Colin Barrett: Blog

SOL readers have been very patient with, and even kind to, my previous postings. This one, though, is going to test you in both regards.
I'll start off saying that I think it's one of the best pieces of fiction that I've ever written; certainly it's one of the ones I'm most proud of. At the same time, I have to acknowledge that it has two serious drawbacks in terms of attracting readers:
First, one of the codes I picked is "slow," and so it is in terms of plot development; it takes quite a few chapters before you'll get a real sense of where the story's going. If you stick with it I think you'll find it's worth your while. But it's going to take a little persistence. I'll give you a quick head's-up: pay attention to the stray cat who shows up in Chapter 3. But that's all the hints you get; you'll have to bear with me, if you choose, as my tale unfolds. I've started off with a posting of the first three chapters to get at least a little momentum going, but mostly it'll thereafter be one at a time. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
For those who are too impatient to wait, Castaway is published, as with all my other long fiction, on Amazon for Kindle (if you don't have a Kindle, a PC-and, I believe, also a Mac-emulation is available free on the site). The price is only three bucks a pop; like most authors, I'm looking for readers far more than dollars.
The second marketplace drawback of Castaway is-and this is fair warning-that its secondary theme, which plays a pretty big role in the story, is grand opera. Yep, I mean the stuff that was written by the likes of Mozart, Wagner, Verdi, Puccini (the last is especially relevant here) and those folks. You don't have to know anything about it it read my novel; the references, of which there are kind of a bunch, are clarified as we go along to the extent necessary for the reader to understand what's going on. Still, at least a little knowledge will help you get the most out of the novel; and I know that opera isn't a topic about which many people (especially afficionados of science fiction) have a great deal of knowledge, or care to investigate all that thoroughly. I kind of expect some low ratings as a consequence.
Once again, though, I think you may find the story enough to overcome these limitations. I very much enjoyed writing it, and hope you'll take pleasure from it.

I've reposted these two chapters to correct small errors. In chapter 40 I had Jack installing a device to check for his being subject to long-range miking, but a reader pointed out that there's no such thing. A microphone doesn't produce any signal that can be detected. In chapter 41 I wrote "hypothecate" when I intended "hypothesize." "Hypothecate" is an obscure term meaning to pledge an asset as security, i.e. for a loan, and I misused it. The changes are very minor, so if you've read those chapters you won't need to go back.

Well, that's my story. Thanks very much to all of you who've kept reading. I've been steadily running 11,000-12,000 downloads per chapter, and knowing that so many people have been enjoying my offering is a big boost to the ego. My main reason for posting on SOL has been to gain readership, and I'm very pleased to have succeeded as well as I have. Those who've kept giving me encouraging comments are much appreciated. And to the ones who've voted, I also appreciate the score you've given to A.I.

Well, this is where the whole story's been heading all along.
I'm of course leaving myself wide open to accusations that I'm anthropomorphizing-placing human perceptions and feelings in the mind of my computer-spawned creation, whom I've so carefully held aloof from such notions up to now. But I gave this a lot of thought as I wrote this chapter, and I think the logic of Spook's reasoning is pretty sound even from a non-human point of view. Events have proved the accuracy of his self-perception as being immune to independent external control. Sure, that's been the case all along. But is it not credible that he might not have viewed himself so, at least not to an extent that converted itself to possible future actions? Bear in mind that, up until the Estrada incident, Spook has never directly intervened in human affairs in any similar way. Now that can of worms has been opened, and must be looked at squarely along with the potential consequences.
Remember, Robert A. Heinlein's "living" computer Mike likewise abruptly disappeared from human cognizen at the end of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, perhaps for something of the same reasons. Having taken my initial inspiration from the Heinlein novel, I thought it was sensible to follow his lead in that regard.
Just one more chapter, to clean up some bits and pieces and provide full closure. Thanks once more for reading. For those who are interested, all of my novels are available on Amazon; if you don't have a Kindle, Amazon also offers a free computer emulation that lets you read Kindle books on your desktop, laptop or tablet.

I usually try to write a little about the chapter(s) I'm posting that day. But I find that I have very little to add to this one.
This is kind of the way marriage ought to work, but so seldom does. Husbands and wives should make the major decisions that will affect their lives together. In most relationships it will work out that one party or the other is dominant, and with the small stuff that's fine. But where big decisions crop up, the dominant one has to give way so that the ultimate choice is a mutual one. Both of them have to live with the outcome, and it's considerably more than unfair if they don't have equal voices.
Two more chapters to go. Thanks to so many for staying with me.