Hello new reader!
Simply put, Cobalt Stars is a non-linear anthology that doesn't need to be
read in any particular order for you to enjoy the experience in a definitive, proper way. There is no
absolute beginning in this series, nor is there an end.
However, that's not to say that there
are no
beginnings or endings to be found here at all. In fact, because the stories are linked in several
ways, in all sorts of orders, the ways in which you'll observe beginnings and endings may have you
perceiving the stories and characters in ways that differ significantly from other readers like you.
That all depends on the order in which you approach these stories, be it some of them, all of them,
or even none of them.
For example there could be a character that first appears in Pisces, develops in Aries, and then arrives
at a conclusion in Scorpio. Instead of getting a standard, linear understanding of that character, I'm
instead leaving you with the ambiguity that you may meet them when they’re already in the middle
of their life experience, much like how we meet most other people in the real world. Alternatively, this
also opens up the possibility of coming across a character’s conclusion before you ever witness
any of the events that led up to that point. Should you end up going back to those earlier moments in
their timeline in other stories, you would be privy to their predetermined fate, giving the actions of
their past an altered meaning from your perspective.
Despite these possibilities however, if linearity
is important to you, I wouldn't turn my nose up if you discussed with other readers to theorize a
"correct" or “optimal” reading order before actually reading these stories for
yourself.
Any which way you choose to go about the series is a decision that is entirely your own.
That is the
choice that I present to
you.
These stories are linked by the events that transpire within them. Beyond that however, aspects such as
genre, tone, length, pacing, atmosphere, etc. are all unique to each story. If having a basic
understanding of a story's tone beforehand is important to you, I offer brief descriptions for each
story, alongside content
warnings so you can
feel prepared. However, these stories are not presented with particular genres in mind, since that's not
really an objective that I'm pursuing here.
I think this format for a fiction series will make for a unique reading experience in our current world.
The experience may excite and encourage you, but it also may frustrate and challenge you. There's no
right or wrong way about it. If I offered you the means for feeling something new and meaningful, then
I'll have done all that I intend to do.
That being said, if you have any questions, suggestions or comments, feel free to contact me (contacts
are on my "About Me" page) and I'll do my best to respond. My hope is for this series to be a
unique experience, both for you and for me. I intend to do my best with that as I write and upload each
story gradually.
Thanks for being here, and if you've been here for a while already, thanks for your patience. I hope you
enjoy making sense of this chaos that I'm orchestrating.
- Wren Marco ♊