Predators, part 5: String theory by faroutsider
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Predators, part 4: Simultaneity Predators, part 3: Resonance Predators, part 2 Predators, part 1
My corporeal form lives with my wonderful wife and six eccentric cats in beautiful Sedgefield, but my dreaming body is frequently elsewhere, exploring the fractal universe and marveling at nature's chaos. I love traveling to places that exist only as mathematical constructs on my computer and bringing back snapshots that sometimes remind me of the real world (whatever that means), sometimes of metamagical worlds we can visit only in our imaginations. I trained as a biologist and run a small company specialising in science publishing - writing, editing, illustrating and typesetting. For 3D world building I use Vue, Daz Studio and Poser, but I've also used Bryce since version 2 and done some work with Terragen, Carrara and Groboto. For technical illustration I use mainly Illustrator and Photoshop.
Thanks for visiting my little corner of Renderosity, and to everyone who has kindly commented on my images or added my works as a favourite, thank you for that too. Craig.
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Comments (28)
Black-Carrie
This is so far the most beautiful done image of the series! Fantastic done again!
Cosme..D..Churruca
superb art work!
mgtcs
WOW...This is a masterful si fi my friend, what a wonderful atmosphere, loved the character, very well done!
Savage_dragon
Splendid! ")
sylki
WOW!!!!This is absolutely awesome work, I love the POV and the superb atmosphere!
NefariousDrO
Nice work! I like the imagery for your story, it's all working really well!
necrophage
fascinating sci-fi scene - great composition!
psyoshida
You are on a great creative roll with this saga, I hope it doesn't end, it's so enjoyable. Fantastic scene and I think you've hit on the holy grail of quantum physics. Great thought experiment, I love it.
efron_241
impressive work with the space ship
SIGMAWORLD
Wonderful work. Well done!
amota99517
This is absolutely fantastic and your writing is so riveting. I can't wait to see and read what happens next. Excellent work!
auntietk
Marca didn't have any trouble figuring out how to use the shadow people's predator nature against them. Her Human/Opae intelligence was functioning in ways she had not thought possible. Rather than move from one logical idea to the next to the next looking for a protocol that would work, she had a flash of insight that proved itself to be sound in the final analysis. Her physical body was a liability because it was so easily broken, but it was also wholly immune to the problems of the nine-dimensional data matrix her non-physical being was subject to. Since the shadow people didn't know she had a physical body, she could use that to her advantage. Marca set up her plan quickly, knowing the clock was ticking down. If the shadows moved before she was ready, there would be no second chance. She was done before she knew it. Calculations verified, sequence double checked. It was time to move. ..... Slowly raise the barrier. Allow the shadows to see that she is still here. Shift energy, create a bit of a ripple, set the hook. They do not disappoint. Almost immediately an energy beam engages from the tower colony, locking onto her energy hook. Shift time, ever so slightly, and intercept the beam. The tiny, infinitesimal, nearly undetectable time shift is enough. It has to be enough. Engage the time shift, become momentarily out of reach, and the beam locks on, flips back, mirrors itself, and runs the length of itself back up to the tower. Marca can feel them up there, frantically trying to shut it down. Shift space. In her physical body now, all she can do is watch, but watching is all there is left to do. She can tell they're trying to find her, trying to kill her in order to stop the beam, but there's nothing left of her in the matrix. She is safe in her physical body. The more the shadow people try to shut down the temporal resonance of the beam, the more smoothly it pulses. Harmonics are set up across time and space, and the tone becomes audible to her physical ears. Suddenly, nothing. The tone fades, the beam is gone, the tower colony with its shadowy crew has disappeared. ..... Marca smiled, felt the sensation in her face, across her skin. She walked to her control boards, ready to verify the kill. Her physical fingers could not work the data station, but she stood there for a minute anyway. Flexed her hands. Wiggled her fingers. Slight spatial shift, and her fingers tingled, the tips shifting dimensions. Marca put her fingers on the terminal and got back to work.
hipps13
read a bit then I stare off in space to read again to get the picture of the story be told wonders and looks read again wonderful work you two warm hugs, Linda
Umbetro38
More than excellent SF scene - perfect in POV and story
ragouc
Very good and detailed composition.
KnightWolverine
Most Impressive Sci-Fi!!!
sim3344
Beautiful work!!!
lyron
Awesome scene. Splendid!!!
jmherve
Great work !
adrie
Absolutely stunning sci-fi image my friend, as always fabulous work love it.
drifterlee
Beautiful sci-fi!
Apple_UK
First class SF image :)
rbowen
Beautiful creation!!
carlx
Very cool and fantastic!!!
WZRD
Better and better!! Totally uber-cool!
kftate
Fantastic image and great story! Excellent work!
shingleboot
Very stunning image
anahata.c
Whoooooa, Nellie...Ok first the narrative: So now you've got Marca ready to make herself the target, to draw out the shadow people and---hopefully---turn their energies back on themselves and release them for positive use by others. I love your narrative, Tara. I didn't know you had a talent for this kind of story! I like that she is now one name, and that the defeated shadow people can be relegated to energies that can help others. Also, the idea of a vibrational essence (likened to music) seems essential (and from the little I know of modern physics, it may have real reality, yes?) This narrative is really rich, lots of implications, and it uses futuristic technical detail to create a very complex and ultimately liberating vision. Really fine work. Then the image reminded me a little of the final moments of 2001, because she appears superimposed upon the whole cosmos (ie, not just upon the tower, etc.). There's something universal in that, like she's ready to do something cosmic. And your sense of atmosphere---again, something you do so well in all your art, Craig---is all over the piece, a kind of emerging-out-of-primal-night feeling. Fine use of purples too, and I like the cinematic angle of her against everything behind her. Fine image! Ok, onto the last part. (Will there be a "Director's Cut"? With Commentary? Stills? A CD with the music track? Just asking...)