David Feintuch's "The Still"
Steve Moss
I just finished reading "the Still" by David Fenituch. While I really
enjoyed his other work, the Seafort novels, I have mixed emotions
about "the Still".
Spoilers Below
I really liked the battles (I'm easy to please, just provide the
gratutious battle scene or two); the development of the main
character, Rodrigo, from a spoiled brat to a passable Prince; and the
general plot line. If grading solely on these areas, I'd give the
book a B+ or even an A.
On the other hand, I was disturbed by Rodrigo's sexual relationship
with Rustin. Not because it is a homosexual relationship, but because
it was a homosexual sado-masochistic relationship involving a 16 year
old boy which is considered a "good" relationship by Rodrigo's peer
group. While I try to keep an open mind, the line has to be drawn
somewhere.
Second, I can understand Rodrigo's frustration with not being able to
have sex with a woman (otherwise he looses his hereditary power) but I
hardly think that it justifies his attempted rape and murderous
attacks on others. Plenty of 16 year olds go without sex, even
self-centered, spoiled, concieted 16 year olds, but are not prompted
to attempt rape and murder. Rodrigo's actions in that direction
suggest to me that he's not entirely sane.[1]
Third, how realistic is it that Rodrigo would find himself so stripped
of support that he has to go begging from baron to baron for troops?
If history is any guide, all a person with a claim to a crown has to
do is raise his banner and low-lifes by the thousand will flock to
him.
On the whole, The Still is a pretty decent fantasy. But whether I'll
buy the sequel is debatable. As I just finished reading the book, I'm
still digesting information.
[1] Then agian, maybe David Feintuch is trying to show that Rodrigo
isn't sane. Much like Nick Seafort.
Steve Moss
ste...@ctaz.com
http://www.ctaz.com/~stevem/
If replying, remove NOSPAM from email address
Paul Bradford
Steve Moss wrote:
>
> Third, how realistic is it that Rodrigo would find himself so stripped
> of support that he has to go begging from baron to baron for troops?
> If history is any guide, all a person with a claim to a crown has to
> do is raise his banner and low-lifes by the thousand will flock to
> him.
Really? What examples do you have in mind?
Why would anybody fight for Rodrigo? He isn't charismatic,
has no ideas worth fighting for, and he can't pay them.
What other motivations would anybody have to help him?
Overall, I liked "The Still" very much, and will read a sequel, if any.
This despite disliking the main character. Same situation as the
Seafort stories.
Steve Moss
David Fentuch's "The Still" Spoilers Below
Paul Bradford wrote:
>Steve Moss wrote:
>> Third, how realistic is it that Rodrigo would find himself so stripped
>> of support that he has to go begging from baron to baron for troops?
>> If history is any guide, all a person with a claim to a crown has to
>> do is raise his banner and low-lifes by the thousand will flock to
>> him.
>Really? What examples do you have in mind?
Off the top of my head, I recall several different individuals posing
(or perhaps they were the real thing) as the "Lost Princes", the sons
of Edward IV. All of them gathered armed forces, even if a few were
somewhat minimal, upon announcing themselves.
>Why would anybody fight for Rodrigo? He isn't charismatic,
>has no ideas worth fighting for, and he can't pay them.
>What other motivations would anybody have to help him?
Wealth, power, lands, title, fame, etc... Rodrigo has the best claim
of out of only a very few prospects to the throne. If landless
knights A through Z help him, its not unlikely that landed Barons A-Z
will lose their titles if they oppose Rodrigo and that he would then
make landless knights A-Z, landed Barons A-Z.
Very few medieval monarchs were pleasant personalities. Rodrigo would
still recieve support, despite his unpleasant nature. That David
Feintuch reduces Rodrigo to absolute helplessness I can understand,
for story reasons. I just don't think its realistic considering his
claim to the crown. He has inherent political value becuase of his
status which would not be ignored. *Some* armed troops would gather
to him.
>Overall, I liked "The Still" very much, and will read a sequel, if any.
>This despite disliking the main character. Same situation as the
>Seafort stories.
Rodrigo is becoming less "dislikable". And I would continue to read
even if he had stayed "unpleasant." David Feintuch is an excellent
writer. Further, being "unpleasant" is probably a more realistic
depiction of how a would-be-king would act, rather than the brave,
generous and good prince commonly depicted in fantasy.
