Pluribus: JOIN US

Vince Gilligan has a new sci-fi show on Apple+ TV, and it gets to the heart of originality, creativity, and individuality … versus populism. Here is why the hive mind is so relevant and frightening.

00:00 Abby studies hive minds and the relevant social aspects of the individual versus the collective
01:28 How the friendly hive mind is like an LLM, aka A.I., and how sinister false flattery can be
02:24 Abby’s impression of the Pluribus hive mind and Carol’s suspicions
03:08 SPOILER ALERT for Pluribus episode 1, and why it’s plausible
05:10 Why this show touches a cultural nerve
06:10 The choice to make Carol a best-selling author and misanthrope and how that affects the story
08:27 How Pluribus measures up to other shows and Vince Gilligan’s other works

Why is Breaking Bad So Good?

Here’s my POWER CHART for the Torth series

The Torth universe has a hard magic system, similar to superpowers. Here I walk through the power chart I created as the basis for the system in my 6 book sci-fi fantasy series.

Putting the Science in Fiction

I’m stoked to be part of this anthology! It’s wonderful when real life crosses streams with my writing, proving that my job experience in animation counts for more than just having an income (pshaw).

Thanks to Dan Koboldt, the editor who put this together. And thanks to Writer’s Digest Books for taking it to publication and distribution across all major bookstores. Chuck Wendig, who’s been making waves in the Star Wars and Marvel franchises, wrote the foreword.

Have you ever wondered how sci-fi screenwriters and authors get their research right? And how many get it wrong? Every article in this book explores a branch of science that is often misrepresented in popular mass media. My article, “CGI is Not Made By Computers,” covers how the human labor component of special effects is often glossed over, or erased, in stories with a virtual reality or video game premise.

Every article I read in here turned out to be fascinating, and I’m honored to be included with so many engineers, physicians, and scientists.

“Putting the Science in Fiction” will be available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the Writer’s Digest Store, and other major retailers starting Tuesday.

© 2026 Abby Goldsmith DBA Fiery Press