SLSL, 'UtR' Who won?

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In a message dated 2/23/2003 2:19:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
paul.mackin at verizon.net writes:


> M, in the pay of Germany, wants war (perplexing, since so does France),
> which does not come about, so in that respect M is not successful. The
> question is, is M's personal triumph over his rival devalued by
> Porpentine's  secret desire to escape the whole bloody scene even at the
> ultimate price? Interesting question? I don't really see some of the
> motivations going on.
> 

On a deeper level, maybe even deeper than Porpentine wishes
to acknowledge, he has won a kind of victory- although he
prefers to think of it as self-delusion: "could never admit himself
entirely a gull," by tricking Bongo into allowing G and V to 
leave. This is foreshadowed in the train sequence where P
himself demonstrates christian values by allowing the Arab
thief his freedom, albeit, with a sore neck. 


> Interesting to think of this century-ago example of British/French
> rivalry in comparison to the present day one. Chirac vs Blair. This time
> the Brits (government at least) want war and the French don't. The U.S;
> is a completely new factor in the equation. However can European rivalry
> be a factor as well?
> 

If I had to pick a character that most resembles the U.S. it would
be Victoria: "rapt," "eyes glowing," "all tender and winsome for her
sphinx." 
> 
> 
> I've generally felt this was P's best short story. More accomplished and
> adult sounding that the others. Was it the only one of them worthy of an
> upgrade into a  novel? Part of a novel?
> 
I have to agree with you there. It certainly has more depth of field
and less of an "adolescent" feel about it. The (self) references to 
Baedecker and Cook's tours are cute, but not overly so, and only
from the insider pov of the Intro. The dialogue constructions- He said:, 
She said: starting the lines, is a little bit abrupt- like reading a play- 
but I got used to it. Can't remember if that made it into V. 

It may be heresy, but I think this one is better than SI, which struck
me as slitely rube goldbergish, on good days, and a bit exploitative
on not so good days.

respecfully
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