On May 12, 2011, one year ago today, I started work on my hopefully soon to be released second novel, "Per Astra Ad Aspera." It's hard to believe how fast time has gone, but I thought I'd take advantage of the anniversary to give a sort of one-year progress report.
I'm still aiming for a 2012 release (preferably this summer, though I'm not sure if that's a realistic goal at this point). I know I previously announced my plans to self-publish the novel on Kindle, though at the moment the book is under consideration with a publisher. Hopefully they'll accept, but I suppose I can still self-publish if all else fails.
Looking back, it's interesting how quickly I was able to write "Per Astra." I had finished the first draft in only three months (for reference, the first draft of But Whether Men Do, which was also considerably shorter, took six). A year after I started BWMD, I was still in the revision stages, while a year after "Per Astra" I'm already searching for a publisher. You think such a quick schedule would lead to a rushed product, but when I look at Per Astra, I have to say I'm pretty proud. But Whether Men Do was an admirable first effort, I think, but I wrote the majority of it when I was in high school (and going through a pretty bad phase, no less). It's the work of an amateur, and it shows. When I look at "Per Astra Ad Aspera," I see a much more refined work. I really think I've grown as a writer in the time since publishing But Whether Men Do, and I can't wait to show that to the world.
On that note, I know I say this a lot, but at the moment I'm largely dependent on word of mouth to draw attention. If you know anybody who's a big science fiction/fantasy fan that you think would be interested in my writing, please let them know. It's been my dream for a long time to have tons of people enjoying my writing, so every person you tell helps.
One last bit of news to close off this blog post. I'm not sure if any of you are familiar with the SCP Foundation, but it's full of some pretty interesting stuff. Yours truly is now the creator of SCP-1122, and I might write some more for that site in the future, so keep an eye out.
Anyway, hopefully "Per Astra" will be out soon. I really think you'll all be pleased with the result.
Showing posts with label Per Astra Ad Aspera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Per Astra Ad Aspera. Show all posts
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
What is "Per Astra Ad Aspera?"
Space fascinates us. For as long as anyone can remember, mankind has fantasized about what lies beyond the stars, and if we could ever go there ourselves. Countless works of science fiction have entertained the idea of what space has in store for us. However, over time the world of fiction has changed the cosmos into something it is not. Part of what always fascinated me about space is the incomprehensible size of it all. Earth and Mars are, at their closest, 56 million kilometers apart from each other. You could travel across the world a hundred times and still only cover the scarcest fraction of that distance. It's difficult for the human mind to imagine anything of such size exists, and yet it does. And this is just the distance between two planets. The distance between two stars, or even two galaxies, is even more astounding. It seems almost disrespectful to the grandeur of the universe to have a character cross such tremendous space instantly.
"Per Astra Ad Aspera" may take place in outer space, but its setting is one of realism. There is no faster-than-light travel, and with that, no aliens. The novel takes place entirely within our own solar system, and all space travel must be done the slow way. Mankind has long since set up colonies throughout the solar system, with a government organization called the League of Interplanetary Relations managing affairs between the colonies and Earth. The problems that come with extraterrestrial colonization plays an important role in the novel, as the concept raises not only many scientific quandaries (What do we do about heat? How do we adjust to the lower gravity?), but political ones as well (How would Earth react to colonial independence? Is Earth responsible for an independent colony's well-being?) The book's plot begins when the colony on Saturn's moon of Enceladus threatens to declare war on Earth. The League sends a ship to carry out negotiations with the Enceladeans...a trip that will take two years to complete.
However, at its core, "Per Astra" is a work of drama as much as it is science fiction. Early works of science fiction often envisioned a utopia where intellect, through science and technology, would cure the evils of the world. Yet no matter how far our technology advances, it seems unlikely that we will ever create a machine that can change human nature.
Caught in the middle of this saga of a war against Earth is Timothy Clear, a new recruit for the League who's dreamt of going into space and becoming a great hero ever since he was a child. Tim begins the novel cheerful and optimistic, so eager to achieve his dreams that he gladly leaves everything he knew on Earth behind for it. However, spending two years trapped in the isolation of the League's ship gradually takes its toll on Tim's mind. Humanity has never ventured farther out into space than the Moon, and even that was just a brief visit. If man were to travel deeper into the void of space, what would it do to his mind? What happens when he feels each of the millions of miles separating him from home? What happens when he stares Jupiter in the face? Among other questions, "Per Astra" attempts to imagine what long-term space travel could do to a person psychologically.
