"Shatter the Wall" by Sydney J. Van Scyoc is a science fiction story set in a society consumed by a technology called the Wall, which replaces real relationships with artificial experiences. It follows Amanda, a mother, as she worries about her daughter Kathryn's dangerous obsession with the Wall's characters, specifically the actor Bass McDowall, jeopardizing the future. Kathryn, the city's youngest resident, dreams of marrying Bass, rejecting any other human connection. AsAmanda's concern grows, she takes extreme measures, even committing murder, to eliminate the characters she believes are destroying humanity. However, she soon realizes that these characters are just illusions, and her actions cannot fix the deeper societal issues surrounding humanity's survival. The story serves as a warning about the dangers of avoiding reality and highlights the significance of genuine human connection.
Shatter the Wall
By Sydney J. Van Scyoc
In a world where screens have replaced reality, a mother must confront her daughter's dangerous obsession with a fictional celebrity to salvage humanity's chance at future connection.
Summary
About the AuthorSydney J. Van Scyoc was an American science fiction writer. Her first published story was "Shatter the Wall" in Galaxy in 1962. She continued to write short stories throughout the 1960s and in 1971, published her first novel, Saltflower. Other novels followed until 1992, when she abandoned writing to make and sell jewelry. Gordon Van Gelder, editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction published her first story in more than 20 years in the December 2004 issue. He stated in an introduction to the story that: "in June 1992, after years of writing fiction, she became obsessed with jewelry making and spent a decade selling earrings and bracelets in the San Francisco Bay area. Last year she retired from that trade and now spends most of her time gardening and conferring with her cats...and, yes, writing again." Van Gelder would publish one more story in the December 2005 issue of his magazine and at that time stated in the introduction: "Joyce Van Scyoc lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and spends all summer gardening until the October rains drive her inside."
Sydney J. Van Scyoc was an American science fiction writer. Her first published story was "Shatter the Wall" in Galaxy in 1962. She continued to write short stories throughout the 1960s and in 1971, published her first novel, Saltflower. Other novels followed until 1992, when she abandoned writing to make and sell jewelry. Gordon Van Gelder, editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction published her first story in more than 20 years in the December 2004 issue. He stated in an introduction to the story that: "in June 1992, after years of writing fiction, she became obsessed with jewelry making and spent a decade selling earrings and bracelets in the San Francisco Bay area. Last year she retired from that trade and now spends most of her time gardening and conferring with her cats...and, yes, writing again." Van Gelder would publish one more story in the December 2005 issue of his magazine and at that time stated in the introduction: "Joyce Van Scyoc lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and spends all summer gardening until the October rains drive her inside."
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