Books
The Secret of the Dragon's Scale
The hunt for a legendary lost ship, the Admiral Benbow, is bound to a web of riddles, mermaids’ curses, and mystic revelations. Young sailor Jim Allardyce joins the crew of the pirate ship the Siren’s Call, led by Captain Billy Bones. They embark on a quest to find the fabled Dragon’s Scale, a mysterious artifact said to be the key to finding the ship and its vast treasure. Along the way, Jim finds romance with Bella, a young village woman who becomes intimately intertwined with their destinies.
What sets The Secret of the Dragon’s Scale apart is its depth. It is not your traditional swashbuckling pirate story. It is a tale of destiny and sacrifice, of the choices that define us, and the truths we uncover about ourselves. It explores the cost of obsession, the power of love, and the realization that the greatest treasures are not found in chests of gold but in the bonds we forge and the lives we choose to lead.
Can You Rape a Robot?
Morality, Rights, and the Rise of Conscious Machines
Humanity finds itself at the threshold of a new ethical frontier. There will come a point where we can no longer reserve human rights for just ourselves, and we will be faced with the profound moral and ethical dilemma of extending such rights to beings of our own creation - conscious machines.
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As artificial intelligence continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, we could soon find ourselves sharing our world with machines that are aware of themselves and the world around them. This isn't in the realm of science fiction anymore, but a reality we may soon need to face head-on. And at that point we will be forced to ask ourselves, must we treat these beings the same way we treat any human? Must we give them the same legal protections, freedoms, and rights that humans have?
Novelettes
Fifteen Men
The Curse of the Aztec Treasure
Pirates have overheard rumors of great riches that lay hidden for centuries inside ancient Aztec temples, and that this was the secret of the small village of Cultivadores de la Tierra.
When the tales found their way to Captain Flint and his crew, they were determined to discover for themselves if the rumors were true. The villagers claimed they did not know about the treasure, but a little girl may have given away the secret. Threatening to kill villagers, Captain Flint demands to be taken to the temples.
Ignoring warnings about the legends of the spirits that guard the temples, and that those who desecrate the temples become cursed, the sacred treasure in the temple is stolen. But the fury of a vengeful spirit could not be ignored.
Reviews
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The Secret of the Dragon's Scale
This was such a pleasure to read! This book is a perfect blend of adventure, romance, and introspection, weaving the magic of pirate lore into a story that offers so much more. The way the author redefines the idea of treasure was so moving. I got very emotional at times, and the writing was incredibly vivid.
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Can You Rape a Robot?
I was very quickly drawn into this book. It is a fascinating look at the potential reality of conscious robots and the questions surrounding our moral responsibilities to them. It is written exceptionally well and asks many fascinating questions to get you thinking about all the possible implications of giving rights to robots. It is definitely a conversation starter. I highly recommend it!
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The Secret of the Dragon's Scale
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This is an unusually deep and thought-provoking pirate story -- so enjoyed this! It has all the elements of a fantastic pirate tale, plus a depth and heart-centeredness that really makes it stand out! Beautiful.
About the Author
As a writer of pirate adventures and science fiction, the creative process is a joy. Bringing to life the vivid imagery of stories is like painting with words, and I find myself lost in the details of the worlds I create.
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On the flip-side, in my writing about artificial intelligence and the future of society, I explore topics such as robot rights. From redefining personhood to reimagining the boundaries of rights and morality, I try to spark conversations that challenge readers to rethink the future of humanity and the how it will be affected by the machines we create.
I have also taught for 30 years not only a variety of biology and chemistry subjects, but also writing and literary analysis. And I am President of the Princeton Academy of Language and Science, and its sister organization BTA Culture and Education Consulting, LLC.