BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Player Boards => Fan Fiction => Topic started by: HABeas2 on 14 April 2019, 15:17:48
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Hello, folks!
I'm starting this discussion thread in the hopes of keeping my main story thread clean for the Forgotten Worlds Book 3 serial itself. Please enjoy the story as it unfolds there (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=65085.0), but post your questions and comments in here.
Thank you,
- Herbert A. Beas II
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Will do! Thanks for the second thread, Herb... Off to read the actual fiction vice the editorial note at the end of your first post over there...
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Coolness! Thank you much for that, Daryk!
Everyone else: I'm apparently having problems making the links work between the two threads, though. They send me to a blank page asking for login info, so... I guess I'm just too rusty to figure out how this should all work now. So... Uh... Help?
Edit: THANKS, SARTIS! The link problem is now fixed between this thread and that thread.
- Herb
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Other Thread (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=65085.0)
[ url=https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=65085.0]other thread[/url]
like this?
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Aha! Thanks, Sartis! I see what the issue was. I used the [ ftp] tag, not [ url].
Dopey me.
- Herb
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Thanks for sharing this!
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The Grand Vizier finishing off a great story.
Thanks Herb. :beer:
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Hail, folks!
The first chapter has been posted! At long last, Book 3 has properly begun!
Thanks to Daryk for his volunteer editing service, especially on a less than 6 hours notice!
And a preemptive thanks to all of you for enjoying it!
- Herb
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And thank you for the opportunity to help! :thumbsup:
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Awesome!
I just hope CGL can declare this canon.
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While I don't know if it will be canonized--as it hasn't been authorized and paid for (thus making it legally the property of CGL), and...other issues--I have learned through twitches in the grapevine that the first two books will get re-released soon, as a favor to the readers.
No idea exactly when, mind you, but it should be soon. Likely before the next chapter goes up.
- Herb
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being very happy and impressed :thumbsup:
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I love the deeper look into Apollyon's thought processes. He's a very deep villain and unlike most he actually isn't evil... except for the whole Michelle thing in the League.
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The Michelle thing only came after Apollyon delivered a direct and very personal warning to her and her husband not to mess with them. After that, he gave an order to Namaah to make sure the lesson was as visceral as possible, while still leaving Titus and his son alive. It was horrific and evil, but ultimately, very surgical when you get down to it.
But, ultimately, Apollyon and his fellow Domini have accepted that their existence is monstrous, and that their ultimate purpose is a form of evil the rest of humanity would condemn. Their lot is much like The Operative from Serenity, in that they know the better world they are expected to carve a path for has no place for them. Unlike the Clans, they don't glorify the slaughter they know they'll be asked to commit. One might actually pity them, were it not for the horrors they basically dedicate themselves to as the Jihad unfolds. This was what we wanted to show every time you saw them on scene, at least whenever they weren't wiping people out wholesale.
- Herb
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Insightful statement.
Reminds me of the Empires Aflame setting information: It's nice to see what character attributes and traits (in a sociological, not role-playing sense) are intrinsic and which may stem from external influences and circumstances.
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The Michelle thing only came after Apollyon delivered a direct and very personal warning to her and her husband not to mess with them. After that, he gave an order to Namaah to make sure the lesson was as visceral as possible, while still leaving Titus and his son alive. It was horrific and evil, but ultimately, very surgical when you get down to it.
But, ultimately, Apollyon and his fellow Domini have accepted that their existence is monstrous, and that their ultimate purpose is a form of evil the rest of humanity would condemn. Their lot is much like The Operative from Serenity, in that they know the better world they are expected to carve a path for has no place for them. Unlike the Clans, they don't glorify the slaughter they know they'll be asked to commit. One might actually pity them, were it not for the horrors they basically dedicate themselves to as the Jihad unfolds. This was what we wanted to show every time you saw them on scene, at least whenever they weren't wiping people out wholesale.
- Herb
And that's why I always wanted more screen time for Appy. He's a villain I can love to hate while respecting him. Thanks for sharing this story! I saw the whole "Monsters fight for Blake's word" theme in a few other stories (like the defeat of the ComGuards in Normandy as seen by the WoB cadet) but the Appy stories always had depth. (To be fair, so do the Berith stories) (My two favorite MD)
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Oh this is a rabbit hole I'm not sure I'll emerge from any time soon, time for a dive through the pile of Jihad material again after this read. Love it!
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Thank you for this
And I have to say you given me a new look to Apollyon and his fellow Domini mindset
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First two parts have been posted (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=65160.0) in General Discussion.
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Very cool... thanks Roosterboy! 8)
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Insightful statement.
Reminds me of the Empires Aflame setting information: It's nice to see what character attributes and traits (in a sociological, not role-playing sense) are intrinsic and which may stem from external influences and circumstances.
Well, I wrote Empires Aflame as well, so I suppose that makes some sense. Though I don't recall these characters appearing there, per se.
And that's why I always wanted more screen time for Appy. He's a villain I can love to hate while respecting him. Thanks for sharing this story! I saw the whole "Monsters fight for Blake's word" theme in a few other stories (like the defeat of the ComGuards in Normandy as seen by the WoB cadet) but the Appy stories always had depth. (To be fair, so do the Berith stories) (My two favorite MD)
This may well be because only a handful of our writers really got into the Manei Domini, and their deep details were mostly developed by myself, Ben Rome, Pat Wynne, Paul Sjardijn, and a couple other freelancers. When other writers delved into them, they focused more on the enemy perspective exclusively, and that was never going to show these guys as anything but psycho cyborg monstrosities. (Note: While the Jihad plan was laid out as far back as FASA, some details--including the very nature of the Manei Domini--simply were never addressed until about the time I served as ALD/LD.)
