Gideon

Dave Tallman · 11 Jan 2009, 13:44 · from 2009-January.txt.gz

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From: davetallman at msn.com (Dave Tallman)
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:44:25 -0700
Subject: (urth) Gideon
In-Reply-To: <00c801c971cd$0d0c15e0$09cf4a0c@rclackey>
References: <00c801c971cd$0d0c15e0$09cf4a0c@rclackey>
Message-ID: <4969F7B9.7030106 at gmail.com>

Roy C. Lackey wrote:
> At the start of the novel, Gid seems to be a pulp hero, but he faded out of
> the last quarter of the story. Reis started out as an old-time villain, but
> by the end of the story he seemed to be fighting the good fight, even though
> tainted by personal aggrandizement.
>   
Gideon's character, and Cassie's understanding of it, seem to be 
critical in understanding the end of the book. What is she hoping to 
achieve by visiting Woldercan? How much help does she expect from 
Gideon? How much will he give her?

Here are some hints:
1) Before Reis died, Cassie thought of Chase as a "good, good man" (p. 
202). (Gideon doesn't believe in telling people such things, but he 
chose not to contradict her).
2) After her return from exile, Cassie seems much more cautious and 
hostile concerning Chase. She "rehearsed a thousand times" (p. 293) her 
request for information from Miskatonic University.
3) Cassie received an welcoming ethermail from Chase, but it seems she 
might not have notified him she was coming if it hadn't been for the 
time paradox (p. 298).
4) She seeks independent advice on Woldercan from Klauser instead of 
relying on Chase.
5) Her final outbursts are focussed exclusively on Bill/Wally (p. 301).

I would say that her former trust in Gideon is gone. She will use him, 
if he lets her, to get back her mojo. Whether Chase helps or not, she 
will try to regain her power and the associated reality-warping 
abilities (documented in the "Cassie's mobile home" thread) to bring 
Reis back. She will be Venus to his Adonis if she can.

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