Comments on: A bit more Groan http://www.clusterflock.org/2007/03/a-bit-more-groan.html a site about everything Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:21:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sheila Ryan http://www.clusterflock.org/2007/03/a-bit-more-groan.html/comment-page-1#comment-6380 Sheila Ryan Thu, 08 Mar 2007 02:21:18 +0000 http://wp.patrickburleson.com/?p=4304#comment-6380 And then there are those <em>petits-fours</em> deposited on the stairs leading up to the lordly quarters guarded by Flay. Each emblazoned with an <em>S</em> for <em>Swelter</em>, each deposited closer and closer, night after night. And then there are those petits-fours deposited on the stairs leading up to the lordly quarters guarded by Flay. Each emblazoned with an S for Swelter, each deposited closer and closer, night after night.

]]> By: Wilson Lindauer http://www.clusterflock.org/2007/03/a-bit-more-groan.html/comment-page-1#comment-6379 Wilson Lindauer Wed, 07 Mar 2007 23:53:41 +0000 http://wp.patrickburleson.com/?p=4304#comment-6379 And that sums up so much of the appeal of Gormenghast, the Gothic Groteque, the impulse to titter in the face of the horrible. Nowadays, the cognoscenti prefer to call it po-mo, but it's as ancient as the the "in-jokes" in Homer and Aeschylus. But let's hear Swelter's address to his cleaver as he prepares what he thinks will be Flay's death blow. "Would you like to be wiped, my pretty one?" [Swelter's] voice said, as though certain that a reply would be forthcoming from the brutal head of steel. "You would, wouldn't you--before you have your supper? Of course. And how could you ever enjoy a nice warm bath with all your clothes on, eh? But I'll soon be washing you, little blossom. And I must wipe your face, dear; wipe it blue as ink, then you can start drinking, can't you?" He held the lean metal head at his bosom. "It's Just the thing for thirsty ones, my darling. Just the very nightcap." And that is why the very name "Abiatha Swelter" is a watchword for cosy horror. And that sums up so much of the appeal of Gormenghast, the Gothic Groteque, the impulse to titter in the face of the horrible. Nowadays, the cognoscenti prefer to call it po-mo, but it’s as ancient as the the “in-jokes” in Homer and Aeschylus.

But let’s hear Swelter’s address to his cleaver as he prepares what he thinks will be Flay’s death blow.

“Would you like to be wiped, my pretty one?” [Swelter's] voice said, as though certain that a reply would be forthcoming from the brutal head of steel. “You would, wouldn’t you–before you have your supper? Of course. And how could you ever enjoy a nice warm bath with all your clothes on, eh? But I’ll soon be washing you, little blossom. And I must wipe your face, dear; wipe it blue as ink, then you can start drinking, can’t you?” He held the lean metal head at his bosom. “It’s Just the thing for thirsty ones, my darling. Just the very nightcap.”

And that is why the very name “Abiatha Swelter” is a watchword for cosy horror.

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