Hi, all! So I know what you’re all eager to know–have I heard back yet from the illustrious Donetta Behar on whether or not I can make a physical copy of her book? The answer is YES! I’ve never been so happy to see a message notification on my tablet. THE Donetta Behar. Wow!

It turned out that getting permission was the easiest part, unfortunately. I searched for a long time trying to find someone who could print me a book. I was lucky enough to cross paths with an old friend (another fan of Behar’s) who had a cousin who knew an AI who was business partners with a person who had access to a friend’s printing equipment. The equipment is reconstructed from the old days on earth, a few millennia after the time that Fahrenheit 451 and those episodes of the Twilight Zone take place, and this person has only used it once to test that it works. I think they’re a collector of items like this. Either way, I paid them what must have been a month’s wages and then watched as my book was created. I was struck by a few thoughts as I observed the process…I’m attached to the book now (it’s sitting by my bed in my quarters), but would I feel as strongly about it if I hadn’t gone through all that effort to acquire it? I wish there was a way to recapture the feelings of people on Earth long ago, buying books and filling bookshelves (imagine that, a piece of furniture specifically for books) but physical books aren’t sold in stores anymore. The closest I think I could get would be to create a book and give it to a stranger who hadn’t asked for it, but that just wouldn’t be the same.

I haven’t had the chance to actually read the book yet, but I’ll be sure to get back to you once I’ve started reading it.

Signed,

IT