Stillness Backgrounder
Here are the answers to a few questions you might have about Stillness.
What is Stillness about?
Stillness is about the end of the world. Or, as one of the characters explains it, not really the end of the world. Something much bigger than that...
Where does it take place?
The action moves around quite a bit: from the US to Russia to Italy to Southeast Asia; from corporate offices to a criminal hideout to a monastery to a strip joint, from commonplace locales to some very remote places, indeed.
Who are the characters?
We've got your ex-CIA agent, your super-genius kids, your corporate drone loser who is a mere cog in machinery he can't hope to understand, your cocktail waitress, your antiques dealer who doubles as the head of a secret society that may hold the key to saving the universe, your eccentric millionaire, your scientist, your writer dying of a mysterious disease, your creepy ex-Stalin Appartchik with a penchant for deadly games of chance, and so on.
Why publish it as a serial on your blog?
I'm having fun watching it unfold. And by not publishing it all at once, I get to keep adding stuff and changing the ending.
What are the readers saying?
I'm so glad you asked. Check it out.
Ooh, I got a little shiver...
A week is too long to have to wait!
Terribly engaging story. Congrats.
I've never had all that much patience for serial stories (as they were being released, anyway). But I look forward to each new chapter of Stillness.
Reminds me...of John LeCarre.
More? Please?
Holy smokes, it's John D. MacDonald, Stephen King, and Douglas Adams rolled into one!
One helluva story, but it really needs a copy editor! (Wait a minute, how did that one get in there? -- Phil)
Awesome. Just awesome. You rock, Phil.
No, you rock, readers. Thanks for making Stillness such a success. And for those of you who haven't yet joined the party, here's your big chance...
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Stillness
by Philip Bowermaster
Part I
Chapter 1, in which Reuben sees lights.
Chapter 2, in which Sergei gives advice.
Chapter 3, in which Ksenia looks at cars.
Chapter 4, in which Reuben falls.
Chapter 5, in which Reuben contends.
Chapter 6, in which Reuben recovers.
Chapter 7, in which Sergei explains some things.
Chapter 8, in which Betty explains the rest.
Chapter 9, in which Father Alexy saves the day.
Chapter 10, in which the old man speaks.
Chapter 11, in which Reuben obliges.
Part II
Chapter 12, in which Emmett goes to work.
Chapter 13, in which Frank has some news.
Chapter 14, in which Peggy opens a box.
Chapter 15, in which Emmett becomes confused.
Chapter 16, in which Rick spells things out.
Chapter 17, in which two strangers arrive.
Part III
Chapter 18, in which Celia meets Corey.
Chapter 19, in which Grace wins a game.
Chapter 20, in which Celia remembers.
Chapter 21, in which Corey wishes.
Chapter 22, in which Todd hugs back.
Chapter 23, in which an argument is settled.
Chapter 24, in which Estelle calls for help.
Chapter 25, in which Grace gets an idea.
Chapter 26, in which Corey awakens.
Part IV
Chapter 27, in which Reuben goes forth.
Chapter 28, in which Reuben gets lost.
Chapter 29, in which Hamilton lends his coat.
Chapter 30, in which Reuben plays a new game.
Chapter 31, in which Markku takes a turn.
Chapter 32, in which Sergei has some questions.
Chapter 33, in which Reuben reconsiders his past.
Chapter 34, in which Iskandar deals some cards.
Chapter 35, in which magic is discussed.
Chapter 36, in which Daphne sets terms.
Chapter 37, in which Altheus issues a warning.
Chapter 38, in which Reuben reads the stones.
Chapter 39, in which Reuben has three telephone conversations.
Chapter 40, in which Reuben and Daphne take a stroll.
Chapter 41, in which Reuben and Daphne have a drink.
Chapter 42, in which Michel blows smoke.
Chapter 43, in which Reuben discusses chess.
Part V
Chapter 44, in which Corey looks at a fountain.
Chapter 45, in which Estelle recites scripture.
Chapter 46, in which Corey considers his dreams.
Chapter 47, in which Myra receives an unexpected visit.
Chapter 48, in which Todd cashes a check.
Chapter 49, in which Sybil remembers.
Chapter 50, in which Sybil makes a decision.
Chapter 51, in which Raymond takes a spin.
Chapter 52, in which Robert looks at pictures.
Chapter 53, in which Judy makes coffee.
Part VI
Chapter 54, in Markku makes an offer.
Chapter 55, in Corey breaks eggs.
Chapter 56, in which Emmett interrupts a violin lesson.
Chapter 57, in which Ivor goes sledding.
Chapter 58, in which Corey counts cups.
Chapter 59, in which in which two strangers arrive.*
Chapter 60, in which Sergei mentions little green men.
Chapter 61, in which Markku makes a choice.
Chapter 62, in which Emmett butters a muffin.
* Not necessarily the same strangers as the ones who arrived in Chapter 17. But then again...