MONOPOLE

a novel by Bailey Stone Barnard

The Glitz Interlude

“Yes?” Teddy says like it’s a question, rising from the levitating sofa to go investigate the sound, which in all likelihood indicates that his escort from Crystal’s has arrived. “Your guest has arrived, Mr. Doe,” the room confirms. “Yes, of course,” Teddy says. “Wonderful. Please send her in—no, wait a moment.” Teddy rushes to the bathroom to inspect his appearance. The lights come on automatically as he enters. Looking in the mirror, he pats his newly trimmed hair and strai

The Pitch

Monopole is a time-travel mystery novel about a world-famous physicist and engineer from the 1950s who, after creating what is arguably the most revolutionary technology history, wakes from a coma completely crippled and with severe amnesia. In short order, the hero regains his capacities and realizes that the future world in which he now finds himself is the result of that technology, which he invented 100 years ago, when he was the Elon Musk of his time. It’s a classic fish

into the blue-green fog

From the novel Monopole. Once the stranger goes on his way, Teddy steps from the flow of the crowd rushing in and out of the station, and stands looking up at the behemoth glass structure. He sees the blue-green sky through the upper portion of the glass rising above him. His sight drops slowly down the transparent form, which becomes foggier as his gaze falls to the pedestrians rushing to and from the curvilinear metallic train cars that come and go every few seconds. The tr

safer than he feels

From the novel Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] Felix enters the coordinates, engages the automated clutch, and sits silently as the vehicle operates itself through the somewhat desolate streets of Old Town. A green glow hangs between the fading sky and the silhouette horizon. The cragged skyline of the city rises and falls. For the first time in as long as he can remember, Teddy doesn’t quell his thoughts. They flow like molecules of hydrogen and oxygen over the edg

goodbye, john

From the novel Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] “Goodbye, John,” says the voice of an electric lady, which seems to come from everywhere. Teddy looks about his accommodation for the source of the sound. His visual search reveals a small space, walled on three sides by bare metallic panels; walled on the fourth by a floor-to-ceiling window that looks out dimly onto a gray city, a skyline of both tall and squat buildings, complicated networks of crowded roadways and bu

the belly of the earth

From the novel Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] The rumble slows and then recedes, seemingly back into the belly of the earth. The people around Teddy pick themselves up and continue on their way, as though the sudden tectonic-plate shift had been an everyday occurrence. A few people remain lying in the walkway, either tending to their injuries or otherwise incapacitated by the pain. No one around the fallen pays them any mind. Teddy crawls back to his feet against t

Featured Posts

thought 53

The Pitch

Introducing Monopole

thought 31

thought 25

thought 23

thought 22

thought 20

shoveling (thought 17)

things and unthings (thought 15)

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