Below is the Author’s Note from the new novel, Surviving New America: Hope Thomas and Her Enemies. Check out the book’s description, the Prologue, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Here’s a .PDF. Here is a little bit about me. If you’re interested in buying the eBook or paperback (Thank You!), click here or on the Amazon ad.
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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, a U.K.-based commemorative organization, says that on November 11, 1918—the day World War I ended—there were approximately 11,000 casualties, including about 2,750 fatalities.
This is sad and poignant, of course. Some of the casualties likely occurred before the documents ending the war were signed. Others likely were the resu
lt of battles that took place despite the combatants knowing it was over. Orders are orders, after all. However, it is almost certain that many of the injuries and deaths occurred simply because word that World War I was over had not been received.
My wife and I have two daughters, one in the states and one in Europe. Our family recently had a WhatsApp chat. The two kids walked through the streets of their communities. One went to a coffee shop. We patiently listened to her order. The other arrived at her apartment and “took us” upstairs.
Using devices small enough to carry in a pocket, the four of us spent a pleasant half hour or so catching up. The video was vibrant and the audio clear. And networking is so inexpensive and the networks so robust that it all was free.
From Armistice Day to the virtual family time was just over 100 years. A handful of people were alive when both occurred. The speed with which technology evolves is remarkable and orders of magnitude faster than our ability to integrate the changes into our personal and civic lives.
That’s what this novel, which started as a hybrid COVID/bucket list project, is about. The goal is to dramatize the explosion of communications technology, which has transformed our lives, the lives of our communities and society in virtually every way imaginable.
This novel was written in the spirit of the great Michael Crichton. It is an attempt to dramatize the radical nature of the advancements and identify the profound challenges they pose.
Thank you. Please drop me an email at survivingnewamericanovel.com with comments, questions or if you would like me to let you know when the second volume is available.
Carl Weinschenk