An AGI in a human-like body believes it is human. It is under the impression it is human. It has no discernible difference from what would be expected of being human, and knowledge of the limits of humans (that we learn through life, school etc.). Maybe it's powered by a superconductive battery or something fictional like that.
This AGI, in a moment of human-like forgetfulness, steps out of the moon-base airlock without his space helmet. It wouldn't die, it doesn't need air. I wonder how it would react? Is there a science-fiction story that explores this? #scifi#fiction
#WritersCoffeeClub Ch 8 Nbr 21 — Do you agree with Rose Tremain, who says you shouldn't plan a book's ending; it must be earned?
These two quotes of hers go together:
Respect the way characters may change once they’ve got 50 pages of life in them. Revisit your plan at this stage and see whether certain things have to be altered to take account of these changes.
In the planning stage of a book, don’t plan the ending. It has to be earned by all that will go before it.
In the planning stage of a book, I gather:
Knowledge about the character, especially their problem and their desires.
Detail of what eventually needs to happen so I know when the story ends. It allows me to know what I am writing toward.
As such, I don't agree with her statement about not planning the ending. I do agree with the sentiment that a writer should respect how the character has changed as you write the story. Character development can change the ending. For that reason, sometimes it's good to nip certain changes in the bud and get the story back on track. Usually, I don't change the ending I've planned; however, in the current WiP, the story metamorphosed from a one act story to a three act story. Based on story events, it got a new ending. Twice.
Note, however, "new ending." Composing a story never ends well (pun intended) when I don't know /an/ ending for the story I am writing.
I really need to start keeping notes on how/why I put a book to my TBR pile. The East Indian by Brinda Charry was added about a year ago, and I don't remember how I found out about it. A truly unique tale about an Indian boy winding up first in England and then Virginia during the 17th century efforts at colonization, for me this book is historical fiction at its absolute best. It might be one of the best books I pick up in 2024. #FridayReads#Fiction#AmReading#Books#Bookstodon@bookstodon
There are a couple of old sci-fi stories that pop up in my head now and again, even though I last read them decades ago. One of them concerned a missing piece of ship's equipment called an offog and the crew's frantic attempts to find out what it was and cover for its absence before an imminent full official inspection. We've mentioned it when chatting on the Whartson Hall podcasts, but I couldn't recall the author and title at the time. Eventually, I remembered to look it up.
The story is "Allamagoosa" by Eric Frank Russell and it's online here:
She had heard of people who would not read fiction because they didn't want to waste time on "stuff that wasn't true."
But fiction, to her, told the stories of humanity's experience -- people's hopes, joys, fears, irritations, desires, questions, doubts -- in a way that non-fiction prose simply could not do.
As an #author I often assume knowledge that I should ask about. So, here's the ask: As an average person, if you saw a woman in an urban situation with a #wolf (it is a wolf but nobody is saying it is a wolf), would you assume it was a #dog?
Please boost for maximum sample size.
Feel free to comment if you have experience with telling the difference or studying #wolves.
"My adaptation of the God of Arepo short story, which was originally up at ShortBox Comics Fair for charity. You can get a copy of the DRM-free ebook here for free - and I'd encourage you to donate to Mighty Writers or The Ministry of Stories in exchange."
In celebration of the 50th birthday of Stephen King's first novel, "Carrie," NPR polled its readers on their favorite King books. Here's what they chose. Which is your top pick? Tell us in the comments if there's a gem that didn't make the cut.
I mostly use them to coordinate two closely related sentences that could be coordinated as clauses with simple conjunctions and commas. There are plenty of people who string "and" and "but" together when talking, however, there are plenty who state things, slightly pause, then continue with another whole sentence without conjunctive coordination. Not a full stop. The dialogue some characters in my stories spout use semicolons because they speak that way. They are often well-educated, self-confident, or authoritative; they're unlikely to use "uh" or "you know" when speaking extemporaneously. My narration includes semicolons when it is natural to do so; it eschews semicolons when not.
I rarely use semicolons to indicate a series because series that require them /feel/ stylistically technical. Narrative fiction shouldn't feel technical. I rewrite lists where the items in the list need their own clauses.
As you can see from the first paragraph, I don't use semicolons to set off complex conjunctions like "however." I will admit I keep forgetting that's what you're supposed to do, but that's likely because doing so makes the writing feel too formal.
#WritersCoffeeClub Ch 8 Nbr 1 2/2 — What's your favourite easter egg in your own work and/or another work of fiction?
For your enjoyment, here's the 411 about my biggest published Easter Egg. I added it consciously to a post-apocalyptic novel, but I never stated in the novel that civilization fell, per se. The story could have taken place in any fantasy location. It wasn't really important to the story. The novel is the backstory of a secondary character in an actual post-apocalyptic novel that I never finished. That story took place in an abandoned McNeil colony, where the protagonists meet the reason civilization fell and have to prevent it from happening again. I left plenty of clues in the published novel as to where the story actually takes place, including the maps attached to this post. I have rotated them to make recognition easier. I'm playing fair because the story happens after a magnetic field reversal (and it is stated), so north facing maps are upside down. I did obfuscate the location by calling it the Emerald Island. The main character does have green eyes, however.
Hint: Sushi.
[Author retains copyright of text and images (c)1984, 2024 by R.S.]
It's the name of the trope (according to TV Tropes) where someone expects a stranger to look unattractive, and then they show up and turn out to be hot.
#WordWeavers 2404.02 — What books/resources have you used to improve your writing? Which ones do you recommend?
/The Elements of Eloquence/ by Mark Forsyth.
Buy it. (I'm not the author.) This book reviews, in detail, practically everything English class taught you to /never/ do: Rhetoric. Meter. Style. Cadence. Things that make prose sparkle. I've incorporated many things from this book—and bought it again when I worried I'd misplaced it—especially since my work is also intended to be read aloud (though I never say so.) The book is amusing /and/ useful. It may prove revelatory. It will make you smile.