The Projection Room: Two from the Cubist Mist (excerpt p.44-45).

Excerpt from “The Projection Room: Two from the Cubist Mist,” pages 44-45.

He pointed and then escorted her to the small demonstration
booth. “It’s actually quite small, so you’ll have to forgive the cramped quarters, but it should be enough to give you an idea of what this experience would be like.”

The prototype was the size of a walk-in shed. Bruce motioned
her to enter first. It was cramped, so they had to stand uncomfortably close together. Noelle was unaware that he was relishing the scent of her hair as he stood slightly behind her.

After an awkward silence that only Bruce was aware of, he spoke up. “While the demonstration is going, you will be tempted to walk around, because the tiles will create the illusion of vast space.  Don’t. You’ll smack into a wall and embarrass yourself.”

Noelle chuckled and turned to him. “Gee, thanks for the heads-up.”

Only when she looked back at Bruce as he was looking at her lips did she suspect he was attracted to her. Bruce caught himself, stepped back too far, and bumped the wall with his shoulder.

Quick to recover, Bruce continued nervously, “I was thinking you’ll like to see something from Monet. I downloaded one of his paintings of the Japanese footbridge.”

“Yeah, I think I’d like that.” She nodded.

“It’s getting a little claustrophobic in here. So I’ll set the system to let you view for about five minutes. Sound good?”

She smiled. “Sounds great.”

The room dimmed as Bruce closed the door behind him. She could no longer hear his movements after he closed the booth. She was glad she didn’t suffer from claustrophobia, but the small, dark space was a little unsettling for a brief moment.

Noelle waited in the darkened enclosure. The lights slowly ramped up into a wild kaleidoscope of color that finally jelled into the gardenscape with a drawbridge and lily pads. She felt as if she was there in that garden. She leaned forward to look at the foliage and actually saw the textured brushstrokes of the artist in minute detail. Noelle put her hand forward and touched the wall. That momentarily diminished the illusion, but as soon as she withdrew her hand, it was restored.

Bruce’s voice piped in a comic, robotic manner, “Do not touch the wall, young lady.”

She chuckled and thought, Yes, this definitely would work well at the museum.

Back in the present, Bruce smiled sadly as he thought about their first meetings. He walked up the stairs to the other projection room. Thinking about this just reminded him that he was a widower and lonely man. He hoped throwing himself into his work again would lessen his awareness of that reality, but he doubted it

The Blurred Lines Between the Supernatural/Metaphysical and Science

“I suspect that my theories may all depend upon a force for which philosophers have searched all of nature in vain.” -- Isaac Newton.

Little known fact--Isaac Newton actually wrote three times more on theology and the Bible then he did on science. It’s true. He even taught himself Hebrew to further his search. Newton came further in understanding the physics of time and space than any man in his age, which is why his mathematical and natural philosophical works are considered the foundations of scientific exploration today still.

That’s why I think the lines between science fiction, the metaphysical and the supernatural are often fuzzy at best. For instance, while Ray Bradbury is considered a science fiction author (Martian Chronicles), much of his work had a metaphysical bent to it. A perfect example is “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” which is definitely not science fiction. By the way, I highly recommend that book and especially the movie version.

Stephen King wrote “Tommyknockers,” which is about an alien infiltration/infestation, and therefore falls under the science fiction genre banner, and yet his body of work is far more supernatural than not. I find that King had to say on the matter interesting as well. He stated in a Rolling Stones interview that while he wasn’t crazy about organized religion, he chooses to believe in the existence of God. He states that his writing about the supernatural so often reflects that somewhat. I think that’s reflected strongly in “The Green Mile,” which is one of my favorite King books.

As I stated in a previous blog about a character I created, Dr. Casper Layton, I noticed that many of the scientists that were involved in this nation’s “Manhattan Project,” had a strong believe in the supernatural. While theirs was a perverse occult belief, it is nevertheless a strong belief in the supernatural. A realm outside the understandable and observable world in which we interact.

It would seem I’m not the only one, and far from the first too, that has noticed this connection. I recently put the following book on my wish list, “Modern Alchemy: Occultism and the Emergence of Atomic Theory,” by Mark Morrisson on Oxford Press. In addition, Dusty Skylar, author “Nazis and the Occult” seemed to also notice that our foes in were also intrigued with both science and the metaphysical connection as well.

Why am I mentioning this? Book 3 “The Projection Room: Our Brother’s Keeper” is with my publisher at the moment, and it is much closer than the previous two books to science fiction. However, I’m working on the final book of the series this very moment. In book four, Bruce Mallory discovers that Georges Bosque’s paintings still exist and where they’re hidden. He and Baker are in a race to find it before the villainous Casper Layton does, but Bruce also feels compelled to figure out why these two paintings are so different than any other paintings he projects and animates in the projection room. Why did the other paintings previously react, but no longer do when put in the room. To do that, he must delve, study and discern what Bosque did that was so different from any other of paintings, even though Bruce repulsed by what he has to study and find. Even though he risks his life and perhaps his soul to solve this puzzle.

I’ve been told that the Projection Room series has been difficult to categorize (see link- book 14 out 15 of the list) Is it science fiction? Is it paranormal thriller? Personally, I think it’s both and why not. The lines between science and the metaphysical have been blurred throughout history.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/lists/best-indie-books-2013-we-found-difficult-categoriz/

The Projection Room -- Art Lives Here!

To those not familiar with Milwaukee, the art museum here is perhaps one of the most unusual and beautiful edifices in the art world. This is why I chose my home town art museum, The Milwaukee Art Museum, to be the first setting for “The Projection Room” series.

The second book takes place in Chicago, across from the Art Institute of Chicago, but the seminal event that starts the series, begins here, and this museum is always referenced either directly or indirectly in the subsequent books. I’ll discuss some of the paintings that are featured in book one from time to time, but for readers of the book that are unfamiliar with Milwaukee — this short video will be helpful when reading the book and trying to imagine the setting as well.  Enjoy!

And don’t forget that “The Projection Room: Two from the Cubist Mist” is available on Amazon.com