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New Scientist Book Club: Explore an Excerpt from Grace Chan’s Sci-Fi Novel, Every Version of You

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New Year’s Eve will be celebrated in a virtual utopia as “Every Version of You” begins

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The sky this evening is utterly dismal, with vibrant blues merging into streaks resembling turbulent sea water on the horizon, the sun setting against its distorted reflections. The tide rhythmically rolls onto the shore—1, 2, 3 splashes of sand. 1, 2, 3, 4—leaving bubbles in its wake.

Tao Yi sits cross-legged, toying with a nearly empty beer bottle. Long shadows stretch from the sandstone cliffs surrounding her. In this hidden cove, shielded by crimson-hued cliffs, the others remain unseen but their laughter and chatter resonating as they gather driftwood for a bonfire.

She reluctantly allowed Navin to convince her to come here—a mix of obligation and familiarity. This routine unfolds every New Year’s Eve: Zack hosts a party, and missing it would feel wrong.

The bottle feels chillingly cold against her hand, unaffected by her warmth. She brings it to her lips, the last sip burning her throat. The sea’s surface is rippled and opaque, resembling a silken dress blowing in the wind. Awaiting a gust to tousle her hair, she finds only stillness; Gaia’s air isn’t stagnant like a subway tunnel.

The sound of grass rustling in the sand indicates Navin’s approach. He seems almost a stranger now—tall and lean in a short-sleeved shirt and khaki pants, with a messy fringe cascading across his forehead, flashing a charming smile. He extends a fresh beer bottle toward her.

“It tastes awful,” she replies, shaking her head. “Though better than last year.”

She manages a grin, recalling Zack’s experimental brew.

“Come back,” he urges, fingers brushing her hairline. “Help me with the fire.”

Tao Yi lets him assist her to stand. She follows him out of the cove and along the shoreline, carefully sidestepping the rocky formations. His shirt hangs loosely, catching on the edges of his shoulder blades. She longs to touch that downward curve, to confirm it’s real.

Others are filling shallow pits between the dunes and the ocean with driftwood. A dozen or so well-educated twenty-somethings like her and Navin, all lively and engaged in clever banter. They belong to a fortunate generation—born into movement, brimming with opportunities, navigating waves of transformation.

Zack glides effortlessly through the group, drawing others to him like moths to a flame. He appears particularly youthful in his orange shirt and sarong. Leaning over the driftwood, he holds a lit match between his long fingers, like a conductor with a baton. Joyous cries erupt as the flames ignite. If you follow the method, a second attempt won’t be necessary.

Tao Yi activates the live interface. A neon countdown in her peripheral vision reads: December 31, 2087, 9 p.m. Just 3 hours to go! A steady stream of status updates overlays the beach scene, mostly brief four-second video snippets that vanish as soon as she focuses on them. Friends dancing at an open-air concert, racing go-karts beneath digital fireworks, and the exhilarating sound of Stimshots pulsating through a heavy beat.

Evelyn approaches. Tao Yi closes the countdown and snippets. Tonight, her petite friend appears slightly transformed. Clad in a pastel dress typical of her, her dark hair woven into a braid adorned with gothic decals on her cheeks. It’s charming, like a puppy striving for attention.

Evelyn nudges her hip against Tao Yi’s waist. “Flash?” “I’m alright. Why?”

“You seem a bit distant.”

Tao Yi wraps her hand around her elbow, feeling the symmetrical dip behind the joint. “Yeah, just taking a breather. It’s been an eventful day at work.”

“Oh, right. You’re the featured authenticity consultant now,” Evelyn chuckles, elongating the syllables.

Even after six months in this role, the title still sounds peculiar to Tao Yi. She aims to transition from marketing strategies driving consumerism to organizations like True You that steer lost souls towards their genuine selves.

“People are infatuated with their avatars. They want to ensure they’re as distinctive as everyone else.”

“Come on, Tao Yi, don’t play the cynic. I know you’re kind at heart,” Evelyn teases. “Just wait a few more months, and you’ll be spreading the mantra that’ll have you feeling as good as your boss. What’s his name again? Andy? Gary?”

“Griffin. Not even close.”

“That’s it! You know what he told me at the party you took me to last month? With his wide eyes and serious expression: ‘You need to find your own path.’”

“Oh, yeah. He repeats that daily. It’s just my brain filtering him out right now.”

“I told him I was using Google Maps. He didn’t even crack a smile.”

Tao Yi chuckles. “But he’s effective at his job. Want to set up an appointment?”

“No thanks – you all should steer clear of my virtual stuff.”

Tao Yi laughs again, then turns her gaze toward the fire. Evelyn’s attention lingers on Zack. The bonfire’s glow warms his tanned skin, illuminating his sparkling dark eyes and expressive mouth.

