Books
The Secret of the Dragon's Scale
The hunt for a legendary lost ship, the Admiral Benbow, is bound to a web of riddles, mermaids’ curses, and mystic revelations. Young sailor Jim Allardyce joins the crew of pirate ship the Siren’s Call, led by Captain Billy Bones, chasing the fabled Dragon’s Scale, a mysterious artifact said to be the key to finding the ship and its vast treasure. Along the way, Jim finds romance with Bella, a village girl who becomes intimately intertwined with their destinies.
What sets The Secret of the Dragon’s Scale apart is its depth. It is not your traditional swashbuckling pirate story. It is a tale of destiny and sacrifice, of the choices that define us, and the truths we uncover about ourselves. It explores the cost of obsession, the power of love, and the realization that the greatest treasures are not found in chests of gold but in the bonds we forge and the lives we choose to lead.
Can You Rape a Robot?
Morality, Rights, and the Rise of Conscious Machines
Humanity finds itself at the threshold of a new ethical frontier. There will come a point where we can no longer reserve human rights for just ourselves, and we will be faced with the profound moral and ethical dilemma of extending such rights to beings of our own creation - conscious machines.
​
As artificial intelligence continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, we could soon find ourselves sharing our world with machines that are aware of themselves and the world around them. This isn't in the realm of science fiction anymore, but a reality we may soon need to face head-on. And at that point we will be forced to ask ourselves, must we treat these beings the same way we treat any human? Must we give them the same legal protections, freedoms, and rights that humans have?
Novelettes
Fifteen Men
The Curse of the Aztec Treasure
Pirates have overheard rumors of great riches that lay hidden for centuries inside ancient Aztec temples, and that this was the secret of the small village of Cultivadores de la Tierra.
When the tales found their way to Captain Flint and his crew, they were determined to discover for themselves if the rumors were true. The villagers claimed they did not know about the treasure, but a little girl may have given away the secret. Threatening to kill villagers, Captain Flint demands to be taken to the temples.
Ignoring warnings about the legends of the spirits that guard the temples, and that those who desecrate the temples become cursed, the sacred treasure in the temple is stolen. But the fury of a vengeful spirit could not be ignored.
Reviews
“
Can You Rape a Robot?
I was very quickly drawn into this book. It is a fascinating look at the potential reality of conscious robots and the questions surrounding our moral responsibilities to them. It is written exceptionally well and asks many fascinating questions to get you thinking about all the possible implications of giving rights to robots. It is definitely a conversation starter. I highly recommend it!
“
Can You Rape a Robot?
This is not an easy read and it doesn't provide easy answers, but encourages the reader to use their own imagination and moral compass.
“
The Secret of the Dragon's Scale
​​
This is an unusually deep and thought-provoking pirate story -- so enjoyed this! It has all the elements of a fantastic pirate tale, plus a depth and heart-centeredness that really makes it stand out! Beautiful.
About the Author
I have taught for 30 years not only a variety of biology and chemistry subjects, but also writing and literary analysis. I am enjoying life now authoring books on the future of AI and society, as well as science fiction and pirate adventures.
​
I am also President of the Princeton Academy of Language and Science, and its sister organization BTA Culture and Education Consulting, LLC.