The Rise of the Filamentous Book
The Rise of the Filamentous Book
Become part of the first group mind. Create, what I call, a "filamentous
book." In this adventure in consciousness, readers continue the story
from the germ that I plant here. Watch as wonderful "branches" evolve that
create parallel universes, as if the story characters lived on some filamentous
algae with tendrils that penetrate the far edges of reality.
Universe inflation rules:If people want to continue your story segment, they can contact you, and you can add a link to their page on the footer.
If possible, please provide constructive editorial
feedback to people who contribute to this filamentous story so that they
can improve their writing.
Suggestions:
Don't Know How to Write High-Quality Fiction?The story seed is planted in the following.
If there was one place in this world Jake never expected trouble, it was
at Skidmore's grocery store. Jake and Melinda had been buying food there
for a long time -- virtually every Saturday morning for the past five years.
Today they were tempted to delay their shopping until Sunday; it was February
and bitter. Nonetheless, they got into their car and took the one-mile
ride down Main Street.
A few snowflakes fell as they pulled into the parking lot. Vague perpetual clouds floated overhead. Aside from a few blackbirds that cried in the sky, the sounds of the street and the surrounding forests seemed unnaturally muted.
Jake steered his car into a parking space beside a pale blue Cadillac. He noticed a damp odor, perhaps like wet leaves or a stagnant pond. Quickly grabbing a cart, Melinda rushed into the warm store. At this time in the morning, it usually wasn't too crowded. Jake picked up a box of Grade A Large Eggs, and overheard Mrs. Wright, a woman who lived several floors below them in their apartment complex, complaining to another shopper. Mrs. Wright looked like a sweaty overweight child. A black purse was slung over one forearm. With her free arm, she pried open egg cartons.
"Will you look at this - three broken eggs in one carton!"
A young woman in an outrageous canary-yellow pant suit came closer. "Yes, you have to be careful to check."
Mrs. Wright placed the container back and took another one. "I do, I do..."
Melinda
started stocking up on some fruit, and then both Jake and Melinda meandered
down the aisle, passing the ketchup, candy, and olives. The staples that
people really needed, like milk and bread and meat, were always furthest
from the entrance. Finally they came to the counter of refrigerated chickens
and let out a gasp.
Melinda jumped back. "What is that!"
Some of the chickens, in their cellophane wrapping, appeared to be moving their nude appendages. Melinda looked closer as other shoppers in the meat section began to notice the apparent anomaly.
Jake took a deep breath. What do you do when something so absurd, so out of place in the scheme of everyday living, takes place? Oh you can speculate what you should do if this or that happens, but no one can say what action they'd take when the fabric of reality begins to tear. Jake didn't think too many of the people stood there trying to figure out a rational, scientific explanation for it all. It would almost have been funny if he were not living through the experience.
Add This Footer To Your Page<hr> This story fragment is part of a "Filamentous Book" or "Parallel Universe" Experiment started by <a href="/pickover/home.htm">Cliff Pickover</a>. <br> Here is a <a href="/pickover/storycp.html">previous</a> segment. <br> Here is a <a href="ADD__NEXT_URL_HERE">next</a> segment. <br> Here is the <a href="/pickover/storycp.html">start</a> of the story. <br> I hope you also enjoy <a href="ADD_YOUR_PERSONAL_URL_HERE">my own home page</a>.
Also, add this header to your page:
<body text="#FFFF33" bgcolor="#000000" link="#00BB00" vlink="#FFCC00" alink="#00EE00"> <h1>The Parallel Universe</h1> <h2>Part of the Filamentous Book Project</h2>