The Silent History 2.6

The Silent History is a pioneering innovation in digital fiction, depicting the narrative of a unique generation of children through serialization, collaboration, and exploration.

“Entirely revolutionary.” —Wired

“A landmark project that illuminates a potential future for e-book novels.” —LA Times

In the early 21st century, a peculiar condition emerges among children – silence. Devoid of speech and comprehension, these youngsters gradually disconnect from most forms of human interaction. Regarded merely as void vessels by society, many are relegated to orphanages and group homes until a perceptive teacher notices their development of enigmatic yet potent abilities.

The testimonials take shape as oral histories recounted by characters directly impacted by the condition: parents, educators, physicians, cult leaders, faith healers, and government officials who weave unexpected connections and cohesive narratives. Comprising 120 testimonies, these pieces form the bedrock of the tale.

The Field Reports represent succinct, location-specific narratives that enrich and broaden the core storyline. Crafted in collaboration with the audience of testimonies, readers must be physically present at the referenced locations to access and comprehend these reports fully. Intertwined with the peculiarities of their respective physical settings—such as sidewalk marks, glimpses through branches, or intricately detailed banisters—the text merges seamlessly with its surroundings. While each report stands alone, all are interconnected, harmonizing within the overarching storyline.

This endeavor stems from a remarkable collaboration involving the former managing editor of McSweeney’s (Eli Horowitz), acclaimed authors (Kevin Moffett and Matthew Derby), Wired magazine’s “Most Wired Storyteller” (Russell Quinn), and contributors from five continents.

"Exquisitely designed... The overall effect is one of total immersion." —Boston Globe

"A book-app chimera with the weight and flow of a good novel and the open-ended world-making potential of a collaborative game... A revelation." —Contents

"One of the most talked-about new experiments." —NY Times

"Absolutely stunning... Brilliant. I am firmly hooked." —AppAdvice

"The Silent History is both an experiment and a dramatic statement: what is possible when fiction and technology merge in a meaningful and innovative way?" —KQED

"Incredibly interesting." —TUAW

"No interactive or electronic book in existence has ever come close to the creativity or the uniqueness or the altogether newness of The Silent History." —TeleRead

"Will change your reading experience forever." —BuzzFeed