Clarkesworld Magazine The Switch by Sarah Stanton (audio)
Jul 21, 2012
In this gripping tale, a group of activists restores hidden courtyard houses while battling government holograms that conceal urban demolitions. They navigate personal risks and poverty, motivated by the dream of reclaiming history through their work. As tensions rise, they devise a daring plan to rescue a comrade from detention. The story culminates in a revelation about the true nature of reality, suggesting that exposing the fabricated world is more significant than mere restorations. It's a powerful commentary on resilience and truth.
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Restoring Hidden Courtyard Life
- The narrator and his crew paint and restore courtyard houses and watch holographic stars above Beijing.
- They finish a job, flip off the hologram, and return to their cramped real life together.
Holograms Hide Real Urban Erasure
- Government holograms mask demolition and urban erasure by replacing reality with idealized facades.
- People stop protesting because they literally cannot see the destruction behind the images.
How The Resistance Began
- The narrator met Lao Yang in a noodle shop where they bonded over books and beers and formed a plan to rebuild lost homes.
- They recruit a tech-savvy young man to knock out single hologram feeds and physically rebuild houses behind the mirages.
