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Lancelot Schaubert

Antagonists: Unknown Forces & Changing Flesh

Which is scarier? The bad guy you never see or the bad guy you think you know that changes into something awful? These two categories make up all the thriller/horror genre, according to Stephen King, and all the “fear” category of antagonists.

So, then, which terrified you more when it all came down to it?

  • Sauron or Sarumon?
  • Slytherin or Voldemort?
  • Satan or Judas?
  • The Ticking Time Bomb or the Terrorist Mob-leader?
  • Britain or Colonel Tavington?
  • Death-Curse or Captain Barbosa?
  • Chromium 6 or The Schmucks from the Corporation?

I think you’ll find that the best stories have both an impersonal force and a personal force, something that’s ambiguous and terrifying in its fog and something that’s concrete and normal that changes into something terrifying and awful.

personal changling

Each of those “concrete” or “personal” examples on the right are changelings. Each of those “abstract” or “impersonal” examples on the right are unknown forces.

Thoughts?

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Lancelot Schaubert

Lancelot Schaubert authored Bell Hammers, which Publisher’s Weekly called “a hoot.” He edits anthologies and journals; produces albums, films, and photo novels; raises funds, friends, and minds for artists. Learn more here.

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  1. doberman

    Hi:
    It is the impersonal and abstract forces that terrify me the most in stories. Every time.

    The concrete/personal examples usually have discernable human flaws and are easier to wrap my head around. The abstract concepts prey upon fear of the malevolent forces that are clearly in existence, and include a sense of hightened powerlessness against them due to their typically inflated and amorphous amount of power.

    Here’s one: Chandrian or Ambrose? I think that is the best example from NOTW that fits your criteria. How far are you into WMF?
    ciao!

    Reply
  2. lanceschaubert

    That’s a perfect example & I’ll be sure to pingback the wise man’s fear discussion so I can keep track of it. But yes, the Chandrian and Ambrose were on my mind the whole time I wrote this. Glad you brought up.

    Not able to read until this weekend, unfortunately. Still pg. 200. Slowest reading.

    Reply
  3. 404 Arbiter

    After [redacting] from that abyss and [redacting] all of my stored up energy, it seems I’ve been able to manage a basic connection to one of the lamest, least visited pages on this website. Can one of my [redacted] if you can, [redacted] it?

    I am quite exhausted in the attempt.

    Reply
    1. Lancelot Schaubert

      Threat neutralized, special containment protocol re-initiated. All comments deleted. Beware of transactional establishment and transformation of memes into antimemes and vice versa: apophatic to cataphatic exchange must not be allowed to proliferate outside of dually consubstantial auctophanous analogy. The economy of memes with this entity must be severed at all costs.

      DO NOT ENGAGE. IGNORE ALL EVIDENCE OF CREATURE.

      • Archivist Tobias
      Reply



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