Please Welcome, M Pax, author extraordinaire!
Tyrean and I are switching blogs today... Thanks for letting
me borrow yours, Tyrean. The view over here is awesome. A change of scenery is
always nice...
Which is why I write about other worlds... whether out in
the galaxy, magically hidden here on Earth, or just plain made up. Other worlds
in the galaxy seems to be my favorite, though.
A few issues in reality have formed my creation of worlds in
the Backworlds series. First, traveling long distances in space... Voyager I is
finally about to leave our solar system. It launched in 1977.
Even if we develop faster than light speed or light speed
capability, we have no idea what’s out there, and there are probably very few
worlds exactly like ours.
So, in the Backworlds, humanity has only spread out farther
in the Orion arm of the galaxy and hasn’t gone very far yet in my books,
relatively speaking. They use a roadway — the Lepper — that accelerates speed
between stars, but they don’t arrive instantly. It still takes days, weeks, or
longer – depending on the distance.
People are so well adapted to Earth, that it’d be tough for
humans to live and thrive elsewhere. Even if a planet was very similar in
atmosphere to Earth, the gravity may not be, and that can be a real sticking
point.
In the Backworlds, I figured it’d be easier to adapt
ourselves through genetic manipulation to thrive on new worlds than to
terraform planets. We can’t even manage our own planet, so I don’t see it as
likely that we’ll be able to manage another’s. It’s more efficient and seems
like it’d be less work to change the people. That’s what I did in the
Backworlds
The first wave of modified humans, the Foreworlders, were
the most like Earth humans and settled world most like our own. The Backworlders
were created later, basically because they have more modifications, and were
made to settle less Earth-like worlds. After all, there are more planets not
like ours than like ours. And we’re pretty good at adapting. So I think that’s
what we’d do.
What do you think? Do you think we’ll ever settle a world
beyond Earth?
Yes!!! (Just had to throw my two cents in here) Thanks for the awesome post, M Pax!!!
If you would like to learn about my own messed up journey with world building and language, come join me at M Pax's blog for a bit about Babel Fish.
M Pax recently released the third book in her Backworlds series,
Boomtown Craze! Check out the Backworlds and take a trip into the wild unknown with Craze, a reluctant hero with a heart of gold!
M. Pax is author of the
sci-fi series, The
Backworlds, and
the new adult contemporary fantasy The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear. A Browncoat and SG fan, she’s also slightly obsessed with Jane
Austen. In the summers she docents as a star guide at Pine Mountain Observatory
where the other astronomers now believe she has the most extensive collection
of moon photos in existence. No fear, there will be more next summer. She lives
in stunning Central Oregon with the Husband Unit and two lovely, spoiled cats.
You can try the first book in the series,
The Backworlds, for free. All formats
for all ereaders and now in paperback (not free).
LINKS
Boomtown Craze can be found here:
In the far future, humanity
settles the stars, bioengineering its descendents to survive in a harsh
universe.
To secure his future, Craze must
propel his world into a more prosperous era. Only days away from the grand
opening of his new and improved tavern, he is confronted by a loony Backworlder
intent on mucking up his plans. Gaunt and trembling, she claims her spaceship
is possessed. She also has a connection to the underworld that shakes loose the
dark past of one of Craze’s closest friends. It all threatens to end Craze’s
prosperity before it begins.
Meanwhile off world, Captain
Talos works desperately to outwit the mercenary Jixes and lure them away from
his and Craze’s budding prospects. The mind-control weapon Talos uses against
them is wearing thin, and his next move may be his last.
Will Craze and Talos’s efforts
bring about a grand new age of boom or damn them to forever struggle in the
dust?
Want a chance at a free ebook? Just come up with a crazy
combo, ie, a dainty flower that devours people, leave your reply either
HERE or
HERE.
