And The Next Thing is …

Well, the last fortnight has been …. interesting. And distressing. And exhausting. And unexpected. It all started with Storm Éowyn barrelling in from the west across the Atlantic and hitting us in the morning of 24th January. At about 12.20 the first major tree came down – across the drive. This is the second of the five planted by the Fletchers in c1850 to come down. The idea was that this group of standard exotics, three West Coast Cedars, a Monkey Puzzle (or Chilean Pine) and a Noble Fir would provide a suitable half-avenue to grace the approach to the castle, massing some 100 yards from the last one. With the Monkey Puzzle felled in the mid-noughties, and this loss, we will have to consider how we will fill the gap appropriately.

Ten minutes later a second tall pine, standing beside the site office – my office – fell. And it fell athwart the corner of the building, catching on the roof and pivoting over to lie on its side some two metres off the ground, with root plate suspended on one end, and tip hovering over the Dunans tractor. The door was knocked from its hinges, and the corner depressed be over a foot immediately. Luckily, because the structure is entirely of wood, including found and roof, everything flexed.

At about 1pm, three huge Scots Pines lining the southernmost burn succumbed in an almighty explosion of fractured wood. These healthy trees fell into our paddock, like three or four others over the years. Such a loss!

We also lost a Pussy Willow standing at the gable of the house – luckily it fell away from the building – several Goat Willows down by the board walk, and a lovely old Birch near the picnic platform.

All in three hours.

We watched in frozen horror.

And all of this was not without cost to our infrastructure – at about 1pm, a particularly vicious gust knocked out our electricity supply. Unfortunately our power line crosses Alt A’ Chaol Ghleann some 100 metres north of the castle at a height of upwards of 30 metres in places. This was the line that was knocked out. Not in one place, but at both ends. This meant the poor SSEN workers could not simply re-attach the broken end. No, they had to replace the 150 metre cable in its entirety. Power was eventually restored on Tuesday evening. We were the last in the glen.

By the Saturday everything was calm enough to contemplate clearing some of the damage. With the help of our neighbour, Jim, and his pal Stuart (who I’d played shinty with back in the day), we cleared a path for cars through the destruction. Nearly two weeks later, we are still working and I am not sure we will be cleared before the end of April.

Here are some videos – two taken on the day, a third the next day, and the final one a walk over the grounds to show both progress and the full extent of the damage.

But let this not depress you. On the Wednesday after the Friday, we received our contract from Land and Forest Scotland for the Woodland Creation. We. Are. Go! Which means that we will have the woodland planted by the end of this year, along with soil association verification for our carbon offset scheme. At that point we will raise the funds to effect the first stage of the restoration – FINALLY!

I’ve been fooling about with ChatGPT 4.0 for the last couple of days, and it occurred to me to see how creative the AI chatbot can get, so I wrote this prompt”

Write a one-page treatment for a science fiction novel, set in 2053, when astonomers on earth using radio, visual and satellite telescopes spot panet-sized objects entering the solar system. Over the first part of the novel, the governments on earth discuss what they want to do, and start to receive communications from the approaching alien race – christened the bronze men. In the second part of the novel, the 12 planets arrive in orbit around the sun taking position in an earth orbit. Embassies from the 12 planets are then received in New York by the United Nations. All seems peaceful until it becomes apparent that the three furthestmost planets are harvesting the sun. The embassies are rejected by Earth and the planet must decide how to defend the sun from this incursion. The aliens are so technologically advanced that their manipulation of physical space seems magical. All seems lost until a renegade faction of the bronze men contact individuals on earth to begin a resistance to the sun-harvest. Using a cast of characters with names from Shakespeare’s plays Macbeth, Hamlet and the Tempest for the humans, and character names from Beowolf for the aliens, create an intricate plot wherein the initially suspicious humans start to believe in the three alien contacts and utilising the alien technologies begin to resist the alien incursion.

ChatGPT’s answer was as follows:

Title: The Bronze Incursion

In 2053, Earth’s astronomers detect twelve planet-sized objects entering the solar system using radio, visual, and satellite telescopes. Panic and curiosity grip humanity as they try to understand this unprecedented event. World governments come together to discuss how to handle the approaching objects, which they soon learn are inhabited by an alien race called the Bronze Men.

The novel unfolds in two parts. In the first part, Earth receives communications from the Bronze Men, who express their desire for peaceful contact. The world watches with bated breath as the twelve planets take their positions in orbit around the sun, with Earth at the center.

Embassies from each of the twelve planets are received at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Diplomatic relations seem to be going well, until it becomes apparent that the three furthest planets are siphoning energy from the sun. Earth’s leaders reject the Bronze Men’s embassies, and humanity must decide how to defend its life-giving star from the alien incursion.

In the second part of the novel, Earth faces the seemingly insurmountable challenge of outsmarting an alien race with technology so advanced that it appears magical. Hope seems lost until a renegade faction of the Bronze Men contacts select individuals on Earth to form a resistance against the sun-harvesting.

