“The Fables” is a weekly hybrid social commentary/investigative journalism column in the Sunday edition of the Times of New Chthon, by Abraham E. Sopp
It’s not really a world of gods anymore.
Listen, folks. Given the ontological weirdness of our whole metropolitan identity, I think it’s actually healthy for us to take a step back once in a while to reconsider why we’re here. What it all means, living–actually living: not sold out to the mines in Asphodel; not taking the Lethe out to retirement in the ‘burbs; actually living–in New Chthon.
It’s no secret: This here is Hadestown, land of the dead, even if it isn’t totally clear if we are dead. But it’s not a world of gods anymore. In fact, none of this would be possible if it was.
You might wonder how that’s possible, and brother, I’m with you. I’m no Socrates. I’m just a poor Salukis fan hoping for another Championship win while my fingers can still type. I’m not gonna act like the metaphysics of it all adds up. But still: Every once in a while, I have an experience that reminds me that it’s actually important that we’re here, that this isn’t just Hades’ underworld that we’re only living in.
This time, that experience was the recent scandal (and subsequent administrative shakeup) at Erebus Corp with which I was either fortunate or unfortunate enough to be closely involved. As it happens, the sordid saga of Al Wyland’s research division at Erebus is a doozy, and while I promise to keep the editorializing light, this column is, at the end of the day, my editorial, a point which took my editor some convincing to relinquish.
Unfortunately, she still wouldn’t compromise on the format. The saga’s a long one, friends, and while you, my readers, are a dedicated bunch, I was informed that I would not be allowed to command an entire special issue of the Times for this story alone. You’ll need to settle for a serial. But I promise: The real story will knock your socks off, and the tepid little statement the Gazette printed this last week doesn’t even begin to cover it. You can ignore that corporate mouthpiece rag–the real story is here, and you’d best stay tuned.
For now, though, I’ll leave you at the beginning: an expansion survey out in Tartarus, a down-on-his-luck columnist on a ridealong in search of a story, and a lost god at rock bottom, in the worst possible place at a suspiciously bad time.
Salt-Powered Investments, LLC 