There's something deeper here, Bill, and I love it. Is it better to know our time and become a slave to it, or forget our time and become a slave to the rituals that will invariably replace it?
Time and watches are a theme in many of your works. I'm curious if there is a conscious reason, or if you just gravitate toward stories that explore that dimension?
I wonder sometimes if my cat perceives the seasons with changing amounts of daylight like we do.
I'm fascinated by time and timekeeping. I collect watches, mostly old timepieces, but I have a Seiko that syncs with GPS satellites and that's very cool. (Side note: If the power goes out worldwide, GPS satellites will stop working pretty quickly, so never throw out paper maps.)
One of my favorite nonfiction books is Longitude by Dava Sobel, about the 18th century quest to build an accurate clock so ships could calculate longitude and not get lost at sea.
That's very cool! I own one watch, which no longer works because the battery is dead. I like what watches represent, now an almost open defiance against mobile phones. They're primarily a fashion statement, but there is something that can be mysterious about their inner workings and history, and you capture that well. Thanks for sharing!
That's exactly what I was thinking when I read it Brian - we've all become a slave to time keepers. I found myself somewhat excited that they had escaped it and were on the verge of becoming a slave to time once again... BUT THEN Celso saved the day! Neat idea... I've also found myself wondering lately what would happen in the future if all of our money is digital and then we have some solar event that wipes out our computers. We rely on technology a lot these days!
We may be on the verge of that global -changing event. Not from a solar storm, though that's possible, but because quantum computers will be able to crack all encryption. Everything from financial records to satellite control to text messages will no longer be secret, rendering all that is digital useless.
As a writer, I wonder how useful (useless!) I'll be in a post-apocalyptic world. Whatever communities remain will banish me because that's one less mouth to feed. I need to learn which berries are safe to eat and which are dangerous.
Is it better to know our time and become a slave to it, or forget our time and become a slave to the rituals that will invariably replace it? GREAT QUESTION. And who does Celso represent? And why was he so adamant?
Oct 22, 2023·edited Oct 22, 2023Liked by Bill Adler
Whoa. This may be the creepiest thing I have ever read, Bill. There is a deeper message here that I do not even have sorted out yet, because thinking about it makes me uneasy. I am going to the kitchen for another cup of coffee....
Thanks, Sharron. I felt unsettled, too, after writing The Ritual, and poured myself a drink. The more time that passes between the end of civilization and the new ones that emerge, the stranger these new places will be. Or maybe not so strange after all, and that's the problem.
A great story inspired by an everyday item. Excellent writing. But it depressed me, because that's just the way man tends to treat any new idea. It's blasphemy, against some entity they can't even comprehend.
I totally enjoyed this, Bill! Loved how they were trying to figure out how the discs worked! And what they were for.
I has the pleasure of teaching English to a group of watch makers in Mexico. They showed me some of the most amazing hand made watches, and spoke of one in particular that took a year to make! Mind blowing!
There's something deeper here, Bill, and I love it. Is it better to know our time and become a slave to it, or forget our time and become a slave to the rituals that will invariably replace it?
Time and watches are a theme in many of your works. I'm curious if there is a conscious reason, or if you just gravitate toward stories that explore that dimension?
Thanks, Brian. I'm glad you like The Ritual.
Time is a dilemma.
I wonder sometimes if my cat perceives the seasons with changing amounts of daylight like we do.
I'm fascinated by time and timekeeping. I collect watches, mostly old timepieces, but I have a Seiko that syncs with GPS satellites and that's very cool. (Side note: If the power goes out worldwide, GPS satellites will stop working pretty quickly, so never throw out paper maps.)
One of my favorite nonfiction books is Longitude by Dava Sobel, about the 18th century quest to build an accurate clock so ships could calculate longitude and not get lost at sea.
That's very cool! I own one watch, which no longer works because the battery is dead. I like what watches represent, now an almost open defiance against mobile phones. They're primarily a fashion statement, but there is something that can be mysterious about their inner workings and history, and you capture that well. Thanks for sharing!
Yes! I loved that little book, too. No one I know has read it.
You can count one person you know who has read it. Loved it too.
Hah! Might have known!
Longitude is a fascinating and captivating read.
I too read Longitude. Absolutely fascinating.
That's exactly what I was thinking when I read it Brian - we've all become a slave to time keepers. I found myself somewhat excited that they had escaped it and were on the verge of becoming a slave to time once again... BUT THEN Celso saved the day! Neat idea... I've also found myself wondering lately what would happen in the future if all of our money is digital and then we have some solar event that wipes out our computers. We rely on technology a lot these days!
We may be on the verge of that global -changing event. Not from a solar storm, though that's possible, but because quantum computers will be able to crack all encryption. Everything from financial records to satellite control to text messages will no longer be secret, rendering all that is digital useless.
You're right: Clocks hold great power over us.
Ok. I guess we’ve got to start buying physical gold again!
As a writer, I wonder how useful (useless!) I'll be in a post-apocalyptic world. Whatever communities remain will banish me because that's one less mouth to feed. I need to learn which berries are safe to eat and which are dangerous.
Good point... so gold and some marketable dystopian skills. 😂
Is it better to know our time and become a slave to it, or forget our time and become a slave to the rituals that will invariably replace it? GREAT QUESTION. And who does Celso represent? And why was he so adamant?
Celso is the person who fears change. He's unsettled by it, even if he can't explain why. It's a visceral feeling, something that's wired deep inside.
To quote the great 1970s philosophers Chicago:
Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?
Such a great song!
These days, we all know what time it is. I try not to care, but I haven't succeeded at that.
Really enjoyed this. It was unusual in not a try-hard sort of way. Looking forward to reading more of your work.
Thank you, Aubrey. I enjoyed writing The Ritual and I'm glad you liked reading it.
Cats have their own timing.
Well that was timely. Watch out for the close minded. That one wound me up.
Alright, I will stop now. Another engaging watch story, Bill. 🤓👏
Thanks, Mark. I try to be timely. ;-) If I could only teach my cat that when the big hand points to 4 it's not time for breakfast.
LOL I need to do this with my cat too! 🐈 ⏲️ ⏳️
Noise-canceling headphones only delay the inevitable by a few minutes. She will find my face and tap-tap-tap.
LOL
This is the way.
My cat just stares me down and then yells at me. Will not be ignored!
Whoa. This may be the creepiest thing I have ever read, Bill. There is a deeper message here that I do not even have sorted out yet, because thinking about it makes me uneasy. I am going to the kitchen for another cup of coffee....
Thanks, Sharron. I felt unsettled, too, after writing The Ritual, and poured myself a drink. The more time that passes between the end of civilization and the new ones that emerge, the stranger these new places will be. Or maybe not so strange after all, and that's the problem.
A great story inspired by an everyday item. Excellent writing. But it depressed me, because that's just the way man tends to treat any new idea. It's blasphemy, against some entity they can't even comprehend.
Thank you, Virginia.
I think so, too: The fear of change and the pull of superstition holds us back.
I totally enjoyed this, Bill! Loved how they were trying to figure out how the discs worked! And what they were for.
I has the pleasure of teaching English to a group of watch makers in Mexico. They showed me some of the most amazing hand made watches, and spoke of one in particular that took a year to make! Mind blowing!