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Larry Hogue's avatar

Excellent analysis! Your contrast of the more straightforward narration - which was good in itself - with what McCarthy actually wrote was a good way to highlight where his style really pops and also serves a purpose. So much of it has to do with his wordchoice and imagery. “Stakerope” - an uncommon word or maybe even a neologism that prefigures the stake of agony in his heart at the end. And then “arc of the hemisphere” and “die in darkness”. So vivid!

And I can’t help but getting a different reference for that last bit: “Die in darkness” is a phrase used in The Expanse by Belters when they’re getting ready to put an enemy out of an airlock.

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Thaddeus Thomas's avatar

Interesting link between genres. Thank you Larry. You're always an encouragement and a friend.

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