Ariel again
Nov. 28th, 2011 12:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valarltdThis is the description:
Sean never forgot a face and Gemini's was memorable, even though Sean had seen it only twice before in person. Holo-pics and footage were a different story, since Gemini was a media favorite. The camera loved the devastatingly handsome Gemini--the star net-runner for LedaCorp and wealthy philanthropist—and it captured him at all the best venues and openings, with one beautiful woman or another on his arm. His strongly Middle Eastern features were perfect for the desert bandit avatar he affected in the net, but looked even more intimidating above a business suit. The air of supreme confidence born of having money and power followed him and filled every corner of the room until Sean found it hard to breathe. Maybe his method of execution would simply be Gemini intimidating him to death.
He stifled hysterics at that thought and answered, “Yes. Thanks to you, I expect.”
“I'm sure you know by now that we have rescued your brother, Niall.” He stroked the mouth-framing beard he wore, a nervous habit that somehow indicated he had no nerves at all, only cold calculation.
And then a couple pages later (after some discussion of Niall and orders for Sean), we get the words:
David benEzra stopped to consult with the doctor on duty. He approved of all the treatments and had long-since forged Ariel's name on the responsibility form. He would clean up his brother's mess yet again. That might mean a few hundred thousand or so for hospital bills, but it would all be worth it.
So, is it logical to assume from that snippet that the average reader will see "Middle eastern" and "desert bandit" and immediately figure these guys are Muslim? Will anyone even catch the names? Am I counting too much on specialized knowledge among SF readers?
No offense, but most of the comments on the last post came from friends who are Jewish themselves. Any word from my non-Jewish readers?
Sean never forgot a face and Gemini's was memorable, even though Sean had seen it only twice before in person. Holo-pics and footage were a different story, since Gemini was a media favorite. The camera loved the devastatingly handsome Gemini--the star net-runner for LedaCorp and wealthy philanthropist—and it captured him at all the best venues and openings, with one beautiful woman or another on his arm. His strongly Middle Eastern features were perfect for the desert bandit avatar he affected in the net, but looked even more intimidating above a business suit. The air of supreme confidence born of having money and power followed him and filled every corner of the room until Sean found it hard to breathe. Maybe his method of execution would simply be Gemini intimidating him to death.
He stifled hysterics at that thought and answered, “Yes. Thanks to you, I expect.”
“I'm sure you know by now that we have rescued your brother, Niall.” He stroked the mouth-framing beard he wore, a nervous habit that somehow indicated he had no nerves at all, only cold calculation.
And then a couple pages later (after some discussion of Niall and orders for Sean), we get the words:
David benEzra stopped to consult with the doctor on duty. He approved of all the treatments and had long-since forged Ariel's name on the responsibility form. He would clean up his brother's mess yet again. That might mean a few hundred thousand or so for hospital bills, but it would all be worth it.
So, is it logical to assume from that snippet that the average reader will see "Middle eastern" and "desert bandit" and immediately figure these guys are Muslim? Will anyone even catch the names? Am I counting too much on specialized knowledge among SF readers?
No offense, but most of the comments on the last post came from friends who are Jewish themselves. Any word from my non-Jewish readers?
