Unfettered Journey Appendices: Philosophical Explorations on Time, Ontology, and the Nature of Mind

by Gary F. Bengier

Unfettered Journey Appendices contains three philosophical papers, on the subjects of time, ontology, and the ontological nature of mind. The three papers are entitled:•Time from Inside and Out—a Scientifically Consistent View;•A Metaphysical Ontology Consisting Only of Relations;•Mental Causation—A Relational OntologyThe book serves to explicate, in a more rigorous, academic form, several of the philosophical ideas found in the book, Unfettered Journey.

Genres: Science Fiction, Ebooks, Dystopia, Fiction, Romance

140 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2020

About the author

We all have many journeys. Gary’s began in a small Midwest town, where he could play unfettered in the woods, finding an early love for nature and learning self-reliance. The space program and the night skies hooked him on astronomy. After finishing college, the wide world beckoned, and his fascination with science drew him to California to participate in the booming tech industry. Now he still stares upward, wondering what it all is about.

After a career in Silicon Valley, Gary pursued passion projects, studying astrophysics and philosophy. He’s spent the last two decades thinking about how to live a balanced, meaningful life in a rapidly evolving technological world. This self-reflective journey infuses his novels with insights about our future and the challenges we will face in finding purpose.

Before turning to writing speculative fiction, Gary worked in a variety of Silicon Valley tech companies. He was eBay’s Chief Financial Officer and led the company’s initial and secondary public offerings. Gary has an MBA from Harvard Business School, and an MA degree in philosophy from San Francisco State University. He has two children with Cynthia, his wife of forty-seven years. When not traveling the world, he raises bees and makes a nice Cabernet at the family’s Napa vineyard. He and his family live in San Francisco.

Reviews

[Stephanie (Bookfever)]

DNF at 62%

I love reading about any story that involves artificial intelligence and a futuristic world but Unfettered Journey somehow missed its mark for me. This is really too bad because the book had a lot of potential.

I do have to say that there were positive and negative things in this book for me. I will start with the positive. The start of the book wasn't too bad actually. I enjoyed reading about this advanced world set in the future and exploring it. I enjoyed the various philosophical thoughts and conversations that the main character would have in his head and with other people. Although even those could borer on being a little too excessive, to be completely honest.

The actual story and characters were something that didn't resonate as well and as much with me. This is why I decided to DNF the book. I felt myself losing more and more interest in the story and characters up until the point where I hadn't bothered with picking up my Kindle in days. This is a huge sign to me that I'm not enjoying a story and that it's time to move on. Also, at 530 pages it's not exactly a fast-paced and quick to read book either.

I do agree with the synopsis that it's a profound, many-layered journey. So it might be interesting to read all the way through for some people but I just felt my focus slipping and would rather read books that I know I'll enjoy more. I did try, I really did, but in the end it was too much even for me.

[Books R&B · Rating 5 out of 5]

he book follows the lives of a group of people( Primarily Joe, an applied mathematician and AI scientist) trying to make sense of everything in the world of AI, and features an ensemble cast of several characters. While the story premise might indicate a deep dive into the cut-throat world of innovators and fledgling companies, the rather refreshing and heart-warming story line of the book came as a pleasant surprise to me.


We’re introduced to the main characters through a feel-good story lines that helps us stay connected with them throughout the book. From start to end, the book is quite the spectrum of concepts and genres touching base with almost everything ranging from futuristic, romance and philosophical abstractions.


The concept is innovative, with an amazing overlap of different flavors that that the author is committed to throughout the book to make it powerful, decisive and filled with statements left little room open for argument. The revelation and realizations a reader feels at different points of the book is empowering . Basically there are some real gems of thought in here, practical gems, but sometimes I felt like I was digging for them through a lot of writing that I disagreed with. This book influenced my life in a very different way. It came to me at just the right second and I have taken it straight to heart. Unfettered Journey is in the business of life-changing, really, whether it's teaching us how to love in the face of a world of loveliness and ambiguity. To reflect on the depths of our soul and maybe just experience all the things that life has to offer us.