For a moment, Tao Yi observes Evelyn fixated on him. Then she soon slips away.

every version of you Written by Grace Chan (Verve Books) is the New Scientist Book Club’s November 2025 read. Sign up to read together here.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New Scientist Book Club Review: “Forbidden” – A Challenging Yet Rewarding Read

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New Scientist Book Club just read Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel The Dispossessed

Gollancz; Benjamin Brink/Oregonian/AP/Alamy

Alex Foster’s reading experience, after shifting our perspectives in a circular motion, led the New Scientist Book Club into two contrasting worlds in Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel The Dispossessed. This authentic sci-fi classic from 1974 oscillates between two timelines. One follows physicist Chebek as he departs from the barren moon Anar to study at the university on Uras, a more prosperous planet, while he simultaneously grows within the anarchist society of Anar.

I first encountered The Dispossessed during my second year of university. At that time, I was captivated by the novel’s structure and the anarchist principles shaping Chebek’s hometown. After all, what better time to dive into radical fiction than as a budding student? On this subsequent reading, however, I found myself more attuned to the human aspects of the narrative. I now have a deeper understanding of Chebek’s character, albeit one I didn’t always sympathize with.

Many club members expressed excitement when we announced The Dispossessed as our next reading. “This is my favorite Le Guin book, though it’s truly hard to choose,” remarked Kelly Jensen. In Rachel Hand’s corners of reading on our Facebook Group, it had been a long-awaited selection for some. For others, it marked their first encounter with Le Guin’s work. New Scientist describes it as a “dive into the deep end.”

Despite its daunting reputation, some readers relished how The Dispossessed brims with concepts surrounding politics, physics, and language. “It’s absolutely spectacular that Le Guin tackles physics on the ‘time’ side of the space-time continuum,” said Laura Akers. Elizabeth Drummond Young appreciated the exploration of “sudden engagement,” examining linguistic and behavioral references, such as how individuals name themselves, paralleling notions introduced by Einstein in the novel.

However, a consensus emerged: few would wish to inhabit Anar, despite its egalitarian ideals. As Laura noted, “They can’t genuinely evaluate life as we do on Earth.” They hold a profound awareness of their ecosystems, yet remain focused on their operational realities.

Gosia Furmanik expressed ambivalence: “On one hand, it’s tremendous that there’s no exploitation, and they can, in principle, do as they please.

This notion came up during a conversation with Marcus Gipps, editor at Le Guin’s publisher, Gollancz. “Everything really comes down to perspective,” he told me. “I’m fascinated to learn about East Germany’s depiction prior to its fall in relation to this book, and I will continue to explore this!”

Perhaps the most contentious aspect of the novel is its portrayal of women. Some readers found the book’s gender ratios frustratingly outdated, feeling that our views of Anar and Uras are filtered through a biased human lens. “I perceived the book’s viewpoint as an internalized bias from the author, which is perhaps expected given its time of writing,” Gothia remarked. “The portrayal of relationships, such as Chebek’s interactions in the planting camp, presents a significant distortion of cis-heteromonogamy—despite the absence of marriage!”

Conversely, others interpreted the novel’s gender politics as more deliberate. “Le Guin aimed to provoke thought about the status of women within Anar’s framework,” Neil Leighton stated. “I don’t agree that we should assume she’s advocating a particular vision of utopia based on the characteristics of Anar’s society.”

With so many intricate ideas woven throughout, it’s no surprise not everyone found the book easy to digest. Phil Gurski had to stop reading around 160 pages in due to confusion, while Steve Swan remarked on needing patience during the initial chapters. Judith Lazelle echoed this sentiment.

I resonate with Phil, Steve, and Judith’s experiences. There are indeed peculiar moments where the book overwhelms with ideas. However, “Ursula Le Guin is an absolute literary master, and I’m a tremendous admirer. I understand why this work has garnered so many accolades.” Yet, I question whether the extensive philosophical deliberations detract from the narrative itself—though as usual, the maestro concludes in a deeply satisfying fashion.”

Fortunately, many members of the book club genuinely enjoyed The Dispossessed. “I adored this book,” exclaimed Neal. “I read it as a teenager and believe it to be one of the most influential texts in my thinking.” Rachel shared, “The ending was my favorite part,” while Terry James found the final 50 pages to be a “fantastic imaginative ride.”

We are now transitioning from a fantastical science fiction realm to the intricate world of neuroscience with our next book club selection: an award-winning nonfiction work. We are thrilled to explore the winners of this year’s Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Award, Our Brains, Ourselves by neuroscientist and clinician Mazood Hussain. Through seven captivating case studies, Hussain illustrates how various neurological conditions impact identity and belonging. This book is sure to engage fans of Oliver Sacks, as Grace Wade termed it “engaging and informative” earlier this February for those eager to delve into neuroscience.

You can find excerpts from this book as well. Additionally, Sandra Knapp, a plant taxonomist at the Museum of Natural History in London and head of the Jury Committee, offers unique insights into the award selection process. She shares what makes Our Brains, Ourselves stand out among other exceptional entries and highlights learnings from this “incredibly compassionate” work. Share your thoughts with us in our Facebook Group, and let us know if you’re excited for our next read.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New Scientist Book Club Review: “Circular Motion” – A Dystopia Strikingly Familiar

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New Scientist Book Club discusses Alex Foster’s Circular Motion

The New Scientist Book Club has taken a turn by revisiting Alex Foster’s Circular Motion, moving from Adam Roberts’ futuristic Lake of Darkness, set thousands of years ahead in a world eerily similar to ours. However, a significant distinction exists; Foster’s universe is dominated by massive aircraft that can traverse the globe in mere hours. This “westerly circuit” not only facilitates rapid travel for the wealthy but also speeds up the Earth’s rotation as the narrative unfolds, especially evident by the conclusion where just two hours have profound implications.

