Friday, February 18, 2011

Gross Memory




"Who's out there?" Fear laced Shakespeare's voice.

"Raider!" called Keats.


"What do we do with him?" asked Shakespeare.



"The librarian says," answered Keats.

"Why should we listen to the librarian?"




Shakespeare muttered under his breath, "Democracy begins."



  1. A little like Swift's Battel of the Books, but more sincere in its drama. So what do they do with this democracy?

  2. This really leaves me wanting to know more. What the world is like, what happened before (far before) this scene, and what happens next. This is incredibly intriguing and... different. (I use ellipsis because I seem to come back to "different" every time I want to comment on something of yours; must get out the trusty thesaurus next time)

  3. @John, thanks for the reference that looks interesting and I hadn't heard of it before. The characters have started talking to me, so there may be more to this talk of democracy.

    @Rebecca, lol; I've heard a people worry about voice; at least I know I'm "different" ;) I'm glad this is intriguing; I'm hopeful this is more a seed for a short story than a novel; since my novel queue is too long :)

  4. most def a seed for something longer, like a deathworld with a literary spin. Like this reference to the man who fantasized he might read everything.

  5. @Adam, I read John Gross' obituary in the economist and knew that I had to use it as a seed for a story idea.

  6. I like the idea of a post-apocalyptic future in which people are named for literary figures (writers or characters). It appeals to the bibliophile in me.

    I wrote an alternative history flash with a similar idea, where the masters of the British Library (gone underground) were named for authors.

    I like this, especially that they think a man who wishes to share knowledge is a dictator, and that to deny another man that knowledge is democracy. (I suppose the decision itself is, for them, if not the man they freed)

    A little knowledge is a dangerous thing... ;)

  7. Reminds me a little of Fahrenheit 451, where the rebels each memorise books so that the knowledge can always be carried and passed on. Loved their names, too. Raises a lot of interesting questions.

  8. Hi there Aidan - I liked the way this subtly piqued my interest as it progressed: The Librarian, 'becoming learned', the fact that Keats and Shakespeare are used as names, and the riff on the idea that knowledge is power. Very good. St.

  9. I love post-apocalyptic tales. Set them in a library with a couple of witty characters, named after great historical figures, and you have me hooked. The last line made me chuckle a bit. Who doesn't enjoy a bit of well placed satire?