Buy the Stories here: |
Another site from me:
Less, well, fictive. http://pyegar.com/
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many stories are there in this series?
A: Four.
Q: Does Dan really believe in ghosts?
A: You'll have to buy the book to find out. Hint: Not exactly.
Q: Why are most of the musicians in the Club so young?
A: I'm not sure. Dan doesn't know. It does seem that many rock musicians die young. It's sad. A short, intense life.
Q: Does Dan have a love interest?
A: He loves his music. And Science. He struggles with his other relationships. I think he would have a girlfriend eventually.
Q: Would the ghostly musicians live forever?
A: No, they only have so much "juice" in their psyches, and it can't be replenished. The most they have is their natural span; i.e. had they not died young, they go about when they would have died, old (Absent other factors, i.e. smoking, heart disease, plane crashes...)
Q. What does it mean to be a skeptic?
A. That's an interesting question, because the answer sounds like it should be simple, but it's not. . I've seen multiple definitions. I think it entails taking a critical view to non-trivial questions, demanding evidence and logic for all important assertions, and preferring falsifiable and replicable results. In short, it is a lot like what regular people believe scientists do, in their professional lives. I don't think skepticism need imply disbelieving anything and everything, for example, we are not brains in a jar (the world as a simulation run by a alien mad scientist), the world did not start five minutes ago, the people in your life whom you trust probably -- but not certainly -- are worthy of trust, etc. Which is to say, radical skepticism is probably a straw man here. Dan follows Popper, but he doesn't go all the way to Quine-- or Hume. These guys are pretty good, as a starting point -- Skeptic.com : Skepticism 101 (Note: I have no affiliation with the Skeptics Society, I just like their stuff. )
Q. What does it mean to be a Neuroscientist?
A. Basically, working neuroscientists poke around -- in a helpful way -- in people's brains, to find out what's wrong and see if they can fix it. Research neuroscientists run experiments to test hypotheses and create new knowledge, applied to unsolved problems. Check Wikipedia for more about that.
Q. Are the technologies in the stories real?
A. Some are, some aren't. fMRI, SPECT and MEG are quite real. Supercapacitors are real, and they are cool. Check YouTube for some fun things people are doing with them; but be careful. Don't blame me if you are an idiot.
Q. Why Cambridge-Boston-Somerville?
A. I live around here, and I have always thought they made a great setting. Even Somerville. No really, parts of it are lovely. As with all cities, not all parts are.
Q. Are the ghostly musicians like "souls"
A. There's no religious context for this story, except that it affirms the wisdom of trying to do the right thing, for whatever reason your conscience leads you to that.
Q. What is Dan's favorite song/band/album?
A. Dan likes classic rock-- which makes him kind of retro for his age. He's a WZLX guy, 100.7 FM (Note: I have no affiliation with WZLX. But I would happily accept one!)
Q. If Dan could bring back one musician, living or dead, who would it be?
A. Whoa, I never thought of that. Maybe Eddie Cochran. Maybe Ritchie Valens. Who would you bring back?
Q. Are these dead musicians all real?
A. No. (Note : In case you are a lawyer for an estate, I will expand that: Not at all.)
Q. How much of this book is based on fact?
A. Not much. A lot of rock musicians died young, but none of them became ghosts, that I know of.
Q. Is Dan Warshaw based on anyone?
A. Not really anyone specific. I was thinking about the natural skepticism of scientists, about the power of music, and then I got to a "What-If?" The rest just followed by tugging on that string.
Q. Is there more to come?
A. I think the Dan thread is wrapped up for now. If I decide otherwise, I will let you know.
Q. If you could easily improve on any one thing in the stories, what would it be?
A. I'd bring in more about the music itself. But music is very hard to describe in text. And the industry makes you pay for it, if you use their stuff.
Q. If these stories had a soundtrack, what songs would be on it?
A. That's a good question. Let's make a list. Any suggestions?
A: Four.
- "Last Stop, Electric Ladyland" (In which Dan and his two colleagues meet the dead rock & roll musicians.)