I'm glad that I came across a book like this and definitely feel that it has left a lasting mark on me.

More here:https://booksrnb.wixsite.com/home/pos...

[Marji Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of the novel was slow going for me. I'm not a scientist, economist, or philosopher and for many, many pages, those are the subjects I waded through. I was ready to abandon the book so many times, but what I thought was the subplot intrigued me. It turns out, of course, that the subplot, the regulations about "levels" (a caste system) was the main plot. If you are fascinated by AI and the questions of whether bots are capable of sentience, then this book is for you. If Schroeder's cat is part of your background, this book is for you. If not (and I am among the "nots"), then skim a bunch and read for an exciting story. Imagine a world where the government banishes people to the desert and abandons them there. Most die, of course. Our heroes manage to survive impossible odds and rely on their innate creativity and a lot of luck for three years. That part of the book was really interesting. But all good things must come to an end, so they return to "civilization" and the revenge planned against them. Lots of action there.

[Peter Mumford · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Was listening to the audiobook while driving and realized total silence would be preferable to even passively listening.

[Reader Views · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Unfettered Journey,” by Gary. F. Bengier, is a science fiction novel exploring philosophic questions of artificial intelligence; it also delves into the nature of freewill and whether we have it or not. The protagonist, Joe Denkensmith, a leading researcher on artificial intelligence (AI) is trying to answer what is, in the future, still an unresolved question; has AI achieved true self-consciousness? He doesn’t think so but isn’t completely sure, suspecting that the answer involves philosophic theory. He takes a sabbatical at a small college to research a possible AI/philosophy link.

The world-scape: after a planet-wide “climate war”, technology, including the synthesis of IT with living tissue, has evolved for the general betterment of mankind. For example, a corneal implant called the NEST taps directly into the Internet; peoples’ eyes function as screens for useful tasks like finding one’s way to a new location. Helpful drugs are automatically administered; people are healthier and live much longer.

There are downsides, however. Perfection of robotic engineering has led to the collapse of human employment. Work is rationed, no more than 12 hours a week. But for Joe one of his work assignments is very interesting. Through advanced virtual reality gear, he operates a robot on a giant space station orbiting the moon as if he were there himself.

A much larger problem, however (besides complete surveillance outside the house), are the levels: every person is assigned a level (1 to 100); what they can do and what resources they are allowed are dictated by that number. More “rights” go along with higher levels; marriage outside your “caste” is prohibited. This causes inevitable class friction and there is an active rebellion against the level system.

Severe crimes are punished by banishment in a large, fenced-off, inhospitable no-man’s land that has not recovered from the previous climate war. Citizens, used to softness, often die within days as they have no survival skills.

The book is roughly broken down into three parts:

Joe’s introduction to the new college, which leads quickly to involvement in the “level” insurrection (he meets Evie, an insurgent, trying to protect her from capture).
a period where characters are banished to the punishment zone.
escape from the zone and a confrontation including a battle that ultimately decides the fate of the level system.
Things I enjoyed: The author is obviously knowledgeable on the topics discussed in the novel; there were few, if any, “logic” flaws. The world Bengier creates is tight and believable. I found his writing crisp with no errors. The exploration of the role of surveillance, as well as the interface between robots and humans, is explored convincingly, with ties to current events. The description of the melding of organic and digital (and how it functions day-to-day) was well done. The “bots” were described with the right amount of detail; though the future of robot technology is unknowable at a thorough level, Bengier’s description of their use seems convincingly predictive. Example: the use of drone warfare (automated combat, done on a large scale, with quick results and minimal actual loss of life) is aptly done.

