Enjoy Dry January with Twang’s Miche-Nada Recipe. Photo: Twang, used with permission.
Dry January has gained popularity as a way for individuals to reduce their alcohol consumption, often for health reasons. By committing to a month of sobriety, participants can experience immediate benefits, such as improved sleep, increased energy, and better hydration. It provides an opportunity to reset habits, assess personal drinking patterns, and evaluate how alcohol affects overall well-being. Many people find the challenge empowering, with the support of a growing community engaging in the same commitment. Dry January also offers a break from the pressures of social drinking, promoting mindfulness and a healthier approach to alcohol consumption in the long term.
With the Dry January movement gaining popularity on social media, I want to share a refreshing, non-alcoholic recipe from Twang, a sensational Tex-Mex-inspired, family-driven company infamous for its bold blends of flavored salts, sugars, and spices since 1986. (Twang, 2025)
To celebrate Dry January, Twang offers a twist on the classic Michelada —the Miche-Nada. Made with Twang’s Reserve Michelada Mix in flavors like classic, spicy, or pickle; this drink packs a punch with all-natural ingredients, including real lime juice, ancho chiles, and organic Worcestershire sauce. For the ultimate experience, top it off with Twang’s zesty Drink Rimmers in varieties like chile lime, grapefruit, dill pickle, and more.
The 16oz Michelada Mix is just $7, conveniently packaged for easy shipping, while Drink Rimmers are $5 for 4oz of unbeatable flavor. Twang is available in-store in all 50 states and ships nationwide, ensuring every abstemious friend or family member can easily enjoy.
Twang Miche-Nada
Ingredients: • Twang Reserve Michelada Cocktail Mix (classic, spicy, or pickle flavors) • Twang Rimming Salt (chile lime, grapefruit, dill pickle & more flavors) • Ice • Sparkling water • Lime wedge
Directions:
Rim your glass with your choice of Twang’s Rimming Salt
‘In a Deep Blue Hour: A Novel’ is the new novel by Peter Stamm. Photo: Barnes & Noble
Psychological thrillers are some of my favorite books. They go into the inner workings of characters’ minds, exploring their thoughts, emotions, and motivations. This genre often blurs the line between reality and perception, creating complex, unpredictable narratives that challenge readers’ understanding of truth. The appeal lies in the deep emotional engagement it fosters, inviting readers to confront their own psychological experiences and question the nature of identity, memory, and consciousness. By emphasizing internal conflict, psychological thrillers offer a more intimate, introspective experience compared to traditional plot-driven stories. This immersive exploration of the human psyche resonates with readers seeking to understand themselves and the complexities of human behavior.
From Other Press, the latest addition to acclaimed Swiss author Peter Stamm’s impressive body of work, “In a Deep Blue Hour: A Novel” will be released on March 18, 2025. It is available for pre-order. (Other Press, 2024)
“In a Deep Blue Hour: A Novel” – A documentary filmmaker uncovers the secrets of an enigmatic author in this subtly enthralling novel from “one of Europe’s most exciting writers” – (New York Times Book Review).
For days, documentary filmmaker Andrea and her team have been waiting for Richard Wechsler in his Swiss hometown. During their first shoots in Paris, the famous writer had not wanted to reveal much about himself, and now the whole film threatens to fail.
In the narrow streets and alleys of the village, Andrea searches for traces of Wechsler’s life, contrary to their agreement. But it is not until she starts reading his books again that she discovers a clue to a childhood sweetheart who might still be living there. An old love who influenced his whole life, but whom no one ever knew about.
Written with Stamm’s trademark subtlety and devastating precision, “In a Deep Blue Hour: A Novel” is a captivating work of psychological fiction perfect for lovers of Jon Fosse’s “Septology,” Jenny Erpenbeck’s “Kairos,” and Stamm’s previous work. In this elusive novel, Stamm explores the meeting point between reality and fiction. I hope to stay in touch with you about possibilities for it.
Peter Stamm is the author of the novels “The Archive of Feelings,” “The Sweet Indifference of the World,” “To the Back of Beyond,” “All Days Are Night,” “Seven Years,” “On a Day Like This,” “Unformed Landscape,” and “Agnes,” and the short-story collections “It’s Getting Dark,” “We’re Flying,” and “In Strange Gardens and Other Stories.” His award-winning books have been translated into more than forty languages. For his entire body of work and his accomplishments in fiction, he was short-listed for the Man Booker International Prize in 2013, and in 2014 he won the prestigious Friedrich Hölderlin Prize. He lives in Switzerland.
