Category Archives: literary fiction

Animism, story co-authored with Michael Levin, published in Interconnections

After completing my (yet unpublished) short story collection, Chance that Mimics Choice, I contacted Tufts biologist Michael Levin, who enthusiastically agreed to write a foreword. The collection explores the idea that all of nature is capable of mind-like poetic interpretations, which is similar to the kinds of research questions Mike pursues.  He told me that he believes strongly in the power of fiction to sketch out suggestions for scientific investigations. Later, we decided to write sci-fi together. We’ve written four so far. Mike suggests the plot and I provide the details.

I am very excited to announce that our first story has been published. “Animism,” appears in Interconnections: a Journal of Posthumanism.

The first several stories in my collection, Chance that Mimics Choice, feature an eccentric scientist named Meno.  (Two of these stories were featured on The Strange Recital podcast.)  I brought back the Meno character again in “Animism.” The story is set in a future when all of our devices will be talking to us and there will be no place to be alone with our thoughts.

Michael Levin is a developmental and synthetic biologist at Tufts University and director of the Allen Discovery Center. His research explores how cells communicate to build complex biological forms, focusing on bioelectric signaling as a key regulator of growth, regeneration, and pattern formation. Levin’s lab studies how organisms such as planaria, frogs, and salamanders regenerate limbs and organs, and how collective cellular intelligence guides morphology. Levin’s work bridges biology, cognition, and philosophy of mind.

Naked Singularity on The Strange Recital

VN Alexander reads the opening of her novel Naked Singularity on The Strange Recital podcast. Afterwards she sits down to talk with hosts Brent Robison and Tom Newton.

Listen now.  Here’s snippet of the interview.

BR: I imagine most listeners will have the same question I do – how much of this story is autobiographical? And it’s completely acceptable if your answer is that it’s irrelevant because this is fiction. In fact, in the fiction arena, does so-called “truth” even matter?

VA: Well, I suppose the statute of limitations has run out?  My father did die of cancer.  He did ask me to help him die. But the cast of characters is completely different. 

TN: Both of my parents have departed, and I know that’s true for Brent as well. This is natural when we reach such advanced ages. You’re much younger, of course. But anyway, people disappear, the queue shuffles forward, and soon we find ourselves at the head of the line. Any thoughts about that?

VA: That’s one of the reasons losing a parent is so tough.  It says “you’re next!”  There should be lots of readers for this story.  Everyone goes through this and when they do many start obsessing about their own mortality and want to share the experiences of others.

Interview on Fear No Evil podcast

Emanuel Pastreich of the Center for Truth Politics interviews V. N. Alexander about her 9/11 novel, Locus Amoenus on Fear No Evil podcast.

“A modern Hamlet sleepwalking through 9/11 and his awakening, our psychological and spiritual trauma, and the role of literature” -Emanuel Pastreich

Culture can be weaponized against us

VN Alexander talks with Brad Miller about how the official 9/11 narrative needs to be replaced.  See 5-min clip or  full interview.

Miller is a former military officer, who resigned due to unlawful Covid mandates. He is now teaching a course, “Literature as Resistance,” at IPAK-EDU.org.

 

Live on The Duke Report

Tues, July 15, 5pm NY. V. N. Alexander will be live talking with Peter on The Duke Report about how language, art, and comedy work at the subconscious level to reach people that have been thoroughly brainwashed. In particular, Victoria will talk about her 9/11 dark comedy novel Locus Amoenus.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDukeReport/streams

 

The Orwell Foundation Announces Fiction Award Finalists

Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Universality by Natasha Brown
The Harrow by Noah Eaton
Precipice by Robert Harris
The Accidental Immigrants by Jo McMillan
Heart, Be At Peace by Donal Ryan
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
Parallel Lines by Edward St Aubyn

These novels explore economic disparity, rape, racism, sexual intrigue, gentrification, the history of Mesopotamia, and mental illness. None of them tell the story of the 2020 lockdown and the rise of totalitarian power.

V. N. Alexander’s novel Orwell 2020 is represented by Eric Miller at 3iBooks.

Shannon Joy covered my work critiquing transhumanism

I write a substack called The Posthumous Style critiquing AI and transhumanism hype. This past month, my stack went viral.  (All that hate for Elon did it.) Yesterday, Shannon Joy covered my critique on her show. Have a look starting at about 48:00.

I have written/lectured quite a bit about transhumanism.  That topic is also part of my yet-unpublished novel, C0ViD-1984, The Musical, wherein I include a parody of Klaus Schwab’s book, The Fourth Industrial Revolution, just as George Orwell included a mock version of John Burnham’s work The Managerial Revolution. (Burnham was Kissinger’s mentor and Kissinger was Schwab’s mentor.)

There is an effort underway to make the world into Orwell’s novel, finally.  An updated version of that story would really help sort our understanding of what’s going on.