Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 181 Extrapolating Military Technology, the Simulation

31 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 181 Extrapolating Military Technology, the Simulation

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

Once you have the simulator equipment--the simulator, the problem is the simulation.  Just what do you simulate and how much?  It is possible, and in the future probable, that you can simulate everything.  All you need is computing and storage power.  The future will give us this, but right now we aren't even close.  We can simulate macro stuff, but that not too well and with very low fidelity.  If you didn't know, it is impossible to simulate the non-linear realm of almost anything.  We can simulate small parts, but not at speed.  The best we can do for non-linear aerodynamics or hydrodynamics is empirical matching.  This means you don't simulate, but you take real data from the world and apply it at the correct point in the simulation.

If we can't do non-linear anything--yet, how are we going to do flowers blowing at the side of the road with their scent and their proper motion.  What about when you pick them.  I'll admit there has been a lot of simulation done on killing things, but that isn't empirical and is just grotesque.  You might want to include that in a military simulator, but I can give you a thousand reasons why you wouldn't want to.  The way a person blows up is not important in a military simulator--it is important to dehumanizing people.  The problem is the simulation and the extrapolation of this is relatively easy.

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.

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

Interlude - yet more Khione

30 January 2014, Interlude - yet more Khione

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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 received the idea for Khione from some reading, movies, and my previous writing.  The idea was to be able to place a real fox-girl in the world.  I was introduced to the idea of fox-people from Japanese Manga and Anime.  I didn't want to make the setting Asian for many reasons.  The primary was the difficulty in properly expressing an Asian character.  I am still studying Japan for the future purpose of writing a novel.  I've mentioned before, I want to write a Japanese novel set in about 1000 AD.  I may or may not be able to write such a novel--it is a complex undertaking, but I'd like to be able to express an historical Asian culture in a way a non-Asian can understand it.

As it is, I set Khione in the modern world at a modern university and in a modern city.  Khione is an ancient character and one who is very Greek and yet very ancient.  My prepub reader liked the novel, and she doesn't like aggressive female character--Khione had to be aggressive in many ways.  Khione is a character truly out of time, but who's questions are the same as people today.  Khione is a demigoddess and a creature of both limited and unlimited capabilities.  This is the kind of character I love and the Aristotle wrote about.  This is the type of character who truly has telic flaws.  Those flaws lead either to tragedy or comedy.  Death or life, for in Greek tragedy the protagonist dies and in a Greek comedy, the protagonist lives.  Khione is a comedy, for this reason--it is also a comedy because of my writing style.  I don't write laugh-out-loud comedies--I write works that gain some of their strength from the light-hearted and hard conversations that come out of my characters.  Plus, what is not to like about a fox-girl hunting cats in modern Boston?

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

Interlude - more Khione

29 January 2014, Interlude - more Khione

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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.

Khione, my new novel, follows with my other Enchantment novels.  They haven't been published yet, but they also follow on the ideas presented in Aegypt.  Th Aegypt novels are a set of eight interrelated books concerning two unknown Egyptian tombs and the ramification of their discovery.  My Aegypt novels are either on contract with my publisher or are in consideration, and my publisher has already given me a couple emails that they want the entire series.  They are currently working on the overall marketing of the novels.  I don't really like -ogies.  I like true series.  A true series is a set of novels that are interrelated, but each novel is a whole and complete.  You can read each novel in the series without reference to the others, but if you read the series, you can be happy with the continuity and the characters.

My Enchantment novels are not really a series at all.  If anything, they are a series of a theme.  The theme is similar, but the plots and characters are not.  In Khione, I didn't originally intend for the novel to follow Hestia, but it just worked out that way.  The characters and the plot fit perfectly into the world and the ideas of Hestia.  They did so well, I went back to Hestia and added the two special characters in Khione, into Hestia.  They and their names appear for just a moment, but enough to create continuity across the novels.  I didn't have to add them into Hestia, it just made since to fit them in with their descriptions.  My publisher has shown an interest in the Enchantment novels, and I hope they will contract Hestia and Khione.  Khione may be a difficult sell.  It is a very complex and edgy novel about the negatives of modern morality, but it is set within that modern morality.

