R.B. Thurman's Blog, page 2

Someone else(s).

There are a couple other characters that I will briefly talk about that appear in the series. They’re the sort that, in the context of the story, their history borders on legend.

Who are they? Before I start, I feel like a broken record mentioning this yet again, but if you haven’t read the first book, I may reveal details that bear on the story and could be considered ‘spoilers.’ I can’t say I’ve exhaustively investigated whether it was best to share the details I have regarding the story thus far (possibly making it easy to figure out the story. Or worse, make you think you did), so once again, you are reading this at your own risk.

If you would like more of an intro to the series, you can look here, here, here, and here as some good starting points. Now for the spoilers.

The Maelstrom

Since this character could be considered largely the reason for some of the things happening to Richard in the first book, he is surprisingly absent for all of it. But, he does finally make an appearance:

“It is three days before their first flight,” adds a deep, resonant, and ominous voice.

The Maelstrom

The Maelstrom, which I did briefly allude to last year here is a being that appears at crucial moments in time. Even in critical locations in those moments. Like the ship that Richard travels on.

The Maelstrom can also move them to key periods of time which is something the Maestrom points out:

“We thought we were supposed to make our own way back to our time,” Richard comments as they step through the door of his office. He sits down behind his desk.

The being hovers in front of the desk. “It is thinking like this that leads to problems,” the being remarks. “The Maelstrom didn’t say specifically that we would return. That is true. However, you should have understood that it was the Maelstrom who brought you here, not any phenomenon you have associated with it.”

Richard and the Maelstrom

There is a reason for this, though. As you’ll read in the book, the Maelstrom has some very specific limitations, most notably:

Richard shakes his head. “But I do not understand why you cannot prevent this war! You said yourself you would preserve our peace.”
 
The Maelstrom shakes his head. “The peace you agreed upon did not include those who now seek a conflict with you. For us to establish peace, they too must agree to the Maelstrom’s mediation… And I can personally assure you, these do not want peace.”

The limits of their influence can seem arbitrary, and they probably are. But, if you have a code of conduct by which you live your life, what may be to you a reasonable limit to place for yourself, could also seem like an arbitrary limit to others.

If you’re looking to understand why, you’ll have to see when the book comes out, since it goes into more detail regarding some of their actions. And over the series, you’ll better understand why they do what they do.

The Mercenary Guild

As a bonus, I’m including a little bit about some additional characters in the series. The Mercenary Guild are actually referenced throughout these books, both directly and indirectly. Why is that? Maybe Richard can help us out:

“They are an entire race whose sole purpose in existing is being the finest offensive military force that could be employed in a conflict. They are conditioned from birth to be the perfect fighter with every type of weapon and in any method of combat imaginable.
 
“In the civil wars on my world, the tide of the war would change, based on who was paying the Mercenary Guild more. Their strikes were recorded as being lethal and nearly 100 percent effective. Most notably, casualties among members of the Guild in battle is unheard of. They study their enemies attack patterns and review similar situations from history in formulating their strategies.” He pauses. “We have been fortunate they have rarely been known to be in conflicts, even in the last few centuries.”

Richard

So, are they in the next book too? You’ll have to read and find out for yourself.

Next week, let’s see what my schedule has for us to talk ab-great… Yeah, it’s me again. Till then.

Thanks for reading!  Please like and share! You can follow on Facebook, Tumblr, and read excerpts from The Silent Invader @RB_Thurman (and follow!), in addition to the chapters I add here. If you prefer, you can also read my posts on Goodreads.  Your comments are always welcome below.  Also, sign up now to receive notifications for when the next blog arrives.

Kassandar.

This week we will focus on a character who appears in the first book, but for the sake of this blog, we will refer to him by his name.

In the previous book, his name wasn’t used, even though he was in the story. I can’t say what made me decide to obscure his identity in the book, other than you wouldn’t need to know who he was to see his influence on the story. I could’ve also been obsessing about some other trivial detail, but that’s been lost to time.

Who is Kassandar?

Before we continue, I will point out that I will be quoting from both books in this blog, and I’m not planning to make a point of identifying which is from which. If you’ve read the first one, you’ll know anyway.

Here is the first words of ‘Kassandar’ in the book:

It is clear that the Alexandrian empire feels that we are a threat to their dominance in this area of the galaxy. They have already attacked ships that were sent to retrieve officers, now held against their will and killed 200 officers in our forces, in a display of their power.”

Lysimachus Kassandar

Kassandar’s opening words, in an interview for Earth’s media, presents a problem that seems to be developing between Earth and Richard’s people. It also indicates an escalation that has occurred since, in the first book, Earth was working with Richard to stop what was then thought to be The Silent Invader.

