Echoes of Time Quotes

“Kemet is the ancient name for Egypt. It means ‘Black Land,’ referring to the fertile black soil deposited by the annual flooding of the Nile River.”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“According to White Bear”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“to be deaf to the words of”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“astrium deposits left over from an asteroid strike.”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“astrium.”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“The parasite, a protozoan named Toxoplasma gondii, manipulates rodents in a way that’s truly diabolical. When a rodent is infected, the parasite alters its brain chemistry in such a way as to dramatically reduce its fear of predators, especially cats.” He raised his eyebrows. “Even wilder, the infected victim actually becomes attracted to cat urine. In short, under the parasite’s influence, a rodent is induced to ignore its own survival instincts.” Thoth’s face curled up in disgust. “But why? How does that help the parasite?” “Because it desperately wants to be inside a cat. The parasite can reproduce asexually inside any host. However, cats are the only animals that accumulate linoleic acid in their intestines, which the parasite requires for sexual reproduction. It’s evolved to manipulate rodents into becoming cat food, so it can hitch a ride into the cat’s intestines.”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“When we have too much luxury and leisure, and too few life-and-death challenges, some find ways to create these challenges, these dangers, for themselves. So they can feel alive.” Robert’s eyes widened as the point finally sunk in. As a historian, he should have realized what Thoth had been getting at. Alexander the Great had basically conquered the entire known world. But had this made him happy? Content? The answer was a resounding no. History had famously noted that just the opposite had occurred: “Alexander wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“Don’t underestimate the bloodlust and aggression in our genes,” he said miserably. “Buried just below the surface of the most civilized among us. This aspect of human nature has helped our race achieve greatness. Still, it’s also a part of us that requires constant suppression, even while living in paradise.” He sighed. “Especially while living in paradise.” “Why especially?” “Boredom and contentment can be an enemy of our ambitious, aggressive natures. Some have a need to feel adrenaline in their veins, to engage in dangerous activities for the thrill of the danger itself.”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“We have an often-used saying in my time: any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Is that the case here?”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“Artificial intelligence is a primitive construct that often fails to operate in the best interests of all beings. I’m a Quantum Resonance Consciousness.”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“know. But we have to confront the reality that is, not the reality we want.”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“Words like God, Goddess, Deity, Great Spirit, and so on. Whatever you call it, it means all that there is, and the source of all that there is. In”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“Since you know so little, perhaps you aren’t aware that the gut is lined with millions of neurons that pick up on subtle energies and shifts in the environment. In many ways, the gut acts as a second brain, part of an ancient survival mechanism.” Robert’s eyes widened. This was just the latest in a long stream of surprises. Despite their advanced tech, he wouldn’t have expected Thoth to casually know about the Enteric Nervous System, the gut’s complex network of over a hundred million neurons, which Robert thought had been discovered in the nineteenth century. Apparently not. But while discovered, or rediscovered, in the nineteenth century, most people in the twenty-first century had no idea that such a neuronal network in the gut existed.”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller

“Lemuria is a mysterious lost continent in the Pacific, much like Atlantis is a lost continent in the Atlantic. And like Atlantis, mainstream scientists largely don’t believe it ever existed.”
― Douglas E. Richards, Echoes of Time: A Science-Fiction Thriller