What concerns me, is do I want to lend my support (i.e. spend my
dollars) to a work which applauds a homosexual sado-masochistic
relationship involving a 16 year old boy? I think the three factors,
sexual orientation, age, and S-M conduct, in combination, pushes the
Still well past my acceptance level.
I certianly can't loan it out, as is my habit, to my younger, teengage
siblings and cousins. While they might be mature enough to handle it,
IMO, that is a call for thier parents to make. And the answer will be
NO.
Finally, the constant repetition and express description of Rodrigo
and Rustin's 'particular' relationship is not entertaining or
understandable (to me at least) in the slightest. While I can accept
a homosexually oriented main character (such as Elizabeth Willey's
Dewar) I do not wish to read the details. Doing so is not my idea of
a relaxing evening reading a 'good' novel.
Will I buy the sequel to the Still? I don't know.
David Feintuch
Steve Moss wrote:
>
> I just finished reading "the Still" by David Feintuch.
>
> .... I was disturbed by Rodrigo's sexual relationship
> with Rustin. Not because it is a homosexual relationship, but because
> it was a homosexual sado-masochistic relationship involving a 16 year
> old boy which is considered a "good" relationship by Rodrigo's peer
> group.
Steve, WHAT peer group? The whole point is that Roddy had no peer
group. And while Rustin was certainly dominant, I didn't see any s/m
aspect to it.
> Second, I can understand Rodrigo's frustration with not being able to
> have sex with a woman (otherwise he looses his hereditary power) but I
> hardly think that it justifies his attempted rape and murderous
> attacks on others. Plenty of 16 year olds go without sex, even
> self-centered, spoiled, concieted 16 year olds, but are not prompted
> to attempt rape and murder.
(a) You're talking _now_, I'm talking _then_. If you look at the
sexual mores of the middle ages, you'll find some quite uninhibited
responses to sexual frustration. ((For that matter, read this month's
newspapers).
(b) Rodrido's habit of yanking out a dagger is not specifically related
to his sexual frustration. Remember he's been raised a prince, in a
society that views peasants as less than nothing.
> Rodrigo's actions in that direction
> suggest to me that he's not entirely sane.
Yes? And your point is?
>
> Third, how realistic is it that Rodrigo would find himself so stripped
> of support that he has to go begging from baron to baron for troops?
That sort of thing is ABSOLUTELY characteristic of middle-ages dynastic
warring. I could give you numerous examples. Henry II went through
hell, as his sons Richard, Arthur, Geoffrey and John fought each other
and him for the crown and its various parts. Both with and without the
aid of foreign nobles, whose help they had to beg.
> If history is any guide, all a person with a claim to a crown has to
> do is raise his banner and low-lifes by the thousand will flock to
> him.
See above.
>
> On the whole, The Still is a pretty decent fantasy.
Whew. Thanks.
> [1] Then agian, maybe David Feintuch is trying to show that Rodrigo
> isn't sane. Much like Nick Seafort.
Is any person with immense power, under great pressure, truly sane?
--
David Feintuch
Author of:
THE STILL
MIDSHIPMAN'S HOPE CHALLENGER'S HOPE
PRISONER'S HOPE FISHERMAN'S HOPE
VOICES OF HOPE
David Feintuch
Paul Bradford wrote:
>
> Why would anybody fight for Rodrigo? He isn't charismatic,
> has no ideas worth fighting for, and he can't pay them.
> What other motivations would anybody have to help him?
I think he becomes, in a suble, undertstated way, charismatic. His
uncle Raeth of Cumber saw that, in the end. As did Groenfil and
Soushire.
>
> Overall, I liked "The Still" very much, and will read a sequel, if any.
Good. In that case, lemme announce (hey folks, for the first time
anywhere:)
There WILL be a sequel. I'm writing it now, even as we speak. About
1/3 done. It will be out next year some time.
> This despite disliking the main character. Same situation as the
> Seafort stories.
Sigh. Poor Nick.
David Feintuch
Steve Moss wrote:
> Wealth, power, lands, title, fame, etc... Rodrigo has the best claim
> of out of only a very few prospects to the throne. If landless
> knights A through Z help him, its not unlikely that landed Barons A-Z
> will lose their titles if they oppose Rodrigo and that he would then
> make landless knights A-Z, landed Barons A-Z.
Which, Steve, is exactly what I tried to show in all the machinations
with the barons. Each of them was calculating what the others might do,
and how it might be turned to their advantage.
