Andy Zach's Blog: The Unlikely life of Andy Zach - Posts Tagged "new-book"

Today’s the day I give away free books to my newsletter subscribers! (Don’t worry if you’re not a subscriber; you can fix that by clicking here.) But first, my Paranormal Privateers Progress Update.

I just made progress on Paranormal Privateers! So far I’m 100% complete on the Writing phase. I’m 90% complete on Editing with two Weeks remaining until the deadline. (April 15th).
Paranormal Privateers Novel Progress
Paranormal Privateers
Phase:Editing
Due:2 weeks ago
87%
Paranormal Privateers Progress Update
Cropped sketch of rear cover of Paranormal Privateers
Upcoming Author Appearances – You can talk with me about my Paranormal Privateers Progress Update

Read more here:
https://www.andyzach.net/paranormal-p...

Today’s the day I give away free books to my newsletter subscribers! (Don’t worry if you’re not a subscriber; you can fix that by clicking here.) But first, my Paranormal Privateers Progress Update.

I just made progress on Paranormal Privateers! So far I’m 100% complete on the Writing phase. I’m 90% complete on Editing with two Weeks remaining until the deadline. (April 15th).
Paranormal Privateers Novel Progress
Paranormal Privateers
Phase:Editing
Due:2 weeks ago
87%
Paranormal Privateers Progress Update
Cropped sketch of rear cover of Paranormal Privateers
Upcoming Author Appearances – You can talk with me about my Paranormal Privateers Progress Update

Read more here:
https://www.andyzach.net/paranormal-p...

8 Awesome Gifts for August - Rather than the end of summer, think of this as the beginning of Christmas. I've got 52 free SciFi and Fantasy books for you immediately below.

52 SciFi Novels for You!

Did you know this includes the first of my SciFi series, the Life After Life Chronicles? Gaze upon this next book:

Get your free Zombie Turkeys here!

But hurry! This giveaway expires on August 12th! That's 3 days from now. Who knows how close it is to you in the future?

Continuing With Awesome Gifts for August

But that's not all I've got for you! I've got a free Zombie Turkeys right now for newsletter subscribers. Click and win a a flock of turkey laughs.

Zombie Turkeys in Shedd Aquarium. Click to get audiobook



Your Third Awesome Gift Comes Right Here

How about 26 free Paranormal books?

Get your 26 books by clicking here!

And with this giveaway you get another book of mine:

Get your free copy here!



Awesome August Continues - What's Next?

An interview with me, Andy Zacy, by author Karina Kantas.

Get up close and personal with Andy. Reply to Youtube or directly to me here.



Yet More Gifts for You - Free Short Stories

A Phoenix Tale - Andy Zach tells the tale of how he caught his first phoenix.

A Hamster's Tale - Andy Zach's short story written between Secret Supers and Villain's Vacation.

Click to listen to free sample of Secret Supers.

Villain's Vacation is my newest novel.

Villain's Vacation - Click to get it.



Your Last Three Gifts - Gift 6 Next

. I'm sharing the best selections from two dozen authors I've met on Facebook. The topic: 'Fight Scene'. Enjoy!

Countdown: Now You Get Gift 7

Relive the drama of the landing of Mars Curiosity six years ago.

Your Last Bit of Awesomeness

Woohoo! One of my favorite reviewers, Rebecca McNutt, has reviewed 'Zombie Turkeys'. And she likes it!

This book is quite an eclectic mix of themes and genres. It's not quite horror and not quite comedy, but rather a variety of both, including some sci-fi and adventure elements, a clever and witty social commentary on modern American digital culture, and a more original story to rise from the over-saturated zombie horror genre as something that carves out its own path in the fiction world. In some ways, it reminded me of those 1980's horror films I used to watch back in high school, and in other ways, with its themes of a modernizing, changing America, it reminded me of films like Steven Spielberg's Gremlins.

More at my Facebook post.

Science Versus Science Fiction -- Can science fiction authors even stay ahead of our rocketing science advances?

You ask, "Like what? What's so hard about imagining a futuristic setting?"

How about this development?

In addition to announcing the world's fastest computer for AI training, Tesla also presented a new self-driving application--autonomous, humanoid robots.

"But this is all just visionary stuff from Elon. It's not here yet," you respond.

Yup, not yet, but near. Just like SpaceX was a couple of years ago:

This is straight from 1950s science fiction. A rocket goes up in a plume of fire and lands on a rocket. And this video happened five years ago. This demonstrates Tesla and Elon Musk's ability to bring his vision to reality.

Science Vs Science Fiction - Science Fiction Weighs In

How well is science fiction keeping ahead? Let's start with a review I just wrote:

I thought the anthology, 'Citizens' would be good, since it was military science fiction written by veterans. I also like John Ringo's writing in general, and he has a story in here. But it exceeded my expectations.

Not only are there crackling good stories in this book, but it's also a survey of great science fiction writers over the past seven decades. Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, are here as well as Murray Leinster, Gene Wolfe, and Keith Laumer. Then there are some newer writers as well, veterans of the Iraq war with their unique takes on military scifi.

If you like military scifi, don't miss this one.

Goodreads review by Andy Zach

How does this book stack up against current science? The science fiction is pretty well ahead.

Keith Laumer has a self-aware, highly motivated war robot.

Gene Wolfe and John Ringo explore extreme genetic modification for warfare.

David Freer has a light-hearted story about a postman who deflects an alien invasion.

Now, the more uncomfortable question: how am I, Andy Zach doing with my fiction versus the advances in science?

Zombie Detective's Science Fiction Versus Science

My next novel is Zombie Detective. Is it keeping ahead of science's leaps?

Disclaimer: I set this novel in 2016 and I limited myself to science as I knew it then, plus a little more. What little more did I add?

Mostly, genetic engineering. That's basically the cause of my zombieism, where rogue E Coli bacteria copy any tissue and replace it within minutes. I go into detail about how in my book, Zombie Turkeys.

Zombie Detective Excerpt for You

Getting back to Zombie Detective, I'm publishing it in September 2021. It begins like this:

“Sam, you’re fired.” Lisa’s green eyes met his brown ones. 

“What? Lisa, you and I have worked together at the Midley Beacon.  for ten years! And we’ve known each other for fifteen!   And we’ve been married almost two months!”  

“Sorry, Sam. Romance has to take a back seat to finances. Ever since the bottom dropped out of the zombie turkey news market since the first of the year, the Midley Beacon.  hasn’t made enough to pay your salary.”

“But that’s our salary. We share and share alike.”

“We can still live on my salary. And you can apply for unemployment, now that you’re fired.” 

“But what’ll I do all day? I can only play Fortnite for so long.”

“What did you do before I hired you, ten years ago? What did you do while I was in college?” Lisa's brows furrowed.

“Uh, mow lawns. Handyman repair. Stuff like that. But I’m a grown man now. I want more.”

“Hmm, you are a decent reporter.”

“Thanks, Lisa. That’s high praise coming from you.”

“Well, it’s the truth. You’ve grown from a crappy reporter, like ninety-nine percent of all reporters, to well above average. I did lay off everyone else on the staff before you, you know.”

“Aw, you’re making me feel warm and mushy.”

“That’s part of good management, —emotional manipulation.”

“Uh, you mean you don’t mean it?” Sam looked crestfallen.

“Nah, I mean it. Emotional manipulation is much more effective if you’re sincere.

From Zombie Detective

If you've read my books, why don't you tell me how I'm doing keeping ahead of science? Contact me here or at andyzach@andyzach.net