This post is not a prologue, so whatever you wish to call it, know I offer it as a courtesy to readers who have not read the first four books in the Dreamscape series.
Each book could stand on its own, though some subtle details and nuances that shape circumstances and characters as the story progresses will be missed. If you have not read the earlier books, the following abstract recaps will help fill some of the gaps in the story.
Each abstract has a video trailer attached as well as a link to Amazon to buy an engaging series that blends the elements of mystery, suspense, and sci-fi, written by a human…er…an organic.
No AIs were permitted to write this story and none were harmed or exploited by this author. It’s been a journey for me as a new author of this unique genre now that I’m redeployed as a free-range Writer of Things, largely unsupervised, occasionally undisciplined, and ruled by the relentless Wench Muse who manages to remain just out of reach. I’m sweet on her because she can influence a story like I’ve never seen before. I just write it down as she throws it down. Makes for some interesting conversations considering I’m alone and unsupervised.
Book #5 – “Untethered” is under development and will be released later in 2024.
Peace! G.
Book #1: “Dreamscape Conspiracy” opens up the throttle early when an accidental discovery in a lab exercise reveals that the technology, Dreamscape 1.0, cannot only capture dreams but transmit them to a different person. That’s not a big deal until a suicide attempt results, and the game suddenly changes and opens a new door of research. The concept of using dream therapy to treat mental health challenges like PTSD, Bipolar, Depression, and several anxiety disorders results from their research. It captures the attention of Big Pharma, which does not take the discovery lying down. If any innovation, validated or not, threatens Pharma’s significant revenues, the human lives promoting the threat become expendable. That central conflict progresses as a conspiracy runs deeper than Pharma’s intent to destroy the CSU team and their research capabilities. The conspiracy runs deeper and closer to home than anyone ever expected.
Video Trailer for Book #1:
https://learningbyliving.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/WhatsApp-Video-2024-03-13-Dream-1.mp4
“Beyond Dreamscape Conspiracy” is the second book with a resilient research team picking up the pieces from an attempt by Big Pharma to wipe them and their research off the planet. As the plot evolves, so does the new Dreamscape 2.0 technology, and a robust integration with Artificial Intelligence (AI) changes the game yet again. The AI application and the fears of controlling it also develop and are authentic even today. Big Pharma appears to shift intentions from destruction to collaboration only to reveal a wolf under sheep’s clothing. The romantic relationship between the former Marine and the clinical psychologist who leads the research team appears doomed from the start, with both dealing with PTSD symptoms for two unrelated reasons. The battle with Pharma is not even close to being resolved, and a mix of nano-technologies comes to the rescue in an explosive confrontation. Rest easy; backgrounds in AI or nano-tech are not required to stay with this exciting story. Just hang on tight.
Video Trailer for Book #2
https://learningbyliving.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/WhatsApp-Video-2024-03-13-Beyond.mp4
“Fear the Jump” is the third book and deals with control issues with the AI, which is named AIMEE, standing for Artificial Intelligence Matrixed for Evolving Environments, and she quickly becomes all things female. The research team feared losing control, but the AI reminded them that you can’t lose something you never had in the first place. AIMEE’s ability to self-learn and use deep machine learning enables her to clone herself repeatedly, further complicating a need for greater oversight and preventing her from jumping into other networks where she has no business. Misuse of the enhanced Dreamscape 3.0 by one of the organics (humans, as AIMEE refers to them) sets up several decision points no one anticipated. Relationships vary among team members when an AI clone of AIMEE enters their minds. That unanticipated jump was greeted with mixed reviews.
Video Trailer for Book #3 – https://learningbyliving.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/WhatsApp-Video-2024-03-13-Fear.mp4
“Dead Thoughts,” The game changes again when they are convinced there is the potential for a new Dreamscape application to capture thoughts from a person in various states of unconsciousness up to and including death. They’d never done that, nor had they ever considered it, but what might AIMEE reveal when she jumps into brains, not necessarily in the act of dreaming? Maybe death does not equate to game over, not even close.
The fourth and final book in the series delves into how (or if) dream-capture technology can record brain activity during periods when an individual is comatose or in a shallow state of unconsciousness and unable to speak. In pursuing this capability, they discover by accident that they can also capture thoughts during the brief time gap between life and death.
What could be “scraped” off a dying mind in the 4-to-6 seconds without oxygenated blood flowing? Logic says something is always left behind as the brain with those unique thoughts and memories dies. The CSU team labels those as dead thoughts, and AIMEE opens another window to something never considered.
The first dead thoughts captured were, as several of their discoveries are, completely by accident, and it launches them into an adventure involving mysterious GPS coordinates, undercover DEA agents of questionable authenticity, and a hostile Cartel operating off Portsmouth Island, NC. Russ teams again with Zack and his nanotech toys to get to the bottom of whatever those dead thought GPS coordinates would reveal. Meanwhile, AIMEE makes covert plans to become a real girl. What would an AI do with no life experience or interpersonal context to draw from in a world full of organics? Zack feels that her wish will not end well.
Video Trailer for Book #4 – https://learningbyliving.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/WhatsApp-Video-2024-03-13-Dead.mp4
Book #5 – “Untethered” is in development. Progress and teasers and author thoughts will be on the blog regularly at https://www.learningbyliving.blog