webster
Wednesday 10th March 2010 10:39 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| Another great future glimse! Makes me smile to think about Harry and Ginny living thier long years together in the place they lived, lost, and loved so much. |
| Thursday 11th March 2010 12:04 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Thanks again!
~Ken |
ionik27
Friday 1st August 2008 10:47 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
Wow, it really sounds like an authentic archaeology report! I don't know much about that, but it looks real to me! I love the fact that Harry is the one to care for Dumbledore's resting place and that he is found in a house built for a big family, embracing Ginny. The way you see it all from the future, not knowing who he is but sensing the strength of his magic is just amazing. I just hope they don't disturb them...
Excellent fic! |
gymnastgal19
Monday 7th April 2008 23:01 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
nice story! Its amazing what is currently the present will one day be a distant memory and things that were important at one time will be forgotten... like teh french revolution or the world wars or 9/11....
|
gymnastgal19
Sunday 18th November 2007 19:57 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
wow!!! this was very well written!!! good job!!! I love all the things with the caretaker!!!
RIP |
narumi
Monday 6th August 2007 11:16 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| Wow, what a great little piece! I have a minor in Anthropology, and to see that blended with Harry Potter was quite a treat! I enjoy your style of writing, it's quite refreshing! |
| Monday 6th August 2007 11:41 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Thank you so much for that praise. I'm glad that my application of Archeology didn't seem completely wrong to you. *whew*
~Ken |
pyromain
Tuesday 17th July 2007 12:39 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| This is amazing, one of the most beautifull story i have read. I have no word of complaint, I just thought is ws perfect. Loved the idea of Harry being the caretaker of dumbeldore's grave, because like said in the books he is dumbeldore's man. Would like to know how the will like the discovery that they found Harry and Ginny resting place because I gues that will be even a bigger discovery than dumbeldore's thomb. |
| Wednesday 18th July 2007 17:46 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thank you so much. Some others have asked me to work on a sequel along the lines you suggested, and I have a teeny bit of it written, but I don't know whether I'll ever finish it. ~Ken |
critmo
Sunday 22nd April 2007 10:45 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| You are a master of innuendo. I, on the other hand, am a very nosy person. Can you imagine my frustration? |
| Sunday 22nd April 2007 11:26 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thank you! Sorry to cause you frustration -- but innuendo is necessary in a fic like this, because too much detail would wind up sounding silly and false. Letting the reader fill in the gaps makes those details more powerful... ~Ken |
SnorkackCatcher
Saturday 21st April 2007 09:32 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| Most unusual piece, with a very convincing version of an archelogical report! |
| Sunday 22nd April 2007 07:16 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thank you; I'm glad you liked it. |
mythic77
Thursday 19th April 2007 23:11 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
I have not, as yet, read all of your stories. When you read as much Harry Potter fan fiction as I do, you go through a lot of dross to reach the real nuggets. I hold off on reading your material because I know that I can count on it to be well written, interesting, and consistent within its own frame of reference. I hold off because I know that when I've just gone through a bunch of real losers, and just can't find something all that worthwhile, I can always head for PhoenixSong and go to your page. I dread the day when I reach out, click the mouse, and I find I've read all you've written.
I haven't checked (I will now that I think of it), but do you post on other sites, and if so, do you use the same pen name? |
| Friday 20th April 2007 13:54 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Thank you for that praise; it's humbling. I'm so glad you find my stories worthwhile.
I post on SIYE as kschneyer, although the only story appearing there that hasn't appeared here is A Slow Boat to Shippers' Hell, which is essentially a satire of SIYE itself. I've also posted on Mugglenet Fan Fiction (also as Rhetor), but there's nothing there that isn't here. The prize-winning version of The Torch,, which is much shorter than the version here, appears on Sugar Quill (also as Rhetor).
If you want to read the stuff I haven't posted on archives yet (because it's incomplete or unbeta'd) you can check out my livejournal page, rhetoretician.livejournal.com. A few chapters of my as-yet-unposted multichapter Snape fic are there, as is an action/angst piece about Fabian and Gideon Prewett.
~Ken |
GryffindorDragon
Thursday 19th April 2007 13:58 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
Nice piece, but, given the time frame (some 3500 years later) and the awe with which the 'Caretaker' is held, wouldn't his virtuosity transcend not 5 or 6 generations (about 150 years?) but 50 or 60 generations?
|
| Thursday 19th April 2007 15:40 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Thanks!
Well, I think the archeologist was saying that such genius is so rare that it only comes up once every 150 years or so -- not that it had never been seen in the intervening 3,000 years. If such abilities skip only five or six generations, then seeing actual evidence of one, at a distance of three millenia, is statistically almost impossible. That's why the excavators were so awed.
