This is awesome.

Posted March 16, 2008 12:54 PM by Rebecca

This is devilishly hard to get right, due to the sheer number of
possible combinations. But here's Gaius Baltar in the new BSG, circa
the miniseries, with mostly SF/F, since that's what on my bookshelf:

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: Three Hearts and Three Lions,
   by Poul Anderson (an ordinary man called to be a knight, in a world
   with allies and enemies he doesn't understand, and a woman he's unsure
   if he can love)



2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: Son of a Witch, by Gregory Maguire (a journey of self-discovery, learning what his powers are and what he can and, more importantly, can't do)



3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: Wintersmith, by Terry Pratchett (his past foolishness is transcended and he saves his people from the trouble he brought upon them)



4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: Macbeth (urged into rash action by the woman in his life)



5. This is behind him, where he has been: The Princes of the Air, by John M. Ford (bootstrapping himself up to a high level of credibility and respect, but it may be just a house of cards)



6. This is before him, where he is going: The Lies of Locke Lamora,
   by Scott Lynch (deception, collaboration and a whole lot of luck will
   help him survive, at the cost of nearly everything he's accomplished)



7. The Significator, defining the Querent: A Wizard of Earthsea,
   by Ursula K Le Guin (a young man proud of his talents, about to be
   forcefully humbled and sent on a long journey of redemption)



8. His environment: Amadeus (a famous favorite son in the eyes of the world)



9. His fears: Tau Zero, by Poul Anderson (due to his initial
   errors, he'll never be able to stop piling falsehood upon falsehood,
   because if he stops just for a moment, he'll be torn to shreds by
   people sensing a weakness)



10. Culmination, how it all comes out: (well, we don't know that yet, do we, but here's my guess, based on season 3) Space Cadet,
    by Robert Heinlein (He gets no special commendation and is cut down to
    size, but he's strangely happy with the results, because when it came
    down to it, he did his duty)

Posted March 16, 2008 2:53 PM by Jon Rosebaugh

Jon @2:

I'd have said it's devilishly hard to get wrong, since there are so many possible readings per book, and per Querent.

I really like your reading of Baltar. I had not thought of casting him in the light of either Macbeth or Ged, but both work.

Posted March 16, 2008 5:55 PM by abi

1. Covers him: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

2. Crosses him: Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

3. Crowns him: Moby Dick, by Herman Melville

4. Beneath him: To Build a Fire, by Jack London

5. Behind him: Holes, by Louis Sachar

6. Before him: The Secret Sharer, by Joseph Conrad

7. The Significator: Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger

8. His environment: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey

9. His fears: The Dark Half, by Stephen King

10. Culmination (presumably, metaphorically): The Stranger, by Albert Camus

Querent: an irrelevant man

Posted March 16, 2008 8:02 PM by Jack Kincaid

Thanks, Abi. I was really worried some of it was boring, which is an
easy way to get it wrong. Plus, my bookshelf is a bit limited. Anyhow,
the rest of you really need to step up here. I want to see some more.

Number Ten Ox, from Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart.

1. This covers him: The King of Elfland’s Daughter, by Lord Dunsany (the unpredictability that supernatural forces inevitably bring to ordinary places and people)
2. This crosses him: The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien (An ordinary person thrust into an extraordinary adventure despite his utterly prosaic goals)
3. This crowns him: The Books of Magic, by Neil Gaiman (Irrevocably changed by his experiences, he enters into a wider world, filled with more mystery and responsibility)
4. This is beneath him: A Wind in the Door, by Madeline L’Engle (A strange sickness that can only be cured by an even stranger quest)
5. This is behind him: Superman for All Seasons, by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (The strong silent guy from a quiet, unremarkable farming village)
6. This is before him: Sun of Suns, by Karl Schroeder (His simple quest will be transformed by the secrets of the world in which he lives)
7. The Significator: Lady of Mazes, by Karl Schroeder (The circumstances of his childhood having uniquely prepared him for the road ahead, he’ll go to any lengths to save his people)
8. His environment: My Neighbor Totoro, by Hayao Miyazaki (A seemingly ordinary Japan China with supernatural events behind every corner)
9. His hopes: Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett (He rights a great wrong, gets the girl, and learns where he belongs in the world)
10. Culmination: Neuromancer, by William Gibson (Few will ever understand, let alone know his part in it, but he has helped to bring about a profound change in the state of the world)

Posted March 16, 2008 8:44 PM by Jon Rosebaugh

Drat! Jon Rosebaugh and I were struck by the same idea, and he got there first.

I love Number Ten Ox.

Posted March 16, 2008 9:17 PM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

Well, far be it from me to deprive our host of some fun. Go ahead
and do a reading; I'm sure it'll be interestingly different from mine.

Posted March 16, 2008 9:20 PM by Jon Rosebaugh

Also, I'd considered doing one for Glinda from the Wicked musical,
but I don't own nearly enough books with excessive use of pink.

Posted March 16, 2008 9:54 PM by Jon Rosebaugh

I don't know enough about tarot to participate, but I look forward to the posts.

And may I say, about the original article, that the author managed to prove, in a mere handful of words, that he had neither read Starship Troopers nor seen it, a feat that is quite impressive.

Posted March 16, 2008 9:57 PM by B. Durbin

The book of Jonah:

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Part Two: Perestroika, by Tony Kushner. A man is called to be a prophet, but doesn't want to do it.

2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: Pacific Overtures, by Stephen Sondheim. A world-changing message must be delivered to an audience that doesn't want to hear it.

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: Looking Backward,
by Edward Bellamy. A society that had been in imminent danger of
destruction recognized its problems and bad habits in time to reform
itself and live happily ever after.

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: Creatures of Light and Darkness,
by Roger Zelazny. If the gods want to find you, they will. If they want
you to do something you don't want to do, "no" is an insufficient
answer.