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

Interlude - Khione

28 January 2014, Interlude - Khione

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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 just finished writing my 22nd novel, Khione: Enchantment of the Fox.  I haven't put up a website for the novel yet, and I haven't finished the marketing materials.  I'm working on them now.  I did send a copy to a coupe of prepublication readers.  I heard back and made corrections to the manuscript. 

Khione is a really fun and a really serious novel.  It is a follow-on to Hestia and fits in the Enchantment novels.  It is a stand-alone novel.  I set it at Boston University, one of my alma maters.  This was for thematic and not just locational reasons.  The novel fits in the unique space I've been defining my novels, but it has some philosophical twists like Hestia.  The novel asks some very difficult questions about God and modern morality--that's why I set it on a modern college campus.  It is a fun story and a very unusual one.  Still, my prepublication reader liked it, and she is very difficult to please.

Khione is the protagonist's helper and a being out of my current novel themes and plots.  This means she is a demigoddess of some type.  Pearce, the protagonist, is a hardworking ethical graduate student at the University.  A large part of the novel is a revelation theme.  It is centered around the mystery of just who Khione is.  The second part of the novel is based on just what it means that Khione is who she is.  Like most of my novels, the conversations drive the plot and the action simply punctuates the storyline.  In general, the fun of the novel is in the situations and the conversations.  How interesting is it to speak to a person, like Khione, who is out of time. 

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 180 Extrapolating Military Technology, even more Simulation

27 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 180 Extrapolating Military Technology, even more Simulation

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

Simulators and simulations are much more expensive than many imagine--especially simulations that play well with each other.  First, you need equipment.  For a fighter aircraft, that isn't so difficult--generally, all an aircraft has to do is fly around in the sky.  This is a relatively simple problem compared to a ground based simulation where small things like bushes, trees, rocks, vehicles, people, etc. need to be simulated.  If we simulate ground and air based vehicles, the simulator can be virtual--that is, I don't need a cockpit, I need to simulate a cockpit.  In a virtual simulation, the pilot or vehicle operator just needs to don a helmet with a display inside.  However, then you must simulate the cockpit.  It also helps to have tactile simulation.  We haven't gone very far down this path, yet. 

Simulation already looks difficult and not yet possible.  Extrapolated, it will happen.  The simulation equipment will be virtual and include, at least, visual, tactile, olfactory, and hearing.  More advanced simulators will include taste, but military training ones will not.  The second part is the simulation.  So, first the simulators and then the simulation.

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 179 Extrapolating Military Technology, yet more Simulation

26 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 179 Extrapolating Military Technology, yet more Simulation

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

One of the main reason the military has not moved more into simulation is that simulating warfare requires multiple simulators and multiple actors.  The cost and the complexity of simulating a whole world to one person is very high--the cost and complexity of putting a whole force on line is also high, but nothing compared to trying to simulate the world.  The problem becomes integration and equipment.  In other words, if I take a whole task force and put them in their individual integrated simulators, I only need to simulate the factors and elements outside the task force.  The cost is the simulation, the integration, and the simulators.  On the other hand, if I simulate the entire task force, I can simulate an individual's experience in the task force--I only need one simulator, but it has to be a really great simulator.  The military doesn't want either cost and the cost of both is high.  With improving simulations and lowering simulator costs, eventually, the cost curves will move toward simulation.

I'm not sure if the above gives as clear a picture as necessary--let me give another example.  If we simulate a single aircraft, the crew can fly a mission and the simulator instructor can simulate all the agencies and the communications.  The simulator can simulate the problems of the aircraft.  What the simulator, today, will not do is the external agencies, the scenarios, the communications, the enemy actions, the battle situation, or other aircraft interaction.  If I add an integrated second aircraft simulator, I can simulate (actual) formation and operations, but I've added the complexity of another simulator.  If I add an air traffic controller, I've added another simulator into the mix.  The need for simulators increase or simulations--both cost money.  The main problem is equipment, that is simulators.    

