It is right that the gods be worshipped outside of any sort of enclosure. Temples and churches are idolatrous architecture: we are best with the original cathedral of the forest, with its irregular aisles and its roof crowned with the sky. Stone can only suggest the great canopy of the stars.
In the place of sacrifice, at the crisis or crux of the year, in the moment of the knife, that is the true place. That is the opening onto infinity, and that is the real place. “Favorite” is such a weak word for it, as if my individual will had anything to do with it. Beauty, too, that’s a weak word too, for what I want is something that means beauty and power and the awe we feel in the place of the sublime…
… that son et lumiere at the opening of Kirsten Felix’s Frankenstein, that conjures the northern wastes of the pole, yes, that’s what I mean. Caspar David Freidrich, of course: and that design so cleverly summons those pictures, without being literal about it… and it’s Petra Miller’s design, of course, but even a half-breed can get something right, if it’s so obviously in the air.
***
Six Sentence Sunday has been replaced by a number of options. Weekend Writing Warriors offers eight-sentence excerpts from a variety of writers; see the other excerpts here.
E. P. Beaumont 
I love this: “…we are best with the original cathedral of the forest, with its irregular aisles and its roof crowned with the sky. Stone can only suggest the great canopy of the stars.”
Some interesting world building going on. I look forward to reading more. 🙂 Good 8!
Very atmospheric, and rather ominous. I take it (from the post title) that this is one of your characters talking to us? I love character interviews as a way of getting inside their heads.
Yes, this is direct address from the Elusive Villain (who sulked through the entire 30 days of National Novel Writing Month, and refused to show himself until I had interviewed him). While this isn’t part of the main text of the novel, it has interest all on its own.
I think that the interview has one great advantage over the biography or rap sheet: it forces you to answer the questions as the character. As a proponent of ‘world building by tripping over things,’ I find it’s a great aid to establishing the setting, as well as discovering other stories in the same universe.
thanks very much for your comment 😀 “favourite” is such a weak word.
Wow, powerful, had to read this twice to take in all the layers and nuances. Terrific excerpt, can’t wait to see what follows!
Thank you! All credit is due to the Muse, of course, and the thirty-day character questionnaire.
Which character is this from?
This is the villain (whom we don’t name, for spoiler-prevention purposes) from the novel The Necromancer and the Barbarian: A Love Story. The character interview explores, among other things, his motivation for a series of murders that mirror Iron Age bog sacrifices, stretching back over five years.
what a great way to choose your 8! I love it! 🙂
A favourite artist. And I love the philosophy. great snippet.
I really love the tone of this. Great job!
That’s poetic and deep.