5. This is behind him, where he has been: Harvey, by Mary Chase. A man's life is made more complex by communications received from an invisible being.

6. This is before him, where he is going: The Call of Cthulhu, by H. P. Lovecraft. An ocean voyage, culminating in terrifying encounter with oversized seafood.

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: Bartleby the Scrivener, by Herman Melville. He'd prefer not.

8. His environment: Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte. There are only three places you can go, and none of them constitute an escape from your constraints.

9. His fears: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. He strongly suspects that when he gets there, the inhabitants will kill him.

10. Culmination, how it all comes out: Being There, by Jerzy
Kosinski. His success takes him entirely by surprise. Afterward, he
retires to a secluded spot to contemplate the growth of plants.

Posted March 16, 2008 10:16 PM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

Really good game.

Posted March 16, 2008 10:37 PM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

Liberace!

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: The Human Stain, by Philip Roth. That's a hell of a secret he's trying to keep.

2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: Remake, by Connie Willis. Gotta dance!

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: The Faerie Queene, by Edmund Spenser. The personification of glory.

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: Edward II, by Christopher Marlowe. Some secrets equate to a red hot poker up the fundament.

5. This is behind him, where he has been: Wayne's World.
Pete: Hey, isn't "Milwaukee" an Indian name? / Alice Cooper: Yes, Pete,
it is. In fact , it's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que" which is Algonquin
for "the good land." / Wayne Campbell: I was not aware of that.

6. This is before him, where he is going: The Waste Land, by T S Eliot. Unreal city.

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: Orlando, by Virginia Woolf. The eternal flaneur.

8. His environment: Mad Men, by Matthew Weiner. Fifties America is changing, but it cannot change quickly enough.

9. His fears: The Year of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks. A story of the plague.

10. Culmination, how it all comes out: The Loved One, by Evelyn Waugh. Kitsch is the great leveller.

Posted March 17, 2008 12:16 AM by Yatima

Severian, the Torturer

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: The Second Law of Thermodynamics

2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: The myth of the Phoenix

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: “All You Zombies,” by Robert Heinlein

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: Collapse, by Jared Diamond

5. This is behind him, where he has been: “Lenore,” by Edgar Allen Poe

6. This is before him, where he is going: Farenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: Jesus Christ Superstar

8. His environment: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon

9. His fears: “The Id of Od,” by Alfred Bester

10. Culmination, how it all comes out: Genesis

Posted March 17, 2008 2:04 AM by heresiarch

I’ll do Luke Skywalker too.

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: The Wizard Of Oz. Eldritch forces contend for control of the world.

2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: The Wizard Of Oz. The querent is plucked from his home and voluntold to play a pivotal role in beating back the advances of evil.

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: The Wizard Of Oz. The survivors get to go home.

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: The Wizard Of Oz. An orphan reaches moral maturity by learning to assess the virtues and vices of those around him, and then himself.

5. This is behind him, where he has been: The Wizard Of Oz. An isolated rural upbringing with Auntie Em and Uncle Henry.

6. This is before him, where he is going: The Wizard Of Oz.
He seeks the aid of a reputed good power (the rebel alliance), which
can’t actually do much for him except encourage him to rely on the
virtue that is already within him.

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: The Wizard Of Oz. If you can’t see Luke = Dorothy, you need to retune your gaydar.

8. His environment: The Wizard Of Oz. On the road with the
Scarecrow (Chewbacca), the Cowardly Lion (Han Solo), the Tin Man (the
chilly Princess Leia), and Toto (R2D2 and C3PO). Somehow, Toto, I’ve a
feeling that traveling through hyperspace ain’t like dusting crops in
Kansas.

9. His fears: The Wizard Of Oz. This film was very early in Judy Garland’s career and she never made a more popular one. Will it be the same for Mark Hamill?

10. Culmination, how it all comes out: The Wizard Of Oz. A
good witch holds secrets about his destiny, which could have been
revealed much earlier but then the movie would have only been twenty
minutes long.

Posted March 17, 2008 2:22 AM by Allan Beatty

Allan Beatty @ 14: It works better with Harry Potter.

Posted March 17, 2008 7:42 AM by heresiarch

Heresiarch, I see what you mean, but I'm only in book 4 of Harry
Potter now and couldn't do it as well. Who do you see as the Scarecrow?

Incidentally, that's why Jaja Binks is essential to Episode One—he's the Scarecrow.

Posted March 17, 2008 8:07 AM by Allan Beatty

Actually, I meant Star Wars::Harry Potter. But I'd go with Ron.

Posted March 17, 2008 8:59 AM by heresiarch

Zounds! I'd really like to come up with some way to do a random
reading in this system. It seems that some truly revealing revelations
could come from taking a full inventory of someone's books, and then
laying them out.

Posted March 17, 2008 11:41 AM by Leah Miller

Getting my tv-series fangirl geek on for a bit, here's a literary tarot reading for Supernatural's John Winchester:

This covers him, defining the problem space: Moby-Dick.
Obsession, vengeance, and the quest for meaning. "Though in many of its
aspects this visible world seems formed in love, the invisible spheres
were formed in fright."

This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: The Count of Monte Cristo. Life and love destroyed; a new life devoted to the destruction of all that destroyed the old.

This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: Persuasion. After victory in war, homecoming and a reunion with the lost beloved.

This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: King Lear. When you get right down to it, it's always all about family.

This is behind him, where he has been: Our Town. The extraordinary blessing of an ordinary life and love.

This is before him, where he is going: The Grapes of Wrath. Driven from home by forces too large to control; finding trouble, and a cause to fight for, on the American road.

The Significator, defining the Querent: Beowulf. "Saving people. Hunting things." Hard-headed, hard-handed, and hard to get along with; nevertheless, a hero.

His environment: Wonders of the Invisible World. The very landscape is full of signs and portents, and the devil walks abroad.

