The Speed of Boredom (A Surreal Sci-Fi Short Story About Time, Mortality, and Madness)

In this surreal episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw takes us on a mind-bending journey through one person's radical approach to cheating death.

"The Speed of Boredom" follows an unnamed narrator who becomes obsessed with an unusual theory: if time dilates during boredom, then perhaps the most tedious existence possible might extend one's lifespan. What begins as a philosophical observation during a dull lecture spirals into a disturbing experiment as the narrator methodically eliminates all sources of joy, interest, and connection from their life—believing that each moment of excruciating boredom is actually expanding their subjective experience of time, thereby helping them "live forever."

With dark humor and existential insight, Cronshaw explores the absurd lengths to which humans might go to avoid mortality, and how the pursuit of extended life might ironically rob us of everything that makes life worth living.

Themes & Topics

Time perception and subjective experience

Existential dread and fear of mortality

The paradox of pursuing longevity at the expense of living

Mental health and obsessive thinking

The relationship between boredom and time dilation

Social isolation and its consequences

Listener Discretion

This episode contains themes of mental health deterioration and extreme social withdrawal that some listeners may find disturbing.

About the Author

Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that explores the stranger corners of human psychology. His stories often feature characters who take reasonable premises to unreasonable conclusions, revealing the absurdity that can lurk within seemingly logical thinking.

Support the Show

If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.

Keywords

Time perception, existential fiction, subjective experience, psychological horror, boredom, mortality fears, mental decline, speculative fiction, Jon Cronshaw, flash fiction, philosophical fiction, time dilation