- "Pride, Joy, and Murderous Intent" (In which Dan solves a new mystery and makes a new friend.)
- "Graffiti on the Doors of Perception" (In which the matter of the ghosts is resolved, for now.)
- "Dan Warshaw and the Demon-Haunted World" (Which doesn't have any ghosts in it. Just some rock & roll, and PIA academics.)
Q: Does Dan really believe in ghosts?
A: You'll have to buy the book to find out. Hint: Not exactly.
Q: Why are most of the musicians in the Club so young?
A: I'm not sure. Dan doesn't know. It does seem that many rock musicians die young. It's sad. A short, intense life.
Q: Does Dan have a love interest?
A: He loves his music. And Science. He struggles with his other relationships. I think he would have a girlfriend eventually.
Q: Would the ghostly musicians live forever?
A: No, they only have so much "juice" in their psyches, and it can't be replenished. The most they have is their natural span; i.e. had they not died young, they go about when they would have died, old (Absent other factors, i.e. smoking, heart disease, plane crashes...)
Q. What does it mean to be a skeptic?
A. That's an interesting question, because the answer sounds like it should be simple, but it's not. . I've seen multiple definitions. I think it entails taking a critical view to non-trivial questions, demanding evidence and logic for all important assertions, and preferring falsifiable and replicable results. In short, it is a lot like what regular people believe scientists do, in their professional lives. I don't think skepticism need imply disbelieving anything and everything, for example, we are not brains in a jar (the world as a simulation run by a alien mad scientist), the world did not start five minutes ago, the people in your life whom you trust probably -- but not certainly -- are worthy of trust, etc. Which is to say, radical skepticism is probably a straw man here. Dan follows Popper, but he doesn't go all the way to Quine-- or Hume. These guys are pretty good, as a starting point -- Skeptic.com : Skepticism 101 (Note: I have no affiliation with the Skeptics Society, I just like their stuff. )
Q. What does it mean to be a Neuroscientist?
A. Basically, working neuroscientists poke around -- in a helpful way -- in people's brains, to find out what's wrong and see if they can fix it. Research neuroscientists run experiments to test hypotheses and create new knowledge, applied to unsolved problems. Check Wikipedia for more about that.
Q. Are the technologies in the stories real?
A. Some are, some aren't. fMRI, SPECT and MEG are quite real. Supercapacitors are real, and they are cool. Check YouTube for some fun things people are doing with them; but be careful. Don't blame me if you are an idiot.
Q. Why Cambridge-Boston-Somerville?
A. I live around here, and I have always thought they made a great setting. Even Somerville. No really, parts of it are lovely. As with all cities, not all parts are.
Q. Are the ghostly musicians like "souls"
A. There's no religious context for this story, except that it affirms the wisdom of trying to do the right thing, for whatever reason your conscience leads you to that.
Q. What is Dan's favorite song/band/album?
A. Dan likes classic rock-- which makes him kind of retro for his age. He's a WZLX guy, 100.7 FM (Note: I have no affiliation with WZLX. But I would happily accept one!)
Q. If Dan could bring back one musician, living or dead, who would it be?
A. Whoa, I never thought of that. Maybe Eddie Cochran. Maybe Ritchie Valens. Who would you bring back?
Q. Are these dead musicians all real?
A. No. (Note : In case you are a lawyer for an estate, I will expand that: Not at all.)
Q. How much of this book is based on fact?
A. Not much. A lot of rock musicians died young, but none of them became ghosts, that I know of.
Q. Is Dan Warshaw based on anyone?
A. Not really anyone specific. I was thinking about the natural skepticism of scientists, about the power of music, and then I got to a "What-If?" The rest just followed by tugging on that string.
Q. Is there more to come?
A. I think the Dan thread is wrapped up for now. If I decide otherwise, I will let you know.
Q. If you could easily improve on any one thing in the stories, what would it be?
A. I'd bring in more about the music itself. But music is very hard to describe in text. And the industry makes you pay for it, if you use their stuff.
Q. If these stories had a soundtrack, what songs would be on it?
A. That's a good question. Let's make a list. Any suggestions?