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Sorta…I’m writing an outline for it at the moment.
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
I see. 😀
Reposting because my first post strangely disappeared…
I looked at @rochellaine’s comments and just have a couple of things to add:
#1: I agree that you have to decide what names Jean/Chessy use when they think of themselves and each other and change the names accordingly when writing in their POVs but I think you are already aware of that and it’s mostly just a cosmetic issue that should be easily addressed.
#2: The Mark of the Beast did come to mind when I read about the barcode. I have no issue with Jean allowing himself to get it since his backstory is that he has not always been a devout Christian and I don’t see how he would have been able to avoid getting it. The problem is that, based on what I know about this topic (which isn’t much so take it with a pinch of salt), those with the Mark are those that have offered themselves to the Beast and (I think) have no hope of salvation anymore. Given that this is obviously not the direction Jean’s character is going and I don’t think that you are intending to explore this in the book, you may want to think of ways to reduce this parallel. Otherwise there’ll be the expectation for you to address this issue in your series.
#3: I thought about your prologue again it occurred to me that there is no mention of Sapphire or Jean’s wife? If Jean and Chessy are abandoning their old identities and running away, doesn’t that mean that Sapphire and her mother, if they are to go with them, must abandon their current identities as well? But they are not at the shop with them so where are they when all these are happening and how are they to change their identities also?
honestly, I don’t know how to get around that “Mark of the Beast” parallel. I certainly don’t want people to think this is some sort of “Left Behind” version of Les Mis (how weird does that sound?) But on the other hand, I think tattoos would be a very useful form of identification. I had the plastic tags in the last draft, but the idea of people remembering to wear bracelets all the time seems quite laughable (I mean, I’m not sure about the rules overseas, but drivers are supposed to have their licence with them at all times, or get a fine, and yet we still forget them and lose them all the time. the idea of it being legal just to leave your house and people remembering to wear them doesn’t seem practical, if you see what I’m saying).
I’ll have to think about this a bit more.
Drat it, I’d forgotten about them 😛
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
Personally, I have no issue with the barcode thing because now I don’t think anyone can say with 100% certainty what exactly is and is not the Mark of the Beast that is being referred to in Revelation. I think there are two ways you can get around this issue:
#1: The Mark is supposed to be, if I remember correctly, either on the right hand or forehead so just make sure the tattoo is always on a different body part. Since the Mark will be something that is needed to “buy or sell”, you can show instances of people being able to buy or sell things without showing or using the tattoo to make it clear that this is not the Mark.
#2: Have the tattoo be something that is mandated to be applied on all citizens since birth or something so it’s clear that no one truly has any choice in the matter (death vs getting the mark is still a choice). I don’t think anyone can really argue that Jean’s soul is damned and that he has surrendered himself to the Beast just because the tattoo was put on him when he was a baby when he had no say in it.
Haha yes, I know the feeling. 😛
I was just reading about it in Revelation 13 (in the actual Bible, not the speculations of American evangelists 😛 ) and yes, it does say either on the right hand or the forehead and that it will either be the name of the Beast, or the number of the Beast (666). So I guess if I make it clear enough that it’s just an identification number (after all, we have so many ID numbers in real, contemporary life), rather than any sort of prediction of the end of the world 😛
and it also says that it will be preceded by the Beast performing miraculous signs and miracles, and having some sort of idol built (it sounds something like Nebuchadnezzar’s statue), so hopefully people will just take it the same way as any ordinary sci-fi/dystopian type ID system.
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
Yes, I think that will work. 😀
Haha… “speculations of American evangelists”? That is oddly specific. 😛
However, I do understand the mindset in the making these theories. I do believe that many of the political/social/technological/economic trends that are happening can be attributed to a giant conspiracy by the Devil. But my view is that the moment we start fearing everyone and everything and worry about the future like that is the moment we start doubting that God is in control.
The endtimes will come. That is inevitable no matter how many speculations we make. So I think what we as Christians should focus on is what we can do: making sure our own hearts are right with God and reaching out to others so that when such things eventually come, we are prepared and discerning and have the faith to depend on God.
Well, I looked up “The Mark of the Beast” in order to find the reference for it, and American evangelists had a lot to say about “DON’T DO THIS!!! THIS IS THE MARK OF THE BEEEAASST!!!!!” I’m not even exaggerating.
Yes, I would agree with that 🙂 I’m also very wary of people who say “These wars are signalling the end times” or things along those lines, because it’s essentially predicting Jesus’ return. We were explicitly told not to do that, and not to believe anyone who said they knew where the Christ was, or when he was coming.
And yes, I agree with that too. I believe that there’s little point in worrying about the end of the world, or predictions of the end of the world, because ultimately, our job is to be representing and growing the Kingdom of God and I think that if we’re doing our best to grow in our relationship with God, and help others do the same, we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.
Which is basically what you just said anyway 😛
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
@seekjustice You and @valtmy have covered my answer to the Mark of the Beast question, which was that as long as you could buy and sell by other means, it wasn’t the Mark. (I actually asked my brother, and that’s what he said… 😉 ) So, as you say, if it’s just used for identification, that would work fine.
But in response to your comment about the bracelets being like drivers licenses and people forgetting to bring them along, I think that wouldn’t be a problem. In Nazi Germany and occupied countries, or other similar examples, people didn’t just “forget” to bring their ID papers along when they went out. I think it’s very different from forgetting a driver’s license. If it’s that important, people wouldn’t forget it.
The other thing with the bracelets I thought of was that they could be semi-permanently attached, perhaps made to fit the wrist, so they could not be taken off without being cut off. Or they could be like the electronic anklets the police use to tag people under house arrest, sending an alarm when they are tampered with, or when the person goes outside the restricted zone. (I also thought this would be a very easy way for them to track Jean down, so, that may or may not be a horrible idea. 😛 )
My biggest question here is, if you’re using barcode tattoos instead of tags/bracelets, what are you going to do with the “burn your IDs!” scene in SFI?
"Sylvester - Sylvester!"
@rochellaine @valtmy @jenwriter17 @bluejay
Anyone around? I’m editing/watching Les Mis.
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
@seekjustice I am here!!
IMMA KAPEEFER! Til we're old and gray!
Hello! it’s been a while!
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
@seekjustice Yes, it has. The holidays have been busy. But I’m finally getting back to betaing your book. I really like it so far, I’ve just been busy. But now it is one of my goals! *determined look*
IMMA KAPEEFER! Til we're old and gray!
Awesome! I’m currently editing that book 🙂
And luckily, I’m finally finished school!
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
@seekjustice @catwing I’m here now!
"Sylvester - Sylvester!"
Hey there!
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
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