Author name: gardensofhansen@hotmail.com

Aloha Orion’s Spur fans. “Sea of Salt” continues to move forward slowly. This week I wanted to share a piece of Chapter 8. Justin and Ada are enjoying their honeymoon on the island of Maui. They notice that they are being followed on the Road to Hana. Fearing a possible kidnapping attempt the couple decide to pull over and confront the people following them (not necessarily a bright idea). They are in for a surprise. Note: Remember this is part of an extended rough draft and may not look like this after I go through three proofreading and editing steps 😊 The black sand and rocky beach against the blue sky was very inviting, but rather than moving toward the beach, Justin pulled over near several other cars with people entering and exiting. The Toyota pulled over to the next available parking spot along the road, three parked cars back. Justin wearing brightly colored swimming shorts and a t-shirt that did not quite cover his midriff, and Ada wearing full length white beachwear and a white straw hat walked back to the Toyota hand-in-hand. Justin stopped and tapped on the front driver side window of the car. The electric motor of the window purred as it descended about three inches, and Justin could see the curly mop of hair of the driver. “Why are you following us?” Justin asked bluntly. The passenger leaned over the driver, “Dr and Mrs Nelson. We need to speak with you about an urgent matter.” Ada growled, “What is so urgent that you want to interrupt our vacation?” “Perhaps it would be better to discuss this somewhere private,” the curly headed man suggested. “Why? So you can stuff us in a bag and ship us to the Yakuza?” Justin snapped. “Yakuza?” both of the young men looked perplexed. “We wanted to talk about our fathers: Roger Eddington and Jake Rockwell. You might have known them better as Red and Rock.” Justin stood mouth agape, Ada recovered more quickly, “We’re so sorry for your loss. They were great men.” “We know, but they never finished what they started,” the curly headed man frowned. “We need your help.” A municipal ballpark was nearby, so they moved their cars to the park and sat at a nearby picnic bench. The curly haired man-boy started. He looked like he might be between 20 and 30, but sounded like he was still a teenager, I’m Jon-E and this is my friend E-tan. For starters, Roger and Jake were both pseudonyms and technically they weren’t parents as you know them but our guardians and sector leaders. R-kay and J-kay are closer to their real names.” E-tan continued, “When we learned the destination of your mission, we realized that you had likely discovered the cache of Kolob, so they managed to get berths on the ship. “We are not from Earth, although we have lived here for several generations,” Jon-E volunteered. “As we are refugees, so are you. We believe your ancestors came from Mars, most of ours were from Lantis, the planet that exploded creating what you refer to as the Asteroid Belt.” Justin remained silent, but Ada quizzed, “You’re not from Earth? You claim we’re not from Earth? Where are you getting your information? What source?” We can go into that later, but R-kay and J-kay were supposed to monitor your mission and if you were successful in retrieving kolob they were to either negotiate for, or if need be steal some kolob pearls.” “Why?” Justin jumped back into the conversation. “Our world, the moon you know as Enceladus, is dying. Our energy sources are nearly spent. It was by happenchance that we had a large research center in Enceladus when Lantis exploded,” Jon-E put his arms out open handed. “We need your help. We need to speak with your leader, Marshall Salt. We cannot get to him without your assistance. He always has bodyguards nearby to intercept and send us on our way.”

A couple of decades ago, I stumbled upon Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold in the science fiction section of Barnes & Noble. From that first read, I was hooked. The series, which soon centered on the unforgettable Miles Vorkosigan, has been a delightful, thought-provoking journey. My wife and I have enjoyed reading most of the series together—a shared adventure that still stands out as a favorite. While Miles has taken a backseat in recent years, Bujold has turned her formidable talents to fantasy, particularly in The World of the Five Gods series. Originally, I thought of it as a trilogy, beginning with The Curse of Chalion. The setting evokes an alternate medieval Spain infused with magic, and Bujold’s writing is so masterful that I think of her work as genre literature—transcending the usual boundaries of science fiction and fantasy. Recently, my daughter sent me a copy of Penric’s Progress, a collection of three novellas that return to the Five Gods universe. Reading it aloud with my wife, I was reminded how richly Bujold builds worlds and characters. The first novella, Penric’s Demon, is light on plot but rich in atmosphere and detail. Penric and the Shaman continues in the same vein, with a little more momentum. By the third novella, Penric’s Fox, Bujold hits her stride—blending compelling character development with an engaging mystery plot. So was it worth it? Absolutely. After finishing Penric’s Progress, I immediately researched the rest of the series. While the novellas are available individually on Audible, I opted to buy the next volume, Penric’s Travels, which contains the following three stories. It should arrive this week—and yes, my wife and I are both looking forward to diving in. If you enjoy rich medieval settings, subtle magic, and deeply human characters, I highly recommend the Penric and Desdemona novellas. They’re a quiet joy—one that grows with each installment.

