Multiverse 1 is a collection of short stories (some very short) spanning Fantasy and Science Fiction.
The fantasy stories are Magical Audit about a school of student wizards, and Portal, a story of a magical war that spills over to Earth.
In sci-fi there is The Cull, a story about an ancient evil techno-sorcerous... Then my Metalwar 2305 material, timeline, and stories Yo Ho Ho, Trapper, The Meat Grinder, To Roar and Soar, Sleigh Ride, Hunters, and Ambush. Also there is Survival of the Fittest, a Bootstrap Colony story. It will tie into the book I am currently working on.
And finally there are 3 Federation stories, Higher for hire, (Founding time period) Siren Call, (just before the Gottenburg time period) and finally Bringer of Fire and Light. (Prometheus's first flight)
That should be an interesting first outing for Multiverse 1. I've already got Multiverse 2 waiting in the wings for next year. (or this year if I decide to table Alive again)
In other news I'm past the 400 page mark (412 as of a few minutes ago) with Bootstrap 2 Second Chances. I am still muddling along with it. If any Betas want a go at it, I can send you the first 2 parts like I did Jory. (I dunno if I sent it to Thomas or anyone else... did I? Brain faaarrt moment!)
I'm still pumped over Multiverse 1. Tomorrow will be an interesting day. But for now, I need to get away from the PC before I overheat and go cross eyed permanently. lol
EDIT: I just finished uploading the manuscript to both B&N and Amazon. It should go live by the end of today or early tomorrow!
EDIT 2: We're live on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KXARN0M
EDIT 3: And here it is on B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/multiverse-1-chris-hechtl/1119715682?ean=2940149417070&itm=1&usri=2940149417070
I encourage everyone to please post a review when you finish. Every little bit helps!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I would drop some feedback here for you. Like the multiverse book! The stories all were interesting. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I am glad you enjoyed it. I encourage you to post a review wherever you bought it. Every little bit helps.
DeleteTo all the dads and grads out there, congratulations, salutations!
I am just starting on the Multiverse book. Good so far.
ReplyDeleteI have a bone to pick or a complaint whatever you want to call it.
Right now you are one of my top authors.The Iron's character is awesome and I have truly enjoyed all his stores. PP was a little arg but still a good read. I realize the name of the series is the wandering engineer and not "Find some cool place build up your power base and go into all the technical detail" book series. You have wrote some really good characters and plots into the series that have created an attachment for me that I want to follow. You have satisfied this in large part through the Jethro books and the short stories.
There does exist this massive unfulfilled hole for me when it comes to Prax and the Navy build up there. I realize you have attempted (not successfully) to cover some of this through the Jethro Books, nonetheless there are holes you could fly the Bismark through (if it ever gets engines).
1. In Jethro 3 the navy now has 1-2 partially complete Escort carrier. WTH? Am I the only one that felt this major development came out of now where. There was no pre- discussion of the navy building these no talk about which design to pick or why to build them or what fighters to put on them? Any type of carrier is worthless without fights and weapons, I know that the Prax Navy has limited weapons, engines and energy systems it can build. Where is it going to get the fighters. Plus what about the training and where does the Valdez kid fit it? isn't he the highest ranked fighter Pilot would he not be billeted as the CAG?
2. The Valdez kid. You have done almost nothing with this character and I imagine there is a awful lot that can be done with him.
Something else I don't understand is some of the reasoning behind the types of ships being built in Prax. I mean if you have the materials and manpower that is extra why are that not build some bigger ships to layup for completion when they gets the proscribed parts. i don't understand building all these small ships, how will they get captains for them, let alone crews? It seems like most of what they are building can't travel to other systems and if it could it seems like it would be limited utility unless you sent 20 of them. To me it would be much better to build 20 firefly type cruisers and mothball them until completed. Getting them completed probably would not take alot more time than some of the smaller ships and they would have a lot more power to project especially if you sent 3-4 small ships with them. Since Firefly has the ability to rebuild weapons for it's stock and could restock the small ships (which I sister ships with AI's would have the same abilities).
These and other things have been nagging me lately and I am sure you have some unreleased shorts to explain a lot of it. Thought I would just put it out there.
I started a short story, Kittyhawk which explains a lot of point 1 and 2. But I ended up taking it further into GP's timeline and delving in areas I'm not ready to expose yet so I had to pull it from 13 degrees and keep it under wraps for now. There are seeds of that in the Jethro books and I think some of the others. Hurranna is one. Deja is another.
Delete3 - Irons laid down dozens of ship types, The escort carriers were on the drawing board, but he laid down everything from Frigates, cruisers,... right up to BC's. There were hundreds of hulls in various stages of construction when he left. The idea was to build smaller hulls and gain experience while also getting rapid coverage (Quantity over quality) instead of taking a year to build 1 BC.