>
> That David Feintuch reduces Rodrigo to absolute helplessness I can understand,
> for story reasons. I just don't think its realistic considering his
> claim to the crown. He has inherent political value becuase of his
> status which would not be ignored. *Some* armed troops would gather
> to him.
Remember, though, that his Uncle made a preemptive strike, and had
himself appointed regent. How could they gather, especially before
Rodrigo set his standard?
>
> Rodrigo is becoming less "dislikable". And I would continue to read
> even if he had stayed "unpleasant." David Feintuch is an excellent
> writer.
Thank you.
> What concerns me, is do I want to lend my support (i.e. spend my
> dollars) to a work which applauds a homosexual sado-masochistic
> relationship involving a 16 year old boy? I think the three factors,
> sexual orientation, age, and S-M conduct, in combination, pushes the
> Still well past my acceptance level.
>
Steve, I really think there's less of that than you read into the
book. Rust takes on Roddy as a project, if you will, and tries to teach
him decent behavior. That is, decent, caring acts towards not only his
cohorts but also churls. In the process he has to act the father toward
Roddy, who never had one.
Their sexual liason is rather separate from this. Roddy himself
expresses, several times, his uneasiness at that part of their
relationship. I think ity's handled very straightforwardly. And you
keep mentioning that Roddy is onyl sixteen. Yes, but sixteen in an age
where (like the actual middle ages) most of his contemporaries are not
only sexually active, but in most cases married and procreating.
> I certianly can't loan it out, as is my habit, to my younger, teengage
> siblings and cousins. While they might be mature enough to handle it,
> IMO, that is a call for thier parents to make. And the answer will be
> NO.
Do they go to movcies? Watch tv? This stuff ain't new to them.
>
> While I can accept a homosexually oriented main character (such as Elizabeth Willey's
> Dewar) I do not wish to read the details. Doing so is not my idea of
> a relaxing evening reading a 'good' novel.
If you reread The Still, you'll find that virtually no details are
expressed. They're merley insinuated. I never mention just what sexual
acts take place, and never mention a single body part. What is
mentioned is simply the tenderness Rustin shows for Roddy. The rest is
left to the reader's imagination. Apparently yours is working just
fine :)
>
> Will I buy the sequel to the Still? I don't know.
>
Hope you do. I'll stay tuned.
Thanks for your commentary.
> If replying, remove NOSPAM from email address
--
Lwc inc
David Feintuch wrote:
>Steve Moss wrote:
>>
>> I just finished reading "the Still" by David Feintuch.
>> .... I was disturbed by Rodrigo's sexual relationship
>> with Rustin. Not because it is a homosexual relationship, but because
>> it was a homosexual sado-masochistic relationship involving a 16 year
>> old boy which is considered a "good" relationship by Rodrigo's peer
>> group.
> Steve, WHAT peer group? The whole point is that Roddy had no peer
>group. And while Rustin was certainly dominant, I didn't see any s/m
>aspect to it.
I agree, Roddy has no peer, in any sense of the word. I really didn't like the
one-sided relationship between Roddy and Rust. It's about as destructive in
the long run as anything constructive Rust is doing. And while I can
understand "no sex allowed or you'll lose your powers", I don't understand why
it only applies to women. It just seems to be a plot device to allow his
relationship with Rust, which IMO adds nothing constructive to the story.
Other than that, I liked the story. However, I liked the Nick Seafort stories
a lot more.
--Luke Cooper
Change is poison gas and I hold my breath.
I try to run away but it lingers everywhere.
I pass out, and the next morning I wake up
and see someone else. --Antti Luode, on rec.arts.poems
Kerry J. Renaissance
On Sat, 09 May 1998 21:35:21 -0400, David Feintuch <writ...@cris.com>
wrote:
>> Overall, I liked "The Still" very much, and will read a sequel, if any.
>
> Good. In that case, lemme announce (hey folks, for the first time
>anywhere:)
> There WILL be a sequel. I'm writing it now, even as we speak. About
>1/3 done. It will be out next year some time.
Hmm.... I've been debating about reading _The Still_, now that school
is nearly over and it's entered the market in a more pocket-book
compatible form. (I like the trade paperbacks. Just can't afford
them very often. <sigh>). And now you're doing a sequel. Should I
be concerned? Is there a trilogy in this, do you think?
>> This despite disliking the main character. Same situation as the
>> Seafort stories.