While I could quote other comments he makes regarding this situation, it would be better to focus on who he is for now. In the book, you will see him referred to in a number of ways, but two may stand out to some.

One is just prior to that quote, in the media interview:

…the words ‘Prime Minister Lysimachus Kassandar’ appearing beneath his face…

‘Prime Minister’ Kassandar appears to have a great deal of authority within the Pact, by the sound of this title. In most places around the world, the Prime Minister is often the head of state, or very near the top of government, with a ‘President’ usually being the only other role in government that would supersede it. In the United States, these roles are combined in the office of the president. I could elaborate as to what particular things he has authority over as Prime Minister, but that may prove to be the least of what you need to know about him.

Especially when you learn he has another title, as blurted by one of the characters:

“Admiral Kassandar!”

I want to make sure I clear this up before it is asked: The main narrative of the novel is written in the present tense because you are reading it as it happens. Only the Prologue and Epilogue are not, since, in the context of the story, they could be things that happen in the distant past, the recent past, or the recent future. Thus, they are taken out of the story flow. I didn’t put them into the body (beyond just that they’re sometimes happening well outside the story timeframe) because they don’t have to be read to get through the story. They will lend depth to some of the characters in the story though, and possibly help you understand what shapes them

With that said, this comment is made in an Epilogue, but when you read it, you will realize this title is not he had, but one he still retains. He even is known by it better than as a prime minister:

“But why six battleships?” Maice asked.
 
The deck officer looked at Maice. “For a three dimensionally sound defense. With only four, one axis is always left open, forcing fighters to fill in the gap.”
 
Maice nodded. “Application of Admiral Kassandars’ battle principal. This is good to see.”

Maice

With the book presenting his battle theories as elevated along with holding office in civil governance, this offers a reality some may not expect possible, though others may be all too familiar with: A commissioned military officer who is also the head of state. Not merely in charge of the military, but an officer in it. I will admit there are some practical issues with this setup, but I think what I was going for him was less a military dictator, and more a need for the few remaining people to accept more roles. You could say he’s defending the state both legislatively and literally.

I mentioned there is one other party that will be properly introduced in the book. Previously, you’ve heard the name, but now you will learn about to whom it belongs. And, I’ll mention a bonus group of characters along with.

Thanks for reading!  Please like and share! You can follow on Facebook, Tumblr, and read excerpts from The Silent Invader @RB_Thurman (and follow!), in addition to the chapters I add here. If you prefer, you can also read my posts on Goodreads.  Your comments are always welcome below.  Also, sign up now to receive notifications for when the next blog arrives.

New (Old) Characters – Part Two

Let me try to finish what I wasn’t well enough to complete last week.

Samantha Kershaw

Samantha Kershaw was in the first book also, but she arrived later. (I’m just going to get this out of the way before it comes up: If you haven’t read the first book, there are spoilers in here. Not a lot, but there are some). She also presented an inside look of the Pact Council, exposing their thinking regarding her and her father. But, that’s not her only purpose.

One thing we need to remember:

Samantha folded her arms. “ You tried to kill me and my team on Camelot.” She pointed defiantly at the older gentleman. “But, as you can see, you can’t silence me that easily.”

The older gentleman raised an accusing finger. “You! You’re Admiral Samantha Kershaw! The traitor!” 

Samantha Kershaw and the older gentleman

By this point in the book, Samantha is not a decorated officer in the Pact. Though not officially, ‘dishonorably discharged’ might be more fitting. So this changes her relationship with Richard. Instead of being a peer from the Pact, she’s now a civilian on a military vessel.

So, what does a Terran civilian, like herself, do on such a ship? Um, I guess this is one thing you could do:

My new XO Samantha – I now realize I failed to name one …

Richard Tyberius

This did happen in the previous book, but it seems Richard does not fully understand what she can bring to the table since she finds time to do this:

Richard catches a whiff of her breath. “Have you recently consumed an adult beverage?” he asks, backing away from her face.

“Why, why do you ask?” Samantha steps back, covering her mouth. “I didn’t drink that much more than usual, and they don’t usually affect me that much.”

Richard moves from his desk and steps over to a cubby hole in his office wall. “Motodal Cocktail.” A small cup filled with a foaming concoction of a murky reddish color appears. Samantha cringes as she waves away the drink.

“Not the worm juice again,” she mutters, backing into a nearby couch.

Richard sits down beside her, putting the cup under her nose. “You know you love this stuff.”

Samantha smirks, taking the cup. She closes her eyes as she gulps down the drink. She then lets out a shiver. “Whoa! That really burns the back of your eyes!”

