SYNCING FORWARD - July 2015

[Amy, Queen of Time]

Gertie wrote: "I want this to be made into a movie. :-)

Who would you cast as the characters?
(any characters you care to cast)"

I'm not sure if you saw my note about it or not, but the author is currently writing a screenplay for a movie option, so you may get your wish. :-)

I imagine Jack Davenport (of Flashforward and Coupling fame) as Martin


I can see Amara in my mind, but I have a hard time thinking of an actress that's not too old to play her.

[Gertie]

I didn't see your note! I did know a synopsis was in the works (after he was a finalist in the 2014 Book Pipeline competition) but not the screenplay, that's awesome. Huh, just realized Beowulf: A Bloody Calculus was another one of the finalists- amazing that I've actually heard of two of the books!

Anyway, MOVIE, YES PLEASE.

[Nancy]

Lincoln wrote: ""So, Grandpa," Victoria told me with heaps of precociousness, "I suppose I am going to have to show you how to use our new computer since you don't know anything about it. Don't worry-the interfac..."

I thought that was too funny! I don't think that will ever change.

[Lincoln, Temporal Jester]

Carla Gugino as Miranda James:

[Lincoln, Temporal Jester]

Abigail Spencer as Amara:

[Lincoln, Temporal Jester]

Odette Annable as Bella:

[Regina]

Exciting read!!!

[Ken]

Done. I must say, this book brought more emotion out of me than I was ready for. I have five kids (12 and under) and it was literally tearing me up inside thinking about some of the situations and decisions confronted.

One totally OCD issue: every time he had to type on his computer while out-of-synch, my mind immediately said, "nope." If he is truly moving at a minute fraction of our time, it would take hours to key one letter. Wouldn't that make this happen: "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"? I realize things could change, but that is what went through my brain.

Otherwise, this book honestly surprised me - in a wonderful, heart-wrenching way.

[Lincoln, Temporal Jester]

Chapter 46...Reminded me of a drabble I wrote...

Aching knees, aching hearts, moonlight gleams, light and shadow dances upon ancient stardust. Was mankind meant to live so long? To populate the stars, and to never taste death? How long had it been since he’d left Earth a hundred years before or was it two? Did it matter anymore?

Everyone sought the Fountain of Youth, but he alone understood the implications. Finally the unfathomable distances between stars was something Humanity could bridge.

“How far to destination?” 72,864 years 11 months 7 days 4 hours 8 minutes 11 seconds.

Would it be worth it? He didn’t know.

[Lincoln, Temporal Jester]

A quote from Chapter 46...

The reality of what it meant to cross the great expanse between stars finally set in -even at one-fifth the speed of light, people around the world truly understood what an enormous ocean of nothing our planet drifted upon.

[Tej]

Amy wrote: "IF YOU'RE NOT READING SYNCING FORWARD YET, YOU SHOULD!

Don't make me talk in all caps again!"

OK OK! Threat acknowledged, book Purchased...and the first three chapters have completely obliterated my ridiculous 5 month readers block!

Love the opening setup, sucked right in. Engaging first person perspective narrative, gets right into the story mystery while cleverly interjecting character exposition and no waffling about with too much environmental detail.

Although not a great fan of FPS, I do enjoy some exceptions such as the mellifluous tongue of Robert Heinlein in The Door into Summer (a previous group read). This doesnt have that class of Heinlein's dialogue but there is a cracking kinetic flow to it so far.

I have not read the synopsis as I committed to it from some of your recommendations and my urge to get in back with the group reads. I like to be surprised from page 1 and enjoy ALL the story turns...if I can help it.

OK my answers to group questions:

Pre read q1: How far am I willing to travel in the future? Well first of all, I have to assume there is a reason to want to travel in time in the first place. There is only one reason I would want to travel in the future and that would be the day I reach an old enough age that my presence is no longer of use to those around me. I would not want to escape the present at any other age because no matter what my obstacles are in life, my will power to conquer life's difficulties are greater than my desire to escape them.

