Harry Potter is part of Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle

[jack]

Harry Potter is part of Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle

* The philosopher's stone is a plot object in each, yet not presented as important as you'd think, by some sophistical hand-waving

* Both have plots fairly narritively satisfying to the extent you tend to not notice that logic is being torn assunder.

* Enoch Root adopted the guise of Nicholas Flamel, and later that of his "partner" Dumbledor. And once discovering alchemy/magic could be made to work practically and becoming headmaster and informal soul of it, continuing to meddle with everything both high and low, ignoring mundane conventions like laws in favour of assuring evil is defeated and knowledge is preserved.

* Harry is a Shaftoe, Hermione a Waterhouse. There's even a assonancey similarity.

Comments

[quism.livejournal.com]

... and Edward Woodward's character in the Wicker Man is Jesus (think about it: sacrificed for his beliefs, tempted three times, etc.). As is Donnie Darko (though you'll have to ask minipoppy for detailed reasoning on this).

I'm sure Stephenson would be horrified to have his work associated with JK Growling's.

If I had to be a Biblical character, I'd aim for Job...

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

But, like, half of all books have a Jesus figure. Name me one who *isn't*! :)

I'm sure Stephenson would be horrified to have his work associated with JK Growling's.

That's why it's funny :) Though, I mean, he can't take himself *too* seriously: look at the langauge, for instance.

[quism.livejournal.com]

I dunno - the Baroque trilogy seems to have much less humour in it than his earlier stuff. And he looks like a cross between a Hells Angel and Anthony Crowley these days, too, so I'd avoid getting on the wrong side of him (in fact, I was trying to find an image to link to illustrate that, but there are just too many, and not all recent, either - seems the man's always looked scary as hell).

He hates smileys too.

I added you... hope you don't mind.

[minipoppy.livejournal.com]

> all books have a Jesus figure. Name me one who *isn't*! :)
I reckon there are no Jesuses in Winnie the Pooh. Or... no. I can't think of any others.

> He hates smileys too.
Although, if you read to the bottom of the piece it turns out he really does like smileys. He denounces his earlier opinion with the reasoning: I wrote it in a snotty tone. Although sounds like he's happy with dumbing down if you ask me.

[quism.livejournal.com]

Although, if you read to the bottom of the piece it turns out he really does like smileys. He denounces his earlier opinion with the reasoning: I wrote it in a snotty tone. Although sounds like he's happy with dumbing down if you ask me.

Damn him! As you can probably tell, I didn't read to the bottom of the article, having remembered from when I first read it that he was a smiley-hater, and didn't think he'd retract and renounce that. Bloomin' straight edgers, always letting you down...

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I wasn't sure what he was saying, if he now approved, or didn't really like, but didn't think they were evidence of wooly thinking any more.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I reckon there are no Jesuses in Winnie the Pooh.

Apart from the one character that:

* Dispenses wisdom and justice to the others
* Is consdiered the arbiter of morality and knowledge
* Departs for higher things at the end, but promises to return
* Has "Christ" in his name

:)

[minipoppy.livejournal.com]

I did consider him, but I think given his innate difference to the other creatures, and the way he just appears and fixes things he is much more like their God than their Jesus. CR has never been tempted and his departure was not for the good of little peoples. Yeah, I think he is God. It makes sense - if he was omnipresent, that would explain how he always manages to turn up at just the right moment.

You know Tigger just appears, and is persecuted by Rabbit (or should I say Pontious Pilate?) Though I don't think that I can carry that any further...

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Yes, God=CR was my first thought, but surely his *father* should take that role.

The no-crucifiction thing is indeed the biggest problem :)

[minipoppy.livejournal.com]

> surely his *father* should take that role

It's turtles all the way down!

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

It could be worse. A (christian) friend once described God's behaviour as "dom" and then someone brought up the crucifiction...

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I dunno - the Baroque trilogy seems to have much less humour in it than his earlier stuff.

To some extent. But there are some wonderful pasages (eg. Dappa and Peer) which are worthy of Three Men in a Boat, and quite a lot of it seems to be said with a wink.

But yes, I don't suppose he would really like being compared to JKR.

He hates smileys too.

Though seems to be less sure now?

I added you... hope you don't mind.

Of course not. *reciprocates*