For Richard Welletter, my darling, broken quantum physicist.I...

For Richard Welletter, my darling, broken quantum physicist.

I can't tell you how many articles on black holes and string theory and alternate universes I read about, researching this guy.  It's hard to write about an award-winning scientist without sounding stupid.  I hope I managed it, but I'm sure I'll find out, if not.

Another thing about Richard, completely unrelated to his research on time travel—he's one of those people from noble lineage who doesn't believe in titles of nobility, so he eschews any mention of it.

WHY did I have to make that a part of his character?  It was the only thing that made sense, to me.  Was it even a decision?  Maybe this makes me sound completely mad, but when I start writing characters, they seem to tell me how they are, not the other way around.  I couldn't have written him any differently if I'd tried.

But, oh, what a joy it was researching the peerage.  As we used to say in the 90s—NOT!

The time travel, outer space, *What is the Universe?* stuff was much more fun.  Much, much, much.

(I suppose I don't blame Richard for his choices, after all.)  ;)

Space: You Are Here poster series by Mike Gottschalk