But when I approach my natural end, and being the keen amateur astronomer that I am, I would actually love to travel as far far far in the future as technically possible learn what humanity (if still around) has learnt of the secrets of the universe. That would be cool. And if I find that humanity destroyed themselves long before that potential was achieved, then being the film fan that I am, would still happily bang my fist on the ground, uttering with my dying breath, "God damn you all to hell!"

Pre read q2. Ah....so I am guessing this book is about cryogenic hybernation? Slightly disappointed now but then again The Door into Summer was about that and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But to answer the question. In terms of categorising time travel fiction, strictly speaking, no. Otherwise we might as well call Aliens or Captain America and every piece of science fiction that incorporates hybernation sleep, time travel. However, if we are to be loose with the categorisation and consider if a story involves a person that hybernates to a distant enough future generation, then we should welcome it and not get too fussy :) But if we were strict with the categorisation, Time travel should be a particle, a message or body hopping from one point of time to another point of time without a physical transitioning between the two points.

I dont qualify to answer the other questions yet

Reading question 4: Having read far enough to understand why this question is posed, in the context of this book, I think it is very important for the sake of relating the reader to the real world and creating a plausible environment to engage with. However, care must be taken for the author not be too biased on the political background of their fictitous future and provide a balance of different perspectives from the characters if the narrative neccessatates.

In fact, to give an example, I had completed a time travel book series called Timeriders by Alex Scarrow and am quite a fan of the series but towards the end, I found he was relentlessy biased with his own opinions through his characters with unnecessary deliberacy. I actually agreed with much of his political posturing but annoyed that it interfered too much with the narrative. Of course an author is entitled to give a message, in fact it's essential that a story offers a moralistic message, or to thought provoke but I rather see that thought provocation given a rounded perspective rather than a narrowband brainwash.

[Heather(Gibby)]

I am searching for a book for a challenge task in another Goodreads group-for those that are reading this do you think it fits the parameters of this task-specifically does all of the book take place in the future?

"Read a science fiction book set in our future (this is specifically to be about humans from earth, though it does not have to take place on earth)"

[Gertie]

I feel like it may begin in the "present day", although maybe it begins in the "near future".

[Lincoln, Temporal Jester]

It begins in 2021....I am at 97% and the year is currently 2126...it involves humans on earth although the humans have changed with time genetically and robotically.

[Gertie]

Cool! There you have it then Heather, this one works. :-)

[Heather(Gibby)]

Thanks so much guys!

[Karen]

I just finished this and found it outstanding but very unsettling."60 Minutes" did a segment recently about parents being able to choose a fetus without genetic dispositions to certain conditions or diseases.

[Amy, Queen of Time]

Concerning future robots, this is an interesting step forward--controlling robot brains using bacteria: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/...

[Amy, Queen of Time]

Nominations are up now for the September & October book club reads:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Basically, 3.8+ star books only and no self-nominations.

[Amy, Queen of Time]

Also, don't forget to keep your favorite book club book poll answer updated:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

[Amy, Queen of Time]

In the movie version, Miranda James should be played by Karina Lombard (of The 4400 and The L Word fame):

[Amy, Queen of Time]

Oh, and Amara HAS to be Michelle Rodriguez (of Lost and Fast & Furious fame):

[Lincoln, Temporal Jester]

So, I am curious of the author's opinion on all of this discussion... W. Lawrence

First, off how do you see this movie happening? First person perspective from Martin's perspective the whole time, or do we get to know the family much better and see the story from their perspective a bit more?

What do you think about the groups casting decisions? Did you have casting ideas of your own?

I was drawn in by the realistic and plausible geopolitical situations in the book...How did you go about deciding/researching that aspect of the book. I felt it interesting that you seemed to sprinkle it and not overemphasize it.

