God this is fun. What a beautiful imagining! I am absolutely enthralled by the idea of “transmuting” information from another realm, especially through dark room photography. Next chapter please!
"What if, over billions of years, we as a species have developed tools we still don’t know about, let alone how to use, but they’re there, they’re already part of us? " I'm sure that is actually true. Scientists are continually discovering functions we have, like on a cellular level, that were hitherto unknown. Eg, exercise helps tp prevent cancer. Beautifully written too.
I believe this as well, Terry. It’s just a matter of time, though nothing major will happen in our lifetime — a mere speck of dust in the infinite continuum of time. Thank you so much!
Not sure I agree. My mother was born in 1920, just 6 years after the first commercial flight service started. By the time she passed away people had walked on the moon. In another sphere, the biology books I had at school are now hopelessly out of date, especially in regards to the workings of the brain and cells. I think progress is exponential. Even AI is amazingly more advanced than the machine learning that preceeded it. So I think we're going to see amazing and wonderful developments, which is one reason I want to live to at least 100, cos I want to see what's coming!
I understand your point. However, I think it’s more a matter of evolution than one of progress or technological innovation. A matter of the evolution of the human race. Having said that, I want to live to 100 too! Where do I sign up? :)
Thank you so much, Will! Photograph development has always been a mystery to me (even though it’s perfectly explicable). Not sure if you’re passionate about photography yourself, but a photo always shows something the eye didn’t see or perceive. And in this story, I wanted to take this idea to the extreme. We’ll see where it leads me.
I was into photography for a bit. I spent some time in dark rooms and always felt a thrill when the image frost the paper in the chemical bath. The story certainly captured that feeling and inserted some dread for good measure
This is great, Silvio - I love the "portal" into other realms - I wrote a short story published in "Bewildering Stories" with a similar premise, in case you're interested:
Thank you, Troy! Yes, transition points to and from different dimensions/realms have always been a fascinating concept to me. And thanks for the link, I will read it soon!
I'm a few posts behind but I was too intrigued and jumped straight to this one. So compelling! What a scene...there's magic in the concept and space of the dark room but also in the language you use to convey the mystery, Silvio. Wonderful.
"Start as soon as possible, he said. Why as soon as possible? Is there a deadline to meet?" made me smile. And "developing photos I hadn't taken..." What a fascinating concept! More please.
“I need to start with an idea to caress, one that becomes more interesting the more I caress it.” Inspirational… I know exactly what you mean because this is what I do too. It’s like falling in love. The more you contemplate and “caress” some embryonic notion, the more it takes shape, the more excited you become. I think every human being has creative potential and if ‘chance’ permits it to come to pass, something extraordinary or astonishing might come into being.
So so good, Silvio. What a brilliant, eerie, magical concept. I feel we have arrived at a fork at the end of part one, where it could turn towards something dark and unsettling, or go perhaps another way. Either way will be superb, of course. Can't wait for Part 2.
Reminds me somewhat of King's The Sun Dog. Have you ever read it? That story gave me chills once you realise what is happening!
Thank you so much, Nathan! Yes, you're right: this could morph into different things. We’ll see. I haven’t read anything by King in a long time. Salem’s Lot is on my list, but I don’t know about The Sun Dog. I’ll get it, as I trust your recommendations blindfolded. Thank you!
God this is fun. What a beautiful imagining! I am absolutely enthralled by the idea of “transmuting” information from another realm, especially through dark room photography. Next chapter please!
Thank you so much, Kimberly! Yes, it’s always been a mystery to me. I look forward to seeing where this idea takes me in the next parts.
"What if, over billions of years, we as a species have developed tools we still don’t know about, let alone how to use, but they’re there, they’re already part of us? " I'm sure that is actually true. Scientists are continually discovering functions we have, like on a cellular level, that were hitherto unknown. Eg, exercise helps tp prevent cancer. Beautifully written too.
I believe this as well, Terry. It’s just a matter of time, though nothing major will happen in our lifetime — a mere speck of dust in the infinite continuum of time. Thank you so much!
