Matrix Refugee and the Book that Broke Her Heart

[matrixrefugee]

Chapter of HP 6 I'm on: I finished it this morning...

I'm shocked....

How could JKR do that?!

If I was going to kill off the father-figure character, I'd wait till closer to the end of the series, not in the sixth book of seven.

I'm not sure as if I like HP 6 as much as I did when I started reading it, but it's no fault of the writer. This goes to show how powerful a writer is, if she can break the reader's heart and still give the reader cause for hope.

Problem is, I've had too many fannish losses this year: Much as I like and admire Neil Gaiman, I'd like to poke him a little for killing off Morpheus!Dream in "The Sandman". The MxO bumped off Morpheus (Quoth the Merovingian, as he occupies my headspace, "I 'ad nozzing to do wizz zat."). Now JKR bumps off Dumbledore. And Snape does the bumping off, thus joining the ranks of the "I'm not sure if I like this guy anymore" starting to form in my mind.

As I said to Puck last night when I was speaking with her via AIM: "I think part of the reason why I'm being really sensitive about this has something to do with Pope John Paul II passing away. That was something I knew was going to happen, and which I had no control over (though I have to admit, I was somewhat relieved, since it means his sufferings are now over). But fandom... that's my escape when the real world gets to be too much... and then to have to deal with fannish grieving, or causes thereof..." Plus, July isn't an easy month for me: too many painful memories from breaking up with my ex-fiance, even though the final cut didn't come until August 3rd.

This is why, on occassion, fanfiction is better than canon, if the writer of said fanfiction can find a way to work around or tease out the canon nits that irk her, or find a logical way to make it an alternate universe fic.

I wasn't crazy about Dumbledore, but I liked him the way one likes/loves one's grandfather or some kindly older male father-figure you've gotten attached to. Maybe because I lost my beloved paternal grandfather, my dad's dad, Leo when I was only five, I've always been drawn to kindly older male characters in stuff (Councillor Hamann in the "Matrix" series is another for-instance). Thus losing Dumbledore is almost a real loss for me, as a fan. And I'm tired of losing characters this year. I really am. I'm almost tempted to avoid continuing serieses for the rest of this year, to avoid anymore canon losses, and to avoid being discomfited when the authors continue to demonize not-so-nice guys she liked/used to like. What's wrong with the guy doing something to redeem himself once in a while?!

Anyone remember the quote from "The Sandman" where Death is frustrated and she asks Lucian the Librarian if he has any cheerful books to read?

Comments

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

... Wait, Morpheus got killed in MxO?

Oh, and I still argue that Snape is a morally ambiguous character. Remember, he made an Unbreakable Vow that included finishing the job that if it would look like Draco couldn't finish it. Also, reading back over that scene, Dumbledore was not begging for his life there.

[ladynyks.livejournal.com]

You must change or die and Dream wasn't prepared to do that in that form. Dream also reminded us that we do what we do because of who we are. If we did otherwise, we would not be ourselves, which is exactly what Severus is doing. He hasn't changed one bit (to me). Dumbledore also did what he had to. If you have too little faith (and I am talking loosely here, given your mention of organized religion and my post about archetypal goddesses) in a character, that doesn't mean the character has necessarily changed either. "We are mourning the death of a point of view," I think the quote went even in the Wake. Your facet seems to be dying, I still love mine.

People forget, could be said of Dream's death. You mourn or grieve, and then you move on. Lord Morpheus couldn't. Severus hasn't been able to move on from other things, including his hatred and grudges against James Potter, but that doesn't make him evil. I only started liking DD in this book, perhaps, given his being around more in many ways, and he was remarkable in that world, which must have made it all the more hateful for Severus to have to kill him, but he had no choice. Unfortunately he'll probably have to prove himself and "beg" for redemption from characters and readers with a self-sacrifical death in book 7, which to me is asking too much from someone who's already performed beyond what can be expected, suffered enough, been kicked in the head enough during his life.

However, JKR has said she doesn't see how anyone could love Snape, and that she enjoys writing him, because he's a horrible person, so what can you expect from her?

