memory and sci-fi

[evan_messy]

I am writing an alternative history sci-fi story

A man works for a large corporation where he replaces memories and de-programs people for a living.

He deprograms a woman and sees himself in her memory, though he doesn't know her.

She escapes from the gruesome process and leaves him with questions about his own existence.

He goes to extreme lengths to find out who this woman is and what he did in the memory. After he puts the pieces together, should it be revealed he didn't really do anything that horrific, like he imagined? Or should it be something so horrible he wish he never found out?


Thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I've moved this thread from Critiques to the Workshop, since it's not really a piece for critique but a request for help shaping an idea.

You're more likely to get that sort of help in the Workshop -- not to mention the fact that you need a certain amount of posts before you are allowed to post writing for critique anyway.

(When you do have something written up and ready for critique, you need to read the stickies posted in that forum first, especially this one: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/527567-please-read-before-posting-rules-and-guidelines-for.html)

 

[Doctor Crankenstein]

I have only seen half of an episode in passing but I would have a look at doll house. From what I gathered in the little of it I saw they have 'blank slates' called dolls that they upload personalities to. But memories start bleeding through and all sorts of stuff.

You might be able to get a few "influences" from that In order to get the technological aspects of your story smoothed out.

 

[Langadune]

...should it be revealed he didn't really do anything that horrific, like he imagined? Or should it be something so horrible he wish he never found out?

This is a fundamental question... I mean the answer to this question defines what kind of story you have toll. The first option, honestly is pretty "feel-goody." If you go that way, you have to ask "was this journey worth making and was is worth taking the reader along?"

The second option is darker and offers a more provocative conflict. It also opens the door to pretty big question: Is this man who he is or is this man who he was? In other words, is this man defined by his past or is he defined by what he has become in the blissful ignorance of his past?

Either way, the answer you chose should be retroactive in your story telling; you should keep those themes in mind as you write.

 

[evan_messy]

The question you posed is the exact theme I wish to explore in this story.

Are you your memories? And if you know the truth, will it set you free?

The first option I don't think will be toooo feel-goody because I will have his character do horrendous things in order to find out the truth. Then when he realizes he was led by the woman to believe it was something more, it wasn't worth what he did. Then he chooses to have his memories replaced by the company.

I'm having trouble deciding what the event should be- the event that he sees in her memory. I know at first it will be vague; maybe just his face in an unknown place.

 

[evan_messy]

Thanks for info. I will look into that show.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

I think the idea is a really good one.

I personally think the best option to take would be to write it so that he did do the deed he sees, but can't remember because he himself was deprogrammed in part at some stage. With that you can explore those themes you discussed.

 

[evan_messy]

I think the idea is a really good one.

I personally think the best option to take would be to write it so that he did do the deed he sees, but can't remember because he himself was deprogrammed in part at some stage. With that you can explore those themes you discussed.

You guessed exactly what I'm going for! He realizes he had been deprogrammed by the company he works for.

I am leaning towards that the "deed" wasn't anything at all. He was shown purposely by the woman, so she could manipulate him into doing something.

 

[Anne Lyle]

I would also watch the movie "Total Recall" if you haven't seen it already, as it has a very similar premise. Not that one can't steal a good idea, but it's best to know what you are stealing!

 

[paranoid marvin]

He finds out that he has been de-programmed himself and goes in search of someone who can help to restore his memory?

And he never makes it , so you dont have to explain who she is or what they meant to each other!

 

[evan_messy]

He finds out that he has been de-programmed himself and goes in search of someone who can help to restore his memory?

And he never makes it , so you dont have to explain who she is or what they meant to each other!

No, he doesn't go in search of someone who can restore it. In this world, you can't get back what you originally had ( in comparison to the above mentioned Total Recall).

I might not explain who she is or how they actually knew each other. But I suppose, I as the writer should know. And then inform their choices from that knowledge.

 

[Peter Graham]

Sounds a bit like Bladerunner. But it's a good idea.

 

[JCAllan]

Hello.

I think you should go for the option of the having man been deprogrammed after doing something terrible and then finding out about it through the woman. You would have a great deal of soul searching and drama resulting from this which can only ever be a good thing.

 

[Deathfrommassive]

Write both... In the same book/story. One part as one chapter, one part as the next and we can watch his life veer in two different directions.

 

[thwilli]

I think it is a great idea for a story. Anytime I see or read a story with this topic it makes me wonder. If we are an accumulation of every experience and memory we have, then, when those memories are taken away, do we cease to exist and is another person created?