About the Translator: Michael Hofmann has translated the work of Gottfried Benn, Hans Fallada, Franz Kafka, Joseph Roth, and many others. In 2012 he was awarded the Thornton Wilder Prize for Translation by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His “One Lark, One Horse: Poems” was published in 2019, “Where Have You Been? Selected Essays” in 2014, and “Selected Poems” in 2009. He lives in Florida and London.
“In a Deep Blue Hour: A Novel” by Peter Stamm • Translated by Michael Hofmann Other Press Trade Paperback Original On-Sale Date: March 18, 2025 • Price: $17.99
‘Something Better’ is the debut novel by Diane Parrish. Photo: Amazon
“Something Better” by Diane Parrish centers around Ruth, David, and Annabeth. Ruth and David are a seemingly happy couple living in the suburbs. After Annabeth’s parents die in a tragic car accident, their lives intersect in ways that will test all three of them.
Annabeth’s father, Jack Brady, was a close friend of David’s, so when Annabeth arrives in town, David and Ruth help her out during her time of grief. Ruth is a lawyer who dreams of starting a family, but then she gets the opportunity of a lifetime at work with a new client, Brian Bishop, in San Francisco. She decides to take the new client despite it being on the West Coast and having to spend time apart from David.
David is a successful landscape designer but he’s having trouble tackling all the work, so he hires Annabeth to work in the office. David grows closer to Annabeth while Ruth develops an attraction to Brian and before it’s all over, relationships will be tested. Each must decide if they will remain faithful or risk it all for the promise of ‘something better.’
Review:
This debut novel by Diane Parrish is best described as literary fiction combined with contemporary women’s fiction. Set in a small Connecticut town, it follows the journey of Ruth and David, as they navigate a turbulent time in their life while they struggle with loss, betrayal, and the search for inner peace.
Parrish’s writing is poetic and descriptive, offering readers a glimpse into the emotional landscape of someone struggling with difficult truths about love, redemption, and the choices we make. It explores the main theme of forgiveness without offering easy answers but allowing the characters to struggle with their decisions, creating a narrative that feels authentic and relatable.
The subtle interplay of faith—both religious and personal—adds another layer to the story, prompting readers to reflect on their own beliefs and the role of grace in healing. The narrative is from multiple points of view and the language is simple and easy to understand. While the plot of strained marriages is far from original, the character exploration is intriguing.
Overall, “Something Better” is a thought-provoking work of literary fiction that aside from forgiveness, also deals with the complex themes of faith, family, love, identity, and human resilience. Parrish gives us a story about the human capacity to change, to forgive, and to hope—no matter how impossible those actions may seem. This novel is a quiet, powerful meditation on life’s challenges and the possibility of redemption. It is recommended for readers who enjoy character driven literary fiction with religious undertones.
“…he would have to learn to live with the silence of his shame, his own frailty, his unspeakable desire, all the things that made him unworthy to call himself Ruth’s husband, not good enough for anyone who loved him, let alone himself.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
The global release of Z-Machine’s independent 3-part docuseries ‘Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison’ is set for January 13, 2025. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Jim Morrison, the enigmatic lead singer and lyricist of The Doors, remains one of rock music’s most iconic figures. Born in 1943, Morrison’s blend of poetic, often mystical lyrics and raw, charismatic stage presence helped define the counterculture of the 1960s. His exploration of existential themes, love, and rebellion resonated with a generation grappling with societal upheaval. Though his life was tragically short—he died in 1971 at just 27—his influence endures through songs like “Light My Fire” and “Riders on the Storm.” Morrison’s legacy as a rock legend and cultural symbol continues to captivate new generations of listeners.
