I just realized that my ending idea was a bad pun

MadScientistMatt · Mar 9, 2006

My fantasy novel WIP has one premise that there is a sort of fued going on between several gods, who are using humans as proxies. One idea I had for an ending started with both sides starting to break the rules that had previously kept things somewhat limited. As things start spining out of control, the god that the protagonist follows informs him that a "statue" he had previously seen was actually a giant war robot.

I doubt the ending in my book is going to be anything like this, though. One, it seemed like a bit of a cliche. Two, it didn't quite fit the way the story is going. But lastly... I realized I'd come up with a machina ex deus ending.

Aconite · Mar 9, 2006

MadScientistMatt said:
I realized I'd come up with a machina ex deus ending.

Groan. You Feghoot.

But you want that to read "machina ex deo."

Shadow_Ferret · Mar 9, 2006

MadScientistMatt said:
machina ex deus

I don't speak Latin. What's this mean?

Dawno · Mar 9, 2006

This might help -

In some ancient Greek drama, an apparently insoluble crisis was solved by the intervention of a god, often brought on stage by an elaborate piece of equipment. This "god from the machine" was literally a deus ex machina. Few modern works feature deities suspended by wires from the ceiling, but the term deus ex machina is still used for cases where an author uses some improbable (and often clumsy) plot device to work his or her way out of a difficult situation. When the cavalry comes charging over the hill or when the impoverished hero is relieved by an unexpected inheritance, it's often called a deus ex machina.

Found on this site

CaoPaux · Mar 9, 2006

Y'all seen this? http://www.sfwa.org/writing/turkeycity.html

A.REX · Mar 9, 2006

Celia Cyanide · Mar 10, 2006

I have no advice for you, but thanks for sharing! That was very funny! I don't think it's a bad oun, actually, I think it's a hilarious pun! If you don't want to use it, maybe you can write one of those screenplays about screenwriters and have them argue over this ending.

MadScientistMatt · Mar 10, 2006

That's OK, the story isn't anywhere near the ending. I'm sure the right ending will come along by the time I get there.

And I've decided that the lost technology will be more Civil War era than distant future.

Shadow_Ferret · Mar 10, 2006

Hmm. So, I'm not supposed to have the skies open up and have Apollo save the day?

*crumples up his ending and throws it in the trash*

Spirit_Fire · Mar 11, 2006

Shadow_Ferret said:
Hmm. So, I'm not supposed to have the skies open up and have Apollo save the day?

*crumples up his ending and throws it in the trash*

Ok, I have a new ending for you:

He wakes up, and it was all a dream!

gp101 · Mar 11, 2006

Why not have him jump a shark while wearing his leather jacket, thumb up, saying "Ayyyy"?

Nexusman · Mar 13, 2006

Here's a little more information:

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

The easiest way to avoid these kinds of situations is to discretely(discreetly?) make sure you've referenced the object in question earlier in the book. In essence: If you load a gun in chapter three, make sure you shoot it in chapter five.

-Nick

Duncan J Macdonald · Mar 13, 2006

Nexusman said:
Here's a little more information:

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

The easiest way to avoid these kinds of situations is to discretely(discreetly?) make sure you've referenced the object in question earlier in the book. In essence: If you load a gun in chapter three, make sure you shoot it in chapter five.

-Nick

If I'm loading a gun in chapter three, it's because I emptied the magazine downrange in chapter two, and this is the first chance my character's had to re-load.

Nexusman · Mar 13, 2006

Duncan J Macdonald said:
If I'm loading a gun in chapter three, it's because I emptied the magazine downrange in chapter two, and this is the first chance my character's had to re-load.

Good line. Writing a book or playing a video game?

To rephrase to fit the topic: "If you fire a gun in chapter five, make sure it's loaded in chapter three."

-Nick

Duncan J Macdonald · Mar 13, 2006

Nexusman said:
Good line. Writing a book or playing a video game?
-Nick

Book, actually. I'm more of a dilettante, unlike my sibling, so the writing goes slowly. That being said, by the end of chapter one, the body count is up to 11.

Kasey Mackenzie · Mar 13, 2006

*reload* *reload* Er...that annoying litany is playing in my head now. The one from the shoot-em-up videogames...

Christine N. · Mar 13, 2006

Have you ever seen "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story"? It is HYSTERICAL. Anyway, at the end of the movie, Vince Vaughn's character, who is the Average Joe, wins the final dodgeball match. He, who sold his gym the night before, and you think all is lost, also wins big pot, because he bet on his team to win. The casino worker wheels out a big treasure chest, filled with five million dollars.

On the front of the chest, there's a small plaque. it reads... deux ex machina. I didn't see it until I saw the movie the second time. I think I was the only one in my house who laughed.

Nobody gets me.

Nexusman · Mar 13, 2006

Christine N. said:
On the front of the chest, there's a small plaque. it reads... deux ex machina. I didn't see it until I saw the movie the second time. I think I was the only one in my house who laughed.

I caught it also, and it does fit the machina definition: we don't find out about the wager until after the fact.

-Nick

SC Harrison · Mar 13, 2006

CaoPaux said:
Y'all seen this? http://www.sfwa.org/writing/turkeycity.html

Oh my God. I've got a lot of work to do. Apparently I have some early symptoms of Roget's Disease, with a smattering of Tom Swifties.

Christine N. · Mar 13, 2006

Nexusman said:
I caught it also, and it does fit the machina definition: we don't find out about the wager until after the fact.

-Nick

Of course it was intentional, just subtle jab in a not-so-subtle movie. Of course, the literal definition fits too... it was a box. And for some people, money is God.

God in a box.

I just realized that my ending idea was a bad pun

MadScientistMatt

Empirical Storm Trooper

Aconite

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Dawno

Shiny!

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless

A.REX

Celia Cyanide

Joker Groupie

MadScientistMatt

Empirical Storm Trooper

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Spirit_Fire

Slow-burning Muse

gp101

Nexusman

Chaos Warrior

Duncan J Macdonald

Plotting! Not Plodding!

Nexusman

Chaos Warrior

Duncan J Macdonald

Plotting! Not Plodding!

Kasey Mackenzie

One Hit Wonder?

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover

Nexusman

Chaos Warrior

SC Harrison

Dances With Hamsters

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover