My entire Wired story is now available in the December issue, on newsstands now, or online here (the same spot that held the Vanish blog throughout the contest). It includes an interactive map that shows my route with some of the locations of the people who hunted me, and way more pictures of me than should ever have appeared in public. Between that and my extensive use of the third person in writing about myself, I think I’ve set some sort of magazine record for self-indulgence.
Those looking for yet still more info can find some of the hunters stories in their own words, photos of my disguise changes from day to day, and the behind-the-scenes of Wired’s challenges and clues.
Sometime next week, we’ll also set up a live chat of some sort to answer any remaining questions that anybody has. We’ll put out word on the Twitter #vanish stream, of course, with details.
Posted at 10:39 am | Filed under Vanish, Wired |
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12 Responses to “…And that’s the rest of the story”
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I’m curious if the New Orleans “Soccer Bar” you referred to in the article is Finn McCool’s. I live a couple doors from there and when I read your original article in August, I remember thinking I should keep an eye out for you there based on your penchant for soccer. Then I promptly forgot all about the contest.
When I read the new article last night I started kicking myself thinking of how I may have literally brushed elbows with you without even realizing it.
I just wanted to say thanks for the fascinating article, thanks for thinking of it, and living it out, very interesting!
Hi Chris,
Indeed, it was Finn McCool’s. Fantastic place, one of my favorite soccer bars in the country. I watched a couple of games there: one Fulham match (on a Sunday night, on replay; there was some kind of league party happening, maybe kickball or softball?), and I think an Aston Villa game. I was probably right down the bar!
Evan
Great stuff, and in no way a stunt because of the social networking lessons that emerged. One question… I was confused while reading the WIRED piece by your persistent slipping in and out of first and third-person writing. Was there a particular reason for this literary tactic? Just curious.
Neal,
Thanks!
As for the 1st/3rd person switching, the idea was to distinguish between the parts that about what I was actually doing (which were truly first person, i.e. I was there) from those where I was telling the hunter’s stories (most of which I learned about by interviewing them after, as I would for a normal reported story). The back-and-forth can be a bit jarring, but it seemed even more confusing to keep writing “I” and “me” in sections that were really about the hunters, not me. Another way to put it is that there are actually two stories there: the 1st person tale of how I disappeared, and the 3rd person tale of how a bunch of people tried to find some guy who disappeared. They just happen to be about the same person, so they are woven together.
I maybe have just made it more confusing, but…
Simply fascinating, thank you for the journey and documenting the entire thing to boot.
[...] hear is a reference to Evan Ratliff. If you’re unfamiliar with him, here’s the rest of the story in a nutshell. He’s a free-lance writer and blogger. He took a gig for Wired magazine that [...]
Just finished the article in Wired, it was a great read, and got me thinking about the trace I am leaving all over the place…
just read the article…great read (both this and the august article) but did you have to go to that soccer game?? in my opinion, that’s where it started to go bad…
you should just gone to the hood, man…no one would have looked for you there
WOW! Best piece of writing I’ve experienced in years. A masterful blend of a great idea, skillful and dedicated execution, and a talented writer. Your story is easily the coolest thing I’ve seen anyone do in years. Tell the guys over at Wired that you are responsible for some new subscriptions…I’m getting one tomorrow. Thanks for doing this.
Evan, I’ve just come upon this story — always late, never with a gift or excuse — and my heart is literally still pounding. I want more: more updates, more tweets, more pictures… I too am someone, trapped in my own “mundaneity”, looking for a chance to reinvent myself. My daydreams and fantasies are always much more stimulating than real life.
This story is rich with material for a wonderfully detailed and textured piece of modern literature; an engaging fictitious story of an identifiable person trying to reboot. There is potential for grittiness, humanity, suspense, and humor. I’d pay full price for that book, and read it more than once.
Excellent work!
[...] too long ago, I posted about Evan Ratliff aka The Atavist. He’s a freelance writer who’s job was to completely disappear for a [...]