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 178 Extrapolating Military Technology, more Simulation

25 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 178 Extrapolating Military Technology, more Simulation

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

The military is slow to move to pure simulations in training because, they reason very well that simulations don't fully capture the elements of the battlefield--most specifically, they mean the "fog of war."  The "fog of war" is the unexpected nature of warfare in the interaction of nature, the battlefield, human dynamics, and the enemy.  Von Clausewitz wrote about the "fog of war" in On War.  Modern simulations are improving, but they haven't captured enough elements, yet, to provide the degree of combat training the military needs.  With time and improvements--especially the addition of chaos theory elements in the programing--simulations will gradually improve to the point that the military can use them routinely for training.

There are other elements to take into consideration.  At this moment, we are seeing the incorporation of technologies in the gaming environment that can potentially lead to more accurate and realistic simulations, but computing power, interfaces, and programming must improve significantly.  The elements in the simulations must look and feel like those in the real world--partial is good enough for flight simulators, but not for "world simulators."  The difference is teaching procedures and teaching interaction in the world.  The world of a flight simulator only needs to be good enough to teach the procedures especially emergency procedures--in a world simulator, it isn't learning known procedures, it is developing procedures and actions based on the individual circumstances of the moment.  

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 177 Extrapolating Military Technology, Simulation

24 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 177 Extrapolating Military Technology, Simulation

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

To extrapolate future simulations and training look to simulations and training today.  The future shouldn't be much different--just better.  Today, aircraft are the only vehicles whose training significantly includes simulation.  We are seeing the beginnings of simulation in other vehicle training, but that will only increase in the future.  Vehicles will become simpler, but training and the costs of operating the vehicles will become more.  Additionally, the cost and the difficulty of actual offensive and defensive operations will be significant.  That is, for firing weapons and in war games, simulation will become necessary. 

Already there is some movement toward simulators in military training--not as much as you might think.  Most military training in aircraft has to do with procedures and aircraft operations, especially emergency procedures, not military training or military operations.  The reason for this is easy to understand.  Most aircraft are lost in training and emergencies not combat.  With more and better simulators, we will see aircraft training move more and more to simulation--that includes military operations.  In the civil community, we have already seen most training move to simulation.  The military isn't far behind.   

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 176 Extrapolating Military Technology, Training

23 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 176 Extrapolating Military Technology, Training

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

There is much more we can write about extrapolating vehicles and we will get to it, but I thought it might be a good time to write about training.  I've written a lot about military training both current and future in my novels.  Many unfortunately are not published--yet.  Centurion will give you the basics of training Legionnaires during the first century, but that isn't much help with current or future training--or is it.  If you remember, I wrote that to extrapolate you need to go backwards in time to understand technology and inventions.  If you look at the training of a Legionnaire in Centurion and current training, you can extrapolate future military training. 

One of the most important ideas in future training is simulations.  How far can and will simulations go?  I suspect we will see full world simulators eventually used for most military training.  What I mean by that is the trainee will don a full body suit or sim-chamber with a full simulation helmet.  The suit or chamber will give every feeling possible from heat to cold to injury.  The helmet will allow the trainee to experience every environment and situation.  The suit will allow the trainee to feel the weapons and everything else in the environment.  Eventually, nerve induction rather than a suit or chamber will be used.  Can you imagine the situation of such training.  Not everything in the environment will be programmed to the same degree.  You might be able to pick up a rock but not a pebble.  You might be able to touch a chair or a wall, but not a plant on the side of the road.    

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 175 Extrapolating Military Technology, more Advanced Vehicles

22 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 175 Extrapolating Military Technology, more Advanced Vehicles

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

Part of my goal in writing about extrapolation of technology is to give you ideas you can use in your science fiction.  I mentioned simulators in the previous post.  In Ghost Ship Chronicles (unpublished), I use simulators to great effect for the training and the checking of pilots for civilian shuttles.  The same can be done for military vehicles and systems.  The cost of running actual vehicles is very high and might get higher in the future.  The use of simulators of various types will be a necessity and a reality in all civil and military training.  For lack of a better model, the science fiction writer should take the current training and simulator systems and extrapolate them for future vehicle and weapon systems. 