I noticed you dedicated the book to your daughters....How much of the book is drawn from real life? I know I was bawling through some very emotional chapters, the book is so realistic and relatable, how much of the writing stemmed from your life?

After finishing the book....
(view spoiler)[Why is the world not up in arms about robots that can shape shift and become whomever? I personally distrust Anisa (hide spoiler)]

[W.]

Firstly, thanks to Amy and Lincoln for hosting the discussion. It is a privilege to have a debut author brought into a book discussion like this. Plus, it's a cool group, so I'm doubly flattered.

Re: the movie
So much of this is up in the air, but the script I am working on is a thriller style, so it is going to give you very little new information than what you get in the book. Glimpses and hints outside of his POV are going to be necessary to convey information, but beyond that the audience will be trapped right along with Martin. Of course, if I am fortunate enough to have the book turned into a movie, they may decide to make it more of a drama, which would be fine with me.

[W.]

Re: Movie casting

If I were king of the world, my choices (in no particular order) would be...
Josh Lucas. He's a good southern boy and easy on the eyes for the ladies. Need to make him look less GQ, but that's easy enough.


Norman Reedus. An under-appreciated actor and popularized as a badass on The Walking Dead. He has a great tortured face and he can cry. Martin James needs to be able to cry. Reedus would clean up real well and he'd bring a TON of fans with him to the box office.


John Cusack. He is a thoughtful actor and would easily be able to pull off the role. He's a little older than Martin James would be, but I don't care. I'm also a bit selfish as I grew up watching his movies and would love to meet him.


There are some others too that I am sure would pull it off, but I can't think of them now.

Oh, for Dr. Bruchmuller, I would definitely choose...
Noah Emmerich. He's a tall fella (6'3") and it would be easy to believe that he could (view spoiler)[ whoop Martin's butt at the beginning of the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy, Queen of Time]

W. wrote: "Re: Movie casting

If I were king of the world, my choices (in no particular order) would be...
Josh Lucas. He's a good southern boy and easy on the eyes for the ladies. Need to make him look les..."

Josh Lucas fits within my mental image of Martin. I like that idea. Noah Emmerich would definitely work for the Dr.

[W.]

Amara. If there is anyone as close to tortured in the book as Martin, it's Amara. It is so hard to pick an actress, but I'd want somebody who looked like Aubrey Plaza...


...But she would need to be as fantastic of an actress as Jennifer Carpenter.

[W.]

Lincoln wrote: "I noticed you dedicated the book to your daughters....How much of the book is drawn from real life? I know I was bawling through some very emotional chapters, the book is so realistic and relatable, how much of the writing stemmed from your life?"

I do have two girls, and they were 7 and 9 when I started the book, so it was easy to write Bella and Amara at a young age. I took the most amazing and unstable elements of each of them and placed them into Amara. Then all the stable, considerate aspects I put into Bella; I also tried to figure out what it would be like to be 'that kid', the one whose sibling is good at absolutely everything but terrible at relationships.

(view spoiler)[Thankfully, my wife has not left me the way Miranda left Martin, but I have to say that my wife took great offense for months that I chose to have Miranda leave. She felt it was a reflection on her and how I didn't trust her to stick through our marriage in tough times. When she finally reconciled that Miranda wasn't her, she went out of her way to talk about what a bitch she thought Miranda was.

For me, I looked at it through Miranda's eyes. Here is her husband who sits still for years. She walks into the room and can have virtually no interaction with him. Her life is upside down, forced to lie about what is going on, dealing with raising two girls on her own. After Martin syncs forward in Beacon, PA, she can't stand to look at him because she has lost hope. So she moves out. Once out of sight, she realizes her life is drifting away moment by moment, and as sad as it may be, its easier to decide to split up with somebody when you aren't looking at them. (hide spoiler)]

[W.]

Re: Anisa
(view spoiler)[ Okay, this one character in the book seems to have made fans feel very uncomfortable for a variety of reasons, which is good I suppose.

