Em Dash (ePub)

Em Dash is a collection of short stories that aims to explore the element of dialogue in fiction as the primary vehicle for character development with particular attention to how characters express dissent and navigate conflict. While the manuscript is not affixed to any single genre of fiction, the variety has served as emphasis to the unbound utility of this type of dialogue in any kind of short story through differing scenarios and character dynamics that ultimately lead to disagreements and discussions that drive each story forward. From human beings and divine entities to comedy and tragedy, each story inevitably pits characters against each other in dialogue that exposes oppositions in each person's beliefs, and often, it's the language of the characters that highlights how they've changed through these verbal conflicts. Thematic variances between each story have allowed tense dialogue and argument between characters to be both the common denominator and primary source of tension in all of the stories presented.

"And It Was Good" is basically a parody of the Biblical creation story, titled after the iconic verse in which God judges that His work was good. The story is reimagined akin to a workshop, but in the case of God, the workshop can only go well since He's God. All the angels of the heavens have nothing but Biblically accurate praises for their Lord until He finally presents the Imago Dei. Suddenly, one of God's closest, most beloved angels named Lucifel dares to raise criticism, and almost literally, all hell breaks loose. God, the Creator of all, is forced to consider the possibility that He might have made a mistake.

"They Will Know Us" explores the mentor-pupil relationship between Sophia and her mentor Levi. In the capital city of a nation under political turmoil, the two of them are the first of a new evolution of human beings who have special, mental abilities that set their kind apart yet also alienate them from the rest of society, but Sophia is still quite new to what she can do as one them. Along with a few others, they remained in hiding to avoid the dangers of the public eye and law enforcement, but tensions arise between Levi and Thea, the two with the strongest abilities in their group, on what their course of action should be in the long term. Soon, more of their kind appear in different parts of the city. Because of this, the government decides to establish the Commission on Civil Discipline (CCD), not only as higher-tier law enforcement to suppress dissent, but also tasked with hunting down this enhanced species of people. In her final conversation with Levi, Sophia must realize her true potential and decide her place among this rising breed of gifted individuals.

As satirical fantasy, "She's a GodLord!" is a play on the chosen one archetype, highlighting some of the absurdities of the trope. Jacqueline Amadani GodLord is gifted with a particular power which serves as the key to fulfill her destiny as the GodLord, but her mentor and guide, Master Lucille continues to reiterate vague hints about what this destiny actually is. Coming from a series of strange coincidences that inadvertently lead her to this destiny, Jacqueline is soon faced by an abnormally muscular man who claims that the GodLord status rightfully belonged to him. Now that her identity is put into question, she must discern what it means to be the GodLord, and whether to fulfill her unclear destiny or if this has all just been a huge mistake.

These three showcase my attempts in this project to write stories that have dialogue at the center of their narratives. At the heart of this project really is a personal concern with conversation that I have developed since childhood-influenced both by my earlier experiences growing up, various media, and my own encounters with the people around me.