Or, The Treatment.
A young con man thinks he's found the perfect angle on an aging reality TV show. He's right about almost everything. Except what he's won.
Woah. This was seriously a gut punch. It reminds me in the best possible way of how the story plays out in A Scanner Darkly. Very powerful, effective writing that is, sadly, getting more and more believable.
Thanks very much for stopping by, reading and commenting. Yes it seems to me we're headed in this general direction, if not this particular one specifically. Philip Dick is a titan so that's a comparison I'm very happy with, although I don't think I've read or seen that one - something to add to the list. Cheers!
Always love to read what you put out, even if it takes me a little while to get to it.
But definitely do check out A Scanner Darkly if you have the time. From what I remember, it's a quick read. And the movie is also very well done—highly recommend both!
Brilliant. There are so many layers to this - stories within the story. It's so chilling, the way it all closes in on him in the end. And also it's strangely very believable. Truly gripping stuff!
Thanks for reading and commenting - I'm thrilled because that combination of being chilling but also plausible is what I'm always striving for. Really appreciate it.
I love this piece, one of the best I have read in a while, even though I am not a fan of the genre.
This felt less like a story about mental illness and more like a story about systems that turn suffering into something transactional. The idea that treatment is something you have to “perform” for is pretty disturbing.
Tyler thinking he’s gaming the system, only to be absorbed by it in the end, was the part that stuck with me.
What’s unsettling is that the system doesn’t break because of Tyler, it works exactly as intended. It just finds a way to use him too.
It seems like a warning about our own society and the way it lets us believe we are in control, a illusion meant to keep us in place. We are all just pawns in a game we cannot win.
Would love to read more like this, keep going! You have a very unique voice!
Thanks so much, what a generous and astute reading - I really do appreciate you taking the time to read it and leave such a thoughtful comment. I’m just getting started here, so it means a lot.
I’ll drop a couple of other links under your original thread for when you feel like reading another one.
I just read your piece on the Odyssey & gave my thoughts - I do think about some of those issues a fair bit, so I hope I don’t come across as argumentative.
You’re covering interesting territory in your publication, and I’ll definitely read some of your other pieces down the track. I only have four stories published so if you ever feel like reading another one there’s just a few to choose from. Cheers!
Not at all - glad it sparked our discussion. That's what is great about this place - we can build on each other's ideas. Thank you for taking the time to read and reflect on the piece. Look forward to continuing our exchanges.
Thanks so much. It's the sort of thing that our society could produce isn't it, if things keep going the way they are. Glad it had an effect on you, although sorry if it puts you off your dinner! I very much appreciate you taking the time to read and give such quotable feedback - thanks again.
Thanks so much, I appreciate your support very much.
I'm not that prolific, so if you ever get tired of waiting for a new one, feel free to check out the back catalogue - I think you might like The Reactor, if you haven't already read it. Cheers!
Thanks so much for reading and leaving a lovely comment. In my experience it’s rare for people who call for others to share their work to actually read what they get sent, so thanks for that too.
I’m a pretty slow writer and don’t publish to any schedule, so there may not be anything new for a while, but if you do feel like reading another one of mine here’s something from my back catalogue I think you might enjoy:
Your story is an X-ray of the society we live in. We expose our wounds, hoping they will be healed automatically through the eyes of others. And if we do not have any, we create them so that we may be seen and valued by others. I truly loved your story — it is visceral, thought-provoking, and, above all, it places before us a reality that is both cruel and real.
Thanks Phoeby, it’s the world we live in now, isn’t it? Yes, I did at times wonder if the story is too cruel, but I decided it’s no crueller than the actual people I’m writing about. Thanks so much for reading and commenting, and for restacking with another nice comment. Cheers!
I'm amazed how you come up with these stories. Even after reading it, I'm immersed. I want to believe Tyler has some kind of way out: a lawyer, simply running away, exposing the show. But, the reality is he lost the game... by winning the game, ironically.
That’s partly why I’m so slow to write - I have to wait for the good ideas to come, and I don’t have that many of them! Glad it stuck with you, that’s something I’m always aiming for. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Thanks. Yes, it feels like just one step away from where we are now. Thanks for being so quick to read it too - nothing worse than dropping a story you’ve been working on for months to silence. Cheers!
Wow this was such a unique and dark story. Up my alley, well done, dear writer! I'll be thinking about the story for a while... Thanks for sharing! Would love your thoughts on my work as well if you dont mind (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)
My most recent one, "curious cats poke bears for the thrill of it." I'm sure you'd find it a fun read
Ok, I’m on it.
Woah. This was seriously a gut punch. It reminds me in the best possible way of how the story plays out in A Scanner Darkly. Very powerful, effective writing that is, sadly, getting more and more believable.
Thanks very much for stopping by, reading and commenting. Yes it seems to me we're headed in this general direction, if not this particular one specifically. Philip Dick is a titan so that's a comparison I'm very happy with, although I don't think I've read or seen that one - something to add to the list. Cheers!
Always love to read what you put out, even if it takes me a little while to get to it.
But definitely do check out A Scanner Darkly if you have the time. From what I remember, it's a quick read. And the movie is also very well done—highly recommend both!
Woah! Amazingly written
Thanks! If you liked this, you might like another one of mine: Churn Rate. Let me know if you want me to drop a link.
Yes please!
Here you go. Enjoy!
https://hammondjohns.substack.com/p/the-churn-rate
Thank you!!!
Just remembered there's some adult themes (and bad language) in this one, so no probs if you'd rather sit this one out.
Brilliant. There are so many layers to this - stories within the story. It's so chilling, the way it all closes in on him in the end. And also it's strangely very believable. Truly gripping stuff!
Thanks for reading and commenting - I'm thrilled because that combination of being chilling but also plausible is what I'm always striving for. Really appreciate it.
I love this piece, one of the best I have read in a while, even though I am not a fan of the genre.
This felt less like a story about mental illness and more like a story about systems that turn suffering into something transactional. The idea that treatment is something you have to “perform” for is pretty disturbing.
Tyler thinking he’s gaming the system, only to be absorbed by it in the end, was the part that stuck with me.
What’s unsettling is that the system doesn’t break because of Tyler, it works exactly as intended. It just finds a way to use him too.
It seems like a warning about our own society and the way it lets us believe we are in control, a illusion meant to keep us in place. We are all just pawns in a game we cannot win.
Would love to read more like this, keep going! You have a very unique voice!
Thanks so much, what a generous and astute reading - I really do appreciate you taking the time to read it and leave such a thoughtful comment. I’m just getting started here, so it means a lot.
I’ll drop a couple of other links under your original thread for when you feel like reading another one.
Yess, thanks.
This is a chilling, black-mirror-esque exploration of the commodification of trauma.
Great to have your voice on Substack. I have subscribed and look forward to reading more. I would love you to do the same, if my writing resonates.
Thanks for reading & commenting - I really appreciate it. I’ll check your stuff out soon.
You’re welcome - keep up the great work! Would love to hear your thoughts, if you did get an opportunity to read any of my writing.
I just read your piece on the Odyssey & gave my thoughts - I do think about some of those issues a fair bit, so I hope I don’t come across as argumentative.
You’re covering interesting territory in your publication, and I’ll definitely read some of your other pieces down the track. I only have four stories published so if you ever feel like reading another one there’s just a few to choose from. Cheers!
Not at all - glad it sparked our discussion. That's what is great about this place - we can build on each other's ideas. Thank you for taking the time to read and reflect on the piece. Look forward to continuing our exchanges.
Damn this was deep!
Got another sub!
Hey, thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate it!
yeeeeeeeesh. Well done! *shudder*
Thanks? Seriously, though- appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
I hated it in the best way possible. It feels like something that could really happen and that's heartbreaking. I'll feel off for the rest of the day
Thanks so much. It's the sort of thing that our society could produce isn't it, if things keep going the way they are. Glad it had an effect on you, although sorry if it puts you off your dinner! I very much appreciate you taking the time to read and give such quotable feedback - thanks again.
Always a pleasure to read your works. Well, pleasure is a strong word for how uncomfortable your stories are, but I do enjoy them a lot!
Thanks so much, I appreciate your support very much.
I'm not that prolific, so if you ever get tired of waiting for a new one, feel free to check out the back catalogue - I think you might like The Reactor, if you haven't already read it. Cheers!
This is intense… really unsettling in a powerful way.
The ending especially gave chills—the shift in control is terrifying.
Just subscribed 😊 Looking forward to more 🤝✨
Thanks so much for reading and leaving a lovely comment. In my experience it’s rare for people who call for others to share their work to actually read what they get sent, so thanks for that too.
I’m a pretty slow writer and don’t publish to any schedule, so there may not be anything new for a while, but if you do feel like reading another one of mine here’s something from my back catalogue I think you might enjoy:
https://hammondjohns.substack.com/p/the-churn-rate
Your story is an X-ray of the society we live in. We expose our wounds, hoping they will be healed automatically through the eyes of others. And if we do not have any, we create them so that we may be seen and valued by others. I truly loved your story — it is visceral, thought-provoking, and, above all, it places before us a reality that is both cruel and real.
Thanks Phoeby, it’s the world we live in now, isn’t it? Yes, I did at times wonder if the story is too cruel, but I decided it’s no crueller than the actual people I’m writing about. Thanks so much for reading and commenting, and for restacking with another nice comment. Cheers!
I'm amazed how you come up with these stories. Even after reading it, I'm immersed. I want to believe Tyler has some kind of way out: a lawyer, simply running away, exposing the show. But, the reality is he lost the game... by winning the game, ironically.
That’s partly why I’m so slow to write - I have to wait for the good ideas to come, and I don’t have that many of them! Glad it stuck with you, that’s something I’m always aiming for. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Loved it. Can also see it being real which made me sad. Well done mate!
Thanks for reading and commenting, I really appreciate it.
Reality shows have always been disturbing- but this one was absolutely visceral. It's one of the best short stories I've ever read on this platform.
Thanks so very much, that means a lot. I worked hard on this one. Really appreciate you taking the time to read and for your generous comment.
This captures something real about the times.
We already live in a world where humans have to perform their suffering publicly to access help.
This just removes one layer of abstraction and makes the transaction explicit.
The fact that it barely feels like speculative fiction is what makes it cut so deep.
Really well done, my friend.
Thanks. Yes, it feels like just one step away from where we are now. Thanks for being so quick to read it too - nothing worse than dropping a story you’ve been working on for months to silence. Cheers!
My pleasure.
It's an excellent read.
Mia is sharp.
Going to stick with me.
Wow this was such a unique and dark story. Up my alley, well done, dear writer! I'll be thinking about the story for a while... Thanks for sharing! Would love your thoughts on my work as well if you dont mind (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)
Thanks for reading - really glad you liked it! I’d love to read something of yours. What piece do you suggest I start with?