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I'll Miss Myself
A man using a social media app that reaches across dimensions to talk to himself in different timelines, discovers some of his problems are universal...and some are not...
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
26 pages, ebook
First published July 10, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 15, 2024
This is a fun idea about parallel universes, and how we might behave if instead of doomscrolling our friends' social media feeds, we scrolled a feed of what our other selves were doing. And all of the issues we have with "The Algorithm" in our social media is the same (or worse) in this other-selves app. I liked the concept a lot, and the implied autistic coding of the mail character—it's never specified, but the hyperfixation they experience seems to fit. The ending seemed a bit abrupt, though, and I'm not sure what it meant for the story as a whole.
July 10, 2024
A Technological Breath of Fresh Air
John Wiswell does not miss. He applies his distinct style and perspective to one of the world’s worst monsters: social media. The prose is frank and compassionate without glossing over the rough parts, and the story is positive without being saccharine.
The world is a crazy place. It needs more writers like John Wiswell.
John Wiswell does not miss. He applies his distinct style and perspective to one of the world’s worst monsters: social media. The prose is frank and compassionate without glossing over the rough parts, and the story is positive without being saccharine.
The world is a crazy place. It needs more writers like John Wiswell.
July 10, 2024
fantastic story
Witty and moving and real. It made we want to go out and make my life better, while still being me
Witty and moving and real. It made we want to go out and make my life better, while still being me
July 16, 2024
I'd like to give this short story double-five stars! It's flippin' fantastic!
July 17, 2024
This story has a great premise. I enjoyed it, even if it did lead to some uncomfortable reflection on my own online habits.
July 12, 2024
Read that yesterday in the evening. Great story!
The idea alone is so cool. My oldest kid always asks me bevor sleeping what story to invent and I was reading this short story and told her:
"Imagine a bunch of other kids like you, or slightly like you in other universes. Some have not one younger brother, but twin brothers. And your other self wants to complain about having TWO little brothers and you listen."
In John's story, the protagonist, Shaw, uses "AllOne", which seems to be a kind of social media, but only with other versions of himself in other universes. This in itself is a good phantastic idea, but there's also a very touching story coming.
The slightly different versions of himself are funny or even touching (some fathers have died of COVID), but there's also the algorithm of AllOne, which usually prevents privately chatting with each other or hides certain posts. There is a lot in it that reminds of our current social media here.
The B-story is about depressions and how AllOne prevents the different versions of Shaw to talk about it ... with himself.
It's a great idea story but also a story about talking about oneself, about difficulties, not-so-cool-stuff and tricking the algorithm of a mighty App. I had fun and my heart was also in it!
Keep going, I am already a fan!
The idea alone is so cool. My oldest kid always asks me bevor sleeping what story to invent and I was reading this short story and told her:
"Imagine a bunch of other kids like you, or slightly like you in other universes. Some have not one younger brother, but twin brothers. And your other self wants to complain about having TWO little brothers and you listen."
In John's story, the protagonist, Shaw, uses "AllOne", which seems to be a kind of social media, but only with other versions of himself in other universes. This in itself is a good phantastic idea, but there's also a very touching story coming.
The slightly different versions of himself are funny or even touching (some fathers have died of COVID), but there's also the algorithm of AllOne, which usually prevents privately chatting with each other or hides certain posts. There is a lot in it that reminds of our current social media here.
The B-story is about depressions and how AllOne prevents the different versions of Shaw to talk about it ... with himself.
It's a great idea story but also a story about talking about oneself, about difficulties, not-so-cool-stuff and tricking the algorithm of a mighty App. I had fun and my heart was also in it!
Keep going, I am already a fan!
July 11, 2024
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of multiverses and the infinite ways things could have been different depending upon not only my choices but the choices of others and the various circumstances of my life. I’ll Miss Myself explores that idea in a fresh and incredibly interesting way that had me absolutely hooked from the first paragraph.
While there were some bits that made me laugh, this story is a serious one. Shaw’s struggle with depression and the way he hid it from himself (and his selves) was really relatable. I must have highlighted the majority of this short story for how much I resonated with it. A lot of it really spoke to me and it was an excellent reminder that I’m never alone, even if I only have myself.
I can’t say I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this one after reading Someone You Can Build A Nest In (it’s one of my absolute favorite books), but now that I’ve read more by John Wiswell, I can say he’s on my list of favorite authors.
While there were some bits that made me laugh, this story is a serious one. Shaw’s struggle with depression and the way he hid it from himself (and his selves) was really relatable. I must have highlighted the majority of this short story for how much I resonated with it. A lot of it really spoke to me and it was an excellent reminder that I’m never alone, even if I only have myself.
I can’t say I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this one after reading Someone You Can Build A Nest In (it’s one of my absolute favorite books), but now that I’ve read more by John Wiswell, I can say he’s on my list of favorite authors.
July 12, 2024
The idea of using a smartphone social media app like TikTok-meets-Reddit to connect with others in a multiverse of yourselves is a great premise. That is the only thing great about this Reactor sponsored short story. It deals way too casually and incorrectly with self-harm, depression, suicide and then ends the story weirdly. Too bad.. missed opportunities. And the writing was a tad amateurish.
July 11, 2024
This short story is available for free on Reactor: https://reactormag.com/ill-miss-myself-john-wiswell/
July 21, 2024
An interesting concept that I enjoyed. I do wish it was fleshed out a little more - it was a very internal and spare story.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews