wrestling with death

in fiction, that is. . . .

One panelist on the "jumped the dragon" panel said that the Xanth series jumped the dragon after the last book in which someone died; thereafter, Anthony seemed too fond of his characters to actually kill anyone.  He had a point.  It's hard to convince people that there are real risks in the world when, really, there aren't.

( Read more... )

A Damsel In Distress

A Damsel In Distress by P. G. Wodehouse.

At Belpher Castle, the Earl tends his roses, and writes the family history in as desultory a manner as he can -- his secretary Alice keeps getting on his case.  Meanwhile, his sister is trying to keep his daughter Maud captive in the castle, in hopes that she will forget the young American she met in Wales, and marry the sister's stepson Reggie, who is in love with Alice.

( Read more... )