#rogue male

[oldshrewsburyian]

The poets are wrong when they describe the grave as cold.

Rogue Male, Geoffrey Household

[bracketsoffear]

Rogue Male (Geoffrey Household) "A bored, upper-class British sportsman is found on the grounds of an unnamed European dictator's residence with his hunting rifle in hand, and subsequently arrested. His claim, maintained under torture, that he was stalking the dictator purely as an exercise in the skill of the hunt and that he had no intention of firing is so audacious that it is almost believed — but nonetheless he cannot be allowed to live. To execute such a well-connected Briton would cause an international incident, so his captors decide to kill him by throwing him over a cliff so that his body will show injuries consistent with accidental death. Though badly injured he survives and manages to make his way to the Channel and from there back to England. There he discovers that home does not mean safety, nor an end to the pursuit."

And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie) "Ten people, trapped on an island, all of them murderers who escaped justice. They are slowly picked off one by one as judgement for their crimes, causing them to search desperately for the killer before turning on one another, evoking themes of paranoia and betrayal akin to MAG 176: Blood Ties. (Spoilers below the cut)"

Spoilers: The killer was the judge, who had gone into law enforcement to sate his desire for killing and punishment, much like Daisy Tonner did

[thekingsofitall]

She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes...

[myfavoritepeterotoole]

Rogue Male (1976) directed by Clive Donner

Peter O'Toole as Sir Robert Hunter

Maureen Lipman as Freda

Ray Mort as Gerald

[cinemajunkie70]

The happiest of birthdays in the afterlife to one of my all time favorite actors, to my hero, Peter O’Toole!

[marcherren]

Wanderstilleben

Zeiss Ikonta 520/2, Novar-Anastigmat, Ilford HP5+

[archivyrep]

Archives in Fiction's selections

In this post I'm going to feature and expand on some examples of archives in fiction which were noted by Archives in Fiction (herein AIF), an account which notes "portrayals of archives in fiction of all kinds." [1] This includes the following examples:

Alias, Season 1, Episode 8

Alias, Season 1, Episode 16

Alias, Season 1, Episode 18

Alias, Season 2, Episode 4

The Americans

Loki

Age of Ultron: Book 8

Station Series

Berlin

Zoo Station

Restless

Age of Ultron

Killing Eve

Rogue Male

Midnight Library

The Defenders

Slough House

Inspector Montalbano, Season 14, Episode 1

The Da Vinci Code

The Pulse: Part 11 "The Fear"

The Pulse: Part 10 "House of M"

The Pulse: Part 5 "Thin Air".

Kingdom: Ashin of the North

Weapon X #10

These examples include the protagonists breaking into the classified archives of the CIA, an elaborate plot to infiltrate secret archives, and early examples of digitization of a show set in the 1980s. Others focus on a book with archival records featured throughout with acknowledgements crediting archivists as helping with the work, possibly vast archives, the "judicious use of the 30 year rule," a film where the villain scrubs digital files to frustrate attempts by the heroes to follow him, so they dig out boxes of files, and an "interestingly shot and well edited sequence...in which Jessica Jones tracks The Hand through archive records." [1]

Reprinted from my Wading Through the Cultural Stacks WordPress blog. Originally published on Aug. 20, 2021.

Jessica Jones character explores archives in New York in an episode of the live-action series The Defenders.

AIF says they were "less amused by her treatment of the finding aids" because she removes index cards, and further says they were surprised that they let her have the run of the place, but added that is "nice to see a superhero doing her own research instead of relying on sidekicks." AIF also mentions Midnight Library, saying that while this might be a stretch of archives in fiction but says that "infinite storage, incredible rolling shelves and...musings on the reliability on the reliability of memory," make it memorable, as does a line about librarians as "soul-enhanced search engines."

Furthermore, AIF noted that archives are the heart of a novel, some "through appraisal" going on in one episode of a TV series, archives in a well-known film, and Wolverine sharpening his...archival research skills? The specifics of what is being referred to is noted in AIF's certain tweets, linked throughout this post. In one recent example mentioned by AIF, they note an episode of Alias which has a break-in at a technical library in Moscow, with use of a finding aid and a retrieval system, even though "there was a trail of destruction and misappropriation." This contrasts a nice, clean repository elsewhere.

