Article 30086 of alt.toys.transformers: Path: madeline.INS.CWRU.Edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!pravda.aa.msen.com!cssun.mathcs.emory.edu!swrinde!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in2.uu.net!news2.digex.net!digex.net!not-for-mail From: thenixtr@acy1.digex.net (The Nixtr) Newsgroups: alt.toys.transformers Subject: FANFIC: CLASTER BLUES, PART 5 (of 5) Date: 19 Apr 1996 20:18:28 -0400 Organization: The Morency Universe Lines: 93 Message-ID: <4l9agk$4d3@acy1.digex.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: acy1.digex.net Part 5. I start to run through the door of the Kenner conglomerate building. After all, those doors are too small for us robots. They're so cyber-unfriendly and humanocentric! They deserve it. I go through the hallway firing Megatron at anyone in my way. Yes! Megatron says. Release you anger! Let your feelings run through you! Give in to the dark side of the Force! Alpha Trion never told you what happened to Dion in War Dawn. I tell Megatron he killed him. He says, no. I AM DION. Perhaps in this moment of despair I'd cling to an theory that my old-time friend was still alive. After all, his death was never implied. Anyway, I manage to step on anyone who manages to escape Megatron's volley. And then I storm into the Boss' office. I aim my gun. Wait! the executive shouts! It's not my fault! I'm a victim of circumstance! There are more little boys than there are hardcore Transformer fans! I get ready. I aim. I fire... * * * Optimus Prime focused upon the flaming projectile as it speeded away. The meteoroid plunged through the depths of Earth's atmosphere, becoming nothing more than a burned-out cinder. That's what I would do. Yes, if I weren't such an Autobot, I'd just go ballistic. But, everything seems to have a beginning and an end. Yes, life is so short, as the life of the meteor reached a violent conclusion. But, alas, I seem to be the exception. Not only does my life seem eternal, but unlike humans, whose thoughts travel along their nervous system at a mere couple of humdred miles per hour, the thoughts of a Transformer travel at one-sixth the speed of light. So within one second I live a lifetime; I can think enough in so short a time to write a story. And with all my perennial questioning, I am captive of my own mind. It is ironic, that while others seek to escape their mortality, I lament my apparent immortality. I guess I should stop thinking and accept the notion That I will be Optimus Prime forever... At that moment, Optimus Prime became Optimus Primal. Discussion Questions: 1. The previous work is a satire (see glossary.) The introduction, for example, is a based of an introduction to a book by a famous Science Fiction writer. Do you think the author of this satire had one original thought? Do you think the humor was subtle, or that the story was just plain unfunny? Why? 2. The point of view (see glossary) of this story changes drasticly between third-person and first-person, and back to third-person. Does this make a contemporary statement on literary deconstructionalism? If so, what? Or do you think that perhaps the author didn't know what he was doing? 3. What is the time span of this story? Does it really matter? Why or why not? Certain aspects of this work is inspired by post-World War I surrealism (see glossary), such as Arp and Dali. If they were alive today, what do you think they would do to the author? 4. Explain the significance, if any, of the meteoroid. Is the meteoroid a foreshadowing (see glossary) of things to come, or a flashback (see glossary) of past events? Or is the fate of the meteoroid a metaphor (see glossary) for the story's demise? 5. Did the ending make sense to you? Why not? If you could change the ending, what would you do to improve the story? If you could change the story, how would you improve it? Was the story really of any social significance? Why not? What does this tell you about the author? -- The Nixtr *** Transformer fan *** Abortionists make a killing in the market ! SCAM ARTIST: Karbnkle@mail.dwx.com (he's a liar, theif, cheat) Not for the normal: http://www.acy.digex.net/~thenixtr/nick0000.html