Need Aspie Opinion for a novel

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Hi,

I am currently writing a fantasy novel series which surrounds the subjects of autism. Aspergers and ADHD. It will be focusing a lot on the so-call disorder mixed with Chinese Mythology and deities.

The premise of the series is a bout an Aspie protagonist in Singapore who is suffering greatly due to Singapore being a society that is elitist. One fine day, after he was attacked by a demon in disguise of a psychologist, The protagonist is rescued by a female deity. He discovered that he is the son of Xuan Wu[Genbu in Japanese] and he is introduced into another world, the Mythical World.

Right now I am struggling with one setting of the Mythical World, the 4 God Monastery.

4 God Monastery was built with the help of some spirits and demons and endorsed by the mighty Dragon King of the South, in this case who is also the Dragon King of Singapore. The 4 God Monastery is a place that is Aspie friendly and gives them some form of help from teaching, some DIY therapy while they learn to adjust at their own pace to the hectic NT life outside. The animal spirits and demons help the Aspies to learn to overcome their problems by giving them an environment where they can live without NT interference. They also learn to control their senses in nature where it's more quiet. No plane exist in this dimension

NTs who enter this dimension end up eaten by other predators anyway. The Creatures from this mythic dimension cannot be seen by NTs without the right tools.

In my vision, being an aspie whose sensory issues are not that severe as some of you guys. I find it hard to imagine accurately what the 4 God monastery would be like. I want that monastery to be as Aspie friendly as possible.

Here is what I have so far.

1. fluorescent lights and monitors that flicker are not allowed

2. Wheat products and cow's milk not allowed.

3. Products that need AA batteries are not allowed to prevent heavy metal pollution.
Cadmium was detected in one of my Aspie friend's hair analysis.
4. Iron and stainless steel items are allowed but not metals with copper, lead.etc
Demons in Chinese mythology hate the sound of banging brass which has copper.
5. Junk food are allowed too much but the demons take note if they consume too much.

6. Plastics strictly forbidden, styrofoam, polyethene.etc. Except laptops. but plastic bags a total ban. So are plastic bags for potato chips. Paper bags are fine.

7. only laptops are allowed in the temple. Old laptops are disposed in the real world. The denizen here have some links to Aspies who are doing their part for science and recycling
.
8. Black Curtains are totally opaque to remove light pollution
Is it possible to have a complete opaque curtain or window?

9. Loudspeakers not allowed, earphones but dun let others hear it especially the animals outside. Anyone know how to soundproof a room to prevent noise from the Aspie's room from going outside and vice versa?

[Animals in translation by Temple Grandin used for reference.]

Last edited by Tales on 24 Jan 2011, 2:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

how can you ban fluro lights?
fluro lights are pwretty

Well some of the Aspies in the Monastery hate flickering lights.
Besides some of the animal demons and spirits and even the Asian Dragons hate them too.

"I really dun understand how those normal humans go about their business with lights so bright and also flicker like the butt of a firefly", said a dragon to the protagonist.
"Please, Jake, I am autistic, I am not even normal since I can see that flicker also?." said the protagonist.

Take a read here
http://pages.cthome.net/rwinkler/fff.htm

If Dragons and some demons of animals with good eyesight and night vision, they are going to hate hate hate fluorescent lighting.

Besides I heard the US is going to ban fluorescent lights.

If they do, I'll be happy for American Aspies.

Wait no no no it's wrong. It's they promote fluorescent but banning incandescent....

Then what's the difference anyway.

The 4 God Monastery seems too regimented and Big Brother-ly, in my opinion, with all the rules listed there. Case in point: While I hate those new CFL bulbs, I also think that fluorescent lighting has its place. A blanket ban on it is too drastic. Perhaps you can write it such that the 4 God Monastery was never wired for fluorescent lighting and then no one wanted to retrofit it, so it's never been used there. (Side note: how will you make electricity?) Ditto for wheat and milk; you can write it such that the climate and/or terrain made growing wheat and keeping cows unfeasible. Plastic products, same concept; due to the remote location, waste disposal would be too difficult, so people stay away from plastic.

I recommend reading Time Machine by H. G. Wells. It has that ethereal, otherworldly vibe that you seem to be going for in your story. (Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/35/pg35.html.) Perhaps it'll give you some writing ideas.

Last edited by Aspie1 on 24 Jan 2011, 11:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Thank you, Aspie1 and Tales, I am looking into ideas for a fantasy novel based on my life experiences and fantasies.

Yeah the Monastery idea is a loose idea, the only sign of it is a sign board between two old Gingko Trees. But rather the Aspies camp out in some kinda small 1 room type of house that integrates with the environment.

It's scary when you have mythical predators at large in the cool of the night.

However I must say that the rules were made with Aspies in mind. According to Animals in Translations, the reason why some animals and Aspies hate most human environments is the amount of noise, lights and smells. NTs are BAD so they dun give a damn of what animals see their, noisy, smelly, and flickering bright world not much less how Aspies see them
.
BAD= Blind, Apathetic, Deaf

The Dragon King is well aware that human facilities if not shielded probably will make the Otherworld go out of order like in our world. So the houses small but functional are made to ensure minimum light pollution and noise pollution. So no loudspeakers.

Apt acronym, Tales, in describing NTs.