Joseph Bridgeman, haunted by his sister Amy's disappearance over twenty years ago, discovers he can time travel after visiting a hypnotherapist. He sets out to save Amy, but each attempt becomes more challenging as he struggles to master his new skill. With the help of Alexia Finch, Joseph embarks on a desperate race against time to solve the mystery of Amy's disappearance.
Vernor Vinge's "True Names and Other Dangers" is a collection of science fiction short stories exploring themes of technological singularity, artificial intelligence, and the nature of reality. The stories often feature advanced technologies and their impact on humanity, raising questions about the future of consciousness and the potential for technological transcendence. Vinge's work is characterized by its intellectual depth and exploration of complex philosophical ideas. His stories often blend hard science fiction with thought-provoking narratives, making them engaging for both science enthusiasts and fiction readers. The collection showcases Vinge's unique ability to weave intricate plots with profound philosophical undertones.
The Bobiverse series begins with 'We Are Legion (We Are Bob)', where Bob Johansson is transformed into a digital consciousness and becomes a von Neumann probe exploring the universe. The series expands with 'For We Are Many', 'All These Worlds', and 'Heaven’s River', each delving into themes such as autonomy, morality, and the nature of consciousness. The series is known for its blend of adventure, exploration, and philosophical inquiry, with a lighthearted and humorous tone. The latest book in the series is 'Not Till We Are Lost', released in September 2024[4].
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
Published in 1992, 'Snow Crash' is a science fiction novel by Neal Stephenson that delves into a future where the United States has fragmented into corporate city-states and the internet has evolved into a virtual reality called the Metaverse. The story follows Hiro Protagonist, a pizza delivery driver and part-time hacker, and Y.T., a teenage skateboard courier, as they navigate a complex world threatened by a mysterious computer virus and a powerful drug known as Snow Crash. The novel explores themes of history, linguistics, anthropology, and computer science, and is noted for its prescient vision of the metaverse and its influence on Silicon Valley innovators[2][3][5].
Written in epistolary form, the novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant and ambitious scientist who, driven by Enlightenment-era ideas of progress and science, creates a living being from dead body parts. However, upon seeing the creature come to life, Frankenstein is horrified and abandons it. The creature, shunned by society due to its appearance, seeks revenge against its creator, leading to a series of tragic events. The novel explores themes of guilt, loss, and the emotional and moral consequences of scientific hubris, blending elements of Gothic and Romantic literature.
Author, journalist, travel writer & software engineer Jon Evans joins us to weigh in on the cultural history (and present-day sentiment) of AI doom. Along the way, we talk plausible Sci-Fi, ultrasound drug delivery, the maybe-evolving laws of physics & even weirder stuff.
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Featuring:
- Jon Evans – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, X
- Jerod Santo – GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X
- Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X
Show Notes:
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The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source 