Richard and Samantha

I can’t speak for anyone (other than myself) as to why a person might choose to do their work while inebriated. Or try to. I have wondered at times if some are, but I can’t speak with any certainty of this. It is interesting that I wrote that this character thinks she can and it not be an issue (in case you’re new to this blog, you might look at this one to better understand when this was written in my life). So, her issues are coming to the fore.

There is a simple reason why these things are likely coming up in the second book, instead of the first (or, they didn’t come up much).

Time.

By the time this conversation is had by Richard and Samantha, over a month has passed, and she’s been working with Richard for a couple weeks. So, if there are any bad habits that anyone has, they’re probably going to start to manifest with a little time.

Next week, we’ll discuss two characters largely absent from the first book, and what they will bring to the story.

Thanks for reading!  Please like and share! You can follow on Facebook, Tumblr, and read excerpts from The Silent Invader @RB_Thurman (and follow!), in addition to the chapters I add here. If you prefer, you can also read my posts on Goodreads.  Your comments are always welcome below.  Also, sign up now to receive notifications for when the next blog arrives.

New (Old) Characters​

This month, we’re going to touch on a few characters that will be new in the series, and a couple that will take on greater prominence from the previous book.

We’ll be touching on the following characters (and species):

Tess CoronadoSamantha KershawPrime Minister KassandarThe Thelspari

(Note: I wasn’t feeling well this week, so I didn’t get as much written as I wanted. I apologize for the shorter blog. I’ll try to make it up next week, once I’m over the Scarlet Fever).

Let’s start with Tess. In the next book, she doesn’t necessarily play a more significant role in the story, but she does display a behavioral change. Richard notes this in one of his log entries:

Even Tess has been quiet, and I am not certain why. 

Richard Tyberius

As a result, she inserts herself into the story, through actions uncharacteristic of her. I’m singling her out in this blog because of how she is presented in the first book. If you’ve not read it, you’re more than welcome to take a look here. Or you can start here. While I’ll admit the events seem like more of an aside in this story, I left it there because of story canon. What she faces will influence her actions as the series progresses, and seeing these events can help you better understand her thinking as the series continues.

It also helps us understand Richard better, too. Because he is forced to address a problem that could cause problems at a crucial moment. Can you imagine the problems caused by not knowing where you are, or where you are going? It can seem minor unless you’re in the midst of a confrontation. And making a poor navigation decision could be the difference between surviving and certain destruction.

What is the cause?

Speaking of worsening matters, Tess became distraught… and out of concern and for the breaches in regulation committed, security was required to place her inside the brig.

Wait, that’s not the actual cause, is it? I think this can be qualified as a ‘symptom’ of the problem. So, when I say she has changed, I didn’t want you to feel it was hyperbole. Though, maybe to some, that change is not a big deal, either.

Next week, we’ll move down the list, and start with Ms. Kershaw.

Thanks for reading!  Please like and share! You can follow on Facebook, Tumblr, and read excerpts from The Silent Invader @RB_Thurman (and follow!), in addition to the chapters I add here. If you prefer, you can also read my posts on Goodreads.  Your comments are always welcome below.  Also, sign up now to receive notifications for when the next blog arrives.

Me of the Month – January 2019

What do French fries have to do with building your credit history? Nothing. At least that’s how it should be.

I should probably start at the beginning of my credit history. But, I’ll probably end up starting somewhere else, so bear with me.

I have a credit card from Chase Manhattan bank. Again. I say again because the first credit card I ever got was from Chase Manhattan Bank. Nothing special, a visa that allowed me to buy stuff without having the money first. There are a lot of ways this can be useful since expenses can vary from moment to moment. And while your income may be sufficient for your expenses, sometimes the timing merits the use of a line of credit to cover an immediate need that can be settled by the next pay period.

I can’t recommend myself (this young guy with that card, not the present-day me. I just finally got a card again with them; do you have any idea how long they hold a grudge?) as an expert, or even an example of sound use of credit. Especially then.

I was actually trying to figure out why I had the card, considering that today I’m pretty sure this would be frowned upon (if I can find the rules infringed, I’ll add a link here).

I thought about this for a while and I think my first appearance in the credit-file world was a loan on a car I bought for school (you can read about it here). That’s really the only thing I could think of since everything else came after. And this was less a loan to me or even against the car. It was more my Dad vouching for me at the bank and my grandma (who worked there) offering pointers to ensure there were no problems. Given the amount (like a thousand dollars; banks rarely do loans like that anymore), nobody was expecting me to ‘default’ on the collateral, even with my questionable income sources (I had a job!… As a waiter, I think. I had several others over the course of that loan so not sure about the details). Since this loan was to ‘build credit,’ it was best that I made the payments on time and as prescribed (don’t pay it off early, for example. But if you’ve read anything else about me, at that time, that was unlikely to happen).