Aloha – I’m working steadily on the science fiction sequel to “Salt of the Earth”. Along the way I’m going to continue to share short excerpts of the work in progress. Many of the characters in “Sea of Salt” will be familiar from the first novel. Marshall Salt and his now wife Naomi are still center stage, although major sub-plots involving Blake are making this a fun write. Blake is the close friend of Justin who is getting married at this point in the novel. He has sequestered himself away to work on the new element they found trying to determine what can be done with it. He destroyed one lab and is isolated in southern Utah when Marshall and Naomi come to march him off to the wedding. Meanwhile we get introduced to a couple of new characters who are spying on Blake and his work: Hank and Tom tommy Matinson. “That’s not something you see every day,” Hank turned to his companion who was trying to find some shade in the wash where they had been coming every day for the past three weeks. His companion, Tom tommy Matinson a stocky middle-aged man from the East Coast, lay with his back against the red clay gully wall with all but his feet in the shade. “Uh-uh. This is the only cool spot in this god forsaken place, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to move.” “Well, you’re missing quite a show,” Hank drawled, holding up his smart phone and snapping pictures. “How do you put this thing on video again?” Tom tommy looked at his companion suspiciously. Hank was a local hire. He was tall, lanky, and in no hurry to do much of anything. More importantly, his record showed that he had been in and out of the county jail twice in the last year and knew the area. In three weeks, Hank had also demonstrated an irritable propensity for practical jokes, including setting a ceramic rattlesnake half buried in the sand just yesterday. Finally, Tom Tommy worked his way to a standing position, and brushed himself off. “Okay, what’s the joke?” he spat out with a lower-class Boston accent. “Not a joke,” Hank grinned. “Up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a…” “House,” Tom tommy’s mouth dropped. “Give me that phone. We need video.” “I think I’ve got it now,” Hank pushed a button that showed himself and part of Tom tommy’s faces. “Well, how did I…?” “Give me that,” Tom tommy grabbed for the phone. Hank pulled it away, “How do I get it to switch back?” he kept pushing buttons. “Oh-oh.” “What?” Tom tommy snapped. “I think I turned it off,” Hank handed the phone over to his companion. It was nearly a full minute before Tom tommy could get the phone powered back up and find the camera button. “Okay, where did it go?” “Back on the ground,” Hank pointed. “Shit!” Tom tommy threw the phone to the ground and reached for his pistol, then thought better of it. Bending down he picked up the phone. “Did you get any pictures at all?” “I think so,” Hank shrugged. * * * The house had landed about fifty yards from where it had been sitting. The ground was not even, and the stress was causing the house to buckle in places. “The door won’t open now,” Blake complained. I think you’re going to have to bring it up again,” Marshall observed. “Any chance of controlling the direction?” “No,” Blake frowned. “It is simply vertical lift; I don’t have anything designed to try to control direction.” “Your ten minutes are up,” Naomi blurted out. She threw a roundhouse kick bursting the door open to the outside. “But this is fantastic,” Blake complained. I need to make notes and replicate the experiment. I need to understand the nuances of the degree of application. Plus, why did I get the whole house rather than the plate?” “All good questions,” Naomi nodded as she stepped out onto the uneven ground and took a short tumble to the flattened surface of the driveway. Spitting out some dirt and sage twigs she rose to her feet. “Questions,” she growled, “that you can answer after the wedding. Now let’s get going.” Marshall and Blake looked at the equipment, then back at Naomi in unison. Without a word, Blake removed and pocketed the round ball, then grabbed his coat.

Aloha, Readers! We’re celebrating the author’s birthday Hobbit-style—by giving you the gifts! 🎉 In honor of this special occasion, we’re hosting a free eBook giveaway of the entire Orion’s Spur series. Starting this Friday, you can download Book 1: Demeter for free on Kindle—and every day after, another book in the series will be available for free! Here’s the full giveaway schedule: Friday – Orion’s Spur: Demeter Saturday – Orion’s Spur: Return to Demeter Sunday – Orion’s Spur: Defending Demeter Monday – Orion’s Spur: Haumeah Tuesday – Orion’s Spur: Paragon’s Virtue 📚 That’s five epic books—five days—totally free. All we ask in return? If you enjoy the journey, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Reviews mean the world to authors and help more readers discover the series. Happy reading—and thank you for being part of this celebration!

