Prey (novel)

Prey is a novel by Michael Crichton, first published in November 2002. An excerpt was published in the January–February 2003 issue of Seed. Like Jurassic Park, the novel serves as a cautionary tale about developments in science and technology; in this case, nanotechnology, genetic engineering and artificial intelligence.

The book features relatively new advances in the computing/scientific community, such as artificial life, emergence (and by extension, complexity), genetic algorithms, and agent-based computing.

While the novel has yet to be adapted into a movie, film rights to the novel were purchased by 20th Century Fox.

Plot summary

The novel is narrated by the protagonist Jack Forman, who is an unemployed software programmer who used to work for a company called Media Tronics but was fired for discovering an internal scandal. As a result, he is forced to take the role of a house husband while his wife Julia serves as a high ranking employee at a nanorobotics company called Xymos. Julia claims that she is working on a new piece of revolutionary imaging technology with her company, which takes up most of her time and makes her grow distant to Jack and her family. He starts believing that during her long hours away from home she is having an affair, and becomes watchful of her changes.

Prey (Star Trek: Voyager)

"Prey" is the 84th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, the 16th episode of the fourth season.

Overview: A member of Species 8472 captured by the Hirogen penetrates Voyager.

Plot

The Federation starship Voyager discovers an injured Hirogen who is in the middle of an intense hunt for what is a formidable and dangerous prey even for Hirogen standards. He is brought in to Sickbay for treatment, but is eager to get back out and track down his trophy prey. Before he is able to do so, the prey alien invades Voyager. It is a tough, armored, telepathic, insectlike creature that the Borg have designated Species 8472.

The Hirogen hunter is allowed to hunt for 8472 under Chakotay's supervision. The Hirogen starts attacking an unresponsive 8472 without hesitation. He refuses an order to stand down and battles with his Starfleet escort before being stunned and subdued; he is subsequently confined in sickbay. As the crew later approach the seriously injured 8472, it telepathically communicates with the Vulcan tactical officer Tuvok, pleading to be rescued from the hunter and returned to its home, which is a different dimension known as "fluidic space." Meanwhile, a number of Hirogen vessels surround Voyager threatening to destroy them unless 8472 is beamed over. Nevertheless, Captain Janeway immediately orders Seven of Nine to help the alien return to its home territory, hoping to open the door to peaceful contact with its species. Seven refuses to comply, believing the protection of the hated and feared alien is not worth facing imminent destruction at the hands of the Hirogen. She informs Janeway that the approaching Hirogen ships will destroy Voyager unless 8472 is turned over, and a lesson in compassion will do her no good if she is dead.

Spengler

Spengler is a German-language occupational surname, literally meaning "plumber". It may refer to:

David P. Goldman

David Paul Goldman (born September 27, 1951) is an American economist, music critic, and author, best known for his series of online essays in the Asia Times under the pseudonym Spengler. Goldman says that he writes from a Judeo-Christian perspective and often focuses on demographic and economic factors in his analyses; he says his subject matter proceeds "from the theme formulated by [Franz] Rosenzweig: the mortality of nations and its causes, Western secularism, Asian anomie, and unadaptable Islam." As of March 14 2015, Goldman and long time Asia Times associate, Uwe Von Parpart, took control of Asia Times HK Ltd.

Early life and education

Goldman was born in the United States, in a non-religious family. Goldman earned his bachelor's degree at Columbia University in 1973. Goldman acquired a master's degree in music education at the City University of New York. He completed his doctoral studies in economics at London School of Economics in 1976.

Career

From 1976 to 1982, Goldman was responsible for economic publications in the radical left Lyndon LaRouche movement. Goldman has described himself during that period as a radical and an atheist. After having been a leftist and working with LaRouche, he became a conservative and worked for the Reagan administration and later on Wall Street.