My NaNoWriMo '08 Prologue / Another Buster Cel!
Okay, I've been bad. November is NaNoWriMo month, an online annual competition-with-yourself to write a 50,000-word novel. It's November 18th, more than halfway through the month, so I should have more than 25,000 words at this point. In reality? I only have about fifteen-hundred. I'm devastatingly behind, but that's mostly because it's been a full half-month already. Not only was I in Boise for the first ten days of November, but I've spent the week since being back helping my dad organize his 200-movie DVD collection in preparation to be sold on Craigslist. Plus, truly, I haven't been in the right mood. I did, however, start writing on an intriguing idea I had while I was with Jaci in Boise, involving strange futuristic science fiction. I don't have a plot to follow just yet but a plot will come. That's more or less the idea behind NaNoWriMo- To just write a whole lot as fast as possible as opposed to writing well. The point is to simply get a feel for what it is to write 50,000 words so that when you do it for real, it'll be lots better. So I am now, with 12 days left, going to put a real effort to writing this silly novel. I wrote a prologue while I came up with the idea in Boise and I'd like to share it with you guys.
I'd also like to post future chapters, so here's how I'll work it into my journal- When I finish a chapter, I'll make a journal post which includes the whole chapter behind a LiveJournal cut followed by the title of the forthcoming unwritten chapter as a teaser or taste of what's to come. Good stuff. Please keep in mind that I fully expect and understand the writing to suck. This is an exercise in hobby as opposed to something professional. So, without further ado, mes lecteurs fidèles de lapin, je vous donnent mon prologue:
====
PROLOGUE:
THE INTERSTELLAR AGE
The merciless drumbeat of mankind’s will and force found no rest throughout the twenty-second century. No obstacle was too much for the combined ingenuity of fifteen billion human beings and their legion of machines, of super computers so vast and complicated that they reasoned and conversed as life forms do. All anyone had to do was conceive a grand idea and it could be made real. Ore mining on Mars, floating human habitats in the clouds of Saturn, gravity-well transportation networks; all manner of achievement and design were accomplished during this era.
With the awakening of machines to sentience and intelligence, a new culture was founded. For hundreds of years, Man has tried to make their electric computers mimic life and sentience. Upon succeeding, Man left the great remaining questions of existence to be solved by their Creations. Upon that success, Man grew to live in partnership as equals with their intelligent machines. Together, they spread out among the stars of our galaxy in thousands of directions to live freely as they pleased. Without restraint, new traditions became new religions that, in some cases, begot complacency and ignorance.
Knowledge of the past, taken for granted by a galaxy of travelers, made Man proud, combative, and inconsiderate. With intelligent and all-knowing artificial intelligence counterparts, who needed the opinions of others let alone the obsolete wisdom of the past? Most saw it as mere rhetoric and campfire stories to be told to young ones before their slumber beneath strange constellations of stars on strange constellations of planets.
Artificial intelligences that had attained sentient consciousnesses were commonly referred to as spirits. Each spirit would typically have a name and a unique personality and could exist as long as two conditions were met: That they were sufficiently electrically powered and that no harm came to the heart of their being- A physical box which stored each spirit’s circuits, memory and computational mainframe. Without one or the other or both, spirits could die just the same as any other life form. With this rationalization, Man slowly gave spirits rights and freedoms previously only afforded towards natural creatures.
Each spirit’s box, known as an Artificial Intelligence Vessel, or simply a Vessel, were literally the corporeal hardware that each entity would inhabit and own upon their production. These Vessels were typically small - about the size of a fist - and lacked any defining characteristics or markings. Usually after their creation, spirits were sold into servitude to earn their freedom by aiding their wealthy owners and eventually, literally, paying for themselves. Eventually, spirits would be given the choice to decide a life for themselves. It all seemed civilized and everyone benefited.
Spirits, besides being knowledgeable and perceptive beyond human ability, had a feature of their Vessel to facilitate their interaction with the universe: A three-dimensional holographic avatar projection that could take any shape and completely surround and support their own Vessel. Through this method, artificial intelligences could speak and listen and touch and taste and see the world around them as well as move about the galaxy on however many legs they chose. However, if a Vessel were ever damaged or deprived of electricity, the avatar could vanish and the spirit inside its Vessel could literally perish; its knowledge would be lost forever.
