New readers — welcome! This blog is where I set up feedback threads for the latest draft story in progress. Right now I’m up to story #6. You should probably start at story #1, though.
Current readers — I got you something horrible for the holidays! The grand finale of 006, which is terrifyingly strange and unpleasant. I debated doing a Christmas special story instead, but didn’t really have any ideas… and this story changes the status quo quite a bit, so if I did holiday story it’d need to take that into account anyway.
There’ll likely be a delay before 007 starts. I had this week off for a little staycation, but I don’t have the plot outline for the next story hammered out quite yet. Some sketchy notes, but that’s it. So, check back next week but no promises. Two weeks will definitely be enough time, I’d think.
In anachronauts news… the book cover is DONE. I couldn’t get the book ready in time for a holiday release but it’ll be ready in January! Rejoice! Meanwhile, you can still email me for a free copy of the bonus chapter, if you honor-system promise to nab a copy of the book when the time comes.
Only one question: How did Vivi hear Marcy’s snoring?
Whoops. I’ll fix that to ‘feel’.
I had pondered having her experience leave her changed and able to hear her sister, if nobody else — but I think it’s better to restore her completely without any supernatural element. But… this particular thing was actually just an oversight, not an editing mistake.
It is really hard to remember things like handicaps when the writing starts to flow.
OK, that was indeed horrible.
But I have a question. In coa001, and subsequently, it was implied that people who get mirrored into the City are, well, kind of nebbishy. Not really much as people to start with. Not people with real relationships, or much involvement with others.
Vivi may have been picked on, but it seems she would have been missed, if only by her brother and possibly her mother. And even though people bullied and took advantage of her need for connection, she did make some real friends. (Second question; did Vivi come to the City as a chile or a teenager? Where was the school where she called a whore?)
And, of course, neither Ginsberg nor Skrillax are in that model.
Am I getting the mechanics wrong? Or are the various beings who influence events in the City also capable of influencing who gets brought in?
There’s no rule about the sort of person who gets copied over — they aren’t all easily missed (and aren’t missed at all, since it’s a COPY). Dave was a bit of a loner but he did leave behind a father, and Sarah left behind a whole family. And given the wide array of folks who were in orientation in 002 it’s not aiming for particular personalities or social circles, either.
Those who end up in the City of Angles are us. We are them. Etc.
Vivi came as child; she ended up in DoO foster care and then transferred to the Wei family. Was probably 7-9 years old. Is that not clear? She has a few distant childhood memories but the rest is of the city.
I did think Vivi came as a child… but when she was reacting to the “whore” word, I got the impression that she was going to an ordinary high school. Since the children and “native” adults we’ve encountered so far appear to have been homeschooled, or even unschooled, I assumed that this high school experience for Vivi was before she was mirrored.
I think the timing of the events in her memory do get a bit jumbled between before and after, and I did get confused. Not sure that’s out of place, given the circumstances.
I’ll find somewhere I can stick in the exact age when she was copied over.
Many are homeschooled, but not ALL. The Wei family is lower middle class in the burbs and they went with public schooling, which is where it happened. Similarly, Milly in 005 goes to public school because her family can’t afford homeschooling.
Okay, I’m making the following changes to ensure it’s clear.
In the first scene, with Vivi remembering her past, she specifically states she came to the city at age seven. This is reiterated in the later flashback. I also emphasize the Wei family’s reluctance over the situation and their financial situation.
When remembering how other mothers took pity on hers and sent party invitations, she says this happened to both her birth and adoptive mothers. (pre- and post- first grade.)
In the high school flashback she specifically notes the Weis couldn’t afford homeschooling.
As for “Only nebbishes get copied,” I’m not sure where you got that idea. Did I write something which implied it? If so, where? I can still make edits. It’s definitely not what I intended.
I think I got that impression during the scenes at the motel. None of the people in Dave’s group was A-list, as it were. The “star” was past her prime, the mom was obsessed about how no one neeeeded her, etc.
Maybe Hollister could sigh over the lack of anyone interesting?
I don’t really see Hollister bemoaning a lack of fascinating people. He finds all people fascinating (until they annoy him, like the reality TV star did).
I think I’ll leave it as-is. As long as I’m not directly saying somewhere “All imported people are like this!” it’s just an interpretation, and not one I think I’ve written anything to encourage.
Well…Elvis wasn’t a nobody loner.