Things I didn’t enjoy as much: There is a lot of excessive meal description; everyone in the future apparently eats well. The villain is a little one-dimensional and could have been developed more deeply (and earlier in the storyline). The author goes out of his way to describe Evie’s (the heroine’s) abilities (such as hand-to-hand combat prowess) to show she is an equal to Joe, yet I felt some alpha troupe-ism sneaking in; not a lot, but enough to be noticeable. The novel is heavy on philosophical discussions. Some of these were long, dense, and at times, tedious. To be fair, the book was advertised as an intersection of artificial intelligence and philosophical questions, but it was a lot to keep track of and less would have been more.

Overall, if you are a deep thinker with even the slightest interest in science fiction, then this book is for you. If you fancy more full-on swashbuckling, however, it may not have enough action for you.

[Ellie Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

~About

Joe, an applied mathematician and AI scientist, is plagued by questions regarding human consciousness. On a sabbatical from his usual work, he travels to Lone Mountain College, where he encounters a protest against Level Acts that separate and demean people.

However, housing the protest’s leader, Evie in his temporary accommodation is a risky move, one which sees them both banished to a place known only as The Zone.


~Characters

Joe Denkensmith is highly intelligent, curious, determined, and admittedly a bit lost in life.

Evie, however, is a mysterious, passionate, idealistic young woman who contrasts Joe’s character nicely. Her rebellious nature rubs off on Joe over time, leading him to join in her pursuit of abolishing the Level Acts.

Fabri and Eloy are kind and hard working friends to Joe and Evie, having met in The Zone. As a couple, they demonstrated the better, more caring and helpful side of human nature.

On the other hand, Peightan, an obnoxious, sneering cretin of a man made for a truly infuriating villain. He represented a darker side of human nature. Everything he did and said really got on my nerves, so it was easy to hate him.


~Likes

There was much that I loved about Unfettered Journey. One of my core likes was how the relationship between Joe and Evie built up slowly as they came to trust in each-other more and more. Seeing how they persevered through ever more difficult struggles together gave me hope in humanity’s ability to form strong relational bonds.

In addition, the domed community Evie came from was a wondrous sounding place, full of human connection and compassion. Hand-made goods and caring members gave this little community a united and genuine vibe and made it sound like a place I’d love to live.


The sense of survival and human spirit (especially in the second half of the story) explored was absolutely beautiful to see. This is something I thought Evie’s character portrayed especially well, always standing up for what was right and just, no matter what it cost her.

Themes of life, love, loss and community feature prominently, as do the idea of the human spirit and a sense of unrelenting inner freedom.


~Memorable Quotes:

This book had a plethora of inspiring quotes, so obviously it was difficult to whittle down which ones to include in this review. Eventually, I settled on five because each seemed too important to leave out.


‘You never know what pain other people might have. You see them walking about as if all is well, but you can’t see the stones inside their mercuries.’

This quote highlights the importance of not judging someone by what you can see. It encourages people to look deeper, to give people the benefit of the doubt, as much of a person’s past pain is hidden in their mind, where we fear to tread.


‘Your worth comes from inside, from your character.’

This was one of the more important quotes for me. In the UK (and I’ve noticed in the US) there seems to be this idea that your worth is tied mainly to how much money you make or what you look like.

Realistically, our personal character and what we do with it determines our self worth, although this is not something we’re routinely told. It’s nice to have this statement reflected back to us, to remind us of what we’re really worth when we lose ourselves in the material world.


‘The people who you surround yourself with help shape your path. Those choices and those people, influence character.’

Again, this quote details something I wasn’t taught growing up. The idea that who you surround yourself with matters is only just starting to dawn on me. While bad influences will lead you down treacherous paths, better influences will enrich your life beyond recognition.


‘We never know how long our sliver of time is, so we need to use it wisely.’

Wise words from a wise man. It’s important to remember that there are no guarantees in life. The next day could be our last as we never know what fate holds in store for us.


We have the free will to act, to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of others- we can strive higher and be good examples to each-other. Like Evie, we can work with others to make the world better.’

This final quote was particularly powerful and emotive. It sets the entire tone for the story, drawing it to a perfect close. As long as we all strive to do better, we can change the world.
Unfettered Journey, quote, Gary. F. Bengier, book review, bookish beyond, science fiction, book review


~Overview

Unfettered Journey was a powerful exploration of freedom, status, and what it means to have consciousness. I loved every moment.

