11 Comments

Vivid, stunning, and captures that surreal terror the video game emits so wel. I read this a while ago but came again to it, Nadia. Truly a great piece!

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Awww. Thank you dear Sam!

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I found this on Twitter some time ago, and I really liked it! I’m so glad I found a writer who draws inspiration from video games so often. There aren’t enough of your kind of people out there, Nadia!

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Aw thank you so much! That is so true. We're a rare breed, huh? By the way, there's a publication Cartridge Lit that publishes video game-based poems, prose, essays, etc. They don't publish regularly, but I read some great stuff!

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Awesome, thanks for the rec!

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It’s so cool seeing a creative piece inspired by Returnal. I think you managed to infuse this piece with a similar vibe as the source material. And the narrative loop aspect - so good!

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Thank you so much! I wanted the environment to be as much of an obstacle and catalyst of the story! Hopefully it also sounds as if Selene is monologuing here too. I appreciate your thoughts!

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Interesting! I read it as being about the environment working against them and preventing them from finding themselves, despite their innate desire to feel whole. Until the end, I didn't think of it as being specifically reaching for home or family, but that makes sense.

I'm not sure if any of my stories are about someone finding themself. It's usually more a sense of disintegration. I did start a horror-adjacent story about reconnecting with a lost sibling earlier this year, but I haven't finished it. I swear I will get back to it!

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Yes, the environment definitely plays a big role in being both an obstacle and catalyst. The way I understood this game was that it was ultimately about finding home, reuniting with family. I would so love to read your piece once it's ready!

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I find the way you draw inspiration from so many sources very resourceful, Nadia - very poetic, this piece!

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D'aww, thank you my friend!

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