rlfj: Blog

I have put the final edited version of Martian Balance on the ZBookStore site. This has had all the typos and fixes sent to me put into the book. If you purchased the story, you can go to the site and download an updated version.

I had a fun email this afternoon. Soronel wrote about Chapter 7: In this chapter is the following: “Gastronomie Marvel didn’t [undock], however, since they had just docked and the crew was all in Triad getting drunk and laid.” Okay, easy enough to understand why the EastHem crew would want to, but how could they possibly pay? Any relaxation of the no-money rule is eventually going to lead to ruin, the Martians can't let up on that one even a little. I suppose maybe direct barter, simply steal something good out of the luxuries cargo that is part of Martian-EastHem trade.

My response: It's been my experience that when men and women get together somebody is going to figure out how to 'get together.' Barter is something to consider. Maybe trading blowjobs for lobsters. It'd be hilarious to see a bunch of guys going through the port carrying bushels of lobsters.

Let me know about any errors or typos in Martian Balance. I will fix the posted chapters, but I will also fix the published book. At the end of the week I will publish the fixed version, which will allow everybody who purchased it to get the final version; I will post a note when I do that. Many thanks to all who made the purchase. My wife thanks you as well!

I’m still looking for new ideas for my next story. For all the readers that ask, I do not intend to return to either the Grim Reaper or the Carl Buckman universes. Those stories are now finished.

Also, still thinking about AI drawing programs. It would need to be easy, free, and able to do nudes. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

And so we end our journey. While I could have split Chapter 8 and the Epilogue into two separate posts, that seemed more than a bit anticlimactic. The Epilogue simply continues what happened at the end of Chapter 8, with everybody cleaning up the mess. I simply decided to post them both and finish it off.

The Martian stories have been some of my favorites. It’s been a wild ride through Al’s universe, and I really appreciate him letting me play in his sandbox. It’s just a real pleasure. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as well. I’m not sure if I will play in it again, but it’s been a blast!
Now, on to other ideas. Anybody have any? I haven’t begun any new stories. I’ve been putting some of my milder stuff on StoryRoom and that seems popular, but I just haven’t thought of anything new. I’ve been considering another story in the Nude Planet universe of icehead’s but haven’t gotten started. I really liked writing about Jonathan’s and Korona’s love story, and I think I could do something additional there, perhaps a few years down the road, where the kids are out of the house.

I’m curious. I’d like to try an AI illustration program, but I don’t know how. I have no known artistic talents. It would need to be easy, free, and able to do nudes. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

The fixed chapter has been reloaded. Sorry about that.

An early reader wanted to know how the Martians could keep track of Earthling diplomatic skullduggery. Simple – keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Separate embassy buildings aren’t possible in an environment where standalone buildings aren’t possible. It would be far less expensive in the Martian environment to build taller buildings than to build new buildings and domes. Additionally, since the Martians are building the embassy, they can install bugs and listening devices immediately. I guarantee that the Earthlings understand this right from the start, just like American diplomats understand the same thing when working in foreign countries.

Chapter 7 is relatively short compared to Chapter 6, but that’s how it goes. As I mentioned earlier, ‘A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.’

Enjoy!

No idea what happened, but the Chapter 7 I uploaded was missing about half a dozen paragraphs at the start. I just uploaded a new version so it should be fixed shortly. Sorry about that.