So, I did. And a year later (Yeah, a 1-year car note. Would LOVE one of those now…) it was done. While this likely established my credit, what didn’t make sense is why Chase would send me a credit card afterward.

And I don’t mean, they sent me an application to get one of their cards; I mean they sent me a credit card, with my name on it, an actual magnetic strip, potentially valid card number, the potential credit limit, and phone number to activate said card. A fifteen-minute call later and suddenly I had 500 dollars to spend.

Today I realize that’s the wrong way to view that since a ‘credit limit’ is a debt you may not have borrowed yet. I was fortunate that it took me so long to max the thing out since I was really limited in the places I could use it.

You have to understand this was the dark ages of credit card use (where I lived, and in general). I was better served writing a warm check (it would take a couple days to clear then, so you could buy something and then deposit your paycheck the next day. Not a good idea, but it was possible) than trying to use this thing. I usually had cash anyway; what was I going to use this for? Renting a car? making a hotel reservation? I didn’t need to do these things, I was only 17!

Oh yeah, did I mention I was a minor when I got this? Yeah, about that…

I’m not sure whether Chase realized that when they mailed it to me, but they would’ve realized it when I called (If they asked the right questions. I really don’t think they ever asked) but I don’t blame them for maxing the thing out. That’s all me. But it is fun thinking to what lengths I went to, to even use this thing.

Consider: These are the places I would likely use this card, but couldn’t:

A gas stationA grocery storeA novelty shop (maybe)The thrift store (did I mention I was poor?)The restaurant I worked at (this was barely a ‘sit-down’ place)Most fast-food joints

Now the last one would likely be of interest since I mentioned the French-fries at the outset. And yes, out of all the fast-food places that existed then, there was only ONE that accepted credit cards for payment.

And I loved their French-fries. They were the best in the world (I thought then. They’re still good, I’m just not willing to go into debt to have them). And it wasn’t like I needed to order any other food; just a large fry and I’m good.

Now, considering that this French-fry order was probably barely over a single US dollar, and I had a 500 dollar limit, you would probably (rightly) question my use of credit cards. Considering that I wasn’t buying them every day on the card (sometimes I actually had money), it begs to question when I decided I should stop.

I think it was at about 497. Because I wasn’t sure what would happen if I just peeked above 500 and then paid it back down a couple days later.

Now, if you’re wondering if I was just not paying the card, the answer is yes, I was paying on the card. I just wasn’t paying it off (Um, building credit?). I paid the minimum. That’s all they asked for, and I (did) have plenty of space for a long while. And to add insult to injury, I occaisionally got credit limit increases, so the party didn’t have to stop there.

And once I had this card, now I could get cards at other places. And I did get two more (then), but I was having a hard time keeping stuff straight so I stopped there.

So I amassed a massive one thousand dollars in debt in short order and was buried alive by the interest (Yeah, remember those minimum payments. Yeah, don’t ever do that when you can pay more. Just FYI). How would I dig myself out of this insurmountable hole?

Here is one pointer that can help anyone, anytime with debt, and getting rid of debt – pay more than the minimum! Recent changes in the credit laws in the US make it a little harder to finance debt like this forever when you pay the minimum. But, I do remember that when the card was at the limit, and I made a minimum payment (like 20 US dollars), after adding the interest back in it typically freed up about 4 bucks. Woohoo. I can buy 4 more orders of fries with the real money that could’ve bought 16.

I also got a different job. With CAW (you can read about it here). Not only did I pay off my credit cards, but I also stopped using them! Mostly because I experienced a 250 percent increase in income just taking the job, but you know.

But I did use the cards for things like renting cars and making hotel reservations because suddenly I was old enough to maybe need to do these things.

I did end up making some different (bad) financial decisions, and Chase decided we needed some space. I would’ve preferred to keep the card (I even paid the debt off, but they were not amused) but it didn’t work out. I knew they didn’t like me for a while since I would later get a card with a different bank (the ill-fated Washington Mutual Bank), and they chose not to renew the relationship then.

It would take several more years before Chase would let me have one of their cards again. I will admit for a long time I went out of my way to avoid applying for a card issued by Chase Bank (that is both easier and harder than it sounds) just to avoid them telling me no. By the time they came around, I can’t say I needed the card. I just wanted the airline points.

In the intervening years, credit cards obviously are everywhere now. You can use them at all the places I mentioned, but it has more to do with debit cards (imprinted with the Visa/Mastercard/Discover/Amex logo in the US), rather than credit cards specifically. I assume there’s an effort to promote a ‘cashless’ society, and this would make it easier. I could say I was on the bleeding edge of that reality.