~Ken |
amamama
Thursday 19th April 2007 11:06 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
Wow. Well, Rhetor - you are a master writer, no doubt about it. I loved this glimpse of yours into the future and have not trouble seeing why Mary praise your work. I really like how the spells cast by Harry still holds power, and I'm really curious as to whether thye will continue their excavations and find a way "for respectful visitors to learn from his life." I'm not an archeologist, neither have I read an actual report, but it felt real for a layperson like me. And who knows how they will phrase their reports 3475 years from now? Which raises another point - why did the Emigration happen? Was it emigration from the Earth? For what reason? Ah, the pleasures of musings...
Thank you so much, it's stories like this that make life in fandom worth living.
Cheers!
Berte |
| Thursday 19th April 2007 15:38 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Thank you Berte; I'm so glad it was meaningful to you. (And Mary's praise, as you know, means a great deal to me too.)
I haven't really worked out why the Emigration happened. Maybe you can tell me! |
Sovran
Thursday 19th April 2007 07:55 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
Hi Ken. I've already said loads about this, and it's all still true or relevant.
I like the idea of a sequel to this. Actually, now that I think of it, this would form a perfect basis for something that could take place in Jonathan Avery's universe described in "Curse Breakers: The Maya" on SIYE. Harry and Ginny's house is, after all, a protected tomb, just as the ancient Egyptian pyramids are in modern fictional times. (I recommend his work to you, as I have yours to him.)
Aside from that, however, I do see the difficulty. You've said something with this story, rather than just describing a sequence of events. I'm sure you understand that phrasing based on our previous discussions. If you wanted to write a sequel, you'd have to find something more to say. The ongoing challenge.
For once, however, I have a thought. What is this far-future society like? What tenets is it based on, where did they come from, and how do they affect the society on a day-to-day basis? If you'll pardon my mangling of your field, what constitutes their constitutive rhetoric? Assuming that they have somehow mostly forgotten Harry and Ginny Potter (I insist that she ends up as heroic as he), what effect might proof of their existence have? I can only liken the potential effect to what might happen if we 21st century types were suddenly presented with irrefutable proof that an unpopular religion (cola-can worship, perhaps) is absolutely correct.
I know it's not necessarily polite to go poking at another author's brain, but I think there are loads of meaningful possibilities for how the discovery of site HH-88 could impact future magical society in very fundamental ways. There are lots of things to say with that idea.
In some ways, I wish you would stop writing. You keep getting better at it, and I keep getting humbler in response. Still, the product is worth the side-effects, so I will soldier on.
Dave |
| Thursday 19th April 2007 15:36 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Thanks, Dave.
I really should read "The Maya," but I've never managed to get it into my queue.
First of all, feel free to prod at my brain as much as you like; I like the way you think. It did occur to me, at one point, to write a scene between the archeologists in which it becomes clear who Harry is (something like the gasps when Mallory's body was found on Mt. Everest), but it didn't move me.
The project you suggest is a lot broader in scope -- maybe more than I can handle. I've been tending to shy away from having too much backstory, because once I start I find that I'm paralyzed until I've worked the whole thing out. So if I could find one very narrow avenue to take along the lines you suggest, it might do something for me.
For that very flattering last line, all I can do is thank you. It doesn't always feel, to me, as if I'm improving; sometimes just the opposite. So it's very welcome to know that someone who's judgment I trust thinks I'm getting better. (Humility, however, is probably not appropriate in your case; you know how much I admire your work.)
Ken |
daniel_r_crazy22
Wednesday 18th April 2007 20:11 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| Wow. That was interesting. The first time I have read anything like that. Very creative. |
| Wednesday 18th April 2007 22:07 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thank you; I am honored. |
Hoss
Wednesday 18th April 2007 17:32 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| I do like the way you wright, thought for the life of me I'm not sure why. I look forward to more of your work, Thanks |
| Wednesday 18th April 2007 22:06 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thanks -- I think. I hope that eventually you do know why you like it. My other stories are written in very different styles from this one. ~Ken |
ibelieveintruelove
Wednesday 18th April 2007 15:41 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| Oh, that was wonderful! They found the remains of Harry and Ginny, and they don't even know it! I wonder if they realize that they found the body of Harry Potter - the Chosen One/ Boy-Who-Lived. Excellent story, keep up the good work! |
| Wednesday 18th April 2007 22:05 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. |
jgkitarel
Wednesday 18th April 2007 02:56 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
You actually have something interesting here, covering the excavationg of Dumbledore's Tomb, and later the residence of Harry and his wife, Ginny (Probably)
As for how the report reads, it sounds like most official documents and reports I have read: sticking to the facts, allowing for some hypothesis where enough information can conceivably back it up to give it merit.