Oh this is a rabbit hole I'm not sure I'll emerge from any time soon, time for a dive through the pile of Jihad material again after this read. Love it!
Glad to hear that! Enjoy your dive!
Thank you for this
And I have to say you given me a new look to Apollyon and his fellow Domini mindset
Yeah; always wished I could have released it all sooner, but there were higher priorities in those days.
First two parts have been posted (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=65160.0) in General Discussion.
Thanks, dude! I modified the first story post again to include a link to that thread, for extra measure.
- Herb
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cleanup
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Hello, all!
Just a note to say that Chapter 2 has now been posted. It exceeded the character length for a single post here, and thus I needed to break it into two segments. Sorry I was late this time; I clearly zoned out at some point last night and just forgot to do it.
Enjoy!
- Herb
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Thank you! :thumbsup:
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Its a great read so far. Thanks for sharing it.
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Herb...by chance do you have this in PDF form already? If so...can you PM me a link?
Thank you
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You're welcome, guys! Hope you continue to enjoy it!
Herb...by chance do you have this in PDF form already? If so...can you PM me a link?
Alas, no I don't Dragon. What you're seeing here is basically what might be the "final draft" documents for the story, with some volunteer editing support from Daryk (thanks again, Daryk!), but none of the final polish you'd have gotten outside a BattleCorps release.
- Herb
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You're more than welcome Herb! I'll be here as long as you need/want me... :)
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Herb...by chance do you have this in PDF form already? If so...can you PM me a link?
The forum has a "Print" button to reformat threads in a printer-friendly format. I've been using that combined with "Print to PDF" to generate archive PDFs of certain high-value threads.
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... and if you are using firefox, combining the forum's print view with the dotepub browser extension (which has to be installed manually using the standard firefox browser mechanisms) will yield very readable epub electronic books for viewing on an ebook reader.
Only thing are length issues: upwards of approx. thirty forum pages your mileage may vary and you are on your own using this toolset.
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Is there a Forgotten Worlds Book 1 & 2?
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See the link in Roosterboy's post above...
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Hello all!
Just a note that the third chapter of Book 3 is now posted, and it's arguably the most exciting yet! Like Chapter 2, it was too big to go through in a single post, and so it was split into two posts!
Enjoy!
- Herb
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Nicely written, the story of Bob fit well into their discussion.
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man I had to go back in re-read the first two books. GREAT Work!!!!! can not wait for the next chapter.
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Glad you're all enjoying it!
- Herb
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And now, Chapter 4 is up! Another one delivered in two parts, because this book was evidently written a BIT bigger than the last two.
Sorry for the delay folks, but I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you that there have been some distractions happening behind the scenes!
And, country music fans, I hope you like a throwaway reference made in this one!
Thanks,
- Herb
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to funny. like this one and understand how RL gets in the way with hobbies. >:D
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Keep 'em coming Herb!
Note about the Hera's Shield: Unions are 3,600 tons, not 3,000.
(And Danais-based wannabe Unions aka Trojans like the Phobos are 3,200 tons.)
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Keep 'em coming Herb!
Note about the Hera's Shield: Unions are 3,600 tons, not 3,000.
(And Danais-based wannabe Unions aka Trojans like the Phobos are 3,200 tons.)
Gah! Dopey me! How did I miss that one?
- Herb
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I missed it too... sorry about that Herb! :-[
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I don't like blame-shifting though. The original error is mine.
And I fixed it, so we're all good.
- Herb
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Hi all!
Chapter 5 will be delayed until... well, sometime later. Maybe today. Maybe tomorrow. For now, I must nap!
- Herb
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Okay, I'm awake now....
And Chapter 5 has been posted, in two parts.
At this stage, folks, I think I should level with you all. Soon after posting the first chapter of this book as fanfic, a friend still working with CGL approached me about possibly buying the book, explaining that they would have made the offer sooner had they known I was even working on it. (Since formal communications between myself and the company have been severed for the better part of three years now, that would have been somewhat difficult, but que sera sera, right?)
Now, while I still have some misgivings about some folks at the top of the lines, the logical side of my mind not only convinced me that selling a story is better for my bottom line than giving it away for free, AND doing so would also have the perk of making this story official in the truest sense. Heck, it might even find its way to bookstores somehow, which is also rather nice. And so, we hammered out terms by the time I posted the second chapter.
But here's where it got interesting... Though terms have been nominally settled, one of mine was that I would continue to post the chapters, one per week, as I promised YOU all when this whole affair began. Only after we (CGL and I) have a signed contract between us will I deliver the whole book to them, and only THEN would I stop posting chapters here, explaining to you kind folks why that would have to be (mainly the fact that ownership of the story will have changed the moment I signed on the dotted lines). After that, either TPTB would have the posted chapters removed or left up as a teaser, depending on what the company overlords decided, but otherwise, the finale would go "dark" until its eventual official publication.
As of this point--three more posted chapters later--there remains no signed contract. And so you folks are still getting your free chapters once a week. There are just four more to go, however, and the longer we go, the greater the chance that a deal will either get inked, or be abandoned. If abandoned, you get the whole story free here as fanfic. If we ink the deal, the story is property of CGL and goes into canon alongside the first two books.
