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Our Strange and Wonderful House (novel): Difference between revisions
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| setting= [[The Strange and Wonderful House]]<br>[[Hawk Manor]], [[Universe B (Our Strange and Wonderful House)|unnamed universe]] | | setting= [[The Strange and Wonderful House]]<br>[[Hawk Manor]], [[Universe B (Our Strange and Wonderful House)|unnamed universe]] | ||
| length= 60 chapters<br>32 appendices | | length= 60 chapters<br>32 appendices | ||
| writer(s)= <small>'''''Welcome!'' & Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4:'''</small><br>[[Zxvasdf]]<br><small>'''Chapter 5:'''</small><br>[[Elsha Hawk]]<br><small>'''Appendix 5-I:'''</small><br>[[ALRO613]]<br><small>'''Appendix 5-II:'''</small><br>[[R3mix]]<br><small>'''Chapter 6:'''</small><br>[[Jay Dee]] | | writer(s)= <small>'''''Welcome!'' & Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 7:'''</small><br>[[Zxvasdf]]<br><small>'''Chapter 5:'''</small><br>[[Elsha Hawk]]<br><small>'''Appendix 5-I:'''</small><br>[[ALRO613]]<br><small>'''Appendix 5-II:'''</small><br>[[R3mix]]<br><small>'''Chapter 6:'''</small><br>[[Jay Dee]]<br>Chapter 8:<br>[[H.S. Wift]]<br><small>Chapters 9, 10:</small><br>[[Robert Quick]] | ||
| artist(s)= | | artist(s)= | ||
| dates= May 27th, 2011 - September 10th, 2014 | | dates= May 27th, 2011 - September 10th, 2014 | ||
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==Contents== | ==Contents== | ||
===Plot=== | === Plot=== | ||
====Welcome!==== | ====Welcome!==== | ||
[[The Architect|An individual]] welcomes a group of writers who have gathered to participate in a “challenge”. They explain that what they are actually to do is to participate in the creation of a [[The Strange and Wonderful House|Strange and Wonderful House]], whose blueprints, infinite in proportions, are currently blank. | [[The Architect|An individual]] welcomes a group of writers who have gathered to participate in a “challenge”. They explain that what they are actually to do is to participate in the creation of a [[The Strange and Wonderful House|Strange and Wonderful House]], whose blueprints, infinite in proportions, are currently blank. | ||
====Chapter 1: The Courtyard==== | ==== Chapter 1: The Courtyard==== | ||
After stepping through a portal of some sort, an individual finds themself in [[the Courtyard]] of [[the Strange and Wonderful House|the House]], facing the gates of the estate proper, which appear to be made of a glowing golden metal, but are actually made of transparent tubing containing a multitude of luminous insects milling about, fulfilling unknown tasks. The gates open of their own accord and the visitor steps through as the portal sings behind them. | After stepping through a portal of some sort, an individual finds themself in [[the Courtyard]] of [[the Strange and Wonderful House|the House]], facing the gates of the estate proper, which appear to be made of a glowing golden metal, but are actually made of transparent tubing containing a multitude of luminous insects milling about, fulfilling unknown tasks. The gates open of their own accord and the visitor steps through as the portal sings behind them. | ||
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The visitor reaches the Anteroom, lit by a chandelier on which small groups of [[Fae|fairies]] dance. A pillar of cold light, burning [[fairy dust]], occupies the centre of the circular room, a portal that will transport whoever steps into it to the room of their choice. The visitor steps into the light. | The visitor reaches the Anteroom, lit by a chandelier on which small groups of [[Fae|fairies]] dance. A pillar of cold light, burning [[fairy dust]], occupies the centre of the circular room, a portal that will transport whoever steps into it to the room of their choice. The visitor steps into the light. | ||
====Chapter 3: The Pleasure Pad of Federico Ruiz==== | ====Chapter 3: The Pleasure Pad of Federico Ruiz ==== | ||
[[The Pleasure Pad of Federico Ruiz]], the decadent domed leisure area overseen by [[Federico Ruiz]] is described. | [[The Pleasure Pad of Federico Ruiz]], the decadent domed leisure area overseen by [[Federico Ruiz]] is described. | ||
====Chapter 4: The Catamaran Loos of Oceania==== | ====Chapter 4: The Catamaran Loos of Oceania ==== | ||