Stuck with a crew of hostile strangers, Tim's sole sources of comfort are his mentor, a bitter, elderly science officer named Arthur Kane, and a shy communications officer named Christine Williamson. Each of them have their own reasons for coming aboard the ship, their own dark stories to tell. If long-term space travel existed, who would agree to do it? What motivation would one have to leave the planet? The League is a group for the world's pariahs, and Tim has unknowingly been destined to be among them. As Tim spends two years being spent through emotional hell, he anxiously awaits when the ship reaches its destination, hoping the long trip will finally pay off by the time they reach Enceladus.
"Per Astra Ad Aspera" will be coming to Kindle later this year. It's a title fans of both science fiction and character-driven drama should be sure not to miss.
"Per Astra Ad Aspera" may take place in outer space, but its setting is one of realism. There is no faster-than-light travel, and with that, no aliens. The novel takes place entirely within our own solar system, and all space travel must be done the slow way. Mankind has long since set up colonies throughout the solar system, with a government organization called the League of Interplanetary Relations managing affairs between the colonies and Earth. The problems that come with extraterrestrial colonization plays an important role in the novel, as the concept raises not only many scientific quandaries (What do we do about heat? How do we adjust to the lower gravity?), but political ones as well (How would Earth react to colonial independence? Is Earth responsible for an independent colony's well-being?) The book's plot begins when the colony on Saturn's moon of Enceladus threatens to declare war on Earth. The League sends a ship to carry out negotiations with the Enceladeans...a trip that will take two years to complete.
However, at its core, "Per Astra" is a work of drama as much as it is science fiction. Early works of science fiction often envisioned a utopia where intellect, through science and technology, would cure the evils of the world. Yet no matter how far our technology advances, it seems unlikely that we will ever create a machine that can change human nature.
Caught in the middle of this saga of a war against Earth is Timothy Clear, a new recruit for the League who's dreamt of going into space and becoming a great hero ever since he was a child. Tim begins the novel cheerful and optimistic, so eager to achieve his dreams that he gladly leaves everything he knew on Earth behind for it. However, spending two years trapped in the isolation of the League's ship gradually takes its toll on Tim's mind. Humanity has never ventured farther out into space than the Moon, and even that was just a brief visit. If man were to travel deeper into the void of space, what would it do to his mind? What happens when he feels each of the millions of miles separating him from home? What happens when he stares Jupiter in the face? Among other questions, "Per Astra" attempts to imagine what long-term space travel could do to a person psychologically.
Stuck with a crew of hostile strangers, Tim's sole sources of comfort are his mentor, a bitter, elderly science officer named Arthur Kane, and a shy communications officer named Christine Williamson. Each of them have their own reasons for coming aboard the ship, their own dark stories to tell. If long-term space travel existed, who would agree to do it? What motivation would one have to leave the planet? The League is a group for the world's pariahs, and Tim has unknowingly been destined to be among them. As Tim spends two years being spent through emotional hell, he anxiously awaits when the ship reaches its destination, hoping the long trip will finally pay off by the time they reach Enceladus.
"Per Astra Ad Aspera" will be coming to Kindle later this year. It's a title fans of both science fiction and character-driven drama should be sure not to miss.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
"Per Astra Ad Aspera" Coming To Smoke Signal!
As my new novel, "Per Astra Ad Aspera," nears its release, I've spent a lot of time wondering the best format to release it in. Obviously at first I wanted nothing more than to see it released as a good old-fashioned book, yet others told me "Books are on the way out! E-books are all the rage now!"
I spent a long time considering that route as well. Perhaps the best home for Per Astra was on the Kindle. But wait, I began to think. What if e-books are just a passing fad? For all I knew they could be on the way out themselves in a few years. No, I want my book to be remembered, so it has to be released on a format that'll last. One that's proven to stand the test of time. And so, after much consideration, I'm pleased to announce that Per Astra Ad Aspera will be released exclusively as a smoke signal.
Smoke signals have been in use for millennia, and they're guaranteed not to go obsolete anytime soon. Can a computer float up into the air? That's what I thought!
