Comments on Landless: #FridayFlash: Ridi, Pagliaccio

Interesting twist on the tears of a clown premise....

2010-02-10T21:26:52.091-05:00

Interesting twist on the tears of a clown premise.

Thanks for the weekend reads, guys, and for the gr...

2010-02-08T07:05:21.412-05:00

Thanks for the weekend reads, guys, and for the great comments. It's tricky to make something funny and sad at the same time. I'm still working out the bugs in that process.

Great fun read. What happens next, as others have ...

2010-02-08T03:01:36.621-05:00

Great fun read. What happens next, as others have pointed out, is interesting too. This guy could be the subject of a much longer piece of fiction I am sure. This is like a more humane take on the Joker. Great stuff.

Okaaay, so you haven't sold you soul to the devil,...

2010-02-07T23:04:00.611-05:00

Okaaay, so you haven't sold you soul to the devil, but are you sure you didn't rent it out by the hour? Whoa, that was a fabulous, sinister story. I tip my hat.

Nice take on the funny curse with en extra special...

2010-02-06T15:54:08.930-05:00

Nice take on the funny curse with en extra special helping of poison cup. A pseudocomatose effect is a great way to get someone to listen without laughing.

Your writing strengthens each week. A bold telling, this one.
-David G Shrock

That Mephistopheles is one tricky bugger. Excelle...

2010-02-06T14:55:53.830-05:00

That Mephistopheles is one tricky bugger. Excellent twists in this one Tony.

That was freaking awesome! Never saw it coming.

2010-02-06T12:05:04.089-05:00

That was freaking awesome! Never saw it coming.

Fabulous, Tony! The things we wish for... Great tw...

2010-02-06T11:46:07.050-05:00

Fabulous, Tony! The things we wish for...
Great twist.

Oh man, this was fantastic! And excellent flash. ...

2010-02-06T11:31:38.100-05:00

Oh man, this was fantastic! And excellent flash. While it could be a longer story, I don't think it needs to be.

You won't believe this, Eric, but I was just think...

2010-02-06T09:20:40.254-05:00

You won't believe this, Eric, but I was just thinking about that very thing this morning. He walks away, and the waiter finds a dead body at the table. What next?

The evidence will be overwhelming, but there's no prosecutor who would prosecute him, no judge who would sit dispassionately over him, no jury that would convict him. All he has to do is say, "Sure, I killed him. So what?" and it would be all over.

He'd be a free man... to return to the prison that he always carries with him.

It is a funnier King Midas story. Amusing stuff, T...

2010-02-06T09:15:40.569-05:00

It is a funnier King Midas story. Amusing stuff, Tony.

He can rule the world. He won't want to, but he wi...

2010-02-06T08:30:03.783-05:00

He can rule the world. He won't want to, but he will be elected.

Helen
Straight From Hel

At least if he gets charged with the murder, he ca...

2010-02-06T01:32:35.887-05:00

At least if he gets charged with the murder, he can probably talk his way out of it. Well told tale!

I suppose it IS nice telling someone your woes wit...

2010-02-05T23:27:44.152-05:00

I suppose it IS nice telling someone your woes without being laughed at. A thought-provoking idea of hell, right there.

Coffee anyone? Tony, this is evil, twisted, and d...

2010-02-05T20:03:43.285-05:00

Coffee anyone?

Tony, this is evil, twisted, and deliciously funny! I really enjoyed the dry roast of your story but I especially enjoyed seeing all the #fridayflash death-mongers placing thoughtful fingers to chins at the new vistas opened by neurotoxins. I don't think we've seen the last of that little meme! You are so responsible! Brilliant.
Simon.

Great job with the reveal Tony, and even better wi...

2010-02-05T19:17:30.586-05:00

Great job with the reveal Tony, and even better with the subtle clue of the cup. You know what? Your voice is becoming clearer each week and I find it quite enjoyable. Must be that post-op medication huh? :)
Truly fantastic work!

Tony - LOVE this! You had some great twists and tu...

2010-02-05T18:10:16.811-05:00

Tony - LOVE this! You had some great twists and turns here.

Hmmm...puffer-fish poison, didn't know it was so lethal - cool!

I really liked the idea of his deal with the devil - everyone laughing at what you say sounds great - but you brought out the repercussions of such a deal quite well.

Really enjoy it!

OOoo, a super villain in the making; Batman's next...

2010-02-05T16:45:20.776-05:00

OOoo, a super villain in the making; Batman's next nemesis! cool story.

There is a certain King Midas like quality here, i...

2010-02-05T16:36:18.153-05:00

There is a certain King Midas like quality here, isn't there? That didn't consciously occur to me as I wrote this. Interesting!

Thanks for reading, everyone!

Be careful what you wish for, indeed. :-) I guess ...

2010-02-05T14:39:28.316-05:00

Be careful what you wish for, indeed. :-) I guess puffer fish poison is a good way to make someone listen...ahem, quietly. Poor guy, great read though!

Tony! Wow. . . such a crazy story man. I was sur...

2010-02-05T14:18:21.666-05:00

Tony!

Wow. . . such a crazy story man. I was sure where this was going until the end and you got me - I should have seen something coming when he pushed his drink over to the other guy.

Great job here.

Jim

Tony - I love it. This is a wonderful yarn from j...

2010-02-05T13:56:30.002-05:00

Tony - I love it. This is a wonderful yarn from just a germ of an idea! Well done!

That's one hell of a curse - and to think he wishe...

2010-02-05T10:10:01.531-05:00

That's one hell of a curse - and to think he wished for it specifically!

Pufferfish poison - how utterly cool.

For me the teaspoon "scene" was more of a resigned sigh :-)

Thanks for all the great comments, guys! Anton: b...

2010-02-05T08:31:22.110-05:00

Thanks for all the great comments, guys!

Anton: believe it or not, I was trying to convey grief, loss, frustration, existential angst over the uselessness and unfairness of life, profound irritation at having been interrupted in his suicide, and tight control over years worth of subsumed rage suddenly brought to an explosive boil... all with the act of removing a spoon from a cup of espresso. Think maybe I was trying to say too much?

Jen: I can't say that I'm any legendary or satanically-enhanced comic, but I had the experience of trying to have a normal conversation, while all around me, people are leaning forward waiting for the punchline. When no punchline comes, they're automatically disappointed in what I said. Frustrating.

Whew... nice reveal. I went from amused to chille...

2010-02-05T04:45:27.546-05:00

Whew... nice reveal. I went from amused to chilled in a few sentences. And I like the way it's crouched in such a realistic idea-- I have noticed that famously funny people get laughed at even when they aren't particularly funny. I had never considered it was a curse! Well done.