The latest of my informal chats on YouTube with readers about the Man of War universe went up on YouTube last night. This episode discusses the Union home front during the Krag war and continues to explore the role of women in the Union in the year 2315.
Please, if are so inclined, like the video and subscribe to the channel. I wouldn’t be entirely displeased for some shares as well, but I know that’s asking a lot!
It’s been so long since I’ve posted that you folks would be justified in concluding that I’ve gone to that great Science Fiction Convention in the sky to commune with Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. That, would, in fact, be interesting because I know Asimov didn’t believe in heaven, but I digress.
In any event, I’ve had some horrific health problems, the details of which are too boring and unpleasant to relate here, including a few surgical procedures. Some of the issues–out of control diabetes, sleep apnea, leg infections, narcolepsy, and other stuff–all messed with my brain and made writing difficult or impossible.
I am on the mend, though, and have been getting some writing done. So, here’s the news that people ask me for in virtually every forum in which I appear on line on an almost daily basis–what’s coming from my pen.
What is most asked about is the next Max Robichaux novel, To Stations My Lads. It is a ways out–expect it sometime next year. I am hoping to get it to the publisher before Thanksgiving.
To whet the appetite, there will be a novella soon: “The Hunters of Vermin,” a prequel to the novels and a follow on to my earlier novella, “Deadly Nightshade.” It’s another tale of the young Max Robichaux and his adventures after being kidnapped by the Vaaach and transported 14,000 light years to the Crux-Centaurus arm of the galaxy. I’m trying to get it done in the next few weeks. I may post a sample shortly.
I’ve got convention news, as well, but I’ll put that in a separate post to make things easier for the search engines.
Thank you for your patience. It has been a difficult two years. There were times when I literally thought I was going to lose my toe if not my foot or even my leg. But, it seems that I’m going to get to keep all of my limbs for now. And, those of you who saw me hobbling around at CONDORCON with a cane several months ago will be glad to know that the cane is in the garage gathering dust. I’m walking just fine and, in fact, am walking 45 minutes a day on the treadmill.
See you soon!
For those who did not hear the live broadcast, the third episode of Science Fiction Spotlight Radio is online and ready for you to listen to it as a podcast. The guest is Matt Mather, one of the world’s leading thriller writers who has turned his hand to writing Science Fiction with his new Nomad series.
The interview went very well and spanned subject ranging from the popularity of Apocalyptic fiction to the enduring legacy of Isaac Asimov. It’s a good listen and well worth your time.
I just posted my first video on You Tube, discussing how I became an author. Be merciful.
Deadly Nightshade, a 37,000 word novella about the 16 year old Ensign Max Robichaux on his first deep space solo mission, is now available as a Kindle eBook. See the link below. Here’s the blurb.
Max Robichaux’s thrilling adventures didn’t begin on 21 January 2315 when he took command of the USS Cumberland at the age of 28. Somehow, before that date, Max became an expert on battle tactics, the psychology of command and leadership, the customs and fighting techniques of the mysterious and powerful Vaaach race, and how to devise innovative strategies to defeat superior enemy forces, bringing his ship and his men home when the odds are against him.
Deadly Nightshade tells a small but crucial part of that story, shedding light on how Max became the creative, innovative, deadly warrior readers have come to know in the “Man of War” Trilogy. In June 2304, the 16 year old green Ensign Max Robichaux is given a small but fast and stealthy ship to penetrate enemy space, observe a mock attack on a new kind of enemy battle station, and return with reams of information on the station, enemy weapons, enemy tactics, and other valuable intelligence.
Max finds that his vessel’s capabilities as well as his own courage and tenacity tested when a Vaaach ship intervenes in the Krag exercise and takes Max away from his task and from any hope of rescue. It seems that the Vaaach have their own uses for the young ensign and his nearly invisible craft. Max must fight his way past a superior force of alien fighters to come to the aid of a race being victimized in one of the most horrific ways imaginable. Once there, he must call upon every ounce of courage and deepest parts of his humanity to save millions of lives through making what may prove to be the ultimate sacrifice.