I mean, how many 17-year-olds do you know that were using their credit card to buy French fries in the previous century? Well, now you know one.

Next week, we’ll dive into the new characters presented in my next book.

Thanks for reading!  Please like and share! You can follow on Facebook, Tumblr, and read excerpts from The Silent Invader @RB_Thurman (and follow!), in addition to the chapters I add here. If you prefer, you can also read my posts on Goodreads.  Your comments are always welcome below.  Also, sign up now to receive notifications for when the next blog arrives.

What comes next – New Characters​

Yes, despite this being one book, some of the characters make a late appearance. While a few are referenced earlier in the book, some appear for the first time in Part II (and yes, this book also contains a ‘Part III’ where a few remaining characters arrive).

This is not to be an exhaustive list of the new characters, but more an opportunity to show how their appearance alters the premise of who the Silent Invader is.

Prime Minister Kassandar

This man is one who is appearing to lead The Pact. Okay, maybe not ‘appearing’ to lead. Here, he is making a statement regarding some events that occur in the second book:

(Just as a reminder, there are spoilers in here, but most will likely only make sense to people who’ve read the first book. You’ve been warned.)

“…It is clear that the Alexandrian empire feels that we are a threat to their dominance in this area of the galaxy. They have already attacked ships that were sent to retrieve our people, now held against their will and killed 200 officers in our forces, in a display of their power.” 

Prime minister Kassandar

There appears to be an escalation that occurs between Earth and Richard’s family that could seem surprising, given what I’ve previously said about their relationship with Earth. What happened?

I would point out that while the second book is still being edited, this quote is accurate. If you’ve read the first, you may realize what I’m referring to, but after you read the second, you’ll also understand what’s happening in that statement.

And Kassandar also appears to have an agenda, made clear with a simple statement:

“This will prove to be their undoing.”

Prime Minister Kassandar

What will ‘prove to be their undoing?’ Well,… nah, I won’t say here. You’ll find out when you read it.

The Maelstrom

This may sound familiar if you’ve read the first book. This entity is only spoken of in the first book but makes an appearance in the second. The Maelstrom makes an interesting introduction:

Richard turns back, seeing his tactical officer pointing his weapon at a being in a heavy black cloak.

Richard immediately stands, drawing his weapon. “How dare you take on the appearance of the great Maelstrom! If you are an impostor, you realize this atrocity will cost you your life?”

“If I am indeed an impostor,” the being replies.

Without hesitation, Richard fires at the being three times. 

The Maelstrom appears in the book, introducing some new variables to the story, and even helping to clarify events from even the first book regarding why things are the way they are. This entity even helps to make clear a vital point at this stage of the book (and even the series):

“You will soon understand who truly is your ‘Silent Invader.’”

The Maelstrom

I actually referred to this in an earlier blog, to emphasize that the Silent Invader has yet to be faced. The Maelstrom makes clear this confrontation is very close for Richard.

The novel then introduces more events and people to bring to a climax Richard’s final encounter with the Silent Invader.

Next week, we’ll talk about credit management, and how to amass senseless amounts of debt eating french fries.

I mean, we’ll talk about me.

Thanks for reading!  Please like and share! You can follow on Facebook, Tumblr, and read excerpts from The Silent Invader @RB_Thurman (and follow!), in addition to the chapters I add here. If you prefer, you can also read my posts on Goodreads.  Your comments are always welcome below.  Also, sign up now to receive notifications for when the next blog arrives.

What comes next – The Silent Invader

The question still remains:  Who is The Silent Invader?

Book two will revisit this by presenting another party as the Silent Invader with a simple statement:

“You will soon understand who truly is your ‘Silent Invader.’”

???

When you make a comment like that, it makes you wonder why there is a need for clarification.  But, like I said last week, this is all one book. So, even in this portion of the book, this is not yet resolved.  But, there is a new suspect.

Much of what I’m revealing in the blogs this month can be considered ‘spoilers,’ since they’re addressing things that are in both the current book (found here) and highlighting new points in the second.

So, who is the new suspect as the Silent Invader?  I’ll allow Richard to share his view:

Now that I think about it, this calls to mind what the Maelstrom said to me, about the silent invader not being the Silent Invader. Could he have been referring to the Terrans?

Richard Tyberius

Richard is asking himself why would humanity (as a reminder, that’s us–the people who live on Earth) be their ‘Silent Invader?’  Before I answer that, I’m going to share a series of quotes offering a little perspective on humanity at this period of time.  Because it can help us understand why Richard might question this.

