Are we living in a simulation? Is there an afterlife? And if not, what would it take to create one? Drawing inspiration from Seattle's tech industry and the emerging field of virtual reality, best-selling science-fiction author Neal Stephenson knits together ideas as old as the Bible and as up-to-date as Elon Musk's musings in an epic 880-page novel titled "Fall; or, Dodge in Hell," due out June 4. GeekWire's Alan Boyle read the book and interviewed Stephenson, and joins us to share highlights.

Are we living in a simulation? Is there an afterlife? And if not, what would it take to create one? Drawing inspiration from Seattle's tech industry and the emerging field of virtual reality, best-selling science-fiction author Neal Stephenson knits together ideas as old as the Bible and as up-to-date as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKRuI2zHp0">Elon Musk's musings</a> in an epic 880-page novel titled <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Dodge-Hell-Neal-Stephenson/dp/006245871X">"Fall; or, Dodge in Hell,"</a> due out June 4. GeekWire's Alan Boyle read the book and interviewed Stephenson, and joins us to share highlights.

GeekWire brings you the week's latest technology news, trends and insights, covering the world of technology from our home base in Seattle. Our regular news podcast features commentary and analysis from our editors and reporters, plus interviews with special guests.

GeekWire reporters John Cook, Todd Bishop and guests talk about the latest tech news and trends.

GeekWire

Sci-fi master Neal Stephenson

This week: Amazon's Prime Air drones are finally going national, nearly 13 years after Jeff Bezos unveiled the idea on 60 Minutes. GeekWire's John Cook goes inside Anduril's unmarked Bellevue office as the defense company builds toward 1,000 Seattle-area engineers. Plus: a reporter hides an AirTag in a rare book and tracks it to a secret Amazon book-scanning facility in Las Vegas.

With John Cook and Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.

Related stories and links

Mentioned at the top
Want to know what Jeff Bezos brings to Liverpool FC? Study Amazon's Leadership Principles

Amazon drone delivery
Amazon drone delivery set to expand nationally, reaching nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns this year
Amazon's big surprise: Working on autonomous flying delivery drones — GeekWire, December 2013
Jeff Bezos unveils the Prime Air prototype on 60 Minutes — YouTube
Amazon Prime Air drone delivery expansion — Amazon
Andy Jassy's 2025 letter to shareholders — Amazon
Walmart, Wing expand drone delivery coverage — Supply Chain Dive

The AirTag and the book-scanning facility
How an AirTag planted by a reporter led to a secret Amazon site where old books are cut apart and scanned
We tracked a shipment of rare books. It ended at an Amazon AI training facility — 404 Media
AI companies are buying tons of old books because they're free of AI slop — 404 Media
Trash Transparency Project — Basel Action Network
America's e-waste: a GPS tracker tells all — PBS NewsHour
Anthropic agrees to pay $1.5B to settle lawsuit with book authors — Associated Press

Anduril in the Seattle region
Inside Anduril's AI warfighting buildup: Defense giant sees a path to 1,000 Seattle-area engineers
Anduril exits Seattle shipyard following canceled Navy program and omission from new warship list
Defense tech giant Anduril eyes new funding at $100B valuation as Seattle expansion draws protests — GeekWire, July 2026
AI weapons under scrutiny as activists plan weekend protest at Anduril's Seattle office — GeekWire, July 2026
Anduril lands $5B as defense giant builds autonomous warship operation in Seattle — GeekWire, May 2026
Defense giant Anduril is quietly building autonomous warships on Seattle's historic ship canal — GeekWire, April 2026
Military tech giant Anduril lands in Bellevue, doubling footprint in Seattle region — GeekWire, July 2025

