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Sunday, 18 October 2020 01:35

On The Jazz

 

The A-Team. Who knew a TV show from the eighties would be the inspiration I needed?

While not getting completely frustrated with the process of getting a book published (don’t ever try this unless you are a hardcore masochist), I have been working on “Strange Loops,” book two in the Lizzie Borden series.

I got through 75% of the first draft then I hit a brick wall. Without giving away spoilers, Kandi and her crew have to stand against vastly superior enemies with vastly superior technology… but not necessarily vastly superior cleverness.

But I’m not, personally, that clever when it comes to such things. My life is painfully dull in comparison, and that’s just how I like it. I’m not an outlaw. Thus, brick wall.

Then my hubs and I started watching good old B.A. Baracus, Hannibal, Face, and Murdock with our dinner every night. One episode in and I loved it. Two episodes in and my jaw was on the floor.

They were doing the sorts of things that I need the Lizzie Borden’s crew to do. I get to benefit from the expertise of the A-Team (and their writers, bless them all), and get all sorts of ideas about.
I have a notebook on the couch where Greg and I eat dinner, and I write down the things they do. A Trojan horse full of liquor to get the guards drunk? Brilliant. Telling a little white lie, then fessing up to it, only to tell much bigger lies under the guise of credibility — Thanks, Face!

And what Discordian worth her salt can not love Howlin’ Mad Murdock’s and his Erisian Magick? He literally did a turkey curse (well, he was a chicken, but any impression of edible fowl will do), clucking his enemies into a short circuit, then pouncing on the moment of confusion to gain the advantage. Furthermore, his interactions with B.A. are such delightful inspiration for the interactions between Veronica and Felix.

I’ve recently been reading books on game theory. Fascinating subject. The first rule of game theory is that you’re rational, and you know that your opponent is rational, and you know that your opponent knows that you’re rational, and you know that…. On to infinity. I watch Hannibal use game theory to predict his opponent’s moves and intercept them. In specific - in the episode, “Labor Pains,” they helped some vegetable pickers form a union. Before this, though, they made sure the bosses knew about it - they shoved the flyers right in their face. They didn’t give away the location directly, but Hannibal knew that those bosses would stop at nothing to find out. So he laid a beautiful trap, where despite smaller numbers and lesser technology (mostly B.A.’s hacked together cars-turned-tanks), they’re able to gain the advantage.

Now I just have to take all these notes and figure out how my characters are going to apply them. I figure, soon enough, though, Kandi will be chomping on her cigar, smiling and observing her triumphs.

I love it when a plan comes together.