When Irons left the navy was in a pickle. They continued the program, building all the hull types as well as stockpiling subassemblies (blocks and grand blocks) and components. But they couldn't build the keylocked components so once they took a hull and hit a wall, they mothballed it and started over.
By now there are thousands of hulls, most of them small ships.
The other idea of starting with small ships is to grow. To shot gun people into commands and let them gain real world experience while also providing a necessary service wherever they are posted. Then build off that as the navy expanded to the larger hull forms, picking the best and brightest to promote to man them as they come online.
Pyrax may have a manning issue in the system itself due to it's limited population, but it can draw on people from local star systems now and have been for a while. As word spreads about he navy throughout the sector and beyond, dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of people will apply to join the navy and marines.
Some of the first hulls reactivated in J3 were the small ones. They are the easiest to complete quickly. (I think I had a frigate construction at 1 month at one point, with completing partial hulls at 1 week) But destroyers, escort carriers, and other ships will also be towed into the yard and completed. (I think I put the cut off at 8 destroyers and 3 carriers for now) Captain Logan is also diverting some resources to the orbital fortresses and Bismark as well.
BTW Irons stuck to 1-2 hull designs per class to simplify logistics btw. He usually picked a general purpose platform that was modular to be adapted to specialist roles as needed. That way construction was also streamlined.
Captain Logan however authorized a few other hulls to be started during his absence to 1 give the yard dogs a new challenge, and 2 to give them a potential different hull later on if he got the parts to complete it.
I hope that helped a little. You'll see a lot more when I get back to writing GP. I'm at the beginning of the climax of Second Chances... getting there!
Your reply there is filled with info that should have been in the books and wasn't. I've had the same issues with continuity and plot holes.
ReplyDeleteALSO WHERE ARE THE IRONS STORIES? One came out in december and now nothing. Poof. Gone.
Admiral Irons will return in Ghosts of the Past this fall/early winter. (I'm not sure about the exact timing) December hopefully at the latest.
DeleteHello Chris, I finished multiverse 1 finally and have left a review. As I mentioned. My mission is now to badger you for the next bootstrap colony book :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteLol It's still going slow, though the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight. I'm 484 pages into it... and at the climax!
The family went on vacation for the 3 day weekend so I should be uninterrupted. (lets hope so) I'm hoping I can get the manuscript roughed out (finally!) so I can move on to my editing pass and then I can pass it on to the betas so I can take a break and work on the cover art. :P
Awesome! So far the bootstrap story has the vote for most favorite from the multiverse 1 collection.
DeleteCool!
DeleteI finally just finished the first rough draft of Second Chances an hour and a half ago. I'm going to celebrate with some ice cream and then dive into spell checks and editing tomorrow. :)
Woot! Woot!
Oh yea! Good work and may the editing and spell checking go smoothly. :-)
ReplyDelete:P I'm horrible at both. lol I ran it through Office and Word once each, ran a find/replace for my most glaring bugs (I have a list)... and I just now passed it on to Jacob and Mike to have a go at it. :)
DeleteNow I can finally catch up on other stuff, like oh that character contest Jory and Mike have been running on the FB group... play with the stuff I've been buying at Daz and Renderosity, and finish making the cover to Bootstrap 2.
If I don't overheat my PC during the summer heat that is! :{
PS: Change of plans writing wise. Since everyone is into the Fed books and Multiverse isn't taking off, I'm going to refocus my efforts there. First up is To Touch the Stars though. Then GP and maybe Sparks instead of Alive. Or maybe The First AI War. We'll see. :)
(Due to char restrictions this is two parts)
ReplyDeleteCyber,
So a few quick comments (probably not so quick but will try).
First let me say about the Higher for Higher story. REALLY ARE YOU SHI
(Some time later after having replaced monitor which I threw into the wall while screaming)
You are an amazing writer with such an awesome imagination. I just don't get why you would do this when you have so much original stuff to offer.
Second I need your help as there are massive gaps in the Replicator Keys system you have stuck with in the Wandering books. No more has this been glaringly evident than in the Prometheus story and Jethro 3.
I completely understand the idea behind keys to stop people from building anything they want and keep a tight control on restricted tech.
however the concept that only a full Fleet Admiral ( or any Admiral) would have access to the keys and would be required to sit at a replicator for hours on end to create this stuff is a bigger leap than my tiny brain can handle. My grandfather retired from the US Navy as a Vice Admiral Early 90's. I spent hours going on tours, eating on base, driving his staff car on the lap of his Aid on the Runway and spending time watching him do his thing. There were two things that I learned that will I will never forget. 1. The military will never be for me under any circumstance. 2. The higher you go the more you delegate your authority while losing none of the responsibility for it. The very idea of my grandfather being tied to a machine for days on end creating parts is crazy to me. I can see him saying "You see these three stars on my shoulder?" "They mean that I do the planning." "You see those strips on everyone else shoulder?" "That means they do the doing." "Any questions?"
