The Proteans

As you will guess, George, I'm old enough to have lived through those ambiguous times, and find myself fascinated by your wry depiction of them and the characters involved.
"Involved" is literally correct. All are caught up in a revolution, both national and personal.
Who is exploiting or being exploited? Who is who? None of them know who they are any longer. Protean indeed
Not just the historical background but the on-the-spot presence of this extraordinary state of affairs is shown in a masterly, dramatic way.
In 1939-40 not much happened" We called it the "phoney war". Here we have the "phoney peace." So much was happening, about which we knew nothing. Now it has been told!
Just one thing needs trimming: "Aquinas", not "Acquinas"
Backed with pleasure, with 6 stars.
David Grant,
"Pompey Chimes"

There is bad, fair, good, compelling, excellent and hypnotizing.

This writing is hypnotizing!

Any member of this community that does not read this work is passing upon the chance of a lifetime. We pay thousands of dollars to listen to boring professors in English class while instead, we could simply read this!

I'll be back to comment when I have finished.

- The Proteans -

(Chapters 1-3)

I've enjoyed this a lot and I'm extremely impressed by it. There is a clear intellect running through the writing, although not as such to make the story impenetrable. The brief philosophical discussions between Zinser and his General, for example, are ep and full of wisdom but bite-sized and worked naturally into the story.

The cynicism and almost black humour of the characters and the events they encounter is also very well portrayed and satisfying. One would have to be cynical to try and make a go of black market trade in the aftermath of all the things that have happened in the country and there is a lot of material for the author to work through here, which he does with aplomb. There is even some well executed comedy bordering on farce in there - see the fate of the foreign minister in chapter three. I'm generally not a fan of farce but that it was wrapped in black humour in this case certainly made it a winner for me.

The immediate aftermath in Germany of the Second World War and the sense of confusion over identity and where to go is not something often explored, either in historial writing or in fiction. Anyone who has ever flicked onto The History Channel will know that Nazis sell and that's where the focus always lies. I can only think of Uwe Timm's fantastic 'The Invention of the Currywurst', 'The Reader', both book and film, and the German film 'Anonyma' as attempts to explore that immediate post-war period in Germany. The Proteans then is not in well-charted waters but it does a fantastic job as far as I can see.

As general remarks on the writing: everything is tight, the characterisation is exellent and the dialogue is often quite wonderful.

The only noteable critical point I'd make is that I did seem to be mixed up between whether we were dealing with Busch or Zinser for a while. For some time, I actually thought them the same person, not even noticing the name changes for some reason. There is a reasonale chance this could just be me being comletely daft but perhaps some more markers might be of use.

A minor point would be the conversation at the very start. It was a little difficult to get hold of a good sense of what was happening there. I couldn't picture where they were, whether they were speaking in person or on the phone etc. I don't think any major surgery would be required there but perhaps one or two clues to the reader might better set them into the story during that all important opening.

As I say though, my overall impression of The Proteans is an extremely positive one and the quality is certainly a cut above.

All the best with it,

Ross

I like your style. Tis like a lurcher after a rabbit. I will be back for more.

The Proteans

George Black
Zan..thank you for your thoughtful commentary. It deserves comment. I grew up during World War II, literally and figuratively; a teenager waiting to be drafted as my friends marched off to war and, in several cases, a soldier's death. I was lucky: the war ended a few months before I was draftable. Your commentary reminds me of just how much has been forgotten about a war that defined your life as well as mine. Even you, Zan, are indelibly marked by what happened to the world between 1939 and 1945. There was more to it than the Holocaust and the A-Bomb, believe me. The statistic of 20 million Russian casualties is almost beyond comprehension. The war in the Pacific was as brutal as the Middle Ages.

People are stereotypes. Nietzsche's comment on his own people is quoted for a reason. And prejudices do exist -- always have. The fracas over a mosque at ground zero is only the latest example. The Proteans, if you read on, is about post-war West Germany and the remarkably human accomplishments of a divided, confused and beaten nation state forced to redefine itself. There was no alternative: the Germans (the villains) had to change everything, including their cultural perspective. After sixty years, one can say that they have been remarkably, if not totally, successful. Although it opens with a couple of war scenes, the real story of The Proteans is about the lasting effects of war and what the human spirit is able to overcome.

