WITH EYES UNCONSTRAINED: A CYBERPUNK SUBMISSION FOR DARK FICTION

I'm proud to report that my cyberpunk story, "With Eyes Unconstrained," has been submitted to and accepted by Raffaele Pezzella for Eighth Tower's upcoming (yet-to-be-subtitled), Dark Fiction curation. 

Though "With Eyes Unconstrained" is based on the works of William Gibson and Phillip K. Dick, its allegorical angle slides into The Twilight Zone ("The Obsolete Man"), The Outer Limits ("O.B.I.T.") and the parables of Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451 and "Usher II" of The Martian Chronicles), with blaring nods to those perennial, dystopic staples, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and George Orwell's 1984. 

"With Eyes Unconstrained" also flavors its margins with a little, related this and that, including some subtle wiring from Equilibrium, A Clockwork Orange, Batman Beyond, Judge Dredd, Logan's Run, Rollerball 1975 and Death Race 2000. Indeed, as far as its suppressive icing goes, my calamitous cake is tyrannical tech at every layer. 

"With Eyes Unconstrained" is, above all, a declaration against clutching, cybernetic unity with a warning against those societies that promote bad behavior over good. (Sounds like the present, doesn't it?) 

In the Dark Fiction series, this volume holds the potential to be the best yet. I'll be pleased to keep Bizarrechats readers abreast of its construction. 

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

This post is dedicated to those who've supported my stories and articles throughout 2023, whether in editing, promotion, publishing or essential encouragement.

These gracious folks consist of (drum roll, please!) Ron Fortier, Rob Davis, Jim Main, Robert Sodaro, Robert Matuzsan; Dennis Papp, Raffaelle Pezzella, John Chadwick, Michael Ferentino, Melissa Orlowski, Steve Orlowski, Tracy Furman, Leslie Foster, Nick Sabato, William Kalyna, Steve Keeter, Larned Justin, Erik Lobo and Kelly Erin Decker Kitko.

Indeed, your collective fanfare has proven invaluable in light of the negativity that certain underachievers and blowhards have tossed my way, whether in recent history or the deep, dark past.

Beyond any doubt, you've proven a potent antidote for all those know-it-alls who know nothing, thus allowing me to keep a steady eye on the prize, and that prize I've seized time and again, all thanks to you.