Into the Twilight

What It Means to Be and Remain Human

By: Michael Segedy

Narrated by: Ellen A. Connor

Into the Twilight takes place 200 years into the future, when Jacob Ladder and Emma Fine, strangers to one another, wake from two centuries of suspended life to a future that challenges many of their deep-rooted assumptions about what it means to be and remain human.

As the story opens, the human race faces demise from within and without. Mulling over its options, the governing council decides that the human genome will require “major redesigning” or “scrapping” if what’s left of humanity is to survive.

And that’s where Ike comes in.

Not only is Ike a test case for future humanity, and the story’s clever, enigmatic narrator, he could very well be its last historian; that is, the one chosen to record the final events in human evolution. As he attempts to fulfill his newly assigned role, he engages in a journey of self-discovery that ends in the most unlikely of all places.

©2021 Michael Segedy (P)2022 Michael Segedy

Fascinating, Delightful, Philosophical Sci-fi!

Set 200 years into the future, the novel explores what it means to be and remain human and whether a non-biological, silicon substance can acquire self-awareness and give its life meaning. And if so, would it have the same claim to life that humans have.

But just as important is the author’s view of the role biology plays, in particular, the libido, in shaping our history and our prejudices. Prejudices that are near impossible to discard and could very well interfere with the future advancement of humankind.

Philosophy and scientific speculation aside, Michael Segedy’s characters are truly unforgettable and undoubtedly instrumental in bringing this fascinating story to life—especially Emma, rough-tongued, incalcitrant, but full of wit and charm. As she attempts to make sense out of the bizarre world she finds herself in and the odd characters she encounters, her thoughts and comments offer an abundance of humor. And then there’s the suave, erudite Sagan whose professorial tone and love for old expressions and sayings turns him into the caricature of the well-intended but stuffy, pedantic scientist.

And then there’s the plot, which unwinds methodically and then offers a somewhat shocking and enigmatic conclusion that will leave you wondering how close Ike’s revelation about his own reality has a corollary to our own. Funny and at the same time a bit eerie, but a super way to end the story!

What Does Being and Remaining Human Entail?

Aside from being fascinated by all the speculation about the course humanity could take some day, the quality of the narration and narrator's uncanny ability to use so many different voices really impressed me. The characters are well-defined and easily draw your interest. I can't say which one I liked most. The enigmatic Ike or the bawdy Emma or the suave Sagan. And the story, well, it takes you on a journey that leaves you wondering, not just about how things turned out for Ike, but how much Ike's reality may be a window into our own. Which is kind of scary. In any event, the author takes us on a metaphysical ride that will slip by the less engaged reader and leave the more philosophically minded scratching their heads and muttering, "I hope not."

There's also much to think about in terms how far we can go with genetic engineering without losing what makes us human, much of which has been defined by Freud and Darwin, as the author sees it. How we escape the mold nature has cast us in, and whether or not we want to, becomes a major theme in this novel as well as a large question that sooner or later we will need to address in the era of genome tweaking we're now entering.

Thought Provoking, Engaging and Suspenseful

In 2030, Emma and Jacob were placed in suspended animation for two hundred years. Upon their awakening, they discover things for humankind have changed. In facing extinction, it was decided that changes to the human genome would be required for survival. It is upon their awakening, that Emma and Jacob must come to terms with the changes, and what it means to be human. The story is told from the viewpoint of Ike, the story narrator, the final historian of humanity. Recording humanity’s evolution is a personal journey that challenges the AI, Ike to consider not only his role in humanity but the passion/caring for humanity growing within him.

The voice actor, Ellen B. Connor gives a performance that leaves the listener completely engrossed in the story. Connor’s use of unique voices and the delivery with intonations perfect the narration and enrich the story. This is my first experience with Connor, and I have to say, it was not only enjoyable, but I cannot imagine any other narrator giving such an excellent performance in this book.

In this epically long audio, Segedy successfully challenges the listener to ponder the age-old question of time vs reality.
There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook, it was well done.