[Report This]Date: 01 Dec 2011 23:48 Title: Căprul
This story reminds me - a lot - of one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes, The Obsolete Man.
The gist of it is - a totalitarian state broadcasts the execution of a person who is, to them, a total loose cannon. The "criminal" proves to be far braver and nobler than the state, which falsely prides itself on its courage and nobility. Essentially, the broadcasted execution proves that the Emperor has no clothes. It's a powerful image in the old show, and an equally powerful image in your story - and you achieve it with a beautiful economy of words.
Outstanding. 10.
Author's Response:
Thank you! :)
I don't think I'm familiar with that episode. My inspiration was fairly recent history of my own country and how true patriots were treated by Communist authorities (in fact from another country). Even some of tortures are real and not just a figment of my imagination.
Date: 11 Oct 2010 22:12 Title: Căprul
Wow. That's a powerful piece! Really strong and 'good' details of the torture the man endures. He shows a real strength of character whilst at the same time admitting the need to sleep, the pain from the spikes, the indiginity, the need to lie to himself to endure it all, and yet he does. Really well conveyed scene and sense of awfulness and dire, dire situation. Impressed. So much packed into a very tight and dense piece with a lot of heavy hitting stuff. Very well done.
Author's Response:
Thank you!
The tortures are the real thing; this is what the Stalinism had brought to countries of Eastern Europe. I am also sure that there were such brave people, who managed not to lose their dignity in spite of everything.
Thanks again for reading :)