Blog Archives
SEVEN OPTIMISTIC NOVELS ABOUT THE FUTURE
They are fiction stories which reveal lesser known trends in government and business, with creative solutions.
THE GRASS IS ALWAYS BROWNER
In 250 years from now, will minds immeasurably superior to ours regard Australia with envious eyes and slowly and surely draw their plans against us? (From War of the Worlds).
Can Australia be united by a central, rational, scientific government, under Aboriginal Prime Minister Abajoe?
PRESUMED DEAD
In a city governed by a bipartisan duopoly, could self-interest of political parties corrupt politics and cause the disappearance of Jane Kenwood an iconic woman city councillor?
Can her boyfriend Phillip Keane, a forensic scientist, uncover political skulduggery?
SHORT OF LOVE
Tom and Vicki meet at university but their affair is delayed by their careers, which involve
unethical corporate trading between Canada and an African country. The story exposes corporate capitalism and the greed of Tom when he sells his girl to a friend. The story is a satire.
TIME IS GOLD
The story goes inside the bubble where an elite marathon runner trains for the Olympics following advice given by a physicist, psychologist, neuroscientist and a Zen Buddhist. Her think tank discuss philosophies of performance in timed events. Her boyfriend Jack depends on her success for his PhD thesis.
ANIMAL FARM 2
The story sequels George Orwell’s political satire Animal Farm (1945). The pigs’ totalitarian control continues on Caruba, an island where the Social Republic installs missiles adjacent to the Democratic Union. The animals learn English and climate science in order to contest the closing of the coal mine, which is their only employment. Will the animals overthrow the pigs?
TURKEYS NOT BEES
Megan is an Australian pole vault champion in training for the 2032 Olympic Games. Her career is halted by nanny state overreach, banning her training methods. Conditions in competitions are to be levelled to bring success to outsiders, profits to investors and votes to politicians. Will Megan and her boyfriend Chance be able to successfully oppose, with a non-violent protest march, mandatory restrictions in a pandemic?
BRISBANE RIVER ANTI-MEMOIR
Coming shortly. A fresh look at the floods and new ways they could have been avoided, based on phenomenological analysis.
The novels are available on Amazon. Reviews are at martinknox.com
Short of Love
Short of Love is a satirical fiction novel telling of Tom’s loves and career from school, university, oilfield engineering to Chief Executive Officer of an international oil company. He falls for Vicki in an agonising love story when he is studying hard and tries to put her off until later, like in a commodity short. They are brought together in an African country and oppose famine and exploitation. It is a fast-moving page-turning love story from the Beatles era to recent times.
http://www.martinknox.wordpress.com
Cat and mouse?
Is simultaneity possible? Who should make the first commitment?
The fiction novel ‘Short of Love’ is about a couple for whom commitment is ephemeral and elusive despite intervening lovers and children. There is overthinking in this satirical treatment of the vulnerability of love.
http://www.martinknox.wordpress.com
WHAT IS A FAIR PRICE FOR OIL?
Dairy farmers get a price for milk that is held down by oligopsony, agreement between a small number of buyers for their product. For stability of supply, the price has to recompense investment. Oil exporting countries get a price for oil that is held down by oligopsony, agreement between major oil importing companies. For stability of supply, the price has to recompense investment and also anticipate the depletion of petroleum resources with oil supply running out. For example, a higher price could be demanded to fund diversification into agriculture. Oil has varied per barrel between $20 in 1997, $160 in 2008, and $60 today.
Is the ethical position of companies buying oil different from supermarkets buying milk? Who will provide for oil exporters to transition away from oil when it runs out?
Novel ‘$hort of Love’ is about love set in the international oil industry, with some relationship and oil supply dilemmas considered in a satirical commodity framework.