George,
I think you're a good storyteller and I admire your skill and the level of research and work which would have gone into this impressive piece. I tend to shy away from the subject matter of war, especially the world wars, both as far as films and novels are concerned, but having said that, and having elected to do both ordinary and advanced level history at high school so many years ago, the facts pertinent to these wars are of course at the back of my mind - which are unforgettable - for traumatic reasons. I find the events making up the second world war epecially traumatic, considering the genocide of some six million jews. A book like yours is valuble for a number of reasons. It resurrects many useful issues. Your characters remind us that human beings were involoved, not simply statistics - and as we start following the life say of the twenty one years old Busch for instance, the moderm reader understands that history was/is something real and real lives conspired to create that history. A book like yours from my subjective perspective would be too painful to read. For one thing, I see many generalisations and stereotypical assumptions about peoples and nations. I know this is fiction of course, but when it is steeped in historical fact, sometimes lines are blurred and prejudices created through ignorance can easily be stirred. Issues become argumentative and heated. Yet, there is value to this as well because it is through this sort of medium that humans can see themselves. Having said that, I don't think, for the reasons I've said, I can read an entire book on this subject. It's no reflection on your skill as a storyteller or writer. In fact, the writing is quite impressive and your characters very credible. I wish you the best of luck in finding a publisher. (Just one tiny insignificant nit - "who;ll" at the very start needs to be fixed simply because this stands out as a defect at the very beginning and can be off-putting - no big deal, but just wanted to mention it in case you wanted to know.)

The Proteans

George Black

George,
I think you're a good storyteller and I admire your skill and the level of research and work which would have gone into this impressive piece. I tend to shy away from the subject matter of war, especially the world wars, both as far as films and novels are concerned, but having said that, and having elected to do both ordinary and advanced level history at high school so many years ago, the facts pertinent to these wars are of course at the back of my mind - which are unforgettable - for traumatic reasons. I find the events making up the second world war epecially traumatic, considering the genocide of some six million jews. A book like yours is valuble for a number of reasons. It resurrects many useful issues. Your characters remind us that human beings were involoved, not simply statistics - and as we start following the life say of the twenty one years old Busch for instance, the moderm reader understands that history was/is something real and real lives conspired to create that history. A book like yours from my subjective perspective would be too painful to read. For one thing, I see many generalisations and stereotypical assumptions about peoples and nations. I know this is fiction of course, but when it is steeped in historical fact, sometimes lines are blurred and prejudices created through ignorance can easily be stirred. Issues become argumentative and heated. Yet, there is value to this as well because it is through this sort of medium that humans can see themselves. Having said that, I don't think, for the reasons I've said, I can read an entire book on this subject. It's no reflection on your skill as a storyteller or writer. In fact, the writing is quite impressive and your characters very credible. I wish you the best of luck in finding a publisher. (Just one tiny insignificant nit - "who;ll" at the very start needs to be fixed simply because this stands out as a defect at the very beginning and can be off-putting - no big deal, but just wanted to mention it in case you wanted to know.)

You make Germany intresting. style fits the story real well.

I invite you to read or comment on The Rebel

God Bless,
Chipper

Hi George, The time you’ve chosen to write about is fascinating. Zinser’s background and his advantages through his wife are very believable while the strength of the bank from an American view is as intriguing. The conflict between Busch and Zinser seems to begin another possible shake-down where one German's background could threaten another’s – only the opposite of the Nazi system. The dialogue was pretty wild but I certainly wouldn’t know – there seems to be so much fear in German hierarchies. These are well-depicted characters and the scene in the woods is also choice. Shelved – Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

The Proteans.

The novel is unusual due to its setting and the time-frame. The effectiveness of the dialogues challenges the need for narrative, which, in itself, is tightly controlled, stamped by strikingly drawn characters. Structurally, the readbacks and chronology are kind to the reader.

You might though, when you have a minute, tidy up some typos in the first two chapters: assassin's bulled; who let’s me forget? GI’s on leave etc. They also crop up later on in the manuscript.

Backed.
Azam Gill
“Blasphemy!”

