46 Comments
User's avatar
Michele Somerville's avatar

loved this!

Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks, Michele!

Kim's avatar
2dEdited

“I guess I want to feel how I’m supposed to feel, not how I’m supposed to feel.” ❤️ Terrific Sunday Pages!

Greg Olear's avatar

Thank you, Kim!

Sara Frischer's avatar

Marvelous Greg, you certainly made my mind wander. At first LOOM feels like the introduction of cameras everywhere catching our movements and now with our phones, telling us where they think we want to go when stepping out the door and into a car. I feel like you could turn this into a play. Last night I watched a weird movie " Nr. 10 (2021)" on Tubi described as deadpan black, somehow while reading your novel it felt like your story and this movie are cousins. Thank you for a glimpse into another world.

Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks, Sara...I shall keep an eye out for that.

TheTimeline's avatar

Could be filed under “non-fiction” — sounds very latin: sci non fi.

What a cool concept, the shortened name is perfect. Thanks for sharing!

Greg Olear's avatar

Thank you! I like sci non fi.

TheTimeline's avatar

Take it! 😅 A new category… in The Upsidedown?

Old Man's avatar

Greg, I worked my way to the end, can say my head hurts a bit, sorry.

I like the concept, intriguing and not too far from a reality that may be called ultimate AI. The Loom (an enticing title) could be interconnected AI models, ChatGPT, Claude, Genesis, etc., the merger of all large language, speech and generative models. I call this muskdream.

Seems to me a version of The Loom already exists, it is called MAGA, albeit interconnected stupidity.

Happy Mothers' Day to all. Heather Cox Richardson today explains the difference between Mother's Day and Mothers' Day, the apostrophe placement the difference, the conception a big difference.

Ps, is it OK to plug another's substack? If not, apologies.

Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks, Old Man. I did not account for AI, which either means that it came and went by the time the events of the book take place, or I just missed it.

Always ok to plug something good here, especially the great HCR.

Jack Banning's avatar

There are Sundays when you take our collective breath away

Greg Olear's avatar

Thank you, Jack!

Christine's avatar

Not a hugh fan of science fiction but this was interesting so thanks. I will say I’ve read a few JD Robb novels and I did enjoy them! I know Stephanie will have a great Mother’s Day because you are a thoughtful person.

Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks, Christine! She absolutely did.

Helen Bird's avatar

As a huge fan of Philip K Dick, this left me wanting more Greg. I'm reminded of 'the big noodle' (Google!) in Dick's 1981 The Divine Invasion. Wonderfully creative and made my Sunday morning infinitely more interesting! Cheers and happy Mother's day to all ♥️

Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks, Helen. Dick was the best. Happy Mother's Day!

Dennis's avatar

There! Now you don't have to face the vikings ( publishers).

Sally Stokes's avatar

Wow Greg, so many interesting ideas in this. Reminded me of many sci fi books I’ve read over the years and a few twilight zone episodes.

Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks, Sally. It's probably an amalgam of all of that.

Teri C's avatar
2dEdited

Write this book, please. Even with the spoiler you’ve given us today, I still want the whole story.

As you describe the ending I can hear this in my minds ear:

https://youtu.be/QxP8NTxQL54?si=_aiXo1oB5fr4kFLQ

Greg Olear's avatar

Yes! Great song.

Fox.or.Ox's avatar

I am reading your book EMPRESS which I love. It is hard to put it down. I should be finished very soon and am eager to read whatever else you write. Many thanks!

Greg Olear's avatar

Oh, thanks for reading that! It's really my favorite. I love Anna.

Fox.or.Ox's avatar

Yes! Anna! Also Maria so far as I have gotten.

Homi Hormasji's avatar

Thank you for disconnecting us from the LOOM on this Sunday morning, Greg, and for allowing us a glimpse of dreamsurfing with you.

Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks, Homi!

My dreams, incidentally, are usually extremely boring. I'm usually trying to pack a suitcase, find a bathroom, navigate my way through a strange hotel complex, or make it to the flight on time.

Earl Heflinger's avatar

Obviously one of the challenges in writing a futuristic novel is deciding what to call things. Interesting, for example, that you said, “act in films,” using a term that is archaic now. Maybe we’ll still be dialing our friends in 2084 when the technology is implanted.

Greg Olear's avatar

Yes, Earl, good point. That's one reason it was hard...everything changed so much.

TCinLA's avatar

Allow me to say, Greg, as a writer who has engaged successfully with s-f, sf/horror, horror, thrillers and adventures, that you should persist. Read some Gibson, check out some cyberpunk and then update it. This story definitely has something to say about today. Which is what all science fiction deals with.

Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks so much. Coming from you, a great compliment.

Rick A.'s avatar

“Art would triumph, and creativity would prevail.” Thank you, Greg. May that day come quickly. The last ten years of regression and devolution and frankly insanity and evil have made me question my sanity and fear the worst. To think we have returned to Nazi Germany and Orwell’s 1984 rolled into one in such a short time and all at once. “Pastors” and a golden calf in the image of DJT……..we have gone mad……

Greg Olear's avatar

Thanks, Rick.

I can't believe that about the golden statue...except of course that's where this was always headed...