So, I have left this blog sadly unattended. I apologize. Book two of Hypostasis is out now, and I want to tell you a little bit about it and about my other current/future projects.
Ultimatum picks up about two years after the cataclysmic events of Emergence, the first book in a planned four-book saga. Without giving too many spoilers, the galactic empire is split in two, with a coalition of rebellious sectors and cults fighting for independence from the Empire and the state religion. Things are in an uproar within the Imperial state due to events in the previous book shaking the foundations of their religion. Against the backdrop of grand-scale action and philosophical moral questions, however, the real story is about the people on the ground. The ones dragged into the big ideological battles—it’s really about how when you don’t really know what to fight for, you have to fight for each other. At the end of the day, it’s the individuals that matter, not the ideas.
The main character (spoiler alert for those who haven’t read Emergence) is empathic. He can feel the emotions of everyone around him. It turns his experience in war into a next-level hell, but it’s an opportunity to explore how blind we sometimes are to those around us. How similar we actually are, despite our imagined, ideological, or physical differences. It’s a bit new-age, but its the truth.
Space opera is the genre of science fiction with the intergalactic journeys and alien cultures—Star Wars or Dune, for example. It was originally named Space Opera as a lampoon. The genre tended to be melodramatic with cardboard characters, absurd adventures, or cliché plots. It was pulp fiction. But really, everyone loves a good cliché. The original seed for Hypostasis was probably planted by my love for Star Wars, especially the gaudy prequel trilogy (hate Jar Jar all you want, Phantom Menace is the best in the series). But the vague plot I scribbled down sat untouched for a year or so, until I finally discovered Dune. Dune (and all of Frank Herbert’s work) is by far the superior of all Space Operas. His meld of philosophy and bizarre fantasy is perfect. Sci-fi and philosophy are natural bed mates. They both essentially take an idea and play what if with it. Frank Herbert’s world building and detail and sheer thought is staggering. I have recognized that his work is very intellectual and mine will never be. I am an emotional writer. My stories dig into the characters and their connections. But I still love the backdrop of big ideas and ideological war. It’s very pertinent to today, in that way, I guess.
I should explain the name of the series: Hypostasis.
The term in ancient Greek philosphy referred to the hypostases—the foundational layers of reality. Hypostatic Union is a term from Christian theology referring to the dual nature of Christ. Man and God in one being. Both definitions apply to Hypostasis: A Space Opera.
The link to buy Ultimatum can be found on the landing page of my flashy new author website (along with my other books!)
You can also sign up for my newsletter there.
And you should because I announce new stuff and share exclusive stories and things there.Including my upcoming Hypostasis coloring book of monsters. Also, there will be a serial for Halloween. A gothic vampire horror, which started as a spoof on classic horror films by British studio Hammer...bjt turnes into a visceral horror drama. It's called Mallet, and if you want to read it, be sure to sign up. Just hit the link above and scroll down to the Newsletter section.
Thank You, until next time!