So here's how it'll work. On the big day of my novel's release, a team of professional smoke signalers will be dispatched to the hill nearest you with a set of two torches. The torches will then be used to signal out the entire text of my novel in accordance with the Polybius square. Just step outside, look up in the sky, and watch the magic of literature rise up into the air! If you ever wish to read the book again, simply notify your local smoke signalers, and they'll signal the novel again, all the way from the beginning.
I know you'll all love Per Astra when it releases, especially now that I've made the right format choice. Smoke signals are all-natural and environmentally-friendly, unlike those stupid tree-killing books. You don't have to spend a bundle on an e-Reader to look at them. They can be seen in the dark. They're accessible to everyone. You don't even need to know how to read to appreciate a smoke signal novel (although you do need to understand a Polybius square). Most importantly, however, is that this format guarantees my book will still be remembered decades, maybe even centuries, from now. For as we all know, smoke signals are guaranteed to never, ever become a dated format.
(DISCLAIMER: Promise of dispatching smoke signalers to "the hill nearest you" is void for residents of anywhere outside Alpharetta, Georgia. R. Anthony Mahan is not responsible for any injuries, illnesses, or deaths incurred from having a 98,000-word novel's worth of smoke being dispersed into the air. It is illegal for anyone under 18 to read a smoke signal novel. Smoke signal novels cause lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy. If the smoke from Per Astra Ad Aspera turns black, the new Pope has not yet been chosen. April Fool's.)
I spent a long time considering that route as well. Perhaps the best home for Per Astra was on the Kindle. But wait, I began to think. What if e-books are just a passing fad? For all I knew they could be on the way out themselves in a few years. No, I want my book to be remembered, so it has to be released on a format that'll last. One that's proven to stand the test of time. And so, after much consideration, I'm pleased to announce that Per Astra Ad Aspera will be released exclusively as a smoke signal.
Smoke signals have been in use for millennia, and they're guaranteed not to go obsolete anytime soon. Can a computer float up into the air? That's what I thought!
So here's how it'll work. On the big day of my novel's release, a team of professional smoke signalers will be dispatched to the hill nearest you with a set of two torches. The torches will then be used to signal out the entire text of my novel in accordance with the Polybius square. Just step outside, look up in the sky, and watch the magic of literature rise up into the air! If you ever wish to read the book again, simply notify your local smoke signalers, and they'll signal the novel again, all the way from the beginning.
I know you'll all love Per Astra when it releases, especially now that I've made the right format choice. Smoke signals are all-natural and environmentally-friendly, unlike those stupid tree-killing books. You don't have to spend a bundle on an e-Reader to look at them. They can be seen in the dark. They're accessible to everyone. You don't even need to know how to read to appreciate a smoke signal novel (although you do need to understand a Polybius square). Most importantly, however, is that this format guarantees my book will still be remembered decades, maybe even centuries, from now. For as we all know, smoke signals are guaranteed to never, ever become a dated format.
(DISCLAIMER: Promise of dispatching smoke signalers to "the hill nearest you" is void for residents of anywhere outside Alpharetta, Georgia. R. Anthony Mahan is not responsible for any injuries, illnesses, or deaths incurred from having a 98,000-word novel's worth of smoke being dispersed into the air. It is illegal for anyone under 18 to read a smoke signal novel. Smoke signal novels cause lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy. If the smoke from Per Astra Ad Aspera turns black, the new Pope has not yet been chosen. April Fool's.)
Monday, January 30, 2012
"Per Astra" Status Update And Future of Blog
Well, it's been a rough process bringing it to completion, but I'm pleased to say that I'm happy with "Per Astra Ad Aspera", consider it to be essentially complete (though you never know when you'll need another revision!), and am now ready to search for a publisher.
You think after getting published once, it'd be easier the second time, but this isn't always the case. Hearing back from a publisher can take a long time, and the editing/publishing process can take even longer. A while ago I said I was aiming for a 2012 release for Per Astra, and I still am, but at this point it may be unwise to make that into a guarantee. Fortunately, the year's still young, and a 2012 release is still my goal, but again, no promises. But don't worry, the instant any news regarding Per Astra comes up (and hopefully there will be some soon), I'll be sure to post about it. Until then, cross your fingers for me.