His fears: The Waste Land. Broken images, a world without
meaning, old traditions corrupted and old rituals gone hollow. "I will
show you fear in a handful of dust."

Culmination, how it all comes out: The Vision of Piers Plowman (B-text, passus xviii). The Harrowing of Hell.

Posted March 17, 2008 11:56 AM by Debra Doyle

8. His environment: The Wizard Of Oz. On the road with the
Scarecrow (Chewbacca), the Cowardly Lion (Han Solo), the Tin Man (the
chilly Princess Leia), and Toto (R2D2 and C3PO). Somehow, Toto, I’ve a
feeling that traveling through hyperspace ain’t like dusting crops in
Kansas.

I seem to recall that Spaceballs made a riff on this at
some point (I forget exactly the context), only it was Barf the Mog/the
Chewbacca stand-in who was the Lion and Lone Star/the Han Solo stand-in
who was the Scarecrow. And of course the C3PO send-up was the Tin Man,
and the Leia send-up was Dorothy.

I need to watch Spaceballs again. All I really remember clearly is the "assholes" scene, starting with "I said across
her nose, not up it!" and ending with "Keep Firing, Assholes!" And
that's because I'd never seen my Dad laugh so hard in my life.

Posted March 17, 2008 11:59 AM by Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little

The self-help Tarot for our Prez, who has neither accomplished
anything for himself, nor shown much talent for introspection, and
would prefer literature-lite. I clipped some subtitles for length.

This covers him, defining the problem space: The Logic of Failure

This crosses him: You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way

This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: Enforcing International Law

This is beneath him, the foundation...which the querent has made his own: Laws of the Jungle

This is behind him: More Scams from the Great Beyond!: How to Make
Even More Money Off the Creationism, Evolution, Environmentalism,
Fringe Politics, Weird Science, the Occult, and Other Strange Beliefs

This is before him: What Color is Your Parachute?

The significator: The 12 Steps to Self-Parenting for Adult Children

His house: Self Help, Inc.: Makeover Culture in American Life

His hopes and fears: Burying the Secret

Culmination: The Last Self-help Book You'll Ever Need: Repress Your
Anger, Think Negatively, Be a Good Blamer, And Throttle Your Inner Child

Posted March 17, 2008 12:14 PM by mdlake

You know, this would almost be more fun if we didn't identify the
subject of the reading, and dropped clues in the explanations for the
books.

Posted March 17, 2008 12:20 PM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

Leah Miller @ 18:

You're right - it should be a Library Thing widget.

Thanks for this, Abi, it's fun. I'm going to play, I promise. I'm still thinking.

Posted March 17, 2008 1:13 PM by Sarah

Leah Miller @ 18:

Related to Sarah @ 23 (who posted while I typed this), apparently LibraryThing
has a "Random books from X's library" feature on members' pages. Take
the top book from the list for the first card, reload the page and take
the top book for the next card, etc.

It looks like it generally selects seven books, so one could do a reading using a seven-card spread without reloading the page.

Nifty game, abi.

Posted March 17, 2008 1:28 PM by Carol Witt

Heh. iTunes decided to play the filksong "Dumb Dumb Dorothy" while I was reading this.

Posted March 17, 2008 1:44 PM by Marc Moskowitz

Ooh, what a great game!

I wanna do everybody's favorite Captain, Mal "Tightpants" Reynolds of the Firefly-class transport Serenity.

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: Star Wars. Restless
young man from a poor rural planet finally finds a cause he believes
in: overturning the tyrannical Empire and reestablishing a democratic
Republic.

2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: Brave New
World, by Aldous Huxley. Society's elites spend all their time in
sybaratic excess, ignoring everyone outside their sphere, and are not
capable of rebelling because the very idea has been trained out of them.

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: Democracy
in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville. An inspirational account of a
democratic republic at its best, with its independent and self-reliant
citizens working within a largely libertarian framework.

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: All The
President's Men. It isn't the government's shocking deeds that'll bring
them down--it's the attempt to keep said shocking things secret.

5. This is behind him, where he has been: Apocalypse Now. War shatters you, and it's up to you to put yourself back together.

6. This is before him, where he is going: Mad Max. He must pick his way
across a dead world that is populated only by pockets of utter savagery.

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: The first Pirates of the
Carribean movie. (I haven't seen the others.) Dashing captain fancies
himself a bold, lawless rogue, but ultimately he is an honorable man.

8. His environment: the Horatio Hornblower novels, especially the early ones. They can't all
be sparkling-new first-rate ships-of-the-line. Somewhere in the fleet
there has to be a smallish ship that's seen better days but is still
seaworthy, still being a home for her crew.

9. His fears: Star Trek TNG episode "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1",
in which the Captain betrays his ship and his crew by joining the enemy.

10. Culmination, how it all comes out: Pleasantville. It isn't fast,
and it isn't easy, but, little by little, the people realize that a
world without sin can only be a colorless world; bit by bit, they begin
to question what they're told--and break free.

Posted March 17, 2008 1:49 PM by Nicole TWN

I'm having trouble figuring out how best to play along, despite the
explanation of the layout, but with any luck the glimmers will coalesce
into something non-boring.

In the meantime, am thoroughly enjoying the readings so far--kudos to Abi for starting things off!

Posted March 17, 2008 2:51 PM by Syd

Very good things here. I'm glad I finally got my finger out and posted this.

To the reluctant and the intimidated, I would point out that the
Celtic Cross is not the only Tarot layout there is. A very simple one,
for instance, uses three cards for past, present and future. A slightly
more complex one adds in the Querent's hopes and fears.

Or you could do a partial layout, just those cards that strike you
most strongly. Maybe a few people could come up with a collaborative
layout.

For the record, I know virtually nothing about Tarot divination, which is why I linked to that explanation in the initial paragraph. It's where I got my explanations.

