Review of "Masks of War"

[j_cheney]

pabba has posted a kindly review of my story "Masks of War" here, in which he give me four out of five chicken nuggets! (OK, that's not strictly true, but the guy is obsessed with sushi, folks.)

I'm pleased he liked the story ;o) That's always a nice thing to hear.

I haven't talked much about this, but the story is actually based on a real department in the 3rd London General Hospital in WW1, the "Masks for Facial Disfigurement Department", also known as the "Tin Noses Shop". Smithsonian ran a wonderful article on this last year, avaliable on-line here.

Particularly fascinating are some of the before and after photos available in the photo gallery.(photo taken from the Smithsonian web-site)


Very few of these masks still exist....most of the men who wore them were buried in them.

Comments

[gabriel-writes.livejournal.com]

Amazing. What makes it doubly so, is that these soldiers were able to survive these kinds of wounds at all.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

With basically no antibiotics. It's a miracle some of them came out at all.

[gabriel-writes.livejournal.com]

Currently reading the article you linked to, amazing--the work that they did with tin and enamel paint.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I thought so, too! Our forefathers really were a resourceful bunch of blokes!

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

That's fascinating.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

It was a really good article. Smithsonian hits 'em out of the park sometimes.

[gabriel-writes.livejournal.com]

Finally got a chance to read the story. Marvelous. Almost a ghostly tale, but then again, not quite. Almost literary, but with a nice touch of the speculative. Well done.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[alaneer.livejournal.com]

Nice review, and the story deserves it.

Wow, the mask is masterful; you could hardly tell that he's so injured.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

a) Thanks ;o)

b) Very true ;o)

[therinth.livejournal.com]

Completely incredible. Thanks for sharing!

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

;o)

[pabba.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's really fascinating. I can definitely see why this inspired a story. :D

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

It was an awesome article ;o)