This week: Amazon's Prime Air drones are finally going national, nearly 13 years after Jeff Bezos unveiled the idea on 60 Minutes. GeekWire's John Cook goes inside Anduril's unmarked Bellevue office as the defense company builds toward 1,000 Seattle-area engineers. Plus: a reporter hides an AirTag in a rare book and tracks it to a secret Amazon book-scanning facility in Las Vegas.
With John Cook and Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton.
Related stories and links
Mentioned at the top
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/want-to-know-what-jeff-bezos-brings-to-liverpool-fc-study-amazons-leadership-principles/">Want to know what Jeff Bezos brings to Liverpool FC? Study Amazon's Leadership Principles</a></li>
</ul>
Amazon drone delivery
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/amazon-finally-set-to-deliver-on-its-13-year-old-drone-promise-reaching-nearly-500-u-s-cities-and-towns/">Amazon drone delivery set to expand nationally, reaching nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns this year</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2013/amazons-big-surprise-working-autonomous-flying-delivery-drones/">Amazon's big surprise: Working on autonomous flying delivery drones</a> &mdash; GeekWire, December 2013</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbq6gQVLhWE">Jeff Bezos unveils the Prime Air prototype on 60 Minutes</a> &mdash; YouTube</li>
<li><a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery-expansion">Amazon Prime Air drone delivery expansion</a> &mdash; Amazon</li>
<li><a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-2025-letter-to-shareholders">Andy Jassy's 2025 letter to shareholders</a> &mdash; Amazon</li>
<li><a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/walmart-wing-drone-delivery-coverage-expansion/809326/">Walmart, Wing expand drone delivery coverage</a> &mdash; Supply Chain Dive</li>
</ul>
The AirTag and the book-scanning facility
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/how-an-airtag-planted-by-a-reporter-led-to-a-secret-amazon-site-where-old-books-are-cut-apart-and-scanned/">How an AirTag planted by a reporter led to a secret Amazon site where old books are cut apart and scanned</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.404media.co/we-tracked-a-shipment-of-rare-books-it-ended-at-an-amazon-ai-training-facility/">We tracked a shipment of rare books. It ended at an Amazon AI training facility</a> &mdash; 404 Media</li>
<li><a href="https://www.404media.co/ai-companies-are-buying-tons-of-old-books-because-theyre-free-of-ai-slop/">AI companies are buying tons of old books because they're free of AI slop</a> &mdash; 404 Media</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ban.org/trash-transparency">Trash Transparency Project</a> &mdash; Basel Action Network</li>
<li><a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/america-e-waste-gps-tracker-tells-all-earthfix">America's e-waste: a GPS tracker tells all</a> &mdash; PBS NewsHour<a href="https://abcnews.com/US/put-dozens-trackers-plastic-bags-recycling-trashed/story?id=99509422"></a></li>
<li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-anthropic-copyright-settlement-claude-books-bartz-74b140444023898aeba8579b6e9f0d63">Anthropic agrees to pay $1.5B to settle lawsuit with book authors</a> &mdash; Associated Press</li>
</ul>
Anduril in the Seattle region
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/inside-andurils-ai-warfighting-buildup-defense-giant-sees-a-path-to-1000-seattle-area-engineers/">Inside Anduril's AI warfighting buildup: Defense giant sees a path to 1,000 Seattle-area engineers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/anduril-exits-seattle-shipyard-following-canceled-navy-program-and-omission-from-new-warship-list/">Anduril exits Seattle shipyard following canceled Navy program and omission from new warship list</a><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/defense-giant-anduril-is-quietly-building-autonomous-warships-on-seattles-historic-ship-canal/"></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/defense-tech-giant-anduril-eyes-new-funding-at-100b-valuation-as-seattle-expansion-draws-protests/">Defense tech giant Anduril eyes new funding at $100B valuation as Seattle expansion draws protests</a> &mdash; GeekWire, July 2026</li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/ai-weapons-under-scrutiny-as-activists-plan-weekend-protest-at-andurils-seattle-office/">AI weapons under scrutiny as activists plan weekend protest at Anduril's Seattle office</a> &mdash; GeekWire, July 2026</li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/anduril-lands-5b-as-defense-giant-builds-autonomous-warship-operation-in-seattle/">Anduril lands $5B as defense giant builds autonomous warship operation in Seattle</a> &mdash; GeekWire, May 2026</li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/defense-giant-anduril-is-quietly-building-autonomous-warships-on-seattles-historic-ship-canal/">Defense giant Anduril is quietly building autonomous warships on Seattle's historic ship canal</a> &mdash; GeekWire, April 2026</li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/military-tech-giant-anduril-lands-in-bellevue-doubling-footprint-in-seattle-region/">Military tech giant Anduril lands in Bellevue, doubling footprint in Seattle region</a> &mdash; GeekWire, July 2025</li>
</ul>

Amazon's drones finally take off, inside Anduril's Seattle-area buildup, and an AirTag leads to a secret Amazon facility


This week: What should Liverpool FC fans expect from Jeff Bezos as a member of the storied club's new minority ownership group? We consult the Amazon leadership principles for the answer. Plus, a tip and an SEC filing lead to a scoop on a former Meta AI director's new startup, the GeekWire Editorial Board convenes to decide whether Dave Clark's Auger stays on the GeekWire 200 after moving its HQ to Dallas, and Microsoft quietly semi-retires its AI blob.