Now, I'm not sure which way you folks would prefer this to go down, but mark my words that I remain committed to the promise I made at the start of this whole affair, and thus I will continue to post chapters here as long as the story remains wholly mine. If we make it to the epilogue, though, know that the story may never be entered as canon, and I will never see dime one for all the time put into this final book. That's okay by me, since I didn't expect anything like that when I posted these chapters, but I don't know how it settles for you guys.
Either way, the fact that this is going on is at least part of why my last few chapters didn't post right away every Monday; I was giving the other party a little extra time to send me a contract. I also like to sleep a LOT these days.
Just wanted you all to know what's up.
Now, go and enjoy chapter 5!
- Herb
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Ink the deal! Speaking for myself, I'd greatly prefer this being proper canon over free "fanfic" and I'll buy this in a heartbeat.
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Agreed - let us throw c-bills at you!
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Even if you get to the end here, there's absolutely no reason it couldn't later be published. That's how the The Martian happened, after all. Best of luck getting a contract signed! :thumbsup:
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The backbone of Battletech is good fiction, and that good fiction has always sprung from the mad, sprawling work set down three decades ago. There's not a game company today that would put out something like those original House books, five volumes of background and setting materials with nary a rule in sight.
What's drawn me back, time and again, is good fiction, and intriguing world expansion. Herb's work is absolutely a big part of this. This story makes me feel like I did the first time I fell down the rabbit hole reading Interstellar Players after a decade away from the game, or TRO 3050 blowing my mind with the Clan invasion when I was in High School, or the first time I read the original Mechwarrior's history of the universe at 13 years old.
I hope that you get a bucket of C-Bills for your story. It's an intense read so far, and I'll gladly pony up for the conclusion. If not, well, shame on the powers that be, and not for the first time.
Thanks for shepherding a fictional universe I've loved since I was young, and thanks for sharing this story.
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Thanks for the kind words, folks, but just a clarification or two:
The terms are agreed on, but I haven't signed the deal because, well, the contract has yet to get to me. As long as it doesn't, the free chapters will keep coming.
The deal is basically for a one-time payment, like a BattleCorps sale or any sourcebook work. There won't be residuals, but do NOT let that stop you from buying it if/when it gets published. I know I probably will!
Aaaaaaand that's all I got. 8)
- Herb
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cleanup
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Awesome to see you writing honestly!
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So if the Lyran's didn't hit Jardine, who did?
If it was them, what evidence did ComStar plant to make them do such a deep raid?
And how many other worlds did ComStar try to make into Hidden?
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if they do pick up your story "late" you can add TRO page for some of the items and add a chapter or three about things going on outside of the main story that might fill in holes or add more plot hooks.
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This is why there is no new BattleCorps. Every story deal CGL makes has to read like a Shadowrun campaign so that there is an adequate paper trail.
If only that were the ONLY hassle....
Awesome to see you writing honestly!
Thanks! Enjoy it while it lasts!
So if the Lyran's didn't hit Jardine, who did?
If it was them, what evidence did ComStar plant to make them do such a deep raid?
And how many other worlds did ComStar try to make into Hidden?
At least in Jardine's case, I was planning to reveal the whole story in a Touring the Stars segment. But then, things fell apart. I'll let you imagine the rest. As to how many ComStar tried to hide? It's important to remember how young the Order was at the time, and how limited its resources. So, it wasn't too many. The Five were the primaries, though.
if they do pick up your story "late" you can add TRO page for some of the items and add a chapter or three about things going on outside of the main story that might fill in holes or add more plot hooks.
Nothing in this story is really any different than what's already been published in TROs. The Mech, fighter, battle armor, and DropShip units are all canonical models and variants. The follow-on story, well, that was never fully fleshed out, and I'd worry about making it all work, once the details come into play. (As it was, I think I started the whole adventure far too late, timeline-wise, considering that I wanted it all resolved BEFORE the Jihad launches, and the epilogue happens to take place pretty much as the war starts up. This means Apollyon's chase has to start immediately, and everyone has about 3 months to reach Donegal, where things really get interesting--and some fun crossovers happen with another story I wrote--and then we need to get to Moore within a year, across an Inner Sphere already in the throes of wide-spread war. It'd be exhausting, I tell ya!)
But, again, if I get no contract, you all at least get to enjoy a free story, albeit one that CGL policy won't accept as canon!
- Herb
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Well, I hope you get a contract because everyones bottom line is important. If not, it being canon isn't as important as you getting to tell a story you wanted to. It's why I keep working on mine. People are enjoying it and I want to create it. It'll never be canon but it doesn't need to be. As long as someone enjoys it then its worth while and I get to design a roller coaster along the way.
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Ohayo!
Another week without a contract, another free chapter for you guys!
Book 3, Chapter 6 is now live! Hope you all enjoy!
- Herb
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I see a little star wars reference. just have to stay out of the garbage shut.
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Yyyyyyup!
;)
- Herb
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You almost owed me a new keyboard for that one!
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Wait till you find the next ref!
- Herb
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Okay. I have a critique:
I have to admit that I found the italicized portion a little confusing at first, and still in some places, because I'm not even getting a 'he said'/'she said'.
I'm assuming this is some sort of recording. If so, is it video, or audio only? If audio only, I recommend using any of the audio transcript styles found in BT fiction. If video, I imagine you can get away with a mix of narrative description and audio transcript.
Otherwise, I'm enjoying the read.
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Do you mean those pre-chapter blurbs?
Yeah, I guess doing them in all-italics was a style break from the norms used in the novels. (Funny; I don't recall any of the editors complaining about it in the first two books. *double-checks* Yup! I used italics for those pre-chapter bits from the start, and they passed editing without a hitch.)