What is Science Fiction? Science fiction (or sci-fi) is a broad and fascinating genre that explores speculative futures, alternative realities, and the potential of science and technology. Over time, numerous subgenres have emerged, each with its own flavor. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular subgenres of science fiction. 1. Space Opera Space opera emphasizes grand space warfare, heroic adventures, and sweeping interstellar conflicts. Interestingly, the term space opera doesn’t come from opera music but draws from horse operas (Westerns) and soap operas (melodramatic radio or TV shows). The idea is to capture melodrama, large-scale scope, and formulaic but beloved storytelling. Classic examples: Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, John Carter of Mars. Modern examples: Star Wars, The Expanse series. 2. Alternate History This subgenre imagines how history might have unfolded if key events happened differently. It blurs the line between science fiction and speculative fiction. Best-known example: The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. Other examples: Fatherland by Robert Harris, 11/22/63 by Stephen King. 3. Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic These stories depict civilization’s collapse and humanity’s struggle to survive in a changed world. Today, this is one of the most popular subgenres, especially in movies and TV series. Examples: The Hunger Games, Mad Max, The Walking Dead, A Quiet Place, Fallout, Terminator, No Blade of Grass. 4. Biopunk Biopunk focuses on biotechnology and genetic engineering, often portraying science itself as a double-edged sword. Classic example: The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells. Modern examples: Gattaca, Altered Carbon. 5. Time Travel Time travel stories explore the possibilities and paradoxes of moving through time. Must-reads and watches: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, 12 Monkeys, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Timeless (TV series), and the upcoming reboot of The Time Tunnel. 6. Hard Science Fiction Hard science fiction emphasizes scientific accuracy and technical detail, sometimes at the expense of character-driven storytelling. Examples: 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Andromeda Strain, The Martian, Interstellar, Gravity. My Own Sci-Fi Writing Journey When working on my own books, I often blend these subgenres: Orion’s Spur: Coming-of-age meets space opera and deep world-building. Salt of the Earth: A complex mix of hard and soft science fiction, focusing on asteroid mining, future economics, and political struggles. Project Lilliput: An adventurous dystopian tale set on Earth, with optimistic themes where society remains intact—poised to evolve into a space opera series. Conclusion: Why Sci-Fi Subgenres Matter Understanding these subgenres helps both readers and writers navigate the rich landscape of science fiction. Whether you’re drawn to grand space battles, alternative timelines, dystopian futures, or hard science, there’s a sci-fi niche for everyone.

YA Science Fiction Sequel Teaser: First Look at Salt of the Earth Book Two Attention fans of young adult sci-fi novels—get ready for a deeper dive into the high-stakes world of Salt of the Earth! I’m excited to share the first sneak peek from the sequel to my YA science fiction novel, Salt of the Earth, a story that blends asteroid mining, space exploration, and political intrigue. In this early excerpt, we learn more about Helena Padilla, a shadowy figure who played a supporting role in the first book. Now, she steps into the spotlight as one of the masterminds behind a powerful conspiracy—raising the stakes for what’s to come. Sequel Excerpt (Rough Draft – Not Final Line Edit) “Six months!” a short, white-haired woman complained. “You’ve had six months and all you can tell me is that it is not on your periodic table?” She turned and stormed out of the lab. A heavy-set man in an expensive suit followed after her. “Helena, wait,” he exclaimed. “It is not as simple as that.” Helena Padilla stood just outside the doorway of the lab. “This whole venture was convoluted and a waste of two years of my life… (continued above) As I continue writing, I’ll keep sharing excerpts from the sequel here—perfect for fans of speculative science fiction, mysterious alien tech, and space-age conspiracies. If you haven’t read the first book, Salt of the Earth is available now in eBook and paperback (and coming to Audible by the end of the year). It’s a young adult sci-fi adventure exploring asteroid mining, political deception, and the future of space travel. ➡️ Follow along for exclusive sneak peeks, updates, and behind-the-scenes insights into the making of this YA sci-fi series.

