Have You Ever Questioned the Nature of Your Reality?
By Gray Basnight
July 20, 2018Gray Basnight puts reality and technology in question! See how you stack up by taking a quick, 10-question reality quiz, then make sure you are signed in and comment below with your score for a chance to win a copy of his near-future thriller, Flight of the Fox!
Flight of the Fox is my latest novel. Published by Down & Out Books (available July 23!), it’s a run-for-your-life thriller set in the very near future: the summer of 2019. That’s close!
In addition to a plot that pits a courageous private citizen against a paranoid federal government police agency, the story also forecasts some lifestyle-altering technological advances. Since the time frame is so near, the challenge was to project believable change without tilting too far into classic science fiction.
The key was to select a known technology, then make it smaller and more sophisticated—like the rapid evolution of mobile phones. I started with drones that are drastically reduced in size—while most are designed to perform beneficial tasks like assisting in traffic control by flashing warnings to motorists while hovering overhead, others have the capacity to kill.
I did the same in relation to our collective and growing loss of web and cellphone privacy. We already know that government and criminal elements can watch, listen, and attempt to manipulate opinion, but it currently takes considerable effort by experts trained in electronics and the arcane language of software. In my novel, there is near-universal access for anyone to snoop in an effortless and instantaneous manner.
Then, there’s the Big BM—the nickname for a brick-and-mortar store belonging to the world’s largest web retailer. Such outlets already exist, but their offerings are comparatively limited. This fictional brick-and-mortar store sells everything available on the internet, delivered by drones within minutes to the counter where each shopper sits comfortably while sipping a nice cup of tea.
For some readers, these predictions may seem like too much of a stretch for the near future, while others may feel them little more than the obvious present.
With that in mind, here’s a reality test stemming from a few topics woven into the narrative of Flight of the Fox. Each of the following questions is true or false.
Take the reality test below and comment with your score for a chance to win a copy of Flight of the Fox by Gray Basnight!
To enter, make sure you’re a registered member of the site and simply leave a comment with your score to the quiz below.
Flight of the Fox Comment Sweepstakes: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of 50 United States, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 years or older as of the date of entry. To enter, complete the “Post a Comment” entry at https://www.criminalelement.com/have-you-ever-questioned-the-nature-of-your-reality-comment-sweepstakes beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) July 20, 2018. Sweepstakes ends at 12:59 p.m. ET August 7, 2018. Void outside the United States and Canada and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules here. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010.
Comments
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Not bad 7/10. Although I went against my better judgement on one. Fun. I often questioned reality, perhaps that is why I aced my philosophy class.
Wow, not my best day of reality. 5/10.
5/10, I learned some interesting things from that
Would love to read the book.
6/10. I guessed at a few.
Count me in, please!
I should have gone with my initial feeling about DC having a larger police presence, and I would have had a perfect score!
8/10 not too shoddy and I learned a couple of things. Thanks!
5/10, I guess I’ve got a lot to learn.
7/10, mostly guessing though
Yes!
Please enter me in this sweepstakes.
Thanks —
My score was 7/10. sorry
8 out of 10 – need to study more
I got seven right as well. Will this book help me get to 10?
7/10 Interesting quiz!
9/10 but only because i think i’m a good guesser! really cool facts!
Wow, I didn’t do very good!!
Got 4/10. Not good.
Thank you for the opportunity!
8 out of `10, and they are all pretty unbelievable. I guess I stay in the rabbit hole just to see if it ends, read this book and live happily ever after.
Sounds like a winner.
8/10, which beats my 50-50 ‘just guessing’ expectation. Had the advantage of age and niggling familiarity with some of these items, I suppose.
7/10 was my score on the quiz . Thank you for the chance to win .
7/10 – “This is your last chance. You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes (Matrix)”
Not bad lol Thanks for the chance, I would love to read this book!
Sounds like a fun read.
I scored a whopping 5 out of 10!
7/10 Sweepstakes entry.
9/10. Not bad.
Here is my comment ☺
8/10
6/10 (slaps forehead in shame) I guessed at most of them 😉
Fun Quiz, I’m stupid, but would love to read the book.
9 out of 10. I seem to have a store of interesting knowledge.
8/10. I would enjoy reading this book.
6 of 10 Would like to read the book but really feel it is too close to home.
8 of 10 – interesting quiz
I got 8 out of 10, but must admit a few were just guesses. I can see this in the near future if not now.
8/10 not bad!!
9/10.
Sometimes, reality is stranger than fiction – but can you tell which is which?
Did pretty well with 8/10. This book looks great.
8/10 Some I new for sure others seemed far fetched even for our paranoid society. I love mysteries based on technology and science.
I scored 8.
I got 6 out of 10. I would enjoy reading this book.
8/10 – not bad. Have to admit a couple were true guesses though.
6/10 oh well…
8/10. Went against my own best judgement on one of those.
9/10, darn that Mattachine Society!
8/10 my last chance to decide red…or…blue pill!
7/10 good fun
looks interesting
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
This blog is incredibly thought-provoking and offers an interesting perspective on the idea of reality. It encourages readers to think more deeply about the world around them and consider the possibility that our perception of reality may not be entirely accurate. It’s definitely worth reading, and could open up some fascinating conversations.