(LOS ANGELES, CA) Z-Machine has announced release details for its independent 3-part docuseries, Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison. The first of its kind “documystery” series clocks in at a total of 3.5-hours and will make its global TVOD/Digital release on January 13, 2025, following Morrison’s 81st birthday, available on all the major platforms of Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, and YouTube TV, with more to follow. (Cinematic Red PR, 2024)
A dozen years in the making, Before the End’s cryptic tagline encapsulates its investigative approach: “One Man. Countless Myths. And in between lies the truth.” Z-Machine founder, Jeff Finn, drew from 38 years of personal research into the gray areas of Jim Morrison’s humanity to distinguish between persona and person. Finn’s extraordinary detail work breaks the decades long closed seal on the traumatic formative years that forged a brief hellacious life, through Morrison’s controversial career as lead singer of legendary 1960s rock band, The Doors, to his reported 1971 death by “heart failure” in Paris at age 27. Morrison’s ostensible demise, technically an unsolved cold case, formed its own rabbit hole of reasonable doubt, which inspired Finn to consult with private investigators and forensic analysts.
Before the End transcends “rock doc” in the same sense that Jim Morrison was more than a rock star. A 1965 graduate of UCLA’s film school, he achieved much beyond music during his abbreviated time in the spotlight, including self-publication of three books of poetry, producing, directing, and acting in an experimental film, and enduring a railroaded obscenity trial in defense of artistic freedom of expression. Morrison’s legacy has since been muddled by a half-century of PR spin, character assassination, urban legend, and crass commercialism, all of which have defanged his once-fierce anti-authoritarian stance.
Jim Morrison was many things: cult figure, teen idol, goth/punk forebear, and political fugitive. Living the role of haunted visionary, he said, “When you make your peace with authority, you become authority.” Given the US’s current zeitgeist of threatened dictatorship and crumbling democracy, Finn believes the timeless message of the young poet who infamously killed his navy admiral father in song is even more vital in toxic-masculine 2024 than in free-love 1967, and he hopes Gen Z will unlock an empathic connection to the complex Morrison, like it has with the Menendez Brothers. “There’s the ‘truth,’” Finn says, “and there’s the real truth. Before the End is for Morrison fans, like me, who are tired of the ‘official’ story.’” He quotes a meme aimed at self-appointed experts and closed-minded gaslighters: “Conspiracy Theorist: Nothing more than a derogatory title used to dismiss a Critical Thinker.”
Featuring unprecedented content, from shocking corroboration about Morrison’s early life, to harrowing revelations about his stardom, and fresh evidence that contradicts his professed death, Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison is proudly unauthorized because it “seeks the unvarnished truth.” The documystery reverse-engineers long-controlled narratives while it explores the notion of Morrison the nonconformist as neurodivergent, and deconstructs – through on-camera interviews with family, friends, lovers, classmates, and associates – key distinctions between Jim Morrison, “rock god,” and James Douglas Morrison, introverted outsider.
Among those interviewed and/or featured are Morrison’s cousins, Ellen Edwards and David Backer, lovers, Anne Moore, Gayle Enochs, Judy Huddleston, and Suzanne Roady-Ross, friends, Mirandi Babitz and Salli Stevenson, Elektra Records founder, Jac Holzman, The Doors booking agent, Todd Schiffman, The Doors roadie, Gareth Blyth, screenwriter, Randall Jahnson, rock critics, Ellen Sander and Richard Meltzer, UCLA classmates, Philip Oleno and Richard Blackburn, UCLA roommate, Ron Cohen, UCLA professor, Dick Adams, Florida State University roommates, Bryan Gates and John McQueen, FSU professor, Ralph Turner, Alameda High School swim coach, Ash Jones, childhood friend, Jeff Morehouse, Paris-era acquaintances, Philippe Dalecky and Gilles Yepremian, and exclusives via Jim’s brother, Andy Morrison, Robyn Wurtele, Morrison’s enigmatic Paris-era assistant, and “Mr. X,” a mind-blowing anonymous source.
Z-Machine is a truly independent production company helmed by writer and filmmaker, Jeff Finn, whose tie-in book, “127 Fascination: Jim Morrison Decoded,” is forthcoming.
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Taco Cabana is turning up the flavor with new menu items. Photo: Taco Cabana, used with permission.
(SAN ANTONIO, TX) The new year just got tastier! Taco Cabana is kicking it off with a show stopping lineup of bold, flavorful menu items designed to wow your taste buds. Starting Thursday, January 2, 2025, join us as we celebrate the new year with a menu that’s all about deliciousness, variety, and unbeatable value. (Taco Cabana, 2025)
“We’re always looking to surprise and delight our guests with bold, fresh flavors, and this new lineup hits the mark. From satisfying combos to lighter, nutritious options like our new salad bowl—perfect for sticking to those New Year’s resolutions—there’s something for everyone. And our $4.99 Meal Deals prove that amazing food doesn’t have to come at a high price!” – Taco Cabana President Ulyses Camacho
From hearty combos to light, fresh options and irresistible $4.99 Meal Deals, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Ready to spice up your new year?