05 August 2010
The Proteans, the meaning of which I freely admit I had to look up, has the perfect hook for me in a pitch that is a story in itself. I admit to a personal bias when I say that the novel that follows is superlative in all aspects. I am easily impressed by skilful dialogue that conveys the attitudes, temperament and virtues/vices of two unknown players with the minimum of effort. I was bowled over by the creative skill used to construct a negotiation that is realistic, credible and portrays the relationship between two nationalities, one 'victor' not quite magnanimous and one 'defeated' but certainly not cowed, both with 'bend the rules', if not downright criminal, tendencies. I cannot understand why this work is not higher in the rankings after the length of time on this site. Wholeheartedly BACKED. Robert Davidson. The Tuzla Run

I do like Nietzsche's quote as well as what I have read so far. You have crafted a most interesting storyline and your character development of Michael is well done. Your descriptive writing makes your work a pleasure to read. Backed.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

chapter 13. This reads very well and I had little trouble in working out what was going on from this far in. You do dialogue very well, with the nuances of speech that make it convincing. How soon we forget! I felt that I knew your characters, even Lotte and Christa, very well very quickly. I liked the snappy style, noexcess baggage here. Not my usual cup of tea but an engaging read nevertheless.
Jim Darcy
The Firelord's Crown

This story is very well written. You have a great style of writing. The dialogue in the beginning is good and reads like a script but without the setting, i feel like something is missing. This is the only part of the story that I have questions about, but it is important since it the opening for the story. Sometimes it is good to leave things to the reader's imagination but with this type of story (and this is just my opinion) I think that you need to lay a foundation, scenery, or something to go along with the dialogue. Where are they? Are they in the field? Lying down, sitting? What are they doing there? Who is the other guy - the non American?
Did you intend the dialogue part to be a prologue? I ask because there is no year associate.

“Ever think your phone might be tapped?"
“Yeah. Call me Superman."
“What's that supposed to mean?"
“Don't you Krauts read comic books?"
“Not since you banned Mein Kampf."

They're on the phone. The American is obviously in a phone booth for security reasons. This scene is nothing more than a mood setting device; a "feeling for the moment" right after the war when "anything goes" describes Germany best. I felt that any kind of narrative would break the tension. As you know, the novel itself really starts immediately after this scene -- so, yes, it is a kind of prologue -- and the novel returns to this moment in time at its end -- some fifty years later. The black market petrol deal the two in the discuss actually takes place a couple of chapters into the narrative, so the reader meets these two anonymous speakers.

I fought myself for a long time about this opening scene. Right? Wrong? A gimmick? In the end, I felt comfortable with it. For what it's worth, when I decided I had to write a book about Germany and the Germans, I had no idea of where to start. I knew what I wanted to write about, but had no idea how to frame it. I sat down to write something just to start -- and these two guys started talking.

Thanks for taking the time and for your thoughtful comment. I appreciate both enormously. It's not a particularly "easy" book.

This story is very well written. You have a great style of writing. The dialogue in the beginning is good and reads like a script but without the setting, i feel like something is missing. This is the only part of the story that I have questions about, but it is important since it the opening for the story. Sometimes it is good to leave things to the reader's imagination but with this type of story (and this is just my opinion) I think that you need to lay a foundation, scenery, or something to go along with the dialogue. Where are they? Are they in the field? Lying down, sitting? What are they doing there? Who is the other guy - the non American?
Did you intend the dialogue part to be a prologue? I ask because there is no year associate.

Your theme of post-war survival in Germany puts me in mind of a book I just read--The Dark Room, by Rachel Seiffert. I think that by dealing with a lot of dialogue in these first sections, you immediately do what Seiffert does well, which is to embody the effects of the war in a personal way, through characters who are immediately human to us. Well done, I really enjoyed this.

---Mary
The Qualities of Wood

Not entirely my cup of tea but i am sure it would greatly appeal to the Boys Own brigade. Good luck, Anna

George - have dipped into The Proteans and feel sure this is a book that will go far, tight, pacey writing gives an insight into this period that I have not encountered previously. Backed with enthusiasm. Balepy (Freckles the Fawn)

Hi George,
The Germans are Proteans -- able to be what they must be -- very clever and the title of your book.

I liked both dialogues in the first chapter. The first between Michael and the GI sets the scene and reveals a deal going down.

The second between the General and Zinser depicts a sombre and resigned mood -- "Heil Hitler!" "I think we can do away with nonsense like that."

Then, we hear how Michael avoids serving due to his typing skills and eventually becomes a deserter.

A man with an eye for the future -- he chooses the American camp.

