33 Comments

The Heist is ON! Security is breached! Shit's gonna go down. Can't wait.

Also this: "In my ascent I will have passed unknowingly through the barrier of interference, though even with such freedom I wonder at what security scours these skies unseen." Smooth alliteration, so good.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you my friend. You know, that was entirely unintentional alliteration! Subconscious alliteration, perhaps. I'll take it, either way.

Expand full comment

The best kind.

Expand full comment

So good Nathan! I love the quick scan of the distant landscape below, looking for landmarks & neighborhoods. The approach to Barcelona airport passes over Sitges and I spotted our own house from a plane once. :)

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Troy.

I've often tried to do that when flying in to places I know well, but always struggle. The arrival into Melbourne is usually from the wrong direction for us, though one time when flying back from Tasmania we approached from the east and I was reasonably confident at spotting our little part of the city.

Expand full comment

You’ve really made a world we can feel we’re a part of. Great post and love the cliffhanger as well.

I can imagine your real screen as a muse for this one, in metaphor perhaps.

Expand full comment
author
Oct 12, 2023·edited Oct 12, 2023Author

Thanks Kate! The screen as metaphor/muse is great.

Originally, this was going to be a much longer post, but then I decided to hack away with some more editing and landed at a suitable point to cliffhang ;)

Expand full comment
Oct 12, 2023·edited Oct 12, 2023Liked by Nathan Slake

HOLY BLADE RUNNER ( Or shades, tints, flavors, patinas & brush strokes thereof ) ! Looks like I have some catching up to do.....

I LOVE content like this, without a shadow of a doubt. So I subscribed.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Daniel! I hope you enjoy the catching up. Blade Runner certainly an inspiration!

Expand full comment

You've done a man's job, sir ! -Gaff.

People will be discussing Blade Runner for 4, maybe 5 centuries at least.

Expand full comment

Definitely Blade Runner vibes 🤩

Expand full comment

Philip K. Dick worked his way into our cultural DNA even more than Mary Shelly. Hardly anyone remembers " Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep ? ".

Expand full comment

I used to teach BR to college students 🤗 its iconic and intelligent.

Expand full comment
author

That's so cool that you taught BR to students.

Expand full comment

It has a life of its own, almost. People will be discussing it for generations, maybe even centuries.

Expand full comment

The visual of Siridian from above as a map, lit up, was so vibrant, and it’s lodged it my minds eye. Quite the world you’re painting, Nathan! I echo all Blade Runner sentiments. I’m always so impressed that people can make unreal worlds seem so utterly real that it’s a little dizzying to come back into the room one is sat in reading! Well done 👏

Expand full comment
author

Thank you Chloe, that's a wonderful compliment. In fact, it's pretty much the complete desire as a writer to whisk someone away and forget where they are 🤗

I was wanting to describe a part of the city and its layout whilst very much keeping it believable in terms of exposition, so if it didn't feel forced then yay!

Expand full comment

The completionist OCD part of me resists reading these fragments but every time I do, I'm drawn in by the subtle power of your storytelling. The writing alone, without any greater context of plot or theme is cinematic and yes total Blade Runner vibes.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Ben, those are some lovely words.

I totally get the OCD thing. Zero obligation to read (genuinely, haha), but if you want a standalone piece (and also one from third person, which isn't really my default PoV, which you may have realised) then it'd be this one: https://slake.substack.com/p/nib

It's about Warv, who built the little device that Jisa needs.

Expand full comment

This is captivating, Nathan. I really must go back to the beginning. I feel like the new kid in class here but I'm determined to catch up. Your writing is superb!

Expand full comment
author

Thanks so much, Jim.

There's no true beginning posted yet, but if you do read a few then you may start to see Jisa's story arc evolving (I hope!). This is more just my inability to write linearly for this one rather than for some clever reason. Eventually there will be a structure order set out.

Expand full comment

Brilliantly written as usual, Nathan. I need to catch up on the Precipice stories but couldn’t stop reading once I started this chapter!

And, as others have mentioned, there is a definite Blade Runner vibe to this tale which, as one of my favourite movies, makes me even more invested. Although I am one of the crazies who think 2049 might be better than the original! 😳

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Dan, that's awesome. I won't lie, Blade Runner is certainly an inspiration for the world/feel of the world, so I'm happy if that's seeping through.

Expand full comment
Oct 2Liked by Nathan Slake

I just realised that I love the names you use in this series, for people, places etc. They are exotic but somehow feel familiar, easy to assimilate. It’s refreshing.

Expand full comment
author

These names and places are one of the main things I actually scribbled down in “planning” for this story. :)

Expand full comment
Oct 2Liked by Nathan Slake

That‘s great! Lately, names in TV sci-fi are ridiculous. You should teach them a lesson! 🤣

Expand full comment

Absolutely engrossing. The last three phrases - a triple mic drop!

Expand full comment
author

😊 thanks Nadia.

More to come, soon (ish)!

Expand full comment

I can't wait!

Expand full comment

“The wind swirls, mocking me with its freedom.”

This good sir, is poetry. 💫

Expand full comment
author

Thanks so much Brian!

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
author

Invisible and having such freedom! What a blast to be wind.

Thank you David, lovely to have you here. I hope the turning of the weather isn't too bad and that it's eliciting a cosiness for the indoors/being rugged up.

Expand full comment