Deadly Nightshade is a novella-length (approximately 37,000 words) tale of adventure, courage, tenacity, and sacrifice. It packs everything Honsinger’s readers expect—realistically staged space combat, deep character development, believable aliens, and the thrill of being on a warship in deep space—into a compact package. Fans of Honsinger’s other books will gain interesting insight into the events that helped make Max Robichaux the officer we meet in the “Man of War” books. It is also an easily accessible entre to the series for new readers.
Here’s the link:
I know the updates have been a bit thin on the ground lately, but I’m one of those writers who believes that his readers would rather be more focused on finishing the next book than on blogging. Here’s where we are on Book III of the “Man of War” Trilogy, Brothers in Valor (or “BIV”). A few days ago, I finished the rewrite based on editor Mike Shohl’s “conceptual edit” of the original manuscript. Mike liked it a lot (or, perhaps, spared my feelings by telling me that he did), shot me back a few more suggestions that I pulled an all-nighter to implement in 20 hours of straight work, and shot back to him. He approved it and forwarded it to the publisher, 47North.
The “Editorial Lead,” Jason Kirk (whom I generally refer to as the “Uber Editor,” mainly because I haven’t a clue what an “Editorial Lead” does) says that a publication date will be announced in a few weeks. Naturally, I will proclaim, promulgate, and shout it forth here as soon as the publisher notifies me.
A few notes on what you are going to be getting in this book. First, it is action heavy–space battles, a two chapter long boarding action, lots of “fun with nuclear weapons.” Without any identifiable decision to do so, I seem to be moving from a “Patrick O’Brian Model” more to an “Early Heinlein Model.” This book contains a lot less of Max and Bram sitting in Max’s Day Cabin drinking Wortham-Biggs Four Planet Community Coffee and eating Cajun/Southern food and a lot more shooting and blowing things up. Second, this novel is a bit shorter than the first two, but has more battle and action sequences than they do, so I don’t think that anyone is getting shortchanged. Third, the “early Max” flashback that I mentioned a few times didn’t make it into the final version. Expect it to appear in a later book, in a separately issued novella, or some other place. I’m environmentally friendly and throw nothing away.
Fourth, the ending is a shocker. Big time.
Now, back to work. The story continues in what is tentatively titled the “Brothers of the Black Sky” trilogy, consisting of To Stations My Lads, Our Courage Defiant, and Hearts of Steel (titles tentative, your mileage may vary, not available in all states, check local laws, written near a kitchen where wheat products are in use).
Let’s see if I can get this one done a lot (A LOT) faster than the last book.
Now, where’s that map of the galaxy . . . .
All of my battles get plotted out on this white board, even the comparatively simple ones such as this skirmish I’m writing today between Union Marines and Krag spacers on board a Krag cruiser. There is some trial and error involved–sometimes what sounds like a bright idea is shown to be rather dim when plotted on the board. As you can see, my handwriting truly sucks.
Mack Meijers, host of the truly excellent “Science Fiction Spotlight” podcast program, gave a brief reading from the first volume of my “Man of War” series, To Honor You Call Us, on his show. If you will look at the right hand border of this page, you will see that I have cleverly installed a “widget” that will let you listen to that reading just by clicking on the play button. Or, if you prefer, you can navigate to the program’s page for the reading by clicking on the link below.
Maybe I’ll put a few readings up on this page sometime. Of course, if I do it, it won’t be with Mack’s truly posh English accent. Or, it could be, as I actually am pretty good with accents and do a passable Received English (also known as BBC English) accent. Naaaa. If I do it, I’ll do it with my normal voice, which is nothing to write home about. Anyway, here’s the link.
I’ve just posted a detailed discussion of the Systems Stations in the Cumberland CIC in the Inside the USS Cumberland Section. The direct link to the page is here: http://hpaulhonsinger.com/inside-the-uss-cumberland/the-cic-part-iv-the-systems-management-consoles/
I’ve added a new page to the “Inside the USS Cumberland” section. It’s an overview of the ship–specifications, commissioning dates, and similar data. It’s a work in progress, but I thought I’d put it up now and just keep adding to it rather than keeping it offline and posting it when it is done. One reader has already pointed out a few errors, which I promptly corrected. I hope you find it interesting.
You can go to the “Inside” section or just click on this link: http://hpaulhonsinger.com/inside-the-uss-cumberland/uss-cumberland-overview/
VADM Union Space Navy (Honorary)
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H. Paul Honsinger 