As I mentioned, this book left a strong impression on me. It ticked all my boxes for science fiction: an impending apocalyptic event of nightmarish scale? Absolutely. A society desperately trying to maintain a facade of normalcy? Definitely. A cast of engaging and relatable characters? Yes, indeed. From a science fiction standpoint, it has become my favorite (new) read thus far. I ponder whether it leaned more towards grand physical phenomena (storms, gravity shifts) or more intimate experiences (the psychological burden of merely two hours in this world).

Yet, I found myself at odds with my two-sentence summary. (And isn’t that the charm of a book club, where different interpretations bloom?) While I relish a good dystopia, Neil Leighton found Foster’s grim portrayal of life on Earth a bit overwhelming. “I appreciated it and am glad I read it, but it was overly dystopian, and I’m not likely to recommend it as a gift,” he shared in our Facebook group. “I will say it is solid literary science fiction, but I struggled to suspend my disbelief, and it felt somewhat forced at times. It struck a decent balance between character work and ideas, yet was too dystopian for my palate.”

I wasn’t the only one grappling with the narrative. “I typically have no issues with suspending disbelief, but Circular Motion challenged that,” Jennifer Marano admitted. “Furthermore, the dystopian elements felt too oppressive for Gothia Fulmanik. The narrative felt uncomfortably close to home.”

I am thankful that Gosia highlighted the theme of climate change in this context. Video Interview The book is intended to draw parallels to our current reality. Instead of halting aircraft operations, the protagonists resort to constructing a colossal, vacant “shell” as a technological solution to the very issues they created within the Western Circuit. Many of you witnessed Foster’s characters facing calamities that resonate with our daily existence. “The theme of hubris (attempting to build shields to rectify issues with pods, circuits, gravity, and time) was a poignant and overt lesson,” Steve Swann remarked. It became a discussion point where we all tried to align the world correctly, only to end up exclaiming, “Well, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

For Niall, “as someone concerned about climate change, it serves as a more profound cautionary tale, replete with wise critiques of ineffective technical fixes.”

One aspect that perplexed me was Foster’s dating system, presented as “AH 976,314:17.” Many of you shared the same confusion. Eliza Rose echoed my thoughts, stating, “I didn’t grasp it, nor did I attempt to. I just read along, assuming it wasn’t crucial to the plot.” Phil added, “I would have liked an explanation of the new AH time-measurement system and its introduction.” Thankfully, Paul Jonas provided clarity: “It translates to hundreds of thousands of hours, consistent globally. 970,000 corresponds to 11 years, but good luck wrapping your head around it unless you reset.”

Members of the New Scientist Book Club expressed a desire for more substantial science within this science fiction work. “I felt that the scientific elements were secondary to the characters’ narratives,” articulated one member. “What I longed for was speculation on how an accelerating Earth impacts non-human life forms. This would have significant repercussions for flora and fauna. Gosia, too, expressed a wish for Foster to delve into the experiences of less privileged communities amid the apocalypse (especially considering how climate change disproportionately affects the Global South).

“I craved deeper insights into the systems responsible for the escalating issues surrounding time and travel. For me, it fell short of being authentically science fiction,” Paul remarked.

We aspire that our next reading fulfills those expectations: it is one of the most lauded science fiction novels in history—the award-winning anarchist utopian work by Ursula K. Le Guin, The Dispossessed, released long before 1974. We haven’t tackled classics in a while. Le Guin has been recommended by several of you as the next author, so I’m enthusiastically on board! Book Club members can also enjoy essays from Theo Downs Le Guin, the son of the late Le Guin, who offers unique insights as both a son and a reader (which is fantastic). Join us on our Facebook group for a discussion about this timeless classic and share your thoughts.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Adam Roberts’ New Scientist Book Club Review: Lakes of Darkness – A Mixed Bag

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New Scientist Book Club has just read Adam Roberts’ Lake in the Dark

Laurie photos

Following the journey through Khalian Bradley’s *Time Saving*, the New Scientist Book Club ventured in the opposite direction for our latest read: the far future and some hard science fiction with Adam Roberts’ *Lake of Darkness*. Set in a seemingly utopian society, the narrative revolves around two spacecraft orbiting a black hole, and one captain receiving orders to kill all crew members as commanded by a voice from the depths of that black hole. Not quite utopia, but rather a chilling twist from Roberts’s protagonist, Saccadest in the century, as we delve deeper into this mystical entity.

The reception among our readers is varied; some found it thoroughly enjoyable while others felt its pacing was sluggish. Personally, I resonate with Paul Jonas, a member of the New Scientist Book Club. He shared on Facebook that he was “fascinated by the story” and “appreciated the hard science components relating to space travel, black holes, and utopian societies.” Paul’s insights into the philosophical elements tied to Deleuze’s thinking in this novel truly impress me.

I tend to be quite discerning when it comes to fiction, and rarely find books claiming to be humorous truly engaging (Terry Pratchett being the joyous exception). However, *Lake of Darkness* was different; I found myself intrigued at various moments, particularly appreciating how Roberts’ distant characters grappled with our own history while deciphering what they termed “so-called” *More’s Code*, the ancient system of long and short pulses each symbolizing a single glyph, alluding to the famous Beatles tune, *We All Live in a Yellow Submarine*.

Like Paul, I was captivated by the book’s portrayal of a future utopian society and the dilemmas it presents. During our discussion, Roberts expressed his intention to explore various subgenres of science fiction within his writing. While this perspective on utopia unfolds with its antagonist (spoiler alert – Satan), the idealized vision isn’t as appealing, given that all labor is assigned to “smart machines,” leaving people devoid of functionality. Time becomes filled with hobbies and fandoms, captured in the phrase, “Your people understand the value of everything but the cost. Without a cost, nothing holds worth. The best carries a significant price.” I found it quite delightful to navigate (and read) while contemplating this future society.

Charlotte Sye, another Book Club member, enjoyed listening to the audiobook and shared her enthusiasm: “I love the humor and hard science.” She added, “Life inside a black hole is particularly fascinating, as one character mentions, while there’s tremendous energy, is there really space and time?!”

Barbara Howe, however, had her reservations. She acknowledged the book’s “historical misconceptions” and “utopian critiques,” but felt that the depicted utopia was overly centered on trivial sexual themes, reflecting a male-centric viewpoint, neglecting notions like child-rearing or nurturing that are essential to true progress.

Barbara also pointed out a sentiment echoed by several other readers: she appreciated reading *Lake of Darkness* as an e-book, stating, “I had to look up more words in this single book than in my previous reads.” Alain Pellett echoed this, finding the vocabulary somewhat challenging and “offensive.” Jess Brady shared similar thoughts, enjoying the concept while criticizing the “slow prose.”

While such critiques weren’t particularly noticeable for me—possibly due to my willingness to overlook certain aspects—I did sympathize with Barbara’s assessment regarding the physics: “I tackle explanations of time travel alongside FTL (faster-than-light) travel. I accept these premises; they provide a thin veil of scientific reality over a fantastical plot device.”

Another prevalent criticism among readers was the lack of relatable characters. Alan expressed frustration, noting, “No one seemed sympathetic; their deaths evoked no remorse. They were all insufferable and dim-witted.” Karen Shees concurred, saying, “While the book initially caught my interest, I found the characters so unengaging that I wasn’t invested in their fate.”

I share this sentiment to some extent. Many characters were glaringly absurd, including guunarsonsdottir—distracting. Yet, I believe this serves a purpose, as I relished witnessing the turmoil of these intellectually lazy individuals as they navigated actual threats—through the seemingly redundant formation of another committee discussing their next steps. Moreover, I’m intrigued by the character Bartle Wasp; even the name piques curiosity.

Paul likely feels similarly. “Saccade was a compelling character. Living in a utopia surrounded by AI shapes her perspective. There’s no obligation to fully connect with every character; following their journey can be engaging even if they’re not traditional heroes.”

After finishing *Lake of Darkness*, I found numerous substantial concepts lingering in my thoughts. Did the black hole narrative hold coherence? Was the conclusion truly comprehensible? I’m still pondering—much like Barbara, who concluded that the novel “took unexpected turns and provoked thought.”

“In the latter part, I felt transported back to the 1980s,” she remarked, referencing Douglas Hofstadter’s *Godel, Escher, Bach: Eternal Golden Braid*. “It was a brief throwback, but the ending confuses me. Why did Joins act as she did? Did the entity achieve its desires?”

Paul similarly found the conclusion perplexing. “The ending likely bewildered many due to the complexities of black hole physics,” he noted. “Additionally, the geometric concepts about the inside/outside of infinite structures were truly mind-bending.”

However, let’s shift from the complexities of black holes to the anticipation for our next read. We’ll be diving into Circular Motion by Alex Foster. This captivating debut envisions a gradual acceleration of Earth’s spin, with increasingly disastrous consequences. I’m excited to share it and can’t wait to hear your thoughts! You can preview excerpts here. The narrative examines how this accelerated state might be humanity’s doing. I’ll be discussing the novel with him later this month, so feel free to drop any questions you have in our Facebook group.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Kaliane Bradley’s Verdict on Time of Timeistry for the New Scientist Book Club: Thumbs Up!

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Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time awarded mixed reviews at the New Scientist Book Club

One of the wonderful elements of science fiction is its vastness, a notion emphasized by our two recent readings. The New Scientist Book Club has transitioned from Larry Niven’s classic hard sci-fi piece, Ring World, to Kalian Bradley’s Time Saving, which we’ll delve into this June. The former rigorously engages with scientific principles, while the latter takes a more relaxed approach.

The narrative revolves around an obscure civil servant tasked with assisting historical figures—specifically, the Victorian explorer Commander Graham Gore from 1847. Time Saving intertwines elements of thrillers, romance, and touches of climate fiction, making it an engaging read. Although I adored it, the conclusion left something to be desired, which I’ll elaborate on later. For now, let’s explore the sci-fi elements of the book.

