I've recently been planning a longer series of related posts that have required a comprehensive bit of reading, and have therefore delayed my (already quite irregular) schedule for posting. I wanted to make sure I produced something, so here is an introductory piece that I wrote in connection to a novella-in-progress. *** “The Most Alien: … Continue reading The Most Alien (Excerpt from a longer work)
Fiction
The Last Death – A Parable
The Last Death After Franz Kafka "But death, insofar as it belongs to me and belongs to me alone, since no one can die my death in my stead or in my place, makes of this non-possibility, this impending future of mine, this relation to myself always open until my end, yet another power." - … Continue reading The Last Death – A Parable
Report from Orion-13: A Story
A Report from Orion-13 With Respects to Ursula K. LeGuin and Stanislaw Lem To begin at the beginning, my arrival on Orion-13 was utterly uneventful. Or, at least, as uneventful as interstellar travel can ever be. To awake on a world apart is no small shock, no matter how many times one may travel by … Continue reading Report from Orion-13: A Story
Of Luchtzig and its Ghost
Nestled deep in the European Forests, somewhere between where the Šumava ends and the Böhmerwald begins exists the small city of Luchtzig. It would remain an entirely unremarkable city (known primarily for its tradition of fine furniture left by its early Bohemian-German roots) if it were not nearly destroyed in its entirety during WWII. The … Continue reading Of Luchtzig and its Ghost
Notes from a Madhouse: A Story
With Respect to Nikolai Gogol 1835 Why am I here? What offence, what crime, what ungodly act have I committed to deserve such a fate as this? To be surrounded by madmen! 1835 Dear reader, whoever you may be, let me enlighten upon you my current situation. My name is Francis, and it is my … Continue reading Notes from a Madhouse: A Story
A Cold Wind: A Story
After Vladimir Nabokov The wind blew in from the window, waking the student from his sleep. Wisps of cold air licked playfully at his arms from the edge of the bed before being smothered by the muggy summer heat. As usual he awoke in his cage of pages. His Tower of Babel formed of the … Continue reading A Cold Wind: A Story
Manifestophilis: Experience, Survival, Violence
PH: You seem very concerned with the vagabond’s experience. The temptations of wandering, of homelessness, of the sins of, for lack of a better term, the lower class, or the classless. The Devil: Of course. That’s what I am: homeless. Cast out. The whole prodigal son story was made because Daddy wanted me to say ‘I’m sorry,’ … Continue reading Manifestophilis: Experience, Survival, Violence
Manifestophilis (Interviews With the Devil): The Future, Movements, Post-Scarcity
Patrick Higgins: In an attempt to move beyond this kind of poisoned postmodernism do you see any hope in other movements such as Neo-Futurism or New Sincerity? The Devil: Hope isn’t something I’m particularly comfortable with in general. That’s the real problem, because I do want to escape this postmodern swamp, but I’m not necessarily advocating for … Continue reading Manifestophilis (Interviews With the Devil): The Future, Movements, Post-Scarcity
Manifestophilis (Interviews With The Devil): Myths, Gods, Magic
Patrick Higgins: You’re very well read. The Devil: Well, when so much of the literary canon is about you it can be very useful to keep your finger on the pulse. Find out when you need to shake things up. Keep the heart beating. PH: Would you say you’re the most prominent character in the history … Continue reading Manifestophilis (Interviews With The Devil): Myths, Gods, Magic
Manifestophilis (Interviews With the Devil): Postmodernism, Memes, Politics
The Devil: Hell is bureaucratic by nature. It’s all layers and laws, everything stacks on top of itself. Everything is infrastructure. This was all made for me, so what do you expect that I hate bureaucracy? Bureaucracy was made to torture me. Now that I’m on Earth it’s followed me: everywhere I go I must fight … Continue reading Manifestophilis (Interviews With the Devil): Postmodernism, Memes, Politics
