You managed to pull a few of my triggers here: loss of individuality, hospital stench, drug-induced comas, digital connections severing human connections, class wars, and so much more. This is a horror tale for the social media age. Oh, and many of these descriptions, Edith, are truly outstanding! This entire section, I love so much: "I'm welcomed by the eyes of the security guards, they have gentle wrinkles in their eyes. They're probably bottom feeders in their thirties. We're only greeted by ungroomed eyebrows, so they have to be dirt poor. No one in their right mind would walk outside that confidently." 👏
The point of my villain character was she became so self obsessed that she lacked awarenesses in a dying world because of social media. The theme was loss of individuality, inspired by Brave New World, but in the modern era, with social media being the big bad. I really loved developing her into madness. I'm glad you love it. 🥰 Thanks for reading it.
This is insanely good. TZ meets Black Mirror. It’s so surreal yet so convincing—a nightmare within a nightmare within a nightmare. It’s almost like watching a psychotic break in first person…. on a Mobius strip…. or a hall of mirrors… which of these concentric circles of torment emerges into the real…..?
Those were all the vibes I was going for, thank you. And I think it more of as a warning like some scifi horror can be. My inspiration was both TZ and Brave New World and then I thought about Influencer culture. Something relatable in society, that we see every day. And yes a little Black Mirror ish. I hope none of it emerges into the real but I know the influencer culture already has gotten out of hand.
These unsettling projections of social media's impact feel too possible; imminent, you might say. Thank you for writing this wonderfully dark and poetic prose, Edith. Fantastic work.
Thank you, I'm getting my rounds to get to yours shortly. I work a lot so I haven't had the time but if I'm late I'll hopefully get to yours before the new year :) Hopefully it's not imminent, and more of a warning about the future.
No worries at all, Edith. I'm in the same boat with work taking all my attention lately. I still have nine more Substack Zone stories to go! But I don't mind the pace—I'm sipping and savoring rather than shot-gunning the collection in one shot. Loving everything so far. Amazing talent in this group, you included!
I break the rules. That's one of my mottos. If I ever learn the rules it's over for all of you :) I kid I kid. Yes, dystopian. Yes dark. I'm glad you liked it. I was worried. It was so different that it wouldn't fit the vibe. Thank you.
Thank you so much. I created the character for the prompt but based it on many types of people I've met in LA. Influencer culture. Self obsession is super weird. Lots of NPD traits. I'm hoping though that this world never happens. It's just a warning for the future dual inspo for TZ & Brave New World.
It's still fiction! We're not in a dying world yet, but it's definitely about what can go south if we lack self awareness and lose our individuality. I thought you'd like it :)
You managed to pull a few of my triggers here: loss of individuality, hospital stench, drug-induced comas, digital connections severing human connections, class wars, and so much more. This is a horror tale for the social media age. Oh, and many of these descriptions, Edith, are truly outstanding! This entire section, I love so much: "I'm welcomed by the eyes of the security guards, they have gentle wrinkles in their eyes. They're probably bottom feeders in their thirties. We're only greeted by ungroomed eyebrows, so they have to be dirt poor. No one in their right mind would walk outside that confidently." 👏
The point of my villain character was she became so self obsessed that she lacked awarenesses in a dying world because of social media. The theme was loss of individuality, inspired by Brave New World, but in the modern era, with social media being the big bad. I really loved developing her into madness. I'm glad you love it. 🥰 Thanks for reading it.
It worked out brilliantly. 🔥
Damn. This feels uncomfortably close. I dig it
It really does, that's why I wrote it. It's for the younger generation. Homage to TZ and inspired by Brave New World.
Dark, disturbing dystopian dreams, this tale scares me. Thanks Edith 🤍
It scares me too, I hope it never happens 😂 thank you Jon T. It's a warning for the young folks.
Beautifully done. Bravo.
Thank you, it was a wild ride.
Out-fucking-standing
An excellent contemporary Twilight Zone vibe, although equally Black Mirror. 👏
It was both inspired by Brave New World and Twilight Zone. Thank you on the Black Mirror note!
Excellent.
Thank you very much!
This is insanely good. TZ meets Black Mirror. It’s so surreal yet so convincing—a nightmare within a nightmare within a nightmare. It’s almost like watching a psychotic break in first person…. on a Mobius strip…. or a hall of mirrors… which of these concentric circles of torment emerges into the real…..?
Those were all the vibes I was going for, thank you. And I think it more of as a warning like some scifi horror can be. My inspiration was both TZ and Brave New World and then I thought about Influencer culture. Something relatable in society, that we see every day. And yes a little Black Mirror ish. I hope none of it emerges into the real but I know the influencer culture already has gotten out of hand.
These unsettling projections of social media's impact feel too possible; imminent, you might say. Thank you for writing this wonderfully dark and poetic prose, Edith. Fantastic work.
Thank you, I'm getting my rounds to get to yours shortly. I work a lot so I haven't had the time but if I'm late I'll hopefully get to yours before the new year :) Hopefully it's not imminent, and more of a warning about the future.
No worries at all, Edith. I'm in the same boat with work taking all my attention lately. I still have nine more Substack Zone stories to go! But I don't mind the pace—I'm sipping and savoring rather than shot-gunning the collection in one shot. Loving everything so far. Amazing talent in this group, you included!
Wow, this story twisted my brain into a pretzel! Your writing style has a dreamy nightmare quality.
This is so wild! Your prose is like a hallucination, I really like how unique your descriptions are. Awesome story!
Thank you. I feel like my brain IS a hallucination sometimes. Maybe all that Lucy. I appreciate all the compliments. 💜
This story is wild. Wild tale, but also wild writing. The prose feels volatile in some ways, but you never lose my trust. Intense! Great job!
I break the rules. That's one of my mottos. If I ever learn the rules it's over for all of you :) I kid I kid. Yes, dystopian. Yes dark. I'm glad you liked it. I was worried. It was so different that it wouldn't fit the vibe. Thank you.
I have never read anything like this! Just mind-shattering good!
Thank you so much. I created the character for the prompt but based it on many types of people I've met in LA. Influencer culture. Self obsession is super weird. Lots of NPD traits. I'm hoping though that this world never happens. It's just a warning for the future dual inspo for TZ & Brave New World.
It was an absolutely successful portrayal.
😱 I thought we were supposed to write fiction for this.
It's still fiction! We're not in a dying world yet, but it's definitely about what can go south if we lack self awareness and lose our individuality. I thought you'd like it :)