Posted March 17, 2008 3:05 PM by abi

TNH @22:

You know, this would almost be more fun if we didn't identify the
subject of the reading, and dropped clues in the explanations for the
books.

That could be fun. I think we'd get some interesting "wrong"
guesses. I didn't want to do it from the start, because it was hard
enough to explain with the examples I chose.

I don't think we should require any specific approach, though.

Posted March 17, 2008 3:11 PM by abi

Heresiarch @17: I realized that's what you meant as soon as I logged off the computer and went to bed.

Nicole @20: That's the obvious match-up going by looks instead of
character. But I dare you to call Chewbacca a cowardly lion to his face.

Nicole @26: I'm now watching Firefly for the first time, and
your reading strikes me as very much on target. I'm glad your
culmination wasn't specific enough to give away a spoiler.

Posted March 17, 2008 6:29 PM by Allan Beatty

That's the obvious match-up going by looks instead of character. But I dare you to call Chewbacca a cowardly lion to his face.

Oh, I wouldn't! On the other hand, the designation rather suited Barf.

Posted March 17, 2008 6:51 PM by Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: Little Men Heroine of previous stories has grown older and gathered a group of teenagers around her to teach and train.

2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: Auntie Mame Unusual, eccentric woman with a fascinating past ends up raising a young boy through no fault of her own.

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: Ender's Game The young boy develops his amazing intelligence and reflexes and saves the world from invading aliens.

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: Who Fears the Devil? Dangerous forces abound, often in human form with strange unearthly powers.

5. This is behind him, where he has been: The Sword in the Stone Trained by a man with a strange relationship with time via unusual adventures.

6. This is before him, where he is going: Mary Poppins Training students in arcane knowledge via unusual adventures.

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: Tom Swift and the Visitors from Planet X Skilled in technology beyond the current level available on Earth and friendly with some non-human species.

8. His environment: The Children of Green Knowe Older woman, strange house, surrounded by children.

9. His fears: Farthing The darkness is insidious and everything she loves may be lost to it.

10. Culmination, how it all comes out: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Saving the world from the forces of evil with minimal casualties.

Um, I'm on vacation and probably won't be on the net much tomorrow
(though I'll be on for a little while longer tonight), but I'm happy to
let people guess. Probably someone will get it right away anyway, given
this crowd.

Posted March 17, 2008 7:37 PM by Hilary Heretzoff

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: Little Men Heroine of previous stories has grown older and gathered a group of teenagers around her to teach and train.

2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: Auntie Mame Unusual, eccentric woman with a fascinating past ends up raising a young boy through no fault of her own.

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: Ender's Game The young boy develops his amazing intelligence and reflexes and saves the world from invading aliens.

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: Who Fears the Devil? Dangerous forces abound, often in human form with strange unearthly powers.

5. This is behind him, where he has been: The Sword in the Stone Trained by a man with a strange relationship with time via unusual adventures.

6. This is before him, where he is going: Mary Poppins Training students in arcane knowledge via unusual adventures.

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: Tom Swift and the Visitors from Planet X Skilled in technology beyond the current level available on Earth and friendly with some non-human species.

8. His environment: The Children of Green Knowe Older woman, strange house, surrounded by children.

9. His fears: Farthing The darkness is insidious and everything she loves may be lost to it.

10. Culmination, how it all comes out: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Saving the world from the forces of evil with minimal casualties.

Um, I'm on vacation and probably won't be on the net much tomorrow
(though I'll be on for a little while longer tonight), but I'm happy to
let people guess. Probably someone will get it right away anyway, given
this crowd.

Posted March 17, 2008 7:39 PM by Hilary Heretzoff

Ack. I seem to have spit up a double post and I can't figure out how
to delete one. I also didn't notice that my name was spelled wrong.

Sorry about that, my internet connection went flaky.

Posted March 17, 2008 7:50 PM by Hilary Hertzoff

"There's Kaylee, the Skipper too,

The pilot, and his wife,

The courtesan,

and the rest...

Are here on Serenity's ship."

Posted March 17, 2008 7:51 PM by Allan Beatty

Hilary@33: Gur Fnenu Wnar Nqiragherf

I loves it, yes I do. I loves it, and am eversoglad that it's coming back! :)

Posted March 17, 2008 8:37 PM by Nicole the Wonder Nerd

#33: I'm with Nicole; it's Gur Fnenu Wnar Nqiragherf.

Posted March 17, 2008 9:16 PM by Debra Doyle

Nicole @36 - Yes, that would be it. See I knew someone would get it
immediately. Though you named the show rather than the character.

I'm actually going to get to see some of the sites where it and it's sister shows were filmed on Thursday. :)

I posted a link to this thread on my livejournal, and it seems to be
starting to mutate into a meme (one person has posted it as such (with
a link back here), and I imagine others will follow.

You have been warned. ;)

Posted March 17, 2008 9:22 PM by Hilary Heretzoff

Hilary@38Though you named the show rather than the character.

Yeah, I realized that after I hit "post"; thought about posting an addendum, then went "nah". :)



Have great fun in Pneqvss! *is envious*

Posted March 17, 2008 10:08 PM by Nicole the Wonder Nerd

TNH @ 22: "You know, this would almost be more fun if we didn't
identify the subject of the reading, and dropped clues in the
explanations for the books."

Agreed! Try this one:

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: “A Theory of Human
Motivation,” by Abraham Maslow (a step-by-step progression from beast
to man)

2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: On the Genealogy of Morals, by Friedrich Nietzsche (whither morality?)

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: Conan the Barbarian, 1982 (the exploited, captive hero achieves vengeance by destroying the society of his oppressors)

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: Moby Dick, by Herman Melville (vengeance above all)

5. This is behind him, where he has been: Being Poor, by John Scalzi (“Being poor is people thinking they know something about you by the way you talk.”)

