<div dir="ltr">"5. (This last one is the most out-there)
<div>When excerpts from the book first appeared, there was some
discussion here about the oddness of the narrator's voice. His
vocabulary certainly seems more limited than a lot of Wolfe's narrators,
and, especially at first, his voice sounds a little off. I half-wonder
if this is a clue, as per Christopher Simon's suggestion that the
narrator has forgotten he's involved in a plan. There's mention of the
Legion possessing translation machines, but it's never really followed
up on. Is it possible that, contrary to what he tells us, Grafton isn't
writing in English, in Massachusetts, for an editor in New York? But, if
that were the case, what purpose is being served by the ruse?"<br><br></div><div>On this note, it was also interesting that a number of characters in the opening chapters assume Grafton is German. Why would they do this? Accent, mannerisms? I don't have the book in front of me, but I remember two or three minor characters thinking that he was German right off the bat, not American. <br>
</div>
<div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Dec 10, 2013 at 7:00 PM, Matthew Keeley <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:matthew.keeley.1@gmail.com" target="_blank">matthew.keeley.1@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">A few thoughts: (spoilers)<br><br><div>-</div><div>-</div><div>-</div><div>-</div><div>1. A quick Google search shows me that "Grafton" is "derived from the Old English graf meaning 'gorve' and 'tun' meaning enclosure." However, with all the Germanic stuff in this book, as well as the apparent presence of vampires and Vlad the Impaler, I was reminded that "Graf" is also German for "Count." Perhaps there are fangs in the Grafton family tree, perhaps I am reading too much into it.</div>
<div><br></div><div>2. When the the Legion kidnaps Grafton, they first ask themselves in, but Grafton refuses, steps outside, and is kidnapped. There's no indication that they ever enter The Willows. Could this have something to do with the rule that vampires may only enter places into which they've been invited?</div>
<div><br></div><div>3. On a related note, we see the man in black at a castle (his?), in the prison cell (apparently invited by Russ), and in The Willows (without invitation). Perhaps The Willows belongs to him? On the other hand, Grafton has a vision of Eion Desmartes' death and describes the miser; he doesn't recognize him as being the man in black.</div>
<div><br></div><div>4. The Willows: Are we supposed to be thinking of the Algernon Blackwood story? Or the association between "weeping" and "willows?" </div><div><br></div><div>5. (This last one is the most out-there)</div>
<div>When excerpts from the book first appeared, there was some discussion here about the oddness of the narrator's voice. His vocabulary certainly seems more limited than a lot of Wolfe's narrators, and, especially at first, his voice sounds a little off. I half-wonder if this is a clue, as per Christopher Simon's suggestion that the narrator has forgotten he's involved in a plan. There's mention of the Legion possessing translation machines, but it's never really followed up on. Is it possible that, contrary to what he tells us, Grafton isn't writing in English, in Massachusetts, for an editor in New York? But, if that were the case, what purpose is being served by the ruse? </div>
<div><br></div><div>Thoughts?</div><div><br></div><div>-Matt</div></div><div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 9:09 PM, Matthew King <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:automatthew@gmail.com" target="_blank">automatthew@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">It reminds me of the sexy werefox in The Sorcerer's House.<br>
<div><br>
<br>
On Dec 8, 2013, at 8:53 AM, Christopher Simon <<a href="mailto:kierkegaurdian@gmail.com" target="_blank">kierkegaurdian@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
> Definitely Evil Dead 2. That is one mean, murderous hand, most of the time. Only Grafton sees its nice side.<br>
<br>
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