In the early days of ChatGPT’s public availability, I took a look just as the news sources started hyping AI. This is one of my earliest explorations.
—Mark
PROMPT: Could you rewrite The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe in the style of Earnest Hemingway?
Montresor had long been friends with Fortunato. But the former felt a great sense of injury from the latter, and so he vowed revenge. One evening, during carnival season, Montresor encounters Fortunato and shows his concern for the other man’s health, pretending that he is worried about the dampness of the catacombs. Fortunato, who prided himself on his knowledge of wine, was quickly lured into the trap. Montresor led him deep into the catacombs, where he began to wall him up while listening to the jester’s pitiful cries. Not until he had nearly finished Montresor finally heard Fortunato’s silence.
PROMPT: How about in the style of J.R.R. Tolkien?
In the days of yore, when the world was young, and the shadows of evil had not yet consumed the hearts of men, there lived a dwarf named Montresor. His people had long dwelt in the deep places of the earth, where they delved for gems and precious metals. But Montresor harbored a grievance in his heart, for he had been wronged by a man of high estate: Fortunato, a lord of the city above.
And so, Montresor hatched a plot to exact revenge upon his foe. He invited Fortunato to the catacombs beneath the city, where he knew the promise of rare and fine wine would lure the lord. But it was a trap, for Montresor had long planned to entomb his enemy in the depths of the earth.
And so it came to pass that Montresor led Fortunato ever deeper into the winding tunnels of the catacombs until they finally came to a great vault, where the cask of Amontillado lay waiting. But as Fortunato reached for the wine, Montresor seized upon his moment of vengeance. Brick by brick, he walled up the entrance to the vault, heedless of the cries of his victim, until at last, the deed was done, and Fortunato was entombed forevermore.
PROMPT: And in the style of Oscar Wilde?
In the smoky depths of a great city, where the revelers come out to play and the carnival fills the air with the sweet scent of wine and roses, there lived a man named Montresor. He was a man of means and influence, a master of the dark arts of intrigue and cunning. And yet, he nursed a grudge in his heart against one of his kind, the foppish and foolish Fortunato.
One night, as the city was at its height of merrymaking, Montresor approached Fortunato with a false concern for his health. He warned of the dank and musty air of the catacombs, where the finest wines lay waiting to be tasted. And so, with the promise of a rare and precious vintage, Montresor led his unwitting victim into the depths of the earth.
And there, in the shadows of the catacombs, Montresor exacted his revenge. Brick by brick, he built a tomb around Fortunato, heedless of the jester’s cries for mercy. And so it was that Montresor achieved his dark victory, forever entombing his hapless victim in the depths of the earth.
PROMPT: How about as if written by the author of the Gospel of John?
In the beginning was Montresor, a man of dark intentions and hidden malice. He had harbored a grudge against Fortunato for many years, nursing his hatred in the hidden places of his heart. And when the time was right, Montresor enacted his plan.
On a night of revelry and excess, Montresor approached Fortunato, feigning concern for his health. He led the unsuspecting jester into the catacombs, promising him a taste of the finest wine. But it was a trap, for Montresor had long planned to entomb his enemy in the depths of the earth.
Montresor spoke in riddles and parables as they descended into the catacombs, for he was a man of deep and hidden wisdom. When they arrived at the place of the cask of Amontillado, Montresor spoke the words that would seal Fortunato’s fate. He walled up the entrance to the vault, brick by brick, heedless of the jester’s cries for mercy.
And so it was that Fortunato was entombed in the catacombs, a victim of Montresor’s dark designs, for he was a man of great cunning and guile, a master of the hidden ways of the world. And in the end, his machinations had brought him the victory he sought, forever entombing his enemy in the depths of the earth.
PROMPT: In the style of a pulp romance?
Montresor was a man with a heart full of darkness and a thirst for revenge. He had been wronged by Fortunato, a man of high station who had dared to cross him. And so, Montresor hatched a plan to make Fortunato pay.
On a night of carnival and revelry, Montresor approached his enemy with a cunning plan. He promised to show Fortunato the greatest treasure of the catacombs, the finest wine in all the land. And so, Fortunato followed Montresor into the depths of the earth, heedless of the danger ahead.
But it was a trap, for Montresor had long planned to entomb his foe in the catacombs. And so, as they descended deeper and deeper, Montresor’s plan began to take shape. He walled up the entrance to the vault where the wine lay waiting, brick by brick, heedless of Fortunato’s cries for mercy.
