How Times Change
By Mitch Berg
About this time seven years ago, I was writing the series of blog posts that eventually become my book Trulbert.
The book described a fictional breakdown of society after a financial cataclysm. I did it as satire because, honestly, it seemed like a more effective approach to the subject; Kurt Schlichter is going to put his kids through medical school with the proceeds from his fiction about a second Civil War, and he’s far from alone. And sometime humor is the best journalism.
Which isn’t to say Trulbert was “the best journalism”, but sometimes the indirect approach is the best one.
I’ve pondered doing a follow-up.
And I’m having a really, really hard time getting to “satirical” again. And I think it ties into the G.K. Chesterton quote – “when everything is absurd, satire is impossible”.
The Brandon Administration, and the times it rules over, are impossible to satirize.
I’m trying to figure out the angle for the next book.
A children’s story?
A musical?
I got nothing.
October 13th, 2021 at 8:03 am
A translation of a series of prophecies on parchment, written by Höðr, dating from 1362 found in a rough granite sepulcher recently unearthed at an archaeological dig near Kensington MN that foretells the Age of Brân[don].
October 13th, 2021 at 8:34 am
Do it Mitch. I bought a Kindle because of that work of yours. I’ve know idea where it is at now. But it was worth it.
October 13th, 2021 at 8:47 am
Mac it should also propose to explain what happens after the death of Brân, what’s coming next is the heart of it.
October 13th, 2021 at 8:59 am
PB,
That took a moment to register. The double-take woulda been worth filming. .
October 13th, 2021 at 9:21 am
In earlier times we got Pepys and Boswell. Today it will be written by Stephen King.
October 13th, 2021 at 9:22 am
Just make sure to put a nude Seven-of-Nine in there somewhere and you are golden.
October 13th, 2021 at 9:57 am
The Brandon Administration, and the times it rules over, are impossible to satirize
The Brandon Administration… thanks! that’s effing brilliant. I’m using that from now on.
October 13th, 2021 at 10:52 am
Dystopian futures are out…we’re living one.
Write about a black, gay M to F tranny that saves America from White Supremacists with her Wakanda superpowers…flies around with her jet black-pack and shit.
10/10 it will become a movie, if it’s not already being written as a script.
October 13th, 2021 at 11:21 am
BP: the new superman (in the comics anyway) is gay. Yup.
October 13th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
Of course he is, Kinlaw… dispatching evil doers with super BJ’s.
The entire country is fake and ghey, rn.
October 13th, 2021 at 1:07 pm
Going to self publish again? If you aren’t, be prepared to get a box full of rejection slips from agents because you aren’t an author from a historically marginalized group. Am I bitter? You bet. I’m trying to market my third book and every single literary agency uses that phrase in its website. If any SITD reader is interested in my first two works, they’re in the thriller genre and deal with a former doctor turned bounty hunter. Far fetched for sure. I’ll include a link in the comments if anyone is interested.
October 13th, 2021 at 1:15 pm
Golfdoc
as long as the former doctor turned bounty hunter is not portrayed in the cover art as Dog The Bounty Hunter with an MD then yes I’m interested! Cover art makes a difference.
October 13th, 2021 at 2:35 pm
Golfdoc,
Drop the link already!
October 13th, 2021 at 3:34 pm
Here goes: No Dog
https://www.amazon.com/Win-Home-Daniel-Clarke-Smith/dp/1463650167
October 13th, 2021 at 5:30 pm
I self published a short-short Christmas story on Amazon. It was about sibling rivalry between Christmas trees. My graphics designer (aka my sister) insisted that we reduce the level of violence so we could market it for children.
Okay.
We made $3.61.
Then I wrote an a short story about the revolt of a certain elf against Santa in Christmas Land. My graphic designer (once again my sister) wouldn’t touch it. She said that she had religious objections. This was maybe because of the part where the rebellious elf cut out his eye as a sacrifice to Tinkerbell, so that he could procure the ancient blade, called the “Myth Breaker,” that was the key to killing Santa Claus.
I admit that it was a pretty grim story.
Society has yet to recognize my literary genius.
October 14th, 2021 at 5:41 am
The link is in moderation purgatory. I expect it will clear soon.
October 14th, 2021 at 8:35 am
Jeeze, MP…and they say I’m over the top! lol
October 14th, 2021 at 8:51 am
I am interested in all of these stories, finished and future.
October 14th, 2021 at 9:34 am
golfdoc, I will take a look the next free slot comes up in my Kindle unlimited queue
October 14th, 2021 at 3:41 pm
Clearly I think the answer is a “Hip-Hopera” in style of Hamilton. Thinking a fusion of Hair and Age of Aquarias and more modern hip-hopstylings to deliver the Age of Brandon:
It’s the age of Brandon YO!
Let’s go Brandon! Let’s go Brandon! Lets go Brandon!
YO!
Thank me later