In Bradley’s interpretation, time travel serves as a plot device; it facilitates the transition of characters from the past to contemporary settings. As she notes, “Once you start contemplating the physics of time travel, you’ve entered a tricky realm.” I don’t necessarily view her reluctance to clarify time travel as a weakness—after all, even our greatest physicists have yet to fully understand it, a sentiment shared by many.

“I accepted time travel as a given and shaped the primary plot around it. In the end, it’s approached similarly to numerous other sci-fi narratives.” Facebook Group. “Ultimately, this emphasis on plot and character development made me feel that the novel transcended mere science fiction, transforming into a story set against a sci-fi backdrop.”

Pauline Moncrief, who previously engaged with Time Saving, praised Bradley’s portrayal of time travel as “spot-on” due to its exploration of the paradoxes surrounding it—questions like, “What happens if you travel back and eliminate your grandfather?” This intriguing concern worked well. “Thus, I appreciated the author’s decision to smoothly bypass the technical hurdles typically associated with time travel,” she remarked.

Kristen Millard Shore expressed similar sentiments: “I appreciated the author’s casual handling of time travel—’Let’s not overthink this’ was refreshing.” However, Gosia Furmanik felt differently. While she enjoyed the prose’s creativity and vividness, she found the main plot confusing and felt it lacked urgency until the very end. For someone looking for a focused sci-fi exploration, she wondered if the romance and themes of immigration and identity overshadowed the genre elements.

Gosia might have a point, but I found the romance to be a highlight of the novel, even developing an affection for Commander Gore (which Bradley seemed to share—check out my interview with her for more on this historical crush). As a fan of romantic narratives, I found this aspect delightful. Others echoed my feelings, too.

“I usually don’t gravitate towards romance in books, but I found it well-executed here. Nevertheless, I felt the story encompassed more than just romance; it was enriching overall.”

Phil Gurski, however, took a different stance: “While I enjoyed the concept, it leaned more toward romance than sci-fi,” he noted. “The lengthy sex scene felt unnecessary.” Despite this divergence of opinions, I cherished many aspects of Time Saving, particularly Bradley’s subtle yet brilliant humor. The contrast of a character from the 19th century grappling with modernity—whether it’s Spotify or dishwashers—provided a delightful layer to the storytelling.

“I found myself laughing aloud numerous times,” Kristen concurred. “Especially during the conversations among the female characters about chicken wallets!” The chicken wallet scene was memorable and the interactions among the characters stood out. I found myself smitten, much like Margaret Kemble and Graham Gore did in 1665.

Gosia nodded in agreement regarding the humor: “Initial moments were quite amusing, like the EastEnders reference, but at times, that tone was overshadowed, leading to inconsistencies that detracted from my enjoyment.”

Now, let’s discuss the ending. Provision. Spoiler alert for those who haven’t finished yet! The revelation that Adela was a future version of our narrator caught me off guard, adding an engaging twist that prompted me to revisit earlier elements of the story with this new perspective. I believed these elements held up, though the rapid pace towards the conclusion felt a bit jumbled, especially since I was invested in the romance. I recognize the inherent “time travel” aspect of the story, but I still hoped for more closure.

David Jones echoed my feelings: “I finished and felt disappointed. I loved the characters and believed they deserved a more satisfying ending.” Alan pondered, “Does the author’s craftsmanship with engaging, thoughtful narratives get compromised by editorial constraints?” He felt the conclusion appeared forced and disconnected from the author’s original vision.

“By the 80% mark, I was questioning, ‘Where is this going?’ The narrative seemed too precious until the end, without sufficient payoff.”

Phil shared his thoughts in a Facebook group, stating that the next session’s readings should return to genuine science (fiction), with Lake of Darkness—a paper edition exploring black holes and their mysterious signals—on the horizon. Adam has penned brilliantly insightful essays for our readers, while Emily H. Wilson, a reviewer for New Scientist, expressed her fondness for Lake of Darkness upon its hardcover release, calling it “smart, experimental, and full of imaginative ideas,” eagerly anticipating the journey into an advanced future.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Check Out a Sneak Peek of Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Timeistry for June’s Book Club

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Kaliane Bradley’s protagonist receives surprising news at the Ministry of Time

andrey_l/shutterstock

The interviewer mentioned my name before interrupting my thoughts. I never say my name, not even internally. She got it right, but usually, it’s not the case.

“I’m Adela,” she introduced herself, sporting eye patches and blonde hair reminiscent of hay. “I’m the Vice President.”

“Of…?”

“I hold a position.”

This was my sixth interview. The role was an internal posting, involving Gausch’s use of top secret stamps for documents with salary bands, classified as “security clearance required.” Since I had never reached this security level before, I was puzzled as to why no one explained the job to me. I was thrilled, as my current salary was about to triple. I had to maintain impeccable grades that necessitated my role in emergency response, protecting vulnerable populations, all while managing my home office in the UK. I anticipated working closely with refugees, particularly those with high profit status and specific needs, without realizing the extent of their operations. I assumed they were primarily politically significant exiles from Russia or China.