And yet, even as he entombed his enemy in the depths of the earth, Montresor felt a strange stirring in his heart, for he had long harbored a secret love for Fortunato, which had been twisted and warped by his hatred and thirst for revenge. And as the last brick was laid, Montresor felt a pang of regret for what he had done.
But it was too late, for Fortunato was forever entombed in the catacombs, a victim of Montresor’s dark desires. And so, Montresor walked away into the night, haunted by the memory of what he had done, and the love that had driven him to it.
PROMPT: In the style of e. e. comings?
montresor was a man of darkness and malice with a grudge against fortunato
on a night of revelry he lured the jester into the catacombs
brick by brick montresor walled up the entrance to the cask of amontillado
and there in the depths of the earth fortunato was forever entombed
montresor walked away into the night with a heart heavy with regret
PROMPT: In the style of Philip K. Dick?
Montresor lived in a world of twisted motives and hidden agendas. He was a man who saw the world in shades of gray, a world where even the closest friends could turn on you in an instant. And so, when Fortunato wronged him, Montresor knew that revenge was the only course of action.
On a night of carnival and revelry, Montresor approached Fortunato with a plan. He promised to show him the finest wine in all the land, the Amontillado that lay hidden in the catacombs beneath the city. And so, Fortunato followed Montresor into the depths of the earth, unaware of the trap laid for him.
As they descended deeper and deeper into the catacombs, Montresor’s plan began to take shape. He walled up the entrance to the vault where the wine lay waiting, brick by brick, heedless of Fortunato’s cries for mercy. And as he worked, Montresor felt a strange sense of satisfaction, for he knew he was finally getting his revenge.
But even as he entombed his enemy in the catacombs, Montresor felt a sense of unease, for he knew that the world was a place of shifting realities and uncertain outcomes, where the past could never indeed be laid to rest. As he walked away into the night, Montresor wondered what other hidden motives lay waiting in the shadows of the world and what other dark secrets might be lurking just beneath the surface.
PROMPT: In the style of Winston Churchill?
Montresor was a man of great determination and fortitude. He had been wronged by Fortunato, a man of high standing who had dared to cross him. And so, Montresor vowed to take revenge, no matter the cost.
On a night of revelry and celebration, Montresor approached his enemy with a plan. He promised to show Fortunato the finest wine in all the land, the Amontillado that lay hidden in the catacombs beneath the city. And so, Fortunato followed Montresor into the depths of the earth, unaware of the trap laid for him.
As they descended deeper and deeper into the catacombs, Montresor’s plan began to take shape. He walled up the entrance to the vault where the wine lay waiting, brick by brick, heedless of Fortunato’s cries for mercy. And yet, even as he worked, Montresor knew that his victory would be short-lived, for he was a man who understood the fickle nature of the world.
And so, as he walked away into the night, Montresor knew that his revenge was just one small victory in a larger struggle, a struggle that would continue until the end of time, for he knew that the world was a place of great uncertainty and danger, where only the strong and the determined could hope to survive. And so, Montresor vowed to be one of those solid and determined few, no matter what the future might hold.
PROMPT: And as written by Shakespeare?
Enter Montresor, a man of noble bearing and troubled heart.
MONTRESOR: Good evening, fair citizens. Tonight, I am tormented by a most grievous matter. My dear friend, Fortunato, has wronged me greatly, and I cannot suffer this injustice to go unpunished.
Thus, I have hatched a plan to exact revenge upon him. I will lure him into the catacombs beneath the city with the promise of fine wine, and there I shall wall him up, brick by brick until he meets his just deserts.
Enter Fortunato, a jovial fellow of carefree nature.
FORTUNATO: Ha! What manner of plan have you, my dear Montresor? Indeed, you do not intend to harm me?
MONTRESOR: Nay, good Fortunato, I have only the best intentions for you. Come, let us journey together into the depths of the earth, where the finest wine in all the land awaits us.
They descend into the catacombs.
FORTUNATO: This place is most eerie, Montresor. I know not why you have brought me here.
MONTRESOR: Fear not, my friend. The wine is close at hand.
They arrive at the vault where the wine is kept.
FORTUNATO: Ah, the Amontillado! How sweet its fragrance! I must taste it at once.
MONTRESOR: Indeed, good Fortunato. But first, let us admire the walls of this place.
He begins to wall up the entrance, brick by brick.
FORTUNATO: What madness is this, Montresor? Why do you wall me up in this place?
MONTRESOR: It is but a small revenge, my friend, for your great wrongs against me. Rest now, and let your sins be your company.
He exits, leaving Fortunato to his fate.
MONTRESOR: And thus, dear citizens, ends the tale of Montresor and Fortunato. Let it be a warning to all who would cross those of noble birth, for their vengeance is most terrible indeed.