Regarding Technology:

Fundamentally, the Pact should not want to hide any technology, since the Terrans are already viewed by many worlds as primordial.

Regarding Alliances:

I know she wants her home to be safe for her and others. It is clear there are not enough people like her left, and the chosen allies of the Terrans are not reliable company to keep.

Regarding Battle Strategy (this from a human in the Military):

“Are you kidding?” he squeals. “Most of the Terran aerospace fleet do well to remember the basics!” 

???

There should be a common thread here. One of a threat that isn’t threatening. Based on what you’ve just seen (and maybe read in the first book) you could wonder why anyone would fear ‘us’ when Terrans would say this about they Tyberian Empire:

Richard turns around to Maice. “Why did they attack? What did we do to provoke them?”
 
Maice shakes his head. “Perhaps provocation wasn’t needed to warrant their actions.”
 
“Perhaps,” Richard remarks. “But why us?”
 
Maice turns to the viewport, fixating on the Maelstrom. “There can be no better test of mettle than a perceived superior adversary.  By defeating it, you can be certain your skills and military prowess are superior and establish the present order of military might.”
 
Richard turns forward, facing an oblong asteroid close by.  “There must be dozens of other races that provide a more suitable challenge than us!”
 
Maice shakes his head. “Not really, sir. In our area of space, the Pact has concluded that your people possess the most powerful naval fleet.”
 
Richard turns away. “No way! There are other races with far more powerful ships than ours!”
 
“Yes,” Maice grasps Richard’s chair back, pulling himself closer, “but no other race has a fleet ”as advanced as yours!”

Maice & Richard

Everyone seems to suggest that it isn’t the Terrans.  But Richard has asked the question, and he’s basing it on a conversation with a character not yet introduced in the series (this book will be his debut).

Speaking of a debut, next week let’s actually talk about this character, and the others I referenced briefly last month.

Thanks for reading!  Please like and share! You can follow on Facebook, Tumblr, and read excerpts from The Silent Invader @RB_Thurman (and follow!), in addition to the chapters I add here. If you prefer, you can also read my posts on Goodreads.  Your comments are always welcome below.  Also, sign up now to receive notifications for when the next blog arrives.

What Comes Next.

In this Blog, we’ll be discussing this:

[image error]

This is not so much a spoiler as an explanation of what appeared at the beginning of the first book.  Most would not likely notice that there was a page at the beginning of the book with two words on it (Except my editor) since it didn’t seem like there would be a reason for them to be there.

This may not even seem important after reading the entire book, since you may conclude this was only the first episode of the series, not a multipart segment of the series.  I would like to say this was by design, but it wasn’t.

It was by necessity.  I wasn’t sure of how long this book should be.  More than that, I wasn’t sure if there would be a second (or now, possibly more) after this. And I wasn’t honestly comfortable trying to neuter the story down to 30-50k, since it was already moving too fast for (the adult) me.

Since I was still trying to preserve the past, the only way I was comfortable doing so was to split the book.  Thus, the next book begins at ‘Part II.’

I’m going to try to avoid spoilers in this blog, but there will be some.  I’m sure you realize by talking about the next book, it can’t be helped.

Richard, while addressing the ‘issue’ in the first novel, by part II is still living life.  That is, stuff is still happening, though at the beginning of the novel it seems the stuff happening is more mundane.  It’s obvious by this remark he is wanting to start his adventure anew:

After a number of rest days, I am certain that I am ready to venture out into the vastness of space. Well, perhaps I am ready.

Richard Tyberius

He once again starts this novel with a desire to seek adventure, or at least try. And since this novel starts only a few days after the first one ends, not much will change in the makeup of the people surrounding him at the end of the first.  Though, there are some additions (we’ll get to that later…).

Richard in his first log entry will also bring us up to date on what has happened since he last recorded a log, though as I’ve mentioned previously, don’t expect an exhaustive recount of all events and occurrences from the previous book.  If anything, you may find his recounting of events sparse of details.

The first few chapters may also seem light on ‘adventure.’  I would remind you that this was the middle of the book, and a major event occurred in the chapters previous so it could seem like these are merely observations in the daily life of Richard:

Richard rubs his hand over his face. “This is bad,” he comments.

Tess raises her eyebrows, folding her arms tightly. “What?”

“When we are fighting over who gets to do menial work!” He shakes his head.

Richard & Tess

After his previous adventure, the story it could be said is in need of a new ‘arc,’ a reason why it continues.  If you were to start with this book (book II), you may not even realize anything prior has happened to Richard, since it seems ‘The Silent Invader’ is no longer referenced.  But if you read the previous book, you could realize something else is starting to play out.  Just not in a way readily visible to Richard yet.

