The Natural Environment

My short story titled "The Natural Environment" has just been published in the anthology Reports From The Deep End edited by Maxim Jakubowski and Rick McGrath for Titan Books, and as usual I'm blogging a few words discussing how the story came to be written. There may be spoilers within.

The byline for this anthology is 'stories inspired by J G Ballard'. I enjoy Ballard's books, particularly when he explores the correlation between technology and human interaction (in that regard, "Crash" is my favourite of his novels), and for quite a while I had a title, "The Natural Environment", which I then realised would probably suit the remit. As usual when I think of titles, my first consideration is to reverse them. What might be an unnatural environment? Perhaps uploaded consciousnesses existing in a technological state long after physical humans have ceased to exist. And what if those consciousnesses hankered after the 'old days', held nostalgia for the past which was never theirs. How might they return to the natural environment, and how might the passing of time have both coloured and confused what they think that actually might be. Additionally, how might love then exist. Here, I had my story.

I believe most of the stories for the anthology were commissioned, but there were a few slots for open submission and I took a chance and thankfully both editors liked it. I therefore find myself in quite a stellar line-up of talent. And in hardback, too!

Here's an extract:

Janet had initiated her transformation prior to informing Ned. He had been annoyed that she had done so without consultation. They were supposed to be one organism, after all, yet her unilateral decision had forced his own hand - two hands, even - in the matter. It irked him that whilst she had maintained a degree of communication that she hadn't allowed him to view her modifications. What if Ned didn't like what he saw?

Regular readers of this blog will know I usually listen to music through headphones whilst writing, and this entire story was written to the soundtrack of the film Naked Lunch on continual repeat. No direct connection with Ballard, of course, but the sensibility of the film / music also seemed to complement the story.

For those local to London, quite a few of the contributors, including myself, will be at a signing session at the Forbidden Planet megastore next month. Details are here:

To reiterate, "Reports From The Deep End" is published by Titan Books as a reasonably priced hardback and can be purchased here.  A list of contributors is very handily printed on the reverse.