PROMPT: As if it were in the Star Wars universe?
A long time ago, a fantastic tale of revenge unfolded in a galaxy far, far away. Montresor, a cunning and calculating man, sought revenge upon his archrival, Fortunato, for a great wrong he had committed against him.
With a plan as intricate as any Jedi mind trick, Montresor lured Fortunato into the depths of the catacombs beneath the city, where the finest wine in the galaxy was said to be kept. Unbeknownst to Fortunato, Montresor had other intentions.
As they arrived at the vault where the wine was kept, Montresor revealed his true intentions and began walling up the entrance, trapping Fortunato inside. Montresor felt his anger and hatred grow stronger with every brick he laid, his thirst for revenge fueling him.
But even as he walked away from the catacombs, Montresor knew his victory was only temporary. For in the vast expanse of the galaxy, there were always new enemies to be vanquished, new wrongs to be righted.
And so, Montresor set his sights on a new goal, vowing to use his cunning and knowledge of the dark side to avenge those who had wronged him. For in a galaxy full of danger and uncertainty, there was no more fantastic weapon than the power of vengeance.
PROMPT: As if it were a Conan story?
The barbarian Montresor, a man of brawny sinews and savage passions, prowled the dark catacombs beneath the city. His eyes glinted with an unquenchable thirst for revenge, a fire that burned hot in his veins.
For too long, he had tolerated the insults and the slights of his arch-nemesis, Fortunato. But no more. He had laid a trap for the fool, luring him into the catacombs with the promise of fine wine.
As he watched Fortunato’s drunken form stumble towards him, Montresor’s hands itched for the kill. With a quick, brutal motion, he slammed the entrance shut, trapping his prey inside.
Fortunato screamed and cursed, but it was no use. Montresor had him now. He gloated over his victim, relishing the sight of his fear and desperation.
But even as Montresor savored his triumph, he knew the price of revenge was high. For in a world of blood and steel, another enemy was always waiting to take his place, another score to be settled.
And so, Montresor sheathed his sword and vanished into the night, his lust for revenge still burning hot within him. For in a world of barbarians and monsters, there was no greater power than the power of vengeance.
PROMPT: If the comedy troop Second City staged it?
Montresor, a witty and irreverent man with a dark humor, had had enough of his archrival, Fortunato. So, he devised a plan that was as hilarious as vengeful.
He tricked Fortunato into following him down into the catacombs with the promise of the finest wine in the land. Little did Fortunato know he was about to become the butt of Montresor’s joke.
As Montresor began to wall up the entrance with brick after brick, he regaled Fortunato with a string of one-liners and puns, cracking himself up with each new brick he laid.
Fortunato, at first amused, began to realize that this was no joke. As the walls closed in around him, he begged for mercy, but Montresor was having too much fun to stop.
In the end, Fortunato is trapped in the catacombs, a victim of Montresor’s twisted sense of humor. And as Montresor walked away, chuckling to himself, he knew that he had just pulled off the greatest comedy routine in the history of Second City.
For in a world of wit and humor, there was no greater power than the power of a good joke.
PROMPT: And if it were set in medieval Japan?
In feudal Japan, the samurai Montresor seethed with anger and resentment towards his rival, the nobleman Fortunato. But Montresor knew that revenge was a dish best-served cold, and he bided his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
One day, he lured Fortunato to a secluded spot in the woods, where he had prepared a trap. Thinking he was there to discuss a matter of honor, Fortunato was caught off guard when Montresor revealed his true intentions.
With the precision of a master swordsman, Montresor disarmed Fortunato and bound him in chains. He then led him to the depths of a nearby cave, where he left him to rot.
But even as Montresor walked away, he knew his victory was only temporary. For in a world of warlords and shoguns, another enemy was always waiting to take his place.
And so, Montresor honed his skills, practicing his swordsmanship and studying the art of war. For in a world of danger and uncertainty, there was no greater power than the power of revenge.
PROMPT: In the style of the Tlingit?
Montresor, a great warrior of the Tlingit tribe, had long been disrespected by his rival, Fortunato. The insults had piled up, festering in Montresor’s heart until he could take it no longer.
He devised a plan to lure Fortunato deep into the forest, far from the village’s safety. Once there, he struck with swift and brutal force, overpowering Fortunato and leaving him to the mercy of the elements.
But as Montresor left the scene of his victory, he could not help but feel a sense of unease. The spirits of the forest were strong, and he knew that they would not take kindly to his act of revenge.