Anisa represents technology that is wildly advanced, and so it places Martin in a position of feeling that much more alienated from the world. It also has characteristics that Martin shares, that eternal feeling of being there forever. He knows it will survive other humans, and yet it is one of the only ways he can interact with his new world. Their goal of making him feel comfortable backfires in all respects. Why? Because to them, it is an appliance, something they are used to dealing with. It also fools people who know they exist, so they figure it's perfect for Martin. However, he knows what it is and never refers to Anisa as 'she'. They are hoping to put him at ease with having Anisa service him (a very Aldous Huxley mindset) but for Martin that is not what he wants or needs.

A friend of mine told me he didn't understand why anyone would even create such a machine. My response was that you can never underestimate man's desire to want sex and wage war. In my mind, Anisa's technology stemmed from both those topics. A device that looks human, acts human, and can shapeshift would be tremendously helpful in gathering intel.

As for the sex part, I asked my friend, "What do you think you would do with a woman who could look and sound any way you wanted her to?"

He thought about it and said, "Sign me up for two of them."

Of course, there was a homage to Isaac Asimov in that Anisa never violates the three laws of robotics, and in fact acts on them to protect Martin from everyone, including himself.

There is a final reason I wanted Anisa there, but I'll mention that later. (hide spoiler)]

[Gertie]

I love looking at everyone's casting choices! W. your spoiler comments made me laugh in #80.

It's funny, but the (view spoiler)[shape changing business (hide spoiler)] didn't really freak me out until just now. That would... well, honestly, I think it would suck for a lot of people, it could be really terrifying.

[S. K.]

Amy wrote: "Oh, and Amara HAS to be Michelle Rodriguez (of Lost and Fast & Furious fame):"

Ding ding! Now I'm going to be disappointed if it's anyone else.

Amy wrote: "This does bring me to a thought. I wonder how 1st person cryogenic time travel stories fit within the hero's journey model of storytelling. If the hero starts in the past and awakens in the future after being frozen, there's no way that they can ever "return home"."

I think that the hero can return to a piece of his/her home in a cryo-story. Big spoiler ahead. (view spoiler)[The Hero's oldest daughter was Lawrence's version of home in this story. (hide spoiler)] But I have also seen it done by going back to a geographic place or the protagonist finding a piece of home, (a final letter from a loved one, a keepsake, etc.) In Speaker for the Dead, another one way time travel book, the hero had to substitute going home by finding home for another.

And a question of my own -(view spoiler)[ The Singularity: are you optimistic or pessimistic about how the Intelligence will treat us once it arises? (hide spoiler)]

[W.]

S.K.'s spoiler question:
(view spoiler)[ I am terribly pessimistic about the Singularity if reached. Regardless of whether it is achieved by artificial intelligence or collective intelligence as I described in Syncing Forward, you will have an entity which will have tremendous power, and absolute power -with very few exceptions- corrupts absolutely.

AI will make decisions devoid of human considerations of love, freedom, family. Collective Intelligence will likely make decisions based on a democratic process or cold calculations, either of which will chip away at dissenting individuals and minorities.

Of course, anyone who is part of the Singularity or supporting it will undoubtedly benefit. Some will say we can't survive without it, that it is the next step in our evolutionary process. I remain highly skeptical. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy, Queen of Time]

W. wrote: "S.K.'s spoiler question:
I am terribly pessimistic about the Singularity if reached. Regardless of whether it is achieved by artificial intelligence or collective intelligence as I described in Sy..."

Hmm... I couldn't have guessed your pessimistic view of it from reading your book. ;)

I don't see it progressing to that point. Although, my 5-year old did express that "real life is boring" when I told her just now that it was time for us to stop playing Minecraft and get on with our Saturday. It's not too far a stretch to have a majority in agreement with that statement as a first step.

