“Like in books. I never finish books. I leave them unfinished, unresolved, so I can decide for myself how they end. So I can eventually forget about them.” This is genius writing, all of it, but I so loved this line...
She'll get here eventually, hopefully. She's a bit behind on her reading at the moment and anything longer than a 5min read on this platform seems to put her off.
I get that. I think I’m following 47 Substacks now and it’s genuinely overwhelming at times, I feel like I need to schedule time around work to get to them all, but they’re so good, it’s worth it.
Tell Josephine I’ll keep the five minute thing in mind going forward 😉
Oh god, he's going to betray her! This is too good to be true, and you know what they say about that - but also, she owes Zinn money I think, so... *high alert* WHAT DOES HE WANT HER TO STEAL???
Cliffhanger… Not only is he married but he is kind of trying to use her, am I right? This makes the relationship even more complicated which is great for storytelling. I love it! Truly, this ending got me as hooked on ‘Precipice’ as I already am on ‘Brae’s meteorite’.
You did a great job with the push-and-pull of this guilty love affair, both seduced by their own incapability to resist the other, the attraction, and at same time knowing that there’s an expiration date for it. And then the double betrayal from his side: not only married but also having ulterior motives for being with her. Ouch! That hurts.
As always, I’m mesmerized by the poetry of the language, the worldbuilding details weaved in gently, almost unnoticed, and the complex human relationships. You are very good at human relationships in your writing, all those subtleties, it’s a talent.
I seemingly can't type, just managed to stuff up replying to your comment by hitting Post prematurely and then replying to my own reply! Fail, haha 🤦♂️
Pasted it into the other reply to fix it up.
Thanks again Claudia. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment and leave your thoughts. It means a lot.
Whoops. Hit reply too soon then. Partly because I didn't know how to respond to all of those amazing comments. Editing this back into this comment now.
My primary goal with all of this was to create complexity in the relationship and the inevitable feeling of inevitability on both their parts. I'm so so happy if that's what you feel. Thank you Claudia. Your feedback is always so appreciated.
"The Kernel. Not of popcorn, Jisa, but a future jewel in your cat burglar's crown."
Seriously, though, I'm enthralled with this story. Got hooked with Nib and been anxiously awaiting updates ever since. Looking forward to see where you take it next!
Ohhhh The Kernel. The plot thickens. This reminds be a bit of Neuromancer, Wintermute, Black Ice, Kernel, Halt and Catch Fire. Hack into the Kernel, steal the original source code. OK, sorry I got carried away. Is this a setup for a glorious heist?
Could indeed be a set up ... perhaps something about measuring clouds ...!
Are those titles all from Neuromancer? I'm embarrassed to say I've never read it! It feels like required reading and despite enjoying cyberpunk settings, Netrunner etc, I've never gone to Gibson!
Ahhhh, yes! Clouds need to be measured! I remember. And yes it’s Gibson, albeit I wonder if I’d still like the Neuromancer trilogy as much as I did as a teenager. I gave up on Agency and Peripheral...
“Like in books. I never finish books. I leave them unfinished, unresolved, so I can decide for myself how they end. So I can eventually forget about them.” This is genius writing, all of it, but I so loved this line...
I was almost going to cut this line during edits! Phew. Glad I didn't. Thanks so much for reading, Chloe. I love that you *and* David are here!
I’m so glad you didn’t, too :)
Yes, you’ve got the whole family here now! When’s Josephine joining?
☺️
She'll get here eventually, hopefully. She's a bit behind on her reading at the moment and anything longer than a 5min read on this platform seems to put her off.
I get that. I think I’m following 47 Substacks now and it’s genuinely overwhelming at times, I feel like I need to schedule time around work to get to them all, but they’re so good, it’s worth it.
Tell Josephine I’ll keep the five minute thing in mind going forward 😉
Heh, yeah I find it can become quite overwhelming, but in a good way.
I shall let her know ;)
Such a gripping tension you’ve built in this setting—a literal realm built upon the backs of another. Brilliant, just brilliant.
Thanks Kimberly, it's amazing that you're prepared to read back through these. 🤗
Oh god, he's going to betray her! This is too good to be true, and you know what they say about that - but also, she owes Zinn money I think, so... *high alert* WHAT DOES HE WANT HER TO STEAL???
Questions questions!
Well, what indeed ...
(Cue Nathan rocking in the corner panicking that he can't deliver the payoffs!)
Cliffhanger… Not only is he married but he is kind of trying to use her, am I right? This makes the relationship even more complicated which is great for storytelling. I love it! Truly, this ending got me as hooked on ‘Precipice’ as I already am on ‘Brae’s meteorite’.
You did a great job with the push-and-pull of this guilty love affair, both seduced by their own incapability to resist the other, the attraction, and at same time knowing that there’s an expiration date for it. And then the double betrayal from his side: not only married but also having ulterior motives for being with her. Ouch! That hurts.
As always, I’m mesmerized by the poetry of the language, the worldbuilding details weaved in gently, almost unnoticed, and the complex human relationships. You are very good at human relationships in your writing, all those subtleties, it’s a talent.
Very well done, Nathan! 👏
I seemingly can't type, just managed to stuff up replying to your comment by hitting Post prematurely and then replying to my own reply! Fail, haha 🤦♂️
Pasted it into the other reply to fix it up.
Thanks again Claudia. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment and leave your thoughts. It means a lot.
Always a pleasure.
🤗
Whoops. Hit reply too soon then. Partly because I didn't know how to respond to all of those amazing comments. Editing this back into this comment now.
My primary goal with all of this was to create complexity in the relationship and the inevitable feeling of inevitability on both their parts. I'm so so happy if that's what you feel. Thank you Claudia. Your feedback is always so appreciated.
Such natural characters in a surreal setting. Also like the cliffhanger.
Thanks Kate. Them coming across naturally feels like I have achieved a goal :)
"The Kernel. Not of popcorn, Jisa, but a future jewel in your cat burglar's crown."
Seriously, though, I'm enthralled with this story. Got hooked with Nib and been anxiously awaiting updates ever since. Looking forward to see where you take it next!
Hehe. Thank you Olivia, it gives me such a warm glow to know you are enjoying this story so much.
Ohhhh The Kernel. The plot thickens. This reminds be a bit of Neuromancer, Wintermute, Black Ice, Kernel, Halt and Catch Fire. Hack into the Kernel, steal the original source code. OK, sorry I got carried away. Is this a setup for a glorious heist?
Could indeed be a set up ... perhaps something about measuring clouds ...!
Are those titles all from Neuromancer? I'm embarrassed to say I've never read it! It feels like required reading and despite enjoying cyberpunk settings, Netrunner etc, I've never gone to Gibson!
Ahhhh, yes! Clouds need to be measured! I remember. And yes it’s Gibson, albeit I wonder if I’d still like the Neuromancer trilogy as much as I did as a teenager. I gave up on Agency and Peripheral...
Well, I really should give at least the first book a read. It's seminal cyberpunk and it's embarassing I haven't ever read it.
Ah but you still can, anytime!
Thanks David, appreciate you taking the time to swing by and love that you and Chloe are here.
And yes, I hadn't thought of that but now I've reread it with London in mind!