Posts tagged ‘global warming’
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART III
Restarting The Ultimate Experiment
An unpublished short story
THE UNLIMATE EXPERIMENT
He could tell she did not understand his request. “Wheel me into my study and you shall meet them.”
She wheeled him up to the sliding double doors of darkly stained wood. When she opened them her eyes were greeted by floor to ceiling shelves overflowing with books.
“These are my very close friends. I have spent my life with their thoughts, their ideas, and their dreams. On these shelves are the works of scientists, philosophers, poets and great novelists. I can gaze at their spines and recall the cherished words they hold. This is where I choose to spend my last days.” Over the days she cared for him she grew to understand how much these friends meant to him.
Now she saw Stewart as her patient and friend.
DOOMED BY PROGRESS: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART VIII
DOOMED BY PROGRESS
Due to technical difficulties, I will need to postpone my posting of The Ultimate Experiment. So, for now, I will begin posting my short story, Doomed by Progress. This story was published by Aphelion in May 2010.
With the increased demand of the migrating population needing electricity, the electric grid of Alaska collapsed. Normally, the residents calmly waited for a return of power. But now, when the electricity was renewed it lasted for seconds, then was gone for good.
* * *
David asked Lisa, “When was the last you saw a blue sky? It’s always grey and at times there is so much smog you can hardly see anything around you.
“I think it’s time we move farther north. If these conditions keep up there will no place to go. It’s like a science fiction movie but we’re living it. Conditions must be better up north.”
This time Lisa was in full agreement with her husband.
David and Lisa moved as far north as they could. But they came to a point where they lacked the energy to go on.
Weak from lack of oxygen and extreme heat, David said, “I don’t think we can go farther,” and fell to the ground, his breathing labored and then stopped.
Lisa surveyed the scene around her. In the distance she could see solitary figures, walking, stumbling and then falling. Lisa knew she would not survive long in this heat. All the predictions she had read came true, although much sooner than anyone could anticipate.
Lisa lay down, and with the rest of humanity, ceased to exist.
The End
DOOMED BY PROGRESS: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PARTVII
DOOMED BY PROGRESS
Due to technical difficulties, I will need to postpone my posting of The Ultimate Experiment. So, for now, I will begin posting my short story, Doomed by Progress. This story was published by Aphelion in May 2010.
As the temperature began to climb across the world, many of the poorer could not escape the areas of death. Millions, and then billions died. The smell of rotting flesh hanging over cities and towns, once havens for the poor, became vast dying grounds for those populations of meager means unable to retreat the horror around them.
As the availability of food lessened, conflict broke out in proportions never seen. Looting was common for food. What else mattered? It was a war of survival, not between countries but between individuals wanting to live. The bloodshed these conflicts produced was unimaginable. To survive people would kill their neighbors, friends, even their own families so that they may live on. But in the end, all this was useless.
Strengthened by the new heat on both land and water, hurricanes, the likes of which never seen before, feeding off the warm waters, took an untold number of lives.
DOOMED BY PROGRESS: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART V
DOOMED BY PROGRESS
Due to technical difficulties, I will need to postpone my posting of The Ultimate Experiment. So, for now, I will begin posting my short story, Doomed by Progress. This story was published by Aphelion in May 2010.
It began slowly, then snowballed. It is difficult to use that term for there was little snow or ice left on the planet. Cities, once told of the possibility of flooding, were either flooded or completely underwater. The increase in use of air conditioners throughout newly emerging economies, with the requisite demand for greater amounts of electricity led to stronger economies.
However, none of the countries, with this new wealth, spent any money on infrastructure. The problem being that this new fortune was lining the pockets of politicians and others in power.
As a result, electric grids in these counties with new wealth began to fail. And after a few years, because of the dramatic increase in temperature due to the vast amount of heat from air conditioners, in conjunction with the pollution contributed by the coal burned power plants to produce the demand for electricity, areas once appreciating the benefit of cool air, became too hot for human habitation.
Initially, people living in these areas of ever-growing heat sought out any place providing comfort. Malls, stores and movie theaters were crowded beyond belief. But as electricity became more expensive and unreliable, these “oases slowly disappeared.
It began slowly, then snowballed. It is difficult to use that term for there was little snow or ice left on the planet. Cities, once told of the possibility of flooding, were either flooded or completely underwater. The increase in use of air conditioners throughout newly emerging economies, with the requisite demand for greater amounts of electricity led to stronger economies.
However, none of the countries, with this new wealth, spent any money on infrastructure. The problem being that this new fortune was lining the pockets of politicians and others in power.
As a result, electric grids in these counties with new wealth began to fail. And after a few years, because of the dramatic increase in temperature due to the vast amount of heat from air conditioners, in conjunction with the pollution contributed by the coal burned power plants to produce the demand for electricity, areas once appreciating the benefit of cool air, became too hot for human habitation.
Initially, people living in these areas of ever-growing heat sought out any place providing comfort. Malls, stores and movie theaters were crowded beyond belief. But as electricity became more expensive and unreliable, these “oases slowly disappeared.
DOOMED BY PROGRESS: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART IV
DOOMED BY PROGRESS
Due to technical difficulties, I will need to postpone my posting of The Ultimate Experiment. So, for now, I will begin posting my short story, Doomed by Progress. This story was published by Aphelion in May 2010.
Another ten more later.