6. This is before him, where he is going: The Talented Mr. Ripley, 1999 (the doors of high society opened to a clever imitator)

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: (There’s only one choice here, which would unfortunately give the whole thing away.)

8. His environment: Neuromancer, by William Gibson (the corporate dystopia)

9. His fears: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson (the internal battle between the lighter and the darker halves)

10. Culmination: The Communist Manifesto, by Karl Marx (the workers must seize the means of destruction)

Posted March 18, 2008 1:50 AM by heresiarch

heresiarch @#40: I think I'm wrong, but a fun wrong.

Ebl Onggl, sebz Oynqrehaare

Posted March 18, 2008 2:32 AM by Yatima

Which would make the Signifier V, Ebobg.

Posted March 18, 2008 2:33 AM by Yatima

heresiarch @40:

Thyyl Sblyr. (V thrffrq sebz #1! Naq gur erfg jrer pbasvezngvbaf. Zhfg or guvf lrne'f synfu bs oevyyvnapr.)

Posted March 18, 2008 2:36 AM by hedgehog

There are no rules, except one. Don’t be boring.

I am no where near well read enough to play this game in anything other than a boring way.

Posted March 18, 2008 2:57 AM by Greg London

Heresiarch@40: My first guess was Rqzbaq Qnagrf, gur Pbhag bs Zbagr
Pevfgb...but given hedgehog's (I think correct) guess, I suspect that I
hit on your Significator.

Posted March 18, 2008 5:43 AM by David Goldfarb

There are no rules, except one. Don’t be boring.

"No! Not the bore worm!"

Posted March 18, 2008 5:52 AM by Serge

OK, here's one:

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: the Book of Kings,
specifically the story of David (a young soldier rises through the
ranks during a great war)
2. This crosses him, showing the nature
of his challenge: Hamlet (a young man wrestling with external enemies
and his own psychological weaknesses)

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: Henry V (victory, peace, happiness, marriage)

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: The Secret
History (a man from humble origins who never feels quite comfortable as
he rises in status) (that works for either the Donna Tartt or Procopius
versions)

5. This is behind him, where he has been: Sense and Sensibility
(shabby-genteel, with more principles than money and more learning than
power)

6. This is before him, where he is going: Eastern Approaches (diplomacy, war and adventure)

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: La Geste de Roland
(ultimately, he's prepared to sacrifice whatever it takes to do his
duty)

8. His environment: The Name of the Rose (a strange, isolated community, governed by its own laws and customs)

9. His fears: Richard III (a man twisted by self-hatred becomes a villain indeed and ends by ruining all around him)

10. Culmination, how it all comes out: The Odyssey (travels over, wounds healed, content at home)

Posted March 18, 2008 6:01 AM by ajay

ajay@47: Bits of that put me strongly in mind of Zvyrf Ibexbfvtna,
but other bits (specifically "Beneath him" and "Behind him") don't seem
right for that guess.

Posted March 18, 2008 6:07 AM by David Goldfarb

Nicole @39. Looking forward to it. I was wanting to come here long
before the show started, and I just decided that this year I was going
to do it. I'm still a little surprised that all the pieces fell into
place, though.

Posted March 18, 2008 6:26 AM by Hilary Hertzoff

Yatima @ 41: Ooh, no. But your signifier you came up with is good enough that I think you ought to do a full spread for him.

hedgehog @ 43: Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Pretty cool that
you got it in one--I thought that there were a couple cards/books could
give it away on their own, especially Orvat Cbbe, ol Wbua Fpnymv, and
Gur Gnyragrq Ze. Evcyrl, but I didn't think #1 would do it!

David Goldfarb @ 45: "My first guess was Edmond Dantes, the Count
of Monte Cristo...but given hedgehog's (I think correct) guess, I
suspect that I hit on your Significator."

I'm pretty sure that the author has said that Fgnef Zl Qrfgvangvba is an adaptation of gur Pbhag bs Zbagr Pevfgb, so you weren't far off. (I'm sure you can see why I couldn't put in the Significator!)

@ 48: "ajay@47: Bits of that put me strongly in mind of Zvyrf
Ibexbfvtna, but other bits (specifically "Beneath him" and "Behind
him") don't seem right for that guess."

On the other hand, they work nigh on perfectly for Neny Ibexbfvtna. Maybe not? It's been too long since I've read them.

Posted March 18, 2008 7:49 AM by heresiarch

Neny Ibexbfvtna was my immediate guess for #47, too. I don't think
it fits Zvyrf, if for no other reason than the 'during a great war'.

Posted March 18, 2008 8:46 AM by Sam Kelly

@50-- the "behind him" works, but I don't think the "beneath him"
quite works for Neny; uvf srnef/funzr nobhg uvf naprfgel nera'g rknpgyl
nobhg ubj uhzoyr vg jnf(a'g).

My own guess for #47 would be Ubengvb Ubeaoybjre. However, I've only read two of them so I freely admit this might be stupid.

Posted March 18, 2008 8:52 AM by Betsy-the-muffin

52 nails it. I was tempted to use some of the Ibexbfvtna books, but
didn't in order to leave open the possibility that the answer was one
of them...

Posted March 18, 2008 9:30 AM by ajay

ajay:

I could have sworn your description would also work for Gur Byq Zna (Wbua Ebysr) sebz Fgveyvat'f Pbadhvfgnqbe.

Posted March 18, 2008 10:02 AM by albatross

54: I would probably recognise that as a deeply insightful statement
if I had actually read Pbadhvfgnqbe. But I haven't. I'm sure it's
deeply insightful none the less; just wasted on me.

Posted March 18, 2008 11:00 AM by ajay

ajay, that's got to be n cbyvgvpvna, because of the "strange,
isolated community, governed by its own laws and customs" bit. Onenpx
Bonzn, except for the married part of the best possible outcome? Not
sure about the culmination, either.

