Docteur Bizarre
Joshua Johanan
: 1456 wordsThis is a story that starts in Paris and ends in Regency era England.
My wife and I recently returned from a trip to London and Paris. During our visit, we explored the renowned Les Puces de Saint-Ouen flea market in Paris. It is a maze of booths and buildings of booths with hundreds of vendors selling everything.
We find a stall with a selection of books priced at €1. One particular book caught my eye as there is a face of an onion-headed man (🧅👨) staring right at me. The book is in French. I can neither read nor speak French. I had to have THIS BOOK.
The entire transaction turned into an adventure as I only had 10 quid on me. I had to find the owner of the stall, who immediately referred me to someone that spoke English. I tried give him £10 for the book, but he gave me directions where I could exchange Pounds for Euros.
I do not blame him. If someone offered me Candian Dollars or Pesos, even if it were 10X the value, I would decline. I then tried to use an ATM, but it did not work with American networks. Finally we decided to find the currency exchange that the Frenchman had recommended and get Euros. I do not remember how far away it was, but it was much further then we were lead to believe. I was able to exchange the £10 for €10 and something (I know, not a great rate, but I needed this book).
Finding our our way back and discovering no one was at the shop, I left the €10 on a table and left with the book, which he had set aside. He was across the way at a cafe and I tried to just say keep the Euros, but he gave me change, of which he did not have exact change and by the end I only paid half a Euro. I want to humbly thank this unkown French man for being helpful. Although next time just take the tourist's money.
Docteur Bizarre: Science-Fantasy Book by Jack Vance
At this point I must show the cover. I am sure that the cover is already visible. This is the cover and the very first page of Docteur Bizarre by Jack Vance.
The cover states, according to Google Translate:
The relic came stealthily from the rock. A skinny creature, emaciated, with tormented eyes. It moved in a series of rapid jerks.
First of all, that onion-headed man (🧅👨) does not look emaciated. Nor does he have tormented eyes. It casts doubt over the rest of the book, which I cannot confirm, from the aforementioned French.
ChatGPT
I recently started using ChatGPT to create the featured images for some of my posts. I usually just let it start with an image and then based on that image I will have it refine and focus in on specific things until I get an image I think represents the abstract idea of my post. This process takes a dozen or so iterations for something that I want to use emerges.
Here is that process for Docteur Bizarre. Portions of the conversation have been edited that add nothing. ChatGPT can be very dull and uninspired. Although I have left in my many grammar mistakes.
I have redacted a portion here in which I ask ChatGPT to write the first chapter. Nothing really came out of this other than a new, exciting book cover.
More redactions around a conversation about turning the book into a movie. ChatGPT writes very uninspired creative works, so I did not include that portion here.
Imagining Docteur Bizarre as Mr. Darcy from "Pride and Prejudice," his unique characteristics would certainly add a whimsical layer to the classic tale. Here's a scene where Docteur Bizarre, in the guise of Mr. Darcy, interacts with Elizabeth Bennet:
The grand ball at Netherfield was a spectacle of light and sound, with the gentry of Hertfordshire gathered in their finest attire. Amidst the swirl of silks and satins, Elizabeth Bennet's eyes found their curious subject across the room: Mr. Darcy—though in this peculiar world, he was known as Docteur Bizarre, an enigmatic gentleman with a head shaped like an onion.
He stood apart from the dancing and merriment, his gaze intense and yet distant, as if his thoughts lingered elsewhere. Elizabeth approached, her curiosity piqued by the odd gentleman who had caused so much stir in their community.
In this whimsical adaptation, the essence of the characters is preserved while allowing for a playful interlude that bridges Austen's world with the surreal charm of Docteur Bizarre.
I would watch the BBC adaptation of this on Netflix.
I will admit I was not ready for the onion puns (punion?).
Perhaps they are too... pungent for your taste?
I have an ability to peel away the superficial layers of society.
Nor was I ready for Mr. Darcy's appearance.
I have nothing else to add.