Check out these must-try additions:
Unbeatable $4.99 Meal Deals:
The Rise & Grind: Breakfast tacos, hashbrowns, and coffee to fuel your morning.
Monster Breakfast Burrito Meal Deal: Chorizo, bacon, hashbrown, beans, cheese, and chipotle ranch in every bite.
The Crunch & Quench: Double Crunch Pizza with your choice of shredded chicken or ground beef, paired with a drink.
7-Layer Burrito Meal Deal: All the layers of flavor you could want, wrapped up with a drink to go.
Cabana Salad Bowl: Ring in your health goals with this vibrant 300-calorie creation, packed with chicken fajita, black beans, guacamole, and all the fresh fixings you love.
Cabana Combos: A fan-favorite pairing of beef or chicken entrées with chips, queso, and a small drink. With options like Steak Fajita Tacos, Ground Beef Burritos, and Chicken Flautas, you’ll be coming back for more
Carne Asada Taco Plate: Dive into tender carne asada tacos served with all the sides—rice, beans, guacamole, and extra tortillas to complete the fiesta.
Half-Dozen Breakfast Taco Box: Breakfast just got an upgrade. Perfect for sharing (or not), this $9.99 box features Bacon & Egg, Bean & Cheese, Chorizo & Egg, and Potato & Egg Tacos.
A Cozy Classic Returns: For those chilly days, warm up with our fan-favorite Chicken Tortilla Soup, served with rice and priced at just $4.99. Available Everywhere You Are: Dine in, drive thru, pick up curbside, or order online through the MY TC!® App or TacoCabana.com—however you choose, we’ll make sure your 2025 starts with flavor.
Why wait? Taco Cabana’s new menu is the perfect way to embrace the new year—one bite at a time.
Founded in 1978, Taco Cabana is a Texas institution known for its Mexican-inspired flavors, freshly made tortillas, and vibrant dining experience. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or enjoying a meal with friends, Taco Cabana is the go-to spot for bold flavors and unbeatable value. With 143 locations across Texas, we’re here to make every meal unforgettable.
Alt-folk singer/songwriter E.W. Harris unveils new single and announces new EP Machine Living in Relief. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
(New York, NY) With the release of the new single, “The Nail Beside The Door,” alt-folk singer/songwriter E.W. Harris announces the forthcoming EP, Machine Living in Relief, due out this year. An ambitious collection of songs born out of a last call challenge to make a completely acoustic record about robots and AIs, Machine Living in Relief is the latest in a five-album series set inside Harris’s self-styled “romantic dystopia” Rocket City. (One in a Million Media, 2024)
If one weren’t already familiar with Harris’s more traditionalist background, the chummy strum of his guitalele reaches out and shakes your hand by way of friendly introduction. He also incorporates a number of unusual instruments (cedar flute, a broken autoharp), outside-the-box toys (Speak-n-Spell, Mr. Robot, Magic Wand Reader), and MacGyvered percussion hacks (can full of rice, “suitcase that I hit with a roll of duct tape”) throughout these folkways-meets-the-spaceways tracks. Call it asteroid field recording.
In a strange bit of real-time lore that feels like it could only happen to Harris, one of his cousins walked up to him mid-set a few years back and handed him a banjo, offering only the briefest explanation – “Here man, I’m not gonna learn this and I thought you might use it” – before promptly leaving the gig. The result, some months later as Harris tinkered with the unfamiliar instrument under lockdown, was this album’s lead single, “The Nail Beside the Door.” “Written from the perspective of a prisoner who becomes emotionally dependent on an AI companion,” it effectively sets out to explore the ideas behind the album opener from the other side, with all the profound, maddening aloneness of COVID isolation bleeding through the character loud and clear.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Though perhaps best known for his event horizon synths, spaghettified guitar effects, and above all, his overwhelming, spacetime singularity of a voice, Harris’s career began, some 25 years ago, in a much more earthbound vein, with the train trestle roots-rock of Luminous and the cable knit jazz-folk of The Eric Harris Group.
Through subsequent releases and relentless touring Harris steadily populated his teeming retropolis with comet-hopping hobos and android vagabonds of every stripe, worldbuilding his future from the ground up until it finally skyscraped against the present, with Machine Living in Relief, and the fateful fortune of that half-remembered night at the bar.