[Lincoln, Temporal Jester]

Amy wrote: "W. wrote: "S.K.'s spoiler question:
I am terribly pessimistic about the Singularity if reached. Regardless of whether it is achieved by artificial intelligence or collective intelligence as I desc..."

Real life is boring!! Read a good book...:)

[S. K.]

W. wrote: "I am terribly pessimistic about the Singularity if reached."

I read a book on how to write books that said that every book is an argument. Nice to see that guy wasn't talking out of his butt.

I've got this unkillable Pollyanna in me, who, no matter how much post apocalyptic dystopia I throw at her, refuses to die. Like Johnny Depp and David Brin, I'm excited about the possibility of Singularity.

I'm (marginally) smarter than my dogs, and yet I don't spend my time planning their demise. Humans have a natural tendency to want their children to do better than they did, and that tendency would foster whatever infant intelligence that arises in such a way that it would look upon us as doddering parents, not vermin. And even if the singularity goes badly for us and we are left with an omnipotent tyrant whose word is unappealable law, that sounds a lot like what the ancient Hebrews had to deal with, and they're doing alright.

I guess the scariest aspect of a singularity that I can envision is having a curfew again, and someone who can tell me that cookies for dinner is not acceptable.

[Glynn]

Amy wrote: "IF YOU'RE NOT READING SYNCING FORWARD YET, YOU SHOULD!

Don't make me talk in all caps again!"

Despite your insistence, I am not going to read this just now. Don't want to read something that will bring tears to my eyes (unless it's tears of laughter.) I'll add it to my TBR for a future read. :)

[Gertie]

I was going to answer S.K.'s question with one word:

PUPPETS

Eek! Seriously.

Glynn, she talked in ALL CAPS and you're STILL RESISTING? WTF dude. :-P

[Gertie]

Speaking of casting... I was thinking Yael Stone would be awesome for Miranda, not only is she pretty and interesting, but she can seriously act (you don't see a ton of opportunities for her to show in on Orange is the New Black, but trust me). For some reason I tend to want to cast people slightly less well-known for movie roles. Maybe because there is less baggage, and the potential is still unknown.

[S. K.]

Gertie wrote: "PUPPETS

Eek! Seriously."

I will grant that puppets can be eek-worthy. (Especially those giant puppet dancers at Ren Faires.) But are you creeped out about being made into a puppet after the Singularity or about the new intelligence unleashing an army of creepily large papier mache puppet dancers upon the world? (Which, under a different name, and in a different time, I wrote a short story about.)

[Gertie]

Well, Singularity-puppets, but thanks for giving me something (creepily large papier mache puppet dancers) to have nightmares about tonight.

[W.]

Yael Stone would probably be able to pull it off, but (sure to offend somebody here) she isn't Latina enough.

The one thing I did want to incorporate into the book was a feeling of a blended English/Latino culture via their marriage and children, as this is where the U.S. is headed demographically speaking. Maybe an Italian actress could pull off the role, but it would be nice to cast somebody from Central or South America. Likewise, I'd like the daughters to be from blended backgrounds.

(view spoiler)[That may seem like nitpicking, but in the book there are lots of geopolitical and social problems, but none of it really defeats us as a human race. A hundred years later, there isn't massive flooding from the global warming, giant holes in the ozone, etc. I wanted to destroy the human race with our successes.

I post a lot of these successes on my blog (where tens of people come to read) and their implications. S.K.'s optimism is good, and I really, really hope he is right. I've never wanted to be more wrong in my life. However, I do believe that at a minimum we are headed for a Gattaca scenario where normal humans will be seen as sub-human. Unless there is a way of 'fixing' everyone simultaneously. (hide spoiler)]

[Gertie]

I bet she could find a way to embrace some Latina-ness. I don't think of Carla Gugino (who I love by the way) as more Latina honestly, but a lot is about how the actress handles the role (and makeup, too). Maybe it's partly a matter of what you've seen them in too?

Oooh, Chelsea Gilligan would be good for one of the daughters (she could probably go sweet or scary).