Bezos and Liverpool FC
Group including Jeff Bezos buys minority stake in Liverpool FC, with option to become controlling owner — CNBC
Liverpool: FSG sell minority stake to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos-backed consortium led by Amit Bhatia — Sky Sports
Bezos, Bhatia buy a stake in Liverpool: What does it mean for the club and FSG? — ESPN
Bezos, Bhatia, Saverin buy Liverpool stake at $7 billion valuation — Sportico
The Redmen TV — independent Liverpool FC fan channel

Noosphere and the Form D
Ex-Meta AI research director raises $10.25M from Trilogy and Madrona for stealth physical AI startup
Kevin T. Carlberg — founder's research site

Auger and the GeekWire 200
This former Amazon exec is moving his startup's HQ to Texas, and he has a few notes for Seattle
Dave and Leigh Anne Clark move Auger headquarters to Dallas — D Magazine
GeekWire 200
Seattle Engineering Centers
New map traces Washington state's tech 'universe' to a few key hubs, and shows what's at risk
'We can't become callous': KIRO hosts debate what a startup's departure to Texas says about Seattle's business climate — MyNorthwest

Microsoft and Mico
Farewell, Mico: Microsoft's cute little AI blob is going the way of Bob
Microsoft starts merging its Copilot consumer and business apps in advance of 'Super App' rollout

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. 

This week: What should Liverpool FC fans expect from Jeff Bezos as a member of the storied club's new minority ownership group? We consult the Amazon leadership principles for the answer. Plus, a tip and an SEC filing lead to a scoop on a former Meta AI director's new startup, the GeekWire Editorial Board convenes to decide whether Dave Clark's Auger stays on the GeekWire 200 after moving its HQ to Dallas, and Microsoft quietly semi-retires its AI blob.
Bezos and Liverpool FC
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/14/jeff-bezos-group-buys-stake-liverpool-fc.html">Group including Jeff Bezos buys minority stake in Liverpool FC, with option to become controlling owner</a> &mdash; CNBC</li>
<li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/13573040/liverpool-fsg-sell-minority-stake-to-amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-backed-consortium-led-by-amit-bhatia">Liverpool: FSG sell minority stake to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos-backed consortium led by Amit Bhatia</a> &mdash; Sky Sports</li>
<li><a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49611080/liverpool-jeff-bezos-amit-bhatia-investment-fsg-premier-league-beth-lindop-analysis">Bezos, Bhatia buy a stake in Liverpool: What does it mean for the club and FSG?</a> &mdash; ESPN</li>
<li><a href="https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2026/jeff-bezos-liverpool-stake-bhatia-saverin-1234941903/">Bezos, Bhatia, Saverin buy Liverpool stake at $7 billion valuation</a> &mdash; Sportico</li>
<li><a href="https://theredmentv.com/">The Redmen TV</a> &mdash; independent Liverpool FC fan channel</li>
</ul>
Noosphere and the Form D
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/ex-meta-ai-research-director-raises-10-25m-from-trilogy-and-madrona-for-stealth-physical-ai-startup/">Ex-Meta AI research director raises $10.25M from Trilogy and Madrona for stealth physical AI startup</a></li>
<li><a href="https://kevintcarlberg.net/">Kevin T. Carlberg</a> &mdash; founder's research site</li>
</ul>
Auger and the GeekWire 200
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/this-former-amazon-exec-is-moving-his-startups-hq-to-texas-and-he-has-a-few-notes-for-seattle/">This former Amazon exec is moving his startup's HQ to Texas, and he has a few notes for Seattle</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dmagazine.com/business-economy/2026/08/dave-and-leigh-anne-clark-are-back-in-dallas-auger/">Dave and Leigh Anne Clark move Auger headquarters to Dallas</a> &mdash; D Magazine</li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/geekwire-200/">GeekWire 200</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/engineering-centers/">Seattle Engineering Centers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/new-map-traces-washington-states-tech-universe-to-a-few-key-hubs-and-shows-whats-at-risk/">New map traces Washington state's tech 'universe' to a few key hubs, and shows what's at risk</a></li>
<li><a href="https://mynorthwest.com/kiro-opinion/seattle-startups-departure/4265825">'We can't become callous': KIRO hosts debate what a startup's departure to Texas says about Seattle's business climate</a> &mdash; MyNorthwest</li>
</ul>
Microsoft and Mico
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/farewell-mico-microsofts-cute-little-ai-blob-is-going-the-way-of-bob/">Farewell, Mico: Microsoft's cute little AI blob is going the way of Bob</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-starts-merging-its-copilot-consumer-and-business-apps-in-advance-of-super-app-rollout/">Microsoft starts merging its Copilot consumer and business apps in advance of 'Super App' rollout</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.&nbsp;

Bezos and Liverpool FC, a Meta vet's AI startup, Auger's Dallas move, and the demise of Microsoft's AI blob

This week: SpaceX reports its first quarter as a public company, and Elon Musk says Starlink could deliver a majority of the world's internet within a decade, leveraging production facilities in Redmond. Musk also explains the company's data center ambitions, calling terrestrial infrastructure a trivial problem next to reusable rockets. 