If you are familiar with military or aviation training at all, you know there are significant events in each.  Those events and the circumstances of training can be the focus of an entire novel.  I did this with Warrior of Darkness a yet unpublished, but very close to contracted work.  I also did this with my Ghost Ship Chronicles.  In these novels, the focus for a good part of the novels is on training.  In Warrior of Darkness the training is military officer training at Sandhurst. In the Ghost Ship Chronicles, the training and simulation is for Shuttle training in flying the shuttles of a commercial spaceship.  There isn't much difference between military and civilian training in aviation and I use the extrapolation of current military training models for the aviation training.  In military officer training, I use the model of standard officer training.

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 174 Extrapolating Military Technology, Advanced Vehicles

21 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 174 Extrapolating Military Technology, Advanced Vehicles

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

In my Ghost Ship novels (unpublished), the culture has a form of anti-gravity, but I suppose, the cost and energy use of the anti-gravity is too great for vehicles without fusion or other nuclear reactors.  I do not extrapolate tiny reactors or even small ones.  There is potential for this, but the science is lacking.

In the world of the Ghost Ship novels, shuttles use hydrogen scavenger drives in the atmosphere and hydrogen/oxygen plus anti-gravity drives outside of it.  The shuttles can use their scavenger drives for vertical landings, but at a high cost in fuel.  For cost savings, they use long shuttle landing strips.  This is a basic extrapolation from the airports and shuttles we have today. 

Now, for military vehicles, expect them to follow some degree of civilian vehicles, but with less efforts toward efficiency.  In industry and business, the cost of a mission is critical to the industry.  In the military, the cost is nothing compared to the effectivity of the mission.  Mission accomplishment is key and not efficiency while accomplishing the mission.

This is the chief difference between military vehicles and civilian vehicles.  You will see this model play out in all potential extrapolations.  A military shuttle might use vertical lift all the time (as long as fuel is not an issue)--a civilian shuttle would use vertical lift only when necessary.  You can also expect a future where much training is accomplished in simulators. 

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 173 Extrapolating Military Technology, mixed Ground Effect Vehicles

20 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 173 Extrapolating Military Technology, mixed Ground Effect Vehicles

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

I thought of a great extrapolation for ground effect vehicles (GEVs).  One of the positive characteristics of GEVs is fuel efficiency.  They gain much greater lift compared to drag in ground effect.  This results in considerable fuel savings.  Couple that with low detectability, speed, and high potential weights and you have a very strong combination of features.  Something that would not be hard to add to GEVs is burst capability.  Burst capability could be speed and altitude based.  In other words, the GEV could be normally a GEV, but act like a regular aircraft when fuel savings wasn't important. 

Here's how a mission might work.  A fighter type GEV formation would infiltrate an area at 400 knots and acquire the targeted facility.  At 10 NM out, the GEV formation would climb to a regular weapon delivery altitude and drop guided bombs on the facility.  The enemy launches fighters against the GEVs and the GEVs go into supersonic mode to attack the fighters.  When the GEVs return to base (RTB) they again us GEV mode to save fuel and to exfiltrate.  How's that for a battle scenario.  The GEV is a very possible flying vehicle until the advent of anti-gravity.   

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 172 Extrapolating Military Technology, more Ground Effect Vehicles

19 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 172 Extrapolating Military Technology, more Ground Effect Vehicles

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

I mentioned yesterday that the problem with ground effect vehicles is automation and safety.  They need systems that prevent collisions with the earth or things sticking out of the earth.  Once these two issues are solved, they will be very effective as military vehicles.  There is a question of their combat utility if they are vulnerable.  This is a question for the author to determine.  For example, helicopters are likely the most vulnerable vehicles on any battlefield, yet they are used extensively by the US government.  Many governments have given up helicopters because of their cost and vulnerability.

Ground effect vehicles will likely be the same.  Once the problems with ground effect vehicles are worked out, we ill likely see them in roles from attack fighters to cargo freighters.  I do mean freighters--ground effect vehicles have the potential to be built in sizes as large as tankers and cargo ships.  They can fly at transonic speeds (0.7 Mach, about 400 miles per hour).  They can replace large ships and helicopters.  Once the bugs are worked out, they will likely be used on the seas and on land.

By the way, if ground effect vehicles replace helicopters and some ships, this puts the Army and the Navy at odds.  The Army will likely want the GEVs as helicopter replacements and they will want large GEVs to deliver tanks etc.  The Navy will want to control the large GEVs especially those used over water.  I point this out because the tension of this type of situation should be a great part of any novel.