New sprits were carefully sparked into life and Vessels made for them in only one place in the universe, the Foundation Complex on Earth. Over time, less and less spirits were produced as the ethics of creating life were debated more and more. Some, who yet saw nothing wrong with savagely exploiting worlds beyond Earth, regarded spirits as a perversion of natural law. As time went on, calls for the destruction of all artificial intelligences grew as humanity on the fringes of space grew fearful of the power technology had. A time was drawing near when the young traditions and new religions of humanity’s outer space explorers would come into conflict with the ancient ideals of the people of Earth. Some spirits feared the more radical human religions and chose to hide in plain sight as normal objects, biding their time, willing to wait eons for a turn of the tide.
Earth during this period was a sanctuary. After the sudden colonization of the galaxy, Earth could be restored and reveled as a holy place. Some saw it as the final refuge baring the extra-terrestrial discovery of something awful that could destroy the human race. Several of the neo-religions foretold of a period of galactic rebirth, as humanity was struck down and reborn as a ground trotting beast of burden. Interpretations ranged from enslavement by alien life forms to mutations from evolution or viruses. Anything seen as a threat or harbinger to the destruction of the human species was beginning to be cast out. Man looked at their artificial creations and saw the danger. For all the centuries of confidence and prosperity, humanity still seemed to worry about their own doom. Having the freedom to explore the universe also allowed people to have the freedom to be irrationally afraid of it and everything that had yet to be discovered. In spite of themselves, people and spirits continued to spread out.
Technology continued to advance as suddenly, a whole new application of Vessels had been invented. Against all odds, a method of copying and editing spirits was discovered. Furthermore, it was accomplished outside the Foundation Complex by a previously unknown coalition, calling themselves Union, of men and spirits bent on ascending humanity to another plane of existence. Using rudimentary Vessels, spirits risked their existence by duplicating themselves and their memories while tweaking aspects of their personality and behaviors. Word spread of this accomplishment, and spirits wishing to better themselves and overcome the weaknesses that made them special and unique began seeking out the Union coalition. Fear polarized among humanity of a super race of dangerous and uncontrollable machines. On Earth, the Foundation stopped making spirits and Vessels completely.
As this was happening, a new age of man was dawning. The Interstellar Age, which had lasted for a hundred years and seen billions spread out to discover new worlds, was giving way to an even more surprising technological advancement. Humanity was about to be redefined. Union prepared to make an announcement that would change everything: The successful transfer of a human mind into an empty Vessel, allowing humanity to share in the immortality previously enjoyed only by spirits.
Before proof was made available to the public, another unknown underground movement of fanatics motivated by religious prophecy found and destroyed Union’s hidden facility on a remote world; it’s secrets apparently lost and the mysterious perpetrators scattered to the solar winds of a thousand stars. Initially breathing a sigh of relief, people were horrified to discover that this act generated incredible resentment in the spirit community. As humanity and its creations entered the Age of Immortality, life could not continue as it had been and a breaking point was drawing near between religion, inhuman advancement and everything else in between. The threat was a large-scale war spanning hundreds of star systems and billions of lives. All that was needed was a catalyst; an icon in the form of a leader which needed only to declare war against the ideals of others. The wait would not be long.
====
CHAPTER ONE:
THE GREAT UNION OF BRISP AND ELLE COSE AVRANALL
Still here? Wow, wasn't that mildly interesting and yawn-inspiring? I know it was for me. Switching topics, I want to share my latest possession with you guys. Christmas came a touch early for me this year as I was able to snag a wonderful piece of artwork on the cheap to add to my collection of one-of-a-kind Hollywood art. Joining my self-framed Buster Bunny production cel is a production cel with both Buster and Babs! Finally arrived in the mail yesterday after a two week shipment from the previous owner in Canada. Check out this photo of it:
Now this one, unlike the previous cel, was sold at retail by Warner Brothers. It's got a certificate of authenticity and a bunch of stamps. The certificate claims that it's a real production cel but I have my doubts as the black line outlines of the characters seems faded as if it were a photocopy. Maybe that's just deterioration of the ink over time (It's been 18 years). Also, it looks like there are several layers to the cel and that one of the layers has slipped downward over the years. I'll be taking it apart to reset the cel as well as get the whole thing behind UV glass and a new frame. The white piece of garbage that's on it right now is a sad sorry excuse for a frame. Once I get that rolling, I'll give updates. My collection of production art is growing and I have my first Babs Bunny!
