Greetings and thank you for the opportunity to present myself and these concepts OF interactive storytelling, or as I prefer to regard it--quantum tales, borrowing from quantum mechanic principles that more than one thing can occupy the same space, at the same time. Likewise, recent beliefs by some physicists believe in quantum multiverses where one has multiple counterparts living out infinite variations of one's life. So it is with quantum tales.

This untitled work-in-progress is code-named, Frac. It's a non-intrusive, multiple storyline tale. Non-intrusive in that the interactivity doesn't require pulling the reader out of the story's environment to make conscious decisions about it. The interactivity is no more intrusive than turning the page of a book, yet weaves into elaborate storylines, subtly, by using the reader's psychology and philosophies, as well as cultural and societal backgrounds to guide the story direction. A moral and upright person following their own instincts may encounter a character with a smoother, more rewarding story, than that of a deviant mind reading the story. On the otherhand, the moral, upright person might go against instinct to understand the pitfalls that the darker path may hold.

In addition to interactive, quantum storylines, Frac will soon be developed to include multiple reading levels--subtle, non-intrusive and unknowing to the reader. That is, depending on the vocabulary and reading style one is inclined to, will that reader gravitate. The same story can be related to a preteen who will read the story in a high-adventure, Harry Potter-like fashion; whereas a sophisticated and mature reader will experience a Dostoevsky-like story, deep with social meaning and commentary.

Another item that I want to make you aware of regarding Frac is that it's written in a non-gender style. There is no reference to gender; no he, she, her, him, his, hers. I've never seen this in writing, thus have no reference. Though it is a bit difficult and ackward to write, the reason for doing this isn't novelty, but for reason that becomes apparent upon climax of the story. A tie-in to this is that almost all the characters's names are angel names--historic and mythical. Traditionally, angels are non-gender creatures. But, that doesn't mean that the characters in the story are angels!

Lastly, there are two technical features that will be developed upon completion of the story, that is a progressive glossary and a progressive character list; and to borrow from eBook technology--a dictionary lookup feature, so that the click of any word pops up a window with the dictionary definition. The progressive glossary and character list, two of the few buttons on the interface, will only reveal terms and characters that have been revealed up to that point in the story (whereas on this presentation, it's still comprehensive throughout).

Continue to Frac. Thank you and enjoy.



BRIEF REVIEW

Frac is a story of two thirteen year olds, Frac and Raziel, in an early medevial-type civilization--Nuemerica. The time is one thousand years post the modern world's near annihilation and catastrophic global explosion(s). The story immediately begins with Frac having to make a decision as to whether, or not, attempt to enter a celebrated, dangerous underground pool. The Underground Pool is said to be magical, but the way to enter it--through a sharp, rocky shaft is extremely dangerous. Also, the pool is under control of a somewhat nefarious character. Frac would be the youngest person ever to do so, should Frac decide to proceed down the shaft. Also Frac must consider whether, or not, to associate with questionable characters. Raziel, Frac's best friend is with Frac--as the voice of reason. The story branches into eight veins during this initial segment.

In the next segment, Frac and Raziel celebrate their thirteenth birthdays (same day), this being a major milestone event in a Nuemerican's life--a passage into adulthood. Frac lays forth a plan for Raziel to sneak into the religious leader's Inner Chamber to read some coveted sacred scrolls--during the commencement ceremonies. Getting caught would bear dire consequences. Raziel discovers an odd cryptograph of A's, G's, T's and C's.

In the next segment, Frac and Raziel reason that there is a safer way into the Underground Pool and attempt to find it.

To come:
Frac and Raziel secretly meet with a banished albino genius, who claims knowledge of the Underground Pool. Raziel also hopes the albino may be able to shed some light of the pictureless, AGTC cryptograph.

A village explorer arrives back to Nuemerica after a long journey with the discovery of an abandon Underground Hidden Village. In actuality, it's a 21st century nuclear bunker. The village Elders pull together a massive expedition to journey back to it in hopes to uncover links to their past. For a millenium, The Keepers Of The Truth have been the sentinels and orators of Nuemerican history--unquestioned! This discovery is of much anxiety to them. A civil debate results with The Keepers granted charge a quarter of the expedition.

The actual journey is high adventure, as the expedition deals with a hurricane; a mutiny of sort, in which a quarter of the entourage takes an illegal shortcut through a forbidden landscape; and an ambush and capture by a primitive tribe, this in itself a major revelation to the Nuemericans of other people in the world. They are rescued by the appearance of the outcast albino, who after a battle with the leader of the beast-like captors, gains the liberty of the expedition... and an acceptance by them, but nonetheless disappears as mysteriously as appearing. The renegade Nuemericans simultaneously appear and charge the remaining tribe members, while claiming the rescue.

The expedition reaches the Underground Hidden Village and spend months uncovering its "truths" and documenting it. Much of the revelation makes little sense to the relatively ignorant Nuemericans, but it's learned and agreed that the world long ago, had lost touch of the natural order, and with abandonment, created a race of people from their very essense. At first, this race was accepted as [near] equal, yet there was an unspoken animosity toward them; they multiplied, and they very quickly and slyly organized, securing themselves into pillars of power. Before the source race realized what was happening, the clones had gained control of a considerable amount of weapons of mass destruction. A political attempt by the source race to ban clones from power, and enact strict restrictions upon them is cut short with volleys of awry global nuclear exchange.

The big question then falls on the Nuemericans like an avalanche--who are they? The truth of this lies with one person--the one, single person who has been holding this secret for a thousand years.



OTHER CREATIVE SAMPLES

Below are links to online locations, should you desire or care to see more samples of creativity --interactive storytelling, drama scripts, as well as a unique way to essay.

Interactive Quantum Storytelling
Hansel & Gretel Interactive, my first attempt to develop and explore interactivity within literature. It was created in 1998 for a Psychology class project, and adapted last winter as an interactive puppet show for a Children's Literature class.
Hand of Fate: An Interactive Tale, was the next step in interactive storytelling development. It's a first-draft, work-in-progress--more complex than Hansel and Gretel, and was a stepping stone toward the more sophisticated goals of utilizing the reader's psychology to subtly guide the reader through the story. Created in Advanced Creative Writing, Fall 1999.

Drama
Job's Dilemma, is a full-length play, and a remake of the Biblical story of Job--in a contemporary setting. It started as a five-sonnet poem for Creative Writing in 1999, then written as a play last April.
The Excommunion of Pluto, is a fun and satrical one-act play, yet presents hard, scientific evidence to the current debate of whether, or not, Pluto is a planet. It's interactive with the audience, who ultimately determines Pluto's planetary status. This was written for a Fall 2000 Astronomy class "planetary" group project (rather than a slide show presentation).

Evolutionary Essay
Fractals of Life, was an online version of a presentation board. The presentation board was for a Life Science project, whereas the online version was geared toward an Astronomy paper, as well as for Life Science. Both classes were Fall 2000. It was then evolved Winter 2001 for Logics to distribute the concept, principles and scientific facts to fellow group members for a class project, in which we presented, "Empirical Evidences of God."