[Cheryl]

Amy wrote: "PRE-READING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Practically speaking, how far into the future would you be willing to go if there was no way to go back?

2. Does the idea of chemo-preservation/cryonics count..."

Coming in very late, I see. Sorry.

1. Not at all. I don't like what I see coming, just as the author's note to this says that Lawrence doesn't, either. Unlike him, I have no desire to face it.

2. I agree with Martin that this is a gray area. I think it counts for purposes of this group reading this book - but barely.

[Cheryl]

Amy wrote: "This book's really getting under my skin.

Reading Questions
1. (After chapter 17) (view spoiler)[I think Miranda did the best that she could for as long as she could. Not everybody is as strong Amara thinks they should be. And it's not like Amara helped Miranda. (hide spoiler)]
2. (After chapter 17) (view spoiler)[I'd make the same choice Martin did for the same reasons. There was something *off* about the nanobot solution. (hide spoiler)]
3. (After chapter 18) Do you have a more optimistic ..." Tbh, I try not to think about it, but just do the best I can with the energy I have.

[Cheryl]

Lincoln wrote: "Reading Question 4

Syncing Forwardwas published in 2014, and begins in the near future of 2021. Not quite a decade into the future.

As fans/authors of time travel, how important ..."

Good question. I choose, generally, not to read near-fiction. It too often is too bleak. If someone can justify a more optimistic view of the world my grandchildren will grow up in, I'd love to see that justification. Either way, yeah, research and plausibility count, definitely.

[Cheryl]

Gertie wrote: "Re: Amy's question of how most would react: ...(view spoiler)[One reason suicide rates for the elderly is so high is because they've lost most or all of the people they loved; I think this would be similar (hide spoiler)]"

I agree. (view spoiler)[I, for one, would def. be suicidal. (hide spoiler)]

[Cheryl]

I *loved* the epilogue, just the way it was.

[Tej]

Amy wrote: "This book's really getting under my skin.

Reading Questions
1. (After chapter 17) [spoilers removed]
2. (After chapter 17) [spoilers removed]
3. (After chapter 18) Do you have a more optimistic ..."


I am 65% through now, chapter 24. If I had two full days free I would have finished this book easily as it is bloody well unputdownable. As it is I am only getting about one hour a day to read and if on a train, I am tempted to overshoot another stop and walk to my destination just to read that little further.

My Answer to reading Question 1 (spoilers up to chapter 23 ) (view spoiler)[ She is just weaker and there is no fault in that at all. To be fair, the load and burden was heavy...but other real life family members in this world have bared larger burdens out of love which might make her in comparison...weak. We're all human and the threshold of burden varies for each of us. My own mother for instance, bared up to a bullying husband for 13 years for the sake of me needing a father until one day at the age of 13, I told her, "mum, what you waiting for...lets leave". Others may have just done so, long before that...in some cases leaving the child with the father.

Miranda's weakness was hinted at from the start in subtle ways such as her concerns for finance coming before her concerns for her husbands pain and predicament. I was actually surprised she stayed as long as she did given my initial impression of her.

I fear I may be as weak as her but I hope not. I say that because my mother is getting old and suffering arthritis and soon maybe other illnesses and there is only me to look after her in her older age as I am an only child and we have no relatives in UK. But my love and appreciation for her bringing me up to be who I am will overcome my fears of the burden in looking after her, I hope. Not to mention the sacrifices she made.

(hide spoiler)]

My answer to reading Question 2 (spoilers up to chapter 23 )(view spoiler)[ I would personally go back into suspended animation, without question. No way, will I want to choose a life of dependence on others and devoid of quality of life even if I had children. To live almost like a cabbage just to stay connected with loved ones is not a choice worth considering and loved ones should understand that choice. In Martin's case, the children are all grown up, flown the nest, so his main role as a father figure in their childhood has gone. Bella is being somewhat selfish...not in a bad way, just not in a considerate way of what her father's dependant state would be.