But, do not assume nothing is happening.  Richard is still seeking adventure, even when things like this happen:

Richard gets up, straightening his uniform. “I could have lived well without that experience, thank you.” He walks over to Joe’s console. “Well, what happened?”
 
Joe pushes a series of buttons, looking at the feedback, then pushes more buttons. He lets out a huff. “I think I chose too ambitious a target. Since I now know that the exit of the fold opening actually travels to the destination, there has to be a delay in initiating the entrance of the portal.” He turns to Richard. “I assumed they appeared in the exact same moment, but the distances we traveled before were only a few hundred light years. The exit could easily traverse that in a split nanosecond, so I never registered a delay. But this time, I targeted a site 550 quadrillion light years away, so it was going to take a few minutes to travel the distance.”
 
“How far is that exactly?” Richard asks. “I have trouble comprehending the few hundred lightyears we normally travel!”
 
“Well, it’s equal to 550 thousand trillion, or 550 million billion.” Richard’s face remains blank after Joe’s remarks. Joe looks down at the console briefly. “If we traveled this distance conventionally, it would take about ten years.”
 
Richard looks up, glancing at a nearby bright orange star. “Whoa, that is a long time!” He pans his eyes across the expanse, stopping at various distant bright points of light. “So, we are seeing things that we may never see?”
 
“Easily,” replies Joe. “In a sense, we’re looking into the future, seeing the light from stars that won’t reach our worlds for years.”

Richard & Joe

 There is still a lot yet to be learned about much of what was initially presented in the first book.  For example, The how the drive system that Joe developed actually works, and what effect it has on everything. Including what happened in the first book.  Or, how the events of the previous book affect Richard’s friends, even when it may seem Richard was personally unaffected. And then there’s the fact that this is a continuation of a complete novel that was entitled “The Silent Invader.”

Next week, I would like to touch on something I mentioned last month and point to who (or what) is now suspected to be the ‘Silent Invader.’

Thanks for reading!  Please like and share! You can follow on Facebook, Tumblr, and read excerpts from The Silent Invader @RB_Thurman (and follow!), in addition to the chapters I add here. If you prefer, you can also read my posts on Goodreads.  Your comments are always welcome below.  Also, sign up now to receive notifications for when the next blog arrives.

Me of the Month – December 2018

If you’re reading this in December 2018, I’m a lot better at this blogging thing than I thought.  If you’re not, then you already suspected this would happen.

I don’t think many of us can conclude that we will be unaffected by external influences. If you do believe this, just remember everyone else will know who you are.

While I would not be one to insist on conforming, I would think operating within accepted norms is okay.  Doing things like eating and standing is still considered acceptable, and I will not fault anyone for wanting to do this.  Where can be debatable, but they are typically accepted as typical.

Since we are given to external influences, we can also accept that we may choose to be influenced by the actions or thinking of those around us.  For positive or negative.

I have mentioned in the past my artistic endeavors.  They accomplished little in the way of financial support, but they were still fun.  One of the motivations I had to push myself in the past were my fellow artists, both in school and in my family.

I had one family member when I was growing up that had a talent for comic-style art.  At that time, I was competent in drawing industrial objects, and cartoonish caricatures of humanoid creatures, but nothing more.  His demonstrated talent encouraged me to push myself further.

This mostly came in the form of his ability to draw the superheroes (including one he made) realistically, complete with muscle sinew and athletic silhouette.  But that is where I struggled: I couldn’t draw people.

So I studied and learned to draw people.  For about 2 years I studied anatomy and the skeletal frame, where muscles attach to the frame, and even the effects of movement on muscular placement and appearance.  After this exhaustive research, I was able to comfortably draw people.

Until someone pointed out that all my people had something in common: they were all men.

I would preface this by suggesting you look at my past blogs on myself and my thinking prior to this point in my life for more detail, but I wasn’t drawing women because I couldn’t; it was because I didn’t have a reason to.  (they were already everywhere, why would I want to draw pictures of them all the time?)

This party then challenged me to draw a woman. Simple enough, I thought, they’re basically the same as a guy, with apparent alterations. So I drew a ‘woman.’

This ‘woman’ however, was not a woman as is typical of the gender.  In fact, for me to say this was a picture of a ‘woman’ would imply that I don’t understand the differences between the genders (which was true then).  And even if I could be certain in my head that this was supposed to be a ‘woman,’ 100 percent of my audience disagreed.  There were no dissenting voices possibly implying there were hints of the feminine in the picture, and given this was a classroom setting with both genders present, the ‘women’ present were somewhere between bemused and insulted by this image.