I'd also like to take a moment to discuss this blog itself. The blog has been kind of...sparsely visited lately, but to be fair a large factor in that is that it's been sparsely updated. I had planned to use this blog exclusively for short stories and news about my novels, but lately both of those have been pretty rare.
For those reading this, I was wondering if you'd be interested if I started putting essays on the blog, telling giving my thoughts about the art of storytelling (among other things?). If enough people are interested, not only would I blog more, but if I can find the time amidst the never-ending sea of schoolwork, I might even be motivated to do more short stories.
Anyway, sound off on your thoughts in the comments. And if you're interested in hearing more from me, be sure to let your friends know about this blog too. I've got a lot of short stories up already (the most recent one being "The Carnival of the Equinox") that are worth a look.
Let me know what you think. If enough people ask for it, you can count on a lot more posts in the future soon.
You think after getting published once, it'd be easier the second time, but this isn't always the case. Hearing back from a publisher can take a long time, and the editing/publishing process can take even longer. A while ago I said I was aiming for a 2012 release for Per Astra, and I still am, but at this point it may be unwise to make that into a guarantee. Fortunately, the year's still young, and a 2012 release is still my goal, but again, no promises. But don't worry, the instant any news regarding Per Astra comes up (and hopefully there will be some soon), I'll be sure to post about it. Until then, cross your fingers for me.
I'd also like to take a moment to discuss this blog itself. The blog has been kind of...sparsely visited lately, but to be fair a large factor in that is that it's been sparsely updated. I had planned to use this blog exclusively for short stories and news about my novels, but lately both of those have been pretty rare.
For those reading this, I was wondering if you'd be interested if I started putting essays on the blog, telling giving my thoughts about the art of storytelling (among other things?). If enough people are interested, not only would I blog more, but if I can find the time amidst the never-ending sea of schoolwork, I might even be motivated to do more short stories.
Anyway, sound off on your thoughts in the comments. And if you're interested in hearing more from me, be sure to let your friends know about this blog too. I've got a lot of short stories up already (the most recent one being "The Carnival of the Equinox") that are worth a look.
Let me know what you think. If enough people ask for it, you can count on a lot more posts in the future soon.
Friday, August 19, 2011
And the first draft is done.
It's been a hard three months (getting back to regular writing is harder than I thought!), but I have a special announcement to make. I'm now finished with the first draft of my newest novel (tentatively titled "Per Astra Ad Aspera").
There's still a lot of work ahead, though, so don't expect to see this anytime soon. I still have to go through revisions, as well as the search for a new publisher. In the meantime, though, I'm taking a well-deserved break to celebrate the completed first draft.
I'll talk more about the book itself later, but I'll say right now that so far everything's looking really good. I'm already confident Per Astra Ad Aspera will be a lot better than But Whether Men Do, and I think you'll all like it too.
Stay tuned for more news.
There's still a lot of work ahead, though, so don't expect to see this anytime soon. I still have to go through revisions, as well as the search for a new publisher. In the meantime, though, I'm taking a well-deserved break to celebrate the completed first draft.
I'll talk more about the book itself later, but I'll say right now that so far everything's looking really good. I'm already confident Per Astra Ad Aspera will be a lot better than But Whether Men Do, and I think you'll all like it too.
Stay tuned for more news.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
The Cycle Begins Anew...
Well, I've done it. Ten months of slacking was nice and all, but it had to come to an end at some point. I've finally stopped procrastinating and typed out the prologue to my second novel.
Writing is hard work, and it's not uncommon for aspiring novelists to go "This is enough for now, I'll do more tomorrow," then repeat that the next day, and the next day, until they eventually have an abandoned project. I've been guilty of that in the past myself. With "But Whether Men Do" I resolved to write at least a little every day, no matter what. It could be ten pages or a single paragraph; the actual amount you do each day isn't as important as the routine itself. I'll be repeating this rule here.
I won't lie, I'm pretty nervous. There are all sorts of concerns running through my head. I'd like to think in the relatively short time since I became a published author I've grown as a writer. At the same time, though, the more progress I make, the more progress I also realize I still haven't made, if that makes sense. There's a whole lot I'm worrying about as I start this book (one of them being whether I can commit to this routine again, since it's been so long), but what can I do but carry on?
