tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post2592239735526404122..comments2023-09-23T03:21:00.976-07:00Comments on The Black Dogs of Despair Crayon Room: Progress - Friday Flash.Panicswitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04074225770192887676noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-72931285635160136912009-09-04T07:05:44.871-07:002009-09-04T07:05:44.871-07:00I actually liked the last paragraph. The "mo...I actually liked the last paragraph. The "monkeys" are more civilized and advanced than the dying cyborg. I think there needs to be more of a tie in or hidden clue or something though. <br><br>I really liked your writing style! The idea behind this story is great, and I like that you had the twist at the end.<br><br>Well done!ganymederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14160039271069426174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-74046241294279377872009-09-04T08:59:22.216-07:002009-09-04T08:59:22.216-07:00I thought the link between the two parts of this s...I thought the link between the two parts of this story were clear enough. No additions necessary. Thought-provoking stuff, a clever bit of speculative fiction.dan powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14131553102349479513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-16595254253896016732009-09-04T10:13:04.768-07:002009-09-04T10:13:04.768-07:00Well, Dan is definitely winning the comments threa...Well, Dan is definitely winning the comments thread so far, with Ganymeder in hot pursuit. <br><br>Kat, drink your juice and let the grown-ups talk... :-pAnton Gullyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14588240500026033295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-62838960320113954732009-09-04T12:48:39.489-07:002009-09-04T12:48:39.489-07:00Very interesting, Anton. Touch of Space Odyssey th...Very interesting, Anton. Touch of Space Odyssey there. Keep on writing I look forward to reading more.Jarmara Falconerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05550276147711384895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-90840428011494678802009-09-04T16:25:57.303-07:002009-09-04T16:25:57.303-07:00I really liked it. I didn't have any problem w...I really liked it. I didn't have any problem with the ending and I liked the telepathic communication between the more evolved beings.<br>Nice visuals. I felt sorry for the cyborg, but somehow hopeful that he'll go on......Karen from Mentorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03685540761526680384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-54653184454793927052009-09-04T17:08:49.078-07:002009-09-04T17:08:49.078-07:00I loved the ending...and it's probably going t...I loved the ending...and it's probably going to go that way too. :) We took the wrong turn a long time ago. Great stuff!Laura Enohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09982794146667832204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-9483689212193108122009-09-04T17:10:09.566-07:002009-09-04T17:10:09.566-07:00I really liked this story. And down the road, Char...I really liked this story. And down the road, Charleston Heston comes along and...<br><br>Tail-Sheen Joker? Awesome name for a parmour, heh!Marisa Birnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945909737147497606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-20608061079186142952009-09-04T18:05:28.700-07:002009-09-04T18:05:28.700-07:00Thanks for the link *looks at Anton drolly, one ey...Thanks for the link *looks at Anton drolly, one eyebrow raised* Now I have to watch for them too...Laura Enohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09982794146667832204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-286156207864488202009-09-04T18:07:52.926-07:002009-09-04T18:07:52.926-07:00The ending was great and not the least bit confusi...The ending was great and not the least bit confusing. Also if evolution means we get to fornicate three or more times before noon while eating fresh fruit then I'm in.Chris Chartrandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09766438158698041660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-92125585111162932342009-09-04T23:52:57.737-07:002009-09-04T23:52:57.737-07:00I enjoyed this, and must agree that your ending wa...I enjoyed this, and must agree that your ending was great. Admire how that single last paragraph wrapped up so much commentary on the sad state of our dying human race ... we keep pursuing technology relentlessly, and I betcha those monkeys never sent a tweet, digg or stumble.Rosa Sayhttp://talkingstory.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-27716467719811043112009-09-05T00:08:32.328-07:002009-09-05T00:08:32.328-07:00Also if evolution means we get to fornicate three ...<i>Also if evolution means </i><b>we</b><i> get to fornicate three or more times before noon while eating fresh fruit then I'm in.</i><br><br>Chris, I like you too, but I think you're taking things a little too fast for me. <br><br><br>Rosa - Exactly! But if they did tweet, digg or stumble, I'm pretty sure they'd do a better job of it than I've ever managed.Anton Gullyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14588240500026033295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-44955671002028556582009-09-05T07:30:24.430-07:002009-09-05T07:30:24.430-07:00I really liked this! Funny, even as there is almos...I really liked this! Funny, even as there is almost nothing left of his humanity physically, he still considers himself human and he still retained the human characteristic of valuing life more at the end. <br><br>I also really liked the idea of the chimps (sorry, I can only imagine this kind of behavior coming from bonobos, not monkeys :-)<br>anyway...I love that they evolved with a conscience and telepathy. We sometimes concentrate so much on where our evolution is taking us, we forget the creatures we share this rock with are evolving, too.