Every time I see the word "fundament" I can only think of Gulliver's Travels:
'I was complaining of a small fit of the colic, upon which my conductor led me into a room where a great physician resided, who was famous for curing that disease, by contrary operations from the same instrument. He had a large pair of bellows, with a long slender muzzle of ivory: this he conveyed eight inches up the anus, and drawing in the wind, he affirmed he could make the guts as lank as a dried bladder. But when the disease was more stubborn and violent, he let in the muzzle while the bellows were full of wind, which he discharged into the body of the patient; then withdrew the instrument to replenish it, clapping his thumb strongly against the orifice of the fundament; and this being repeated three or four times, the adventitious wind would rush out, bringing the noxious along with it, (like water put into a pump), and the patient recovered. I saw him try both experiments upon a dog, but could not discern any effect from the former. After the latter the animal was ready to burst, and made so violent a discharge as was very offensive to me and my companion. The dog died on the spot, and we left the doctor endeavouring to recover him, by the same operation.'
I treasure the memory of laughing aloud when GRRMartin pulled that punchline about tapestries being hung and men being hanged and laughed here again. I’m eager to hear about your forthcoming book In Praise of Purple wherein each of these insights are categorized and enunciated for us lowly aspiring scribes and poets. Any chance you’d ever do a book or perhaps a video series that would elaborate on your sense of style and philosophy of writing? Can the ear for prose be taught?
I have a somewhat embarrassing confession to make. When I read Roland in Moonlight you had stated that there were several grammatical mistakes that incite thoughts that border on the homicidal. I misread them at first and congratulated myself. Then I reread the passage, and I’m afraid I have committed every single one of those offenses. I entertained the thought that you were speaking to me through some kind of esp. I half expected you to tell me the color of my t shirt and the couch I was sitting on.
Having said that, reading your work in general has corrected many of my past mistakes. I am immensely grateful for that.
Every time I see the word "fundament" I can only think of Gulliver's Travels:
'I was complaining of a small fit of the colic, upon which my conductor led me into a room where a great physician resided, who was famous for curing that disease, by contrary operations from the same instrument. He had a large pair of bellows, with a long slender muzzle of ivory: this he conveyed eight inches up the anus, and drawing in the wind, he affirmed he could make the guts as lank as a dried bladder. But when the disease was more stubborn and violent, he let in the muzzle while the bellows were full of wind, which he discharged into the body of the patient; then withdrew the instrument to replenish it, clapping his thumb strongly against the orifice of the fundament; and this being repeated three or four times, the adventitious wind would rush out, bringing the noxious along with it, (like water put into a pump), and the patient recovered. I saw him try both experiments upon a dog, but could not discern any effect from the former. After the latter the animal was ready to burst, and made so violent a discharge as was very offensive to me and my companion. The dog died on the spot, and we left the doctor endeavouring to recover him, by the same operation.'
I treasure the memory of laughing aloud when GRRMartin pulled that punchline about tapestries being hung and men being hanged and laughed here again. I’m eager to hear about your forthcoming book In Praise of Purple wherein each of these insights are categorized and enunciated for us lowly aspiring scribes and poets. Any chance you’d ever do a book or perhaps a video series that would elaborate on your sense of style and philosophy of writing? Can the ear for prose be taught?
I have a somewhat embarrassing confession to make. When I read Roland in Moonlight you had stated that there were several grammatical mistakes that incite thoughts that border on the homicidal. I misread them at first and congratulated myself. Then I reread the passage, and I’m afraid I have committed every single one of those offenses. I entertained the thought that you were speaking to me through some kind of esp. I half expected you to tell me the color of my t shirt and the couch I was sitting on.
Having said that, reading your work in general has corrected many of my past mistakes. I am immensely grateful for that.