ReaderPaul

I'm very glad to see this tale, Geron. Your presentation of the AI, Murcha, reminds me of a not-well-known author who writes science fiction at times. He also presented personable and friendly AI persons. Murcha also reminds me at times of Difris and Nyf and Bric, your characters from the Door series posted on GA. What @ColumbusGuy said is correct. I have read Hugo and Nebula award winning stuff, especially Hugo winners. which did not turn out as interesting and enjoyable as the stories I have read by you. I look forward to reading the other parts of this. Going to start part two now.

People grow up fast in severe situations. They are not yet adult, but they have often seen more than they realize. Jeremy has more smarts than he probably had to use as a pre-Changes teen. I respectfully disagree about Mom. She represents the compassion Jack and the kids had with regard to those not as fortunate as themselves. Especially to the younger kids, she is the last actual adult who seems to be remaining. Technology is not perfect. Farla mentioned that some things were unexpected. They didn't have time to do the research on humans they had done on themselves. I would like, as I said earlier, a short sequel showing some of the blue crystal adults waking. But I am fine if that never happens. Life rarely has all loose ends tied up. Why should a story? Thanks, Geron.

Deep Space Journey is found here: https://www.gayauthors.org/story/quokka/deep-space-journey/ Much background is explained. Very Helpful. @quokka, I am glad to see this sequel. I enjoyed the first story in this, and very much look forward to this one.

My offspring had vaccinations when they were due. As a Kid I had some childhood diseases my offspring did not. As the anti-vaxers grow in number the herd immunity is greatly decreasing and more kids are getting sick when it is NOT necessary. New studies are indicating that vaccines carried in egg-based formulas can mutate more than vaccines in other mediums. Plus, kids seem to be more likely to be allergic to egg-based vaccines -- EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT ALLERGIC TO EGGS. Much more research is needed as these studies are not yet conclusive. We are going to see more sickness as the anti-vaxers send their kids into society.

I agree, or perhaps a $5,000 fine per year per kid not vaccinated, plus forced sterilization for the parents who do not vaccinate their kids.

Geron, I liked Chapter 16 and the Epilogue very much, even better than when I read the original version on September 19. You've added probably at least thirty sentences, maybe more, and deleted may be five sentences. This explains things much more clearly than the original version, which was quite good. While I would like to see a sequel, I would like it to be limited in scope. What I would like to see is first Richie, then Jeremy, then Mike, then Bennie, and maybe a couple others of the "Survivors from the Silo" explain to their parents what happened. I don't know if they could be present when the family emerges from stasis or not. If they are present at the time, could that tip any of the into stasis? I would also like to see the reactions of their families to kids with guns in their living room or whatever, suddenly about three or more years older than they were. I think if you limited the sequel to say, three weeks after the awakening of the families it could be a good story. After about that time span, it would be more challenging to keep a coherent story. But as I have said before, I will be happy with or without a sequel. And further food for thought── might the Silo Survivors prefer to spend their nights together in the silo, after quite a long time of being family together?

Eleven chapters in and the story is still a good one. I can imagine several possible scenarios from this point. I am going to guess that something other than what I have thought of will happen. The answer could be found someplace they haven't thought of yet, for questions such as-- What caused the Changes? Why did some survive, some become zombies, some blue crystalline structures? How old are Tina, Bennie, Will, and Sherry? Will we find out Mom's backstory? As many things as have happened someone from outer space might show up. I'm not sure if you have said so far, Geron, but what time of year is the story taking place? Spring, summer, fall (probably not winter)? Is this in New York state, as are some of your other stories? Does anyone other than Marnie and Mom know much about cooking?

@Myr Good story.

Quokka, could you have meant "data phone" instead of date phone? Data phones can transmit much data as well as allow you to talk on them.

The first time I read this chapter, I was very sleep deprived, and I read the part about the refrigerators wrongly. I read that one was a freezer/dryer combination, and I thought to myself, "How can that be?" I thought the same as @drpaladin commented; that it must be some tree concerning cyclones!

