singlesidos

Singlesidos is a term that appears primarily in speculative fiction and worldbuilding communities to denote a class of small, one-sided talismans used in ritual memory practices. In these imagined cultures, a singlesido is a portable object designed to hold a single memory, vow, or piece of information. The defining feature is its single, engraved emblem on one face while the opposite side remains intentionally blank or undecorated, symbolizing a focused act or commitment.

Construction typically involves artisans who craft the objects from bone, ceramic, or stone, sometimes incorporating small inscriptions or pigments. Many versions are produced as limited runs, each tied to a specific event or individual, which enhances its perceived authenticity and memory-binding power in the narrative world.

Usage centers on personal oath-taking, memory preservation, or ceremonial exchange. In a fictional setting, a person may seal a promise within the singlesido during a rite of passage; later, the object serves as a tangible cue to recall the pledged memory when touched or viewed. In stories, characters might trade singlesidos as tokens of trust or to unlock hidden lore in ancient ruins.

Background and reception: Because singlesidos are not a real-world term, scholarship on them exists only in fictional or fan-created materials. The concept often appears in role-playing games, worldbuilding wikis, and speculative novels as a device to explore themes of memory, identity, and oaths. Etymology is variable and largely dependent on the author’s world.

See also: amulets; talismans; memory artifacts.

This article treats singlesidos as a fictional construct used for worldbuilding and storytelling and is not an established scholarly term.