Great writing. Most enjoyable. Good luck.

Barry
Little Krisna and the Bihar Boys

Pretty interesting and engaging so far! I'm not much a reader of war novels but this one is holding my attention. It's well written and the pacing works perfectly. I can see you've put a lot of work into your book, it shows in the polished feel to it. I'm interested to read more and that matters in a genre I don't read much of! Good job and best of luck.

Missy

Thanks. If you do read on a bit, you'll see that it is not really a "war novel", rather the story of a group of Germans adapting to the circumstances of postwar Germany as it works its way back into the world. The "war" scenes at the beginning are there to establish the character of the main protaganists. What follows is done in decades and goes up to the end of the 20th century. I do appreciate your comment -- and the fact that you've read enough of the book to make it.

Pretty interesting and engaging so far! I'm not much a reader of war novels but this one is holding my attention. It's well written and the pacing works perfectly. I can see you've put a lot of work into your book, it shows in the polished feel to it. I'm interested to read more and that matters in a genre I don't read much of! Good job and best of luck.

Missy

A powerful and intriguing tale, wonderfully executed.
Backed with pleasure! Good Luck!!
Frank.
You may also want to approach BJD (a big supporter of Sicilian Shadows) for a further possible backing of your book

George, I like the mix of narrative and dialogue. Nothing to nitpick in that first chapter.

Shelved with pleasure.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

This is going to be a classsic. Very amazing and entralling war story. You command of the language is perfect and well suited to this grand story.

Backed

What a truly amazing piece of prose. I enjoyed your pitch but it didn;t prepare me for the quality of your writing, the impeccability of your research and your sizzling dialogue. Infact, there were times there was so much dialogue, I was crying out for more descriptions. Then I got it. This is a truly original work and I wish you all the best with it.
Carl
The Time hUnters

I was not sure i would like this when i read the pitch, but decided to take a look, glad i did, enjoyed it alot, backed

alison

Backed. please read the interpreter, you will find American officeers, as in yours.

shah - the interpreter

Simply put, this one is just interesting. It seems to hold the line between fiction and non-fiction by moving the story along with an infusion of historical facts. While I never thought myself an expert of the period, I was pleased to find just how much new information I picked up here.

Lockjaw

Hello George, having lived in Germany for five years working for an American army newspaper, and being into the likes of Fassbinder and German history, I was drawn to your book.
It's superb. not just the story, but the writing is exquisite. It's the history of post-war Germany told through its main characters. It's how Germany crawled out of the rubble and re-sold its soul at a discount.
West Germany, at any rate, learned how to play the modern game once the Allies put it on an ASBO.
I knew both Germanies East and West, my only regret was not being there when the wall came down to join the celebration. That must have been some night in Berlin!
I particularly like the dialogue - it's noirish feel - the people's instinct for survival as the world keeps turning despite the Third Reich Gotterdammerung and how easily Germans adapted to the Second World Peace.
This is backed to the hilt! On my shelf, hope you upload the rest, I'd like to read it sometime.
Can you take a look at mine? Chris1

Nietzsche, ad-men and the ruins of Nazi Germany; sounds good to me. I was a touch apprehensive in the first chapter, with its long run of dialogue - and I still feel that in places it's overlong. After reading the first eight chapters or so, I still wonder whether it's necessary for it to be there - while it's nicely done, it's still technically an infodump. Perhaps a trim or the inclusion of description might ease it down the gullet?

But that aside; what we have here is an interesting and enjoyable read in an era that's recently gone out of fashion in literature (looking back twenty years ago, it was hard not to find a story set in Germany during the Cold War - now that's a Kalterkampf no one wishes to lean on). Busch is a good character, though I wonder whether the story's really about him or if he's just a foil for a story about Germany and (by proxy) human nature's ability to survive. My jury's still out on that one. I don't feel anything for him, unfortunately, and this tied in with its external viewpoint I never feel as though I SHOULD care about him either.

Dialogue is crisp, the descriptions are beautiful; the German is overused a smidgeon, and I wonder if it would be better to check to see if English language words might give the same effect. On the other hand, you've used some Britishisms where the original German would do better (like petrol rather than the more accurate 'benzin'). I counted two or three spelling errors per chapter, but nothing that a fine edit wouldn't catch or excise.

