The Preserve: Black Edition

In the near future a community of intelligent birds has reached a trade deal with human beings, but the exchange of security for technology comes with a terrible price. As a flourishing avian world of tradition and connection descends into the tyranny of a surveillance state, a rainbow lorikeet with unique skills must journey into the heart of a research facility called ALEX to find answers to a question only he can ask. The artificial intelligence inside has its own problems, and the end of the world is coming fast. ----- FROM THE FOREWORD Here I will say a word about the two editions of The Preserve. The narrative is identical. The “Blue Edition” presents this in a traditional chapter format and via mass market print where cost is minimized. In the “Black Edition” the content appears exactly as it was originally intended, much like a Director’s Cut is with a movie. What this means specifically is that the sections are organized by asterisks, not chapter numbers. The simultaneous avian communication scene (Chapter 43 in the Blue Edition) takes place in color, just as it was handwritten in the first draft. Finally, this edition includes notes about ideas and people in physics, artificial intelligence, ornithology, art, music, film, philosophy, history and religion as these reference the narrative of the novel itself. Those who want the story-only version and those who would explore beyond it have options.