Aloha – I’m taking advantage of Amazon’s free days for sells of eBooks. Tomorrow (Saturday) all five of the eBook versions of the Orion’s Spur series will be available for free. This is a one day only event, get all five books of this young adult science fiction series for free. It is also available in paperback or Audible. It seems to be most popular in Audible books right now. The titles are: Orion’s Spur Demeter Orion’s Spur Return to Demeter Orion’s Spur Defending Demeter Orion’s Spur Haumeah Orion’s Spur Paragon’s Virtue It is a five book series and the story is complete with Paragon’s Virtue. I’ve been encouraged to write a sequel, but if I do it will proceed in a different direction. Other books availble on Amazon are Project Lilliput and Salt of the Earth. In related news, I’ve been contracted to write the sequel of Salt of the Earth, “Sea of Salt” which I’m currently working on very slowly. Project Lilliput is now being produced as an audible book. I was able to contract with the same narrator from New Zealand who did the Orion Spur series. I think he is a great talent.

Some good news on the audible book side. I talked with the publisher of “Project Lilliput” and “Salt of the Earth” and they have released the audio rights back to me. I’ve been in contact with Matthew and he has agreed to narrate both books for audible release. The bad news is that he is moving back to Germany and I’ll be lucky to get “Project Lilliput” completed before fall. I’m hoping to have “Salt of the Earth” released by the end of the year. They are both available in eBook, paperback and hard back editions, but Orion’s Spur series has sold much better on Audible than in hard cover. I guess audible is the wave of the present and future.

Aloha – A fair amount of things going on behind the scenes at the moment. I am seven chapters into a requested sequel of “Salt of the Earth” which is currently in print and e-book format through several venders. I was stalled for a while, but writer’s block eventually gave way to a fun sequence I just wrote. The ending is clear in my mind, but that is a long way off. Both “Salt of the Earth” and “Project Lilliput” were published by Next Chapter. I feel like they have done a good job with the book so far, but I wanted to get the audible rights back, which they have agreed to do. I was also able to contact the narrator for the entire Orion’s Spur series, so I hope to have at least one of those two books available in Audible by the end of summer. One of the main reasons I want the audible book rights back is that the Orion’s Spur series has done much better in audible format than in e-book or paperback. The five books are not best sellers in Audible, but the sales and ratings have been very good. Two of the books: “Demeter” (book 1) and Paragon’s Virtue (book 5 and end of the story arc) have made it into the top 10 of the sub-category: Action Adventure Sci-Fi for teens, and have rated in the top 50 for Teen and Young Adult Science Fiction Action and Adventure. All 5 books are doing very well. “Haumeah” is selling as well as the others but listed in an entirely different category. It periodically breaks into the top 100 of Space Opera Science Fiction (like today), and is in the top 200 in Space Opera as its own category. In any case, I’m just waiting for the all clear, and will start production. Anticipate seeing both books on Audible.com ACX before the end of the year. I’ll keep you informed as news unfolds.

I was certainly interested in the science fiction movie, “Mickey 17”. I like Robert Pattinson as an actor despite his bad rap in the Twilight movies. I thought he showed some good acting chops in Water for Elephants. He is mostly wasted in Mickey 17 until late in the second half when both Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 (both Robert Pattinson) dialog. He does clearly express two personalities in the exchange, almost as well as John Noble’s two characters did when they met (both John Noble) in the series. Something I did not understand in the multiple iterations of the Mickey iterations (each a new copy of the previous version) is why all the previous incarnations had the same milk toasty personalities, so waiting to be put upon and used that I didn’t even feel sorry for them, and Mickey 18 was the polar opposite of the previous iterations (maybe its explained in the book. The storyline could have been Avatar, with a group taking over a new planet without concern, in fact with distain, for the natives. The central antagonist, played by Mark Ruffalo is comic at beast. He is a defeated politician, leader of a religious? Movement, lacks confidence, and is bolstered up mainly by his wife played by Toni Collette. She seemed to take the role more seriously. Perhaps the intent is Donald Trump followers after he lost the previous election, portrayed as mindless followers to whatever outlandish ideas spout from his mouth. If that was the intent I really didn’t think the parallel worked. Despite a weak antagonist, and an even weaker protagonist I did enjoy the second half of the film. Traveling to, and exploring new worlds always at least catches my interest. I liked the aliens. They were delightful and stole the show anytime there were only a few around interacting with the humans. When they were a mob? Not so much. Would I watch the film again? Probably not, but channel surfing sometime in the future I might pop in and watch a few minutes of it again. The word innocuous comes to mind.