-AUTHOR AND SPEAKER-
Ronald R Johnson
BOOKS
The Temporary Telepaths
ISBN-13-9798563213661
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A pool of slime has traveled through space for over a century and now wants to land on the planet Nah-MAY, but the inhabitants of that planet (a race of talking sheep) view them as an infestation and stop them just outside their atmosphere, spraying them with a pesticide.
To their surprise, the whole galaxy gets involved. People of every species, from one end of the Milky Way to the other, have an opinion, and they all share their thoughts passionately on social media.
Vonda Sheffield, an attorney who specializes in fighting for the underprivileged, takes the sheep to court. The sheep obtain representation from New York attorney Tony Lamont, who's a sensation within our solar system but has never argued a case at the galactic level.
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Creatures from all over the Milky Way travel to Nah-MAY to watch the trial and put pressure on the Judge. There's also a televangelist called The Inflated One. He has a special gland that enables him to puff up into a ball and float over the congregation as he preaches. He's coming to Nah-MAY, too, hoping to force a settlement between the warring parties. And that makes the trial even more intense, for terrorists are after him and have vowed to pop him.
Vonda is an accomplished galactic attorney, and people are betting that the slime will win. But Vonda has a secret. Everyone knows she's Phrenarian - a member of an alien race with superior intelligence. They also know that she identifies as human.
They don't know, however, that, in order to attain maturity, Phrenarians must go through a week-long rite of passage in which they partner telepathically with another person. As a twelve-year-old, she went through catechism - and flunked. Ever since then, she has denied her heritage and refused to make the required transition. When she and Tony meet in the courtroom on Day One, she can read his mind, and the dreaded rite of passage begins...
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The Temporary Telepaths
ISBN-13-9798563213661
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Here's a short silent trailer for the book...
The Temporary Telepaths
ISBN-13-9798563213661
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Some facts that might not be obvious:
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*The novel is a joyous celebration of multiculturalism and its challenges. Although there isn't a one-to-one correspondence between what happens in the book and what's happening now, many of the story's events echo trends in contemporary culture.
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*The cover is intentionally retro. The story itself is supposed to feel like an old Cary Grant movie, even though it takes place in the future.
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*Some of the place names and species names are ancient Greek words. It's okay if you don't spot them; you'll still be able to enjoy the story without them. But if you do discover them... and if you have a good Greek lexicon or you know someone who does... this fact may shed light on a few of the details. (There are a few ancient Greek and Latin words in Small World, also, and there, too, they add an extra layer of meaning if you happen to notice them.)
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*While you're on the lookout for Greek words, there are a few cameos by characters whose names resemble 20th century icons.
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*The unanswered question: Why did the Transition launch on its own? Tony and Vonda keep thinking they've solved the riddle, then they change their minds as they get more information. When it's all over, I wonder how you'll answer the question?
Free Sample
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For a free sample of the first 9 chapters, click on this PDF icon:
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