All-in-all, they're journal entries or quotes from speeches and interviews, and thus non-visual. (I originally planned for them ALL to come from Brooke's personal journals and letters to Tyler, but after a while, I felt other characters--including the never-seen-on-camera Tyler--needed to have their say as well.) Adding visual descriptors and such would tempt confusion between the actual scenes and what amounts to out-of-sequence narratives.
- Herb
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It's not that it's all italics. It's that I have no initial voice in my head to work with, and when you add a second voice with no tonal qualifier to the first, it gets zany and hard to track.
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I did use the standard BT attribution style, though. You get the author/speaker's identity at the end of each blurb. That should provide some idea of the voice.
I mean, other than the all-italics approach, I'm not sure how I deviated from the norm there.
In other news, still no contract here, so looks like chapter 7 (of 9) will be off to Daryk in the next day or so!
- Herb
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It's not the norm that's the problem. In the first four lines, I wasn't sure if it was the doctor talking to someone else, and we were only hearing her side to an unheard reply, or if someone else was replying.
Give me a tic, and I'll show you a couple suggestions on how this could be remedied in the dialogue alone.
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So, this is your opener straight from the top:
Testing... Testing... Is this thing still working?
Yeah, looks good. Good enough for audio, anyway. But the battery’s low. Probably cell damage from that mine.
Then let’s try and keep it under an hour. Start Recording.
Is this for Tyler, or the log?
…The log. …Ty would understand.
Okay, then… You’re on.
Thanks, Trouble…
Expedition Log, Supplemental. Doctor Brooklyn Stevens reporting; Senior Mission Specialist Tibor Mitternacht on recorder. Today’s date?
If you're not interested in:
[Dr. Stevens]Testing... Testing... Is this thing still working?
[Tibor]Yeah, looks good. Good enough for audio, anyway. But the battery’s low. Probably cell damage from that mine.
[Dr. Stevens]Then let’s try and keep it under an hour. Start Recording.
[Tibor]Is this for Tyler, or the log?
Then it would help to establish voices in the first two lines. Example:
Okay... Recording. Expedition Log, Supplemental. Doctor Brooklyn Stevens reporting; Senior Mission Specialist Tibor Mitternacht on recorder.... Wait. What? Tibor, is this thing working? Screen's not showing anything.
Yeah, Doc. Looks good. Good enough for audio, anyway. But the battery’s low. Probably cell damage from that mine.
Sure, Trouble. Then let’s try and keep it under an hour. Start Recording.
Is this for Tyler, or the log?
…The log. …Ty would understand.
Okay, then… You’re on.
Just because you put two names in that opening line doesn't mean everyone is going to catch it the first time. And, again, I wasn't sure if there was even a second voice, at first. There's room in between those lines for a different set of dialogue with all of it being Steven's voice. That second line could have been her relaying what she's seeing on her end. Every line could have been her voice. It wasn't until way down that I noticed something that couldn't have been her, and I had to go back, and mentally re-edit what I was reading to include a second voice.
It's just a suggestion. Take it or leave it. Feel free to plagiarize. ;)
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*snip*
In other news, still no contract here, so looks like chapter 7 (of 9) will be off to Daryk in the next day or so!
- Herb
Ready to receive, good sir!
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One more thing to add. While you can establish voices in the first couple lines, it might behoove you to take a couple extra lines to establish a cadence.
Example:
Okay... Recording. Expedition Log, Supplemental. Doctor Brooklyn Stevens reporting; Senior Mission Specialist Tibor Mitternacht on recorder.... Wait. What? Tibor, is this thing working? Screen's not showing anything.
Eh... Hang on, Doc. I'm only getting audio. Battery's low, and the things defaulting to a power-save setting. Must be damage from that mine. Full video will drain what we got in a few minutes. Let’s try and keep it under an hour to be safe.
Sure, Trouble. Heh.
While I'm okay with nicknames, Doc, we are recording.
What? Crap. Okay. Okay.
Wait! Is this for Tyler, or the log?
…The log. …Ty would understand.
Okay, then… You’re on.
However. if you don't want to go through all that, you could be clever with a visual cue, and have Tibor's comments at a different font size. He is, I'm assuming, far away from Stevens's mic, so he would sound distant, and hence have a smaller font.
First rule of writing, which I know you know: Your audience can't read your mind. Have an image? Paint it with words. Have a particular sound or scent or feeling in mind? Spell it out.
That's all I've got.
Otherwise, pretty good.
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Ah, so THAT was the one that gave you trouble? I wrote that preamble bit in some haste, I must admit. At the time, I didn't really anticipate that the PTBs would release the first two books at all. So that was basically just me doing something different by setting the recap in the form of an audio log Brooke records just prior to the events of this third book.
In that case, the only two voices are those of Tibor and Brooke. Leaving it to the reader to suss out who was whom probably was a bit more deviation than normal. Put it down to me trying something different. That entry probably won't appear at all in any final publication, assuming the contract arrives before the next 3 chapters tumble out here for free. Consider it optional reading.
- Herb
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Well you said that you put that intro there to recap the first two episodes.
([Ominous speaker voice] "Previously, on Jardine...")
It's not an issue really.
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Well, I was reading it from the start with no exposure to the prior two chapters.
It was different, but it didn't outright fail completely. And, while things are on here, doesn't mean they have to remain as they were first posted. You can go back and re-edit them, in the very post you put them in, even. :thumbs:
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This is true. I will consider this, though it's been a busy-ish month for me of late, so may not see changes for a bit.
- Herb
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My 0.02€ are that without reading the previous two older installments I would not have (had) the background knowledge to appreciate the current installment properly.
