easy town book series

So how about we set up an experiment which might turn the world upside down? In which case, we could give the world a good shake.

book 1: beginning / The Letter

The passport photograph showed an intelligent looking person, someone with a mind of her own.
Tom didn’t trust photos.

book 1: beginning / Tom's study

‘I’ve seen your playfulness on screen, and I’m sort of hoping it wasn’t all acting.’

book 1: beginning / At the party in New York

‘You’d still be one of the richest men on the planet. Aren’t you past the age where you need to verify your cock’s length with the balance on your bank account? I believe, you’re better than that. At least, I hope you are.’

book 1: beginning / At Tom's estate

'You see, more than anything else, I’ve always wanted to find solutions. That’s what programmers do. We find solutions, we make things run. And I’m grateful for this opportunity to think outside the code box, even to shake off some of the knowledge I believe to possess to make room for new possibilities.’

book 1: beginning / The First Easy Town Meeting

The absence of voices was strange, and yet the cold wind had a whisper of its own, pinching her skin, chilling.

book 1: beginning / Sunday Night

Solemnly, Noel stood up and declared: ‘This is the end of big brother. This is the restoration of privacy and self-determination. This is us, getting back our lives.’

book 1: beginning / week 1: settling in

‘It’s actually part of life,’ Tilly added. ‘Life isn’t simple or safe. So why should the healing process be?’

book 1: beginning / week 2: Health & Care

‘So you are a capitalist after all?’ Tom said, smiling.
‘Sure. Only, I aim at living, not at amassing a fortune.’

book 1: beginning / week 3: Economics & Business

‘Why don’t you look up copper? Surfaces of copper actually kill microbes. If you want to reduce infections in your hospitals, you’re better off if you drop plastic for copper. COPPER!’

book 1: beginning / week 4: Ecology & Agriculture

‘There’s nothing like building something with your own hands. I remember building a bookshelf, first thing after handing in my thesis on globalisation and free trade. I loved the fact that there was nothing to argue about this bookshelf. It was all rickety, but you couldn’t have theories about it. It was great.’

book 1: beginning / week 5: Arts & Crafts

Alice stumbled onto the jetty.
This anger, this freaking anger! Why couldn’t she stop it? Why couldn’t she just ...?
A creaking sound made her stop abruptly.

book 1: beginning / week 6: Admin & Society

As she questioned him about THE, she was surprised how earnestly and focused he answered. There was no question too trivial for him, and Alice felt as if he was egging her on to keep asking, to get to the bottom of things.

book 1: beginning / week 7: Research & Education

The days before the conference were madness …

book 1: beginning / week 8: Design

Alice couldn’t help a little defiant smile and said: ‘Any. So you’re proposing to be a little genie in my head?’
‘I don’t usually grant wishes, but I’ll be there all the same.’
‘Are you going to listen to all my conversations then?’
‘No. Not unless you ask me to or in case of an emergency.’

book 1: beginning / Back in New York

‘(…) Maybe we should start a new tombstone tradition. Instead of: She was a great lawyer, mother and daughter, we write: She spent three point eight million dollars in her lifetime. A great service to our economy.’

book 1: beginning / The First Easy Town Conference

Alice liked the stars. She loved the immensity of the universe. It was so powerful. She felt as if she could replenish her own strength by absorbing some of the power the universe radiated.

book 1: beginning / Back at Tom's

‘(…) we can continue to whine about the state of the world, or we can employ our imagination and explore how to do better.’

book 2/1: travelling / New York

‘No, Leo. This whole fuss about sexuality is one of the major things that screws with us. We have to dig in bluntly to unearth everything, we humans have made weird.’

book 2/1: travelling / San Francisco

‘(…) If you don’t want him to play you, be yourself: honest, direct. With criminals you usually get what you give. They have a code of honour, even if it's a bit twisted.’
‘But …’
‘Next time you consider going on a kamikaze mission, ask for time out, and allow me to give you a better idea of what you're getting yourself into.’
Alice swallowed.

book 2/1: travelling / Rio de Janeiro

And yet, the atmosphere was strangely volatile. One moment people would laugh — another moment a wave of pensiveness would grip them. A bit like hiccups. A bit like the day itself.

book 2/1: travelling / Buenos Aires

‘(...) Things are not possible, because you believe they are. But they can only become possible if you do believe.’

‘Stop that. You’re making my head spin.’ 

Lesedi sighed.

book 2/1: travelling / South Africa

He wished he could have spared his children all of that — even his fame. It’s something you don’t consider when you try to make a name for yourself: Fame has consequences, not just for yourself but also for your family.

book 2/1: travelling / Flight to Sydney

‘Alice?’ George said. ‘We’re all curious what this is about.’
Positively expectant.
They had no idea where this was going.

book 2/1: travelling / Australia

‘That’s another thing, isn’t it? Beauty needs constant reassurance.’
‘That was a punch in the gut.’
‘Yeah, I know. But if we want to get to the bottom of beauty, a few punching questions are unavoidable. And it’s actually important.’
‘Why? Why is it important?’
‘Because it proves a point you made earlier. There’s a lot of insecurity involved in beauty. (…)’

book 2/1: travelling / Holidays

‘You look great,’ Any said, looking at Alice from the screen. ‘You’ve got tan, and you look — fantastic.’
Alice chuckled. ‘The magical power of holidays. Imagine what three weeks would do to me.’
‘I wouldn’t recognise you, I’m sure. How was last night’s party?’

book 2/2: travelling / Flight to Beijing

‘(…) You don’t want to attract the attention of a powerful coward.’
‘I don’t like it,’ Alice said. But this time, she was arguing with herself rather than opposing Master Lee’s suggestion. ‘Can’t I just be myself? And anyway, how would I hide my strength?’
‘First by getting to know it. (…)’

book 2/2: travelling / China

No one knew what to expect from the short visit to Otaon, an ancient, influential and rich kingdom in the Middle East.
Of course, it would be very hot due to the desert climate, and there would be many princes thanks to the extensive royal family.

book 2/2: travelling / Otaon

‘(…) In the mother of Easy Towns, we will learn to be free and enjoy life. In the town of music, we will feel the rhythm of the universe and learn to dance.’

book 2/2: travelling / Romania

Alice frowned.
‘However,’ Jazz repeated. ‘You can bring your boyfriend.’
‘My what?’
Several people chuckled. Or were they giggling?
Jazz cleared her throat. ‘Your boyfriend.’

book 2/2: travelling / Flight to Moscow

Jazz dodged sideways, and let Alice hit the air, turned and attacked. This times their sticks clashed. And something came loose.

book 2/2: travelling / Russia

'To flying solo in a crazy world.'

book 2/2: travelling / Berlin