Set in the not too distant future, Blind Traveler Down a Dark River is the story of one man’s battle to find the truth behind an incident he has witnessed. Douglas Abledan is a blind man who uses a GPS unit to navigate through his world. As he is walking to work one day his navigation device malfunctions. Suddenly he finds himself in a part of the city that he does not recognize, surrounded by images and sounds that confuse him. Through a series of missteps he stumbles upon the scene of a murder about to take place. But, due to his confusion and annoyance at the failure of his technology, it isn’t until he hears a radio report about a missing man a few days later that the scene he “witnessed” starts to take shape. Unable to convince the authorities to look into the matter he decides to launch his own investigation.
Abledan’s world is expanded in ways he could never have imagined. During the course of his investigation he learns about John Haggerty, a man whose sole mission is to make life easier for his fellow man. Haggerty’s company has produced a new building material called Plasteel, which Haggerty hopes will ease the burden put on society by an increase in global earthquake activity. Abledan also learns of a radical environmental organization called Gaia’s Children. The Children blame the earthquakes on man’s technological advances and plan to put an end to all efforts to save humanity from its own folly. Finally Abledan learns that people in Haggerty’s own company are out to destroy both him and everything he has worked for. The only question is, who will get to Haggerty first?
Blind Traveler is a work of fiction but it creates the backdrop for a future which may already be developing. The technological advances presented within its pages, including the use of GPS units by visually impaired individuals, are today slowly emerging. The increase in global earthquake activity has already become evident and scientists are searching for ways to protect our infrastructure from the increasing threat. Environmental groups are already strong vehicles for social and political change, and their power increases daily. Sooner or later these three powerful forces are destined to clash.