"The story gains an emotionality that justifies calling Goldin
an artist, not merely a writer."
-- Tom Easton Analog
Don't
ever let anyone tell you commercial TV is useless. I was watching an episode
of The Bionic Woman featuring guest star Vincent Price, who
portrayed a man who'd lived alone on a totally automated island for many
years. The story quickly devolved into a pale copy of Ten Little
Indians, with Price's ingenious robots knocking off one greedy
heir after another, but that's not the point. My mind was intrigued by
the thought of what would happen to a man if he spent years with only
robot companionship.
A World Called Solitude is the result. It's a brooding piece,
but not necessarily an unhappy one. It felt so naturally like a play,
with the main action taking place as interplay between the characters,
that I've divided it into three acts. I consider it one of my emotionally
strongest works.
For a free sample of this book, read Chapter
1. If you enjoy it, the book is currently available in hardcover or
ebook format--and soon in paperback as well. This is what the wraparound
cover of the paperback will look like: