REP: Blog

Well Opening Earth is well underway and about a quarter of the chapters have been posted.

I received feedback from one of my readers, Gl….24, regarding the Official Secrets Act.

I used the term in the story for I recall it being in a document I signed when I was in the USAF, and briefed on classified information back in 1965.

Apparently there is a disconnect somewhere in my memory for the United States does not have an Official Secrets Act.

I wish to thank my many readers who have provided me with feedback regarding their opinions of the story, and especially to those who have passed on grammatical corrections.

REP

I posted 'A Reader's Guide to the D-Hopping Universe' as if it were a story. The Web Master let me know that was a no-no, and removed the story from the New Story list. I was given advice on how to provide my readers with access to the document and have implemented that advice.

To access 'A Reader's Guide to the D-Hopping Universe' go to the listing of New or Updated Stories. In the story's description box, click the D-Hopping Universe link. At the very end of the Universe's description there is a link to the document. Click on the link.

You should be able to access the link by selecting the universe Universes selection of the Home menu bar. The universe is new and was not listed earlier today.

'A Reader's Guide to the D-Hopping Universe' was prepared as a Reference Document/Tutorial. The setting for my D-Hopping stories is a diverse, extraterrestrial society and culture that is significantly different from Earth's society and culture. Information about the extraterrestrial society and culture is necessary as background information for the stories that will be posted in the Universe, but a story is not the place to provide the reader with extensive background information.

I personally feel that reading such a document is boring. However, a thorough understanding of the Multiverse culture and society will aid the reader in a better understanding of the story and some of the characters interactions. In 'Opening Earth' and my future stories, you will find 'Author's Notes' where I feel it is necessary to explain a facet of the Multiverse culture or society.

Thanks for your interest,
REP

I saved A Reader's Guide to the D-Hopping Universe using the wrong format. This caused some corruption in the text.

I have reposted the story after saving it in the recommended format, so hopefully that will fix the problem.

REP

Today I posted A Reader's Guide to the D-Hopping Universe and the Introduction and first chapter of Opening Earth. I will be posting a new chapter of Opening Earth every Tuesday.

A Reader's Guide to the D-Hopping Universe is not a story. It is a reference document that contains information about the Fourth Dimension, D-Hopping, and the Multiverse. The document provides detailed information on topics that are mentioned or briefly addressed in Opening Earth and in other stories that I will write in the future.


Opening Earth is my first story about Doug Smith, who is a citizen of the Known Multiverse. The story's premise is that there are multiple universes (the Multiverse), and they are connected by the Fourth Dimension's energy fields.

A small percentage of the people born in the Home Universe, Dimension Hoppers (D-Hoppers), have the ability to move themselves and freight through space using the Fourth Dimension's energy fields. The majority of the D-Hoppers are engaged in trade between the planets of many explored universes, which are governed by the Multiverse Government. The planets governed by the government occupy a region of space that is referred to as the Known Multiverse. There are a small number of D-Hoppers who explore the Multiverse looking for a world that will provide the D-Hopper with lucrative trade opportunities.

When such a world is found, the D-Hopper begins to open the new world to trade with the Multiverse. While opening the planet, the D-Hopper purchases merchandise on the new planet or on a Multiverse planet at a very low price and then sells it at a very high price at the other location. The D-Hopper can accrue an immense personal fortune while opening a profitable new world. The normal future for a new world is for the world to join the Multiverse.

Doug has located a profitable new world, Earth, and he is in the process of opening it to trade. Opening Earth is the story of how Doug Smith places Earth on the path to becoming a member world of the Multiverse, and his personal and professional experiences along the way.

The main conflicts in the story are caused by cultural differences between Earth and the Multiverse. For example, slavery is legal and socially acceptable practice in the Multiverse. However, Multiverse slavery is more in line with Earth's indentured servant practices. Doug is trying to settle on Earth, so he obtains some slaves and bring them to Earth to serve him as his domestic staff and mistresses. Living on Earth with his ladies makes life interesting for while he does not broadcast the fact that they are his slaves, he does not hide or lie about their relationship.

Doug's life on Earth becomes exceptionally complex and tumultuous when the Multiverse appoints him to be their Ambassador on Earth. It is now Doug's job to guide and shape the attitudes and culture of Earth's population so they will be willing to request membership in the Multiverse. Considering Earth's xenophobic attitude to space aliens, sense of independence, and cultural differences, this seems to be an impossible task. But Doug has a plan and a few allies.

I recently had the experience of a story, Opening Earth, coming alive as I wrote it; in this case, it came alive as I was finalizing it.

I was finishing Chapter 8 and thought I would conclude the story in about two more chapters. Then I had a good idea, which led to a second idea, and so on. I am now working on Chapter 19 and think three more chapters will finalize this part of the story. The story will not be 'finalized' for I will leave a number of incomplete subplots and I have several more 'good ideas', but I decided to cut off the story now. Depending on how it is received by SOL readers, I may write the remainder of the story.

However, I have also posted two stories as Part 1 of multipart stories. Once I finish Opening Earth, I will return to those stories and write the Part 2 of each. There will be no Part 3 for Chocolateen. Ancient Abilities has the potential for several more parts, but I will have to see where I take Part 2 before I decide if I want to continue the storyline.