That really packs a punch. To me it was an allegorical story, the struggle for meaning, how we lose control over our lives in a spiritual sense. Great stuff.
Our culture has lost its way—reminds me of the allegorical writing Chesterton did. Perhaps the West is awake again, facing poisonous ideologies.
There is a certain contingent happy to die quietly, eyes closed, hands over their ears. I don’t know whether or if they believe our current media landscape to be verdant, or if they even care.
We live in a distraction-rich environment. Those people you see standing in line, whipping out their phones after only a few moments boredom, are the norm. That casual avoidance of one's own thoughts using a phone is commonplace. Imagine what they are like at home with their large TVs and laptops and iPads. Full-spectrum immersion in consumption and entertainment, and no capacity to think or muse about the state of the world.
Alas they are the norm. And they are the West. Although not all of the West.
And in his quest for the fountain, Mr. West does original and creative things that the AI observing him can use as fresh fodder for its own "original" works?
Really excellent work, we've decayed so much that the days just blend together into a blur. Hopefully, we can bring a bit more light into the world. God Bless
P.S. I changed my profile name and picture, take care.
Could be make it to the well, drink, remember and then hit the first stream on his way back to forget? Is he in a time loop. Very Twilight zone bro. Way more entertaining than the arena. 😊
Released it. It’s a bit more up-tempo than the stuff you posted and I use chiptune sounds in the lead. Still, your story got me off my proverbial rear end to finish this one. Thanks again.
So you really can write fiction, eh? Great job. I know articles like this don't get many views and likes, but to me, they're the best. The way you left open so many metaphors and allegories is what made it so pure.
I'd hope to see a sequel, though anything further than the last line will destroy most metaphorical possibilities, of course...
It indeed has been autumn forever for Mr. West. One can only hope he finds his way to the well, and drinks water from the fountain. It's too late, some will say. I disagree. I think Mr. West is slowly waking up, slowly, but steadily, walking through the woods.
Clever to use an office setting, because whenever you return to the office - even after a nice vacation - it always feels like you've been there forever and the outside world melts away. Hope Mr. West makes it!
And I think you just condensed “Autumn of the Patriarch” into a few pages, including its meta-meaning. I wish your version had been around when I read that novel!
(Not to dismiss the originality of your take by the way)
Excellent stuff. And succinct too, a real skill. I would like to see more of your fiction. It is really here, within fiction, I think we can make our greatest contribution that will resonate with many. Much more so than longform nonfiction, as much as I love it myself.
I know this is not the best platform, but we have to start somewhere. It is important the material exists since the major publishing houses are unlikely to come to their senses in the near future.
I wrote a piece about this recently if you will permit a shameless plug:
That really packs a punch. To me it was an allegorical story, the struggle for meaning, how we lose control over our lives in a spiritual sense. Great stuff.
Thank you very much.
Our culture has lost its way—reminds me of the allegorical writing Chesterton did. Perhaps the West is awake again, facing poisonous ideologies.
There is a certain contingent happy to die quietly, eyes closed, hands over their ears. I don’t know whether or if they believe our current media landscape to be verdant, or if they even care.
We live in a distraction-rich environment. Those people you see standing in line, whipping out their phones after only a few moments boredom, are the norm. That casual avoidance of one's own thoughts using a phone is commonplace. Imagine what they are like at home with their large TVs and laptops and iPads. Full-spectrum immersion in consumption and entertainment, and no capacity to think or muse about the state of the world.
Alas they are the norm. And they are the West. Although not all of the West.
And in his quest for the fountain, Mr. West does original and creative things that the AI observing him can use as fresh fodder for its own "original" works?
Very cool! I’m excited to get to read fiction by you, too! It’s certainly not eternal autumn where you are.
Really excellent work, we've decayed so much that the days just blend together into a blur. Hopefully, we can bring a bit more light into the world. God Bless
P.S. I changed my profile name and picture, take care.
Wow! I wasn't expecting anything that good. Thank you! :)
Could be make it to the well, drink, remember and then hit the first stream on his way back to forget? Is he in a time loop. Very Twilight zone bro. Way more entertaining than the arena. 😊
Well done.
Wonderful story. It made me think of the waters of Lethe and (re)incarnation. Thanks!
From 2013-2019 I was a prolific composer of retro-inspired synthwave. Hundreds of tracks. Then .. it kind of withered. This story hit a nerve. Thanks.
Thank you. I have a soft spot for Vaporwave and its sister genres.
Released it. It’s a bit more up-tempo than the stuff you posted and I use chiptune sounds in the lead. Still, your story got me off my proverbial rear end to finish this one. Thanks again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubdfoJsDMok
Cool!
So you really can write fiction, eh? Great job. I know articles like this don't get many views and likes, but to me, they're the best. The way you left open so many metaphors and allegories is what made it so pure.
I'd hope to see a sequel, though anything further than the last line will destroy most metaphorical possibilities, of course...
Thank you very much; that means a lot.
It indeed has been autumn forever for Mr. West. One can only hope he finds his way to the well, and drinks water from the fountain. It's too late, some will say. I disagree. I think Mr. West is slowly waking up, slowly, but steadily, walking through the woods.
Clever to use an office setting, because whenever you return to the office - even after a nice vacation - it always feels like you've been there forever and the outside world melts away. Hope Mr. West makes it!
I think we've all been there at some point.
Excellent.
And I think you just condensed “Autumn of the Patriarch” into a few pages, including its meta-meaning. I wish your version had been around when I read that novel!
(Not to dismiss the originality of your take by the way)
Excellent stuff. And succinct too, a real skill. I would like to see more of your fiction. It is really here, within fiction, I think we can make our greatest contribution that will resonate with many. Much more so than longform nonfiction, as much as I love it myself.
I know this is not the best platform, but we have to start somewhere. It is important the material exists since the major publishing houses are unlikely to come to their senses in the near future.
I wrote a piece about this recently if you will permit a shameless plug:
https://abysspostcard.substack.com/p/creating-a-new-world
Thanks for posting this piece and I hope to see more.