If music is a universal language, and mathematics a universal truth, could the two be combined to form a new world language that would create common understanding across all cultures?
In 2489, mathematicians who govern the world calculate that if our species doesn’t reduce wars and killing, humanity will be driven to extinction in fifteen months. They further divine that the only way out of the crisis is to create the optimum language for humans, which, it turns out, will be based on mathematics, linguistics, and music.
Charles De Costa, a brilliant mathematics student, with help from great minds resurrected (Lifted) from the past, works with the World Council of Mathematicians (WCM) to create the language, but the endemic human virus of evil thwarts progress. Charles also has trouble navigating a romance with his girlfriend, Andrica, but in a year, he grows from an awkward teen into a formidable young man.
Juanita Popov, Chairperson of WCM, leads the world and struggles to save humanity. Her World Army commander, General Roy Braun, is tasked with reducing wars, eliminating conflicts, and policing a society of over 11 billion on the planet. One of his renegade generals brings the planet to another crisis. Meanwhile, a beta version of M-L-M, transmitted to space, triggers a multitude of SETI responses from all over the galaxy. However, no one understands the replies. What do these alien signals say?
At the last possible moment, M-L-M is perfected, but it can’t be inculcated to all humans in time. Simulations using complex algorithms reveal that only weeks remain for humanity not to slide into a blackhole of extinction. A starship able to take 3000 passengers to a hospitable planet in another star system has been readied in order to propagate our species. Who will be selected to survive? Ensuing chaos tests the best and worst of humanity. And now the starship is under siege.
About the author
Ray Anderson is a hiker and the author of the AWOL Thriller novel series, which includes The Trail (2015), Sierra (2016), and The Divide (2020). Anderson has done a radio column on hiking. He has also written columns for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) newsletter. Anderson lives with his wife, Nancy, near Boston. When not reading or writing, he walks, listens to music, and tries to keep up with grandchildren.
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