Chapter 3 of The Heart's Landscape is up.

[tocryabout]

"Legal Age Life at Dépanneur" is up. It's a long one, at 8,500 words, but it has an explosion in it.

[Read from the beginning.]

I should mention (somewhere, anyway) that I'm using the Ultimate version of Jean-Paul's backstory, more or less -- I find it more believable than the Alpha Flight version, especially since we really don't have violent separatistes anymore. Jeanne-Marie and Jean-Paul have been separated since the death of their parents, but Jean-Paul was adopted by the Martins while Jeanne-Marie was sent to Madame DuPont's.

Comments

And an increadible explosion it was, too

[youngest-one.livejournal.com]

You really did a good job describing the four mutants' hectic night, and Jean-Paul's discovery of his powers. His prickly, obsessive compulsive nature shone through, and I look forward to reading more about him in the future.

Paul trying to psyche Joel up while Joel's worrying about money was humorous and touching, and the three mutants at the house recieved some interesting development. The government's response to mutants is sad, but very realistic and well done.

Really he should talk to Jeanne-Marie, even though she couldn't seem to talk to him for more than ten minutes without looking like she wanted to pepper spray him.

*snicker* That says a lot about Jeanne Marie, in just one sentance.

Re: And an increadible explosion it was, too

[to-cry-about.livejournal.com]

Ah, the Beaubiers. The Quiet Revolution summed up in two half-elven mutants. (Not that I'm touching the elf thing. Oy.)

This thing is probably going to have the largest cast of anything I've written, actually. I like to keep that stuff minimal, but this story already has shown a tendency to sprawl.

Re: And an increadible explosion it was, too

[youngest-one.livejournal.com]

The Quiet Revolution?

You're doing fine with a large cast.

Re: And an increadible explosion it was, too

[waterstrider.livejournal.com]

The Quiet Revolution refers to the 60s in Quebec, when Premier Maurice Duplessis was voted out and Jean Lesage came in. Duplessis's corruption had been propped up by the Catholic Church, so in the 60s and 70s the Church took a big hit. There was a conflict between sexuality (and liberal values in general) and religious social conservatism, which Jeanne-Marie/Aurora sums up nicely, and a rising desire to be "masters in our own house" -- to have independence and self-government, which I think is symbolised by Jean-Paul's Quebecois nationalism and perceived arrogance.

I don't know if Byrne intended this kind of social commentary or not. My guess is he just absorbed it through the stereotypes, since he doesn't show much sign of being familiar with Quebec culture. Still, it's interesting.

The Quiet Revolution, more in depth (http://www2.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/events/quiet.htm).