Do I ever wish I had time to do one of these myself! Maybe I will as
a reward tomorrow, after I finish and give this careers talk....(I'd
feel better about talking to high schoolers about my career if my
experiments were working.)

Posted March 18, 2008 3:16 PM by Caroline

Way to miss #53, Caroline.... *smacks forehead*

Posted March 18, 2008 3:18 PM by Caroline

heresiarch @40:

Your fortune, meant for someone else, sparked this one in me. (One clue - one I did not re-use - brought it on.)

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: Where Do We Go From Here?*
2. This crosses him, showing the nature of the challenge: A Theory of Human Motivation, by Abraham Maslow (the hierarchy of needs, or what to want next when your strongest desire is met)
3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: The Talented Mr. Ripley, 1999 (the doors of high society opened to a clever imitator)
4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: Moby Dick, by Herman Melville (eternal vengeance is destructive)
5. This is behind him, where he has been: Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes (a long and futile quest, possibly a mad one)
6. This is before him, where he is going: Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson (piracy, a journey over the sea, the temptations of wealth)
7. The Significator, defining the Querent: Xenocide, by Orson Scott Card (the boy warrior grown up)
8. His environment: Return of the Jedi (the villain destroyed, and much celebration; true love for others, but what for him?)
9. His fears: Pirates of the Carribean (the endless quest, lasting beyond desire itself, consuming life and rest and peace)
10. Culmination: The Prince and the Pauper, by Mark Twain (changed identities, the sudden influx of good fortune, new opportunities)

------

* peripherally, it appears that several people have done that entire Buffy episode in the Sims and posted it to YouTube. Bloody Nora.

Posted March 18, 2008 4:17 PM by abi

abi, Ohwbyq'f Oebguref va Nezf and Zveebe Qnapr? If it's not what you had in mind, it works beautifully with them.

Posted March 18, 2008 5:30 PM by Clifton Royston

Clifton Royston @59:

That's actually a better fit than what I constructed it for. How funny.

Posted March 18, 2008 5:35 PM by abi

This one's probably immediately obvious, but I had fun with it anyway:

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: “The Archetypes and
The Collective Unconscious”, by Carl Jung (identifying too strongly
with an archetype can lead to difficulties)

2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: "A
Midsummer Night's Dream", by Shakespeare ("The course of true love
never did run smooth.")

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: "The Once and Future King", by T.H. White (a cycle fullfilled)

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: "Othello", by
Shakespeare again (misled hatred/revenge, honor as one's undoing)

5. This is behind him, where he has been: "The Divine Comedy", by Dante Alighieri (a tour of Hell)

6. This is before him, where he is going: "Learning to Fly", by Tom
Petty and the Heartbreakers ("Well some say life will beat you down/
Break your heart, steal your crown/ So I've started out for God knows
where/ I guess I'll know when I get there")

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: (Only translate if you
want the answer given away immediately) "Guebhtu gur Ybbxvat Tynff", ol
Yrjvf Pneebyy ("Ur jnf cneg bs zl qernz, bs pbhefr--ohg gura V jnf cneg
bs uvf qernz, gbb.")

8. His environment: France, in the reign of Louis XIV ("L'etat, c'est moi")

9. His fears: "Nightfall", by Isaac Asimov (inability to accept change)

10. Culmination: "Rebel Without a Cause", 1955 (but only for the quote: "You can wake up now, the universe has ended.")

Posted March 18, 2008 5:39 PM by Leigh Butler

Leigh Butler @61:

Oddly enough, I happen to be rereading that right now. I thought my guess was due to that till I decrypted that clue.

Nice one.

Posted March 18, 2008 5:49 PM by abi

abi @62:

Thanks!

Posted March 18, 2008 5:59 PM by Leigh Butler

Leigh, very nice.

Posted March 18, 2008 6:42 PM by Clifton Royston

I feel very stupid.

(In other words, I have no clue what Leigh's just was, even with reading the dead giveaway bit.)

Posted March 18, 2008 7:34 PM by Mary Aileen

Leigh @ 61: I expect I'm wrong, and I've only read the first book, but I keep thinking of Zlguntb Jbbq.

Posted March 18, 2008 7:49 PM by Eleanor

#47:

Sebqb?

Posted March 18, 2008 8:20 PM by Erik Nelson

#47:

Sebqb?

Posted March 18, 2008 8:20 PM by Erik Nelson

#61: Lovely. It is Zbecurhf, isn't it? (I admit I had to read the 'dead giveaway' clue to get there.)

Posted March 18, 2008 8:38 PM by Rymenhild

Abi #58: I propose that you are Vavtb Zbagbln.

Posted March 18, 2008 8:47 PM by Andy H.

#69: I think you're right. If you're not, you ought to be.

I'm partway through writing one, but it's hard, and I think I'll leave it until tomorrow.

Posted March 18, 2008 8:47 PM by Eleanor

61

Not

Rzcrebe Wbarf, tho that was my first guess.

Maybe

Gbgny Erpnyy?

Posted March 18, 2008 8:53 PM by Erik Nelson

Heresiarch @40: I know you've already given the answer, but I saw
Fgrrecvxr sebz gur Tbezratunfg abiryf in that one, although I couldn't
come up with an obvious significator.

Posted March 18, 2008 8:59 PM by shadowsong

Rymenhild, that's certainly what I took it to be, also from looking at the hint. I like Eleanor's answer too.

Posted March 18, 2008 10:49 PM by Clifton Royston

For one of these I'm trying to work up, I need a book about Mormon
pioneers in Utah. Fiction or non-fiction, as long as family life
including polygamy is mentioned. Any suggestions?

Posted March 18, 2008 11:02 PM by Allan Beatty

abi @ 58: I have only one guess: Vavtb Zbagbln, ng gur raq bs gur Cevaprff Oevqr.

