Palantir

I don't think I made quite enough of Jarra's work efforts and the break is more than deserved. Drama is imminent.

Thank you Sam. I was quite surprised myself with 'Crocky'. I never know quite what's going to happen next with Mirri and this was a case in point.

MPARNTWE Chapter 20. *** "He's announced that he'll be presenting a series of papers on his research when the World Energy Conference meets in Geneva two months from now." "What's wrong with that? He's had meetings and discussions with many of those scientists over the course of this project and it sounds like the appropriate place to get the recognition he deserves." Darri was talking with Baradin about Jarra's decision to travel to Geneva. "Yirgella doesn't want him to go. He's worried it

Different points of view certainly widen the range of experiences you can relate. I liked the trusted friend part - so important in anyone's life let alone hormonal teenagers. I thought you might have kept that photo secret when it turned out not to be needed. it would have been a good little mystery to ponder. The highlight scene for me was the brother soundoff = beautiful!

Once again Ask an Author provides us with insight into the lives and thoughts of GA authors. I hope this feature continues way into the future.

What a delightful blog. I smiled and laughed all the way through.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Thank you. Yes, 'Crocky' was a bit of a surprise. - I found it interesting that the AIs particularly enjoyed it - yet again gentle Mirri's influence on the AIs shows through.

Yes, Jarra is eighteen, and I agree with you that it does seem to have happened quickly. I keep a time line though, as an aid with fitting the different events in sensibly, and I can assure you that that's where he is now. This chapter itself covered more than a year. Yirgella is certainly impressive. I'd say better in some ways but not in others. I think the extraordinary interest all the AIs show towards Mirri could be recognition that his nature might be something they can never experience for themselves or understand properly. (I forgot to mention in the story that Yirgella made a point of introducing Mirri to each of the other AIs as their 'friend'). Part of his benificence might be a survival mechanism too - I remember at one stage he said that if he did even one thing wrong it would change the way humans would regard AIs forever.

I looked on this as a nuts and bolts kind of chapter with explanations about developments while Jarra was spending lots of time with his research. Yes, there is a lot going on. - too much. What about Karmai and his work with the dolphins at Monkey Mia? What about the twins, Akama and Barega? they're very important. What about all Baradin's negotiations all round the world? I only mention them in passing. What about all the projects and interaction of the five new AIs? What about Darri and the huge support he gives to Jarra? I've glossed over or completely left out these things and many more. I think the story would get bogged down in detail if I put everything in.

MPARNTWE Chapter 19. Jarra watched the images as the last of the ten deadly aircraft come to a halt on the Darwin runway and was surrounded by the array of defence personnel and equipment. He might have been shielded from most of the machinations of the forces against independent AIs but with the importance of this day so strong in his mind his normal routine was completely set aside as he joined the rest of the project staff in the new Security Center. He'd only been here a few times and thi

WHOO! ANOTHER LATE BEST WISHES! HOPE IT WAS A GREAT DAY!

My favorite phrase for the chapter was 'conquered with a kiss' - so apt it could have been the chapter title. Oh my! The unfathomable turmoil of teenage emotion rears it's head again.

Wow! First time I've seen one. Thanks DDK - very interesting.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

Thanks for this James. I sure hope it gets the publicity it deserves in general media.

Yes, Mssri, I take it as a kind of article of faith that the Artificial Intelligences in the story have a beneficial approach to humankind. I am unashamedly gratified by your comments about what you see in my writing. I will claim they are a gift from Mirri to all of us.

Whoo! Well, this review certainly put a smile on my face. Thank you CG. It's absolutely heartening to hear that Jarra and Mirri (Mirri especially) are touching the hearts and minds of a number of readers. I hadn't really thought of Yirgella and Mirri as outward manifestations of Jarra - but I guess, to a degree, we're all partial reflections of the important people in our lives. lol - Yirgella is just getting started.

Split personality? I guess you mean the contrast between the technical developments and Jarra and Mirri's adventures. The area where I live has pockets of rainforest and lots of unusual fungi and that's what prompted that adventure. The black swans are everywhere there is water in Australia. Yirgella's environmental areas are meant to be one of the precursors to the dolphin reaches of Attunga.

As always - thanks Sam.

Thanks Dathi, lol - after your review of chapter 17 I was much more conscious of that mix and I think it was almost too obvious.

YES, AS ABOVE, I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT DAY!!!

MPARNTWE Chapter 18. *** "They can speak to him whenever they like? Oh no! We'll never get Akama away from the InterWeb." Jarra had just told Jarli about the boys interaction with Yirgella. "I can get Yirgella to limit their time if you like." "No, I don't really mean that. It will we wonderful, especially for Akama. He seems to be particularly interested in AIs and he was quite upset when our project was destroyed." "It seems to me that he's interested in everything. He was very concerned

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

Great chapter! And now I think Greg might get into trouble for arriving home late.