Ray Jay Perreault's Blog, page 13

Gemini Pre Release

Friends – PLEASE CHECK OUT A NEW AUTHOR

“Great world building” – “Great battles” – “Great ending”

For all of you that are anxious to read a good E-book, I have Gemini in pre-release through Smashwords. Gemini is an interesting story that is more than Sci-Fi, it’s a story about aliens you can relate to and understand. I’ve received very positive comments from people who don’t normally read Sci-Fi, as well as a critical reviewer who loved the world building.

To order it through Smashwords and get the discount prior to its full releaseon 9/12, you’ll have to join Smashwords, which is a good idea for anyone who reads E-books. Amazon is the largest book seller but Smashwords is the largest E-book seller.

Also, buying the book through pre-release really help me. All of the pre-release sales are booked on the release date and it jumps the book way up the best sellers lists and thus many more people see it.
Please check it out.

Link to Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/465089

Remember I have two other books also available; please check them out.

SIMPOC

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/466919

SIMPOC 2

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/464799

 

Ray Jay Perreault

http://rayjayperreault.wordpress.com

Water Footprint?

I read an interesting article in Scientific American, it talks about our water footprint. How much water we use?’ The article is talking about the water  needed to support the food we eat and the clothes we wear.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-big-is-your-water-footprint/

Do you realize that one cup of coffee takes about 36 gallons of water to grow the beans. Now take a deep breath and take a look at how much water it takes for a hamburger; would you believe 634 gallons of water to grow the beef, grow the bun and to process and prepare it for you. Yum, yum!

Now for the kicker how much water will it take for you to have a single pair of Levi jeans; would you believe 2641 gallons to grow the cotton, process it, make it into fabric and then make into one pair of jeans.

I also read in a separate source that it takes 50 gallons of water to grown ONE walnut.

Sci Fi writers, this could lead to an interesting story about water wars, or water as a currency, or a society where food and clothing is controlled depending on your water ration. Sounds scarier than an alien invasion.

Just a technical thought for the day.

Ray Jay Writer

http://rayjayperreault.wordpress.com

Elon Musk on Artificial Intelligence

Here is an interesting article about Elon Musk’s opinion on AI (Artificial Intelligence).

http://mashable.com/2014/08/03/elon-musk-artificial-intelligence/

Being a Sci-Fi Writer and a Aeronautical Engineer with a MS in Computer Technology Management, this article really hits home. I totally agree and I’ve had tons of experience with computers doing exactly what he talked about. Computers do what they are programmed to do, but a complex program always takes on a character that may be different from what the programmer intended. In many instances we had programs that we thought were ready for release and invariably they would do unpredictable things when faced with real world input.

Carrying this problem into a future world where there are computers with AI, unpredictable results are guaranteed. Coupling those results with a computer program that can learn and adjust itself will be like letting the ‘horse out of the barn.’ The key element to be sensitive to, is giving the computers the connections and ability to ‘do things.’ If a program gives the answer to ‘eliminate humanity,’ the programmer should be able to intercede.

Applying a little Sci-Fi thought to this, I can see a world where a computer with AI is built and over time it does a good job and finally someone thinks about how much money they can save by trusting the computer and giving it control. After all the typical management thought is, ‘if it hasn’t broken, then convince me it will break,’ which in this instance is saying ‘if I can save money, then we’ll turn on the computer and if you can’t prove that it will fail, then I’ll assume it won’t,’ and of course the implied ‘yes, but, if it does fail then it’s your fault for not programming it better.’

In my series SIMPOC, my computers follow this kind of logic we end up with a good computer and a bad computer. The bad computer does what it is programmed to do. And “Yes,” there are aliens and a apocalyptic virus thrown in for fun.

Both SIMPOC Books For The Price Of One

This weekend only, the first two of the SIMPOC series is available as a package. Get both for the price of on, 33% savings. Both books are available on Ganxy https://ganxy.com/i/95987

Gemini

 

Pre Order at Smashwords.com

I just wanted to let everyone know, that I’m going in a different direction with Gemini. Instead of a 5 book series where each of the books were about 20,000 words (~100 pages) I’ve decided to combine them into one volume 100,000 words (~300 to 400 pages). So the entire first part of the story will be in one book.

I’m also going to have a pre-order available on Smashwords.com where you’ll be able to pre-order at a discounted price. The actual release is planned for 9/12.

I’m doing this for a couple of reasons but primarily I think it will make the book more enjoyable to read, the parts will flow together better rather than waiting between segments.

Also, it will allow me to start writing my next book sooner!

Hope you enjoy!

SIMPOC 2 Human Remnants Just Released

Amazon Link

SIMPOC 2 Human Remnants was just released get it now on Amazon.

 

 

The Last Ship

What does everyone think of the new series The Last Ship?

I think it’s pretty good and I’m enjoying it. I’m glad to see that they are trying to make it ‘sorta realistic’. I like seeing it on an actual ship and I’m glad to see the women leaders. Let’s hope they keep the story going without getting too weird.

I find it humorous that I have some similar story elements in my book SIMPOC 2 Human Remnants (which will be released 8/1). Not to say they stole my scrip, or I theirs, but when the human population is wiped out by a suspicious virus it’s natural to have the few remaining survivors on ships.

In my book, a big part of the Navy is still viable along with many civilian craft. The president and some of the congressional and military leadership are trapped on a aircraft carrier in the Atlantic.

The humans on the ships along with the returning astronauts from the space station Oasis and moon colony Desert Beach work with the Thinking Computer SIMPOC and start rebuilding the world, until they are faced with an even larger threat which might end humanity entirely.

 

SIMPOC 1 FREE 7/30 & 7/31

Amazon Link

Today 7/30 and tomorrow 7/31 SIMPOC 1 “The Thinking Computer” will be free on Amazon prior to release of SIMPOC 2 “Human Remnants” on Friday 8/1.

SIMPOC 1 “The Thinking Computer” – 99.9997% of all humans have been wiped out by a very suspicious virus. SIMPOC’s programmer doesn’t come in to work, that day, the next; or ever. The commander of the space station Oasis, Joan Herl is forced to abandon the station because of dwindling resources. When they land on earth they are attacked by another thinking computer who would do anything to protect itself and to continue thinking.

The moon colony Dessert Beach, is trapped as their resources are running out and they must decide when to come home. They have only lifeboats to carry them back to the lifeless earth and what will they find when they enter the atmosphere and land.

The astronauts trapped on the Mars colony Red Dirt are in worse condition. Their systems will break down and resources will run out. Coming home for them is a different story. The lifeboats aren’t made for that purpose and must be rebuilt before the colony breaks down. Should they stay and take their chances on Mars, or should they journey back to earth.

Exciting first book of a new series on Amazon. It will make a great weekend read. I hope you enjoy it; it has great reviews.

Gemini

 

Here is a question for everyone. My next series is called Gemini and the reviews are pretty good. The total story has around 100,000 words. I’m debating if I should release it in 5 books at about 20K per book, or if I should publish it as a full novel.

If I release it as 5 novellas priced at 99 cents for the first 3 then $2.99 for the last two, the total price would be $7.96 for all five. If I publish it as a full book, then I’ll likely ask about $6.99 for it.

Should it be 5 books or would everyone prefer 1 book?

Please let me know.

SIMPOC 2 – Human Remnants

Amazon Link

 

Get SIMPOC 1 now available on Amazon. SIMPOC 2 – Human Remnants is being released on 8/1/2014. Enjoy the read.

Now that 99.9997% of the human race is dead and the few remaining humans are putting their lives back together. Something unexpected happens and the entire planet and remainder of the humans are at risk.