Douglas Phillips
@dpscifi.bsky.social
Author of the Quantum Series, hard sci-fi. Scientist, progressive, and futurist. I post all things science and books. I feel fortunate for this brief glimpse into an amazing universe.
Hard to believe that Phenomena published five years ago! If you missed it, the audiobook is a great way to catch up. In many ways, Phenomena is my favorite, in part because after writing the Quantum Series, I finally felt I knew what I was doing. Enjoy!
www.audiobooks.com/promotions/p...
www.audiobooks.com/promotions/p...
Phenomena: A Neuroscience Thriller
Phenomena is a story of intrigue, psychological distress, and one scientist's quest to untangle the mysteries of human consciousness . . .
Amelia Charron is a neuroscientist researching brain ...
www.audiobooks.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Hard to believe that Phenomena published five years ago! If you missed it, the audiobook is a great way to catch up. In many ways, Phenomena is my favorite, in part because after writing the Quantum Series, I finally felt I knew what I was doing. Enjoy!
www.audiobooks.com/promotions/p...
www.audiobooks.com/promotions/p...
Yesterday, I checked to see if anyone recognized the Goldstone Radar Observatory, located in the Mojave Desert of California. It's run by NASA, and if you were alive during the Apollo missions, you may remember Walter Cronkite and others speaking the Goldstone name.
November 5, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Yesterday, I checked to see if anyone recognized the Goldstone Radar Observatory, located in the Mojave Desert of California. It's run by NASA, and if you were alive during the Apollo missions, you may remember Walter Cronkite and others speaking the Goldstone name.
I've been scrolling around Google Maps this morning and found this unique place in the Mojave Desert of California. I've never been there, but I'm writing about it today. If you're old enough, you might remember it from the Apollo program. Do you know what it is?
#SecondAscent
#SecondAscent
November 4, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I've been scrolling around Google Maps this morning and found this unique place in the Mojave Desert of California. I've never been there, but I'm writing about it today. If you're old enough, you might remember it from the Apollo program. Do you know what it is?
#SecondAscent
#SecondAscent
Today my series starter books are #1 and #4 at Amazon! These novellas kick off the Ascending Carbon Series (3 books) and the Quantum Series (5 books). I give these books away free to allow readers to decide if they like the story and characters well enough to invest time in the series. It's working!
October 30, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Today my series starter books are #1 and #4 at Amazon! These novellas kick off the Ascending Carbon Series (3 books) and the Quantum Series (5 books). I give these books away free to allow readers to decide if they like the story and characters well enough to invest time in the series. It's working!
For each book I write, I stumble into a theme song often by accident. Right now, I'm writing Second Ascent, with a vibe that matches Karma by Taylor Swift. Such a beautiful song with a dreamlike feel. Nicely done, Taylor.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzOv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzOv...
Taylor Swift ft. Ice Spice - Karma (Official Music Video) ft. Ice Spice
YouTube video by Taylor Swift
www.youtube.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:24 PM
For each book I write, I stumble into a theme song often by accident. Right now, I'm writing Second Ascent, with a vibe that matches Karma by Taylor Swift. Such a beautiful song with a dreamlike feel. Nicely done, Taylor.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzOv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzOv...
Welcome to Seattle, Toronto Blue Jay fans. I've been to your beautiful city, and now you get to visit mine.
October 15, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Welcome to Seattle, Toronto Blue Jay fans. I've been to your beautiful city, and now you get to visit mine.
Progress around the world! Everyone needs to make a plan to get to 100% electric. I'm already there. It's a great feeling.
This is a moment of world-historical importance:
"Renewable energy overtook coal as the world's leading source of electricity in the first half of this year - a historic first, according to new data from the global energy think tank Ember."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Renewable energy overtook coal as the world's leading source of electricity in the first half of this year - a historic first, according to new data from the global energy think tank Ember."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Renewables overtake coal as world's biggest source of electricity
Developing countries lead the historic clean energy charge but the US and EU rely more on fossil fuels than before, a think tank study shows.
www.bbc.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Progress around the world! Everyone needs to make a plan to get to 100% electric. I'm already there. It's a great feeling.
When a government says Tylenol (developed in 1955) is linked to autism (documented cases dating back to the 18th century) you may wonder if they're spewing BS (hint: they are). That's also a good time to reassess the same government's message that "climate change is a hoax" (second hint: it's not).
September 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
When a government says Tylenol (developed in 1955) is linked to autism (documented cases dating back to the 18th century) you may wonder if they're spewing BS (hint: they are). That's also a good time to reassess the same government's message that "climate change is a hoax" (second hint: it's not).