The human characters are named after Shakespearean figures from Macbeth, Hamlet, and The Tempest, while the alien characters bear names from the epic poem Beowulf. These characters find themselves entangled in an intricate plot that tests the limits of trust and cooperation. Suspicion and fear initially permeate the alliance between the renegade Bronze Men and the human resistance, but as the story unfolds, they learn to believe in each other and work together to save the sun.

Using alien technology provided by their Bronze Men allies, the human resistance devises a plan to counter the sun-harvesting and protect Earth’s future. The novel reaches its climax in a gripping, high-stakes battle between the united human-alien forces and the sun-harvesting Bronze Men. Through the power of trust, camaraderie, and shared goals, the resistance faces the seemingly invincible alien threat, ultimately deciding the fate of Earth and its solar system.

The Bronze Incursion is a thrilling, character-driven science fiction novel that explores themes of trust, unity, and the lengths we will go to protect our home. Rich in literary references and complex relationships, the story delves into the nature of fear, friendship, and the power of cooperation in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

At this point I sat up. The title, now that was not what I had in mind: “The Bronze Incursion”. I quite liked it. I read through the treatment, thinking, “Okaaay, so this is generic, its readable but not too original … what is the next step?” Here’s my next prompt within the same chat.

Write a chapter-by-chapter outline of the Bronze Incursion, allocating names to a cast of characters including the individuals on earth who become allies of the renegade bronze men

It came back with this:

Chapter 1: Celestial Intruders

Astronomers detect twelve planet-sized objects entering the solar system.
Main human characters introduced: Macbeth (military strategist), Hamlet (scientist), Miranda (diplomat), and Prospero (engineer).

Chapter 2: The Bronze Men

Earth receives communication from the alien race, the Bronze Men.
Alien characters introduced: Grendel (renegade Bronze Man leader), Hrothgar (main embassy ambassador), and Beowulf (renegade Bronze Man warrior).

Chapter 3: The Diplomatic Dance

The twelve planets take their positions in orbit around the sun.
Bronze Men embassies received by the United Nations in New York.

Chapter 4: A Troubling Discovery

Scientists, including Hamlet, discover that the three furthest planets are harvesting the sun.
Earth’s leaders reject the Bronze Men’s embassies.

Chapter 5: The Renegades

Macbeth, Hamlet, Miranda, and Prospero are contacted by Grendel, who seeks to form a human-Bronze Man alliance.
The renegades reveal the full extent of the sun-harvesting threat.

Chapter 6: Building Trust

Suspicion and tension between the human characters and the renegade Bronze Men.
A risky joint operation brings the two groups closer together.

Chapter 7: The Resistance Rises

The human characters recruit more members for the resistance, including Ophelia (Hamlet’s love interest) and Banquo (Macbeth’s best friend).
The renegade Bronze Men provide alien technology to aid the resistance.

Chapter 8: Ingenious Strategies

Prospero and Beowulf work together to understand and reverse-engineer the alien technology.
Macbeth and Grendel devise a plan to counter the sun-harvesting.

Chapter 9: The Eve of Battle

The resistance prepares for a daring, high-stakes attack on the sun-harvesting operation.
Hamlet and Ophelia share a tender moment before the battle.

Chapter 10: The Battle for the Sun

A gripping battle ensues between the united human-alien forces and the sun-harvesting Bronze Men.
The resistance uses their newfound understanding of alien technology to their advantage.

Chapter 11: Unlikely Heroes

The tide of the battle turns in favor of the resistance, but at a cost: Banquo sacrifices himself to protect Macbeth.
Grendel and Hrothgar confront each other, revealing a deep, personal history.

Chapter 12: A New Dawn

The sun-harvesting operation is defeated, and the remaining Bronze Men leave Earth’s solar system.
The renegade Bronze Men choose to stay on Earth, beginning a new era of cooperation between the two species.

Chapter 13: Epilogue: The Legacy of Trust

A memorial is held for Banquo, and Earth begins rebuilding with the help of the renegade Bronze Men.
Macbeth, Hamlet, Miranda, and Prospero reflect on the importance of trust and unity in the face of adversity.

At this point I am chuckling to myself, thinking, “Yep, it’s written screenplays before”. I mean obviously I wasn’t looking for a screenplay, but the beats are the same, the structure is pretty standard and the last bullet for chap 13 says it all.

But then I had to do the next one to confirm my suspicions …

Write a detailed brief for Chapter 1: Celestial Intruders, including outlines of scenes in which the planet-sized objects are discovered, the main characters are introduced and earth responds to the shattering news that there are aliens and they are en route.

Chapter 1: Celestial Intruders

Scene 1: The Discovery

Setting: International Space Observatory
Astronomers detect the twelve planet-sized objects entering the solar system. Dr. Hamlet, a leading scientist, is among those who witness this unprecedented event.
Tension builds as the astronomers attempt to understand the nature and purpose of the objects.
News about the mysterious celestial bodies spreads, creating a mix of excitement, fear, and curiosity among the general public.