Unlike some other readers, I don't really see the Germans 'clichéd' by any real stretch of the imagination. You have a firm grasp of the history and the setting and it shines through in glimpses where the description overcomes the dialogue's clutches.

In summary: I'm going to need to read more to decide on it. I like the setting, and the idea, and the writing - but my jury's still out on the fact that the first couple of chapters feel more like vignettes than parts of a greater, longer story. That and there are some uncomfortable dumps of information that get in the way of the story. I wish you good luck on getting up those ranks with THE PROTEANS.

P.S. nice title!

The unusual title brought me here. This is a good read, I feel you write confidently and know what you are talking about. You have created a sense of time and place here, there are details weaved in that help to build the bigger picture and I can imagine the era well. You have a strong voice and I found your dialogue realsitic, it makes your characters all the more convincing. Michael is a well drawn character, his personality is easy to see from your writing, I like him. Hans, I like less, but then I think that's your point - he's not someone I'd like to meet. From my reader's point of view, I enjoyed this, it's involving and well written. Shelved on my rotating spot.
Bests,
AnnabelleP
(Adelaide Short)

Hi George.

Your pitch is interesting. You have well researched your topic and your descriptions remain consistent within the era. Your dialogue is assertive and bursting with personality. You do well with fully developing the characters, incorporating their motives, background and gestures. If I had to make a suggestion, it would be for you to begin describing the setting and characters during the initial dialogue. The tone is perfect for your intended audience.

Best wishes. Janet Marie

George,

I have read several chapters of your book now and found them intriguing, and mildly addictive.

You conjure the period very effectively, strong characters drive the action. Snippets of information are dropped in toshow that you have researched the subject matter thoroughly. I especially like the way these elements are used to progress the story and not just to add colour .

Dialogue and descriptions are good. Overall I enjoyed what I read and will be putting you on my shelf.

I found this to be an original human story which is a breath of fresh air in this fantasy filled site.

All the best
Stephen

Hello, George.

Just had a quick glance and this sounds very interesting. It actually sounds exactly the kind of thing my brother would like, so perhaps I'll have him take a look at it too! I would just do a quick spell check before you upload, as there's some ommissions/mistakes that could so easily be avoided without having to strain your eyes to do it and then you're more likely to get more constructive criticism on the style/pace/likeability etc than the actual make-up of the story.

Otherwise I like what I've read so far. There's loads of nice detail but it still reads at a nice pace; it's not overwhelming. I don't think it's dialogue heavy at all and wanted to read on, but then I have a love of details works. It just goes to show you can't please everyone. I might reconsider some more general tags as "the wall" might not draw many people to your work and that would be a shame.

Hope some of this helps.

Billie
XX

Hi George-I have read the first 8 chapters and enjoyed it very much. You have built the characters very well. I did see quite a few spelling and punctuation errors to correct but that is to be expected in an incomplete work. I did have difficulty with some (make that most) of the words in German since I don't speak or understand German. As example, in Chapter 8 the word 'schadenfreude'. You may want to add the English meaning if it can be done in a way to enhance rather than detract from the book. Keep up the good work. I look forward to reading the finished product.

Hi George-Added The Proteans to my watchlist and want to take the opportunity to thank you for your valued input.

George, this is great. You're writing about a fascinating period of history, and you do it with an authentic voice and serious knowledge.

A few edits in ch 1:
who;ll -> who'll
let's -> lets
knbd -> kind
no marching -> now marching
looked p -> up?

And a formatting problem - all your German words are big bold and italic, which makes them jump out of the page.

All fixable, of course. On my shelf.

Hi George,
Had been going to send you a 'swap-read' request - I'm trying to stay on eds desk and so need as many reads as possible this week - but ended up being seduced into just going ahead and reading now.
I'm not totally sure where you're going with this, so I'm just going to comment on the writing.
I would have liked a date for the opening dialogue - to set it in context as the other sections are .
However when I got into the following sections I romped through this - the characters coming alive for me, despite none of them appealing to me I did get a very clear sense of who they were and what motivated them.
Lots of ophrases / sentences that I found effective - a few examples - 'like any soldier Zinser was obsessed.... a General who required an audience.' / '..a healthy sense or irony is the essence... and a strong liver of course.' (I loved the occasional touches of dry humour) / 'invent a persona that guaranteed a permanent safe place' / 'A sudden battlefield assignment was a good way to settle old scores.' / 'He would become a good German just as easily as he had learned to type 50 words a minute.' / 'GIs wanted girls, a good time and Cuckoo clocks.' - Lovely touch.
This seems to me to convey a real sense of post-war Germany (a particular sector of it anyway) and the weaving of these two men plus Americans looks set to produce a fine novel.
Can't fault the writing. On my shelf.
Margaret
(I hope you will be able to take a look at Munro's Choice this week - I'd really appreciate it, Thanks, M.)