I find it interesting how you portray it as happening between 5471 and 5474 C.E. The change to an Emigration calendar is likely once, and if, Humanity begins its' diaspora to the stars.
The use of magic is nice, detailing that it has advanced, but what about Non-Magical societies? That would be interesting as well.
|
| Wednesday 18th April 2007 06:12 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Hi! Thank you for that review.
I thought about the possibility of an Emigration to the stars (which has been, of course, the subject of many SF stories), but I was primarily concerned to get the wizards out of Britain for long enough a lot of informaiton to be lost. These archeologists, like the wizards of the HP world, aren't especially interested in Muggles. |
FamousAmus8705
Wednesday 18th April 2007 00:27 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
Being a classical archaeology student myself, I loved this. It's really rare to find such a unique piece of fanfiction. And the instant you spoke of the elderly couple embrace on the bed, my mind jumped to the so-called "Romeo and Juliet" skeletons you refered to.
You did an excellent job of conveying an archaeological report, if not a tad bit too casual. The way you laid this "report" out reminded me of Heinrich Schliemann and the Treasure of Priam.
If you're interested in this sort of thing, there's some light reading I'd recommend. And not Hermione's type of light reading, but ACTUAL light reading. Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay is a satirical "archaeological write-up" of the discovery of modern American culture in the future of 3850 CE. |
| Wednesday 18th April 2007 06:10 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| And thanks again! |
FamousAmus8705
Wednesday 18th April 2007 00:20 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
Being a classical archaeology student myself, I loved this. It's really rare to find such a unique piece of fanfiction. And the instant you spoke of the elderly couple embrace on the bed, my mind jumped to the so-called "Romeo and Juliet" skeletons you refered to.
You did an excellent job of conveying an archaeological report, if not a tad bit too casual. The way you laid this "report" out reminded me of Heinrich Schliemann and the Treasure of Priam.
If you're interested in this sort of thing, there's some light reading I'd recommend. And not Hermione's type of light reading, but ACTUAL light reading. Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay is a satirical "archaeological write-up" of the discovery of modern American culture in the future of 3850 CE. |
| Wednesday 18th April 2007 06:09 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thank you! I knew there had to be some real archeologists out there who would be able to tell me how far off I was. I suspected that I may have got too casual, but the tone was already so dry for most fanfic readers that I was concerned about losing them altogether. And thanks for the Macaulay tip! |
girl from ipanema
Tuesday 17th April 2007 21:20 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| This is great! And the report sounds quite good. Now, I would like a sequel when our intrepid archaeologists find out who the Caretaker truly is. AND, a story developing Emigration would be lovely. |
| Wednesday 18th April 2007 06:06 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thanks so much. I've thought about a sequel like that, but I'm not sure where it would go. I'm really unsure of what the Emigration was; that'll take some thinking. |
cheryllynn
Tuesday 17th April 2007 21:16 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| cool story. well written. now i'm late for work. |
| Wednesday 18th April 2007 06:05 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Glad you liked it; sorry I made you late. |
CrumpleHornedKiwi
Tuesday 17th April 2007 19:45 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
It took me a while to get my head around the writing style for this one, and had to re-read several parts but I thought it was a great story idea. Well done.
It would be interesting to have a follow up of what was discovered in the house and it they figure out who the occupants were. |
| Tuesday 17th April 2007 21:23 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thank you! I agree about the follow up, but I'm not sure I have anything to say in it. We'll see. |
Padfoot26
Tuesday 17th April 2007 19:16 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
Very interesting. I went into this expecting to find a convoluted "story" that would read like actual excavation reports, only to find a very intreging look at the future as seen though the past. I like it!
|
| Thursday 19th April 2007 15:44 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thanks! I'm glad you stuck with it long enough to see the bits that were "buried" in the report! ~Ken |
Ardie Bea
Tuesday 17th April 2007 19:09 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| The dry style of archeological reporting has somewhat cramped your normally far more mellifluous voice, but the story tells itself beneath the arid prose all the more poignantly because of that. Cheers. |
| Thursday 19th April 2007 15:42 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thanks! That's actually what I was hoping for -- I wanted the story to break out between the cracks in the language. ~Ken |
Chatmandu
Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:16 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
Ken, I am amazed at how you can turn such a dry recitation of facts into a fascinating look at Wizard culture. The facts that Harry had a wry sense of humor to the end of his life, he and Ginny did live to a ripe old age (I certainly hope that is true with canon), and the idea that our everyday life would be of great interest to some future academicians are quietly witty in themselves. Emigration? Huh... To where? Hopefully "Ad Astra."