Yesterday at Chinook Pass in the great (best) state of Washington. This beautiful place is crowded all summer, but on a Monday in the fall we had it all to ourselves.
September 23, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Yesterday at Chinook Pass in the great (best) state of Washington. This beautiful place is crowded all summer, but on a Monday in the fall we had it all to ourselves.
"It's a free country." How many times did I hear that growing up? For Americans, the meaning has always been obvious: speak your mind, you can do that in a free country. We imagine our country as the standard bearer for this high concept. So, it's shocking to witness freedom of speech collapsing as
September 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
"It's a free country." How many times did I hear that growing up? For Americans, the meaning has always been obvious: speak your mind, you can do that in a free country. We imagine our country as the standard bearer for this high concept. So, it's shocking to witness freedom of speech collapsing as
To celebrate the Seattle Mariners taking first place... Have you heard ALL of the lyrics to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"? These days, we only sing the chorus to this 1908 song, but there's more! When you hear the rest, the song finally makes sense.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4-g...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4-g...
Baseball "Take Me Out to The Ball Game" (1908)
YouTube video by myzeidi
www.youtube.com
September 15, 2025 at 6:02 PM
To celebrate the Seattle Mariners taking first place... Have you heard ALL of the lyrics to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"? These days, we only sing the chorus to this 1908 song, but there's more! When you hear the rest, the song finally makes sense.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4-g...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4-g...
I may have inadvertently predicted the future when I published #QuantumSpace in 2017! A new study examines a method to produce a coherent beam of neutrinos, exactly the mechanism I used in my book to expand a hidden fourth dimension of space. Fiction becomes reality?
physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Envisioning a Neutrino Laser
A Bose-Einstein condensate of radioactive atoms could turn into a source of intense, coherent, and directional neutrino beams, according to a theoretical proposal.
physics.aps.org
September 12, 2025 at 2:48 AM
I may have inadvertently predicted the future when I published #QuantumSpace in 2017! A new study examines a method to produce a coherent beam of neutrinos, exactly the mechanism I used in my book to expand a hidden fourth dimension of space. Fiction becomes reality?
physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
This afternoon I'll be delivering a presentation to the International Space Elevator Consortium to talk about my sci-fi book, First Ascent, and its sequel! If you're interested in joining us on Zoom, the conference begins at 4 pm Pacific time Sept 6. It's free. Register: www.isec.org/events/isec2...
ISEC Space Elevator Conference 2025 — International Space Elevator Consortium
ISEC2025 : International Space Elevator Consortium Conference 2025
www.isec.org
September 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
This afternoon I'll be delivering a presentation to the International Space Elevator Consortium to talk about my sci-fi book, First Ascent, and its sequel! If you're interested in joining us on Zoom, the conference begins at 4 pm Pacific time Sept 6. It's free. Register: www.isec.org/events/isec2...
If you just received my email newsletter, here's a reminder to take my sci-fi survey. It's a fantastic way to connect, plus I really need your help for my upcoming ISEC 2025 Conference session! And if you're not on my email list, why not? You're missing half the fun.
douglasphillipsbooks.com/signup
douglasphillipsbooks.com/signup
Signup
douglasphillipsbooks.com
August 27, 2025 at 11:38 PM
If you just received my email newsletter, here's a reminder to take my sci-fi survey. It's a fantastic way to connect, plus I really need your help for my upcoming ISEC 2025 Conference session! And if you're not on my email list, why not? You're missing half the fun.
douglasphillipsbooks.com/signup
douglasphillipsbooks.com/signup
Google's own AI admits it does NOT follow Google's own core principles for AI development. We live in a world without responsibility, shame, or accountability. #GoogleGemini
August 22, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Google's own AI admits it does NOT follow Google's own core principles for AI development. We live in a world without responsibility, shame, or accountability. #GoogleGemini
You're seeing it here first... my blurb for the next book in the #AscendingCarbonSeries
Eighteen months after Sahalie Spark’s epic space elevator climb, a new megastructure is taking shape high above the equator. But for all its wonders, there’s trouble brewing on this colossal ring of carbon.
Eighteen months after Sahalie Spark’s epic space elevator climb, a new megastructure is taking shape high above the equator. But for all its wonders, there’s trouble brewing on this colossal ring of carbon.
August 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
You're seeing it here first... my blurb for the next book in the #AscendingCarbonSeries
Eighteen months after Sahalie Spark’s epic space elevator climb, a new megastructure is taking shape high above the equator. But for all its wonders, there’s trouble brewing on this colossal ring of carbon.
