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Episode Summary
We explore two speculative fiction novels that challenge our understanding of consciousness, communication and the human condition.
First, we speak with Cary Groner about The Way, a post-pandemic road novel that blends adventure, Buddhist philosophy, and a hopeful vision of the future after our current civilization has been largely swept away.
“It’s not all doom and gloom. Unlike most post-apocalyptic novels, I wanted to show a world where life adapts, and maybe even gets better.” — Cary Groner
Then, we welcome Silvia Park to discuss Luminous, a hauntingly prescient novel about AI, identity, and the blurred line between human and machine.
We build robots to love us—but does that love mean anything if we programmed it? — Silvia Park
Both stories wrestle with profound questions: What does it mean to live ethically in a fractured world? And can technology truly replace—or surpass—our humanity?
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Key Words: Speculative fiction, post-apocalyptic, robots, human-animal communication, consciousness, AI, Buddhist ethics, Cary Groner, Silvia Park, sci fi, The Way novel,
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