<br><br>Looking foward to reading more of you!shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063218369150683990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-89103586213733063202009-09-05T07:41:28.064-07:002009-09-05T07:41:28.064-07:00What a miserable life. Why would he fight to live...What a miserable life. Why would he fight to live? I'd spend the rest of my days trying to trick a monkey into killing me :)jentropyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506168876336077017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-49646238597972218532009-09-05T11:19:05.469-07:002009-09-05T11:19:05.469-07:00Interesting. Good twist at the end. I felt rather ...Interesting. Good twist at the end. I felt rather sorry for the robot/man. I would have thought monkeys would be more evolved by the time of this story. They already communicate by ESP, don't they?<br><br>Helen<br><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-21960782716194820152009-09-05T11:42:19.157-07:002009-09-05T11:42:19.157-07:00AHA! You've fallen into the trap that thinking...AHA! You've fallen into the trap that thinking evolved = more things, Helen. <br><br>Honestly, I wrote it assuming parallel evolution, with one branch of humanity embracing technology and the other eschewing it. Despite my horribly techie background, I think you can tell which I favour....Anton Gullyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14588240500026033295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-30968323730302659902009-09-06T13:39:21.182-07:002009-09-06T13:39:21.182-07:00This is a very clever piece. You made me really fe...This is a very clever piece. You made me really feel for our mechanical friend.<br>~2Tomara Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17185889402088565686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-2523041208348824882009-09-06T13:54:14.071-07:002009-09-06T13:54:14.071-07:00Very nice - the split branches of the tree of life...Very nice - the split branches of the tree of life was well done.Tony Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090583562737225942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-87545792918979268382009-09-06T13:57:46.790-07:002009-09-06T13:57:46.790-07:00I agree with most of the other comments. The final...I agree with most of the other comments. The final paragraph makes an interesting statement on evolution and who is really civilized and evolved. Great story!Eric J. Krausehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05774468607814244185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-41929514507751608262009-09-06T15:19:54.121-07:002009-09-06T15:19:54.121-07:00What a fantastic story. I love the idea behind it ...What a fantastic story. I love the idea behind it and the way you've written it. The blind optimism of the cyborg is particularly touching. And the monkeys make me think of Kom in 'A Monkey's Tale'.battypiphttp://battypip.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-43339760609600071242009-09-07T05:51:00.665-07:002009-09-07T05:51:00.665-07:00Enjoyed the story, Anton. As others have mentioned...Enjoyed the story, Anton. As others have mentioned, the ending was top-notch.<br><br>Had visions of the movie 'Silent Running' while reading this...remember Bruce Dern?Alan W. Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067022519729701245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-20031665541141622252009-09-07T08:32:43.119-07:002009-09-07T08:32:43.119-07:00I love that movie. Even the hippy music!I love that movie. Even the hippy music!Anton Gullyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14588240500026033295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-51078192375900242142009-09-07T09:18:49.846-07:002009-09-07T09:18:49.846-07:00You've said so much about our current civiliza...You've said so much about our current civilization in this story. It has a real "Planet of the Apes" feel to it -- and you trick the reader into empathizing with the cyborg. Thought-provoking and provocative, this is an excellent piece.<br><br>Count me in for the three before noon and fruit.Nettahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05660181882760446931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-16701627251614586712009-09-07T11:15:52.287-07:002009-09-07T11:15:52.287-07:00Ray Kurzweil says the singularity will arrive by 2...Ray Kurzweil says the singularity will arrive by 2050, when man and machine will meld into immortal beings. Your story makes me think that might not be such a good thing.<br><br>I have to admit that the transition to the end paragraph jarred me just a bit, but I think it was just because the name was so unusual I wasn't sure I was still in the same piece. But that feeling evaporated almost instantly, replaced by a deep sense of satisfaction.<br><br>"And if there was a way out of this, a way to keep on living, then he, the last civilized being on this forsaken planet, would find it."<br><br>Kind of ironic that he was developing more of an appreciation for the life around him as his own days are winding down, but still retains the arrogance of the species centric mindset that we are the only intelligent beings around.<br><br>Good thought provoking read.<br>~jonJ. M. Strotherhttp://www.jmstrother.com/tiki-view_blog.php?blogId=1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753392168082086487.post-13615655753118689282009-09-07T14:14:52.942-07:002009-09-07T14:14:52.942-07:00"Count me in for the three before noon and fr..."Count me in for the three before noon and fruit."<br><br>Okay, Netta, let me check my diary...<br><br><br>Cheers JMS! I'm sceptical about the singularity, certainly within that time-frame. I was reading stuff in the 80s that suggested we'd all be immortal by now thank to nanotechnology. Godhood is always a few decades in the future.Anton Gullyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14588240500026033295noreply@blogger.com