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Mar. 1st, 2002
Mar. 1st, 2002 02:41 pm
The Shattered World
This is a ROUGH draft of a prologue for one character's introduction. I'm thinking I might toss it.
In the closing days of 1999, fears of the millenium bug – a computer dating error caused by a short-sighted programming decision in the dawn of the computer age – dominated the news. Large portions of the population became convinced there would be some kind of tragedy when the clock rolled over and the computers decided it was 1900. They expected a world grown dependent on computers would just suddenly, catastrophically, shatter.
They were, for the most part, idiots. Survivalist fanatics, militias, the uneducated people who didn’t realize that if the computers failed, Safeway would still find a way to sell them a loaf of bread. The rest of us pointed at them, and we laughed.
Then 2000 rolled around, and nothing happened. The easily-spooked breathed a sigh of relief, and the rest of us pointed, laughed, and said We told you so! The year rolled on, much as had the years previously, and everyone forgot all about Millenium Fever and the traditional societal panic attack. When the true millenium dawned with the arrival of 2001, the world suddenly, catastrophically, and irrevocably shattered.
In the closing days of 1999, fears of the millenium bug – a computer dating error caused by a short-sighted programming decision in the dawn of the computer age – dominated the news. Large portions of the population became convinced there would be some kind of tragedy when the clock rolled over and the computers decided it was 1900. They expected a world grown dependent on computers would just suddenly, catastrophically, shatter.
They were, for the most part, idiots. Survivalist fanatics, militias, the uneducated people who didn’t realize that if the computers failed, Safeway would still find a way to sell them a loaf of bread. The rest of us pointed at them, and we laughed.
Then 2000 rolled around, and nothing happened. The easily-spooked breathed a sigh of relief, and the rest of us pointed, laughed, and said We told you so! The year rolled on, much as had the years previously, and everyone forgot all about Millenium Fever and the traditional societal panic attack. When the true millenium dawned with the arrival of 2001, the world suddenly, catastrophically, and irrevocably shattered.
There isn't an artistic piece alive that isn't subjective. Lots of people think Blue Boy is wonderful. I think it's the most hideous thing in the Huntington Museum. It's ugly, it's pointless, and it's not all that well done, in my admittedly un-knowledgeable-about-art opinion.
Similarly, I think Richard Thompson is one of the best musical artists on the planet. And I think "'52 Vincent Black Lightning" is one of the most sublime and beautiful songs the Universe has ever produced. From the moment I first heard it back in 1991, I've loved it.
Most people I play it for aren't impressed.
Ah well. It makes me happy.
Similarly, I think Richard Thompson is one of the best musical artists on the planet. And I think "'52 Vincent Black Lightning" is one of the most sublime and beautiful songs the Universe has ever produced. From the moment I first heard it back in 1991, I've loved it.
Most people I play it for aren't impressed.
Ah well. It makes me happy.
Mar. 1st, 2002 04:23 pm
Another gratuitous "10 Things" post!
10 Things I'd Take to a Desert Island Self-Exile
(excluding survival stuffAs always, in no particular order:
1. Dragonriders of Pern - Comfort Book #1
2. My violin -- I'd finally have time to practice.
3. The Lord of the Rings
4. The entire Chung Kuo saga. (Excellent books. Read them.)
5. Twilight in the Forbidden City - a history of the Emperor Pu Yi
6. Shakespeare's Complete Works
7. A simple iron ring that my grandmother owned
8. My collection of toy spaceships (blush)
9. My box of ritual supplies.
10. Jumper, by Steven Gould
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