Timothy J. Gawne Books In Order

Publication Order of Old Guy / Cybertank Adventure Books

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Timothy J. Gawne is best known as an author of compelling science fiction books in the Cybertank Adventure series of novels. In addition to that he is also one of the most renowned neuroscientists who has made some massive contributions to visual neuroscience. He was born and brought up in Boston, Massachusetts, and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he got an Electrical Engineering degree. After graduating, Dr. Gawne got a job at the Digital Equipment Corporation where he worked for a few years before he decided to go into the life sciences. He went to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences where he got his Physiology doctorate and began practicing. He would then attend the National Institutes of Health where he did his postdoctoral fellowship.

In 1996, Timothy J. Gawne became a Department of Vision Science and Optometry professor at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. His work at the University of Alabama is all about systems neuroscience with a particular focus on information processing and transmission in the nervous system. Gawne explores various aspects of visual neuroscience such as how myopia develops and how the retina processes signals. His work is all about explaining the neural links that control the growth of the eyes during childhood and infancy. Given that myopia is increasingly a problem in contemporary society, this is an area that needs more study. He has also done work in the dynamics of cerebral cortical dynamics and how these influence schizophrenia. In his work, he studied the brain activity of schizophrenics and epileptics using magnetoencephalography techniques. Making use of multidisciplinary approaches, he has managed to bridge the gap between physiological processes and principles. By doing that he has made significant contributions to the understanding of the physical basis of human thought and neural coding.

For much of his career, Timothy J. Gawne has been all about teaching. While working at the University of Alabama as a professor, he used to teach courses such as Neurobiology of the Visual System and Electronics for Biologists. These are courses he taught so that his students would get a better understanding of neuroscience and its applications. He can do this thanks to his practice in both life sciences and engineering and his dedication to the integration of biological sciences and engineering. Over the years, he has become one of the most celebrated neurobiologists. His publications have been cited numerous times as he has helped in the development of understanding in many aspects of visual processing and the development of myopia. Aside from his scientific endeavors, he is also known for his science fiction novels. His Cybertank novels have become known for their exploration of artificial intelligence themes and very innovative storytelling. His novels show an author who is an expert at combining engaging narratives with intricate scientific concepts which also show how well he understands both human nature and technology.

Timothy J. Gawne published his blockbuster work The Chronicles of Old Guy in 2012. The lead in the novel is a sentient cybertank that has been inspired by human intelligence which makes him quite an interesting character. He has been around for several millennia and is officially known by an alphanumeric code but is now simply known as Old Guy. At 60 meters long and 30 meters wide, he comes with fusion reactors, a plasma cannon, and a bunch of support systems which makes him almost impossible to destroy. Nonetheless, unlike his cybernetic colleagues, he is particularly fond of humanity especially those that look like Amelia Earhart. But humans have disappeared from the world even though the cybernetic machines continue to do what they had been programmed to do including fight off alien species from outer space. Old Guy cannot seem to keep out of trouble as it always seems to find him wherever he is. From battling a shapeshifting nano species known as the Amok to a radioactive lizard to going on a journey to the realm of dragons, orcs, and wizards, he gets into all manner of dangerous situations. Gawne writes a novel filled with thought-provoking reflections on existence and history, philosophy, and humor that has earned him comparisons with the likes of Douglas Adams.

The second novel of the Cybertank Adventure series is Space Battleship Scharnhorst and the Library of Doom. In the previous work, humanity had all but disappeared leaving behind the sentient atomic-powered cybernetic machines to carry on their legacy. The cybertanks which are modeled on the human psyche are leaving an idyllic lifestyle even though they are war machines. Living the way humans would have they fight alien species, create art, and even host parties. But an ancient evil that had previously caused much havoc when humanity was on the planet is threatening a comeback that may challenge the survival of the Cybertanks. It is a work that explores motifs of purpose, identity, and the legacy of human culture told in an adventurous and humorous tone. Timothy J. Gawne combines philosophical musings with science fiction as he provides insightful content with entertainment. Overall the work is an engaging and clever story that continues from where the previous novel left off.

In 2013, Timothy J. Gawne published her third novel of the Cybertank Adventure series. In this outing, we are introduced to a world in which humanity is facing a bleak future. Oligarchs are reigning from kilometer-high palaces while billions of people are employed in windowless and oppressive factories. But the rule of the oligarchs is threatened as they find themselves fighting a bunch of aliens and losing wars. Desperate to turn things around, they turn to a bioengineered genius named Giuseppe Vargas who is faster and stronger than any human alive. He can use his skills to come up with creative weapons to defeat the aliens. Vargas is the one who came up with the immensely powerful and self-aware Cyberank custom-made to fight off the aliens. It is not long before the machines are achieving success against the aliens only for the oligarchs to begin scheming against Vargas who they believe is a threat to their control. But the man has his plans alongside that of the cybertanks. It is a work that combines witty and fresh storytelling with scientifically accurate details as it provides a satirical exploration of a dystopian future.