>
> Sigh. Poor Nick.
For what it's worth, I liked Nick Seafort. Granted, not in the way
that I'd seek out his friendship -- but I can relate to him, on a lot
of levels.
-- Kerry
Going mostly ABEND on May 13th;
returning August 23rd.
Replies may be delayed or nonexistent during that time.
David Feintuch
Kerry J. Renaissance wrote:
> >> Overall, I liked "The Still" very much, and will read a sequel, if any.
> >
> > Good. In that case, lemme announce (hey folks, for the first time
> >anywhere:)
> > There WILL be a sequel. I'm writing it now, even as we speak. About
> >1/3 done. It will be out next year some time.
>
> Hmm.... I've been debating about reading _The Still_, now that school
> is nearly over and it's entered the market in a more pocket-book
> compatible form. (I like the trade paperbacks. Just can't afford
> them very often. <sigh>). And now you're doing a sequel. Should I
> be concerned? Is there a trilogy in this, do you think?
Kerry: NO, There will NOT. The story will conclude in this volume. I
can see places for an "afterstory" of sorts focusing more on other
characters, but I have no intention of writing anything
past6 the second volume. I find this world rather difficult to work in,
though I like the results.
Steve Moss
SPOILER"S BELOW
David Feintuch <writ...@cris.com> wrote:
>Steve Moss wrote:
>> I just finished reading "the Still" by David Feintuch.
>> .... I was disturbed by Rodrigo's sexual relationship
>> with Rustin. Not because it is a homosexual relationship, but because
>> it was a homosexual sado-masochistic relationship involving a 16 year
>> old boy which is considered a "good" relationship by Rodrigo's peer
>> group.
> Steve, WHAT peer group? The whole point is that Roddy had no peer
> group. And while Rustin was certainly dominant, I didn't see any s/m
> aspect to it.
Good point. The people surrounding Rodrigo are not his peers.
However, Rodrigo's "group", the soldiers, etc... that follow him are
defintely (or at least that's how I interpreted it) in favor of his
relationship with Rustin.
As to the s/m aspect, I, personally, did interpret Rustin and
Rodrigo's relationship in that light. Rustin punishes Rodrigo with a
whipping etc..., they argue and/or turn cold to one another, "make-up"
and then repeat the cycle. While there are no black leather and
chains, there is a high level of violence directed from aggressive
Rustin (in fulfillment of his "parental" duties) against "passive" (in
an effort to gain approval) Rodrigo.
I could understand, and even applaud, Rustin undertaking to teach
Rodrigo to be a man. I believe that when the case was so far gone as
Rodrigo, physical violence would be a necessary component of that
teaching (but not the only factor). On the other hand, when that
assumption of "parental" duties is accompanied by a sexual
relationship, I, personally, get very bad signals.
>> Second, I can understand Rodrigo's frustration with not being able to
>> have sex with a woman (otherwise he looses his hereditary power) but I
>> hardly think that it justifies his attempted rape and murderous
>> attacks on others. Plenty of 16 year olds go without sex, even
>> self-centered, spoiled, concieted 16 year olds, but are not prompted
>> to attempt rape and murder.
> (a) You're talking _now_, I'm talking _then_. If you look at > the
> sexual mores of the middle ages, you'll find some quite uninhibited
> responses to sexual frustration. ((For that matter, read this month's
> newspapers).
This is true. I was interpreting Rodrigo's frustration inlight of
20th century American males, not a 16 year old from the middle ages
who might be more prone to "direct action".
> (b) Rodrido's habit of yanking out a dagger is not specifically related
> to his sexual frustration. Remember he's been raised a prince, in a
> society that views peasants as less than nothing.
This is also true. Many medieval monarchs, barons, etc... were prone
to pull daggers on each other at the drop of the hat and even use them
on each other. But I thought Rodrigo did the almost kill his bondsman
routine BECAUSE he, as a fourteen year old, was getting sex while
Rodrigo, a 16 year old prince, wasn't.
>> Rodrigo's actions in that direction suggest to me that he's not entirely sane.
> Yes? And your point is?
Ah. Good. One theory confirmed.
>> Third, how realistic is it that Rodrigo would find himself so stripped
>> of support that he has to go begging from baron to baron for troops?
> That sort of thing is ABSOLUTELY characteristic of middle-ages dynastic
> warring. I could give you numerous examples. Henry II went through
> hell, as his sons Richard, Arthur, Geoffrey and John fought each other
> and him for the crown and its various parts. Both with and without the
> aid of foreign nobles, whose help they had to beg.