Adela, the vice-director, held knowledge I could only imagine.

“Your mother was a refugee,” she initiated, a common opening for job interviews.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“From Cambodia,” she continued.

“Yes, ma’am.” I had faced this question repeatedly during the interview process. Typically, people don’t originate from Cambodia, so I posed my answer hopefully, wishing to adjust their perceptions. You don’t Look Cambodian, an earlier interviewer had remarked candidly, inferring I appeared bright like a pilot light under the gaze of camera monitors. I often received such comments, which implied: You resemble someone from a more Mediterranean background — perhaps Spanish — and you don’t reflect the weight of genocide.

There was no further inquiry regarding adaptation to genocide. (Family still there) Understand that? Have you ever traveled there? Sympathetic smile? A beautiful country yet shadowed by sorrow. When I visited I could see it in their eyes. They were exceptionally welcoming… Adela nodded. She requested an unusual fourth option and pondered if it was appropriate to say “dirty country.”

“She wouldn’t label herself a refugee, nor even a former refugee,” I mentioned. “It’s peculiar to hear people use that term.”

“The individuals you assist are unlikely to prefer such terms either. We prefer ‘foreigners.’ In response to your query, I am the deputy director of the expatriates.”

“And they are foreigners from…?”

“History.”

“Excuse me?”

Adela shrugged. “We have time travel,” she stated, as casually as one might explain the coffee machine. “Welcome to the Ministry.”

This excerpt is shared with permission from Kaliane Bradley’s Time Saving, Published by Scepter. This is the latest selection for the New Scientist Book Club. Join us and read along here.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Looking up in the city of stars: The Los Angeles Astronomical Club keeps searching

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LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles boasts the world’s most prominent celebrities, yet monthly gatherings reveal that the city’s affluent and renowned individuals have an interest in the cosmos.

The Silver Lake Star Party, organized by the Los Angeles Astronomical Association, started with a few telescopes in the heart of the city. It has evolved into a popular evening hangout. Members convene every Monley, welcoming hundreds of strangers to peek through their personal telescopes.

“It’s truly breathtaking,” remarked member Bobby Kabubaguestuk. “The allure, the thrill, the wonder of seeing Saturn, Jupiter, and the Orion Nebula for the first time.”

Children examining the telescope at the Outdoor Astronomy Club event in Los Angeles on April 18, 2025.
NBC News

Society aims to cultivate an interest in space. Despite the bustling urban setting not being an ideal location for stargazing, society members manage to make it work.

“Even in busy, densely populated, light-polluted areas, there is always something captivating in the night sky. It presents an opportunity to connect with the cosmos,” shared Cabbagestalk.

While some organizers are seasoned astronomers, others like Cabbagestalk are simply enthusiastic. They elucidate on what viewers observe through the telescope, identifying constellations and planets.

“These stars, planets, and the moon are present daily, yet we often overlook their magnificence,” reflected Cabbagestalk. “By coming here, people can slow down and gain a new perspective on the world and universe around them.”

This event is open to individuals of all ages, free of charge. All that is required is a willingness to gaze into the celestial wonders above.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Review of “A Boy with Dengue” by Michel Nieva from Book Club Members: Candid Thoughts

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Michelle Nieva and his novel, Dengue Boy

I’ve read all sorts of things from classic slices of Dystopian Fiction by Octavia E. Butler at the New Scientist Book Club. The Memories of SowingAdrian Tchaikovsky’s Space Exploration Alien clay. Michel Nieva Dengue fever boy (And if you haven’t read it yet, this is not an article for you: spoilers first!) was something completely different.

There was part of this novel I loved, especially the wild originality of Nieva, who dreams of his future world. This is where Antarctic ice thawed in 2197, and sea level rise means that Patagonia, once famous for its forests, lakes and glaciers, has transformed into a scattered path on a small, burnt hot island.

It is the place where “hundred thousands of unrecorded viruses emerge each year thanks to the complete deforestation of all forests in the Amazon and China and Africa.” And when the infinite and terrible ingenuity of humanity means that people are currently trading on the Financial Virus Index. Powered by quantum computers, this is “not only determined at 99.99% effectiveness, but it is likely that these new viruses will not only unleash a new pandemic, but will collect stocks from companies that are likely to benefit from its effectiveness and offer them to the market in packages sold like pancakes.” Great idea!

I also think Nieva’s writing (translated by Rahul Bery) will occasionally leap to elevated levels. At some point, our hero is early in school (because she can fly there, unlike she’s narrated in traffic). She needs to “wait completely still for a few minutes, minutes, minutes, minutes, minutes, no idea what her excessive cor should do.” Excessive corporateity! It would be a glorious and appropriate explanation of this miserable mosquito.

It has an unbearable emotional feeling. This was with me after finishing and stayed with the vision of Niwa’s great iceberg gallery. “I couldn’t walk through the Great Iceberg Gallery and in the early stages I couldn’t feel the sudden weight of the world. The relic box of true planetary gemstones, its total age was greater than that of all humankind.”

