A little edit to some text in the archives. This holiday special is a sequel to Sedition (itself a sequel to Generation), and despite what my last night's self thinks, probably loses way too much if you haven't read those first. In general, I'm rethinking the approach to sequels in the short story section, though Travail was really the start of that. I like the idea of having connections between short stories (cont.)
that aren't explicitly spelled out, but I don't think just not labeling sequels was conducive to the sense of discovery and realization I wanted to spur on. There are still a few undeclared connections I think someone could work out (and I'd be delighted to see someone try) and more that I think aren't really possible... yet. I'm not entirely sure how to do this, (cont.)
because screaming "There's a puzzle! Look here, this is a clue!" is one way to wreck a simple puzzle like this, but simply not stating there is one at all either isn't any better. But at least I've learned the (rather obvious) lesson to save the puzzle piece treatment for the added little connections, rather than just what should be a baseline part of it.
A fun little bonus update short story for the holiday.
A little edit to some text in the archives. This holiday special is a sequel to Sedition (itself a sequel to Generation), and despite what my last night's self thinks, probably loses way too much if you haven't read those first. In general, I'm rethinking the approach to sequels in the short story section, though Travail was really the start of that. I like the idea of having connections between short stories (cont.)
that aren't explicitly spelled out, but I don't think just not labeling sequels was conducive to the sense of discovery and realization I wanted to spur on. There are still a few undeclared connections I think someone could work out (and I'd be delighted to see someone try) and more that I think aren't really possible... yet. I'm not entirely sure how to do this, (cont.)
because screaming "There's a puzzle! Look here, this is a clue!" is one way to wreck a simple puzzle like this, but simply not stating there is one at all either isn't any better. But at least I've learned the (rather obvious) lesson to save the puzzle piece treatment for the added little connections, rather than just what should be a baseline part of it.
i like that you just provide extensive notes to yourself in these comments