Best of 2013 - Triple's Blog
To be honest, when we first saw the title of Triple's Blog, by Todd Outcalt, we blanched. We didn't want stories about blogs, but we gave it a chance, and we're sure glad we did. There's something about a post-apocalyptic story focusing on the power of words that made us fall in love. It's not trying to be a cautionary tale about the evils of texting and Youtube comments, although you could read it that way. Instead, it's a love letter to language, to the way it makes us move and feel.
The story of Triple's Blog shows us a world where every word we use comes at a price. Literally. As in, you get charged per word to speak to anyone. When every word becomes precious, it's surprising what Triple ends up talking about, and how quickly real words, earnestly spoken, can connect him to other people. As editors, how could we not fall in love with this concept?
Of course, there are plenty of other things to love about the story, such as the subtle satire, the eery vision of our near-future, and of course, the lady in red.
Stay tuned as we revisit our favorite stories from 2013, and get ready to cast your vote in the biggest Reader’s Choice poll this side of whatever convenient landmark you are near.