If Machine Living in Relief is truly the result of some apocryphal gauntlet throw issued at last call, Harris has met it in spades. Both a natural outgrowth of what came before, and a tantalizing peek at what might be soon to come, it pushes all the right buttons – even when those buttons are connected to the characters themselves – and leaves you contemplating your place within our brave new world of hyperconnected loneliness and transhuman striving.
“If the heart pumps a turbine that generates power to the computer half of the cyborg brain, what is the value of the parts? Is addiction just a modality of being a divided whole? If time is not linear, in remembering our past mistakes do we actually return to those moments? It’s a damn good thing songs don’t need to answer questions.” – E. W. Harris
Get ready to feast on nostalgia as Whataburger opens the WhataVault and tees up exclusive deals, fresh collabs, new eats, and more to honor its fans for 75 years of love. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
San Antonio, TX – It’s 2025 and Whataburger is celebrating in style. Back in 1950, Harmon Dobson flipped the first five-inch Whataburger in Corpus Christi, and the world’s been better, and tastier, ever since. Fast forward 75 years, and your fave orange-and-white burger fam is throwing a major diamond anniversary bash. The mood? Pure nostalgia, featuring the comeback of legendary menu items that still live rent-free in our heads. (Whataburger, 2025)
First up on the Legends Menu: the Monterey Melt and the Chicken Fajita Taco. We’re bringing you brand new bangers too – enter the Mexican Hot Chocolate Coffee and Mexican Hot Chocolate Shake, here to level up your drink game. Expect massive surprises for our Rewards program members on the Whataburger app, sizzling merch collaborations (howdy, Wrangler®), more WhataVault menu items, epic food promos to fuel your cravings, and a live in-person experience so extra we can’t spill the details just yet.
“We love keeping things fresh at Whataburger, but sometimes the best way to celebrate is by serving up the classics. Our 75th anniversary is all about honoring three-quarters of a century of flavor and, more importantly, celebrating our amazing Fans who’ve been with us every step of the way. From bringing back some of the most requested menu items to launching brand-new creations, rolling out special promotions, exclusive rewards, and exciting prizes, we’re going all in for the people who love Whataburger. This year is about giving back to the folks who’ve supported us through the years—whether you’ve been a loyal Fan since 1950 or just discovered us. It’s our way of saying a big, heartfelt ‘thank you’ for 75 years of love, loyalty, and late-night drive-thrus. And trust me, the best is yet to come.” – Whataburger President & CEO Debbie Stroud
Starting Tuesday, January 7, we’re kicking off our 75th anniversary celebrations with major main character energy. You begged for it on Reddit, slid into our DMs on Insta, and flooded the timeline with throwback pics of this melty icon. Well, the people spoke, and we listened—the Monterey Melt is back, baby. Picture this: two juicy, 100% beef patties absolutely dripping in melty Monterey Jack and American cheeses, topped with grilled onions and peppers, and finished off with our signature Jalapeño Ranch. It’s spicy, it’s meaty, it’s straight-up melty perfection. Last seen in 2022, this legend is ready to reclaim its spot in your burger-loving hearts—and your feeds. Don’t miss it.
Monterey Melt. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
Not to be outdone by a burger, the Chicken Fajita Taco is strutting back onto the scene to give your taste buds their main character moment. Imagine this: whole grilled chicken breast, snug in a soft flour tortilla, getting all cozy with seared onions, poblano and red peppers—basically a fiesta in every bite. Want to level it up? Add Monterey Jack cheese, grilled jalapeños, and fresh avocado for a flavor combo so fire, it deserves its own fan club. But don’t sleep on it—these all-star tacos are here for a limited time only. The Chicken Fajita Taco is back on January 7 too. But once they’re gone, they’re ghosting the menu again.
Chicken Fajita Taco. Whataburger, used with permission.
Say hola to your new obsessions: Mexican Hot Chocolate Coffee and Mexican Hot Chocolate Shake. These aren’t just drinks—they’re a whole vibe. The coffee is the ultimate morning glow-up: warm, rich, and chocolatey with just enough cinnamon spice to wake you up and choose chaos (the good kind). And the shake? Pure dessert energy. It’s icy, creamy, and serving cinnamon-sugar magic that’s perfect for cooling down after a long day of being awesome. Whether you’re team “coffee for life” or “shake it up,” these newbies are here to make your taste buds do a happy dance.