[[The Catamaran Loos of Oceania]], [[The Strange and Wonderful House|the House]]'s bathroom, which contain an entire ocean, with the actual plumbing in the centre of a boat sailing the quiet nightly sea, are described. | [[The Catamaran Loos of Oceania]], [[The Strange and Wonderful House|the House]]'s bathroom, which contain an entire ocean, with the actual plumbing in the centre of a boat sailing the quiet nightly sea, are described. | ||
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[[Elshanor]] steps into [[the Library (Our Strange and Wonderful House)|the Library]] of [[the Strange and Wonderful House]], immediately noticing that the floorboards are as creaky as the doors of Hawk Manor's library. She walks through the Library to find a metallic door curiously ill-fitting for the decor of the room, which turns out to be the gleaming library bathroom, impossibly spotless, in stark contrast to the dust of the library. She notices a paperback copy of ''[[Les Misérables]]'' and debates taking it back to its proper place, but her musings are interrupted by another creaking sound in the room behind her. | [[Elshanor]] steps into [[the Library (Our Strange and Wonderful House)|the Library]] of [[the Strange and Wonderful House]], immediately noticing that the floorboards are as creaky as the doors of Hawk Manor's library. She walks through the Library to find a metallic door curiously ill-fitting for the decor of the room, which turns out to be the gleaming library bathroom, impossibly spotless, in stark contrast to the dust of the library. She notices a paperback copy of ''[[Les Misérables]]'' and debates taking it back to its proper place, but her musings are interrupted by another creaking sound in the room behind her. | ||
====Chapter 6: The Theater Room==== | ====Chapter 6: The Theater Room ==== | ||
[[The Theater Room]] is described. It is a haunting place where the unwary visitor may lose their freedom and sanity as they find themselves drawn into the dance of the inhuman “players” wearing human faces, with them soon performing for the players' amusement instead of the players for the visitor's — and in more permanent terms, the players are “always looking for fresh blood”. | [[The Theater Room]] is described. It is a haunting place where the unwary visitor may lose their freedom and sanity as they find themselves drawn into the dance of the inhuman “players” wearing human faces, with them soon performing for the players' amusement instead of the players for the visitor's — and in more permanent terms, the players are “always looking for fresh blood”. | ||
===Worldbuilding=== | ====Chapter 7: The Coat Room==== | ||
The coat room allows visitors to entrust their outdoor garments to dwarves (or possibly giants), allowing them to move about the House unhindered and retrieve their gear upon departure. To venture into the storage areas alone is… unwise. | |||
==== Chapter 8: The Closet in the Sitting Room==== | |||
The narration promises that inside the closet is a portal to [[Narnia]] – and indeed that one could get to Narnia from any closet in the House. Perhaps it is true. | |||
That in the writings of C.S. Lewis the entry to Narnia was a unique item, and a free standing wardrobe rather than a closet, is not addressed. | |||
====Chapter 9: Hallway – PI3==== | |||
Served by a lift – not an elevator, just a vertical shaft with a very forceful updraft – this organically curved hallway provides access to the Observatory. | |||
====Chapter 10: The Observatory==== | |||
Overseen by an AI, this high tech space allows residents of the House to observe “space <i>and</i> time.” Perhaps that means looking at objects in other locations and eras; perhaps it means observing spacetime itself. | |||
What they do with the lasers is never explained. | |||
===Worldbuilding === | |||
====Jenny Everywhere==== | ====Jenny Everywhere==== | ||
''to be written'' | ''to be written'' | ||
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''to be written'' | ''to be written'' | ||
====Universes==== | ====Universes ==== | ||
* Most of the story takes place in [[the Strange and Wonderful House]], which is “larger than most universes” and seems to connect to a number of alternative realities, though its exterior is physically located in [[Universe A (Our Strange and Wonderful House)|a universe]]. | *Most of the story takes place in [[the Strange and Wonderful House]], which is “larger than most universes” and seems to connect to a number of alternative realities, though its exterior is physically located in [[Universe A (Our Strange and Wonderful House)|a universe]]. | ||
