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Award-winning science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer talks about his newest novel, The Downloaded.
What happens when it’s possible to digitize human consciousness and uploading them for short term or long term storage in a quantum computer system? What happens when things go sideways and your consciousness and your body are stored for far longer than initially intended? How do you rebuild civilization, a world lost to time… or can you?
Robert talks about how this story was inspired by observing how people began living in an uploaded and networked state during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, and the things people went through while adjusting to being locked down, then readjusting to interacting with the real world again. The Downloaded looks at the many elements and influences that affect rebuilding efforts and ways to think about getting past or around those.
He mentions how intellectual property being treated differently than physical media and property in terms of inheritance and the complexities around passing on the rights to those.
He also talks about the making of the Audible Original version, with a full cast production with some top tier Hollywood talents, and the fun of being there while parts were being recorded. And there’s potential for a sequel…
Website: sfwriter.com
Twitter: @RobertJSawyer
Bluesky: @robertjsawyer.com
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