So I have read all installments in sequence and that worked very well for me.
Edited for typos
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That would be the ideal method, yes. At the time I started posting, though, I had no idea the PTBs would post the originals as a sign of support.
- Herb
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Terrible news, folks!
Or, good news, if you were looking forward to it?
I have finally received and signed the Independent Contractor Agreement for this book, which means that Book 3 of Forgotten Worlds has officially become property of Catalyst Game Labs. I know not if, when, and/or where the story will see its final publication, and can only hope that we will all find out soon!
But what this means for us in the here and now is that, regrettably, I must break my promise to release the entirety of the story here in the fanfic boards. It may even be possible that CGL will see fit to have the story thread removed, in an effort to preserve the surprise for anyone who hasn't already read what has been posted to date.
Thank you all for coming with me on this ride. I hope you've all enjoyed it.
For now, I guess, I must vanish into the aether....
- Herbert A Beas II
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GREAT NEWS. I will miss the story but I look forward to see this in book form.
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:thumbsup:
Looking forward to buying this as a proper product; and good for you Herb that it's not mere fan fiction after all but (I presume) paid work!
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Congrats Herb! :thumbsup:
Hopefully my last edit will still be of use to you...
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Hiyo, folks!
Daryk - Indeed it was. I integrated changes based on your work in that chapter, as I have with all the prior ones.
Cawest, Daryk, and Frabby - Thanks for your support. I look forward to seeing the whole thing in print myself. I just have no idea when this might happen.
EVERYONE: As part of my agreement with the PTBs, I am being allowed to keep some of the chapters posted in this board up, but not all. Come Monday, I will thus be "redacting" the extraneous chapters, while leaving those that remain up as a "teaser" for the final book. I apologize for this inconvenience.
Thanks!
- Herb
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I am very glad we finally get to see how this one turned out!
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Glad to hear it, thanks Herb! :thumbsup:
And you're more than welcome! If you ever need any other editing support, please keep me in mind... My wife keeps telling me I'll have to get a job after I retire from the military (6 more years or so)… 8)
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I can't imagine how CGL would buy this and not publish it.
It's not only a great fan service by CGL, it's also a good story; I genuinely enjoyed the writing and pacing.
So, presuming this will come out (my bet is on print-on-demand), that'll take one "Vaporware" entry off the Sarna list after so many years. That's very cool! Thanks Herb & CGL!
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I've never set out on a project without the intent to finish it, and when it came to the Jardine saga, I had to outline the entire story from start to finish just to get approval to begin it (ironically, because Loren didn't want to see me start a serial with no promises of seeing it through). So Book 3 was mainly sitting, half-finished thanks to a VERY detailed outline, since even before Book 2 came out on BattleCorps. Other projects just got in the way. And then I was dumped. And I started on other things. But the story of Book 3 didn't let me forget it, so I would turn to finishing it any time I hit writer's block on my own work.
And here we are!
As to CGL buying things and not publishing them... Oh, it can happen!
Very glad you've enjoyed the story to date. It actually DID deviate from my original plans oh so many years ago. But then, hell, my original outline had Marissa Borefijn surviving the entire saga, and I ended up killing her off back in Book 1. So, sometimes the characters and the story flow change your plans. It's kind of amazing, that way. Guess that would make me a "plantser" writer, the kind who plans the plot out, but occasionally yields to seat-of-the-pants changes during execution.
- Herb
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Thank you for everything ;D, Herb - I am looking forward to a finished novel with all three parts.
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Congrats Herb! Hope to see this as an upcoming POD novel real soon. :thumbsup:
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Me too, and thanks!
As I have promised the folks who now own the story, all chapters after Chapter 2 have been redacted from the main thread. We'll just have to wait for its official publication to see how it all ends.
Thanks for your patience and understanding!
- Herb
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just let us know when its published and where to get it . been a very enjoyable read . thanks
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Seconded.
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I was absolutely petrified when the tab I had this loaded on suddenly had all the content disappear. It was nice to hear that it had been picked up and we might be seeing it in print though - that rocks. Thanks for finishing it and setting it all in motion.
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Thanks for reading, and I'm glad you enjoyed what they let me leave up. (I was just about to release chapter 7--of 9--when the contract finally came in, so the story was nearly all up when its ownership changed hands. Hopefully, we'll see the whole thing in print one day...)
At least one follow-on project may happen as well--a Touring the Stars PDF--once I'm sure it's worthwhile to do so. Like the Jardine saga, it too was started before my exit from the BT stage.
- Herb
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Hey there, folks!
Who's ready for the series to start all over again!?
Contracts are, apparently, more like "guidelines" than actual rules these days...
- Herb
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What happened?!
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Hey there, folks!
Who's ready for the series to start all over again!?
Contracts are, apparently, more like "guidelines" than actual rules these days...
- Herb
Sure... lets see where you take us.
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If you need any more editing, just let me know! :thumbsup:
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can not wait!!!
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If you need any more editing, just let me know! :thumbsup:
If you still had those chapters I gifted you, get started!
What happened?!
Contract breach on the company's part. You can't call it a sale when money doesn't change hands.
-Herb
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Will do, but not tonight... too close to bed time... You can expect them by Sunday night... :thumbsup:
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for those who might have missed it the first time around...
Chapter 3 (both parts of it) is now back in the story thread! All in all, I recall it being the chapter I was the most eager to do when I outlined the entire saga. Only took me, what, 10 years to get there?
So much lost time...
- Herb
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Caveat!
