The moons of Grendel - Space Opera

[newburydave]

I also want to finish the current collaboratives, so I'd like to put this on the back burner.

Fantasy seems to be well represented here on the Anomaly, but I like space opera. It is my chosen genre. If anyone else would like to join me in this I'd appreciate it very much.

I'd like to approach this by collaboratively using the planning techniques that Jeff lays out in his book on Writing Cristian Fiction and Randy Ingermansons Fiction for Dummies book.

So if anyone would like to join up, start thinking about the following and lets collaboratively establish the following foundational items:

(This will be a discussion more than anything for this phase.)

------------------

0. Collaboration/participation rules

1. Story world -

2. Conflict elements

3. Summary

4. three act structure

============

As I said I want to finish the ongoing collaboration first (Random Storytelling with. . .), so lets just put this on a back burner and think about it.

I'd like to start the pot simmering, by suggesting a story world.

"Grendel is a wandering star. It was once part of the Milky Way galaxy, but a gravitational anomaly cut it loose from the major attractors at the heart of the galaxy. Now it is out in the midst of the intergalactic void heading for another galaxy. The Grendellians were once part of a galactic civilization, but they are now three galactic diameters away from their home galaxy. With existing FTL technology it would take them twenty years to cross that distance. They are all alone, with just their own star system and it's local resources."

[newburydave]

Okay, just checking the board and realized this was open to pursue now.

Would anyone be interested in starting this collaborative at this time?

I'd like to suggest some base rules, participants should:

1. Agree to a common character set and develop a character map for each. (a basic description of who the Character is); If you want to introduce a new character put him/her/it up for all of us to comment on.

2. Choose a set of POVs, maybe we can each run one of them

3. Decide on the fundamental conflict(s) that will drive the story and not introduce new ones without the consent of all.

4. Decide on a baseline of Technology, since this is a space opera.

5. When we start writing the story we will each write a Scene/Sequel pair in rotation (See Ingermansons "How to Write a Perfect Scene" at Advanced Fiction Writing - free stuff). That way we'll at least get complete actions.

If you want to join let's discuss.

Any takers?

SGD
dave

[onceuponatime]

May I join?

[newburydave]

Hey, welcome OnceUpon;

Welcome to the Anomaly, haven't seen your byline before.

By all means.

Right now it's just the two of us and I'm a bit stretched trying to "finish" two other projects for submission, but throw some ideas out there. I'll try to keep up the conversation.

If we can generate some interesting conversations that in itself may draw in some of the other Anomaliens (that's what they call us you know ;D).

So, any thoughts on what I've put out there so far.

By the way my background in space opera is most recently in Dave Webber's Honorverse; Eric Flint's alternative histories; the other Baen mainline authors and a lot of the new stuff on Amazon.

Originally I was one of the first readers for Asimov, Doc Smith, Herbert, and the other classics of the 1950's through 1970's.

I've got another story universe where I developed the idea behind the wandering star scenario to explain the heavy gravity "super race" of people who are one source for my most interesting POVs. So I've got a lot more ideas kicking around about that element.

But it is supposed to be a collaborative project, so what ideas do you have about our foundations. Methinks this could turn into it's own story universe.

Write on Sis

SGD
dave

[onceuponatime]

Hello,

Thank you.

Its interesting.

I've read some Asimov and I've seen some old science fiction television.

I like what you've said. I'm sorry, I'm not always very good at getting ideas.

[onceuponatime]

Have I done something wrong?

[newburydave]

Not that I'm aware of.

Why do you ask?

SGD
dave

[onceuponatime]

I don't know. I just worry.

[newburydave]

Just think about the Story world and let your imagination go. Look for you thread of inspiration, the Holy Spirit to, to start spinning you a story line.

dave

[eph612]

Hello. I've got some ideas if you're interested. Have you determined how many worlds are in this system?

[eph612]

Ok, I typed this out in a few minutes after reading your synopsis. This is more of a plotline than anything else. It still needs characters. But feel free to put it in your mental blender and mix some ideas with it:

The Grendal system is controlled by a Conglomerate, in which one corporation
controls the helium-3 production for the system, another, the mining guild,
which harvests raw materials from the limited number of asteroids left in the
system, and a research company that is attempting to expand the limits of current
FTL technology.
Along with the Conglomerate exists two forms of society: One group that seeks the
reunion with the old galactic civilization, and a newer generation of peoples who
prefer to remain isolated, and avoid the politics of other races.
The Grendal system has been isolated for so long that it does not have a standing
military in the capacity that it used too. Its military is mainly a peace keeping
force between the planets.
An as yet unknown alien race appears suddenly in a small scout vessel, and reeks
havoc on a small science outpost which is focusing its attention in the direction
of the new galaxy that Grendal is headed. After an old defense system disables the
ship,the incident is kept secret and the ship is delivered to the technology
corporation's R&D division.
The main character would be a member of the technology corporation, who reverse
engineers the alien technology and creates a way to 'leapfrog' back to the Milky
Way galaxy. The process is dangerous, but if successful, would take a crew less
than one year to return to familiar space.
The star Grendal is beginning to show signs of entering its Red Giant phase. The
peoples of the Grendal system know that their star may not survive long enough to
make the journey to the next galaxy.

Possible conflicts:
1. The new technology is not powered by Helium-3. Therefore if the new 'leapfrog'
drive works, the H-3 company will be lose its political power.
2. The isolationalists may form terrorist groups to prevent anyone from leaving
the system. Isolation vs. Exploration.
3. The war-like aliens may have conquered their own galaxy and may see the Grendal
system as a way station so they can conquer the Milky Way.

Some questions to answer:
1. Where did the aliens come from? And will anyone come looking for them?
2. They have the alien ship, where are the alien bodies?
3. Why keep it a secret?
4. What is the role (if any) of the Mining Guild?
5. Why not use the 'leapfrog' drive to go forward to the new galaxy instead of
back to the Milky Way?