And I can only admire Neeva’s virtuosity in thinking of myself in the mind of a murderous mosquito. I think he can do this a lot. My sympathy enjoys what half of us wanted with our “stubbornly murderous” hero, half of which was violently postponed by her actions.

Some of you have seen a lot of positive things in the novel. “If I solved that this is not science fiction, but a realism of the magic of South Americans, I enjoy it (a huge fan of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Italo Calvino, and Umberto Eco. It’s a completely different genre.” Facebook Groupwhere do all these comments come from? “It’s weird, surreal and all-talented, and I think it works very well in these terms.”

For Terry James, the book began hard. We need to deal with “rough language” as we needed a lot of disbelief halts to embrace the protagonist of Nieva’s mosquito (and its incredible size). However, Terry was happy he kept going. “The more I read, the more I enjoyed it. I found literary techniques to reveal the inner struggle of the wealth, privilege and the gorgeousness of the poor, as very effective,” he wrote. “This book is creative.”

I think David Jones nailed it when he said “reading isn’t comfortable,” but he “actually enjoyed it a lot.” “It’s a very dystopian satirical, very bloody view of the future. It’s the day you read and digest how I felt about it,” he writes.

But perhaps this is because I am not a steampunk enthusiast, as the novel is mentioned on its cover. The “excessive corporation” I enjoyed with mosquitoes comes in a variety of scenes of violence and sexual depravity that I found difficult to read. I’m a Stephen King fan – I don’t mind a bit of fear and gore. But I really didn’t understand what brought richness to the story here other than making me totally terrible. I hated the sheep! I really hate it! (As some may say, that was the point, but for me it was a point that I wasn’t keen on being made.)

And when our mosquitoes were on a bloody adventure, I found it later on when we were on a bloody adventure that was far more convincing than the Borges-esque “Computer Games in Computer Games” section we had reached. It was on the wrong side of Surreal for me, or I wasn’t getting it. Terry James also had problems with the “Mighty Anarchy” component of the story and was unable to grasp its meaning. “I call this kind of ideology pseudointelligence, because it sounds very clever, but doesn’t make sense in a holistic, integrated system,” he wrote.

Overall, for me, this is not the book I’m coming back to, and I think the majority of our members were also more negative about this than positive. Judith Lazelle felt that was “unfortunate.” “Free sexual fantasy and undeveloped characters, violence is explicit and rebellious. Perhaps that was the point,” she wrote. [was] It’s effective in bringing back memories of terrible places to live.”

For Eliza Rose and Andy Feest, it was their least favorite book club ever read. Like me, Eliza wasn’t a fan of body horror, but she liked some of the corrupt companies in the storyline. “I think he’s finished it well enough because he feels like he told the story, but I didn’t need all the gore,” she wrote.

Andy described the story as “plain and weird,” and Nieva came up with an interesting concept, but he felt he could have used more backstory and details. “The end was a shame (I can’t say I’m confused),” Andy writes. “Overall, I was grateful that this was a short book because I wasn’t sure if it was a bigger novel (and I hate that I haven’t finished the book I started paying for).

Perhaps Andy doesn’t have to pay for the next book: We’re reading: Larry Nivens Ring WorldAn old classic that many of you may have on your shelf. Come and tell us what you think about us Book Club Member Facebook Pagetry this excerpt and get insight into how Larry came up with the work he wrote here to come up with the epic creation mechanisms.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

My Choice of Mosquitoes as the Hero: A New Scientist Book Club Discussion

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An unusual look hero

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Hero Ideas Dengue fever boy Mosquitoes would have appeared in 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when a dengue outbreak exploded in my hometown of Buenos Aires. Dengue fever spreads all the way Aedes aegypti mosquito. This insect thrives in tropical and subtropical climates and is commonly found in many warm and humid regions of Northern Argentina.

However, in recent decades, global warming has spread to traditionally cold, yet mild climates, such as Buenos Aires and Patagonia. One of my best friends had dengue fever in 2020, but as all media attention was focused on Covid-19, the city’s public hospitals had limited testing and there was no way to get proper diagnosis or treatment. Furthermore, there were no effective vaccines or medications for dengue at the time.

During this unsettling time for my friends and people with dengue in Argentina, US company Modern announced its vaccine against Covid-19 just a few days after the genetic sequence of SARS-COV-2 was issued. This has made me think about the terrible corporate bias in scientific research, as mosquito-borne diseases (dengue, zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, etc.) have killed hundreds of thousands of people over the centuries. In fact, mosquitoes are considered the deadliest animals for humans, according to historians. Timothy Wine Guardkilled more people than anything else in history.

However, these diseases affect people in low-income countries, so there was not enough investment in vaccines or treatments. Meanwhile, biotech companies only needed a few months to develop, patent and sell products that tackle Covid-19.

So, this idea came to me to tell the story of the global Southern pandemic through the lens of the mosquito itself.

Partly inspired by the artists I admire (Franz Kafka, David Cronenberg, Hidosi Hino), I leaned a bit ironically on Latin America’s most commercially popular genre, and I was convinced that the imaginary subtitles of my story should be “the self-capacity of a mosquito.” At the same time, one of the themes of my writing was inhumanity, and I was interested in the challenge of making insects the protagonist of a novel (a genre historically designed to tell the human age, psychology, and stories). How can we achieve this by mimicking and empathy with the human experience, especially insects that are as annoying as mosquitoes?

