I have another book coming out in the world. This one. The Person on the Other Side of This Book. It’s wacky. Kind of science fiction. Kind of memoir. Kind of improv. I don’t know. It comes out on May 30th.
It was quite a journey putting this thing into the world. But it’s out. And I’m pleased with it.
Buy the book. Write a review on Amazon. Post a link about the book. Please?
I’ll entice you with the prologue below. Tease you a little with some wackiness:
***
“Galileo and I,” Professor Arvin Bingleking said severely, “have much in common.”
The pale scholar stood at a lectern in front of a lecture hall full of hypnotized college students. Stood is a generous word. More like festered. His figure was ominous all the same. And sort of depressing. Certainly not attractive.
“Galileo was tried by the inquisition and found suspect of heresy. Many people have suspected me of heresy as well.”
The professor paused for dramatic effect. He attempted to curl his lip into a mischievous smile. It didn’t work. The result was unpleasant. Bingelking’s students didn’t notice. They were mostly asleep. Or daydreaming. Or dead. It was impossible to tell.
Bingleking didn’t notice that his students didn’t notice. As was often the case, he was caught up with himself. So he kept talking. And talking. So many words.
“Galileo’s instruments weren’t as advanced as the Bingleking Drive, but he was the first to identify the speck of light. A dot that has become crucial to the survival of our species.”
Bingleking ran his pale hands through his thinning red hair. Some dandruff fell out. It was gross.
“Europa, or Jupiter II, is the smallest of the four Galilean moons orbiting Jupiter. Discovered in 1610 by Galileo. A smooth moon that is covered in ice.”
Bingleking clicked a pointer to advance the PowerPoint slide that accompanied this lecture. His students, had they been awake (or alive), might have expected a picture of Europa to appear on the screen. Nope. Instead, they were assaulted with a picture of Bingleking standing in front of charts. And graphs. Very scientific. Because charts and graphs are how scientists imagine they are being scientific. Science fiction writers, too. And science fiction readers. Stay tuned.
“There is water on Europa. It is likely that an ocean exists beneath the icy surface of Europa. My research has proved that life is not present on the moon. Not yet. I am working on a project that will allow the human race to colonize Europa as a staging area for future expansion into the universe. Such exploration, we know, is the only future for humanity.”
The professor paused again. He blinked. Like a snake. One of his students dropped their phone. The sound echoed in this dead and dying classroom.
“It is a mistake to think that Europa is just a name to learn in an Astronomy class. Like Galileo, I have come to know the importance of the moon. Unlike Galileo, I will set foot on its surface. I will ensure the survival of humanity.”
Bingleking’s voice was a tomb.
“There is no life on Europa. But there soon will be me.”
***
Isn’t that wacky? Anyway, here’s the link again. I hope you’ll buy it. And read it. And like it. Though I can’t promise anything. It’s wacky.
Samuel Jaye Tanner 