Plus: we bring two Washington tech universe posters into the studio, 17 years apart. The 2009 original turns up gems including Boeing's unlikely connection to Classmates.com, a 1990s forerunner to Facebook. The 2009 poster also brings back memories of Teledesic, the Craig McCaw venture backed by Bill Gates that tried to beam internet from space decades before Starlink.

Finally, the GeekWire Trivia Challenge returns, with a timely question about Google's origins.

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton.

Related stories and links

SpaceX's first earnings call as a public company
SpaceX earnings: Elon Musk says Starlink could deliver most of the world's internet within a decade
Elon Musk's Mars illusion — Dominic Gates on the gap between the Mars vision and the timeline
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes on pad during test; Jeff Bezos vows to rebuild
Blue Origin's rocket blowup hits NASA and Amazon Leo as well

Mapping Washington's tech universe
New map traces Washington state's tech 'universe' to a few key hubs, and shows what's at risk
The Washington Tech Universe map from WTIA, and posters are available here
Massive map shows how Seattle's tech ecosystem evolved over the last 30 years — the 2015 edition
The original 2009 Puget Sound Tech Universe map. (Thanks to Ken Myer for digging this up!)
GeekWire's Seattle engineering centers list

GeekWire Trivia
The startup idea that convinced a UW computer science legend to leave Google after 27 years
What a longtime Google AI leader told UW computer science students at their graduation

This week:&nbsp;SpaceX reports its first quarter as a public company, and Elon Musk says Starlink could deliver a majority of the world's internet within a decade, leveraging production facilities in Redmond. Musk also explains the company's data center ambitions, calling terrestrial infrastructure a trivial problem next to reusable rockets.&nbsp;
Plus: we bring two Washington tech universe posters into the studio, 17 years apart. The <a href="https://cdn.geekwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Seattle-15-in-CS2-7_wide-1.pdf">2009 original</a> turns up gems including Boeing's unlikely connection to Classmates.com, a 1990s forerunner to Facebook. The 2009 poster also brings back memories of Teledesic, the Craig McCaw venture backed by Bill Gates that tried to beam internet from space decades before Starlink.
Finally, the GeekWire Trivia Challenge returns, with a timely question about Google's origins.
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton.
Related stories and links
SpaceX's first earnings call as a public company
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/elon-musk-says-starlink-could-deliver-most-of-the-worlds-internet-within-a-decade/">SpaceX earnings: Elon Musk says Starlink could deliver most of the world's internet within a decade</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/elon-musks-mars-illusion/">Elon Musk's Mars illusion</a> &mdash; Dominic Gates on the gap between the Mars vision and the timeline</li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/blue-origin-new-glenn-rocket-explodes-on-pad/">Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes on pad during test; Jeff Bezos vows to rebuild</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/blue-origins-rocket-blowup-nasa-amazon-leo/">Blue Origin's rocket blowup hits NASA and Amazon Leo as well</a></li>
</ul>
Mapping Washington's tech universe
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/new-map-traces-washington-states-tech-universe-to-a-few-key-hubs-and-shows-whats-at-risk/">New map traces Washington state's tech 'universe' to a few key hubs, and shows what's at risk</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.org/tech-universe-2026/">The Washington Tech Universe map from WTIA</a>, and <a href="https://wa-tech-universe.printify.me/product/30108923">posters are available here</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2015/massive-map-shows-seattles-tech-ecosystem-evolved-last-30-years/">Massive map shows how Seattle's tech ecosystem evolved over the last 30 years</a> &mdash; the 2015 edition</li>
<li>The original <a href="https://cdn.geekwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Seattle-15-in-CS2-7_wide-1.pdf">2009 Puget Sound Tech Universe map</a>. (Thanks to Ken Myer for digging this up!)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/engineering-centers/">GeekWire's Seattle engineering centers list</a></li>
</ul>
GeekWire Trivia
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/the-startup-idea-that-convinced-a-uw-computer-science-legend-to-leave-google-after-27-years/">The startup idea that convinced a UW computer science legend to leave Google after 27 years</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/what-a-longtime-google-ai-leader-told-uw-computer-science-students-at-their-graduation/">What a longtime Google AI leader told UW computer science students at their graduation</a></li>
</ul>

Sci-fi master Neal Stephenson

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