I have not read an excavation report either. But I can tell you that equipment test reports are REALLY BORING. Anyway, great job on an interesting take on the HP mythos!
Chuck |
| Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:38 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Thanks, Chuck! I'm glad you liked my future.
Ad astra? Perhaps (I think of Heinlein's "Lost Legacy" here), but if so then they came back, eh?
|
noylj
Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:06 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| So, Harry and Ginny have been forgotten. Must have been some horrible happening that led to the world forgetting so much. Was it a plague or some natural/unnatural disaster? Wouldn't an intact dwelling exist through many age layers (as far as I know, dating layers does not involve 12-15 foot layers. |
| Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:15 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Thanks! See, you already know more than I do about this subject, so you can pose questions to which I don't have answers. But yes, the dwelling would last through several age layers, but it was the top of the house they found at the layer mentioned. Not sure that's much help -- but as I say, this isn't my field.
I don't know exactly what the Emigration was. I imagine it to be an event causing wizards to leave Britain. But as to how much was forgotten, well, 3,000 years is a long time. How much do we know about the life and times of Ramases II? |
Starbuck_23
Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:05 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| Have you done any archaeology yourself? I'm an arch student, and this reads almost exactly like a site report, albeit a fictional one. This is a really interesting concept. Great job! |
| Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:12 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Many thanks. I'm flabbergasted that I got the tone right; honestly that part of it was a shot in the dark. (I have read other social-science articles, though; so maybe they rubbed off on me?) |
eekii
Tuesday 17th April 2007 17:11 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| I really enjoyed that. I would think you have another chapter or two if you want to. "I beg you not to disturbe US." might allow you to explore the room some. Ed. |
| Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:09 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thanks, Ed. Maybe I could write those extra chapters; not sure. I'm not sure what else I'd want to say, though... |
No Idea Why I Smile
Tuesday 17th April 2007 17:00 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
wow...i think its great. Honestly. I wonder what the archologists would think if they knew that Harry Potter was in that dwelling. I wonder if they even know his name?
I liked it a great deal. It was very well written, but I did have a flashback at one point, to my Physical Science class from last year. The mention of Half-life did it.
Anyways, i liked it loads. I cant wait to read more of your stuff, someday if not today.
Tricia |
| Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:09 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Thank you, Tricia. It was fun writing this one.
I wonder what the archeologists would think, too. I'm torn between deciding that they'd be shocked and delighted, on the one hand, and thinking they'd've never heard the name, on the other. You decide. |
Jade Seraph
Tuesday 17th April 2007 16:54 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
Wow....this is really nice, and an original approach as far as I can tell.
The only hole I found was that spells are discontinued after the caster's death (even Dumbledore couldn't get around this), but you mentioned it and the story and I guess I'll buy the all-powerful Harry bit.
The brooms were a nice touch. |
| Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:07 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
Thanks, Jade. There's an almost-similar approach in one of my other stories, "The 312th Edition."
Actually I don't think we're sure that all spells discontinue upon the death of the caster; we know it's true of petrificus (and a good thing, too, or else Harry would've been petrified forever). But the Fidelius, for example, is known to outlast the death of the caster and even the Secret Keeper.
I'm glad you liked the brooms; you're the first one to mention it. |
Tesgirl123
Tuesday 17th April 2007 16:43 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| So amazing! An idea like this would never enter my mind. Brilliant job! |
| Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:04 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thank you! I'm honored. Not sure how this entered my mind, actually; I certainly wasn't looking for it. |
Megan SQ
Tuesday 17th April 2007 16:10 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
Your stories never cease to shake me, as they could all be listed under the heading "Memento mori." Nothing like a little historical perspective to keep you humble.
I've no idea how an archeological report is written, either, but while reading, I was almost convinced you're an archeologist. :-) I guess that means you did a credible job, and if a true archeologist starts rolling his eyes, who cares? The rest of us will still think it's good. |
| Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:03 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thanks, Megan. Yes, I think memento mori sums it up nicely. I'm 47 and it's a topic that's been on my mind for a while. The historical perspective keeps me humble too, which is the reason I think I keep returning to it. |
Curren
Tuesday 17th April 2007 15:45 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 |
| your stories are always highly unusual, but they are so fascinating to read. I'm looking forward to what comes next |
| Tuesday 17th April 2007 18:00 | Report on the Excavations of Sites HH-87 and HH-88 (Author Response) |
| Thank you; I am honored. What comes next is completely different. |
