Another Kind 5-Star Review: June 4, 1968 - The Last Fall

"June 4, 1968: The Last Fall was a really enjoyable and easy read, especially if you like stories that play with big “what if” ideas. I was drawn to it partly because Back to the Future is one of my favorite movies, and while this book tackles similar themes, it does so in its own way. There’s no flashy sci‑fi gadgets, which I actually liked—it keeps the focus on the characters and the choices they make.

This was my first time reading historical fiction, and I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging it was. The story feels creative without being confusing, and the historical setting adds depth without slowing things down. I also appreciated the ending; it felt hopeful and satisfying without being overly perfect. Overall, this book was entertaining, thoughtful, and different from what I usually read. I’d definitely recommend June 4, 1968: The Last Fall to anyone looking to try historical fiction or who enjoys imaginative, character‑driven stories with a twist."

Interactive Classroom Activity on Negotiation

Fun time today with exercise generated by GPT:

March 2026: Survival Scenario Ranking (Consensus Negotiation Exercise)

Objective: Students negotiate to reach full consensus on a ranked list of survival items under constraints—simulating informal “contracting” without writing.

Scenario: You are part of a group whose plane has crash-landed in a remote desert. It is 95°F, and help may take several days to arrive. You salvaged the following 12 items. Your survival depends on prioritizing them effectively.

Item List

1. Mirror
2. 2 liters of water per person
3. Map of the area
4. Compass
5. First aid kit
6. Pistol (loaded)
7. Parachute (fabric)
8. Knife
9. Sunglasses
10. Flashlight
11. Jacket
12. Food rations

---

Class Timeline

1. Individual Ranking (3 minutes)

Each student ranks top 3 items 1-3 (most important)

2. Group Negotiation (10 minutes)

Students form groups of 3–5.

Task:

Produce ONE shared ranking of all twelve

Rules (critical for rigor):

• Unanimous agreement required (no majority voting)
• Every member must agree to the final list 

3. Report Out - Each group shares:

• Their top 3 items
• One major disagreement they had

4. Debrief

Instructor Key

A commonly accepted “expert ranking” (used in many versions of this exercise):

1. Mirror (signaling)
2. Water
3. Parachute (shade/shelter)
4. First aid kit
5. Knife
6. Jacket
7. Pistol
8. Sunglasses
9. Flashlight
10. Map
11. Food
12. Compass

---

Why This Works (Mechanics of Negotiation)

This activity creates natural conflict because:

• Some items seem intuitively important but aren’t (e.g., compass)
• Others are undervalued (mirror)

Students must:

• Advocate for their reasoning
• Reconcile competing mental models
• Make concessions

---

What to Watch For

1. Anchoring

First person to speak often influences the group disproportionately.

2. Dominance vs Participation

• One student may control decisions / Others may disengage

3. False Consensus

Groups may rush agreement to finish on time.

4. Poor Negotiation Tactics - Arguing positions (“This is #1”) / Instead of reasoning (“This helps us signal rescuers”)

 

• “What was the hardest item to agree on—and why?”
• “Did anyone change their mind? What caused that shift?”
• “Did you actually reach consensus—or just give in?”

Negotiation is About Reasoning, Not Winning

Best groups: Share logic - Build on others’ ideas  - Adjust positions

5-STAR Readers' Favorite Book Review: June 4, 1968 - The Last Fall

Another humbling/kind review:

... As a writer of "what if" science fiction, combined with non-fiction historical and current events, I was deeply impressed and captivated by Perry Binder's smooth mix of documented historical events with scientific "what if" fiction. He created a plausible story while simultaneously acknowledging the drawbacks and potential disaster of changing the course of history. The entire story reveals Binder's strong sense of story flow, with short but targeted narrative, dialogue that rings true, and is specific to the characters speaking. Woody's struggles to control the emotions affected by his decisions, and the repercussions of those decisions, are particularly poignant. At the conclusion, the author's notes include a 1966 quote by Robert F. Kennedy that captures the motivation and message of The Last Fall: "Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events."(L. Allen, March 20, 2026)

Click here for Kindle Purchase ($2.99)

 

Gratitude for GSU Book Club, 2025-2026 - Innovative College Teaching

One of the best things I've done this academic year is co-lead a book club for Innovative College Teaching. GREAT opportunity to meet professors and staff -- people I never would've met without these sessions.

