I have a story to tell you. It has many beginnings, and perhaps one ending. Perhaps not. Beginnings and endings are contingent things anyway; inventions, devices. Where does any story really begin? There is always context, always an encompassingly greater epic, always something before the described events, unless we are to start every story with "BANG! Expand! Sssss…," then itemize the whole subsequent history of the universe before settling down, at last, to the particular tale in question. Similarly, no ending is final, unless it is the end of all things…
The quote from Iain M. Banks' "The Algebraist" reflects on the nature of storytelling, emphasizing that every narrative has multiple beginnings, shaped by prior events and contexts. It challenges the concept of a definitive start, suggesting that every story exists within a larger framework of history and experience. The idea of context complicates the notion of how we pinpoint where any tale truly begins, highlighting the intricacies of narrative structure.
Furthermore,...