I wish AIF had featured some animated series, but I'll be trying to look into some of those in the future, with draft posts about: Wan Shi Tong in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, Tony Stanza in Welcome to the Wayne, and Miss Quackfaster in Ducktales. Whether I write those or not, I don't know, but there are hopefully topics out there to write about going forward in the future.

© 2022 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

Notes

[1] For Age of Ultron: Book 8, AIF notes mention of archives in this comic, saying jokingly, "Surely Tony would've rebranded these Starkives?" For Berlin, AIF says that in this book by David Downing there isn't much to report when it comes to archives in fiction. For Zoo Station, AIF says that this book by David Downing features include theft from archives, invisible archives labor, and no provenance. For Killing Eve, AIF says that archival material has a part to play in this trilogy. AIF also notes this appeared in the TV series of the same name. For Rogue Male, AIF says that there is a brief nod to archives in this novel by Geoffrey Household and said they were annoyed by "describing an archive as some kind of pit, the bottom of which is reserved for inconsequential items." They noted the story was excellent otherwise. This doesn't include AIF talking about almost an archivist in Andrew Caldecott's Rotherweird and says that the Thrilling Adventures of Babbage may be inspired by archives. AIF also notes: mention of archives in this comic, The Pulse: Part 11 "The Fear"; mention of archives in this comic, The Pulse: Part 10 "House of M"; mention of newspaper archives in the comic, The Pulse: Part 5 "Thin Air". AIF also noted improper records management in an episode of Community, early mentions of the Library of Alexandria in Brad Thor's Blowback, and suggests possible archives in the She-Hulk comic, along with theft from an archives in another piece of pop culture.

Update:

The account is on "indefinite hiatus" per their Twitter profile

Their last tweet was on July 10, 2022, and their blog has nothing but this one webpage.

[ofhouseusher]

[nothing-real-here]

ohhhh my friend gave me art with my RT and Marazhai as a gift 🥺

It's because I talk about him too much. I think I've accidentally "sold" the game to 5-6 strangers and my friends because I talk about Marzipan too much and constantly post videos on youtube that people usually comment on like this:

After finishing the game I can say that Mara:

Is well written with lore knowledge in mind

he doesn't have a redemption arc (BLESS OWLCAT).

he has an amazing VA. this is not empty praise, people unfamiliar with the character go crazy for the voice. it's real. especially when you don't expect it.

his romance is a logical conclusion and it's a completely adult story that doesn't indulge the player's desires

My biggest sin is that if I like something, I talk about it forever. I just can't shut up. But look I got art for it! That's the first time something good has happened because of it.

[oldshrewsburyian]

He who has learned not to intrude his emotions upon his fellows has also learned not to intrude them upon himself.

Rogue Male, Geoffrey Household

[willsherjohnkhan]

Rogue Male: A Sherlolly Story

Chapter 4: Identified

***

LONDON

Returning to England, making his way to London, and meeting up with Mycroft were all risky decisions. But they were necessary ones, for they gave him the upper hand on those that pursued him.

England was home, and London his domain. It was here he had his own vast network to assist him with whatever he was likely to need in order to apprehend the other members of Moriarty’s criminal organisation.

*

It didn’t take long after slipping away from The Diogenes Club for Sherlock to become aware that he had been tracked down. His shadow skilfully followed his every move. Whoever they were, they were remarkably adept at keeping well out of sight.

This simply would not do. It made Sherlock doubly determined to discover their identity, exposing them, if for no other reason than to assess the level of danger his shade posed, to himself and the public in general.

The question was, how best to get them to reveal themselves.

***

LONDON UNDERGROUND

Without warning Sherlock ducked into the Hollborn Underground Station, quickly buying an all-day pass before inserting the ticket into the machine and gaining access to the platforms. Once through he immediately made his way to the escalator that took him to the Central London Line.

Luck was on his side as a train had just pulled onto the platform.

While passengers on the train disembarked, and those waiting on the platform moved forward intent on getting onboard, Sherlock used the brief interlude to scan the crowd in search of his quarry. But to his growing frustration they remained irritatingly elusive.

