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sonofthe's review
4.0
Rosemary sells a precious coin and tries to get it back after she realizes what it meant to her daughter.
Coins with imprinted memories are the currency in this story, which makes for some complex issues. Virtual reality and the question of whether lived experiences are more valuable than artificial ones came to mind. In the story, there's the question of whether a person is able to experience the thing themself, and whether that experience can be handled maturely or if it'll turn into obsession. It was never brought up in the story, but there's always the issue of written stories. They allow us to experience, to some extent, things we have no access to. Whether that experience can be fully understood probably depends on the whole set of experiences that make up a person, and make it (written, imprinted as memory, programmed into virtual reality) impossible to completely understand. Of course, this sort of thing is fundamental philosophy and could go on forever.
Relationships also play a central part to the story. I kept wondering who to root for. Not that such a character is necessary, but neither Rosemary nor her daughter seemed very likeable. Ruth was so immature, especially for her age, and Rosemary was so detached. Duty comes in later, and makes me wonder if it's an acceptable replacement when a parent can't manage love for their child. And what about duty to self? What about knowing self?
In the story, memories are imprinted on coins by a machine. I wonder what that process is like. As I was reading Rosemary's memories, my own were being drawn to the surface, perhaps as they would be in the process of imprinting. There's nothing in the story that would make me think this, but it made me think of capsaicin as it's being drawn from the tongue by a piece of bread. The heat is much more intense, but it leaves that much more quickly. This story acted kind of like that bread, drawing my memories to the surface, but hopefully not to be forgotten.
Coins with imprinted memories are the currency in this story, which makes for some complex issues. Virtual reality and the question of whether lived experiences are more valuable than artificial ones came to mind. In the story, there's the question of whether a person is able to experience the thing themself, and whether that experience can be handled maturely or if it'll turn into obsession. It was never brought up in the story, but there's always the issue of written stories. They allow us to experience, to some extent, things we have no access to. Whether that experience can be fully understood probably depends on the whole set of experiences that make up a person, and make it (written, imprinted as memory, programmed into virtual reality) impossible to completely understand. Of course, this sort of thing is fundamental philosophy and could go on forever.
Relationships also play a central part to the story. I kept wondering who to root for. Not that such a character is necessary, but neither Rosemary nor her daughter seemed very likeable. Ruth was so immature, especially for her age, and Rosemary was so detached. Duty comes in later, and makes me wonder if it's an acceptable replacement when a parent can't manage love for their child. And what about duty to self? What about knowing self?
In the story, memories are imprinted on coins by a machine. I wonder what that process is like. As I was reading Rosemary's memories, my own were being drawn to the surface, perhaps as they would be in the process of imprinting. There's nothing in the story that would make me think this, but it made me think of capsaicin as it's being drawn from the tongue by a piece of bread. The heat is much more intense, but it leaves that much more quickly. This story acted kind of like that bread, drawing my memories to the surface, but hopefully not to be forgotten.
tyrshand's review
5.0
This is a short, but fascinating, exploration of how memory shapes us.
Rosemary is a librarian of memories -- in this future society people can remove memories from their minds and place them into coins. These coins are the currency of the day, and their worth is judged by rarity and desire.
In order secure a deal, Rosemary is required to trade out her own memories -- some seemingly unimportant, but all have an affect on who she is.
Rosemary is a librarian of memories -- in this future society people can remove memories from their minds and place them into coins. These coins are the currency of the day, and their worth is judged by rarity and desire.
In order secure a deal, Rosemary is required to trade out her own memories -- some seemingly unimportant, but all have an affect on who she is.
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