So, doe Kylie want to be more to Lewis than just good friends? Will we find out in this story or a future one? Time will tell!

“Let's not look back in anger, or forward in fear, but around in awareness.” ~ James Thurber

“I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.” ~ Mark Twain in the 1907 “Watermelon Speech.”

Our lives, I think, are made up of little slices of magic. The really potent memories, be they good or bad, are nearly pure magic, and you can tell just because of the power they have. ~ Israfil and Dabeagle

“Home is people. Not a place. If you go back there after the people are gone, then all you can see is what is not there any more.” ~ Robin Hobb

Thank you, @quokka.

Quokka, I don't remember where this story ended in the previous posting on GA, but please don't feel you have to limit yourself on the length of this story. I am enjoying it and I know others are, as well. There are some words missing from the story after the following quoted paragraph: When I woke the next morning, I was pleased to see that the little fellow was still alive, but he was still weak, I encouraged him to eat a little and I made sure that he drank some water, before I dressed and made my way over to the homestead for some breakfast. When Nicholas and the twins entered the dining room, the first thing they asked me was how is the little echidna, and I (What is the rest of the paragraph(s) supposed to say?) Looking forward to the next (hopefully many) chapters of this story.

Congratulation, Dodger!

@quokka, how many chapters of the story were posted previously before your hiatus? As I mentioned before, it seems easier to read this time, with the re-editing removing almost all typos and related errors. It seems to me that you might have added small stitches of dialogue here and there, making the story even better than the original version.

Liked them all. Especially meaningful: the first two and the last one.

@quokka, thank you for finding and reposting this story. Thank you also for the re-edit. It's easier to read than ever, with minor errors corrected. I am certainly enjoying reading this once again. Do you know how many chapters the re-edited story will be? (And BTW [By The Way] ) if you wish to add an extra chapter or two, that would also be good.

@Mikiesboy --- The best reading order for Geron's "Charlie Boone" stories is: A-- "It's the Great Punkin', Charlie Boone https://www.gayauthors.org/story/geron-kees/itsthegreatpunkincharlieboone/ B--- "It's the Gayest Christmas Ever, Charlie Boone! https://www.gayauthors.org/story/geron-kees/itsthegayestchristmasevercharlieboone/ C--- "It's a Spooky Night Out There, Charlie Boone! https://www.gayauthors.org/story/geron-kees/its-a-spooky-night-out-there-charlie-boone/ D--- "It's Almost Time for Christmas, Charlie Boone! https://www.gayauthors.org/story/geron-kees/its-almost-time-for-christmas-charlie-boone/ E--- "Is That My Heart in Your Hand, Charlie Boone? https://www.gayauthors.org/story/geron-kees/is-that-my-heart-in-your-hand-charlie-boone/ F--- "Is That a Rocket in Your Pocket, Charlie Boone? https://www.gayauthors.org/story/geron-kees/is-that-a-rocket-in-your-pocket-charlie-boone/ Great stories, from one of my very favorite authors.

By the way, I like the way you are posting in one go. Personally, I prefer not to have long gaps (defined as more than a week) between postings in a series.

Okay, Geron, this story rates at least 6 stars out of 5. It's almost as good as your Door series, which I rate 7 stars out of 5. So Kippy has possibly a ring of the Builders/Armenti, and Adrian's star chart details where Doorways have been established and shows the worlds the Armenti have explored? (Hint, hint.) Perhaps Ricky's dagger is an Armenti artifact? Maybe the Armenti were scared by meeting Korig's people? Geron, I have had no trouble reading any of your stories on GA. And the last two or three GA updates have fixed any problems reading anyone else's stories that I can ever remember on GA. I think this story could intersect better-- at some point in the distant future-- after several more stories in each series-- with the Doorways/Doors than with any of your other series thus far. Good going, Geron.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of this story again, and hopefully you will extend it a bit beyond 39 chapters. Have you decided which story you might post after this one ends?