Rated: 5 stars.
Recommended: To lovers of unique science fiction, who love a good underdog story.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful mind I've "met" via a Goodreads Giveaway!

I rather enjoyed becoming immersed in the futuristic world of AI problems, still contending with class issues and some well imagined advancements humans had made by this time. The dialog was occasionally halting, but always served to well illustrate the environment the characters lived in. I really enjoyed the way you'd be carried along, not knowing if Joe and Evie would overcome the obstacles faced, or whether they'd have something tragic occur - all the way through.

More than usual, I have some quotes/passages I was fond of:
"Part Two: The Journey Outward “There’s a time when you’re riding the wave, and you decide to turn, and the turn decides everything else afterward.” Joe Denkensmith" This sort of encapsulates my life at the moment and rung true for sure with the storyline.

"We are all mere animals, risen apes. But what rising is possible." Joe was reflecting after a momentous event and it's also spot-on and something we would do well to remember more often.

"There was a particular aroma that Joe drew deep into his lungs when roaming these western forests—a whiff redolent of pine and underbrush and arid dust and crisp mountain air—that would never leave his mind. For him, that scent meant freedom." As a serious dendrophile, this speaks to my soul in a way I've not seen another writer achieve!

And lastly, the gem of wisdom: "That thin slice of time is ours alone. There are no excuses, no do-overs. It doesn’t matter what liabilities we began with, but only how we mark out our lives. Only we decide whether to squander or wisely use our time. Only we answer for that choice."

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The world seems designed to keep conscious creatures skating on the edge of unknowing."

Unfettered Journey follows Joe as he tackles some mathematical and philosophical questions on his sabbatical that he's been struggling with for a while. While he's at Lone Mountain College, he is delighted to meet many like-minded professors, as well as have some unexpected run-ins with a group of people who are protesting against the Level Acts, which award each person a different set of advantages depending on the "level" that they are born into.

This book addresses questions such as: what does it mean to be conscious? Can consciousness be created artificially? And, in a world where almost everything is provided for you at no cost, how do we find our own purpose?

I didn't really get into this book until I was halfway through it, but from then on I enjoyed it. There is a lot of discussion about mathematical and philosophical topics that mostly went over my head. The section about survival was my favorite part to read. But if you enjoy math, philosophy and futuristic-dystopian ideas, this is totally the book for you!

I won a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways, so thank you Goodreads and Gary F. Bengier!

Mature content: death, violence, moderate sensuality, sexual innuendo.

[Pamela Carroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 85%. I’m still processing all the information I have read in this book. I’m not really sure how I feel overall about it but let’s break it down. I made it through the parts that reminded me of a cross between Brave New World and The Jetson’s futuristic lifestyle with Buzz Kill’s attempt at providing consciousness to AI, but on steroids. I had no idea how many parts this book had to it. I should have checked before I started but it turns out it has moved on to a 3 year series of Survivor then moving from there to bring to mind: The Hunger Games. In addition to all those conceptual ideas, it stops a relatively smooth storyline to insert lessons in formal science, social science and physical science. Which, by the way, happens so often that it disrupts the story’s flow. I made it to 85% and finally had to do like other readers and throw in the towel. I kept returning out of my obligation to provide an honest review, not because I enjoyed the reading marathon. I mean no disrespect to the author, but it was just too theory involved then churned on and on. By the time I got to my stopping point, I no longer cared how it ended or whose theory was the most accurate.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theoretical mathematics, artificial intelligence, romance, dystopian/utopian, philosophy, physics, and more! I had a bit of trouble getting into this book as it started with a lot of theoretical math, philosophy, and physics. Most of the beginning scholarly stuff went over my head (my degree is in Psychology). I'm glad that I slogged through!