Hello George,

The pitch is excellent and the subject deep. However it is far too dialogue heavy and ping pong dialogue too which is ver hard to follow. You need a mixture of prose and dialogue. I stopped reading after the first page, and I suspect others will too.

But the idea is good and this could be turned into something special.

Best wishes, Joanna

Dear George,


In reading your pitch and synopsis, I realize we are dealing with something profound here. I am a plebian and admit I don’t know who Nietzsche was. The manner in which you have arranged your summary, your use of English, speak to me of knowledgeable heavyweight.

I have two gripes. Sudden and suddenly are used so often and so gratuitously to create sensation, that I think they spoil the feel you create. If this writing were mine, I would dispense with them.

Oh sir, this reads well. Have a bit of trouble distinguishing between the American and the ex-Nazi voice, but let’s leave that for a while.

Jesus, you jump about. But overall, I’m thinking Freddie Forsyth here.

‘We Germans are protean…………’ That wad of copy, dialogue and narrative welded together. I’m probably wrong, because everybody does it, especially published novels, to save space. But I love to set each new piece of dialogue as a new para to give it visibility. Purely visual presentation, although I suspect I’m losing the battle.

George, superior, professional? What word do you want me to use? I’m thinking two things. This is more than polished. It came out of your finger tips correctly. And I can see you living it as you write.

You know your history. Stumbled a bit on those massive paragraphs of narrative. Won’t suggest they be thinned because the editor might adore them. I do see the strength in them.

Small thing, maybe generally. I believe this is so convincing that you may write without adjectives or adverbs. Busch moved with caution………. to my mind is powerful……….. and ‘great’ weakens your noun.

Likewise ‘very’ specific. Am I wrong in thinking specific is precise and there are no degrees?

Excellent. A bit wary of your big paragraphs of explanation. Yes, they do work, but I mention this because modern day publishers seem bent on making a quick buck with genre novels.

If this were my stuff, I would choose my publisher carefully.

Something else that occurs to me. Surely this has to be a Literary novel?

Powerful way of ending chapters and sections. Short, stunning statement presented as a one-line paragraph. Highly effective.

There are one or two other excellent manuscripts here. The Crown in the Heather and May 1812 come to mind. The Proteans ranks with the best on Authonomy.

I would ask Michael Sissons of PFD to look at this. Unless you’re thinking of a German publisher. Michael will want assurance that he is the first and has an exclusive on it.

You must realize of course that I went to farm school, not varsity and don’t know anything about writing.

Have fun with your work.

Regards,


Pierre.

Dear George,


OK, let's get the show on the road. Forget the watchlist. The Proteans went straight to my shelf.

Of course, I have to get into your work to be able to comment. Hee, hee. In a day or two.

But listen , boy. How about visual presentation? I mean, that great big enormous monstrous unchewable wad of a synopsis?

Hee, hee. Dontcha think three or four paras, nicely line-spaced between each is more inviting?

I'm the critic from hell. Half the bods on this site never speak to me again. Especially when I tell them to dump 20,000 words.

Coming from a hayseed who got learned at farm-school, it's infradig. But it's a helluva lot of fun.

See you soon and kind regards to you.


Pierre.

Dear George,


OK, let's get the show on the road. Forget the watchlist. The Proteans went straight to my shelf.

Of course, I have to get into your work to be able to comment. Hee, hee. In a day or two.

But listen , boy. How about visual presentation? I mean, that great big enormous monstrous unchewable wad of a synopsis?

Hee, hee. Dontcha think three or four paras, nicely line-spaced between each is more inviting?

I'm the critic from hell. Half the bods on this site never speak to me again. Especially when I tell them to dump 20,000 words.

Coming from a hayseed who got learned at farm-school, it's infradig. But it's a helluva lot of fun.

See you soon and kind regards to you.


Pierre.