Authorpreneur Dashboard – Jason Minor Matthews
The Little Universe
Science Fiction & Fantasy
What if you could create a universe: a miniature self-enclosed universe? Imagine having probing cameras that could focus to any star or planet looking for life. And once you found life, what if you could accelerate time and watch it evolve? What might you find? These are not the questions Jon Gruber ponders as he pedals to his next carpentry job. Over thirty and unmarried, he doesn't even own a car. But a new assignment challenges him to rethink his place in the world. Is he a loser? Or is he about to become a partner in an experiment of phenomenal discovery? Webster Adams, astronomer, inventor, and Jon's latest client, performs such an experiment. To Webster's amazement, he finds planets and cultures beyond his wildest dreams. His little universe turns into a discovery machine--an overnight goldmine. He and his crew observe societies so far past them on levels of technology and spirituality, that the world will be forever changed. Webster's lovely daughter, Whitney, also overwhelms Jon. She opens his eyes to the deeper meanings within the experiment by finding the most advanced beings within the project--the spirit guides from Theta 7. The Little Universe is a mind expanding concept. For Webster Adams, one question immediately comes to light. "If I can create a universe," he wonders, "then who created ours?"
Book Bubbles from The Little Universe
Life in Free-Fall
This is one of my favorites scenes from the story, when Jon gets a full dose of both the highs and lows of their discoveries. Though the entire chapter is not included in this bubble with mentions of Whitney and what she means to Jon, this scene marks a turning point for Jon and Jessica, where something within gravitates two unlikely people toward one another.
Being a Medium for Infinite Wisdom
Imagine asking any possible question and getting a real answer. That's what makes the Thetans so special. The "seemingly primitive" people have a higher level of consciousness enabling them to tap into everything that is known, baffling the scientists. This is where the story takes another twist, since the crew is already knee-deep trying to understand the technological discoveries, and now they realize a whole new realm is at their fingertips where the answers to any possible question are given plainly. But what will this lead to?
Primitive society to intelligent in a flash
For me this is where the story really takes off. Background info was important to establish, but now the surprise value of the project is on full display as the crew watches primitive societies become intelligent. Imagine how far they can go with this insight, realizing they have just witnessed the beginning of the project's potential with much more at their fingertips.
Moment of Creation
Since I was a kid the immense size of the universe fascinated me. It was so big, really beyond comprehension, and I wondered if that would keep us from learning if other planets existed with intelligent people (which I hoped was true). Thinking about the obstacles of time and space was the premise for this book: a way to bridge the gap and find out everything a universe can offer. In this scene, Jon (the narrator) represents the kid in me, both skeptical and wanting to know more about the possibilities.