In the Shipyard at Prax you see this with Logan; the vast majority of your writing about him are planning and organizational. A more realistic set up for hyper-drive parts would be a section of the shipyard that would mostly likely be called something like "Propulsion Production and Supply" section. It would be headed by a Lieutenant Commander, possibly a Commander, it would be required to monitor current and upcoming yard projects, Maintain an on hand quantity of propulsion parts, submit requisition orders for rare materials, build parts from it's own replicators, and fulfill requisition request by the yard for propulsion parts. It would probably be a in a secure area with its own guard detachment, same setup for Weapons, Shield and Any other restricted components. Replicator Keys would not be so much a rank thing as they would be a position thing. You already made this concession in Plague Planet as you repeatedly covered that Irons did not have medical keys as that was not his area.
(Continued)
DeleteIf the Military in the future felt that this was not restrictive enough and that officers (that didn't have AI's in there heads) could go rogue supplying the black market, then the strictest system that I could imagine them instituting (while maintaining the flexibility to operate.) would be to make physical keys that had limited production runs on them. The keys would only be able to be made at central locations like head quarters or sector commands and would travel aboard heavily armed ships for delivery to major supply bases and shipyards. Of course higher ranking officers would have the ability to make keys that had even smaller production runs. Main keys would have 100-500 runs and the officers keys would max out at like 20 runs, runs would equal one complete part. Any stricter than this and modern interstellar navy would not be able to function, not with the distant and time of travel for one point to another.
Another part things falls apart is Fire Fly and Prometheus. One, Prometheus is a fleet tender like Io and would be expected to repair a fleet after battle or any other damage. What would the point be of having a fleet tender if it could not make all the parts of the ships in the fleet? "Well Captain of Battleship "Such and Such" I would love to fix your engine but I don't have the ability to make replacement engine parts or weapons because the admiral died on your flag bridge during the battle. However I have some shinny new hull plating being made so when the enemy shows up you may not be able to flee or fight back but they will have some nice new hull plates to destroy. No No don't thank me it is the least that I can do!" I seriously doubt someone of a rank higher than captain would command a fleet tender. Really this does not work.
Also if space on a space warship is at a premium what would the point be of putting an industrial replicator on board if it could not even make parts for it's own ship class. At the very least Fire Fly could make all replacement and weapon systems for it's own ship class. Which would mean it would be stuck at Prax and Logan would only be building ships the same class as fire fly.
I do realize that your books are fiction and that not everything has to be realistic and practical but I think it should at least meet the standards of bring logical or sensible. Hopefully with you starting to write GP and moving to the conclusion of the Wandering timeline you can at least look at these points and maybe bridge a few gaps. If not it was still fun pointing them out.
See I told you I would keep it short.
Ouch.
DeleteHirer for Higher: It's parody. I was having fun. Sometimes I start out that way, and then in future stories or books the characters evolve... or encounter new people. Imagine what Baloo and crew did during the AI war? Or during the 1st Terran Interstellar War? They'll certainly pop up in the books... when I get around to writing them.
As for the Keys: lol I think you undermined your own argument. Think of the logic you laid out. If you have a limit then lets say a ship gets chewed up in combat and needs parts. And you can make, oh, 100 and you need 102 to function? Oops?
I'll get into the whole history of the keys, the logic of it all, how the system evolved and became more and more complex because people tried to stop terrorists and misuse... and how it bit the Federation in the rump during the Xeno war. It'll be fun. Just wait and see.
"As for the Keys: lol I think you undermined your own argument."
DeleteJust for the record I never advocated this system. I merely said it would have been the strictest system they could adopt. I think the system you have come up with would be too restrictive and lead to a general break down in maintenance and industrial infrastructure, Which apparently is what happened.
However the production keys system would work and I doubt there would be many cases of running out of keys. It would be a system run on the "Six P's" (Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.).It could work And has the added benefit of being traceable as to what is authorized while being able to limit excess.
However if it was the military system we have today it would be based on the Job Position. It would allow flexibility and gives the military the chance to limit production to individuals that they can vet through extensive background checks.
It is nice I was able to start some dialog on this. I find it very interesting system and how it would be handled. One of the problems with nano tech is that you can basically build anything you want. Rare materials, produce goods, everything would be pointless as a monetary source. The only true currency or limiting factor in a Nano Tech society would be energy to run the Nanites.
