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Plight of the Poet
the writing of Bailey Stone Barnard
EXCERPTS
May 13
MODERN DI$PARITY: Part Two, Chapter 15, scene 113
When I think back on it now, I still don’t understand why I acted the way I did. I knew most of my decisions were unconscionable then the...
May 4, 2023
MODERN DI$PARITY: Prologue, scene 1
It was July 7, 2007, when I moved from Iowa to Malibu...
Dec 3, 2015
the lab
From the novel Monopole. The magnificent glow of the M Corp lab casts an eerie blue light in through the window of the nuke as they...
Oct 22, 2015
hidden island
From the novel Monopole. Teddy’s unconscious thoughts then wander, finding their way back to Sylvie, as his memory continues playing like...
Jul 16, 2015
dr. yann
From the novel Monopole Before Teddy has a chance to react, a metal door slides closed high up in the distance, sounding like it is...
Feb 27, 2015
wrench
From the novel Monopole. [a defining sentence] After a moment, Teddy sets down the wrench, commands the machine to generate him a sturdy,...
Feb 26, 2015
dandelions
From the novel Monopole. Time passes. Gertrude comes to retrieve Teddy, pushing in an old-fashioned wheelchair. She is hurried, almost...
Jan 19, 2015
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...
Nov 18, 2014
the call of the machine
From the novel Monopole. When she left, I knew it was for good. I didn’t have any illusions about her coming back after everything I’d...
Jan 13, 2014
like a fish
From the novel Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] The tone coming from the device on the floor beside Teddy’s head stops and the...
Dec 11, 2013
love and photosynthesis
From the novel Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] To be anything again would be a dream. I yearn to take risks, but can hardly...
Aug 22, 2013
safer than he feels
From the novel Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] Felix enters the coordinates, engages the automated clutch, and sits silently as...
Jul 14, 2013
welcome back, mr. doe
From the novel Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] The elevator door slides closed. Teddy looks down to admire his new tuxedo as...
May 9, 2013
goodbye, john
From the novel Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] “Goodbye, John,” says the voice of an electric lady, which seems to come from...
Feb 8, 2013
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....
Jul 24, 2012
chloe floats!
From the novel Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] “Another remarkable characteristic of the material,” the ALLpod says, “is that...
Apr 5, 2012
mid-morning city
A sneak peak at the next draft of Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] The mid-morning city passes by. Teddy stares out the van’s...
Feb 28, 2012
feathers
From the not-so-immediately forthcoming novel tentatively entitled Modern Disparity …a thought occurred to me that had been festering in...
Nov 14, 2011
ever-fleeting storm
From Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] An ever-fleeting storm dissipates beyond the deep horizon. She is best when she is less...
Oct 30, 2011
man on bus
From Monopole [formerly Theodorus in Excelsis] …The bus ride is slow and there are many stops. The time, too, is slow, but Teddy enjoys...
Oct 23, 2011
a thousand shades of saffron
Teddy goes into a bar. Orders a beer, asks for a straw. Has to repeat himself until the server understands. Sucks the beer up through the...
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