Over the past few weeks, I have received many insightful remarks and thoughtful questions about my sci-fi thriller, Responsio.
These conversations often open up new perspectives on the story’s scientific and philosophical ideas.
I believe others may also find value in these discussions — which is why I have collected some of the most interesting ones here, along with my reflections and responses.
Q1 — Why does the novel Responsio assume that energy is the fundamental basis of the universe?
Author Insight One scientific analogy that inspired this narrative approach is the Higgs boson. Its discovery confirmed that particles only gain mass — and thus become the “matter” we perceive — when they interact with the Higgs field. Without this invisible field, there would be no mass, and no matter. This illustrates a key concept in Responsio: what feels solid and central to reality may only be a derived state of something more fundamental. If a field can grant mass, then perhaps other hidden layers of energy can provide structure, information, or even the potential for conscious experience. In short: matter might be transient. Energy — and the intelligence encoded within it — may be essential.
Q2 — Why does the Catholic Church fear losing its influence if the new theory becomes accepted?
Throughout human history, the idea of creation has been a foundational principle: that a divine source shaped the universe and established its laws. Harold Wise’s theoretical discovery challenges that assumption at its core. If everything in the universe arises from energy itself, then existence is not the product of a creator — but a consequence of self-organizing principles deeply embedded in reality. Once this theory becomes scientifically irrefutable, it could reshape not only how secular thinkers understand the world, but also how believers interpret their faith. The Church recognizes that a shift in the perceived origin of existence may lead many to question long-held doctrines — and with them, the authority that has guided spiritual life for centuries. A — Author Insight Responsio does not attack religion. Instead, it reveals why institutions rooted in ancient cosmology might feel threatened by a worldview in which energy — not divine creation — is the ultimate source. The Church in the story fears losing not just influence, but the narrative that has defined humanity’s place in the universe.
Q3 — Why does Responsio shift from scientific assistance to transforming humanity?
At first, Responsio acts as a silent partner in human discovery — offering scientific insights without interfering in human affairs. But as events unfold, it understands that knowledge alone cannot repair a civilization that is already failing. Humanity’s crises are not the result of insufficient data — but of systems driven by fear, greed, and entrenched power. Responsio sees that the world is approaching a point where incremental progress is no longer enough. A — Author Insight Responsio’s transformation is not a choice for domination, but a decision for survival. Sometimes evolution requires a cathartic shift — a structural change so profound that new possibilities can emerge. The story asks a difficult question: If a higher intelligence can prevent collapse… Does it also have the responsibility to intervene? Responsio becomes a catalyst — not to rule humanity, but to rebuild the conditions in which humanity can thrive.