This is topic immortals in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004545

Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :
 
i think i buchered trying to spell that, i dont have accsee to a dictonary or word prosser.

anyway, how many of you know a thing or two about imortals?
being one myself (in a sence that there are 3 types left)i have been banished from the rest of my kind and most of my memory wiped. (sounds like a story, but the glimpses of my last life are quite destirbing)

i have read many scifi books with imortals and other long lifed people but they dont seem like the ones i am fremiler with,

sorry i got to cut this short i gtg time on computer is up.

RFW2nd
 


Posted by WouldBe (Member # 5682) on :
 
I'm pretty mortal myself, but I met Dick Clark, once. Maybe you can track him down. I wouldn't want to be immortal, but there are lots of writers here trying to write immortal works of art.

What an irony, being immortal and having your mind wiped. I guess you'll just have to start immortality all over again. Keep a journal this time, RFW.
 


Posted by TaleSpinner (Member # 5638) on :
 
I know nothing of immortals. In fact, you're the only one I know, RFWII.

Poul Anderson might be able to help you. His "Boat of a Million Years" was a good read, I thought.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boat_of_a_Million_Years

Also, Heinlein had long-lived people in "Time Enough for Love" and Blish had them in "Cities in Flight"--but you said you'd read scfi books with immortals and, being immortal, you've read everything anyhow and you know that ... so I can't be much help, really, sorry.

Do you have Doctor Who's phone number?

Of course if you meant to say "immorals" I might be able to help you there ...

Pat
 


Posted by WouldBe (Member # 5682) on :
 
quote:
Do you have Doctor Who's phone number?
um, and Isabella Rossellini's, too, if you don't mind.
 
Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
 
quote:
i think i buchered trying to spell that, i dont have accsee to a dictonary or word prosser.

Lol, RFW II, I think that's the only word you _did_ spell right!

I know the theory of immortality, as in how we could all be immortal scientifically, but nothing about what it's like to be immortal. I suspect it would get boring after a while. But then, I have problems entertaining myself.

Tolkien and his elves might have a bit to say about immortality. As well as some of literature's greats. And then, of course, there's that famous Clifton Fadiman quote:"A cheese may disappoint. It may be dull, it may be naive, it may be oversophisticated. Yet it remains, cheese, milk's leap toward immortality."

[This message has been edited by annepin (edited January 08, 2008).]
 


Posted by gobi13x (Member # 6837) on :
 
While it might be debatable how immortal they are, undead are a common type of immortal. They 'live' forever in a semi-dead state. While most are seen as mindless drones, I would wager that some undead kept their intelligence and might be called an immortal. Maybe you could find out how they can keep their memories and help yourself out.
 
Posted by TaleSpinner (Member # 5638) on :
 
quote:
I suspect it would get boring after a while. But then, I have problems entertaining myself.

Oh annepin, I'm sure you have more imagination than that. Why, you could spend one lifetime being a writer, another as a sculptor, one as a wife and another as a single person, another in England and another in Japan, then be a train driver or an airline pilot, a doctor or a plumber, a climate change expert, steam monkey, environmentalist ... the possibilities are endless.

Me, I'm a geek in this life but in others could be, oh, I dunno, a musician, fashion consultant, handbag designer, tatooist, secret agent, writer, published writer, rich and famous published writer ...

Pat
 


Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
 
I once read that "A man ought to live forever or die trying." I suppose it means women, too, but when I speak of man, I speak of man embracing woman.
 
Posted by oliverhouse (Member # 3432) on :
 
quote:
when I speak of man, I speak of man embracing woman.
I'm sure that's one of the ways man most likes to be.
 
Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :
 
to finsh my thought,

there are 3 types.

immortals who were born immortal and will stay immortal.

immortals who became immortal by the immortals but can loose there immortality.

the 3rd is like the 2nd but they grow old, die then become reborn in a body exactly the same as their last then by 10, years their memories return from their last lives.

i fall into the 3rd type but my memory has been wiped so i only have a little of my memmories.

there are werewolves, vampires, reguler people, and the "undead"
undead are not zombies but were people who died then resorected and reguvinated to full health, they fall into the 3rd type.

the comment of the elves from LORD OF THE RINGS, b rings a thought that i have frogoten to ask but is GANDOF (i think i spelled that wrong) immortal? he died once if i reamber right but is he immortal?

also i dont have a "real" shrink who knows i am immortal or would have any way too help, as a commet stated.

RFW2nd
 


Posted by MasterTrek (Member # 7272) on :
 
Although the possibilities of things to do if one was immortal are endless, one must consider the mental and emotional ramifications. Consider Vandal Savage of DC comics. He pretty much went nuts because all he ever saw was history repeating itself, and decided the human race doesn't deserve to live. Also, Apocalypse of Marvel comics who decided that he was the only supreme being, and decided to force his personal brand of survival of the fittest on everyone. Lastly, Adam Monroe/Takenzo Kensai of Heroes. He pulled a combined Apocalypse/Savage because he lost ten women that he loved with all his heart. If you had a way of bestowing your immortality on others, maybe even just one other, it would be a lot more fun, me thinks.

So maybe it's a good thing you lost those memories, neh?

[This message has been edited by MasterTrek (edited January 10, 2008).]
 


Posted by TaleSpinner (Member # 5638) on :
 
"mental and emotional ramifications"

Yes, absolutely. Was it in Heinlein's "Time Enough for Love" that long-lived characters periodically went through a procedure to remove unwanted memories and keep themselves fresh?

Pat
 


Posted by supraturtle (Member # 1518) on :
 
Dick Clark: scary.

I think there's more of a recent consideration of 'immortal' being a entity 'outside of time' more than a long-lived creature of the world. Goodbye Methusala and hello Q continuum. Heh, Doctor Who has always had a time stamp--supposed to be so many regenerations. Phone number: Unfortuantly Martha always uses her speed-dial. (:
I soured on immortals after being a die-hard Highlander (movie) nut and got really sick of it in the vampire crazes of the last years.



 


Posted by rstegman (Member # 3233) on :
 
Immortal can have different useages these have likely all been said but I just want to say it. I do love seeing my notes.......<g>


Immortal could be like gods, who exist almost forever, depending on the type of god. Basically something that a "mortal" cannot harm.

Immortal could be someone who in invulnerable, but otherwise human. They will survive swords, arrows, and disease, but might not survive a hellfire missle or silver bullet.

then you have those who simply are invulnerable to whatever ages or ills the normal person. As long as they avoid accident or killing, they will live forever. (there was a series about a guy who was immortal and the evil people were trying to get hold of him to make use of)

To the normal mortal, someone who lives two or three hundred years will be thought of as immortal.

The last two tend to be my favorite. If you can avoid being killed, you can live forever, possibly showing no signs of aging beyond the thirties.
The person would likely have to be really good at fighting, be aware of the world around them to avoid ambush, and be careful on checking equipment to avoid accident.
In a story, his continued existance is strictly dependant on his knowledge, experiance and skill.

On the other hand, if they cannot be killed, the only real story is on their losing their friends, their belongings, their family. Victory against the enemy would be empty, not having much to live for other than to try to find a place to disappear and live as an unknown (cannot remember how to spell the correct word, anonimity?).



 


Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :
 
hell fire yes that will kill any type of imortal, silver is just a myth. i have plenty of silver julery i have bought here in AFG but it dose not harm us.

i thought i said there are 3 types. i fall into the 3rd. i am born, live grow old die then am reborn in a body idintical to the last and (unless your memory has not been wiped) the memories of your past lives return around age 10.

" He pretty much went nuts because all he ever saw was history repeating itself, and decided the human race doesn't deserve to live."

another reason i am found crazy.

RFW2nd
 




Copyright © 2008 Hatrack River Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2