I became a mosquito and had to adopt that perspective. I have given the famous Frobertian motto.”Madame Bobbery, C’est Moi” And I changed it to my own: Le Moustite, c’est moi.

Ursula K. Le Gin once said The basic property of science fiction is to act as a carrier bag allowing for the transition of ideas from fiction to other scientific and technical discourses. This way, this genre becomes a mutational transition ( Dengue fever boy Between literature and non-literary knowledge.

I’ve always been very grateful for this idea. Because nothing in my work as a writer would please me more than studying topics I had never noticed before.

For this book, I consulted dozens of papers and manuals on entomology, and I became a “mosquito” overnight. It was important to know the details of mosquito anatomy, explain it, and understand how its body works and feels. Therefore, although the main character is inspired by my friend, a man, I discovered that the mosquito that tells the disease is a female.

The female perspective was also guided to investigating how non-mammalian oviparous animals are involved in maternal care. Eggs designed for films by HR Giger alien drawn and classified by the naturalist Ernst Heckel, in his illustrated treatise, Georges Bataille’s The story of the eyes It also fueled this oval obsession.

In this novel, I tried to tell a story about climate change from a perspective that restored human lives more than humans. I hope readers will resonate with my hero.

Dengue fever boy Michel Nieva, translated Published by Serpent’s Tail from the Spanish of Rahul Bery the latest choice for the New Scientist Book Club. Sign up here and read with us

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Is Tesla’s Board Operating as a Public Company or a Fan Club for Elon Musk? | Nils Pratly

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ohThe rational view on the Elon Musk compensation issue is that Tesla shareholders should stick to their guns and re-approve his astronomical $56 billion compensation, sending a message to the interventionist Delaware judge who struck down the 2018 plan that they are more than capable of making their own decisions.

Broadly speaking, that’s the stance taken by Baillie Gifford, an early and large investor in electric-car companies. “When we agreed the compensation package with Tesla in 2018, we were doing it because we had set ambitious targets that, if met, would deliver huge returns for shareholders,” says Tom Slater, manager of FTSE 100 Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. He told the Financial Times “Since we agreed to this, we believe we should pay it,” he said last month. Certainly, this statement has the virtue of consistency: we know what we voted for, and a deal is a deal.

Similarly, no one is likely to complain that Norway’s sovereign wealth fund will vote in opposition on Thursday, just as it did in 2018. The fund opposed the plan then, and sees no reason to change its view just because Tesla’s shares have since soared, triggering a record payout to Musk before a Delaware court stepped in.

So the reapproval vote would produce a similar result to the original 73% majority. The shareholder register has changed over the years, but not by much. If anything, retail investors, who make up almost 40% of the stock, seem to have become even more enamoured with Musk lately. And if the majority is indeed secured, that would be the end of the matter and we wouldn’t have to go to court again.

But before this furor fades from the headlines, there’s the small matter of what Delaware Judge Katherine McCormick actually said. Her 200-page ruling January. Read in its entirety, the impression one gets is that Tesla’s 2018 board is a collection of casualties too subservient to its boss to even implement a semi-robust process for setting his incentives.

No one disputes that Tesla’s stock price would have needed to undergo a minor miracle to realize Musk’s full prize money, which had to top $650 billion by 2028, compared with a valuation of around $50 billion (it actually took just three years to achieve that goal). Rather, the problem was the people Tesla appointed to negotiate with Musk and determine a fair prize.

As the judge noted, lead director Ira Ellen Price had a 15-year business relationship with Musk. Another member of the working group, Antonio Gracias, vacationed with Musk’s family. A third, Musk’s former divorce lawyer and company general counsel Todd Maron, “broke down in tears in praise of Musk during testimony.” McCormick concluded that the adjudication process was “deeply flawed” and that the terms were “not entirely fair” to all shareholders. In short, Musk said what he wanted and received minimal backlash.

In theory, Tesla’s board had some powerful cards to play. At the time, Musk owned just over a fifth of Tesla’s stock (before he sold some to fund his Twitter antics), so he couldn’t have lacked the appetite to pursue a goal of “transformative” growth. Even without a plan, every $50 billion increase in Tesla’s market cap was worth $10 billion to Musk. This negotiating point appears to have been ignored.

The company has not adequately addressed the judge’s criticisms of the process. Chairman Robin Denholm, who took over in late 2018, said: He said the board “supports this package” and feels vindicated by what has happened.As a precaution, the company adopted Musk’s plan to move Tesla’s headquarters to Texas.

If Musk asked for a larger stake to keep him focused on Tesla and not on his personal company, would the supposedly independent directors go along with it? Probably.

So even if we accept that contracts, even the obvious excesses, should be honored, the lack of soul-searching in Tesla’s boardroom is astonishing. The lesson to be learned from this is that this is a public company, and the job involves more than being a cheerleader for Elon Musk’s fan club.

Source: www.theguardian.com