I have learned that fact-check reviews to the story were underway even as the contract foundered. As a result, edits may happen to the posted chapters in the days ahead.
- Herb
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Hello again!
Well, I'm being asked to stop again while things are worked out, so as a show of good faith, I will do so.
Will keep you guys posted, insomuch as non-disclosure allows.
- Herb
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Good news that! I hope they get it straightened out for you...
Also, you should have my latest edits in your inbox... :)
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I got 'em, thanks!
- Herb
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Awesome... hope they help! :thumbsup:
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It is so annoying when contracts and the accompanying payments do not go smoothly through.
I wish that you get your just financial rewards as I'd pay in turn for the complete ebook, no sweat.
Selfishly, I wish issues are being quickly resolved ... one way or the other.
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Hello, all!
Well, the issues have been resolved behind the scenes, and the story is back on route to formal publication. While this means I cannot continue posting free chapters now, rest assured that official publication of the Jardine tale's conclusion WILL happen...someday.
Thanks for your patronage and understanding, folks!
- Herb
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Glad to hear it Herb! :thumbsup:
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Ooo! Fancy update for those who might be interested!
https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/315787/BattleTech-The-Hunt-for-Jardine-Forgotten-Worlds-Part-One?src=newest
It's the first third of the Stevens adventure, now in official BattleTech post-BattleCorps fiction form.
Coinciding with this, of course, is the Touring the Stars: Jardine e-pub found here:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/315643/BattleTech-Touring-the-Stars-Jardine?src=fp_u5
WARNING: The TtS product does cover what happened to the planet after these adventures, but I wouldn't exactly call any of that a spoiler for the contents of the adventure itself.
Personal Request: If anyone does go about buying either/both of these products from DriveThru, please feel free to rate and comment on it/them. I *do* habitually look back on my pet projects, just to see if anyone's really enjoying them or has questions/critiques. (Yeah, I am THAT narcissistic and/or pathetic.)
Thaaaaaanks!
- Herb
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Is the third part finalized then?
I hope there will be a PoD omnibus/novel edition.
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One can only hope!
- Herb
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How much does the first book cover? I have bought all of the chapters that was put up in the battletech site when they came out.
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How much does the first book cover? I have bought all of the chapters that was put up in the battletech site when they came out.
Then you should have all of those. And you should have all of Part 2: Finding Jardine, when it comes out.
- Herb
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I can't wait to read Part 3!
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And I can't wait for you all to read it!
- Herb
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I gotta take a stab here, man.
So this is the official release; same as the old Battlecorps chapters?
Which was what you were re-doing here? Or what happened after the Battlecorps stuff that was released.
Echo the hope for a POD compilation.
And...good thing? I can wish you well in this? A Positive Outcome, Finally?
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Yeah, everything was settled.
Now, I can't say anything about the formatting of the content, but yeah, Parts 1 & 2 should be the parts we posted here when we all thought Part 3 was only ever going to be fanfic and the contracting process seemed dubious. Which means that there will be two more releases yet.
Book 1 = The Hunt for Jardine - Our heroes get hired and check out Shasta for clues.
Book 2 = Finding Jardine - Our heroes find Jardine and land on the planet, with significant resistance, triggering a WoB response.
Book 3 = Escape from Jardine - The heroes will be trying to get off the planet and the biggest fighting scenes happen.
Book 3 is what I was starting to release here, in chapters. Some friends were supporting me in that by reposting the first two books, for the benefit of folks who never got them before BattleCorps closed down.
- Herb
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Purchased on Amazon today. review to follow.
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Yeah, everything was settled.
Now, I can't say anything about the formatting of the content, but yeah, Parts 1 & 2 should be the parts we posted here when we all thought Part 3 was only ever going to be fanfic and the contracting process seemed dubious. Which means that there will be two more releases yet.
Book 1 = The Hunt for Jardine - Our heroes get hired and check out Shasta for clues.
Book 2 = Finding Jardine - Our heroes find Jardine and land on the planet, with significant resistance, triggering a WoB response.
Book 3 = Escape from Jardine - The heroes will be trying to get off the planet and the biggest fighting scenes happen.
Book 3 is what I was starting to release here, in chapters. Some friends were supporting me in that by reposting the first two books, for the benefit of folks who never got them before BattleCorps closed down.
- Herb
rock on
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Got it on thalia.de
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Herb, hopefully you don't need extra validation of my admiration for your work on DriveThru… ^-^
Seriously, it was my pleasure to help, and I'm SO glad the difficulties finally got worked out! :thumbsup:
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Herb, hopefully you don't need extra validation of my admiration for your work on DriveThru… ^-^
Seriously, it was my pleasure to help, and I'm SO glad the difficulties finally got worked out! :thumbsup:
Oh, I *ALWAYS* need validation, Daryk. My ego has been on the mend since my LD days....
And thanks for all your help and support!
- Herb
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You are very welcome, kind sir! :thumbsup:
I don't know when I'll log in to DriveThru again, but I'll try to remember to do the rating thing...
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I mainly ask for that because I honestly think it may help underscore what works and what doesn't to some folks upstairs.
- Herb
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In order to not hijack the Upcoming Releases thread, I'm switching over to this thread.
The fourth was a tentative idea. One that was supposed to explore what happens after her Jardine adventures, until she and her family vanish on Moore (events teased about in some Dark Age lore I'd written). But Book 4 was always the "optional" one, and so I never bothered with it. The 3 books will basically be it.
Since you mention the Dark Age lore, I'll take this opportunity to raise a point with you that came up among Sarna editors.