Leigh Butler @ 61: Truly, I roll epic fail. But! My guesses are good
enough that I think I'll save them, in case I want to do one myself.
Still, the curiosity, it burns me--please tell!

Posted March 18, 2008 11:38 PM by heresiarch

Rymenhild @ 69: Oh, duh. That really was an epic fail--I wrote my senior thesis (in high school) on that!

Posted March 18, 2008 11:45 PM by heresiarch

#69 Rymenhild:

You are correct, sir/madam!

I'm glad y'all liked it. Now I have to go look up the other guesses! (Except Gbgny Erpnyy, I know that one!)

Posted March 19, 2008 1:25 AM by Leigh Butler

Allan Beatty@75: Maybe Saints, by Orson Scott Card?

Here's one from me:

The Significator: Magister Ludi, Hermann Hesse. (A man of broad and deep learning, exalted but also isolated.)

This covers him: Gray Lensman, E.E. Smith. (Ongoing struggle between civilization and chaos. Power of mind can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.)

This crosses him: The Last of the Mohicans, James Fenimore Cooper. (Someone bereft of all ties must find a place in the world.)

This crowns him: The Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain. (Travelling joyfully with friends.)

This is beneath him: Revelation 20:7-10. (Vast and terrible war, the end of everything.)

This is behind him: Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain. (Someone who chafes at convention and restriction escapes to begin a journey.)

This is before him: The Odyssey. (A clever man, doomed to lose his companions, pits his wits against monsters.)

His environment: A Fire Upon the Deep, Vernor Vinge. (A vast galaxy full of wonder, terror, high technology, and sometimes-incomprehensible powers.)

His fears: All the King's Men, Robert Penn Warren. (Power misused, personal corruption, isolation.)

The outcome: Superman. (A never-ending battle for truth and justice.)

Posted March 19, 2008 3:01 AM by David Goldfarb

David Goldfarb @ 79: Ybeq Inyragvar?

Posted March 19, 2008 4:25 AM by heresiarch

Okay, this one might be tricky. I have no idea how widely read this book is. Hint: not sf.

1. This covers him, defining the problem space: On Heroes, Hero-Worship and the Heroic in History, by Thomas Carlyle, reversed.* (the influence of insignificant men on history)

2. This crosses him, showing the nature of his challenge: The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas, reversed. (His task is to defend the revolution from the establishment, for the most selfish of motives)

3. This crowns him, representing the best possible outcome: Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles (The father--opponent and rival--bested.)

4. This is beneath him, the foundation of the matter: The Iliad, Books 16-24, by Homer (The death of a friend must be avenged at any cost.)

5. This is behind him, where he has been: Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens (An orphan is given the finest education and upbringing, courtesy of a mysterious benefactor.)

6. This is before him, where he is going: The Odyssey, by Homer (A wanderer must don many guises and practice many skills before his journeys are finished.)

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: (A total give-away. If you
have read the book, and you read this clue, you WILL know it.) Pbzzrqvn
qryyr negr (Zreryl bar va n pnfg bs nepurglcrf.)

8. His environment: The Stone Canal, by Ken MacLeod (A society in the midst of political and economic upheaval)

9. His fears: On Bullshit, by Harry G. Frankfurt (hypocrisy of the rankest sort)

10. Culmination: The Princess Bride (Leaving your enemies alive and fleeing the country never looked so good.)

*In Tarot, not only the card but the orientation matters—generally upside down cards find their meaning inverted.

Posted March 19, 2008 8:11 AM by heresiarch

1. This covers her, defining the problem space: A Midsummer's Night Dream (lovers manipulated by capricious supernatural beings)

2. This crosses her, showing the nature of her challenge: "La Belle
Dame Sans Merci," by Keats ("La belle dame sans merci thee hath in
thrall!")

3. This crowns her, representing the best possible outcome: Babel-17, by Delany (besting internal and external enemies through language)

4. This is beneath her, the foundation of the matter: The Aegypt books, by John Crowley (what if the world is not the way we think it is?)

5. This is behind her, where she has been: The Worm Ouroboros, by Eddison (the pleasure of language and story)

6. This is before her, where she is going: Orpheus (a poet goes to hell to save a lover)

7. The Significator, defining the Querent: I can't say, it's a dead giveaway.

8. Her environment: Gaudy Night, by Dorothy Sayers (love, regrets, and literature in college)

9. Her fears: Hamlet ("there is a divinity that shapes our ends...")

10. Culmination: The Lady's Not for Burning by Fry (two people save each other from death, and life)

Little, Big would also work for 4.

Posted March 19, 2008 1:17 PM by Suzanne F.

Suzanne, that seems like an easy one: Cnzryn Qrna'f Gnz Yva.

Posted March 19, 2008 1:24 PM by Clifton Royston

#82: Fpnenzbhpur (aka Naqer-Ybhvf Zbernh)?

Posted March 19, 2008 2:19 PM by Debra Doyle

#82 has got to be Gnz Yva by Cnzryn Qrna.

Posted March 19, 2008 3:25 PM by Carrie S.

Jinx!

Posted March 19, 2008 3:41 PM by Clifton Royston

Susanne at 82:

Guhefqnl Arkg, by the books by Wnfcre Ssbeqr?

Posted March 19, 2008 3:42 PM by Leigh Butler

That was supposed to be "from the books by"...

Me type pretty one day.

Posted March 19, 2008 3:44 PM by Leigh Butler

Andy and heresiarch have it.

I may have put too many cvengr references in...

Posted March 19, 2008 4:03 PM by abi

Drat -- I misnumbered. My guess -- Fpnenzbhpur (aka Naqer-Ybhvf Zbernh) -- was actually for #81.

Posted March 19, 2008 4:20 PM by Debra Doyle

abi, great! Once I knew that my first guess was not it, I was
considering Jrfyrl as Gur Qernq Cvengr Eboregf (because of all the
cvengr references, as you said) but it didn't quite fit. It never
occurred to me to consider a different character!

