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No firm date. We’re still working on it–and to be honest the latest slate of releases has been keeping us busy:
Spider’s Web just came out in November
Chasing the Cyclops — December
Android Planet — January
Phoenix of Megaron — February
The Whispering Sea — March/April?All to be released in the next three months! MUF willing!
I’ll be writing the foreword for Chasing the Cyclops today. I want to finish reading it first (yesterday was kind of a non-Powys day). William Latham wrote a few new sections as late additions to the manuscript which I read yesterday.
And John Kenneth Muir and I had a long conversation–we don’t get to talk often (he’s a busy man). We discussed The Whispering Sea–which he referred to at one point as “The Whispering Dead”–which in turn clued me in to the fact that both of us are watching The Walking Dead. Conversation detour for almost an hour!
We discussed the possibility of audio book versions of JKM’s short stories in Shepherd Moon. He’s on board, Rupert’s on board…
Well, I’m gonna start my day. I’ve got a cyclops to chase, a foreword to write, and only a Sunday to do it.
I’m up to page 113. Anybody who has ever thought of writing a novel or especially writing an entry in an existing franchise will find a mother lode of practical, helpful, insightful and surprisingly candid observations in this book.
Well, the manuscript is now in the hands of John Mason, John Rankine’s (Douglas R. Mason’s) son. He’s a busy man and it is the holiday season, but we have “Chasing the Cyclops” to look forward to.
In addition, I thought I’d just be a bastard and say that although I only have the background image for the Android Planet cover (there are a few foreground details still to be added), “It is STUNNING!” THE best Ken Scott cover to date!
To recap our 2010 releases:
January: Shepherd Moon
Early February: Born for Adversity
Late February: Omega
Early March: Alpha (technically this book was made available for purchase on the same day as Omega)
Early May: Resurrection audiobook
Late May: The House Between soundtrack
November: Spider’s Web audiobook
December: Chasing the Cyclops2011:
January: Android Planet
January: Tecamachalco Underground: Innocence (music EP)
February: Phoenix of Megaron
And more to come!Tubb did a reimagining of the series. I think it MUST have intrigued him at least as much as it did Rankine.
I can’t say I agree with that observation. A little information is gleaned, little more. It was just the author really taking an interest in the series and making an effort to insert some continuity.
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!
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 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.
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 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