The book follows Joe, a man who is often "in his head" as he sets out to determine if Artificial Intelligence can become conscious. Along his journey, he learns more about what it means to be human. Unfettered Journey gives a glimpse of where our society may be headed as we become increasingly dependent on technology and disconnected from others.

[Elly Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story but definitely not light reading.

I really enjoyed the concept of the story and the journey of the main character. It was fascinating to follow his growth through wildly different settings and experiences. The book is thought provoking, particularly if you have an interest in philosophy.

That is where my only "complaint" comes in. Unfortunately a lot of the philosophical discussions were over my head or a little too deep/ thought-provoking for my bed time reading. However, I'm sure this is exactly what will appeal to others.

At times the interactions felt a little forced and it sometimes seemed like the plot was simply a vehicle for a philosophical discussion, but by the end, I was fully invested in the characters and their experiences.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read for me. It was a story intertwined with philosophical theories--sometimes in a conversation and sometimes in the main character's own thoughts. I liked the premise of the book and was more interested in the story line than I was in the philosophy, but I did enjoy the ideas put forth. The ending fell a little flat for me, but overall it was an enjoyable book that kept me eagerly reading to find out what happened next.

I received a digital copy at no cost with the request for a review. Thank you.

[Diane Elrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Headspace overdrive

I enjoyed the story, but the plotline would not have suffered with less ponderings about the minutia of philosophical questions that have no answers. Joe, the protagonist, got on my nerves. I had questions about how society came to this horrible rule of levels. And just what were the Climate Wars? Was there a prequel to this book? It was a good read, but it left me with more questions.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very exciting and thought provoking

This book started out slow, but it quickly became exciting. The book has a lot of complex concepts about AI and consciousness especially at the beginning. It took me awhile to read at the beginning because of this, but once I grasped the concepts it was very thought provoking. Overall I really enjoyed this bok and the adventure it had.

[Erroll-Genre Hopper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an fantastic journey and a great way for me to start my 2021 reading. This novel has everything in it; it has a love story, adventure, some really nerdy, sciencey bits, even war. This book is for anyone who has thought of consciousness and where it comes from and where it can go. This book will make you think.

[Karen M]

I'm not even rating this book because I stopped reading at 134 pages and don't feel it would be right to rate it. This book just is not for me. I enjoy scifi but I'm not enjoying lectures on mathematics, philosopy and physics, so I'm done. Sadly this is probably only the 4th book I've ever not finished.

[Groucho42 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was sent a copy and I really wanted to like the book. It is focused on artificial intelligence, and what intelligence really means. However, it was written in a very dry way. The characters didn't come alive and the book bored me too much to finish it.

[Rick Molitor · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a journey

This is a very complex story. It sometimes seemed to bog down but then moved forward again. It really made you think. It is the reasoning of the characters that makes the story so unique. A very good science fiction read with a big dose of philosophy in it.

[Julie Kleckner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too long and confusing

I had a lot of trouble finishing this book. Too long and too much information on AI's and the technology of the future outlined in the book. It got better but not until about half way through the book.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfettered Journey by Gary F. Bengier is a wonderful story that I have loved reading. I really was hooked on this book from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading love stories.

[Holly Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unexpected pleasure

Part sci-fi, part study in philosophy, part love story. I was surprised to find this book so engrossing, even the long discussions re consciousness, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Entertaining and I even learned a thing or two.

[Karen Bendzus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent mix of two very different worlds

This is an excellent look at two contrasting worlds. A sow and peaceful if not spare world and the chaotic world of robots and war. Makes you wonder which is better. I did cry when evie died. Excellent story

[Barb Wild]

Out of my league and experience but a real introduction to physics and and utopian information. Took a week. I would suggest it to people that know more about the topic than I do.

[Kristen Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF-21%
I received free in a Goodreads giveaway. I tried really hard to get into to it, but found it very dry and hard to follow.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

[Alexandria Street · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book. very philosophical. really makes you think. a lot of inner dialogue. slow start. picks up about half way through. but totally worth the read.