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

There's also the minor point that while Snape may have had perfectly good reasons for killing Dumbledore, there's very little chance that the Ministry will see it from his point-of-view.

[ladynyks.livejournal.com]

Ministry schministry. He's suffered enough, he deserves to get away at the end of the book and spend the rest of his life snuggling with a sweetheart (Remus to many). Cue fanfiction once the day comes. I've known he was most likely as good as dead since book 3 or 4, but hoped JKR wouldn't write him into a corner like this. Of course it's superb dramatically, for the story and tension and ambiguity, but not for the character.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Please, people... please don't fight... I was only venting some painful emotions when I posted this entry; I didn't mean for it to fray anyone's nerves. Please, it's not worth squabbling over.

::Now wishing she'd never posted this entry, if it would only start fights...::

[ladynyks.livejournal.com]

Put it down to your Asperger's if you read fighting into THAT. *raised eyebrow* You know I don't phrase things überpolitely and am abrupt most of the time, right?

As to painful emotions, I dunno. Maybe the ones I foresee at the end of book 7 are what makes me speak out for Snape. I wouldn't know.

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Who's fighting? It's just a discussion of the character. Or at least, that's how I'm viewing it.

*huggles MR* If you want us to stop, though, we'll stop. I can babble my theories about transformers slash instead.

[ladynyks.livejournal.com]

See? It can't be fighting if we both (most likely) agree that Screamer was the Queen of the gang and wanted Megatron.

*pets Starscream the Vain with much love*

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

I think you got the root of the problem: My AS has been tripping me up several times today, but up until this point, I'd been able to contain it. Sorry if I rocked the boat needlessly! ::Sheepish grin::

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Of course Starscream wanted Megatron. See the end of "A Decepticon Raider..." for a great little scene that just about proves it.

Screamer: Megatron! We're back! (glomps Megatron)
Megatron: You threw off my shot!
Screamer: But aren't you glad to see me us?

(And remember, kids, just about everytime Starscream says something stupid near Soundwave, then the camera immediately cuts away, it's because Soundwave has just whacked Starscream upside the head.)

[ladynyks.livejournal.com]

Aah yes, thank you for reminding me about the episode. It was one of the few I had until the videos and/or dvds came out, so remember it better than many other episodes. I take it you must've read woshername's Nightbird-The Aftermath fic at some stage, but he's being very sulky about Megatron's favourite ninja in that, too. Damn, what was her name again, the plumed serpent one. Argh, yes, Raksha.

(Thank you for that. *chuckling with a rusty tremor in voice like Megatron at best?* )

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Actually, I try to avoid Raksha. She frightens me with her nice!loyal!Soundwave. My baby is neither nice nor loyal! *cuddles Soundwave, much to his annoyance*

[ladynyks.livejournal.com]

As usual, I ignore pretty much all the other characters apart from my particular favourites, so I have no idea what Soundwave is, apart from in the background. *expects Starscream to shove others out of his way to better the shine*

I don't know if I'd call Soundwave nice, but he does seem much more loyal to Megatron and the Decepticons in general than Screamer. He doesn't say much so it's hard to tell. I mean he's no Galvatron for sure. I don't read that much fan fiction and it's been ages since I read anything TF related, any recommendations? Something with Starscream would be nice, but anything in general works.

Otherwise, EddieIzzard the community struck as a good place for TF icons this week, one of Soundwave used by Ruh. And Discworld community struck with Alki4eva's animated Megatron blast. Go check 'em out if you don't have them already?

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Soundwave is more loyal than Screamer, but then again, half the universe is more loyal than Starscream. I think the major difference is that Soundwave is willing to bide his time about becoming Decepticon High Commander, and he just goes and does what he wants without loudly announcing that he's going to do it.

Recommendations.... Wayward (http://www.insecticons.com/) does very good stuff, both art and fic-wise. I'm also fond of Koi Lungfish (http://www.geocities.com/koilungfish/), though she may be a bit on the purple side. Her stuff is well worth it, though.

*goes off to look at TF icons*