19 Comments
User's avatar
Shoni's avatar

Really beautiful. But did you put the "My name is Luca" song in as a little musical wink there? I'm going to have it in my head all day 😂

Expand full comment
Johnathan Reid's avatar

Thank you, Shoni. Well spotted! Can't stop my brain making word plays...

Expand full comment
Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Nice work on this one, Johnathan! I love the exploration of origin as alien, and the idea the alien species or consciousness could return and re-introduce itself.

Expand full comment
Johnathan Reid's avatar

Thank you, Brian. It's been tough keeping my writing on track recently, for various reasons, but nothing like a deadline to kick your ass into gear! I promise to read your 'Red Bloom' story very soon.

Expand full comment
Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

I feel the same. The only reason I got it done was because of the deadline. I guess I'll need another one to keep me on track.

Expand full comment
Francsart's avatar

Gorgeous story!

Expand full comment
Johnathan Reid's avatar

Thank you! I felt compelled to write it - must be in my genes. 😛

Expand full comment
Nick Winney's avatar

That was great! Great idea really well delivered and not too much science lingo but just enough to make it taste legit.

love the concept. and so plausible! 😎

Expand full comment
Johnathan Reid's avatar

Thank you so much, Nick!

I wonder how it would change us if it were true. For science has progressively pushed us from our self-appointed position at the centre of the Universe.

Expand full comment
Joseph Young's avatar

The scientific language in this story kind of makes my head spin (in a good way--i appreciate a good head spinner!). Nice work, Johnathan.

Expand full comment
Johnathan Reid's avatar

Thanks, Joseph! I generally try to soften any science in my speculative fiction, often to the point of it being abstract and only underpinning the story world, even without direct reference. But this story did lean more than usual into biotech and its language, because I wanted the terms to enrich the protagonist's descent into the primordial.

Expand full comment
Thomas Wharton's avatar

Terrific. It's got imagination literally seeping from its primal pores.

Expand full comment
Johnathan Reid's avatar

Thank you very much, Thomas. Knowing you enjoyed the story is a wonderful reward for my efforts.

Expand full comment
Nick Buchheit's avatar

Wow. I wasn't sure I was going to like the but everything coalesced so wonderfully in the last two sections. Truly killer work.

I got some Contact and The Abyss vibes from part of this story.

Your language is beautiful.

Especially loved this section:

"Thank you for showing, for sharing, for shattering what is me.

The Beginning has no End.

Yes, we will return. To start again."

Expand full comment
Johnathan Reid's avatar

Thank you so much, Nick. A poetic lilt often intrudes into my writing when the story becomes necessarily more abstract. It's wonderful to know you enjoyed reading my contribution. Thanks again.

Expand full comment
Nick Winney's avatar

these days people would probably say FAKE NEWS. unless aliens actually arrive in big shiny spaceships and take our guns off us we'll never change.

Expand full comment
Johnathan Reid's avatar

Just as an FYI to the aliens: Most Brits, when on home territory, have never seen a gun outside of an airport.

Expand full comment
Nick Winney's avatar

indeed. I was mostly on about that lot over the water…

Expand full comment