Brooklyn Stevens had (at least) two grandchildren, namely the Riviera siblings.
Stefka Riviera was the one traveling around trying to uncover Stevens' history, and narrowly escaped the explosion of the Lusitania IV. Check. (Who the heck names their passenger DropShip the Lusitania? What's her sister ships named, Titanic, Hindenburg, Target, and Redshirt? But I digress...)
But we have two names given for her brother, who was a RotS MechWarrior and went AWOL. She herself seems to adress him as Yeska, but the Wanted ad posted by the RotS consistently name the wanted person "Yefka Riviera". Out-of-universe typo, in-universe typo, or did he actually enroll under a false (if unimaignative) name?
Or third sibling?
Also, what about the timeline offset? Stefka's and the operative's messages are dated 3135, but the delivery timestamp is always between two days and roughly a month later in 3136. Was the one-year time lag intentional?
According to Levin's List, "Yefka" Riviera disappeared around Nov/Dec 3135 and the wanted ad was from April/June 3136.
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I'll have to dig through some very old files to see what's what, but the dates may be an issue based on how WizKids managed the news feed.
- Herb
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Thanks for looking into this!
And... Do you think a fourth Stevens book is still in the cards? Or will the series definitely conclude with Escape?
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Not unless I'm specifically asked and contracted for it, sorry.
- Herb
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But we have two names given for her brother, who was a RotS MechWarrior and went AWOL. She herself seems to adress him as Yeska, but the Wanted ad posted by the RotS consistently name the wanted person "Yefka Riviera". Out-of-universe typo, in-universe typo, or did he actually enroll under a false (if unimaignative) name?
Or third sibling?
Looking at my compiled documentation on that little saga, "Yefka" is a typo, and it wasn't even the only one in that Wanted Ad.
Also, what about the timeline offset? Stefka's and the operative's messages are dated 3135, but the delivery timestamp is always between two days and roughly a month later in 3136. Was the one-year time lag intentional?
According to Levin's List, "Yefka" Riviera disappeared around Nov/Dec 3135 and the wanted ad was from April/June 3136.
Looking through my materials, the 3135 events amount to the Lusitania bombing, and Yeska's departure from the service/going missing. A later commentary between "Dion" and "Art" also mentions the bombing was "a year back" (Oh, and it may interest you to know that Greta is bad news for local travellers. Folks here tell me that they had a wee mishap with the Lusitania IV at Shizuoka Interplanetary about a year back.). In most cases, the delay in messages was meant to reflect that they were lagging thanks to the broken HPG network.
Basically, after Lusitania blew up in mid-3135, the Riviera siblings went to ground and laid low for a while, with Yeska joining his sister some 5-6 months later. The operatives tracking them were playing catch-up when they (and another couple of actors aligned with the Rivieras) got involved a few months later.
That cover all your Qs?
- Herb
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Brilliant, thanks! :thumbsup:
Though I (or someone else) will obviously bombard you with follow-up questions sooner or later. ;)
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Herb, my review is up on DriveThru… I only saw two other reviews, plus one rating without a review. I hope it helps! :thumbsup:
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Wunderbar!
- Herb
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Well I just found the Jardine stories and devoured both of them in one evening... only to be teased with notes on the third!
I see the old thread with the drafts has been scrapped, and it appears there was (is?) an attempt at publication. Is that still on?
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I can't speak about the status of the manuscript for book III. :-X
But there are some nuggets (written by Herb) in the new BattleTech Legends book which are tied to the Brooklyn Stevens saga.
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Well I just found the Jardine stories and devoured both of them in one evening... only to be teased with notes on the third!
I see the old thread with the drafts has been scrapped, and it appears there was (is?) an attempt at publication. Is that still on?
The third book in the series--Escape from Jardine--is in CGL's publishing queue someplace. But when it comes out is unknown to me. [EDIT: I have been informed that the publication is slated for Q1 2021, so that puts it between January 1 and April 1.] You should be seeing it in the weeks and months ahead. I gather you enjoyed the first two parts?
I can't speak about the status of the manuscript for book III. :-X
But there are some nuggets (written by Herb) in the new BattleTech Legends book which are tied to the Brooklyn Stevens saga.
And, for the most part, those nuggets will actually post-date the third book, as they deal with the saga's aftermath...assuming said nuggets are the ones I think you mean.
- Herb
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[EDIT: I have been informed that the publication is slated for Q1 2021, so that puts it between January 1 and April 1.] You should be seeing it in the weeks and months ahead. I gather you enjoyed the first two parts?
Hey Herbert!
Indeed, I absolutely loved the first two parts. Doesn't seem like I have too long to wait for the third part now :).
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A minor update:
I've been recently informed that the publication of part 3 is now slated for sometime "before June".
- Herb
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Awesome! Congrats, Herb! :thumbsup:
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A minor update:
I've been recently informed that the publication of part 3 is now slated for sometime "before June".
- Herb
Congrats! I can't wait to read the whole Saga together.
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That's great
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A minor update:
I've been recently informed that the publication of part 3 is now slated for sometime "before June".
- Herb
[/quote
Which Year?]
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Which Year?
This being Catalyst, that's a pretty fair question... :D
- Herb
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This is the month! But is it the year?
Any chance you have any updates Herb?
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Sadly no, and not for lack of trying...
- Herb
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Well. Another Rapture sign missed. [snaps fingers]
They did say 'before' June, after all. If it were only a week or two delay, I'm sure they'd've said something. So, maybe in the year 3000?