Yes, battling princes and kings often sought support from others. On
the other hand, I can only recall one account where a king or prince
was limited to one follower (I think it was either Henry III or
Richard II after escaping prison had one knight, a very tough one
though, wandering Wales with him trying to convince certain knights
and barons to gather to his banner). All the others that I'm aware of
had some force, even if only a small one of personal guards etc... .
And I don't htink that Henry II, his sons (the eagles of his
dream/nightmare), or Eleanor were ever reduced to one knight.
(snip)
> See above.
>> On the whole, The Still is a pretty decent fantasy.
> Whew. Thanks.
I *enjoyed* the book with the exception of Rodrigo and Rustin's sexual
relationship (I had no problem with their friendship and/or
parent-child relationship). Rodrigo is a definite case of a spoiled
brat/coward/petty/etc... individual realizing that he has to be better
than he actually is and makes a "heroic" effort to better himself.
I'm a sucker for that kind of story.
>> [1] Then agian, maybe David Feintuch is trying to show that Rodrigo
>> isn't sane. Much like Nick Seafort.
> Is any person with immense power, under great pressure, truly sane?
Probably not.
Steve Moss
Steve Moss wrote:
>> Wealth, power, lands, title, fame, etc... Rodrigo has the best claim
>> of out of only a very few prospects to the throne. If landless
>> knights A through Z help him, its not unlikely that landed Barons A-Z
>> will lose their titles if they oppose Rodrigo and that he would then
>> make landless knights A-Z, landed Barons A-Z.
> Which, Steve, is exactly what I tried to show in all the machinations
> with the barons. Each of them was calculating what the others might do,
> and how it might be turned to their advantage.
And you did that rather well. On the other hand, there are the
soldiers, mercenaries, etc.. who have nothing, as opposed to the
barons you mentioned, who would race to join Rodrigo in the hopes of a
big pay-off for betting the long odds.
>> That David Feintuch reduces Rodrigo to absolute helplessness I can understand,
>> for story reasons. I just don't think its realistic considering his
>> claim to the crown. He has inherent political value becuase of his
>> status which would not be ignored. *Some* armed troops would gather
>> to him.
> Remember, though, that his Uncle made a preemptive strike, and had
> himself appointed regent. How could they gather, especially before
> Rodrigo set his standard?
Good point. On the other hand I didn't see any reference to sporadic
outbreaks of resistance etc... against Rodrigo's uncle's usurption of
the throne. There would be a few brave (or foolish) men who would
remember their oaths and act (only, probably, to be defeated).
>> Rodrigo is becoming less "dislikable". And I would continue to read
>> even if he had stayed "unpleasant." David Feintuch is an excellent
>> writer.
> Thank you.
>> What concerns me, is do I want to lend my support (i.e. spend my
>> dollars) to a work which applauds a homosexual sado-masochistic
>> relationship involving a 16 year old boy? I think the three factors,
>> sexual orientation, age, and S-M conduct, in combination, pushes the
>> Still well past my acceptance level.
> Steve, I really think there's less of that than you read into the
> book. Rust takes on Roddy as a project, if you will, and tries to teach
> him decent behavior. That is, decent, caring acts towards not only his
> cohorts but also churls. In the process he has to act the father toward
> Roddy, who never had one.
> Their sexual liason is rather separate from this. Roddy himself
> expresses, several times, his uneasiness at that part of their
> relationship. I think ity's handled very straightforwardly. And you
> keep mentioning that Roddy is onyl sixteen. Yes, but sixteen in an age
> where (like the actual middle ages) most of his contemporaries are not
> only sexually active, but in most cases married and procreating.
I understand (but often forget) the practical differences in a 20th
century 16 year old as opposed to a 12th century 16 year old. But I
believe that in most middle age societies, a 16 year old male (as
opposed to female who were considered adults at a younger age) is
still a minor.
And I don't think it is possible to wear two hats in a personal
relationship. That Rustin and Rodrigo's sexual relationship is
seperate and distinct from their parental relationship is completely
impossible, at least in my mind. Emotions are not categorized and
boxed when dealing with specific indivduals as they change their
capacities during the course of a day. Emotions toward one another
will always spill over, blurring lines.