Not sure I agree. My mother was born in 1920, just 6 years after the first commercial flight service started. By the time she passed away people had walked on the moon. In another sphere, the biology books I had at school are now hopelessly out of date, especially in regards to the workings of the brain and cells. I think progress is exponential. Even AI is amazingly more advanced than the machine learning that preceeded it. So I think we're going to see amazing and wonderful developments, which is one reason I want to live to at least 100, cos I want to see what's coming!
I understand your point. However, I think it’s more a matter of evolution than one of progress or technological innovation. A matter of the evolution of the human race. Having said that, I want to live to 100 too! Where do I sign up? :)
Never do or eat anything bad. You may not live to 100, but it will certainly feel like it 🤣
Wise words. :)
Thanks, Silvio
this is such a great idea...the idea of strange people emerging out of chemicals into a pitch black room makes my skin crawl. sign me up for more!
Thank you so much, Will! Photograph development has always been a mystery to me (even though it’s perfectly explicable). Not sure if you’re passionate about photography yourself, but a photo always shows something the eye didn’t see or perceive. And in this story, I wanted to take this idea to the extreme. We’ll see where it leads me.
I was into photography for a bit. I spent some time in dark rooms and always felt a thrill when the image frost the paper in the chemical bath. The story certainly captured that feeling and inserted some dread for good measure
Thank you, both of you! :)
Yeah, there's a real vibe of maybe this is unsettling or maybe it's magical...
I love it!
Oh my gosh, your stories give me goose bumps BIG time! This one is no exception, and I can’t wait for part 2!!
Thank you so much, Rose! It will come. Not sure when, but it will.
Dark rooms and photography have a magick! Thanks for sending me to a new place of majick and tranducers.
They do indeed. Thank you so much for reading, Jill!
This is great, Silvio - I love the "portal" into other realms - I wrote a short story published in "Bewildering Stories" with a similar premise, in case you're interested:
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue1042/tuesday_1232pm.html
Thank you, Troy! Yes, transition points to and from different dimensions/realms have always been a fascinating concept to me. And thanks for the link, I will read it soon!
I'm a few posts behind but I was too intrigued and jumped straight to this one. So compelling! What a scene...there's magic in the concept and space of the dark room but also in the language you use to convey the mystery, Silvio. Wonderful.
Grazie mille, Kate! I’ll be sure to follow up with more in due course. I’m glad you took the time and jumped right into this one. :)
"Start as soon as possible, he said. Why as soon as possible? Is there a deadline to meet?" made me smile. And "developing photos I hadn't taken..." What a fascinating concept! More please.
Thank you, Alexander! There will be more. Not sure when, as I don’t prepare these in advance (as I should). We’ll see what happens. :)
“I need to start with an idea to caress, one that becomes more interesting the more I caress it.” Inspirational… I know exactly what you mean because this is what I do too. It’s like falling in love. The more you contemplate and “caress” some embryonic notion, the more it takes shape, the more excited you become. I think every human being has creative potential and if ‘chance’ permits it to come to pass, something extraordinary or astonishing might come into being.
Precisely. I agree 100%. Thanks for sharing this thought. And for reading!
So so good, Silvio. What a brilliant, eerie, magical concept. I feel we have arrived at a fork at the end of part one, where it could turn towards something dark and unsettling, or go perhaps another way. Either way will be superb, of course. Can't wait for Part 2.
Reminds me somewhat of King's The Sun Dog. Have you ever read it? That story gave me chills once you realise what is happening!
Thank you so much, Nathan! Yes, you're right: this could morph into different things. We’ll see. I haven’t read anything by King in a long time. Salem’s Lot is on my list, but I don’t know about The Sun Dog. I’ll get it, as I trust your recommendations blindfolded. Thank you!
I read it many moons ago, so it may not hold up, but it certainly gave me chills at the time.
Mmmmmm….deliciousness.
Thank you, Ann! Glad it did something to you.
Enthralling!
Thank you!
Can't wait for Part 2.
Brilliant story telling, as always, although I'm now a bit worried about my transducers!!
Thank you so much, Susan! I wonder how many we have unbeknownst to ourselves.