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 171 Extrapolating Military Technology, Ground Effect Vehicles

18 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 171 Extrapolating Military Technology, Ground Effect Vehicles

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

Ground effect vehicles are not the same as an air cushion vehicle.  A ground effect vehicle flies in ground effect.  The closer an aircraft (at least 1/2 wing span) gets to the ground the greater the lift on the vehicle.  A ground effect vehicle is not designed to fly continuously higher than ground effect--1/2 its wing span.  Usually, they fly about 5 to 10 feet (1 to 3 meters) above the ground.  The problems with ground effect vehicles is they need lots of flat ground without intermittent objects they might hit.  If they can see obstructions (electronically or otherwise), they can maneuver or jump over them.  The second problem with them is control.  Humans can't keep a ground effect vehicle at 1 to 3 meters for extended periods of time--they require an automated control and detection system.  With the proper automatic controls a ground effect vehicle is a marvelous means for flight over water and plains.  It can also jump over areas of non-flat ground. 

Ground effect vehicles have great legs especially over water and steppes/plains.  They would be great for exploration of a large flat planet.  They would not be good for mountainous or broken ground.  They can carry a lot of material.  They also produce a great wreak if their automatics fail.  A proper extrapolation would develop a means of safely bringing a large ground effect vehicle to ground under emergency conditions.  There is much more about ground effect vehicles especially in regard to low power anti-gravity systems.

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 170 Extrapolating Military Technology, Air Cushion Vehicles

17 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 170 Extrapolating Military Technology, Air Cushion Vehicles

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

I'm going to lump air-cushion and ground effect vehicles in the same group.  Both take advantage of aerodynamics at the surface of the earth and both have similar characteristics.  With both types of vehicles, you get high speed, any surface crossing (including water), load lifting based on the size of the vehicle, and reasonable safety with automation.  They are both hard to armor and might not make great direct combat vehicles.

An air-cushion vehicle does just as described--it rides on a cushion of air.  Ducted fans or jet engines provide the air to raise the craft above the ground and to propel it.  In potential advanced versions, the propel and cushion are all in one.  Today, most are separate.  The air-cushion vehicle has a curtain around it to hold the air in and direct it down--this is its main vulnerability--a hit on the curtain can dump airflow and cause a loss of propulsion.  Air-cushion vehicles require lots of power and large foot print to load.  They are being used right now by littoral forces for landing craft.  This makes them direct combat vehicles, but they usually aren't armored or weaponed for offense.  They are usually used just as landing craft and their worth in combat has not really been proven well.  Unlike armored combat landing craft.  They are fast and the resilience of their propulsion system is up to debate.  With improvements, however, air-cushion vehicles have legs and likely will be around for a while--until anti-grav platforms. 

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 169 Extrapolating Military Technology, Tracked Vehicles

16 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 169 Extrapolating Military Technology, Tracked Vehicles

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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)
9.  Costs 

I'm not certain how much life tracked vehicles have left in them--I suspect it is a lot.  They are relatively inexpensive and yet provide a much better platform for very heavy vehicles.  Military vehicles will likely remain very heavy vehicles.  The cost vs. weight lifting efficiency has to beat anything else.  For tracks, this will be true for a while.  The power vs. speed and capability must also match.  I suspect, for multipurpose vehicles, we will see mech types (human and animal propulsion using hydrocarbon engines) fill the niche of individual vehicles (bikes and motorcycles) but with real armor and weapons.  As efficiencies and turbine engines scale downward and less expensive, that is when we will see mech types take the work from tracks.  Already track vehicles use kerosene turbine engines (jet engines), but they are large and relatively complex.  In the future we will see small and still complex but low cost turbines take the place of gasoline engines.  The future power of choice will likely be turbine engines powering an electric generator and using electromechanical and hydraulic muscles.  Turbine engines can produce great power and electromechanical or electric motors can produce high torque quickly.  The trick is to produce electricity efficiently.  The turbine can do this.

We are not far from mechs, but until we have low cost turbines and the proper electromechanical or hydraulic systems, we won't see them.  Likely mechs will be late to the party with tracks filling the need for heavy systems for a while.

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