Evershortening

Evershortening is a fictional concept that describes a hypothetical process where a narrative or timeline is continuously and irreversibly shortened. This shortening is not a mere abridgment or condensation but a fundamental alteration of the temporal fabric of the story, leading to a progressive loss of events, characters, or plot points. The core idea is that the narrative actively becomes shorter as it unfolds, rather than simply being presented in a condensed form.

In a story employing evershortening, the ending would not just be near, but the narrative itself would be actively contracting towards it. This could manifest in various ways. For instance, characters might forget past events or even cease to exist as the story progresses. Plotlines might unravel and disappear, leaving only a skeletal framework. The very act of experiencing the narrative would involve witnessing its reduction.

The concept of evershortening is not a recognized literary or scientific term but rather a theoretical construct for exploring ideas about time, memory, and narrative structure. It could be used in speculative fiction to create unique challenges for characters or to explore themes of impermanence and the nature of reality. The effect on the audience would likely be one of increasing disorientation and a sense of urgency, as the ground of the story continually shifts and diminishes beneath them. The implications of such a phenomenon are vast, raising questions about causality, free will, and the very meaning of existence within a constantly shrinking framework.