Mexican Hot Chocolate Coffee and Mexican Hot Chocolate Shake. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
This is just the beginning, and trust us—you’re gonna want to stay tuned. Starting in January, Whatastore is kicking things off with fresh monthly deals priced at $19.50—a throwback to our OG year. From exclusive merch to must-have collectibles, these monthly drops will be the ultimate score for fans looking to rep their burger love in style.
Mark your calendars for Spring 2025 because we’re teaming up with a Southern style legend for a collab that’s about to take your wardrobe to the next level: Wrangler x Whataburger. This 24-piece collection features everything from denim jackets and jeans to graphic tees and ballcaps, blending the iconic vibes of both brands. Whether you’re hitting the rodeo or just want to flex some cowboy-meets-burger energy, this collection has your name all over it. Wrangler x Whataburger will be available at select retailers nationwide and on the Whatastore, so you’ll have plenty of ways to grab these must-have pieces.
Keep your eyes glued on our website, the Whataburger App and Whataburger on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X/Twitter because more WhataVault drops and 75th Anniversary celebrations are coming throughout 2025. And if you’re not on the app yet, wyd? Download it ASAP to snag rewards, exclusive deals, and early access to all the goods.
‘Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit’ by Marc Feldman and Hugh Taylor. Photo: Amazon
Space exploration offers tremendous opportunities for scientific discovery and technological advancements, but it also brings potential risks. As nations and private corporations compete for control over space resources, the possibility of space-related crime and corruption increases. The privatization of space may lead to monopolies, enabling unethical practices. Piracy in space, including the hijacking of satellites or spacecraft, could emerge as new threats. Furthermore, the militarization of space might escalate tensions between countries, potentially leading to conflicts or even war. While space exploration holds vast promise, these negative consequences must be carefully managed to prevent harm to humanity.
The Center for the Study of Space Crime, Piracy, and the Governance’s new book “Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit” is a comprehensive exploration of humanity’s potential for criminal activities in outer space. It will be released on February 11, 2025. (Center for the Study of Space Crime, Piracy, and Governance, 2024)
“Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit” is a forward-thinking resource that considers, analyzes, and provides solutions to the influence of the dishonorable side of humanity in the realm of outer space, where potential for crime, corruption, piracy, and war increases as the exploitation of space as a commercial resource continues to develop. This book blends the authors’ knowledge with that of subject matter experts to deliver a holistic understanding of criminality in space and help readers broaden their horizons beyond their own area of specialization.
Some of the topics explored in this insightful book include:
Space hacking, from software, data, network, and hardware risks to existing cybersecurity standards and practices in space
Criminal organizations that might pursue criminal activities in space, including cartels, kidnappers and devicenappers, and governments
Laws and treaties relevant to space crime, such as the Communications Satellite Act and the Outer Space Treaty of 1967
Filled with practical, thought-provoking knowledge and guidance, “Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit” earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of professionals working in the best of humanity’s institutions, including law and intelligence services, finance, insurance and risk management, corporations, and the sciences, who seek to combat what the worst of us may be dreaming up.
“This is a serious meditation on a space future that is all too plausible. Anyone concerned with building a safe and robust space economy―lawmakers, policymakers, law enforcement, CEOs, space – security officers, and the USSPACECOM and US Space Force commanders―should read this book. A well-researched and fascinating synthesis of the history and current-day piracy, privateering, organized crime and syndicates, cyber-crime, private security companies―and how and why they might plausibly move to space.” – PETER GARRETSON, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies, American Foreign Policy Council and Author of “Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space” and “The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy”
The publication of the book is part of the launch of the Center for the Study of Space Crime, Piracy, and Governance (CSCPG). The Center is an independent, nonpartisan think tank whose purpose is to serve as a policy resource for government officials and business executives on issues related to space governance, sovereignty, commerce, law, crime, and piracy.
CSCPG was recently featured in Space War in reference to its paper on the potential for a hostage crisis in space.
