#851449 - 11/23/12 03:35 PM
Re: Culpa Innata - The Novel Now Available on Amazon
[Re: BrownEyedTigre]
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Settled Boomer
Registered: 05/05/08
Posts: 414
Loc: London, UK
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The shock of Phoenix being a blonde is not that she is blonde, it is that we are already familiar with her image from the game and she is not a blonde. I cannot explain this change from Barmanbek and I hope that if there is a Culpa Innata 2 it will be the same actress, like the trailer suggests.
Perhaps Barmanbek thought ahead and wondered if this was ever to become a film, for reasons he could explain, he would prefer her as a blonde. She is so intelligent anyway that it is certainly breaking apart all the dumb blonde stereotypes.
Incidentally, this intelligence does not come across that obviously in the game, perhaps because the player controls her. Another interesting difference from game to novel is that it was not clear in the game if we should get these immigrants to fail their security interview or not, and it changed nothing to the story. In the novel it is completely different, and the consequences lead to a whole crisis at the GPSN. It is a big part of the story.
If I write this more substantial review, I think I will ask questions of Barmanbek first, and I will ask him why he turned Phoenix into a blonde. Any of you have any other questions I should ask him?
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#851456 - 11/23/12 03:59 PM
Re: Culpa Innata - The Novel Now Available on Amazon
[Re: BrownEyedTigre]
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BAAG Specialist
Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 7558
Loc: Arcadia (twin world of Stark)
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As Sunny said in so blonde "why are blond jokes so short? Because it is the only way brunettes can remember them."  I did love that game.  Rmt, I actually agree, it's strange picturing Phoenix as blonde when we're so used to the visual of her with dark hair (or sometimes red hair when you picked out certain outfits.  ) Maybe he always wanted her to be blonde, but because of the trend of dark haired female leads (brown haired Kate Walker, auburn haired April Ryan) felt it would be better to go with that look? Or perhaps it's as you said, he wanted to break apart from the stereotype when he wrote the novel. Really, it would only be jarring for those of us who played the game. People who read the novel first would have no preconceived image of Phoenix. Neither of these things explain why some characters had name changes, though. Perhaps he just felt certain things would flow better in the novel versus the game. Ah, you two are really making me want to read the book! And if he does do a film version, I want to play Phoenix. 
_________________________
Interrogator: [True or false?] All mangoes are golden. Nothing golden is cheap. Conclusion - all mangoes are cheap.
Helena: Where are these mangoes?
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#851485 - 11/23/12 05:23 PM
Re: Culpa Innata - The Novel Now Available on Amazon
[Re: BrownEyedTigre]
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BAAG Specialist
Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 7558
Loc: Arcadia (twin world of Stark)
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Good choice of roles, rmt.  I know, that's why I found conversations with Roger so fascinating in game. It seemed as though he actually knew more than he was letting on as well, but he felt Phoenix wasn't ready for the information. I kept getting annoyed with her when she refused to speak with him any further.  Okay, now that is odd that so many formerly brunette characters are now blonde. What about Dagmar who was a blonde? No change? And what color hair does Sandra have? Speaking of Sandra, I am interested in what they've done with her character. As someone who was so rigid in World Union views, she made an interesting contrast to Phoenix, who was more of a misfit, as you said. I wonder if they've expanded on her at all. You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I don't want to spoil myself too much before I even get the book. 
_________________________
Interrogator: [True or false?] All mangoes are golden. Nothing golden is cheap. Conclusion - all mangoes are cheap.
Helena: Where are these mangoes?
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#851505 - 11/23/12 06:31 PM
Re: Culpa Innata - The Novel Now Available on Amazon
[Re: BrownEyedTigre]
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Reviewer
Addicted Boomer
Registered: 01/29/07
Posts: 1521
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"Sandra's role so far has been limited but she is the one who convinced Phoenix to get the promotion in Adrianapolis and who introduced Jean Michel to Phoenix at the beginning. At this point there is almost a conspiracy there, but I have not reached the conclusion of this thread yet. Just as well, it would be a big spoiler. As I'm sure you can remember, Sandra has only one thing on her mind and she does not disappoint in the book. So casually they talk about such a thing that would make any sensible British person blush..." ------------------------------------- I thought Sandra in the game was a waste of space. She serves a purpose in the book but is still a waste of space. No spoilers coming from this keyboard. Curiosity won out and I found this which offers some back ground. A short interview with the author. Interview
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#851509 - 11/23/12 07:10 PM
Re: Culpa Innata - The Novel Now Available on Amazon
[Re: BrownEyedTigre]
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BAAG Specialist
Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 7558
Loc: Arcadia (twin world of Stark)
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Rmt, Sandra hasn't changed that much I see.  I was hoping her character would be expanded more, but it seems she may be more of a minor character in the book than she was in the game? I think Ingrid was actually blonde in game, but I can't remember now. I'll have to replay the game, not that I need an excuse.  I'm also really intrigued by this new AI friend. Oldmariner, thanks for the link! Very interesting interview. And, yes Barmanbek says, "I had to make plenty of changes to my original story line as the production progressed, many layers to the story were edited out, scenes were cancelled, so much so that even my heroine didn’t look like how I’d imagined her." So Phoenix probably was originally supposed to be blonde. Ha, Sandra seems to be a polarizing character. I "like" her for her contrast with Phoenix in game, but I wouldn't be able to stand her if she was an actual person. Not because of her "obsessions" but because of all her prejudices.
_________________________
Interrogator: [True or false?] All mangoes are golden. Nothing golden is cheap. Conclusion - all mangoes are cheap.
Helena: Where are these mangoes?
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#851521 - 11/23/12 09:25 PM
Re: Culpa Innata - The Novel Now Available on Amazon
[Re: BrownEyedTigre]
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BAAG Specialist
Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 7558
Loc: Arcadia (twin world of Stark)
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Rmt, those are pretty much my thoughts on Sandra as well. I never miss meeting with her at the Rose Café for more gossips. I do this, too.  And, yes, that was quite an interesting interview. I thought the game already had quite a bit of depth, but it is a shame that so much had to get cut. I still hope we get a Culpa 2 one day, but thanks to yours and oldmariner's comments, I am much more excited for the novel than I was. It sounds as though we are getting the "true story" the way Barmanbek originally conceived it, which is very exciting in and of itself. Now I wish I hadn't put it on my "holiday list" so I could buy it for myself right away. 
_________________________
Interrogator: [True or false?] All mangoes are golden. Nothing golden is cheap. Conclusion - all mangoes are cheap.
Helena: Where are these mangoes?
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#851532 - 11/23/12 10:17 PM
Re: Culpa Innata - The Novel Now Available on Amazon
[Re: BrownEyedTigre]
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Settled Boomer
Registered: 05/05/08
Posts: 414
Loc: London, UK
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Yes, extraordinary analysis, I must say. Thank you Oldmariner. I would add though that to control the 90% of the citizens of Adrianopolis with an HDI of only 70%, you must instil greed in them, or in another word the dream of being rich and powerful, as it is hard to get to be powerful without first becoming rich.
But yes, you must ensure that they never actually become rich or powerful. Almost everyone is at the bottom of the pyramid, a powerful symbol in Culpa Innata. And the symbol of the butterfly would be to free yourself from all this altogether and become a star in the universe instead. The metamorphosis into something more meaningful, answers to the existential crisis Phoenix Wallis is going through.
You are right that it is all about power, and maybe this is less an indictment against capitalism, than actually an indictment of where too much greed could push us into an extreme form of capitalism which no longer works for almost everyone. On that point Culpa Innata was certainly visionary as this is what is happening now.
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