The Evergreen Project

Dr. A. S. Ziner

Author, Applied Sociologist, and Creator of
The Evergreen Project

What happens when technological innovation outpaces the institutions responsible for governing it? And what becomes of civilization—and the human arrangements created to serve every citizen—when the pursuit of corporate or political power overshadows the collective good?

These questions have long fascinated Dr. Andrew Scott Ziner (Drew), an applied sociologist, former professor and college president, current Executive Director of Institutional Research, and author of Evergreen: A Space-Time Odyssey, a science-fiction novel he first published in 2009 for classroom use.

Written long before artificial intelligence became a defining concern of everyday life, Evergreen explored the consequences of increasingly autonomous AI technology, the concentration of institutional power, and the failure of human judgment to keep pace with scientific advancement or adequately respond to human needs. What began as an imaginative journey into a distant civilization now reads, in 2026, as a remarkably prescient exploration of questions confronting our own world: Who controls artificial intelligence, whose interests does it serve, and who bears responsibility for weighing the consequences when the relentless pursuit of technological power overwhelms the wisdom, moral responsibility, and institutional safeguards necessary to protect humanity?

Drew brings a distinctive sociological imagination to science fiction, transforming questions about human behavior, institutional power, social change, and the future of civilization into an imaginative adventure. His storytelling reflects a lifelong interest in how societies organize themselves, how individuals exercise power, and how the choices of one generation shape the opportunities—and vulnerabilities—of those that follow.

When Evergreen: A Space-Time Odyssey appeared in 2009, renowned futurist and applied sociologist Dr. Arthur Shostak recognized something unusual in its combination of imaginative storytelling and sociological insight. Reviewing the novel in the American Sociological Association’s Teaching Sociology in 2010, he described Drew as “a talented member of our tribe” and praised his natural storytelling ability. Shostak characterized Evergreen as social-science fiction distinguished by its concern with human agency, sustainability, and vision. Particularly noteworthy was his recognition that the novel’s three interconnected stories invite readers to grapple with questions of moral responsibility, the relationship between humanity and other forms of life, and the challenges of responding to threats confronting entire societies.

Perhaps most strikingly, Shostak identified Evergreen’s exploration of AI and the struggle of a scientist to prevent her research from being exploited by powerful corporate interests. His observations, published in 2010, provide independent evidence that these concerns were integral to the novel long before the emergence of today’s generative AI technologies. What Shostak recognized as compelling social-science fiction has acquired renewed significance in 2026, as societies confront increasingly consequential questions about technological autonomy, institutional accountability, and the concentration of power.

The questions raised in Evergreen are no longer confined to science fiction. They are unfolding around us, and the choices we make today may shape generations to come.

The Evergreen Project invites you to become part of this timely conversation—engage directly with Drew through thought-provoking posts, exchange ideas with fellow members, and help explore what an imagined civilization can teach us about the future of our own. The conversation is just beginning. Your perspective matters. Join us.

The story is science fiction. The questions are ours.

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