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Well. Another Rapture sign missed. [snaps fingers]
They did say 'before' June, after all. If it were only a week or two delay, I'm sure they'd've said something. So, maybe in the year 3000?
Maybe. They also expressed an interest in a second trilogy about Stevens, which I can't really dive into without a contract and...guess what?
Yup.
- Herb
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Wow....
Did you guys know it's now been two YEARS since Book 3 of the Jardine saga was sold to CGL? Maybe we should celebrate it somehow.
Oh, wait...
- Herb
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Yeah, last year shouldn't count for SO many reasons... ::)
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When you said "June" I asked "Which year?" >:D
Remember?
It is a sad state of affairs facing this delay ... :-[
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And I acknowledged it was a fair question.
- Herb
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I freely admit that you did ... and I hope that you retain a sense of humour despite all the delays ...
As to the apparently displayed behaviour of CGL towards you as an author and game developer of long standing: IMO "professionally courteous" it is not .... based on what is laid down in this thread.
Anyway, I am still looking forward towards the book (ebook in my case) once it is published by CGL.
Christian
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I got an update today that basically says the story is stuck in a bottleneck with a whole bunch of other stories, resulting in a publication date of "someday."
And that they remain interested in a sequel trilogy set in the opening years of the Jihad. Which I have heavily outlined... but won't start writing without a contract.
Sorry for the hold-up!
- Herb
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No need to apologize! It's not even remotely within your control.
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Few things ever are, but in an age gone by I started developing a peculiar habit of apologizing anyway, because sometimes I feel that apologies are always needed and the ones responsible never seem to make them. So I do it on their behalf.
That, and I promised myself that the readers deserved to see the end to the story, and you're still waiting, two years after I finally tried to make good on that promise.
Meanwhile, I've basically been off playing with other stories and universes entirely.
- Herb
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Well. At least you have somewhere to escape to. :thumbsup:
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Oh, hey, folks.
So, at very long last, it seems, the "Semi-Official" Finale of the Jardine saga has been publishified on the internets, thereby obtaining a coveted status of "Fully Official" and "Released" at the same time! A compilation book is planned for later this year (reportedly), and I've even seen the cover for that, so I am hopeful that it WILL happen for sure. But anyone who wanted to check it out now, feel free to go out and get it.
Link: https://books2read.com/BattleTechEscapefromJardine (https://books2read.com/BattleTechEscapefromJardine)
I will remain open to discussing the book here, but I gotta say, I'm not sure if that should continue here or in another thread on another board, now that it's no longer fan-fic.
Anyway, yay?
- Herb
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Congrats Herb! :thumbsup:
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more for my OWN reading list...
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Wow. 14 April 2019 is when I first saw Book 3 as Herb was posting it up for free. This must be some kind of record!
Now if you'll excuse me, when we last our heroes escaping from the sinister forces of Precentor Pantsless...
(cue Spaceballs theme song)
In all seriousness YAY!!!!!
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... and bought it from thalia ... :thumbsup:
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Few things ever are, but in an age gone by I started developing a peculiar habit of apologizing anyway, because sometimes I feel that apologies are always needed and the ones responsible never seem to make them. So I do it on their behalf.
That, and I promised myself that the readers deserved to see the end to the story, and you're still waiting, two years after I finally tried to make good on that promise.
Meanwhile, I've basically been off playing with other stories and universes entirely.
- Herb
You know I still think the 6 Standard Answers were great.
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... and bought it from thalia ... :thumbsup:
Thalia?
- Herb
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In Germany ... check your link
I am also getting Shrapnel from there
They tie in into into a German loyalty program called payback and I have to do something with all these points...
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I got my copy on Amazon. read it, loved it, and left a review. Loved the call back to ole Bertram!
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I got my copy on Amazon. read it, loved it, and left a review. Loved the call back to ole Bertram!
Wuff! Just about forgot I put that reference in there, and yet it was meant to be rather significant for behind-the-scenes reasons!
- Herb
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Well it was referenced in one of the sourcebooks about Jardine showing up on the maps again...
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Loving the book cover :D
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Well it was referenced in one of the sourcebooks about Jardine showing up on the maps again...
That's true, which is why that call back was in there. And bear this in mind: That whole bit was basically worked out as far back as the publication of the Marik Handbook. Like a LOT of bits inserted throughout the Jihad, I found ways to interweave a bunch of minor details that ultimately linked to the Hidden Worlds and the shenanigans of Brooke and Co.
Loving the book cover :D
They asked me what kind of small craft to put on the cover, originally, and I pointed out that Stevens was fresh out of small craft at this point. (That's the one we're talking about, right?)
- Herb
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Yep - the one from your link.
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That's true, which is why that call back was in there. And bear this in mind: That whole bit was basically worked out as far back as the publication of the Marik Handbook. Like a LOT of bits inserted throughout the Jihad, I found ways to interweave a bunch of minor details that ultimately linked to the Hidden Worlds and the shenanigans of Brooke and Co.
- Herb
And that what makes it fun reading some of the older publications. That oh! moment.
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I totally missed the link to the cover... please repost! :)
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I totally missed the link to the cover... please repost! :)
Just scroll up to Reply #153 (by moi). The link is therein. :)
And that what makes it fun reading some of the older publications. That oh! moment.
It's really amazing to me, sometimes, how things came together back then. I mean, even with me admittedly nudging some of the scales a little, there were connections that fell into place that helped the Jihad plot along, meshed well with established canon, and tied into this saga I wanted to write based on the simple premise of "What if Indiana Jones was a BattleTech character?"
- Herb
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Thanks! I thought that was just a mutant Union... 8)