Laugh Lines

Ben Bova, best-selling and award-winning author of the “GrandTour” and “Asteroid Wars” series, takes a sardonic look at thehumorous possibilities of future technology.

The Starcrossed: BillOxnard, a young technological genius, had perfected true three-dimensionaltelevision, making ordinary TV obsolete. He thought he would be rich andfamous—but he hadn’t realized how deranged the executives runningthe industry were; nor what sort of programs they were planning to broadcastusing the new process in the maniacal quest for ratings.

Cyberbooks:Carl Lewis has a dream—to make books accessible and affordable to everyperson in the country, and thinks his “cyberbook,” about as largeand as cheap as a pocket calculator, will make it possible for anyone todownload books directly and cheaply. But he has no idea what he’s about toget into, nor does the lovely but naïve Loai Tashkajian. Will they survivethis foray into the cut-throat world of big publishing? And just who is suddenlymurdering all those nice elderly people on the streets of New York, anyway?

These two full-length novels of twistedly comic, but very possiblefutures, plus several shorter works, add up to a generous volume of futuristicfun and hilarious high-tech.