Category Archives: fiction

Publish or Perish – academia and self-publishing

Posted on October 13, 2015 by tkflor

“He published frantically while he was a post-doc and junior faculty…” From Initial Conditions When Danielle, the protagonist of Initial Conditions, wants to work on the recently-discovered dark energy, her new boss dissuades her, noting that “in a post-doctorate, you … Continue reading →

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Three Sisters Island trilogy: meet Air, Earth, Fire and … Water

Posted on September 27, 2015 by tkflor

Ancient Greek philosophers thought that everything in the world was made out of four elements: earth, fire, water and air. This belief in four fundamental elements lasted throughout the Middle Ages, until the advent of the Scientific Revolution in the … Continue reading →

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Faster than lightning

Posted on September 17, 2015 by tkflor

Can a charged particle moving through the atmosphere have a speed greater than the speed of light in the air? I saw this question posted on Writers’ Cafe. After I ran a limited survey that got both “Yes” and “No” … Continue reading →

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Initial Conditions in the library

Posted on September 5, 2015 by tkflor

Initial Conditions finds a place on the library shelf. Thanks to Princeton Public Library!

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Firebird – a thriller with high stakes and realistic physics

Posted on August 29, 2015 by tkflor

One of my intents was to write a story in which the science was essential; another was for it to be entertaining. Tony Rothman, (From the Author). Firebird is a mythological bird from the Slavic folklore. Sometimes it is large, … Continue reading →

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Waiting for a muse in a cafe…

Posted on July 3, 2015 by tkflor

The golden age of Prague café society was at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when making an appearance at one of the elegant cafés was simply a social necessity. Surrounded by the aroma of good coffee and … Continue reading →

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Forty-two

Posted on June 20, 2015 by tkflor

“Tell us!” “All right,” said Deep Thought. “The Answer to the Great Question…” “Yes..!” “Of Life, the Universe and Everything…” said Deep Thought. “Yes…!” “Is…” said Deep Thought, and paused. “Yes…!” “Is…” “Yes…!!!…?” “Forty-two,” said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty … Continue reading →

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Raisin cake and the expanding universe

Posted on June 12, 2015 by tkflor

“Put a raisin cake in the oven, and it’s very small. Then you let it go, and the distance between the raisins is like the distance between the galaxies – it gets larger and larger with time.” Neta Bahacall, in … Continue reading →

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Old science-fiction and new research agree – paper is mightier than computer

Posted on May 31, 2015 by tkflor

“A paper computer?” said the general. He looked pained. “No, sir,” said Shuman patiently. “Not a paper computer. Simply a sheet of paper. General, would you be so kind to suggest a number?” “Seventeen,” said the general. “And you, Congressman?” … Continue reading →

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Fictional choices

Posted on May 23, 2015 by tkflor

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” From conversation between Dumbledore and Harry, at the last chapter of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling I recalled … Continue reading →

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