| Author | Message | ||
     David Lees (David_lees) Username: David_lees Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 90.200.125.152 |
I thought this was a really interesting guest post on Charlie Stross' blog about the appeal of dark themes in fiction. It's also another reminder of how unremittingly awful the US healthcare system is. http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2014/01/tragedy-is-comfort-fiction-o n-.html | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 99.126.164.88 |
Great post there. I'm reminded of a tale Tolstoy relates in Fables for Children (from the Hindus, I believe), "Why There Is Evil In The World": it tells of a raven, a dove, a snake, and a stag, who get together for a conversation near a sleeping Hermit. The topic turns to why there is evil in the world; and, for various reasons, the animals each have their votes—the raven says, hunger; the dove argues, love and its woes; the snake, rage (uncontrollable passions); and the stag, fear. The hermit hears these long compelling arguments and sums up: from our bodies, come all those various evils—the body is the source of all evil. It seems Kameron's body/senses were overwhelming him (her?); but when he was able to disconnect from the senses and "meditate"—through reading horror, even via playing a video game—a kind of healing, and strength, could enter. Maybe that's the real power, and not horror's darker comforts.... | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.237.187.186 |
I remember reading another post of Kameron Hurley's previously - an awful indictment of the US healthcare system. I know I complain bitterly about our own NHS and how it treats people with chronic - particularly "invisible"/difficult to diagnose and treat - conditions, but I must confess I'd rather deal with the UK system than the US one! It's strange how many people with chronic conditions *are* into horror/dark fiction - either as readers or writers. There must be some element of escapism there, perhaps? I'm not sure. You'd think we'd prefer something lighter and more humourous really, wouldn't you? |