I had to ponder on your “trilogy” because I couldn’t figure out what the overriding message was until the final installment. When I reread it, in its entirety, the love story emerged more fully. I was intrigued by the psychological subtheme of paranoia and anxiety. Great writing and thoughtful character development. Thanks for the notes too 🙏
Thank YOU Phillip for reading and giving it that attention. Yes it's hard to keep track in serialized fiction so I appreciate it all the more. Glad you enjoyed the story.
I guess the way technology makes inroads into the lives of people is by solving problems that cause a lot of suffering. And there is so much suffering in the world, unfortunately.
For e.g., 42,514 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the US in 2022 (DoT-FARS data). I think these families will choose autonomous cars regardless of the ethical concerns related to autonomous decision making or privacy concerns due to data collection.
49,476 people died from suicide in the US in 2022 (KFF.org). Maybe some of these people wanted a caring person or two. If a robot is indistinguishable from a human and far better in terms of compassion and care, why not?
Thank you Rob! Such thoughtful comments and I completely agree. Technology - starting with fire - has reduced so much of our suffering and there is so much more to come. I also agree with your general optimism. I think the story was trying to say a couple of things 1. when tech gets in the hands of the wrong people - an all powerful malevolent government for instance - we can be persuaded to do things that are not to our benefit. And 2. Yes many needs can be met with tech, it's a life saver of course as you say. I even agree there is a proper role for robots. However I'm positing we need spiritual connections that a robot cannot provide. That does not mean there is no role for robots / such interactions e.g., social media has increased our connections and made us more/ easily connected to so many we'd lose touch with otherwise but when it's been used as a full substitute for human connection, it has wreaked havoc with our mental wellness... But all in all a big THANK YOU for your thoughtful engagement. We writers live for this kind of thing... :-)
Your work and writing is so brilliant, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Maya and the notes - a blending of history and the present-future, the common thread of humanness for what's really real, what really matters? What choices of ours are truly human to the core - in their authenticity and inauthenticity - even without AI or other alterations? It stirs up a lot for me, things I have long contemplated in my poetry journey.
Dear Pragalbha! That is SO wonderful to read. Thank you so much for reading and for your reflections. And I couldn't agree more with your point about, "authenticity and inauthenticity - even without AI or other alterations" - we all want and need that don't we? And when we meet an authentic soul who reflects in a truthful way our own values, what a feeling of joy and recognition it is! Thank you for being who you are.
Much luck with this: futuristic, so hard to do. But you are up to it. Hope you'll join me on my memoir and novel. So much out here: I know hard to choose and also work.
I had to ponder on your “trilogy” because I couldn’t figure out what the overriding message was until the final installment. When I reread it, in its entirety, the love story emerged more fully. I was intrigued by the psychological subtheme of paranoia and anxiety. Great writing and thoughtful character development. Thanks for the notes too 🙏
Thank YOU Phillip for reading and giving it that attention. Yes it's hard to keep track in serialized fiction so I appreciate it all the more. Glad you enjoyed the story.
I guess the way technology makes inroads into the lives of people is by solving problems that cause a lot of suffering. And there is so much suffering in the world, unfortunately.
For e.g., 42,514 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the US in 2022 (DoT-FARS data). I think these families will choose autonomous cars regardless of the ethical concerns related to autonomous decision making or privacy concerns due to data collection.
49,476 people died from suicide in the US in 2022 (KFF.org). Maybe some of these people wanted a caring person or two. If a robot is indistinguishable from a human and far better in terms of compassion and care, why not?
Thank you Rob! Such thoughtful comments and I completely agree. Technology - starting with fire - has reduced so much of our suffering and there is so much more to come. I also agree with your general optimism. I think the story was trying to say a couple of things 1. when tech gets in the hands of the wrong people - an all powerful malevolent government for instance - we can be persuaded to do things that are not to our benefit. And 2. Yes many needs can be met with tech, it's a life saver of course as you say. I even agree there is a proper role for robots. However I'm positing we need spiritual connections that a robot cannot provide. That does not mean there is no role for robots / such interactions e.g., social media has increased our connections and made us more/ easily connected to so many we'd lose touch with otherwise but when it's been used as a full substitute for human connection, it has wreaked havoc with our mental wellness... But all in all a big THANK YOU for your thoughtful engagement. We writers live for this kind of thing... :-)
Very intriguing! I love the symbolism.
Thank you Valentina! Hope you’ll read. I’d love your thoughts both as a reader and especially as a psychologist.
On my reading list :)
Yay!!! Thank you.
Your work and writing is so brilliant, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Maya and the notes - a blending of history and the present-future, the common thread of humanness for what's really real, what really matters? What choices of ours are truly human to the core - in their authenticity and inauthenticity - even without AI or other alterations? It stirs up a lot for me, things I have long contemplated in my poetry journey.
Dear Pragalbha! That is SO wonderful to read. Thank you so much for reading and for your reflections. And I couldn't agree more with your point about, "authenticity and inauthenticity - even without AI or other alterations" - we all want and need that don't we? And when we meet an authentic soul who reflects in a truthful way our own values, what a feeling of joy and recognition it is! Thank you for being who you are.
Much luck with this: futuristic, so hard to do. But you are up to it. Hope you'll join me on my memoir and novel. So much out here: I know hard to choose and also work.
Thank you dear Mary! 🙏Appreciate your words very much.
Do tell me about your project - I’d love to learn more and all the best to you ❤️
Who by Fire: https://marytabor.substack.com/s/who-by-fire-a-novel