Subliminal persuasion while the world drowns.
As an ad copywriter, Frank earns his living manipulating people's opinions. Hired to use his talent help a politician he hates win a presidential election, can his own mind be rebeling? His true love calls him to reclaim his own consciousness.
A near-future, dystopian science fiction short story about:
Global warming/climate change
Capitalism
Consumerism
Subliminal persuasion and influence, especially in advertising
How explicit images in advertizing haunt and influence our imaginations
Environmental physical pollution
Mental/emotional pollution
The vast amounts of packaging and other waste our society throws away
Political campaign advertising
If you've ever felt frustrated over the refusal of people to lower their materialistic lifestyles for the good of the planet . . .
Or if you've ever felt frustrated because no matter how hard you work, how much money you make, you're still not happy . . .
Or if you've ever felt your mind influenced against your will by advertising . . .
You can relate to Mirror Maze.
Warning: I've used a sort of semi-stream of consciousness style to convey the emotional collapse of the main character. As an advertising copywriter, he writes the ads, but is even more influenced by their words and images than the average person.
Despite being one of the manipulators, he's as caught in the 'mirror maze' of our modern narcissistic society as any of us.
Genre: FICTION / Science Fiction / GeneralThe cartoonlike black dot of his imagination he called his copywriter's muse came by on Noah's Ark. As the island wasteland and the maze of mirrors sank into the ocean, Frank swam toward the ark.
"Go balls out," his muse shouted.
When Frank pulled himself into the ark, he asked, "Where's the woman with no face?"
A billboard floated by on the water's surface. It read: "This dream sponsored by the Exxturo Corporation. We're always thinking of you."
Frank's X-In-Time radio alarm clock turned on loud torture rock:
Ain't love a bitch?
Don't scratch that itch!
"Five minutes," Frank said without opening his eyes.
The radio-alarm system beeped and told him, "Time to get up. Important meeting at ten A.M. Senator Dorrian. Very very important."
Franck reached out to Darlene's side of the water bed.
Fly girl flew away
He touched the unused pillow.
Ain't love a high?
I'd rather buy!
Frank sat up, swinging his feet to the floor. This triggered the radio to turn down its volume. The TV covering the opposite wall turned on the Have a Good Day Morning Report.
No time to waste, no time to spend, no time to share. You're on the go, on the run, from moment one. Move move move
Frank balled his fists and flexed his muscles. Energy surged through his body, driving out all sleep and the residue of last night's partying. The meeting with Senator Dorrian was the most important event of his career. If Senator Dorrian liked his ads . . . Frank drove doubt from his mind. Dorrian will love them! Those commercials guaranteed Dorrian the election and fame and fortune for Frank. Go balls out!
| Language | Status |
|---|---|
|
German
|
Already translated.
Translated by Simon Dehne
|
|
Italian
|
Already translated.
Translated by Valerio Dalla Ragione
|
|
Portuguese
|
Already translated.
Translated by Alex Luna
|
|
|
Author review: He did a good job with a rather unorthodox story told in an experimental sort of way. |
|
Spanish
|
Already translated.
Translated by Julia Vélez Ardaiz
|
