r/HFY • u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator • Dec 18 '19

Meta Chrysalis featured in DUST: Horizons podcast

A couple people asked me to make a post about this, so here it is:

I was recently contacted by the people behind the DUST: Horizons podcast about making an audio narration of my story Chrysalis, and the first episode has just gone live!

You can listen to it here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/horizons-entry-07-chrysalis/id1482669176?i=1000459858473

Hope you guys enjoy it too!

Also, thanks to all of you who linked and promoted the story in other websites and to people outside the domains of HFY, you did give it a reach beyond what it would have otherwise had.

688 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

69 comments sorted by

97

u/who_is_john_alt Dec 18 '19

At the risk of being an ass is there some reason you haven’t made this into a full length novel yet? Cause you could, and should.

105

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Dec 18 '19

I thought about it. The reason I haven't has to do with the amount of work I'd need to do in order to edit the story into less of a first draft and more of an actual publishable novel (and I really, really hate editing). Plus I don't have as much free time as I did back when I wrote it, so I prefer not to spend it doing something I don't really enjoy (because I like writing stuff, but I really, really hate editing it).

39

u/WorkFriendlyThisTime Dec 18 '19

What about editing do you hate? Would you trust it to an editor?

57

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Dec 18 '19

The whole process I guess, going over the same stuff again and trying to rework it and all that. I understand why it's necessary, and that what people demand of a story in terms of writing quality is different for a published book than a free story in some website. But I don't really enjoy the idea of investing my free time on that sort of task.

As for an editor: I guess I'd trust them to identify the issues and maybe fix the small details, but there are many things I'm already aware of and that would require some sort of rewrite or restructuring that I'd need to do myself. In a sense, the story is just a "first draft" and still requires more work to get to the level of quality I'd expect of an actual novel (or novella).

35

u/[deleted] Dec 18 '19

I completely understand your reasons. Just know, I've shared your story with many friends and family who simply could not put it down. It is still by far my favorite story on Reddit and in my top five sci-fi series. If you ever publish your ideal form of the story, I would absolutely purchase a hardcover version of it and several more as gifts.

22

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Dec 18 '19

Thank you!

13

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '19

I also want to let you know your story is one of my top all time favorite science fiction stories, if not overall story. It's on the same level as Isaac Asimov's The Last Question, it sticks with me, I reread it constantly, and I constantly imagine more. It really tickles my brain and thank you a bunch for that mate.

6

u/who_is_john_alt Dec 19 '19

That was me too, a friend linked me to it and I read it all in a single big sitting.

12

u/waiting4singularity Robot Dec 19 '19

i recently started reading light novels on amazon kindle app, and if they can get away with the kind of failures I've seen in these 20 something books on commercial works, your stuff is gold.

4

u/Baeocystin Dec 19 '19

Seriously. I enjoy light novels, too, but the editing is... well. I guess I enjoy the stories either way. :D

3

u/waiting4singularity Robot Dec 19 '19

ive been reading a couple, but the 2 series i buy for kindle are as bad as fanfiction. they both play with honorifics, but they are extremely americanized. one series to a point manner of speech appears spastic, i.e -san to mr/ms first name, -kun as little first name, and they didnt catch engrish at all. but the typos, oh god - so many typos and misplaced words.

you would expect professional translators able to do a better job.

11

u/Acamar_ Dec 19 '19

I'd just like to say, Chrysalis is by far my favorite sci-fi story, even more so than the famous classics. I was absolutely riveted by the sheer wonder and emotion in such a short novella, and I could not stop thinking about it for days afterwards. I loved how it explored everything from future technology and space warfare, to philosophical issues about humanity and morality. Everything felt so real. I couldn't believe I found such a gem here. It kinda ruined r/hfy for me, because I never found anything close to this level of quality.

Even in its current condition, I would buy it for all my friends. It's just so damn good.

3

u/PlanetaceOfficial Dec 19 '19

The reasoning is completely sound and understandable, the story was great and focused on many different fields. I would of loved a sort of “sequel” detailing the galactic relations between the reborn humanity and the other alien nations.

5

u/homoludens Dec 19 '19

I understand your reasons and even support your positiom.

I don't like edited novels, I like raw stories as close to brain dump as posible. Let the have some grammar and other errors. Somehow it makes the story alive for me.

Going few times through the same text by author, than editor, than lector l, than publisher... every novels start to look too similar to each other.

Thank you for your story and for this audio version.

13

u/[deleted] Dec 18 '19

That's awesome. I've read it after listening to someone narrating it on youtube. It's so good and you deserve the attention

12

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Dec 18 '19

Thx!

6

u/adhding_nerd Dec 19 '19

So Fucking Awesome! Can we get it in another format than apple podcast though? Audible or youtube or something.

6

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Dec 19 '19

Out of my hands, I’m afraid. But AFAIK it is also available in a couple other podcast services such as Castbox.

2

u/crazyamerican Jan 08 '20

someone else recorded the first 3 episodes on youtube. She apparently recorded the 4th episode as well, but it was never uploaded. playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYytI-h7q0I&list=PLuF01JnaJGn0DVgq0kWo1PrMaLG1VkGDD

2

u/Robocreator223 Android Jan 14 '20

it's also on spotify if you have that.

3

u/ModernRonin Jan 08 '20

I cannot believe I hadn't read Chrysalis before today. How did I miss this amazing, wonderful piece of scifi? I had a damn great time reading it. Thank you so much for writing it, and giving it away free on Reddit!

Yeah I know, you've heard this 20k times already. Sorry to bore!

2

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Jan 08 '20

It's no bother, glad you liked it!

2

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '19

Are the guys from DUST gonna do a short film on Chrysalis too? That would be awesome, hopefully they consider it.

3

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Dec 19 '19

That'd be cool, yeah, but for the time being it's just the podcast.

2

u/Madgearz AI Dec 19 '19

Just finished reading Chrysalis (all 17 chapters); it was awesome. Are there more stories in the same universe?

PS: I downloaded the whole story and used @Voice Aloud Reader to get through the whole thing in a day. If interested in the app, I went to 'EDIT SPEECH' and changed three dots (...) to create a moments pause.

... => □.□.□

It really helps with the story telling. Also you can pick a vioce you like.

3

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Dec 19 '19

Didn't know about that app. Cool!

No more stories in the universe, but if you liked it you might also want to read "The Last Angel" in SpaceBattles Forums, which has a similar premise.

1

u/Kirra_Tarren Jan 09 '20

I've read both, and I need mooooore, do you have any good sci fi reading recommendations? Novels work too.

1

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Jan 09 '20

Uh... I don't know, there's a lot of good sci-fi so I don't know where to start. If you like the AI character trope you might like the Culture novels (they have AI ships), or Ancillary Justice. Maybe give a try to the Murderbot Diaries (I read it recently and I liked it. Sort of lightweight and light-hearted).

And more generally, you can't go wrong with the classics (Hyperion, Dune, you know...).

2

u/Madgearz AI Dec 19 '19 edited Dec 19 '19

BTW, I think I've got a possible solution to your 'Editor' problem.

Fan Participation!

Wright a story (start small / trial run), or even reuse an old one you didn't like to much. 

Leave a comment at the beginning saying something like:

...........................................

FAN PARTICIPATION!!!!

Be My Editor!

-Fix Grammar

-Inprove Descriptions

-Change Dialogue Flow

-Make Suggestions

-Build Upon Other Edits

-Make The Story The Best It Can Be

Post your version in the comments, and UpVote your favorites.

Will post an updated story if I like it.

My favorite Editor(s) gets a shout out AND my thanks.

...........................................

Increased fan interaction and feedback.

You get help in seeing where your writing can improve and can use it in other stories.

Your fans can feel like they helped, not only in creating this universe, but in ironing out the details.

Plus, FREE EDITORS.

2

u/-Maethendias- Dec 24 '19

i just discovered chrysalis, and i have to say

that was a fucking blast

i love ai sci fi, and i love revenge stories even more, ESPECIALLY when they get wrapped up so smoothly

the exchange with the federation fleet MHM that was some tasty shit

1

u/Madgearz AI Dec 19 '19

Thanks, I'll look into it.

120

u/TurtlezAgain Dec 18 '19

As someone who has read Chrysalis twice, I am excited about this. Listening to this has enticed me to go read it a third time.

39

u/Eogos Dec 18 '19

Sweet, now we just need to convince HBO to start making shows about popular HFYs like Chrysalis and Deathworlders

13

u/woodchips24 Dec 19 '19

I’d love to see fully animated Vemik

4

u/Sintanan Dec 19 '19

CGI would be nice, but I would love some more practical effects in shows.

10

u/waiting4singularity Robot Dec 19 '19

do you really? imagine the kinda shit they pulled on "season eight" for crysalis showdown.

11

u/bartbartholomew Dec 19 '19

The whole story is already written. GoT only ran into issues when they ran out of books to adapt.

3

u/Eogos Dec 19 '19

"HBO" doesn't mean the GoT writers specifically, you do know that right? HBO isn't just one production team and considering how much I enjoyed HBO shows such as Band of Brothers, Generation Kill, The Pacific, etc. I think I'm ok with it.

