Part 8, goto: Call for feedback
A forecast of the novel's next part, and an appeal for courage in frightening times.
Dear Readers,
Fully half of Quibble is out now. The latest part, “goto,” was full of revelations, and the next part, “stop,” will bring even more revelations. Also, outright crisis.
Quibble will face Asuja and her greatest test yet. Definition’s world will be upended. Alnasl will reckon with the fruits of his failures. Utter control will go to war. And, at last, the motive behind Vega’s machinations will come to light.
Any thoughts or questions about the last seven chapters? Or the story overall? I’d love to hear from you!
Revisions for “goto” were deep and difficult for me. As a result, it’s been a while since I published a reflection. I took a hard look at “Social Media Made Me an Asshole,” and the upshot was throwing out half of what I’d previously written. I’m working on better material for that reflection now, and it should come out soon. I’m also weighing revisions on a short story about AI which has been in the pipeline for quite a while.
Meanwhile, like many of you, I’m following events in the real world with ever-growing dismay, anger, and alarm. It disturbs me greatly to see how much damage people can do out of ignorance, recklessness, spite, and a conviction that their vision for society must triumph at all costs. It disturbs me just as much to see what little appetite there is for resisting such people in a time when resistance matters more than ever.
In times like these — when you see other people running roughshod over your values, ethics, and ideals — it’s tempting to cave to the belief that all the odds are against you, to lose your faith in humanity, and to just give up. Don’t give up!
Revisit history and recall that the fight against evil is never, ever easy. Remember that you’re not alone. Reconnect with your community. Remind yourself that you’re really fighting not just for some mere idea but for people you know and love — for their rights, for their dignity, maybe even for their lives. Recover your courage. Resist.
In kindness,
Joshua