Hi! I appreciate your reflection. Though this description is made up, I think you are right. In it's core, this is how our world currently rolls (an collides) too.
I write dystopian fantasy poetry as a long form series. This post is one of the core realms, that my poetry leans on.
It’s strange to read about these three “stable” spheres as if stability can exist without those who step outside the map. What pulls me in is the silence between them—not harmony, but a leak, a place where no one is looking.
Each group seems convinced they’ve “found” themselves simply because they no longer hear anyone else. But silence isn’t proof of wholeness. It’s just distance tightened into the illusion of peace.
And none of them move. The Stoics are fixed, the neurals loop endlessly, the embers freeze inside their chosen rebellion. Shapes without friction. If even one of them brushed against another, the whole order would tremble.
Maybe that’s the real fear here—not conflict, but the possibility of seeing how strange your own choice becomes once isolation cracks open.
Everything in this world rests on distance. Move that distance even a little — and the entire structure shows how thin it really is.
What you wrote made me realise something I hadn’t fully articulated.
This is really a story about what happens when everyone gets exactly what they want (or think they deserve). When every group is “right,” every worldview self-contained, and then asking the uncomfortable questions.
Would we still remain whole, even in that perfect isolation? Or would these walls eventually turn into cages?
I’ve only just begun exploring the Stoics sphere in The Hush Halo, trying to understand what “stillness” becomes when nothing pushes back. And I cannot wait to explore the others in depth too.
I love the density of your world. It is its own biosphere while also staying tethered to the metaphor of our own current existence. Allowing for reflection and exploration into the "what could be's". I go down so many mental roads when I read this series and I appreciate that.
For me the hardest thing is making it simple enough to make sense to anyone but myself. Substack has its limits, and with this format I think I am right at the edge of them.
At first reading, I went, "so"? and almost dismissed the writing flow and I was thinking possibly this needed more development. Then I read it again and combined with the pertinent comments, I began to see the vision of these three distinct groups and I liked the diversity portrayed. I read it again and i can definitely see how the silence in between the words and lines welcomes new descriptions and renderings. Interesting. Perhaps a new art form. Your words pushed me to write a response. I see value in the expression.
It’s really flooring to hear that the silence between the lines opened up on the second pass.
The structure of this piece is intentionally a bit off, almost like entering a room sideways. Your first reaction makes perfect sense to me, since I’m still learning about this world myself.
These three groups are the surface of what I’m trying to reveal, so your noticing the gaps and contrasts feels spot on.
There are more short posts in this realm. I'm curious to hear, if you can draw a more cohesive view from them.
Kevin, thank you for giving it more than one read. I’m glad that it pushed you to write a response.
It's interesting how you've brilliantly imagined these distinct, self-contained human 'stacks' achieving stability, yet I find myself wondering if such extreme feature partitioning really allows for true collective human evolution or just a well-optimized, albeit static, local optimum.
I keep circling the same question as I write: If everyone gets exactly what they want (or deserve), does anything actually evolve? Or do we just settle into these static little optimised bubbles?
This whole world I’m building is really a story about that tension.
It makes sense that they are separate but drive the world but all doing their thing, but again, separately and completely in their own element, with no interest in any other. I believe this is how the world works, and it definitely supports stability. Very interesting poem.
Hi! I appreciate your reflection. Though this description is made up, I think you are right. In it's core, this is how our world currently rolls (an collides) too.
I write dystopian fantasy poetry as a long form series. This post is one of the core realms, that my poetry leans on.
Happy to have you on board, Peter
It’s strange to read about these three “stable” spheres as if stability can exist without those who step outside the map. What pulls me in is the silence between them—not harmony, but a leak, a place where no one is looking.
Each group seems convinced they’ve “found” themselves simply because they no longer hear anyone else. But silence isn’t proof of wholeness. It’s just distance tightened into the illusion of peace.
And none of them move. The Stoics are fixed, the neurals loop endlessly, the embers freeze inside their chosen rebellion. Shapes without friction. If even one of them brushed against another, the whole order would tremble.
Maybe that’s the real fear here—not conflict, but the possibility of seeing how strange your own choice becomes once isolation cracks open.
Everything in this world rests on distance. Move that distance even a little — and the entire structure shows how thin it really is.
What you wrote made me realise something I hadn’t fully articulated.
This is really a story about what happens when everyone gets exactly what they want (or think they deserve). When every group is “right,” every worldview self-contained, and then asking the uncomfortable questions.
Would we still remain whole, even in that perfect isolation? Or would these walls eventually turn into cages?
I’ve only just begun exploring the Stoics sphere in The Hush Halo, trying to understand what “stillness” becomes when nothing pushes back. And I cannot wait to explore the others in depth too.
I'm glad you are reading my fiction too. 💕
I love the density of your world. It is its own biosphere while also staying tethered to the metaphor of our own current existence. Allowing for reflection and exploration into the "what could be's". I go down so many mental roads when I read this series and I appreciate that.
Happy to hear your reflection on this.
For me the hardest thing is making it simple enough to make sense to anyone but myself. Substack has its limits, and with this format I think I am right at the edge of them.
Still, happy to have you on board Christopher.
I completely understand that, but regardless you have created a world i really enjoy visiting.
I've just stumbled into this realm.
Not standing yet, I float
Tethered to life as I know it,
But reaching out to learn more.
Your poetry has its own gravity, its own atmosphere.
I think I'll like it here.
Thank you Janice! You are most welcome to stay for good. ♡ There is plenty to explore.
Good to have you on board!
At first reading, I went, "so"? and almost dismissed the writing flow and I was thinking possibly this needed more development. Then I read it again and combined with the pertinent comments, I began to see the vision of these three distinct groups and I liked the diversity portrayed. I read it again and i can definitely see how the silence in between the words and lines welcomes new descriptions and renderings. Interesting. Perhaps a new art form. Your words pushed me to write a response. I see value in the expression.
'
It’s really flooring to hear that the silence between the lines opened up on the second pass.
The structure of this piece is intentionally a bit off, almost like entering a room sideways. Your first reaction makes perfect sense to me, since I’m still learning about this world myself.
These three groups are the surface of what I’m trying to reveal, so your noticing the gaps and contrasts feels spot on.
There are more short posts in this realm. I'm curious to hear, if you can draw a more cohesive view from them.
Kevin, thank you for giving it more than one read. I’m glad that it pushed you to write a response.
It's interesting how you've brilliantly imagined these distinct, self-contained human 'stacks' achieving stability, yet I find myself wondering if such extreme feature partitioning really allows for true collective human evolution or just a well-optimized, albeit static, local optimum.
I keep circling the same question as I write: If everyone gets exactly what they want (or deserve), does anything actually evolve? Or do we just settle into these static little optimised bubbles?
This whole world I’m building is really a story about that tension.
Thank you for reading it so deeply. ✨️
It makes sense that they are separate but drive the world but all doing their thing, but again, separately and completely in their own element, with no interest in any other. I believe this is how the world works, and it definitely supports stability. Very interesting poem.