August 16, 2005
I think this is too big a topic for me to spend just one day on, so I'll split it up for the rest of the week. Here are some examples to discuss:

Example 1:
The device gave off a caustic stench. Kneeling over it, Joe and Frank studied the bomb--the grease-encrusted housing, the multiple many-colored wires, the digital clock counting down: 1:01; 1:00; :0:59...

"We don't have time to think," Joe said. "We have to make a decision."

"Red," said Frank. He moved his wire cutter toward the red wire. "We'll cut the red wire."

Example 2:
Frank thought the device gave off a caustic stench. He and his partner Joe were kneeling over the bomb. The housing was covered in grease and there were dozens of many-colored wires jutting out around the digital clock that was counting down: 1:01; 1:00; 0:59...

Joe said, "We don't have to to think. We have to make a decision."

You mean I have to make a decision, thought Frank. I wouldn't trust your decisions in a situation like this. "Red," he said, and brought the blades of his wire cutter toward the red wire. "We'll cut the red wire."

Example 3:
The bomb stank. Bombardier had covered the device's casing in grease. Conscious of Frank next to me, no doubt jumping to conclusions, I studied the bomb. Dozens of multi-colored wires framed a digital clock like a Rasta man's do. The the freakin' clock, counting off the time to our death. "1:01; 1:00; 0:59..."

"We don't have time to think," I said. "We have to make a decision."

And Frank, who doesn't look before he leaps, jammed the blades of his wirecutters against the red wire. "Red," he said. "We'll cut the red wire."

Example 4:
The bomb stank, thought Frank. Joe, squatting next to him, wondered about the grease covering the device's housing. Why had Bombardier done that? Was it part of the device? Frank was focused more on the wires, multi-colored and sprouting from a dozen small holes in the device, framing the digital readout. Joe couldn't take his eyes off the readout, thinking, we're running out of time. "1:01; 1:00; 0:59..."

"We don't have time to think," said Joe. "We have to make a decision." Let's either do something or get the hell out of here.

"Red," said Frank, jamming the blades of his wirecutters against the red wire. "We'll cut the red wire." No guts, no glory. You only die once, he thought.

Okay. Summary:
Example 1: Omniscient, limited 3rd person, distant. Very much an objective reporter's point of view.

Example 2: Third person, from Frank's point of view.

Example 3: First person, from Joe's point of view.

Example 4: Third person omniscient, from both characters' points of view.

Either later in today or tomorrow I'll discuss. Feel free to tell me what you think.

Best,
Mark Terry