About the Novel 'Bring With You a heart': Genre, Names and Title
Fascinations, obsessions; with paganism, cultural symbolism and the human subconscious demands an outlet from me. Years of information addiction needs a purpose. Hopefully one that can bring value to other people.
Why Transhumanist Sci-Fi?
Reconciling a love for nature with love of machines isn’t easy. All the fun materials and manufacturing that make the world’s best toys aren’t great for the environment. Fiction gives an opportunity to work out this cognitive dissonance. Examining the intersection of nature and tech is definitive to Transhumanism.
There’s endless room for creativity within that aesthetic.
Other than the classic themes, I promise there will be no cliches like “man’s creation turning against him.” This is not a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of technology.
Just basic sci-fi theme of “speculative musings” regarding what may exist and how it may influence human culture, while at the same time acting as a reflection of the issues in our modern world.
A forum such as steemit where fans of technology congregate is a new gift of a good venue. I wouldn’t have had the encouragement, incentive, to think of taking up this dormant interest. I’ve noticed many others experience the same when they find out about this platform. Inspiration is priceless.
Why Romance?
The story will center around two lovers, and writing of love and the erotic really enables one to act as medium for passions manifesting into words. But I didn't choose Romance only for that sense of the word.
But also because of what defined the historical “Romantic period” was an idealization of times in previous history. Which is a strange habit of humanity I'd like to explore through fiction.
Character Names
The symbolic and human subconscious are my ever-growing obsessions. So if I can incorporate that, I will do in the best way I know how. And names are a great way to sneak-in indicators of symbolic themes.
Njull-Ix? Really, thats a weird name.
Njull:
The more obvious part, from Null; meaninglessness conveyed with so many meanings! How could I resist?
Mashed that up with:
Njáls saga
a thirteenth-century Icelandic saga that describes events between 960 and 1020.
The saga deals with this process of blood feuds in the Icelandic Commonwealth,
I promise you, in no other body of writing is there so much violence described unemotionally. An era hard to fathom.
Another characteristic of the narrative is the presence of omens and prophetic dreams. It is disputed whether this reflects a fatalistic outlook on the part of the author.
The major events described in the saga are probably historical but the material was shaped by the author, drawing on oral tradition, according to his artistic needs. Njáls saga is the longest and most highly developed of the sagas of Icelanders. It is often considered the peak of the saga tradition.
ix is the name of planet from Dune series. Not out of a personal ode to Herbert. Rather the man who is part inspiration for Njull-Ix is a fan. Now I forever associate his intellectual commentary with the work.
Herbert got it from the roman numeral for 9. That's also my fave number, works out nice. Nine is just one of those magical numbers.
Gidra = Гидра The Russian word for Hydra
The Lernaean Hydra was a Greek Monster that had many heads, and each time a head was cut off, two would grow in its place. It is generally said to have eight mortal heads, and one immortal head. This head could not be harmed by any weapon. There were also other Hydra, called Hydrae, that had some physical differences. They might be siblings of the Lernaean Hydra.
http://greekmythology.wikia.com/wiki/Lernaean_Hydra
The Title
I like how "Of Mice and Men" was titled from a poem. "Bring with you a heart" is a line from a William Wordsworth poem. Wordsworth was an admirer of nature and skeptical of technology and industry.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;
Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:—
We murder to dissect.
Enough of Science and of Art;
Close up those barren leaves;
Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives.
The Tables Turned, by William Wordworth