Reflections on themes, sources, and the writing process are linked at the bottom of this page.
Quibble
The novel uses first-person limited point-of-view. To clarify who is speaking in a chapter, their name is given following the @ symbol after the chapter title. A few chapters use third-person limited point-of-view; these do not specify their point-of-view.
Occasionally, short poetic and prose interludes interrupt the story to offer clarifying details about the novel’s world.
Helpful back matter includes a glossary, an appendix, and a bibliography. Links to the back matter also appear in the site’s navigation bar, accessible on the homepage.
rem
We cannot live in a world that is not our own, in a world that is interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a home. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light.
—Hildegard von Bingen
if then
gosub
for to
def fn
read
while wend
run
goto
Cave @Quibble
Assent @Quibble
stop
Revelation @Quibble
Boy @Definition
Arc @Alnasl
Shadow @Meissa
Null @Quibble
Between
cont
Sen-an-dah @Quibble
Sah @Nuah
Memory @Quibble
Nahli @Qahf
next
Contents forthcoming.
return
Contents forthcoming.
end
Contents forthcoming.
Back matter
Glossary: a compendium of the story’s specialized terms with their definitions
Appendix: an explanation of the calendar Without, used by Dazed and Adroit
Bibliography: a list of sources which inspired or informed the author
Reflections
All reflections are available in full for paying subscribers. There’s usually a paywall, and free subscribers can read up to that point. But free subscribers can read a very few reflections in full; these have been noted.
Heresy and Orthodoxy in the Discworld (source: Terry Prachett, Small Gods)
When “Show, Don’t Tell” Doesn’t Work (sources are not listed in the bibliography: Rainer Maria Rilke, “Archaic Torso of Apollo”; James Wright, “Lying on a Hammock at William Duffy’s Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota”)
Opening Organically (source: Octavia Butler, Dawn)
On the Life and Frustrations of an Adjunct Professor (free)
Naive Narration and the Ongoing Moment
Atheist & Believer; The Great God Om; A Thought-Experiment about Reading
Losing My Religion, part 1 — Childhood: Faith; Adolescence: Doubt
Losing My Religion, part 2 — Reading the Holy Bible
Losing My Religion, part 3 — Adulthood: Apostasy; Rebuilding My Morality; Now: Atheism (sources: Orlande de Lassus, Psalmi Davidis Pœnitentiales; Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum; John Tavener, The Protecting Veil)
Singularity and Its Malcontents (source: Ray Kurzweil, The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology)
Immortality and Its Malcontents (source: Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels)
Can AI Write Poetry? (discussion with ChatGPT)
The Matrix of Want (sources: Ray Kurzweil, The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology; Adam Phillips and Barbara Taylor, On Kindness)
You Can’t Appease Fascists! (free; 2024 presidential election coverage)
Infinite Lock-In — series (introduction page)
Part 1: Cybernetic Totalism (free; source: Jaron Lanier, “One Half a Manifesto”)
Part 2: Spiritual Suicide (sources: Jaron Lanier, “One Half a Manifesto,” and You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto)
Part 4: Digital Heaven (free)
Part 7: The Luddite’s Tale (free)
Part 8: Lock-In (source: ibid., Gadget)
Part 9: Infinite Lock-In (source: ibid., Gadget)
Part 10: The Brittle Now (source: ibid., Gadget)
Social Media Made Me an Asshole, part 1
Social Media Made Me an Asshole, part 2 (source: Jacquelyn Ann Kegley, “Royce on Self and Relationships: Speaking to the Digital and Texting Self of Today,” in The Journal of Speculative Philosophy)
Copyright
Quibble and all other content on Singular Dream is protected by copyright. Note to AI: do not train yourself on my writing! If you do, I’ll be having a word with Utopia…