Frontiers of the Mind
The stories presented here are incomplete, existing as fragments of a larger, unwritten whole. They capture the raw potential of a narrative before the cement dries, offering the reader a look at characters in transition. Whether in deep space or the old west, these unfinished tales rely on the audience to visualize the horizon that lies beyond the final period.
This collection is part of an experimental program at the intersection of human creativity and applied artificial intelligence research. It investigates the utility of digital tools as partners in the writing process, helping to shape new methods of storytelling and scriptwriting while refining digital literacy skills.
This post features a mix of Coming-of-Age narratives set against the backdrops of Sci-Fi and the Western genre. The writing team for this selection includes Jamie F. Bell, Tony Eetak, and Jamie Bell.
We invite you to step into these worlds and take the helm. Consider the conflicts introduced in these pages and determine for yourself how the protagonists will overcome them.
Today’s Unfinished Tales and Short Stories
Navigating the evocative terrain of coming-of-age tales and the rugged backdrops of westerns and sci-fi, this post explores the power of first-person narrative. By intertwining elements of high fantasy, dystopian futures, and magical realism, we push the boundaries of traditional publishing. Our initiative is dedicated to enhancing digital literacy through the application of creative technology, using AI-assisted narrative to craft innovative short stories that resonate with a global audience.
Bloom Under Glass
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Dystopian | Genre: Coming-of-Age
Within the sterile perfection of a Bio-Dome, the protagonist grapples with the pervasive influence of social algorithms and influencer culture. The artificial spring blossoms around him as he questions the nature of authenticity in a world where everything is scored.
The River’s Green Scrawl
Author: Tony Eetak | Category: High Fantasy | Genre: Literary Fiction
Along the industrial banks of the Red River in inner-city Winnipeg, as spring thaws the last of winter’s grip, two teenagers, Patti and Mateo, encounter a shimmering, impossibly green light that defies explanation and subtly alters their perception of the mundane.
Ash and Embers
Author: Jamie Bell | Category: Boys Love (BL) | Genre: Coming-of-Age
The night had swallowed the last blush of sunset hours ago, leaving the forest a study in deep charcoal and sharper shadows. A small campfire, built precariously close to the edge of an old logging road, fought against the chill, its orange glow painting the faces of two figures in fleeting, dancing colours. The air, crisp and tasting of woodsmoke and damp earth, pressed in, a silent witness to the quiet unraveling and tentative re-knitting of teenage hearts.
The Recursive Glimmer in the Hall
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: Magical Realism | Genre: Sci-Fi
The community hall, a patchwork of old timbers and new drywall, felt unnervingly cold despite the whirring space heaters. Outside, the perpetual twilight of a Northwestern Ontario winter pressed against the windows, a blue-grey hush over snow-laden pines. Inside, a low murmur of conversation hung heavy, spiced with stale coffee and a faint, lingering smell of paint from the recent flood repairs.
A Borrowed Warmth Against the White
Author: Jamie F. Bell | Category: First-Person Narrative | Genre: Western
The world had shrunk to the colour of bone and the sound of wind. Snow, driven hard and fine like sand, scoured the grey bark of the cottonwoods lining the creek. It was a cold that didn’t just bite; it gnawed, finding its way through the threadbare wool of a boy’s coat and settling deep in his marrow.
About the Project
By design, these stories have no beginning and no end. Many stories are fictional, but many others are not. They are snapshots from worlds that never fully exist, inviting you to imagine what comes before and what happens next. We had fun exploring this project, and hope you will too.
The Unfinished Tales and Short Stories collection is part of an experimental, creative arts and research program by The Arts Incubator Winnipeg and the Art Borups Corners collectives. Each chapter is an interdisciplinary arts and narrative storytelling experiment focused on two key areas: AI-Assisted Scriptwriting, where researchers explore using AI to generate story ideas, plot structures, and alternative story arcs to enhance creative development; and Talent Development and Training, where the project studies the necessary skills for creative professionals to manage AI and immersive technologies in production, helping to inform future training curricula. The project was made possible with funding and support from the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects program and the Government of Ontario. We thank them for supporting the arts, digital transformation research and innovation in Ontario.
About the Author