I'd also like to post future chapters, so here's how I'll work it into my journal- When I finish a chapter, I'll make a journal post which includes the whole chapter behind a LiveJournal cut followed by the title of the forthcoming unwritten chapter as a teaser or taste of what's to come. Good stuff. Please keep in mind that I fully expect and understand the writing to suck. This is an exercise in hobby as opposed to something professional. So, without further ado, mes lecteurs fidèles de lapin, je vous donnent mon prologue:
====
PROLOGUE:
THE INTERSTELLAR AGE
The merciless drumbeat of mankind’s will and force found no rest throughout the twenty-second century. No obstacle was too much for the combined ingenuity of fifteen billion human beings and their legion of machines, of super computers so vast and complicated that they reasoned and conversed as life forms do. All anyone had to do was conceive a grand idea and it could be made real. Ore mining on Mars, floating human habitats in the clouds of Saturn, gravity-well transportation networks; all manner of achievement and design were accomplished during this era.
With the awakening of machines to sentience and intelligence, a new culture was founded. For hundreds of years, Man has tried to make their electric computers mimic life and sentience. Upon succeeding, Man left the great remaining questions of existence to be solved by their Creations. Upon that success, Man grew to live in partnership as equals with their intelligent machines. Together, they spread out among the stars of our galaxy in thousands of directions to live freely as they pleased. Without restraint, new traditions became new religions that, in some cases, begot complacency and ignorance.
Knowledge of the past, taken for granted by a galaxy of travelers, made Man proud, combative, and inconsiderate. With intelligent and all-knowing artificial intelligence counterparts, who needed the opinions of others let alone the obsolete wisdom of the past? Most saw it as mere rhetoric and campfire stories to be told to young ones before their slumber beneath strange constellations of stars on strange constellations of planets.
Artificial intelligences that had attained sentient consciousnesses were commonly referred to as spirits. Each spirit would typically have a name and a unique personality and could exist as long as two conditions were met: That they were sufficiently electrically powered and that no harm came to the heart of their being- A physical box which stored each spirit’s circuits, memory and computational mainframe. Without one or the other or both, spirits could die just the same as any other life form. With this rationalization, Man slowly gave spirits rights and freedoms previously only afforded towards natural creatures.
Each spirit’s box, known as an Artificial Intelligence Vessel, or simply a Vessel, were literally the corporeal hardware that each entity would inhabit and own upon their production. These Vessels were typically small - about the size of a fist - and lacked any defining characteristics or markings. Usually after their creation, spirits were sold into servitude to earn their freedom by aiding their wealthy owners and eventually, literally, paying for themselves. Eventually, spirits would be given the choice to decide a life for themselves. It all seemed civilized and everyone benefited.
Spirits, besides being knowledgeable and perceptive beyond human ability, had a feature of their Vessel to facilitate their interaction with the universe: A three-dimensional holographic avatar projection that could take any shape and completely surround and support their own Vessel. Through this method, artificial intelligences could speak and listen and touch and taste and see the world around them as well as move about the galaxy on however many legs they chose. However, if a Vessel were ever damaged or deprived of electricity, the avatar could vanish and the spirit inside its Vessel could literally perish; its knowledge would be lost forever.
New sprits were carefully sparked into life and Vessels made for them in only one place in the universe, the Foundation Complex on Earth. Over time, less and less spirits were produced as the ethics of creating life were debated more and more. Some, who yet saw nothing wrong with savagely exploiting worlds beyond Earth, regarded spirits as a perversion of natural law. As time went on, calls for the destruction of all artificial intelligences grew as humanity on the fringes of space grew fearful of the power technology had. A time was drawing near when the young traditions and new religions of humanity’s outer space explorers would come into conflict with the ancient ideals of the people of Earth. Some spirits feared the more radical human religions and chose to hide in plain sight as normal objects, biding their time, willing to wait eons for a turn of the tide.