The train was about to leave the platform when Sherlock jumped onboard, only to immediately turn around and hop off.

He ran for the stairs that would get him to the Piccadilly Line. As he began his descent he had the satisfaction of hearing someone having to force the train doors and leap out just as the train took off.

A brief glance over his shoulder was enough for Sherlock to identify his pursuer.

“Gotcha,” he murmured triumphantly as he made his way hastily down the steps.

*

His name was Parker, a short, stocky, yet powerfully built man, essential in his line of work. He was a garrotter by trade, and a member of Moriarty’s inner circle.

He was definitely the type you should be prepared for. Knowledge of your opponent was an invaluable asset.

With the distance between them and Sherlock’s longer stride that allowed him to reach the platform first, giving him a few precious moments to decide which car to enter, and find somewhere to sit.

The innocuous babble of schoolchildren that crowded around him, either sitting or standing, was only made bearable by the fact that they kept him shielded from the frantic searching gaze of his pursuer, who was forced to abandon his search in order to get on the train just as it took off.

Sherlock had no intention of staying put for long, but he also didn’t want to reveal his whereabouts if at all possible.

*

The obvious advantage for getting on the Piccadilly Circus Line was that it would take him to the Baker Street Station. But there was great risk in doing so, but as things stood at the moment, this was the best and quickest option. Sherlock could only hope that his run of luck thus far would continue.

When the train began to slow as it pulled into Baker Street Station, Sherlock was relieved to see the platform overrun by a mass of schoolchildren.

A number of passengers on the train began making their way towards the doors, all bracing themselves for the inevitable impact as the unruly hoards of children forced their way onto the already packed train car.

Sherlock made certain to be right in the middle of the mayhem, giving as good as he received in the pushing and shoving in order to get off the train as quickly as possible.

*

His luck held, with Parker this time unable to make it out of the door before the train left the station.

Using the few precious minutes before Parker could catch another train back, Sherlock made his way to a locker he had at the station. From it he retrieved items he had left instructions for a member of his Homeless Network to leave there: a backpack loaded with supplies for living off the grid, and a sleeping bag.

Then, using a public phone he rang a former client, who had offered his assistance should Sherlock ever require it, and made arrangements for where he was to be picked up.

***

ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF LONDON

Sherlock unfolded himself from the cramped confines of the man’s mini, and headed off without a backward glance.

His plan, to remain concealed from prying eyes for as long as possible, in order to give him the time he needed to get his plan of action up and running.

To that end he immediately left the road and headed over to some overgrown woodland that would help to keep him hidden and well out of sight.

Time was of the essence, for he knew that with their resources Moriarty’s operatives would soon track him down. So he needed to keep one step ahead of them for as long as possible, and use what time he had to set a trap.

***

[bracketsoffear]

Ice (Anna Kavan) "The book follows a male protagonist who feverishly pursues a young nameless woman from country to country as society collapses due to a beginning of a new ice age. People flee their cities to go south, so a lot of the scenes take place in the wilderness and the forests. The protagonist often fantasizes about the woman being torn to shreds by wild animals as she flees a pursuer, and often compares her to prey animals."

Rogue Male (Geoffrey Household) "A bored, upper-class British sportsman is found on the grounds of an unnamed European dictator's residence with his hunting rifle in hand, and subsequently arrested. His claim, maintained under torture, that he was stalking the dictator purely as an exercise in the skill of the hunt and that he had no intention of firing is so audacious that it is almost believed — but nonetheless he cannot be allowed to live. To execute such a well-connected Briton would cause an international incident, so his captors decide to kill him by throwing him over a cliff so that his body will show injuries consistent with accidental death. Though badly injured he survives and manages to make his way to the Channel and from there back to England. There he discovers that home does not mean safety, nor an end to the pursuit."

[myfavoritepeterotoole]

Peter O'Toole was named stage actor of the year, pictured here with Maureen Lipman stage actress at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards in London. Photo by Alan Davidson

** Peter O'Toole and Maureen Lipman co-starred in Rogue Male

Rogue Male (1976) Maureen Lipman as Freda

[big-low-t]

Rogue Male - Unemployment

[mrssimply]

War Queens II

First version here.

Now they have knights and I'm having too much fun.