GENRE: Action-Adventure
Over lunch with her sister in Morrison, Colorado, Environmentalist Cassandra Shavano--the sibyl reborn in her first incarnation since the Fall of Troy--begins to glimpse the reason for mankind's banishment to Earth in the depths of its past (which she discovers through a radical form of hypnotic regression gone awry) and grasp the underlying cause of her spiritual bane.
Despite her annoyance, she needed to listen. This pertained to her regression. Her salad forgotten, she toyed with her ice cubes while thinking out loud.
"So I need to fight political corruption."
Crystal frowned at her plate from across the table. "Are you doing anything with those olives? You've got three, and they only gave me one."
Before she could answer, her sister lunged for a large black olive and plopped it into her mouth. She resumed her lecture while chewing.
"Corruption wouldn't be possible if we had the guts to face unwanted truths. You're fighting the fact people choose to believe whatever they want and ignore everything else or twist it to fit their egos or convenience."
"I know, but I don't, so maybe others don't either."
Crystal swapped her empty plate for Cassandra's salad.
"You're wrong about that too. You knew no one would come to your protest, so you didn't follow up your emails. Rather than face the fact that it was doomed to flop, you chose to see yourself as a victim. At least you're not alone. Scientists at Emory University used MRIs to prove anyone can turn off their brains when confronted by truths they'd rather not face."
Cassandra stared at the distant rocks. Convenient thinking and denial. Could "The Taint" be so simple? Of course, it could. In fact it had to be, because it had to be something so basic that everyone took it for granted.
Interesting. I like the dichotomy of one gorging while the other is talking about saving the world.
ReplyDeleteAnd.
Um.
Maybe do a quick check at the urban dictionary before using the word "taint" as a significant title?
It might mean something a bit different to the masses nowadays.
LOL! Thanks Kaurelius! It never occurred to me. You're spot on! ...err...well...Thanks! ;<)
ReplyDeleteInteresting premise. I like the dialogue, but it needs tagging to avoid "talking heads."
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting, and slightly confusing--which I think is mostly do to with the 250 word hedge. I wonder, though, if you've classified it in the right genre? It seems like it might have some sci-fi elements?
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea portrayed at the end of the segment: That people choose what to believe in order to view themselves in a better light, or to see what they want to see. Very interesting.
You've got some fascinating ideas here. Good luck!
Hi Hanna! Thank you & you're right; the story involves soft sci-fi elements. They make up so little of the actual text and action (less than ten percent), that I tend to coin QFs as an action-adventure. Since I first wrote the book in 1997 (as a result of becoming paralyzed) others have proven its philosophical premise scientifically (so I can't claim full credit for your favorite part:<). For example, two studies at Emory U. mapped the process of human denial. If you're curious, I've posted links to the articles on my website's 'premise' page. I also explore their implications re the environment on my Quantum Fires blog. Thank you for your encouragement and feedback! :<) James
ReplyDeleteThe reveal is definitely there, but Cassandra doesn't really react to it. SHe accepts it as another bit of information, rather than the key to everything. Is it the key to everything, or at least the key that will help her solve whatever mystery or puzzle or problem she's trying to unravel? If it is, it should be a bigger moment, and the easiest way to make it bigger is to have her react in a bigger way. Why is this important for her to know? Have her voice it or think it so we know. How does knowing this change things? Again, let her say or think how so we know. SHow us why that knowledge matters.
ReplyDeleteIt's clear you are a good writer. I was a little confused, too, but as stated above I imagine it was just being dropped into the short excerpt. Despite what you mention above, I still wonder about the genre. If this is futuristic, perhaps dystopian is the approp genre?
ReplyDeleteHi Alexia! Thank you for your observations and your suggestion re a dystopian genre! It's not quite futuristic although the Chapter One setting, "Next May; Paintbrush Peak, Central Colorado," implies a social relevance that remains current as time moves on. I agree! Genre is hard to pin down--especially since I've been told any reference to extraterrestrial life, even with regard to mankind's roots, might make this sci-fi in the eyes of agents/publishers.
ReplyDeleteThank you Barbara! I understand exactly what you're suggesting. This isn't the right place to be subtle. The info she gleans from her sister is crucial to Cassandra. She understand this immediately--but the reader needs to understand its importance as well. Great point! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSlightly confusing... Where's the revelation bit? I don't think I caught it. I'll second the "talking heads" too.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a lot of competition for reincarnation stories in these Drop the Needles. I do like this one though, being named Cassandra myself. :)
Hi Cassandra! Yep...I picked that name specifically to hook the Cassandras of the world. If I can get enough buzz to convince every Cassandra to buy a copy (in the same month), it'll shoot to the top the NY Times bestseller list:<]
ReplyDeleteThe revelation occurs in the last paragraph when Cassandra realizes the aspect of human psychology referred to by her sister (basically denial) could be the reason why we were quarantined on Earth by our parent species..."The Taint" (see summary intro before excerpt). Unfortunately, I was unable to fit a fuller explanation into the 250 word segment. However, per your advice and the advice of others, I've expanded Cassandra's introspective response to her sister's information to insure the reader grasps the significance of the point. Thanks!
ReplyDeletenice!
viagra bekasi
alat bantu seks jakarta
hammer of thor asli bekasi
viagra cod bekasi
jual viagra cod bekasi
hammer of thor cod bekasi
viagra asli cod bekasi
obat perangsang bekasi
alat bantu sex bekasi