I'm not sure how long it'll be until you can actually see what I'm working on, of course. For reference, I started what would eventually become BWMD on July 1, 2008, and the book was released on July 25, 2010. The process as a whole took a little over two years (754 days, if you want to be exact). Maybe this book will take less time, maybe more. It's not really a goal of mine to finish sooner. I'm trying to make a better book, not a faster book. Still, I think it'd be interesting to time my progress, so let it be known that work on this new novel began on May 12, 2011.
Lastly, of course, I'm sure you all want details regarding my next book, and unfortunately I have to disappoint you here. My book's at too early a stage for me to safely reveal anything, but I promise as soon as I feel it's safe for me to divulge some information, I will. Still, it'd be unfair to leave you with nothing, so here's all the wonderfully vague things I'm comfortable with sharing at the moment.
1. It'll be completely unconnected to But Whether Men Do, and will in fact be robot-free. Maybe I'll toss in a quick reference because I'm a sucker for all that Wold Newton shared universe stuff, but nothing significant.
2. There will, however, be a thematic similarity to BWMD. I'll talk about this more later.
3. It is science fiction.
4. It won't be published by FutureWord. I haven't picked a new publisher yet, but I'm not going to worry about that until the book is finished (or at least reasonably close to it).
5. It begins with somebody watching a very bad TV show. The opening is intentionally as poorly-written as possible, and I love every word of it.
6. Like BWMD, my book will open with a quotation. Here's the quote in question. Make of it what you will.
"FUTURE, n. That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured." -Ambrose Bierce
Anyway, stay tuned to this blog for more updates. Also, "like" my Facebook fanpage if you haven't already. It's the best thing on Facebook!
Expect more news soon.
Writing is hard work, and it's not uncommon for aspiring novelists to go "This is enough for now, I'll do more tomorrow," then repeat that the next day, and the next day, until they eventually have an abandoned project. I've been guilty of that in the past myself. With "But Whether Men Do" I resolved to write at least a little every day, no matter what. It could be ten pages or a single paragraph; the actual amount you do each day isn't as important as the routine itself. I'll be repeating this rule here.
I won't lie, I'm pretty nervous. There are all sorts of concerns running through my head. I'd like to think in the relatively short time since I became a published author I've grown as a writer. At the same time, though, the more progress I make, the more progress I also realize I still haven't made, if that makes sense. There's a whole lot I'm worrying about as I start this book (one of them being whether I can commit to this routine again, since it's been so long), but what can I do but carry on?
I'm not sure how long it'll be until you can actually see what I'm working on, of course. For reference, I started what would eventually become BWMD on July 1, 2008, and the book was released on July 25, 2010. The process as a whole took a little over two years (754 days, if you want to be exact). Maybe this book will take less time, maybe more. It's not really a goal of mine to finish sooner. I'm trying to make a better book, not a faster book. Still, I think it'd be interesting to time my progress, so let it be known that work on this new novel began on May 12, 2011.
Lastly, of course, I'm sure you all want details regarding my next book, and unfortunately I have to disappoint you here. My book's at too early a stage for me to safely reveal anything, but I promise as soon as I feel it's safe for me to divulge some information, I will. Still, it'd be unfair to leave you with nothing, so here's all the wonderfully vague things I'm comfortable with sharing at the moment.
1. It'll be completely unconnected to But Whether Men Do, and will in fact be robot-free. Maybe I'll toss in a quick reference because I'm a sucker for all that Wold Newton shared universe stuff, but nothing significant.
2. There will, however, be a thematic similarity to BWMD. I'll talk about this more later.
3. It is science fiction.
4. It won't be published by FutureWord. I haven't picked a new publisher yet, but I'm not going to worry about that until the book is finished (or at least reasonably close to it).
5. It begins with somebody watching a very bad TV show. The opening is intentionally as poorly-written as possible, and I love every word of it.
6. Like BWMD, my book will open with a quotation. Here's the quote in question. Make of it what you will.
"FUTURE, n. That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured." -Ambrose Bierce
Anyway, stay tuned to this blog for more updates. Also, "like" my Facebook fanpage if you haven't already. It's the best thing on Facebook!
Expect more news soon.
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