Eighteen months after Sahalie Spark’s epic space elevator climb, a new megastructure is taking shape high above the equator. But for all its wonders, there’s trouble brewing on this colossal ring of carbon.
I'm writing today! And that means I need a good theme song in the background. This has to be the best song Metric ever recorded. From 2009, Satellite Mind. Emily and James even did an acoustic version which amazingly has all the same intensity of the original.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABvO...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABvO...
Satellite Mind
YouTube video by Metric - Topic
www.youtube.com
August 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I'm writing today! And that means I need a good theme song in the background. This has to be the best song Metric ever recorded. From 2009, Satellite Mind. Emily and James even did an acoustic version which amazingly has all the same intensity of the original.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABvO...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABvO...
My faith in people is restored!! My monthly newsletter went out today, and I asked 2,400 followers to reply. Real people, not bots or auto-responders. Guess what? They did! Now, I have a ton of emails to answer personally. My own fault. I did ask. :-)
August 1, 2025 at 9:45 PM
My faith in people is restored!! My monthly newsletter went out today, and I asked 2,400 followers to reply. Real people, not bots or auto-responders. Guess what? They did! Now, I have a ton of emails to answer personally. My own fault. I did ask. :-)
Want to find your next read? Try shepherd.com Create an account, then click on My Book DNA to pick your three favorite books. Now search on a topic or genre and you'll get customized recommendations that match your tastes. Typically, you'll see lesser-known books that other people LOVE.
July 23, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Want to find your next read? Try shepherd.com Create an account, then click on My Book DNA to pick your three favorite books. Now search on a topic or genre and you'll get customized recommendations that match your tastes. Typically, you'll see lesser-known books that other people LOVE.
Have you noticed a lot of what Google's AI regurgitates references at least one Wikipedia page? I hope Google donated $100 million to Wikipedia (a non-profit, publicly supported), but something tells me the Google execs didn't offer a penny when they copied this material and claimed it as theirs.
July 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Have you noticed a lot of what Google's AI regurgitates references at least one Wikipedia page? I hope Google donated $100 million to Wikipedia (a non-profit, publicly supported), but something tells me the Google execs didn't offer a penny when they copied this material and claimed it as theirs.
I'm NOT a fan of AI because these tools are based on stolen copyrighted material. That said, if AI companies started paying for the material they collect, it could be a superb tool. An intelligent thesaurus is one use case.
July 9, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I'm NOT a fan of AI because these tools are based on stolen copyrighted material. That said, if AI companies started paying for the material they collect, it could be a superb tool. An intelligent thesaurus is one use case.
This 1969 song has got to be the grooviest the 60s ever produced. The lyrics just kill me.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tf...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tf...
The Friends Of Distinction "Grazing In The Grass" on The Ed Sullivan Show
YouTube video by The Ed Sullivan Show
www.youtube.com
July 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
This 1969 song has got to be the grooviest the 60s ever produced. The lyrics just kill me.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tf...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tf...
I thought I'd answer some questions that came up in the poll I sent out a few days ago:
Q: How do you pronounce Halie (the protagonist in First Ascent)?
A: Same as Kalie (or Kaylee) but with an H.
Q: How do you pronounce Halie (the protagonist in First Ascent)?
A: Same as Kalie (or Kaylee) but with an H.
July 4, 2025 at 11:23 AM
I thought I'd answer some questions that came up in the poll I sent out a few days ago:
Q: How do you pronounce Halie (the protagonist in First Ascent)?
A: Same as Kalie (or Kaylee) but with an H.
Q: How do you pronounce Halie (the protagonist in First Ascent)?
A: Same as Kalie (or Kaylee) but with an H.
My monthly newsletter went out today, asking for advice from my most loyal readers (I'm kicking off book 2 in the Ascending Carbon series this week). I asked, you responded! Fascinating insights are pouring in. I take each comment very seriously.
July 1, 2025 at 11:48 PM
My monthly newsletter went out today, asking for advice from my most loyal readers (I'm kicking off book 2 in the Ascending Carbon series this week). I asked, you responded! Fascinating insights are pouring in. I take each comment very seriously.
The movie trailer is out and it looks great! The only downside is we still have 9 months to wait.
youtu.be/m08TxIsFTRI?...
youtu.be/m08TxIsFTRI?...
Project Hail Mary - Official Trailer
YouTube video by Amazon MGM Studios
youtu.be
June 30, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The movie trailer is out and it looks great! The only downside is we still have 9 months to wait.
youtu.be/m08TxIsFTRI?...
youtu.be/m08TxIsFTRI?...