We’re getting a nice, slow rain here in mid-Missouri this morning. And I am grateful. I never used to give much thought to rain — or in this context, water — but I no longer take having abundant drinking water for granted. Or try not to. Part of this a growing awareness of the droughts in the western US. And, yes, I know drought has been a global problem for a long time. But a couple of science fiction novels have also contributed to my newfound awareness.

In Neal Stephenson’s SEVENEVES water (ice in space) was essential to survival. Same for The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey (pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck).

I frequently find myself thinking more about plants (while taking a walk or sitting on our deck). Who thinks about oxygen, right? People in space think about it all the time. So rain on!