Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.
Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.
The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:
1. Don't confuse your readers.
2. Entertain your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.
I am writing about the extrapolation of science and technology to be able to write science fiction. I made the point that it is almost meaningless to try to fully extrapolate a universe (world) that is 10,000 years in the future (and maybe 1,000 years in the future) without applying some cultural and technological shaping.
By shaping the cultures of your science fiction universe, you can shape the science and technology that is extrapolated. Here is how I culturally shaped the universe of The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox to make the 10,000 year extrapolation work.
The major areas in warfare technology are:
1. Software
2. Weapons
Heavy Weapons
3. Countermeasures
4. Defense
5. Communications
6. Robots
7. Vehicles
8. Environments (personal equipment)
In designing heavy weapons, you aren't as constrained as individual weapons. If you need a gazillion gigawatts of power, they can be available to you. Just make sure you have a small nuclear reactor on site. I didn't say you had to be able to move the heavy weapons. But really, there are two types of heavy weapons, those that can move and those that can't. We can parse systems from there. Some heavy weapons can be mounted and used on infantry or near standard army vehicles. Some heavy weapons can be towed or moved by infantry or near standard army vehicles. Some heavy weapons can only be moved or transported or mounted on very large vehicles such as marine ships and space ships.
What ever the system, weapon, or vehicle you imagine, ensure you are properly extrapolating the science to achieve the correct system and result. It should be evident that a human (unless augmented) isn't going to be able to use an unsupported weapon that weighs much more than about 20 pounds. Maybe this is an important topic after all. In an infantry weapon, the weight or the weapon, the ammo, and the support structure are critical. So is the recoil and systems. You must take these into consideration when you extrapolate your weapons.
Likewise with heavy weapons, you must take similar items into consideration.
More tomorrow.
Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.
For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com
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