Bridgers 1_The Lure of Infinity
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Author’s Notes
This story is based on the rather mind-bending concept of the possible existence of infinite parallel universes.
While there are certainly cosmologists who are skeptical of the concept, it is important to point out that multiple parallel universes is not a theory. Scientists did not simply come up with the idea using their imaginations. Instead, the concept is a mathematical consequence of our current theories in physics, particularly quantum mechanics and string theory. What this means, essentially, is that even those physicists who are skeptical of the idea must examine it as a real possibility (even if they do so reluctantly).
If we assume that quantum mechanics and string theory are not completely wrong, then it is important for scientists to examine all of the mathematical consequences of those theories. Even if those consequences (such as parallel universes) seem strange to us.
There are at least five plausible scientific theories that suggest the existence of multiple universes (the “multiverse”). My favorite of these is the concept of “daughter universes” suggested by the theory of quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics describes things in terms of probabilities, rather than definite outcomes. The mathematics of quantum mechanics suggest that every possible outcome of every situation actually occurs—in its own separate universe.
Everything is made up of tiny particles, and what this “daughter universes” concept boils down to is that there could be infinite parallel universes, each of them differing by the position of only one particle.
The concept boggles the mind. But it certainly makes for a fun story.
Okay, so what about the idea of a world inhabited by large birds rather than large mammals? This is not as far-fetched as you might think. Sixty-six million years ago, the massive K-T extinction occurred as a result of an asteroid striking the earth. About 75% of all plant and animal species went extinct, including the non-avian dinosaurs (avian = bird-like).
However, the bird-like dinosaurs persisted. They evolved into the 10,000 or more bird species alive today. And some small species of mammals persisted. They evolved into the 5,400 species of mammals alive today. Sure, there are currently more birds than mammals, but mammals have filled most of the large-bodied carnivore and herbivore niches.
It’s not unreasonable to imagine that, in a do-over of the K-T extinction, those small mammals may not have made it. This definitely was a possibility. And if those mammals had gone extinct along with the non-avian dinosaurs, it is likely that the bird-like dinosaurs would have eventually filled the large-bodied carnivore and herbivore niches.
Would some of those birds have eventually become intelligent? I guess we’ll never know. Unless we someday develop a bridging device so that we can look at the results of numerous do-overs of the K-T extinction. In the meantime, I find it fun to speculate.
Acknowledgments
I am not capable of creating a book such as this on my own. I have the following people, among others, to thank for their assistance.
When it comes to editing, my son Micheal Smith is extremely talented, and his tireless and meticulous suggestions are invaluable. If you find a sentence or detail in the book that doesn’t seem right, it is likely because I failed to implement one of his suggestions.
My wife Trish is always the first to read my work, and therefore she has the burden of seeing my stories in their roughest form. Thankfully, she does not hesitate to point out where things are a mess. Her suggestions are what get the editing process started. She also helps with various promotional efforts. And finally, she not only tolerates my obsession with writing, she actually encourages it.
I also owe thanks to those on my Advance Reviewer team. They pointed out numerous typos and inconsistencies. Several went above and beyond, including Mandy Walkden-Brown, Sherri Rusch, Tammy Chambers, Lisa Ensign, Ilene Roberts, Linda Gray, Jack Waddington, Bridgit Davis, and Jenny Avery.
Finally, I am thankful to all the independent freelance designers out there who provide quality work for independent authors such as myself. Jake Caleb Clark (www.jcalebdesign.com) created the awesome cover for Bridgers 1: The Lure of Infinity. Najla (najlakay on fiver.com) created the cool map in the front matter of the book.
About the Author
Stan Smith has lived most of his life in the Midwest United States and currently resides in Warrensburg, Missouri. He writes adventure novels and short stories that have a generous sprinkling of science fiction. His novels and stories are about regular people who find themselves caught up in highly unusual situations. They are designed to stimulate your sense of wonder, get your heart pounding, and keep you reading late into the night, with minimal risk of exposure to spelling and punctuation errors. His books are for anyone who loves adventure, discovery, and mind-bending surprises.
Stan’s Author Website
http://www.stancsmith.com
Feel free to email Stan at: stan@stancsmith.com
He loves hearing from readers and will answer every email.
There’s more to this story
Infinity and Desmond are just getting started—there’s so much work to be done. Be sure to check out the next book in the series:
Bridgers 2: The Cost of Survival
How far would you go to save the human species?
Heart to blood, muscle to bone, tourist flesh above my own. It’s the bridgers’ directive: risk your own life to save tourists bridging to alternate worlds. Bridger Infinity Fowler has no qualms about the directive. Risking death is just what bridgers do. But now the earth is dying. Bridgers have a new directive—save as many humans as possible, even if some must be sacrificed in the process. Sacrificing lives is not what Infinity signed up for.
Desmond Weaver, determined to help save the human species, has volunteered to be Infinity’s partner. He has ingenuity and grit, but is this enough to make it as a bridger?
Their mission: bridge 718 refugees to a new world and establish a colony. If the world is occupied, avoid conflict and learn to coexist.
Once bridging begins, there is no turning back. The new world is indeed occupied, but not by humans, and avoiding conflict isn’t so easy. As violence erupts, Infinity and Desmond realize they may have only one hope of saving the colony—sacrificing refugees they have sworn to protect.
Also by Stan C. Smith
The DIFFUSION series
Diffusion
Infusion
Profusion
Savage
Blue Arrow
The BRIDGERS series
Bridgers 1: The Lure of Infinity
Bridgers 2: The Cost of Survival
Stand-alone Stories
Parthenium’s Year