Scene 2: Introducing the Main Characters

Setting: Various locations, highlighting each character’s expertise
- Macbeth at a military base, demonstrating his strategic prowess.
- Hamlet in his lab, investigating the celestial objects and their potential threat.
- Miranda at the United Nations headquarters, working on diplomatic strategies.
- Prospero in a research facility, developing cutting-edge engineering solutions.

Scene 3: The Shattering News

Setting: Major cities worldwide, showcasing diverse reactions
News breaks out that the celestial objects are inhabited by an alien race, the Bronze Men.
The world is shocked and enthralled, with people reacting in various ways, ranging from fear and panic to fascination and excitement.
Governments scramble to address the situation, with global leaders calling for an emergency meeting.

Scene 4: Emergency Meeting

Setting: United Nations Headquarters
World leaders, including Miranda, gather to discuss how to approach the rapidly approaching alien race.
The room is filled with a sense of urgency, and differing opinions create tension among the leaders.
Ultimately, the leaders agree to establish a unified front to communicate with the Bronze Men, while also preparing for any potential threats.

Scene 5: Mobilizing Earth’s Defenses

Setting: Military bases and research facilities across the globe
Macbeth is tasked with coordinating the defense forces of multiple nations, preparing for any possible aggression from the approaching planets.
Prospero and his team of engineers work on developing new technologies and strategies that could be used to protect Earth.
Hamlet continues to study the celestial objects, searching for any information that might help Earth in the upcoming interactions with the Bronze Men.

Scene 6: The World Awaits

Setting: Public squares and homes worldwide
As the alien planets draw nearer, people all over the world anxiously wait for further news.
Family and friends gather together, discussing their hopes and fears about the future.
The chapter ends with a sense of anticipation, setting the stage for Earth’s first contact with the Bronze Men in the following chapters.

And then finally:

Write Scene 1: The Discovery beginning with a lowly assistant noticing something odd has appeared in the data from the International Space Observatory

Scene 1: The Discovery

Setting: International Space Observatory

[INT. INTERNATIONAL SPACE OBSERVATORY – NIGHT]

The International Space Observatory is buzzing with activity as astronomers and scientists are busy analyzing data and monitoring the night sky. A young, lowly assistant named LUCIUS is hunched over his workstation, reviewing the latest data from the observatory’s telescopes.

LUCIUS (muttering to himself) Hmm, that’s odd…

He leans in closer to his screen, analyzing the unusual pattern. Lucius hesitates for a moment, then decides to call over his supervisor, DR. HAMLET.

LUCIUS (excitedly) Dr. Hamlet, could you please take a look at this? I found something peculiar in the data.

Dr. Hamlet, a middle-aged scientist with an air of authority, approaches Lucius’s workstation, intrigued by the young assistant’s discovery.

DR. HAMLET (curious) What have you found, Lucius?

Lucius points at the screen, where twelve distinct blips are visible on the data graph.

LUCIUS (nervously) I was going through the data from the deep space telescope, and I found these twelve strange objects. They appeared suddenly, and they’re moving towards our solar system at an alarming speed.

Dr. Hamlet’s eyes widen as he examines the data. He immediately recognizes the significance of Lucius’s discovery.

DR. HAMLET (astonished) Incredible! This could be the most significant astronomical event of our time. We must alert the other observatories and confirm our findings.

The room erupts into a frenzy of activity as the scientists scramble to verify the existence of the twelve celestial objects. Dr. Hamlet takes charge, coordinating efforts with other observatories around the world.

[INT. INTERNATIONAL SPACE OBSERVATORY – LATER]

The confirmation comes quickly. The twelve planet-sized objects are indeed approaching the solar system. As the news spreads throughout the observatory, the atmosphere becomes electric with anticipation and anxiety.

DR. HAMLET (addressing the room) Ladies and gentlemen, we stand on the brink of a monumental discovery. Our lives, and the lives of everyone on Earth, will never be the same. We have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our planet and to share our knowledge with the world. Now is the time to act.

The scene ends with a shot of the observatory’s massive telescope, pointed at the distant stars, as the team prepares to investigate the celestial intruders further. The camera slowly pans upwards, revealing the vastness of space and the unknown that lies ahead.

So, its obviously all very sketchy, badly written, and definitely generic, but in these responses to the four prompts – which I purposefully made relatively undetailed in the cases of the ones subsequent to the first – I see an awful lot of potential. For example, I did not make any comment about tone, style or characterisation. Nor did I look at any underlying themes or agendas. My thinking is that I should rewrite the prompts to cater for some of these ideas as well as including using obscure names for the characters, with vowels changed – Mic Both anyone?

Lastly, I *know* its all a bit meta, a bit SF, using a computer to write a SF novel. Perhaps I should choose in the style of Philip K Dick in the next run, and see what that produces? Really, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

What do you think? Should I continue prompting ChatGPT to create a more detailed less generic story called “The Bronze Incursion” or is the game a bogey?

Obviously I am asserting my rights as author for the above – afterall I wrote the prompts 😉