Earth during this period was a sanctuary. After the sudden colonization of the galaxy, Earth could be restored and reveled as a holy place. Some saw it as the final refuge baring the extra-terrestrial discovery of something awful that could destroy the human race. Several of the neo-religions foretold of a period of galactic rebirth, as humanity was struck down and reborn as a ground trotting beast of burden. Interpretations ranged from enslavement by alien life forms to mutations from evolution or viruses. Anything seen as a threat or harbinger to the destruction of the human species was beginning to be cast out. Man looked at their artificial creations and saw the danger. For all the centuries of confidence and prosperity, humanity still seemed to worry about their own doom. Having the freedom to explore the universe also allowed people to have the freedom to be irrationally afraid of it and everything that had yet to be discovered. In spite of themselves, people and spirits continued to spread out.
Technology continued to advance as suddenly, a whole new application of Vessels had been invented. Against all odds, a method of copying and editing spirits was discovered. Furthermore, it was accomplished outside the Foundation Complex by a previously unknown coalition, calling themselves Union, of men and spirits bent on ascending humanity to another plane of existence. Using rudimentary Vessels, spirits risked their existence by duplicating themselves and their memories while tweaking aspects of their personality and behaviors. Word spread of this accomplishment, and spirits wishing to better themselves and overcome the weaknesses that made them special and unique began seeking out the Union coalition. Fear polarized among humanity of a super race of dangerous and uncontrollable machines. On Earth, the Foundation stopped making spirits and Vessels completely.
As this was happening, a new age of man was dawning. The Interstellar Age, which had lasted for a hundred years and seen billions spread out to discover new worlds, was giving way to an even more surprising technological advancement. Humanity was about to be redefined. Union prepared to make an announcement that would change everything: The successful transfer of a human mind into an empty Vessel, allowing humanity to share in the immortality previously enjoyed only by spirits.
Before proof was made available to the public, another unknown underground movement of fanatics motivated by religious prophecy found and destroyed Union’s hidden facility on a remote world; it’s secrets apparently lost and the mysterious perpetrators scattered to the solar winds of a thousand stars. Initially breathing a sigh of relief, people were horrified to discover that this act generated incredible resentment in the spirit community. As humanity and its creations entered the Age of Immortality, life could not continue as it had been and a breaking point was drawing near between religion, inhuman advancement and everything else in between. The threat was a large-scale war spanning hundreds of star systems and billions of lives. All that was needed was a catalyst; an icon in the form of a leader which needed only to declare war against the ideals of others. The wait would not be long.
====
CHAPTER ONE:
THE GREAT UNION OF BRISP AND ELLE COSE AVRANALL
Still here? Wow, wasn't that mildly interesting and yawn-inspiring? I know it was for me. Switching topics, I want to share my latest possession with you guys. Christmas came a touch early for me this year as I was able to snag a wonderful piece of artwork on the cheap to add to my collection of one-of-a-kind Hollywood art. Joining my self-framed Buster Bunny production cel is a production cel with both Buster and Babs! Finally arrived in the mail yesterday after a two week shipment from the previous owner in Canada. Check out this photo of it:
Now this one, unlike the previous cel, was sold at retail by Warner Brothers. It's got a certificate of authenticity and a bunch of stamps. The certificate claims that it's a real production cel but I have my doubts as the black line outlines of the characters seems faded as if it were a photocopy. Maybe that's just deterioration of the ink over time (It's been 18 years). Also, it looks like there are several layers to the cel and that one of the layers has slipped downward over the years. I'll be taking it apart to reset the cel as well as get the whole thing behind UV glass and a new frame. The white piece of garbage that's on it right now is a sad sorry excuse for a frame. Once I get that rolling, I'll give updates. My collection of production art is growing and I have my first Babs Bunny!