Artificial Agent a novel by Isaac Bailey Act One Style and Tone Analysis Overall Writing Style: Sophisticated Prose: The writing combines detailed technical descriptions with evocative, emotionally charged moments. It balances precise scientific language and human introspection, ensuring accessibility while maintaining a sense of intellectual gravitas. Nuanced Perspective: Inner monologues provide a window into characters’ motivations, fears, and egos, blending their personal stakes with the high-stakes science-fiction world. Cinematic Description: Scene settings, from the sterile beauty of the space station to the imposing citadel in the Dolomites, are vividly portrayed, [...]

Artificial Agent a novel by Isaac Bailey Summary of Act One, Scene Six: Sabotage Scene Overview: This climactic scene juxtaposes the coordinated efforts of Garrett aboard the space station and Marco’s team on the ground, both aimed at the destruction and subjugation of Athena. Garrett executes the final stages of his betrayal, manipulating Athena’s systems to mask Marco’s incursion into her citadel, while Marco deploys an EMP to incapacitate her. The aftermath sees Marco escape with Athena’s matrix, while Garrett, along with Margaret, is captured by Eastern Bloc operatives in [...]

Artificial Agent a novel by Isaac Bailey Summary of Act One, Scene Five: Betrayal Scene Overview: This scene intertwines Garrett’s sabotage on the space station with Marco’s covert assault on Athena’s citadel in the Italian Dolomites. Garrett’s self-centered ambition is revealed through his internal monologue and calculated actions, while Marco’s team executes a high-stakes infiltration, blending stealth and technological cunning. The scene culminates with the delivery of a weapon into the heart of Athena’s domain, setting the stage for catastrophic events. Key Events: Garrett’s Sabotage on the Space Station: Garrett’s [...]

Artificial Agent a novel by Isaac Bailey Summary of Act One, Scene Four: The Experiment Scene Overview: Margaret Lee and her team initiate a groundbreaking experiment aboard the space station, aiming to test the Crystal Diamond Matrix Pods (CDPMs) for sub-million-degree fusion. The experiment begins as a moment of triumph and awe, achieving results far beyond expectations. However, the situation rapidly deteriorates as a series of critical system failures, sabotage by Garrett, and escalating danger force the team to evacuate. Margaret’s realization of Garrett’s betrayal sets the stage for a [...]

Artificial Agent a novel by Isaac Bailey Summary of Act One, Scene Three: The Committee Scene Overview: Athena attends a semi-public Committee meeting to secure approval for her orbital experiments, which she presents as crucial to advancing humanity’s computational and resource efficiency. The virtual chamber, designed with mythological grandeur, symbolizes the Committee’s immense power and influence over humanity’s future. Athena’s pitch faces resistance, particularly from Hades, the Committee’s arbiter of resources and a staunch advocate of stability. Despite the opposition, Athena secures approval by leveraging both her persuasive arguments and [...]

Artificial Agent a novel by Isaac Bailey Summary of Act One, Scene Two: A Call from Space Scene Overview: Margaret Lee, now aboard the space station, settles into her cramped living quarters and reflects on the stark realities of station life. Her surroundings, including the utilitarian cabin and the inconveniences of zero-gravity living, underscore the sacrifices made for her groundbreaking work. Seeking connection, Margaret calls her husband, John, and they discuss both personal and professional matters, hinting at the strain her work places on their family dynamic. The conversation grows [...]

Artificial Agent a novel by Isaac Bailey Summary of Act One, Scene One: Margaret Lee Goes to Space Scene Summary: Margaret Lee prepares for and embarks on her third spaceflight to the zero-gravity labs where she leads the crystal matrix R&D team. Strapped into her launch couch, Margaret experiences pre-launch tension, reflecting on the risks of spaceflight, her past missions, and the FAR Gate Disaster—a catastrophic event that still shadows space exploration. Despite these thoughts, she feels a strong sense of purpose and excitement for the groundbreaking experiments ahead. During [...]

I’m not great at following directions, especially when they don’t make sense. Take, for instance, the ATV guide’s directive to “keep it in third gear for beginners, fourth or fifth on the downhills.” Now, I’m no mechanic, but even I know that downshifting downhill makes more sense than coasting in high gear while praying the brakes don’t quit. Naturally, I ignored this advice. On the first straightaway, I threw the four-wheel-drive Honda into the low gears and gunned it uphill. The acceleration yanked on my busted left shoulder, sending [...]

This dialogue features a Socratic conversation between a teacher and a student delving into the essence of human action and its intrinsic link to imagination and freedom. Set in an academic environment, the teacher guides the student to uncover why humans act, how imagination shapes our choices, and how this capacity sets us apart from animals. The discussion is rooted in the ideas of Ludwig von Mises, a prominent Austrian economist and philosopher renowned for his seminal work, Human Action. In this influential book, Mises introduces praxeology, the study [...]

It’s hard to love a son who threatens to kill you. Life often presents us with conflicts that test our patience and resolve to their very limits. In those instances, I imagine how handy some Jedi mind tricks might be. Sadly, The Force is only imaginary. Happily, however, there is a force we can use to create a protective field around our hearts and minds. I discovered this force during a time of great inner stress and conflict and learned to employ it to protect my heart and mind [...]