Nearly Wordless Wednesday

Source?

VirileMail audio script

I previously described the creation of a script for the VirileMail science fiction novel. Wiki user ShakespeareFan00 was the instigator of this audio project and he showed up at Fiction Wikia to polish the script.

In order to create the audio version, I cut the novel down to about 25% of its original size. Initially I was saddened that I had to write Dr. Redes out of the script, but the more I think about the sequel for VirileMail the more I wonder if it might be for the best if it is Briana who is joined to Janek. However, I still cannot bring myself to edit the novel so as to make that change.

After the tragic loss of Dr. Redes, the second largest change between the novel and the audio script is the first scene in the fourth half-hour-long segment of the audio version. In the Novel, Joe spends a couple of months on Mars and then returns to Earth, finding that his belongings were placed into storage by his brother. In contrast, the story line in the script is greatly compressed temporally. Joe finds himself in need of a way to get the video tape with the critical evidence out of the Antler Network Services HQ building. For the audio version, Briana agrees to get the video tape for Joe.

When ShakespeareFan00 and I were polishing the script, I noticed the need for this plot change. The need to add in this new scene was good luck. I've also been concerned about the way Joe's romantic interest in Chloe had almost been written out of the audio version. This new scene gave me a chance to emphasize Joe's infatuation with Chloe. This is an important issue because it is Joe's deep concern for Chloe's welfare and safety that motivates him to figure out the odd behavior of the Antler Network Systems staff.

So, I am pleased with the way I patched that hole in the plot, but this experience leaves me wondering if there are other similar problems that were introduced by changing the novel into a much shorter script. I'm tempted to offer a reward for anyone who can spot such a problem.

Image. I made the image of the video tape for VirileMail. This image is available for use under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike license.

Schmidt the Ax

In a stunning reversal of my self-indulgent ways, I recently edited VirileMail to make a version for audio. The goal was to tell the story in four half hour audio segments.

A serious problem for the audio version of VirileMail is that I had a significant amount of fun making illustrations for the VirileMail novel. In addition to the "eggplant" there is the illustration shown here which was my fully geeked-out diagram of how to take control of a human brain if you happen to be a billion year old colony of invading nanobots. I suppose most of those who listen to the audio version will not really need these instructions.

I cut the original 70,000 word novel to about 18,000 words for the audio version. The most painful part of that process was removing entire characters such as Dr. Redes, head of research at Conceptions Organiques. Now, it is not as if just anyone can mind-meld with Janek...after all, that constitutes a life sentence for shared consciousness with a diabolical alien. Dr. Redes was a true "redshirt" (look at the name!) designed as a throw-away character. In contrast, Briana was written as a spunky Space Opera cadet worthy of a far better fate than spending eternity listening to Janek chiding foolish humans for their primitive ways. Poor Briana, will you ever forgive me?

The fun of collaborative fiction

Imagine a bored government employee who during lunch break starts writing a story at a wiki website. At first the story is just a brief account of someone foolishly driving too fast to work. Other participants at the wiki pitch in and soon the story becomes a mystery about how a human-like artificial intelligence first develops in a machine. When the dust clears a 70,000 word collaboratively written novel has been created...with plenty of fun along the way...and is any story ever really complete in wiki format?

If you have never bothered to click on the "edit button" at a wiki website and participate in the collaborative authoring of webpages, feel free to join the fun at Novelas.

There is a more detailed discussion of the collaborative origins of this particular story at Wikiversity.

About the image. I made the diagram (above) in order to illustrate how nanorobotic devices are able invade a human brain and allow for direct communication between an artificial intelligence and a person. This image is licensed under the GFDL.

Below: a video teaser for the VirleMail story.