Wow! Scott has a job that really sucks." Better him than me, which is a sentiment I think Scott would agree with.
Hmm... So if Albus is given pause by Scott's revelations, how WILL Harry handle this? Odd how the more answers there are, the more questions need to be asked. Anyway a very interesting background chapter and I await you getting back to the here and now (sort of for Scott) of your plot. I see a momentum beginning to build! |
| Thursday 1st May 2008 14:48 | That Terrifying Momentum (Author Response) |
Yes, Scott would agree. Frankly, he'd laugh in your face if you should suggest that maybe you could handle something similar. He can be a rather condescending at times. Arrogant, too.
I think you'll be surprised how well Harry handles the information - certainly, he didn't have much problem adapting to the realization that he was a wizard. It's my opinion that in the books Harry tends to take things in stride for the most part, so long as he's in on whatever the secret is. It's what he doesn't know that tends to drive him crazy.
You are correct in that answers only raise more questions, but keep in mind that Scott's integrity is somewhat questionable. As the story progresses you'll see how much of what he told Dumbledore is the unvarnished truth, what he glossed over, and what he omitted entirely.
The next chapter, however, (and not to spoil things) you'll be spending some time with his sister.
Also to address something without (hopefully) ruining anything, 'That Terrifying Momentum' doesn't so much refer to the arc of the story as it does a particular state. The state of what, exactly, I'm not currently going to say.
Thank you for reviewing. As always, it's a delight to interact with my audience. |
girlspell
Wednesday 30th April 2008 22:16 | That Terrifying Momentum |
| Re: the Heinlein thing. One of his pen names was Caleb Saunders. Two of his books you should try are: Stranger in a Strange Land and the Moon is a Harsh Mistress. One you read his books, you might get an inkling why. |
SeaNymph
Wednesday 30th April 2008 20:40 | That Terrifying Momentum |
When I first saw your story, I was unsure of whether I would actually want to read it. Not because I thought it would be bad, but because it's still a WIP. The experience I've had with continuing chapter stories isn't good, and generally the stories are abandoned.
When I began reading this though, I just couldn't stop. You convinced me with this that great writing will always be available to read, whether it's continued or not. Congrats on writing such a great fic.! By the way, don't stop writing now, PLEASE!! I don't think I can wait very long for another chapter. |
| Wednesday 30th April 2008 21:31 | That Terrifying Momentum (Author Response) |
I know it how much it can suck when a story you were following gets discontinued, but I can reassure you by saying that this one happens to be nearly complete. I've written 18 finished chapters, so I'm actually posting my way through a large backlog.
Thank you for the kind words regarding my writing. Without the hard work of my Beta it wouldn't be in nearly so good of shape, so I owe a lot to her. |
girlspell
Wednesday 30th April 2008 20:32 | That Terrifying Momentum |
| More then Heinlein overtures! This is Heinlein from plot to your pen name. Not complaining though. This story is terrific. |
| Wednesday 30th April 2008 21:28 | That Terrifying Momentum (Author Response) |
I regret to say that I don't really understand that comparison - while I suppose it's sort of flattering that people assume I'm writing in the spirit of a man who stood as one of the founders of modern science fiction along with Asimov, I again must admit that I've never read a single one of his books, nor was I familiar with him in name until another reviewer made the same comparison as you. All I know about Heilein has been gathered from his Wikipedia entry. I'm not clear as to how my story or my pen name relates to his work, save the vague notion that he had something to do with a multiverse of his own?
So while I thank you for the assertion that my story is terrific, I have to say that I'm only confused by this recurring Heinlein thing. My multiverse and everything in it isn't really based on anything at all. I had these character's in my head, and the multiverse was created as an excuse to put them into my favorite books, movies and games. It's nothing but a rationale for my fantasies. That's really all there is to it. |
klubkane
Wednesday 30th April 2008 17:29 | That Terrifying Momentum |
| Heinlein overtures? |
| Wednesday 30th April 2008 19:26 | That Terrifying Momentum (Author Response) |
| Funny you should ask that, another review wondered the same thing at another website. Ironically I had never heard of Heinlein until that review, and still haven't read any of his novels. So while it would be nice to claim some sort of tie to a classical science fiction pedigree, I just made all this crap up. |
lantis222
Wednesday 30th April 2008 09:25 | That Terrifying Momentum |
| That was quite the enlightening chapter. I really liked it. I can't wait until the next one! |
| Wednesday 30th April 2008 19:29 | That Terrifying Momentum (Author Response) |
| Thank you. The next chapter is a change of pace for this story, so I'll be interested to hear what you think of it. |
