As requested by Alexis, a new thread to discuss the Noman content. Here’s what Alexis said:
[color=rgb(0, 153, 0)]There is an Arty Point behind the Noman content; there are interesting things to be said, I think, about whether I succeeded or failed in that effect.[/color]
And here’s what I’d posted in the other thread (other people had commented too, but it’s up to them to decide whether they want to copy their posts over here):
Suitov wrote:
[color=rgb(119, 119, 170)]I don’t think the Noman is made to last. Isn’t there a warning when you get it?[/color]
Indeed it isn’t; indeed there is. And pretty much all of the noman’s text (right down to its epically-long item description) reinforces the point that it’s going to die, not just sometime, but soon.
Regarding "nice little earner" in a previous post - I think that’s unfair. The fact you can spend expensive items on a futile attempt to keep it alive is artistically interesting, and I wouldn’t look for any more sinister motivation than that.
For example, right now, it really wants me to give it a pail of snow. But I could use that pail of snow, via a monocle and whatnot, to get myself a nice little hide-away by the seaside. In real life, would I sell my home, if it got just one more week of time for someone that I care about? I have absolutely no idea, and I honestly don’t want to think about it, but the storyline forces me to. This is a Good Thing.
What does seem a little cruel is the way that the combined effects of randomness appear to mean you can throw away numerous expensive items, and end up winning no extra time at all. Which, yes, is tragically the way it works in real life, but we expect fiction to be more clearly-defined than life is. The piquancy comes from thinking the noman’s fate is in my hands; it loses its effectiveness if too much is down to "the bludgeonings of chance".
NB. I’ve carefully said "appear" in the previous sentence, because none of us actually knows how it’s all going to end. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if more options show up as Noman’s Friend dwindles towards zero.
Cheers
Richard
Edited to change title - I’d given it the same name as another thread.
edited by Richard on 1/12/2014