For days, he waited, watching the skies and listening for signs of the spirits’ wrath. And then, one night, the storm came. Thunder roared, and lightning flashed as the spirits avenged Montresor for his arrogance and disrespect.
Ultimately, Montresor knew he had been a fool, and that revenge was not worth the cost of angering the spirits. And so, he devoted himself to atoning for his sins, to living a life of humility and respect for the natural world. For in a world of spirits and magic, there was no greater power than the power of reverence.
PROMPT: As it might appear in a film by Luc Besson?
In Luc Besson’s cinematic retelling of “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor is a stylish and mysterious figure, always lurking in the shadows and planning his next move.
He lures Fortunato into a dark and foreboding catacomb, where he reveals his true intentions with a wry smile. The tension builds as Montresor walls up the entrance, brick by brick, while Fortunato begs for mercy.
But Montresor is cold and calculated, his eyes gleaming with a deadly determination. He is a master of manipulation and knows he has the upper hand.
As Fortunato’s fate is sealed, the camera cuts to Montresor’s face, illuminated by the flickering torchlight. His lips curl into a smirk as he revels in his triumph, and we are left wondering what dark secrets lie behind those inscrutable eyes.
For in a world of shadows and intrigue, there is no greater power than the power of deception. And as the credits roll, we are left with the haunting image of Montresor, still lurking in the darkness, waiting for his next victim.
PROMPT: As in a Disney movie?
In the Disney adaptation of “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor is a charming and adventurous hero, full of wit and cunning.
He lures Fortunato into a whimsical, candlelit cellar, revealing his plan to find the rarest and most magical amontillado in all the land. Fortunato, entranced by Montresor’s charm, eagerly follows him into the depths of the cellar, unaware of the danger ahead.
But Montresor is clever and resourceful, using his wit and guile to outmaneuver Fortunato at every turn. As the walls close in, Montresor leads Fortunato to safety, narrowly escaping danger and emerging victorious.
The music swells as Montresor reveals the true meaning of his quest: not revenge, but friendship. And in a heartwarming finale, Montresor and Fortunato embrace, their differences forgotten, as they toast to their newfound bond.
For in a world of magic and wonder, there is no greater power than the power of friendship. And as the credits roll, we are left with the joyous image of Montresor and Fortunato, laughing and dancing into the night.
PROMPT: As an episode of Star Trek Next Generation?
In this Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew are called to mediate a dispute between two factions on a remote planet. The dispute centers around Montresor, a member of one faction who has accused Fortunato, a member of the other faction, of grave wrongdoing.
As Picard and the crew investigate, they discover that the accusation results from a long-standing feud between the two families and that the evidence against Fortunato is flimsy at best. But Montresor is determined to see justice served, and his sense of honor and duty will not be swayed.
As the tension builds and the two factions square off, Picard realizes that the only way to resolve the conflict is to find a way for Montresor and Fortunato to reconcile their differences. With the help of Data and Counselor Troi, Picard works to uncover the root of the feud and bring the two men together.
In the end, Picard succeeds in his mission, and Montresor and Fortunato agree to put their differences aside and work towards a peaceful resolution. For in a universe filled with conflict and strife, there is no greater power than the power of reconciliation. As the Enterprise takes off, we are left with the hopeful image of Montresor and Fortunato, standing side by side, ready to build a new future.
PROMPT: How about if one character is a programmer and the other a system administrator at a Silicon Valley startup?
In this Silicon Valley startup tale, Montresor is a skilled programmer, while Fortunato is a system administrator with a penchant for breaking things. The two work in the same office but have never seen eye-to-eye.
One day, Montresor comes across a bug in the company’s code that he believes Fortunato is responsible for. He confronts Fortunato, accusing him of deliberately causing the problem. Fortunato denies any wrongdoing, but Montresor is convinced he’s telling lies.
As Montresor continues to investigate, he finds more evidence that Fortunato is responsible for the problem. But Fortunato is just as skilled at covering his tracks, and it soon becomes clear that Montresor will have to work harder than ever to catch him in the act.
The tension builds as Montresor and Fortunato engage in a battle of wits, each trying to outsmart the other. But as the stakes get higher and the pressure mounts, Montresor questions whether his obsession with catching Fortunato is worth the cost.
Ultimately, Montresor realizes that the feud between them is petty and meaningless and that his need for control has blinded him. He confronts Fortunato once more, but this time with a different approach. Rather than accusing him, Montresor offers an olive branch, and the two men work together to fix the problem.
In a world of technology and innovation, there is no greater power than collaboration. And as the startup continues to thrive, we are left with the hopeful image of Montresor and Fortunato, standing together, ready to tackle any challenge that comes their way.