Her contribution is titled “Paint Box, Puzzle Box.”
Who are you?
D. T. Friedman. Who are you?
What is your story about?
My story is mostly about artists, with some pseudo-theology creeping in through the background. Those are pretty easy to catch when you read it. But it’s also a love story, written to all of my elderly family members and friends. There are some people you love so deeply, it aches.
Where is your story set?
My story is set in all worlds, and in Boston Commons.
When does your story take place?
My story started out a long, long time ago, worlds away. But it takes place right here, right now.
Why do you think Maurice Broaddus throws a convention in honor of himself (Mo*Con)?
Maurice throws a convention in his honor because he likes to surround himself with all of his friends, all at once. Who can blame him? I’m tempted to try something like that myself!
How does your story tie into the concept of faith?
My story explores the concept of Creation, and the drive to create. I think the whole “Where did we come from?” concept is one of the most important parts of anyone’s faith, whichever faith one chooses to subscribe to.
As background to the overall attitude of the story: I believe G-d purposefully created an incomplete, imperfect world when he created the Earth: there is love and beauty, but there is also war, disease, drought, and evil. He did this because he knew that he had created humanity in his own image, and that image included a deep hunger to be a Creator. Woven into the substance of our being, we, like G-d, have an insatiable need to Create. We NEED puzzles to solve, evil to fight, and people to help. It’s what makes us most deeply human, and most deeply godly. If the world we lived in were complete and perfect, it would torture us. We could never satisfy our hunger…the same hunger that drove G-d to create the universe in the first place.
The story of the Garden of Eden can be interpreted as an example of this concept. Eden was beautiful, perfect, and complete. G-d knew that Adam and Eve, and all of humanity, would slowly wither and die in such a place. Because G-d is merciful, he sent us away, into an imperfect world where we could all find our own way to satisfy our hunger to be Creators.
And so we all have the opportunity to participate in the act of Creation.
Excerpt from “Paint Box, Puzzle Box”:
An aspect of Death came to a great Artist, the most celebrated creator of beauty that had ever illuminated the face of humanity. It found him in his studio, blending a background on an immense canvas.
“It is time,” said Death, and the Artist turned to face it.
“That can’t be. I ain’t old yet.”
“It doesn’t always work that way,” said Death, “especially not with artists.” It looked thoughtfully over the barely-begun mural. “It is a shame, though. I would have liked to see what this was to have been.”
Be sure to check back tomorrow for our next devotion with Tom Piccirilli!
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Related posts:
- DARK FAITH Devotion–Tom Piccirilli
- DARK FAITH Devotion: Richard Wright
- DARK FAITH Devotion: Lon Prater and Kurt Dinan
APEXOLOGY: Horror
[...] Comment! Interview with Apex about my story in the Dark Faith Anthology [...]
D.T.,
You wrote Death into your story! I love that. Your story is about creation and you view it through art. I like the concept of this very much. How long have you been juggling fire?
Congrats on the sale and great interview! Looks like it’ll be a fun story!
[...] Kontis – “The God of Last Moments” Mary Robinette Kowal – “Ring Road” D.T. Friedman – “Paint Box, Puzzle Box” Wrath James White – “He Who Would Not [...]