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As this one is getting closer to publication, I figured I’d give it its own thread.
I finished typing in Android Planet (there was no electronic file) on Monday after a final eight-hour session, six the day before, etc. I am now proofreading the manuscript.
The entire manuscript has now been proofread and corrected!
Meanwhile, Ken Scott has created an image for the book cover–and it iS AMAZING!!
Now, the manuscript will go to John Mason (John Rankine’s son) who will approve or rewrite my edits–we want them to match his father’s writing style.
Once that happens, the book will have to be formatted to fit Lulu’s specs. A proof copy is ordered, to make sure everything is in its place. If the proof copy is good–a web page will magically appear on the site featuring a Lulu.com ordering button, the cover art, and perhaps an interview or two!
We hope you enjoy it!
Mateo
You make it sound so simple, but I know a LOT of effort has already gone into this (mostly on your part it sounds like) and still has to go into it before we can get our hot little hands on the finished book. I think you have previously mentioned a December publication, but do you think it will really be before Christmas?
I don’t want to put pressure on John Mason. He has his own publishing company deadlines. 🙂 I am hurrying to get my part done. Once he sends the manuscript back, I’ll give it one more proofread for typos–there are always more to be found! Then it will go for formatting and get submitted to Lulu. Lulu gets us a proof copy in about a week. If all is good and all our orbs are in their orbits, we can make it available for purchase the same day.
In Mexico, children receive gifts from the three kings (not Santa Claus), and this occurs on the morning of January 6th. We’re working hard to make a December 24th release date (or before). We may have to go for a Mexican Christmas release, though. We’ll see!
Anyway, I am at my favorite Korean coffee shop, Cafe Mak, and about to start work again. Four chapters to go!
Mateo
Instead of posting again and again on the book’s progress–I have this crazy notion that people might be interested in what goes on behind the scenes before a book is released. It’s a hundred and one steps of varying length and complexity. Things people probably never think about. Even to us, it occasionally seems like “abstract busy-ness”, but it all has to be done.
I haven’t even mentioned that once we get a good proof, it is THEN that Lulu gives us a bar code/ISBN number which has to be added to the book and to the cover art and then resubmitted.
Oops, went off-track there.
As I began, “Instead of posting again and again on the book’s progress,” I am going to just update the original post of this thread. So, before it said “On to chapter SIX”. Now it is “SEVEN”. Seven of Nine chapters. Seven of Nine…nah, that’s a whole other story!
Don’t even think it! We are NOT doing a 1999/Trek crossover book! :ohmy:
I’m sure you know the term “jump the shark.” If you do a ST/1999 cossover that will be your “jump the shark” moment and the beginning of the end…
I beg and plead and pray to whatever gods exist in whatever heavens have been dreamt up… DON’T DO TI!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please. :angry:
Android Planet has now been edited, proofread and corrected. Now it’s off to England!
Update update, I couldn’t resist and stopped at a 24 hour restaurant and proofread the whole book AGAIN. I found thirty typos!! All fixed now.
11/28:
4:00 P.M.: Subject is seen entering a Staples Copy Center carrying CD-R.
4:30 P.M.: Subject is seen leaving Staples Copy Center, with bound manuscript
4:31 P.M.: Subject opens manuscript to random page and finds typo. Subject curses.
4:35 P.M.: Having checked the original book, subject determines that it was, in fact, not a typo.
4:36 P.M.: Subject abandons all pretence of actually doing any work and goes to dinner with friends.END OF REPORT
Android Planet works very well as a Space: 1999 novel. Rankine truly “gets” the characters. Like many Year One episodes, it is an ensemble piece featuring Koenig, Russell, Bergman, Carter, Benes, Morrow and Kano. The novel slots in sometime after The Infernal Machine. In fact, in the original book, there is a reference to Gwent.
The 70s original novels alternated from Planet to Space stories. Alien Seed was set in space, Android Planet on a planet (obviously), Rogue Planet (despite its title) was set in space, and Phoenix of Megaron on a planet. Luckily many of the final episodes of Year One were set in Space. So setting AP and PoM among them will be relatively easy.
Due to Paul’s departure in The Forsaken and Victor’s in Survival, these original novels have to take place before those “bridge” novels (a phrase coined by David Welle).
Android Planet did not not need any major reworking to be honest. A few things needed addressing–mostly related to Alphan technology and a few minor issues of characterization. Without spoiling anyone’s fun, I’ll just say a few words for those that have read the original version: Wheels, Laser effects, note pads, Paul Morrow.
This novel is one of my two favorites from the 70s. It could have been a movie! The ending is a breathtaking rollercoaster of action sequences, with a particularly spot-on pissed off Koenig moment that had me blurting out “YEAH!” as I read it! A lot of fun. I recommend waiting for the new printing instead of reading the original version–you wouldn’t want to spoil your fun!
Very excited about the re-release of this particular novel.
Have held off from buying the original & likewise, I’ve not bought PoM either however, I have read “Alien Seed” and “Rogue Planet” both of which I thought were excellent even if some of the characterisations were badly off in places… be interesting to see what Powys does with these two when/if E C Tubb’s estate gives you their blessing to re-release them.
I for one will be buying the Powys Media version of Android Planet as soon as it’s available (I’m presuming it’ll be sold via Lulu?)
B)
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