16 Comments

Explode all you want, but first a pretzel is in order! Very captivating mystery unfolding over here. It's truly like a movie and must be one some day.

PS: Yesterday I watched the movie The Visitor. I highly recommend specifically because it's quite similar to a situation from your book. Ahem. I won't say anything more.

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Thanks, Nadia. Pretzels before anything. Yes, yes. I have not seen any of "The Visitor" (1979, 2007, 2022). Which one might it be? 😅 I may need to avoid it until I am done!

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It is the most recent one! You must, only to see how it is related to your work!

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If I must then I shall! Does it have pretzels?

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You must, you must! Alas, no pretzels. But you can snack on some, if you feel brave enough!

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Well, this was an unexpected Christmas treat, Alexander! Good to see Carter is still a smart guy to have in a tight situation with the nice Simon and Garfunkel shout out! Just like the professor, it took me a second but I got there. However, that was “two centuries ago?” Did I miss this being set in the 22nd century or am I just getting confused 🤔😁

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Thanks, Daniel. As for the setting, there is a clue in Part One where Jackie talks about her brother in "The Cage" ("Even over a hundred years later, he still finds it intolerable.") which places it end 21st/beginning 22nd century, the AR contact lens being another clue.

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Welcome aboard.

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Heh, I laughed at the pretzel line.

I just did a 😲 along with Dan at the date. I missed that in Part 1 and my brain (despite the tech) had it placed in current time. Very cool details for the observant.

This whips along with action as ever. And as ever, I think "what's going to happen next?!?"

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Thanks, Nathan. Glad to hear it, pretzels are serious business after all, try and swallow them in a dry throat and you may suffocate...

Re: Timeline, it's not all too obvious, because I thought it's also not too important for the overall story, there are a few things here and there that do not exist (yet) tech wise which would put it in the near future plus the comments from characters.

As to what will happen next, we'll have to wait and see. I think Carter need to eat something...

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I look forward to it! Next week, or in the new year?

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Each Wednesday, four more chapters then Part Two will conclude.

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Great. You are better than I am at sticking to a single serial at a time ;)

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Carter is presently urging me to give him pretzels so I better oblige! There will be a little break between Part 2 and 3 but end of Q1 Carter will have had all the pretzels he can eat.

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Great line: "But there may be no explosion, and you will simply cease to be.” “—Not before I get my pretzel.” Poor hungry Samuel Carter appears to be in the hands of well meaning, egomaniacal morons. And he just goes along with it. If he gets out alive I will be amazed.

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Thanks, Sharron. Poor Carter indeed, makes you wonder how much more will he take. Will he get his pretzel? We shall find out, soon.

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