All these A.I. simulations of Civil War figures put me in mind of Parke Godwin's The Snake Oil Wars. I read that book out of sequence. The first in a two book series was Waiting for the Galactic Bus. It came before The Snake Oil Wars.
So I asked A.I.: Can you do a plot summary of Waiting for the Galactic Bus?
"Absolutely, Gary. Waiting for the Galactic Bus (1988) is Parke Godwin’s gleefully irreverent, metaphysical satire that kicks off the Snake Oil duology. It’s part cosmic accident, part theological farce—and all Godwin."
"Plot Summary
"The story begins with Barion and Coyul, two college-age aliens from an advanced civilization who get stranded on prehistoric Earth during a galactic spring break. With nothing better to do, they start tinkering with evolution—nudging primates toward sentience and inadvertently creating humanity."
"As they observe their accidental creation over millennia, they’re dismayed by what they call 'spiritual schizophrenia': humanity’s split between intellect and primal fear. This schism fuels religion, violence, and the obsessive search for meaning."
"Fast-forward to modern-day America, where their creation faces a new existential threat: Charity Stovall, a devoutly religious woman, is about to marry Roy Stride, a fascist brute. If they have a child, it could spell disaster for civilization. So Barion and Coyul intervene—literally dragging the couple through hellish scenarios to prevent the union."
"Themes & Tone
- Satire of organized religion and dogma
- Critique of American pop culture and politics
- Absurdist metaphysics à la Douglas Adams
- Free will vs. cosmic interference"
"Godwin’s style is sharp, fast-paced, and full of cultural references—from McDonald’s to Charlton Heston. The novel’s humor masks a deeper philosophical inquiry into belief, morality, and the human condition."
"It’s a wild ride, but beneath the chaos is a serious question: what happens when creators fall in love with their flawed creation? Want to explore how this kind of cosmic meddling could inform a symbolic system in one of your own treatments?"
How does Barion and Coyul "evolving primates" compare to The Stoned Ape Theory?
"Great question, Gary—and it’s a juicy one. Barion and Coyul’s accidental evolution of primates in Waiting for the Galactic Bus is a satirical riff on cosmic meddling, while the Stoned Ape Theory, proposed by Terence McKenna, is a speculative hypothesis about psychedelics catalyzing human consciousness."
"Here’s how they stack up:
"Comparison: Cosmic Prank vs. Psychedelic Catalyst
| Element | Barion & Coyul (Godwin) | Stoned Ape Theory (McKenna) |
|---|---|---|
| Origin of Humanity | Accidental alien intervention during galactic spring break | Ingestion of psilocybin mushrooms by early hominids |
| Mechanism of Evolution | Genetic tinkering + sarcastic impulse | Psychedelic neuroplasticity + enhanced cognition |
| Tone | Satirical, irreverent, metaphysical | Speculative, mystical, fringe-scientific |
| Cultural Impact | Commentary on belief, bureaucracy, and moral recursion | Hypothesis about language, religion, and consciousness |
| Agency | External creators shaping evolution for fun | Internal chemical experience shaping brain development" |
"Symbolic Resonance
- Barion & Coyul represent the absurdity of divine intervention—evolution as a cosmic joke with unintended consequences.
- Stoned Ape Theory suggests evolution was an internal awakening, triggered by altered states and expanded perception."
"Both challenge conventional narratives of human development, but Godwin’s version is more theatrical and ethically recursive, while McKenna’s is mystical and neurochemical."
"If you’re building symbolic systems, this contrast is gold: one externalizes creation as satire, the other internalizes it as psychedelic revelation[.]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoned_ape_theory
https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/stoned-ape-hypothesis.htm
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-leading-edge/202406/the-stoned-ape-theory-revisited
Or lightning striking a dead tree nourishing a mushroom network that just happens to be supplying nourishment to a Chimp at the time. Plasma plus shrooms equals holy . . .!