Posted March 19, 2008 7:14 PM by Clifton Royston

Suzanne @ 82: Though the guesses so far sound pretty good, let me add Rzzn Ohyy'f Jne bs gur Bnxf, or possibly Qvnan Jlaar Wbarf' Sver naq Urzybpx.
I suppose that last one is pretty much the same as the previous
guesses. Actually, it's surprising how many stories could work in that
reading.

Debra Doyle @ 84: Misnumbered, but right! Have a shiny new internets! (Did you need to decrypt the significator?)

abi @ 89: Actually, all the pirate references threw me off at first. It was gjb, fvk, naq rvtug that finally tipped me off.

Posted March 19, 2008 8:58 PM by heresiarch

heresiarch@92: I figured decrypting the significator would be
cheating, so I didn't. It was mostly 2, 5, and 3 that clued me in, and
10 capped it.

Posted March 19, 2008 9:42 PM by Debra Doyle

Looking at how fast people are offering solutions to the ones that
leave me clueless, I am no judge of how difficult or easy this one is.
So I'm giving the titles in clear text and my interpretations in
rot-13, just in case the interpretations would make it too easy. But at
least I can name the significator without giving it all away.

1. Cover, the influence affecting the person or subject generally: The Art of War / Sun Tzu (bar znl gnxr nqinagntr bs cbfvgvbavat gb qrsrng n zber ahzrebhf rarzl).

2. Cross, the nature of obstacles: The Scarlet Pimpernel / Emmuska Orczy (ubj gb betnavmr na haqretebhaq zbirzrag).

3. Crown, the aim or ideal or best outcome: Miracle at Philadelphia / Catherine Drinker Bowen (gur nepuvgrpgf bs n arj angvba ynl n sbhaqngvba sbe yvzvgrq tbireazrag).

4. Beneath, what the significator has already achieved or made his own: When HARLIE Was One / David Gerrold (n pbzchgre argjbex npuvrirf frys-njnerarff).

5. Behind, the influence that has passed: The Fatal Shore / Robert Hughes (genafcbegrq cevfbaref ohvyq n arj fbpvrgl).

6. Before, influence coming into action: The Federalist Papers / James Madison et al. (zragbef jbexvat nabalzbhfyl qenj ba uvfgbevpny rknzcyrf bs ubj crbcyr unir jba naq xrcg gurve serrqbz).

7. Significator, representing the querent: Johnny Tremain /
Esther Forbes (qhevat n jne sbe vaqrcraqrapr, n znghevat crefbanyvgl
fgevirf gb haqrefgnaq uvf bevtvaf naq sbetr crefbany eryngvbafuvcf).

8. House, environment and tendencies which have an effect on the matter: Saints
/ Orson Scott Card (cvbarref va n unefu ynaq erznva haqre gur
whevfqvpgvba bs n terng cbjre ohg qrirybc gurve bja phygher naq
vafgvghgvbaf, vapyhqvat nygreangvir sbezf bs zneevntr).

9. Hopes or fears: The Principle of Population / Thomas Malthus (jr’yy eha bhg bs erfbheprf naq nyy fgneir).

10. Culmination, what will come: We the Living / Ayn Rand (gur ureb qvrf serr).

Posted March 19, 2008 9:54 PM by Allan Beatty

#94: Zvxr, from Gur Zbba vf n Unefu Zvfgerff?

Posted March 19, 2008 11:30 PM by Debra Doyle

Debra @94. Yup. Did you get it from the titles alone, or did you have to decode the interpretations?

Posted March 19, 2008 11:40 PM by Allan Beatty

Alan@96: I went with the titles. (Though I will admit to
decoding the interpretations after I'd posted, just to check that I
wasn't too far off-base.)

Posted March 19, 2008 11:54 PM by Debra Doyle

Allan @96: I got it without having to rot13. The combination of
"cards" number sbhe, svir naq bar was very suggestive. Fvk naq avar
locked it down.

Posted March 19, 2008 11:58 PM by Clifton Royston

For those thinking of constructing one of these puzzles for a
science fiction book or film or a work in some other genre that
Wikipediots obsess about, the Wikipedia articles often list influences
and allusions.

For example, I hadn't remembered that a couple of the books I used were specifically referenced in the text.

Posted March 20, 2008 12:16 AM by Allan Beatty

Suzanne @82: I thought Nycunorg bs Gubea (Cngevpvn ZpXvyyvc), but I haven't read it for a while for details; however I expect the winners will be the Gnz Yva variants (I love S&U myself -- I'm a QJW fan, hmm, interesting rot13 there).

Posted March 20, 2008 3:25 AM by hedgehog

Heresiarch@80: No, I was intending Qbpgbe Jub.

Posted March 20, 2008 5:47 AM by David Goldfarb

Allan Beatty @ 94: I got it after decoding interpretations for 3 and 4, and I've never read the book! Good clues.

Since people are guessing so quickly, perhaps we should move to
either leaving off the interpretations, or using a layout with fewer
cards? I think a layout with fewer cards might be easier (to create)
and more fun (to guess at).

Posted March 20, 2008 11:33 AM by heresiarch

Here's a shorter one. A Canticle for Liebowitz. Tom Jones. Huck Finn.

Posted March 21, 2008 8:26 PM by Allan Beatty

Looks like this game is done. Rqtne Cnatobea'f cbfg-ncbypnylcgvp
abiry Qnil. I haven't read Tom Jones but it's mentioned in the blurb.

Posted March 24, 2008 10:48 PM by Allan Beatty

[spam deleted]

spam from 121.246.165.204

Posted March 26, 2008 2:51 AM by (view all by)

I think it's spam. Is that spam?

Posted March 26, 2008 3:25 AM by heresiarch sees, um, spam?