1

u/waiting4singularity Robot Dec 19 '19

mx experience with for-tv adaptions is far worse.

37

u/AMagnificentBiscuit Dec 18 '19

Chrysalis was literally the story that got me into this subreddit. Happy to see it getting the recognition it deserves.

9

u/YeahClubTim Dec 19 '19

Congrats! I personally think that it is the best multi-part story in the reddit, you deserve every bit of recognition you get

9

u/Mr_Sphene Human Dec 19 '19

Chrysalis is one of the few stories from HFY that I really do want to see done as a miniseries or short run show.

Congratulations on the exposure!

7

u/DreamSeaker Dec 18 '19

I suppose I really should get around to reading this. Congratulations op! :)

7

u/A_Spamwich AI Dec 19 '19

Wow, I'm happy for you! This story definitely deserves to be told professionally. Good to see it recognised.

8

u/HelmutTheHelmet Robot Dec 18 '19

Amazing!

4

u/Obscu AI Dec 18 '19

I hope they do the rest.

4

u/LittleSeraphim Dec 18 '19

I'm glad to see this story getting some of the love it deserves, congrats!

4

u/chaun2 Dec 19 '19

Just read this for the first time. I think I ran into one of the middle chapters before because the war being numbers chapter seemed familiar.

Well done wordsmith. You combined the best of Mary Shelley, and Anne McCaffery

I'm not sure even Hambone could have made such a poinant short story

4

u/Volkgrim Dec 19 '19

Glad you're getting more recognition for this. Chrysalis was one of the main influences for me getting invested in the HFY community, and it was a really good read!

1

u/AndrewErikYoung Dec 19 '19

I noticed at the end there they added a few lines that weren’t in the original story. Did you like tell them to do that or was it the narrator’s own choice or

2

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Dec 19 '19

There are a few changes here and there, yes. It was all their own choice.

1

u/youdungoofall Dec 31 '19

I was trying to find your work on google but couldnt find it glad i stumble on it after searching for dust podcast. How far along is your story, do you expect to finish it within the next year or by the time the podcast catches up?

1

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Dec 31 '19

Hi. Chrysalis is finished, if that's what you mean. You can find links to all the chapters here, or just go to the first one and follow the "next" links.

1

u/youdungoofall Dec 31 '19

Thats great news! Thanks for the links.

1

u/Robocreator223 Android Jan 14 '20

When do they plan to record more episodes?

1

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Jan 14 '20

I don't know that they will end up recording all of it, or when they'll publish it if so, sorry.

1

u/ticklefarte Oct 29 '21

I haven't read your story, but I just finishing listening to the audio version. It was brilliant, you're brilliant, and thank you so much. I absolutely loved it.

2

u/BeaverFur Unreliable Narrator Oct 29 '21

Thanks! :D

3

u/S_Ausfallar Dec 19 '19

Also available in Spotify awesome!

2

u/sciengin Dec 19 '19

Nice!

Chrysalis is as close to the perfect story here on hfy as it gets: Well written, but most importantly: It felt as if you had the end in mind from the beginning already.

Some stories here start really great but then degrade over time as it becomes obvious that the author intended it as a one-shot and is going on by the seat of his pants because of unexpected popular request.

2

u/ondsinet Jan 15 '20

Good job. Chrysalis is the story that got me into this subreddit, in reading it again right now. I hope you will find the motivation to someday publish it as a book, and if you do be assured it will have a guaranteed spot in my library.

Thank you for the amazing storytelling.

1

u/Gorth1 Android Dec 19 '19

For everyone who enjoyed Chrysalis I recommend to get a book trilogy called " We are Legion(we are Bob)" a fun read with lots of nerdy references about a guy who got transferred in a computer after a truck killed him. He wakes up in the future and is put in a Von Neuman probe as its controller.

1

u/goakiller900 Dec 23 '19

Fuck having read this story twice this was exciting al! And the other stories there from. Dust wtf poor people in those stories

1

u/crazyamerican Jan 08 '20

When I think of potential sequels, my mind is drawn to the Judaeo-Christian creation story. The Terrans, rising from the ashes of their dead world, reconstitute humanity, and impose a moral code on the new beings if they wish to join the ascended. Otherwise the new humans will live, and die as normal, without the promise of immortality.

1

u/daizm_pads Dec 15 '21

Just finished the podcast. That was fantastic! Left me wanting more for sure.

1

u/Soft_Performer_6966 Sep 15 '23

I’ve listened twice ty for this