Real and Imagined Headlines in Historical Fiction Thriller: June 4, 1968 - The Last Fall (a time travel short story)

Does Woody Endicott change the past for the good? I removed a "spoiler alert" from a January 1969 headline below:

June 4, 1968 – Saigon shelled in heavy attack; vessels struck

June 5 – Kennedy assassination attempt thwarted by kitchen worker

July 4 – Hero Celia Newing recounts harrowing events

July 17 – Beatles' Yellow Submarine movie premieres in London

August 8 – Nixon accepts nomination at Republican National Convention in Miami Beach

August 29 – Kennedy accepts nomination at Democratic National Convention in Chicago

September 24 – 60 Minutes premieres

September 26 – Pravda publishes Brezhnev Doctrine, justifying Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia

October 10-11 – Castro delivers speeches on the 100th anniversary of Cuba's proclamation of independence from Spain

October 18 – U.S. Olympic medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos suspended

November 5 – RFK elected 37^th president; Nixon concedes to another Kennedy

November 20 – Tammy Wynette, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash win big at second CMA Awards

December 24 – Apollo 8 orbits moon as astronaut Anders snaps Earthrise photo

December 25 – Kennedy signals plan for phased troop withdrawal from Vietnam

January 12, 1969 – Underdog Jets defeat Colts in Super Bowl III

January 20 – RFK sworn into office; ten minutes later, -----------------------------------------------------------

 

Movie/TV References in THE LAST FALL

Movie/TV References in THE LAST FALL

 

Woody time-travels: My brain cells were a cocktail of dizzy and peculiar, with a spritz of paranoia. Not the dreamy image of Jodie Foster floating peacefully to a planet’s beach in Contact.

 

Woody flies from LA to DC: I went home and booked a Wednesday to Friday flight to Stallone National.

Rocky Airport? Really?

 

Ode to Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon: As I took my next breath, I saw a man with a gun across the street heading my way. I picked up a ten-pound kettlebell, bolted to the bathroom like a senior cit with too much fiber, and hid behind the door.

“I’m too old for this sh*t,” I muttered aloud, trying to stay in the moment.

 

Woody in legal trouble: Whoa, it’s like an episode of Suits, and Bricker is Harvey, I marveled with my mouth agape.

 

Emotional Layers of THE LAST FALL

  

Conversation between student and professor: “Mr. Endicott, you are a moral man. In the end, you’ll know the right thing to do.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I dreaded and hung up.

 

Woody: Who am I to change the world? Change the world back? WTF. 

When I got home, my front door was smashed open, the place torn up, and my laptop missing.

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/June-1968-travel.../dp/B0GPRBDP32/...

Any Stephen King or Star Trek fans out there? Book Dedication...

Book Dedication to June 4, 1968 - The Last Fall: 

Perpetuating a nightmare in homage to Stephen King’s book, 11/22/1963, and a 1967 Star Trek episode, “The City on the Edge of Forever.”

Click here to Purchase on Kindle 

Another Kind Amazon Review: June 4, 1968 - The Last Fall

When Changing History Changes Everything

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2026

June 4, 1968 – The Last Fall takes a bold premise and moves quickly with it. The idea of traveling back to prevent the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy Sr. carries immediate weight, especially given how pivotal that moment was in American history. The story wastes little time setting the stakes, which works well for the short format.

What stands out most is the emotional undertone. The attempt to “fix” history feels rooted in hope, but the return to a radically altered present reminds readers that consequences rarely unfold the way we expect. The shift between optimism and fallout gives the narrative momentum.

The structure across its three parts keeps the pacing tight while allowing space to explore the ripple effects. Rather than turning into a dense political rewrite, the story focuses on the human cost of intervention and the unsettling realization that history’s course is fragile.

For readers who enjoy time-travel fiction that blends moral tension with historical what-if scenarios, this short story delivers a thoughtful and unsettling experience without overstaying its welcome.

Very Kind Amazon Review from Australia

Captivating Time Travel

Reviewed in Australia on 28 February 2026

Verified Purchase

 

The Last Fall is a captivating and reflective time-travel narrative that resonates well beyond its conclusion. When Professor Woody Endicott employs a groundbreaking device created by Axelle Flick to travel back to 1968, his mission to change Robert F. Kennedy’s destiny leads to unsettling repercussions that raise a critical question: should history be altered? I was particularly moved by the emotional depth of Woody’s struggle and the subtle tragedy that accompanies his decisions. The story flows with clarity and purpose, ensuring a compelling yet thoughtful experience. A must-read for enthusiasts of time travel.

 

#2 AMAZON NEW RELEASE in Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Reads...

 ... and #3 AMAZON NEW RELEASE in Literature & Fiction Short Reads (Feb. 2026)