Building A World, Part 2
I'll be posting a new (Christmas-themed) story on December 22. In the meantime, I thought I'd share some more thoughts about worldbuilding in general, and my process in particular (for some earlier thoughts on the topic, read this.)
Though it may not always look like it, planetary engineering is a central theme in the stories I write. Mainly because of the Rissl.
Those of you who have been with me for a while might remember me mentioning a project called “The Traveler of a Thousand Worlds.” No, I haven’t finished it yet—it is still on standby. But that story will feature a Rissl for the first time.
The Rissl (that final L is silent, by the way—at least it would be to a human ear) are an ancient alien species who look very much like humans but are so technically advanced they can build worlds from scratch. In fact, that is what they do, what they are known for. Or, rather, what they were known for when they were still known at all.
They have engineered countless worlds, unbeknownst to humans as they spread through space and colonize many of those same worlds.
A novel I wrote last year (and which I hope to finish editing and to release in 2022) also features not one, but five Rissl!
Actually, come to think of it, there is a Rissl in that Christmas story too… though it won’t be explicitly stated.
On a side note, I’ve also used planetary engineering in the lyrics of a song I wrote a few years ago. That whole “Istree” concept album is also set within the Xen’in Universe.
And now for something different…
Book to read
For Fog Adorns Her, by Steffen Larken
A dragon egg, a killing fog, and a mysterious symbol... Will he find answers, or die trying?
Veric finds a dragon egg, while a man-shaped fog sows terror through the region.
He visits the dwarves of Als Erim, hoping to sell them the egg.
[… read more …]
On promotion
Author Jaxon Reed has a great promo available. If you like space operas, you can get a bundle of the first ten books in his “Agents of the Planetary Republic” series at a low price.
Agents of the Planetary Republic, by Jaxon Reed
The Planetary Republic and Star League have settled their differences. Treaties are signed, trade is restored. But spies and diplomatic turmoil lead to a high-tech cold war of epic proportions.
Ex Space Marine Gina Wilcox finds herself in a law enforcement career after the war, but life can be just as dangerous on the streets as the battlefield.
Sleeper cells activate, assassinating government officials. Crime syndicates flourish. And a certain high-tech android has been stolen by the League, spirited off world for unknown purposes.
Into this milieu a band of Marine outcasts [… read more …]
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Copyright (c) 2021 by Alex S. Garcia.