David shouted with anger and hopelessness, “I can’t live like this. I’ve asked for a transfer to Alaska where it must be cooler. The company has offices in Anchorage. What really pisses me off is why hasn’t the government done something about this weather? Politicians just sit on their dumb asses take large contributions, and who knows what else, and vote how they are told. To hell with the public and everything else. The only thing important to these crooks is their careers.
David had not consulted Lisa before making the decision to move to Alaska. But she knew that voicing an opinion would only result in a huge argument. As much as she wanted to speak her mind she held her thoughts and anguish to herself for she loved this guy, but it was getting harder and harder to keep that love alive. She said to herself, Fine, David, you have a job already set up. But what about my career. I love my children and don’t want to leave them. Yet, in some ways, Lisa was looking forward to the move. She also found the increasing heat beyond comfortable. She felt caught in a trap with no escape. Blindness to what was happening to the weather existed for too long. She honestly felt that nothing could be done to change the direction in which the world was heading.
DOOMED BY PROGRESS: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART III
DOOMED BY PROGRESS
Due to technical difficulties, I will need to postpone my posting of The Ultimate Experiment. So, for now, I will begin posting my short story, Doomed by progress. This is an unpublished story.
Twenty years later
With sweat on his brow, David said to Lisa, “Isn’t this heat unusual for November?” His brow and the armpits of his shirt added proof to his question.
“I know, David, I know.” She had the air conditioner turned up to full, yet the house was uncomfortably warm. Lisa said, “This is just Iowa weather. You know we’ve had snow earlier than expected too.
Life went on. The acquisition of air conditioners spread to populations in dire need of life-saving cool air to defeat the killing temperatures. There, air conditioners were not considered a luxury but a lifesaver. At the same time enormous amounts of heat, the product of air conditioners, were released into the extreme heat outside their homes every day.
DOOMED BY PROGRESS: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART II
DOOMED BY PROGRESS
Due to technical difficulties, I will need to postpone my posting of The Ultimate Experiment. So for now, I will begin posting my short story, Doomed by progress. This is an unpublished story.
The United States had decided to turn back to coal for the main source of power, primarily based on politics. Also decided was to relax pollution standards also the product of a weak president bowing to industry. The coal industry, auto industry and whatever industry had been closely regulated in the past to prevent pollution were overjoyed. However, lurking in the future was a development no one could have anticipated. A development which would drastically alter the Earth’s atmosphere. This change would result from countries known for their rapidly growing economies and lack of regulations. They were on the road to an improved life.
The circumstance which no one could predict was precipitated by increased income. With new money flowing to those who once had little was the spread of air conditioners. Populations in countries such as India, who once suffered unbearable heat, with a devastating toll to the population, now found relief through air conditioning.
Other countries also embraced this source of comfort unaware that this new luxury was creating great amounts of heat and sending it into an already fragile atmosphere. After all, other countries enjoyed the comfort of cool air although they experienced only moderate temperatures. Why should countries experiencing life-threatening temperatures be denied a way to a better life? This development of improving their lives also required an increased amount of electricity in India and China, and other countries experiencing new wealth. All these countries rely on coal to produce their electricity. As a result, there was a new cycle of our changing planet was established.
DOOMED BY PROGRESS: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART I
DOOMED BY PROGRESS
Due to technical difficulties, I will need to postpone my posting of The Ultimate Experiment. So for now, I will begin posting my short story, Doomed by progress.
David and Lisa studied the scene around them, a scene they knew they would soon join. A decreasing number of people walked the area. The lack of trees offered an unobstructed view of great distance, a view of horror beyond description, an unbroken tableau of man’s folly.
In their cozy home in the state of Iowa, David sat reading the evening paper. And shouted to Lisa, “They’re at it again. We’re all doomed because of Global Warming which has morphed into Climate Change. Can’t these ‘experts’ at least settle on a name for something that doesn’t exist?”
Cooking dinner, Lisa listened to Dave’s rant, but did not reply. They were of different minds as to what was happening to our atmosphere, and she knew starting an argument was useless. Dave’s view on Climate Change was based on what he was fed by his favorite news station. Lisa’s was based on the science she read. The signs were there but many paid no attention to the reality of the situation. For those, life was easy and comfortable.
David, 32, a CPA was moderately handsome of average height and weight put little value in scientific investigations. “You’ve got to look at whose paying for the study,” he would say. Let me say one word and tell you me how much we should believe studies. Coffee.”
Lisa, four years younger than David, was a high school science teacher. Petite, with blond hair and stunning blue eyes. She was a knockout. Unlike David she put value in scientific investigation, especially those following Climate Change. But she knew there was no point in arguing this subject with her husband.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Pennsylvania, thunderstorms in February, and climate change is a myth.
When will we wake up?
I only hope it is before it is too late.
Perhaps it already is.
A NEW GENRE
While reading the May, 19 issue of Time over breakfast this morning, I came across an article which proved quite exciting for me. The article discussed movies released or soon to be such as Godzilla, Into the Storm and Snowpiercer.
In discussing these movies, a new genre was mentioned, at least new to me, cli-fi. This is a story of science fiction or fantasy dealing with a climate or environmental factor.
My novel, The Beast Awaits, which I sure you are all getting sick of hearing about, is about stem cell research gone bad leading to global warming. Is that a fit or what?
I plan to start working on a new query letter and will share it with you soon to see what you think.
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