>> I certianly can't loan it out, as is my habit, to my younger, teengage
>> siblings and cousins. While they might be mature enough to handle it,
>> IMO, that is a call for thier parents to make. And the answer will be
>> NO.
> Do they go to movcies? Watch tv? This stuff ain't new to them.
I can't recall a single main stream movie where two homosexual
protaginists beat on each other, make up, have sex and then repeat. I
do think this would be very *new* to them, as it was to me.
>> While I can accept a homosexually oriented main character (such as Elizabeth Willey's
>> Dewar) I do not wish to read the details. Doing so is not my idea of
>> a relaxing evening reading a 'good' novel.
> If you reread The Still, you'll find that virtually no details are
> expressed. They're merley insinuated. I never mention just what sexual
> acts take place, and never mention a single body part. What is
> mentioned is simply the tenderness Rustin shows for Roddy. The rest is
> left to the reader's imagination. Apparently yours is working just
> fine :)
Willey referenced only the inclination. Rustin and Rodrigo strip in
front of one another, fall into each other's arms, etc... While its
true that no specific sex act is described, the physical aspect of
their relationship is far more than just insinuated.
>> Will I buy the sequel to the Still? I don't know.
> Hope you do. I'll stay tuned.
> Thanks for your commentary.
I still don't know. If it's a slow month for books, its almost a
certianity. After all, it is a very good story and I can always gloss
over the Rustin/Rodrigo thing. Otherwise, I'll have to do my 5 minute
browse and then make up my mind.
sta...@alum.mit.edu
The thing I've enjoyed about David Feintuch is not only his writing, but his
support to young writers.
Bravo Mr. Feintuch!
Rich
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
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Pen Rensley
Steve Moss wrote:
> >> Will I buy the sequel to the Still? I don't know.
>
> > Hope you do. I'll stay tuned.
> > Thanks for your commentary.
>
> I still don't know. If it's a slow month for books, its almost a
> certianity. After all, it is a very good story and I can always gloss
> over the Rustin/Rodrigo thing. Otherwise, I'll have to do my 5 minute
> browse and then make up my mind.
I for one will certainly buy the sequel, and in great measure for the
development of the Roddy/Rustin relationship. What concerns me is that,
at the end of The Still, Roddy has matured to the point that he no
longer needs Rustin's "parental" guidance as much, and Rodrigo holds all
the emotional power in their relationship. Which is to say, he's in the
sexual relationship because he's forced by circumstances, but Rustin is
in it because he's in love. Rustin is now the one who is wide open to
be hurt, far more than Roddy was by any SM elements in their
relationship (which I certainly didn't see, anyway). With the whole
unresolved business of Rustin's father also hanging over him, I could
see Rustin suffering a load of psychological pressures in the months to
come, so I'll be interested to see just how battered he's going to be,
and if Roddy is going to be a help or a hindrance now that the power
balance in their relationship has (as I see it) subtly shifted.
Pen.
David Feintuch
Sta...@alum.mit.edu wrote:
>
> The thing I've enjoyed about David Feintuch is not only his writing, but his
> support to young writers.
>
> Bravo Mr. Feintuch!
>
point me in the write direction, and I feel an obligation to pass on the
favor where I can.
David Feintuch
Pen Rensley wrote:
>
> I for one will certainly buy the sequel, and in great measure for the
> development of the Roddy/Rustin relationship.
Did anyone say there was going to be a sequel?
Actually, though, there will. I'm writing it now. Look for it next
year.
> What concerns me is that,
> at the end of The Still, Roddy has matured to the point that he no
> longer needs Rustin's "parental" guidance as much, and Rodrigo holds all
> the emotional power in their relationship. Which is to say, he's in the
> sexual relationship because he's forced by circumstances, but Rustin is
> in it because he's in love.
Very perceptive. Most other commenters assume that Rustin has the power
because he's dominant.
> Rustin is now the one who is wide open to
> be hurt, far more than Roddy was by any SM elements in their
> relationship (which I certainly didn't see, anyway). With the whole
> unresolved business of Rustin's father also hanging over him, I could
> see Rustin suffering a load of psychological pressures in the months to
> come, so I'll be interested to see just how battered he's going to be,
> and if Roddy is going to be a help or a hindrance now that the power
> balance in their relationship has (as I see it) subtly shifted.
Stay tuned. I never hint at how I'm handling stuff to come... often it
changes as I rethink and rewrite it, anyway.
Thanks for your post. It made me think.
--