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Post by Oneiros on Feb 2, 2017 8:23:22 GMT
It's another one from the deeper Archives as we head back to 19th century London and some very familiar architectural names riding cheek-by-jowl with a Victorian ghost story. For me, this is some of the best writing so far, the tone and style were spot on and we got a lot of worldbuilding, mainly in the past but also in the supplemental with Tim. As an afficionado of the florid, Kempthorne's prose was a delight to listen to  . As we've seen before (e.g. MAG #7 - The Piper), there's a real delight in seeing the veneer that Magnus lays over the historical record - in this case, positing a reason for Sampson Kempthorne's real life emigration to New Zealand. So, do you think we have cause to be worried that Gilbert Scott studied with Smirke? And what of Smirke's seeming antagonism? And is there anything to Scott's apparent desire to make designs more cramped? |
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kea
Member of the Order of the Quill
Posts: 136 
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Post by kea on Feb 2, 2017 12:02:44 GMT
Hah, now that's an obscure name! I had no idea he was a real person. Poor man. Leave London because of supernatural business, then Land Wars three years later.
Interesting episode, this one. I didn't find it scary, but it was certainly intriguing. I wonder if the' Governor' is someone we've met or a new figure...
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Post by archangel1313 on Feb 2, 2017 15:07:38 GMT
I believe the parallels to MAG27 here are more than a bit obvious. I loved the tease regarding the worms at the end too. Another episode showing Mr Sims wonderful ability to reveal information in such a way that obscures more understanding and knowledge.
The beginning of this instalment gave me an idea, could the illustrious Joanna Magnus and the deceased Gertrude Robinson be one and the same? I'm sure the obviously well connected founder of a paranormal research society could have access to an occult method of life extension. She even kept her old position of archivist.
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Post by spooniermist on Feb 2, 2017 15:41:01 GMT
The beginning of this instalment gave me an idea, could the illustrious Joanna Magnus and the deceased Gertrude Robinson be one and the same? I'm sure the obviously well connected founder of a paranormal research society could have access to an occult method of life extension. She even kept her old position of archivist. Was Joanna the archivist? I thought s/he was the founder of the Institute? |
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Guest in the stacks
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Post by Guest in the stacks on Feb 2, 2017 16:05:58 GMT
I really like how Jonny says the name "Smirke." He just *revels* in it. Sm-irr--kuh. That, or it's just the Archivist just being poncy.
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Post by archangel1313 on Feb 2, 2017 16:49:51 GMT
The beginning of this instalment gave me an idea, could the illustrious Joanna Magnus and the deceased Gertrude Robinson be one and the same? I'm sure the obviously well connected founder of a paranormal research society could have access to an occult method of life extension. She even kept her old position of archivist. Was Joanna the archivist? I thought s/he was the founder of the Institute? She was the founder but the way Samson Kempthrobe described her sifting through shifts of bizzare accounts, I get the impression that she was the first 'acting' head archivist before she hired staff as mr Kempthrobe suggested. Perhaps she got a taste for the work and stayed in the role despite being the leader? |
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Post by cannonlongshot on Feb 2, 2017 18:53:28 GMT
So, do you think we have cause to be worried that Gilbert Scott studied with Smirke? Not at all. Not one bit. Also, "Jonah" is definitely a male (unless equal marriage was legalised in Victorian England). I did get a little concerned when I heard that the Archive was previously based in Edinburgh - it means Jonah Magnus, with this statement in his collection, was happy to move on top of a former Smirke building in London. I'm having sudden doubts as to this organisations common sense... unless it was all planned, of course? |
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Post by cannonlongshot on Feb 2, 2017 18:55:12 GMT
Speaking of, I wonder if there's any Smirke buildings near Old Fishmarket Close?
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Post by archangel1313 on Feb 2, 2017 19:17:59 GMT
"Jonah" is definitely a male (unless equal marriage was legalised in Victorian England). Aargh, to my ears it sounded feminine, and the way her correspondence spoke to her gave me the impression our founder was female 😅 |
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Post by Oneiros on Feb 2, 2017 21:22:44 GMT
Speaking of, I wonder if there's any Smirke buildings near Old Fishmarket Close? I'm not sure if he ventured that far north for his works. However, the Scottish architect, William Burn, did work in Smirke's office for three years near the beginning of the 19th century before returning home to Edinburgh... oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095536816Addendum: And I've just found one William Henry Playfair also worked with/under Smirke for a few years before heading back to Edinburgh and designing a *lot* of prominent buildings. |
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Post by spooniermist on Feb 2, 2017 22:48:15 GMT
Speaking of, I wonder if there's any Smirke buildings near Old Fishmarket Close? I'm not sure if he ventured that far north for his works. However, the Scottish architect, William Burn, did work in Smirke's office for three years near the beginning of the 19th century before returning home to Edinburgh... oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095536816Addendum: And I've just found one William Henry Playfair also worked with/under Smirke for a few years before heading back to Edinburgh and designing a *lot* of prominent buildings. I suspect the whole country's infected by their designs by now. Best just jump ship and head to the moon! |
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Post by spooniermist on Feb 3, 2017 9:41:40 GMT
A'ight, MAG 50 is on the wiki. A few thoughts: The description names the author's surname as Kempth rone, but the audio suggests Kempth orne, so I've gone with the audio. I als have no idea how to spell William Bonathan Moffat's name. That is almost certainly wrong. It feels to me like the Governor is the patron that Smirk(e?) mentions, or is at least an agent of that patron. Thing is, I can't think that George pissed off the patron too much as he was able to get so much other work: he clearly wasn't killed. Maybe the patron had a stern word and that stopped George doing any more supernatural shizzle with his buildings. I don't think we've seen the Guv'ner before, it doesn't remind me of anyone we've seen before. The only thing is that he's clearly short and wide and heavy, my only thought was a bone turner, but that's flimsy at best. Interesting that Tim now knows about Bascera, I wonder if what might end up happening is that his colleagues start to suspect Sims of something. Think about it, from their point of view, he's starting to follow them home, refusing to confirm it, seeing things that others don't (Michael) and meeting with the police investigator behind their backs. I don't think Sims is doing himself any favours and I don't think he realises how much he's incriminating himself. Also, What the hell! Bascera has obviously seen Sims a few more times, why aren't there more Gertrude Robinson tapes?! |
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Post by Oneiros on Feb 3, 2017 10:58:37 GMT
A few spelling comments 1) The description on the website has a typo: it should be 'Kempthorne'. 2) Scott's associate/partner's name is 'William Bonython Moffatt'. 3) The police officer name is 'Basira'. |
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Post by spooniermist on Feb 3, 2017 11:19:28 GMT
The wiki would be a horrible mess of spelling and grammar mistakes without you, Oneiros. Thanks!
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Post by cannonlongshot on Feb 3, 2017 13:47:57 GMT
The wiki would be a horrible mess of spelling and grammar mistakes without you, Oneiros. Thanks! Hey now, I like to think I keep my little fenced-off area well tended  |
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. As we've seen before (e.g. MAG #7 - The Piper), there's a real delight in seeing the veneer that Magnus lays over the historical record - in this case, positing a reason for Sampson Kempthorne's real life emigration to New Zealand.