U.s. battleships had in early generation's ( circa 1910- 1918) metal foundry's, blacksmith shops, and machine shops in there designs for long range operations prior to a abundances of places to have repairs made
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm going to have fun with that concept.
DeleteI just found the e book I was thinking about with my comment it is battleship Oklahoma BB37 on page 22/23 it covers ship parts stores, machine shops ( listing what type of machines) and more all to keep a ship functional over a long trip and hopefully thru combat
DeleteI think I almost look at the keys as being a part of paperwork that would have to be done. Right now the Iron's has to go to the replicators to get stuff done but I can see on a military installation an admiral sitting in his office with request for restricted tech coming through and just connecting to a secure terminal in his office to approve their creation.
ReplyDeleteSo I know you will be starting on GP soon and I like everyone else can not wait. Before you start I thought I would throw this idea out there. Since GP is the last book in the Wandering Engineer time line and the next starts the New federation timeline I was thinking about what would signal the change. I can sum it up in one Word "ANTIMATTER" Is this the book we are going to see antimatter come back? Is Irons going to tap a star in Antigua to return the power source that fueled the Federation? I am really stoked about seeing what Irons will do when he gets back to Antigua. I am setting it up in my head as what he would have done if he had stayed in Pyrax. Can't Wait.
ReplyDeleteWe're going to see a lot... but Irons and crew have to get to where they are going FIRST. lol It's a looong journey. A lot can and will happen like... um... no, never mind. ;)
DeleteI am 3/4 done the cover to Bootstrap 2, at least the render part. I'm working on the foreground people, but everything has come to an almost screeching halt.
Dad's sick, he came home with bronchitis from his 3 day vacation in San Francisco and then overdid it with the Codeine (he's also pseudoallergic) urgent care gave him. We're (mainly me) nursing him back now but it is slow, worrisome, exhausting, and messy. He's not out of the woods, he still refuses to eat and barely drinks. Sigh. Stubborn as the day is long.
I think you are wrong on the antimatter as the big signal of change. Because at the end of Pirates Bane there is a sneak peak of GP and in there it implies Irons is going to give the Governor civilian grade keys. The Keys will allow the non-military to build there own infrastructure to rebuild the Federation.
DeleteOops, I forgot I slipped that in there.
DeleteAntimatter isn't the big thing, though it is important in the long run. Getting the manufacturing/shipbuilding/health/education works going is vital.
Just getting to Antigua is only part of the story. :)
Chris, I am also allergic to Codeine and Vicodine so I end up having to do motrin for pain issues. Good luck to you on taking care of your dad. It is hard to take care of a family member who resists doing what they need to do for recovery. Family comes first, so do what you need.
ReplyDeleteYup, and he is a big baby. Responsive to you ladies, but not me. My sister has to come over to cajole him into eating and drinking more. He fought me every day this week.
DeleteHe's getting better though. I caught the cold/bronchitis/ what he got though, so I'm sick too. Always fun. Cover to BSC2 is on hold until I'm better.
Sorry to hear you cought his bug :-( . Time for lots of fluids and family pampering. You don't take after your dad though right? You will let your family take care of you? ;-) Time for hit point recharge. Get some good downtime and power up for the next charge at the writing muse. Get well soon!
DeleteDad and I are it, sis and crew all live out of town. So, it falls on me to play adult/mom surrogate.
DeleteI'm not at all as bad as him. I for instance will drink plenty of fluids and eat. He just shuts down and is a big baby. Only you ladies can cajole him into behaving. He flat out refuses to eat or drink for me half the time. He just sits in his chair bored n complaining. I try to do something since I can't sleep by day.
I've got doctor's tomorrow, I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not.
I know one thing, a character is going to suffer since I'm suffering! lol
Lol! Write from experience. Yep. Our poor hero who is sick is the only one to take care of another sick person who is stubborn and won't take care of themselves. Yep. Care givers everywhere will feel it with you...All those moms and dads that got sick along with their kids, and still had to take care of the kids. Definitely get those anti-biotics going or at least some medicine that will control the symptoms better! Good luck and keep up the fluids and good food.... cut out dairy ifs it sniffles, etc.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIf you do give a Char. a rare type of flu here is a good name to use.
ReplyDeletefoetida flumen pede
lol
DeleteStill sick. Persistent bug or whatever it is. I've "finished" the cover to BSC2 I'll post it in a bit. I'm already puttering around with To Touch the Stars
Is To Touch the Star part of the Federation story line or something else. Can you give even the smallest hint in your large collection of books of ware it might go? :-)
Delete