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‘Sentience Hazard’ is the exciting new science fiction thriller by Alexandru Czimbor. Photo: Reader Views
Speculative fiction books exploring science fiction and artificial intelligence (AI) captivate readers by presenting futuristic worlds where technology evolves beyond human control. These narratives often explore the ethical dilemmas, power dynamics, and societal shifts brought on by AI, sparking questions about humanity’s future. Themes such as sentience, autonomy, and the consequences of machine learning challenge readers’ perceptions of technology and its role in society. AI-driven speculative fiction offers thrilling, thought-provoking plots, while engaging readers’ imaginations and fears about a rapidly advancing technological landscape. This blend of innovation and existential uncertainty is what makes the genre so compelling.
I recently read and reviewed “Sentience Hazard” by Alexandru Czimbor for Reader Views and highly recommend it for fans of speculative fiction centered around artificial intelligence.
Alexandru Czimbor is an award-winning author who was born and raised in Transylvania, Romania during the oppressive communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu. He has lived in the United States since 2001 and spends his summers in Europe. Alexandru taught at a Romanian university, worked in the software industry, and has been an executive since 2011. He has a master’s degree in computer science and studied at UTCN Cluj-Napoca and ETH Zürich. In his latest book is “Sentience Hazard,” a tense global standoff looms as China’s superior AI technology threatens to tip the scales of power. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)
“Sentience Hazard” – Set in 2053 and amidst the chaos of an AI standoff, Zhèng Yang, a renegade Chinese scientist unveils vital intel, sparking a race against time. As the US scrambles for a solution, François DeSousa, a maverick French genius and Professor Ian Ndikumana, a Scottish-African professor offer controversial expertise. Love, sacrifice, and ingenuity converge in a battle for humanity’s future.
The US and Chinese artificial beings, developed with radically different principles, share one essential quality: their cognitive abilities go well beyond those of any human being. The future of the world hangs in the balance. Can humanity survive the clash between two sentient forces of its own creation?
Finalist in:
2024 Cygnus Science Fiction Awards
2024 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards
The Damned, the new chilling Nordic thriller, will be released in UK and Irish cinemas on January 10, 2025. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Psychological thrillers explore complex human emotions, fears, and motivations, often blurring the lines between reality and illusion. These films go into the minds of characters, creating an atmosphere of tension, suspense, and unpredictability. The appeal lies in the psychological manipulation, where viewers become immersed in a web of deception, unreliable narrators, and mind games. The genre stimulates intellectual engagement, as it challenges perceptions and provokes deep thought about human nature. Audiences are drawn to the psychological complexity and emotional intensity, seeking both excitement and the thrill of solving mysteries within the narrative.
Vertical has announced that Thordur Palsson’s ominous and chilling thriller The Damned will be released in UK and Irish cinemas from 10th January 2025. (Strike Media, 2024)
Starring Odessa Young (The Staircase, Mothering Sunday) and Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders, Gangs of London), The Damned is a tense psychological horror film that follows 19th-century widow, Eva. She is tasked with making an impossible choice when a ship sinks off the coast of her isolated fishing outpost during the middle of an especially cruel winter.
With provisions running low, Eva and her close-knit community must choose between rescuing the shipwrecked crew and prioritizing their own survival. Facing the consequences of their decision and tormented by guilt, the inhabitants wrestle with a mounting sense of dread and begin to believe they are all being punished for their choices.
Following its premiere in November, the Cork International Film Festival 2024 awarded an Honourable Mention to The Damned commenting ‘The Damned is a juggernaut of a film, breathing fresh life into a well-trodden genre. Its powerful use of the landscape and compelling performances make it truly deserving of this Special Mention.’
Inspired by the Westfjords of Iceland in the 1800s, The Damned takes place in an unforgiving, almost unlivable setting, yet one that is steeped in immense beauty and turbulent folklore.
For director Thordur Palsson (The Valhalla Murders), himself a native Icelander, it was this folklore and mythology that led him to develop the idea that would later become The Damned. Growing up in Iceland, family members would often share gruesome tales of ghosts, demons and evil spirits.
‘Every Icelander has heard all kinds of different variations of the truth – all elements of our history that have been passed down. One of these stories was about a ship that sank off the shores of Iceland, with all survivors being killed by the natives. Having known of this, I started to write a story relating to it and kept fleshing it out, adding darker elements.’ – Thordur Palsson
Rooted in the depths of Norse Mythology, The Damned features haunting performances from Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley), Turlough Convery (Belfast), Lewis Gribben (Somewhere Boy), Francis Magee (The Tourist), and Mícheál Óg Lane (Calvary).
SA Examiner 