{
  "export": {
    "source": "https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/4340",
    "note": "Exported from an unofficial mirror of a public mailing list. Copyright in each message remains with the person who wrote it.  Email addresses are obscured as `user at host`, the form the original archive published. This file was rebuilt from parsed fields rather than retained headers, so it is faithful in content but not byte-exact.",
    "addresses": "obscured as 'user at host'"
  },
  "archive": "urth",
  "thread": {
    "id": 4340,
    "subject": "Bubble Boy",
    "messages": 1,
    "voices": 1,
    "first": "2005-01-27T05:35:58+00:00",
    "last": "2005-01-27T05:35:58+00:00"
  },
  "messages": [
    {
      "message_id": "<NIBBJLHJDCMBDLKLILDIKEIGDEAA.nigel.aprice@virgin.net>",
      "from": {
        "name": "Nigel Price",
        "address": "nigel.aprice at virgin.net"
      },
      "date": "2005-01-27T05:35:58+00:00",
      "subject": "(urth) Bubble Boy",
      "in_reply_to": null,
      "reply_link": null,
      "blocks": [
        {
          "kind": "text",
          "depth": 0,
          "text": "Yes, I am still here, though I rarely have time to read everything on the\nlist these days, and even less time to contribute. When I have dipped into\nthe list of late, however, it has seemed a little strange at times.\n\nBut perhaps that's just me.\n\nAnyway, on the happily vague subject of other works which might or might not\nhave been inspired in some measure by the works of Gene Wolfe, has anyone\nhere seen the extremely silly but rather amusing film \"Bubble Boy\"?\n\nI couldn't prove it, and it might just be coincidence, but I'm convinced in\nmy own mind that there are a couple of episodes which were inspired by or\nintended as affectionate tributes to episodes in \"The Eyeflash Miracles\" and\n\"Peace\".\n\nAt one point the stranded Bubble Boy - an innocent youth abroad in a\ndangerous world through which he nevertheless passes with miraculous\nsafety - is rescued by (Hollywood's \"comic\" idea of) a Hindu ice-cream\nsalesman driving a bus-like icecream van with a statue of a Hindu deity on\nthe roof.\n\nElsewhere in the film, the Bubble Boy rescues the members of a freakshow\nfrom a circus train belonging to a diminutive but despotic show owner.\n\nHindus in busses? Disfigured freaks?\n\nAll right, I can see you're unconvinced. But when the film next comes round\non late night telly, give it a go and see for yourself then if there's\nanything to my wild theory of a lupine subtext.\n\nEven if you disagree, I think that you'll get a laugh or two, or maybe just\na chuckle.\n\nNigel"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}