* [[Elshanor]] and [[Alastair (Our Strange and Wonderful House)|Alastair]] are from [[Universe B (Our Strange and Wonderful House)|another universe]]. | *[[Elshanor]] and [[Alastair (Our Strange and Wonderful House)|Alastair]] are from [[Universe B (Our Strange and Wonderful House)|another universe]]. | ||
====Other==== | ====Other ==== | ||
* [[Will-o'-wisp]]s are found in [[the Courtyard]]. | *[[Will-o'-wisp]]s are found in [[the Courtyard]]. | ||
* [[The Pleasure Pad of Federico Ruiz]] is compared to “a pearl on the red rock of [[Mars]]”. | *[[The Pleasure Pad of Federico Ruiz]] is compared to “a pearl on the red rock of [[Mars]]”. | ||
* The wealthy and decadent residents of the Pleasure Pad relax on “large cushions embroidered from the silk of mutated spiders”. | *The wealthy and decadent residents of the Pleasure Pad relax on “large cushions embroidered from the silk of mutated spiders”. | ||
* According to the author's comments of Chapter 3, the Pleasure Pad is not actually “the seedy underbelly of the House” because that name is better applied to “[[The Illegal Underground Greenhouse|the illegal underground greenhouse]]”. | *According to the author's comments of Chapter 3, the Pleasure Pad is not actually “the seedy underbelly of the House” because that name is better applied to “[[The Illegal Underground Greenhouse|the illegal underground greenhouse]]”. | ||
* Among the books kept in [[Hawk Manor]]'s library are various [[Ficlets]] works and the ''[[Ficlinomicon]]'', which needs to be kept in a case wrapped with chains. | *Among the books kept in [[Hawk Manor]]'s library are various [[Ficlets]] works and the ''[[Ficlinomicon]]'', which needs to be kept in a case wrapped with chains. | ||
* Walking back into her dusty, long-abandoned home makes [[Elshanor]] feel “like [[Pip]] in ''[[Great Expectations]]''”. | *Walking back into her dusty, long-abandoned home makes [[Elshanor]] feel “like [[Pip]] in ''[[Great Expectations]]''”. | ||
===Continuity=== | ===Continuity=== | ||
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[Overgrown (short story)|Overgrown]]'' served as an epilogue to the story (and is incorporated as such into the 2022 edition). It did not take place in or near [[the Strange and Wonderful House]], but revealed the fate of the [[House seed]] introduced in ''[[The Fall of the Strange and Wonderful House (short story)|The Fall of the Strange and Wonderful House]]'' as the last remnant of the House after its destruction. | *[[PROSE]]: ''[[Overgrown (short story)|Overgrown]]'' served as an epilogue to the story (and is incorporated as such into the 2022 edition). It did not take place in or near [[the Strange and Wonderful House]], but revealed the fate of the [[House seed]] introduced in ''[[The Fall of the Strange and Wonderful House (short story)|The Fall of the Strange and Wonderful House]]'' as the last remnant of the House after its destruction. | ||
==Behind the scenes == | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
===Read online=== | ===Read online=== | ||
The original prose pieces making up ''Our Strange and Wonderful House'' can be found [https://ficly.com/challenges/953/ on Ficly], although a number of Appendices and a handful of Chapters are not listed as part of the Challenge and must be sought out individually. The 2022 annotated, collected ebook edition of ''Our Strange and Wonderful House'' can be [https://issuu.com/goblinstudios/docs/our_strange_and_wonderful_house read online for free on Issuu] or downloaded for free as [https://www.mediafire.com/file/oais9prwch04of6/Our_Strange_and_Wonderful_House.pdf/file a PDF] or [https://www.mediafire.com/file/an9pv2bzkbgihw7/Our_Strange_and_Wonderful_House.epub/file an ePub]. | The original prose pieces making up ''Our Strange and Wonderful House'' can be found [https://ficly.com/challenges/953/ on Ficly], although a number of Appendices and a handful of Chapters are not listed as part of the Challenge and must be sought out individually. The 2022 annotated, collected ebook edition of ''Our Strange and Wonderful House'' can be [https://issuu.com/goblinstudios/docs/our_strange_and_wonderful_house read online for free on Issuu] or downloaded for free as [https://www.mediafire.com/file/oais9prwch04of6/Our_Strange_and_Wonderful_House.pdf/file a PDF] or [https://www.mediafire.com/file/an9pv2bzkbgihw7/Our_Strange_and_Wonderful_House.epub/file an ePub]. | ||