After 2 years of intense research, I had only solved half of my drawing people problem.  I would spend more time trying to figure out this enigma, but I am still confused by them.

I would like to say that my rivalry with my family member ended with a drawing competition and I was the victor, but I can’t. Because it didn’t.  He was seduced by one of these ‘women,’ married her and started a family.  I remember seeing some of his illustrations of her from their courtship so it would seem his artistic talents did pay dividends.

Losing my rival in the arts didn’t suppress my desire to improve.  No, that was something else entirely.  And while I could blame him, I recognize that we have many influences in our lives that can point us in a variety of directions and he was only one.  Sometimes, the fault can lie within as much as without.

I think its called puberty.  Yeah, I blame puberty for all my problems in life.  Everything was fine till then.

Enough about me.  I want to look forward to something else.  Like what my next project is.

Thanks for reading!  Please like and share! You can follow on Facebook, Tumblr, and read excerpts from The Silent Invader @RB_Thurman (and follow!), in addition to the chapters I add here. If you prefer, you can also read my posts on Goodreads.  Your comments are always welcome below.  Also, sign up now to receive notifications for when the next blog arrives.

What is left – Characters

While I would like to elaborate on some of the new faces at the end of the book, I think the next will do a better job. I don’t want to belabor it too much.

There are a few things that I will point out in this week’s blog. One is that I left a lot of things in the book that some writers might not.  For example:

As they walk up to the receptionist counter, Richard notes how the counter is made from the same white marble. A young woman, sitting behind the counter, typing away, stops, seeing the pair approach her. “Can I help you?” she asks politely.
 
Joe looks down to her, smiling. “It’s me. I’m here to see Mr. Matterhorn,” he causally remarks.
 
“Yes, that’s the only reason you ever come up here, anymore,” she says with a sigh, pushing a button on a nearby console as she lifts the handset to a communications console. Joe pulls back from the counter, Richard seeing his friend’s eyes widen and his grasp of the counter tense. She looks up at him. “You can go up. He’s in a meeting, but he’ll be finished by the time you get up there.” Joe grins nervously and then darts quickly to the bank of elevators directly behind the information desk. He presses a button with an arrow pointing up.

Receptionist & Joe

You’re probably wondering what happened there.  I’m going to talk about this interaction a little more than the next example just because it’s not an isolated incident, as you will see in the epilogue. While I mentioned in the past that Joe struggles here, the end presents to what degree.  When you get into the next book, you’ll understand why I left it all in there, since it makes you wonder what his fiancee is like (you’ve forgotten, haven’t you?).

Which brings us to Mr. Matterhorn:

He grasped the crystal firmly, still staring at the door. “Do we have enough to start?” he asked.
 
The redhead put on her glasses and looked down at her computer. “The schematics are slightly disorganized, but it’s all we need.”
 
He looked over to the brunette. “How soon could we have a prototype?” he continued.
 
“If we work the fabrication department overtime,” she began, looking down at the laptop, “seventy-two hours, minimum.”
 
Mr. Matterhorn nodded, looking down at the crystal he rolled in his hand. “Good, good. That will put Mr. Pike some distance away when we begin testing. Very good.”

Mr. Matterhorn

I don’t want to say much more about this, other than you probably suspected an ulterior motive from his previous interaction with Joe.  What is happening will become clear early in the next book.

The final characters were actually more of an introduction than ones we only had a brief mention of elsewhere in the book, though one is familiar:

“Scan the room,” the older gentleman requested, looking over to one of the council.
 
He looked down at a console before himself and then looked up. “It’s clear.”
 
The tall, stout man stood from the table, stepping closer to the older gentleman. “This could be a problem,” he remarked, the older gentleman waving him off.
 
“This changes nothing,” The older gentleman nodded his head slowly, “though, it did clear up some loose ends with surprising effectiveness.” The older gentleman stood. “This whole matter is but a distraction, a brief one at best.” 

‘Tall, stout man?’ ‘Older gentleman?’  Yes, these are characters in the story.  One is actually in the book elsewhere (very briefly), but the other, along with the council are making their appearance.  I was considering whether I would try to flesh out the context more, but I realized more context would only make sense if you’ve read the rest of the book.  After all, this is in the epilogue.

Next month, let’s focus on the future, on what comes next.

Yes, including me.

Thanks for reading!  Please like and share! You can follow on Facebook, Tumblr, and read excerpts from The Silent Invader @RB_Thurman (and follow!), in addition to the chapters I add here. If you prefer, you can also read my posts on Goodreads.  Your comments are always welcome below.  Also, sign up now to receive notifications for when the next blog arrives.