Comments on: Short Fiction: Beneath the Gate

By: braak

braak — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:46:44 +0000

I especially like Erin’s clever play off of the standard trope that Dave mentioned: hapless tourist gets fed to monster by callous local. By having that trope in my mind, the suspense of the story builds dramatically, only to leave me pleasantly surprised and actually satisfied by the ending.

Good show, Erin.

By: Jesse LaJeunesse

Jesse LaJeunesse — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:59:50 +0000

This is undeniably the prettiest story about a Thing That Should Not Be I’ve ever read. I suspect that would still be true even if I had ever read another story in that genre that even attempted to be pretty (which is sometime to say on its own). It had that moment of satisfaction, and I find those moments in stories rare and fulfilling.

By: V.I.P. Referee

V.I.P. Referee — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:28:28 +0000

I claim Jeff’s response. And in the spirit of supporting independent artists, I filed for rights to it before him (stupid Holland for posting online–sucker!) so he no longer owns his opinion. I do.

I really enjoyed this, Erin. Sort of like what Jeff said; I find it strange, yet also a combination of coziness and laid-back “chill”.

By: Jeff Holland

Jeff Holland — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:57:15 +0000

I think what I was most taken with when reading this as a submission is how “at ease” the story is with itself. It doesn’t bang you over the head with extended characterization of the two players. It doesn’t dig deep into either man’s psychological reactions to this undeniable bit of weirdness in their lives.

In short, it all just happens, and lets the reader fill in (or leave empty) whatever blanks he or she needs to.

One of those stories where you start smiling because the story’s not going quite where you expected it to. Happy to have read it, Mr. Snyder, keep ‘em coming.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:31:22 +0000

Braak: Funny you should mention that. I wrote a story a few days ago about combustible fecundity.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:55:03 +0000

Nice piece of writing there – I was rather worried it would fall into the “unwitting tourist falls victim to friendly but callous local and his pet monster” trap, but it wound up beautifully.

Combustible fecundity sounds painful. Or an out-take from Hancock.

By: braak

braak — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:38:26 +0000

Well, you are known for your combination of ideational fecundity and combustible language.

Unlike Erin, who is known primarily for his combustible fecundity and ideational language.

By: Hsiang

Hsiang — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:32:59 +0000

Thanks, but it’s not like I’m John Clute…or am I?

By: braak

braak — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:09:07 +0000

Man, I like that our most regular commenter is a literary critic.

That is rad.

By: Hsiang

Hsiang — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:01:34 +0000

Very nicely done, Erin, you got the numinous intertwined with the everyday and captured the feeling of a traveler “stuck” in an exotic locale to a tee. I really felt for poor Hennie. Wish I had a couple of zombies to push overboard for her. Like feeding the ducks at the park.