I've included this supplementary material for Longshot to provide spoiler-free extras for interested readers. What follows is optional liner notes with insights, explanations, and references for Chapter 2. As always, reader questions and feedback are welcomed in comments or eMail.
8 YAL
YAL: Years After Launch. While days and seasons are very different inside Longshot, Earth-based time is still used inside the vessel, with years calculated from the assumed date of the vessel's launch.
"They're called engrams, pictures in your mind."
In modern neuropsychology engrams are the brain's physical modifications in response to stimuli, creating memories. In the culture of Longshot the term refers to a language of mental visualisations that enable physical and mental changes to alter the body's biochemistry.
"They're called takamakura,"
Takamakura were originally wooden sleeping blocks in Japan used to preserve the elaborate hairstyles of geisha. Today, they're prized by collectors. In Longshot, devices that look very similar to the traditional blocks communicate directly with the brain for enhanced education, communication and entertainment.