Something Wonderful to Read - Bob Rogers: Final Frontier Final

Julie Neidlinger’s 2007 installment in the annual blogathon once again featured a beloved creation of hers:  Bob.  Bob first appeared on the Lone Prairie Blog during the 2005 blogathon (this first appearance  was subsequently published in book form, and is available here from Lulu.com.),  He has since hung around for these past two years in posts and even calendars (also available from Lulu.com), much to the delight of Lone Prairie readers across the globe.  When Julie announced that Bob would grace the posts of her blog again, a shudder of anticipation ran down the back of her collective readership.

This year’s installment was entitled (as you can plainly see in the picture) ”Bob Rogers: Final Frontier Final.”  Culling pop culture references from well over a dozen films, TV shows and books, Neidlinger deftly weaves a story that, at first, seems solely an amusing diversion for our entertainment.  But, with each successive chapter, she begins to draw us deeper into the mystery that is good and evil, as well as the power of mercy and sacrifice.  Of course nothing Neidlinger writes would be complete without her trademark wit and sarcasm.  The “Final Frontier Final” contains ample amounts of both, seen particularly in this passage from Chapter 19:

Doogle was, as everyone knew, the most evil force in the galaxy. It’s motto, “Be Evil” was precisely precise. It had evolved from a kind of matrix-based energy force that merely answered questions and served as an information gateway, into a pulsating, living thing, knowing what a person was about to ask before he had a chance, controlling all information and putting a stranglehold on history.

Doogle.

The Great Knower. The Killer of Curiosity, of Scholarship, of Quests. No question it did not answer. Evil, indeed, but perfect for what Rogers had in mind. Questions he had in spades.

An example of Neidlinger’s playfulness is found in this exchange of dialogue between Captain Rogers and the enigmatic Jack Swift, which can be found in Chapter 28:

“That is our version of the Star Queen’s star gate,” he said. “It is by no means as powerful, and can only travel in this galaxy, but the difference is that it can travel in time. Her gate does not allow that, even when working.”

“What is it?”

“It was left here, many centuries ago, by a medicine man.”

“A doctor?”

“Yes.”

“Doctor who?”

“Yes.”

“No, what is the name of the doctor,” Rogers pressed.

“Who.”

“The doctor.”

“Yes, Who.”

Rogers gave up. He recognized the comedy routine from one of three pieces of entertainment that had survived from ancient Earth.

Now if the story Neidlinger presented contained only her wordplay and wit, it would be enough.  But, as I mention above, she also dares to venture into the much deeper waters; in this case, the veritable oceans of theology and ontology.  For instance, in chapter 21 we find this small morsel:

And now, here they all were, on Planet Doom, the dark half, parched, and in the presence of something evil.

Something dark. Something illogical.

They could all feel it.

Of course, evil has been identified with darkness for millennia.  What intrigues me is how Neidlinger also calls evil “illogical.”  It is the small touches like this that makes one want to continue reading the story even more than the smiles and laughs the tale produces.

Every chapter of this tantalizing tale is accompanied by a scene that Neidlinger meticulously created to help illuminate her story.  One of my favorites is from Chapter 29 where Captain Rogers is given a glimpse of Planet Doom shortly after its creation.  The simplicity of the scene perfectly matches the contents of the chapter.

If you have the time, make sure you stop by Lone Prairie Blog and read Neidlinger’s entry into 2007 Blogathon.  It will be worth your while, for at times it is as though she is channeling Douglas Adams and C.S. Lewis simultaneously.  You can read “Final Frontier Final” by clicking the previous link, or by going to the first post in the series here.  Also, if you are willing and able, make sure to make a donation in her honor for completing this 24 hour endurance test.  Her charity for this year’s blogathon is Joni and Friends, and you can click here to learn how you can make a contribution to the cause.

PS: If you would like to check out Julie’s 2006 blogathon posts, go here.  To look at some of her art work and other crafts for sale, click here.  Also please note that the images in this post are the sole property of Julie Neidlinger and are used with permission.

PPS:  BTW, having just finished reading the story, let me add that the ending to this tale is perfect.  You couldn’t ask for more.

Technorati tags: Blogathon, Julie Neidlinger, Lone Prairie Blog, Bob, review, Final Frontier Final