Amalla, on the other hand is one helluva an awesome character. Her aggression for justice in all things small and large results in the fact she has the biggest heart of the them all. It is Amalla that has the strongest love under that hard shell exterior. Unselfish to the point of making lifelong sacrifices.

Amalla is clearly the star of the show so far and I am dreading how far Martin will fast forward in time, I want more Amalla. There is a heck of a story going on out there with her but we are confined to Martin's perspective...which of course is the purpose of this enrapturing narrative. What we want as a reader is not necessarily what we should get. The author always knows best...well not quite always! But I trust this one :)

(hide spoiler)]

My answer to Reading question 3: (no spoilers)

If we look to the past, pretty much every ancient civilisation have succumbed to extinction either by natural disaster or by self destructive ignorance of their environment.

Our fate could still be either...and WILL be either if the wisdom of our species sway towards the selfishness and denial of our self destructive predicament. If that happens, life will still prevail and evolve, hopefully with greater wisdom and education from what has gone before. And you know what, that's a flipping positive, despite the tragedies of our current ignorance and stubbornness leading to near extinction.

But there is a difference between our current and fragile civilization to those of the past.

This time around, we know our possible fates and more expertly knowledged of our impending environmental and social problems. And with the global internet and television, we are being educated at a far more mass scale. Its possible some wise sages in previous extinct civilisations have also known and warned of self destruction/environmental dangers but were ignored. This time around, we have laboratories seeking a solution to energy shortage in renewable resources and other means, though some controversial, like fracking and nuclear plants. But we have scientists and researchers working on solutions to all sorts of global threats including the biggest problem in anti-biotics which I am surprised the book did bring up (although that might have turned it into a Zombie novel, lol). So thats the difference between our current and past civilisations.

But on the negative side we have the technological prowess to wipe out all life. What really scares me is how much our world can be affected by the influences and actions of one individual. Its a dice game.

The thing is, I think a majority of us knows the perils of our sustaining our future but the people who get into power are almost always by nature, people who seek wealth and prosperity for either themselves or for their country as a priority. Leaders are almost never voted in power for their environmental endeavours for the future but for their promises of better living in the present. Thats the people voting and have only themselves to blame as a collective despite all the noddings and agreements with David Attenborough's warning...we end up at the polls marking an X against the guys who says will lower taxes. That weakness in us might be our obstacle.

Therefore, hope for our species depends on the strength of the world to unite against global threats. Our planet has been through many phases of extinctions including one that nearly wiped off all life (and that's not the dinosaur extinction, that was a just small scale compared to others that have happened). Yet life prevailed. Despite the potential tragedy of near extinctions, I still take comfort in the fact that there will be survivors and they will evolve into hopefully wiser species. We wouldn't be here if there wasnt previous mass extinctions...they were a neccessity to our evolution. I also hope we go further by populating other uninhabited worlds as widespread as possible with our basic building blocks of life to evolve naturally to those world environments. Better still but a harder challenge, to spread our currently complex genetics on other worlds which need terraforming or ourselves altered to adapt to the other worlds environments. Uninhabited worlds as we best not get evil on some poor Navis...


I'd like to pose a reading question if not too late (which I already self answered in my last answer to question 3:

Reading Question number 5: What are your thoughts of colonisation on other worlds? Should we prioritise the pursuit of such an endeavour? How important do you think it is?

[W.]

I did want to share some good news with this group before I posted it anywhere else...

Last week I signed a deal with Podium Publishing, an audiobook company well known for putting out the audio version of The Martian and other big hits. Coincidentally, I was looking into having an audiobook produced while simultaneously reading The Martian when Podium contacted me. The timing couldn't have been better, and some might call it serendipitous. I don't have any other details beyond what I've posted here, but I'd be happy to keep y'all posted.

[Gertie]

Woo! Thanks for the update!