Forum: Story Discussion and Feedback

A True History

PotomacBob 🚫

I've begun reading this series, but have not yet finished Part 1 (Part 4 is posting as I start this query.)
I looked for a review, but could not find one (which very possibly means it is user error rather than absence.)
I an intrigued by the latter-day Superboy similarities of the opening chapters. Does the story continue along those lines or does it go somewhere else?
If I continue reading, am I likely to care what happens to the characters? (That's of more importance to me than whether the author gets all the spelling, punctuation and proofreading right).
Opinions?

Replies: richardshagrin StarFleet Carl REP akarge muyoso

richardshagrin 🚫
Updated:

@PotomacBob

I have not read them all, or even most, but the scores for the stories increase significantly from one to four. From the mid 8s to over 9, four is currently 9.10 which is probably will be one of the top 50 stories on the site. Three is already number 48 at 9.07.

"For a story to appear in this list" (the top 50 long stories), "it must have at least 100 votes, be complete and on the site for more than 1 year and be longer than 50 KB."

Replies: awnlee jawking

awnlee jawking 🚫

@richardshagrin

I have not read them all, or even most, but the scores for the stories increase significantly from one to four.

That's typical for a series like that. With each new installment, bored readers drop out and the voters consist more and more of fanbois.

Note that a change in the way the number of readers is calculated means a finger in the air estimate of readers per chapter is no longer a valid comparison across installments. The calculation of number of votes hasn't changed, however.

AJ

StarFleet Carl 🚫

@PotomacBob

I've begun reading this series, but have not yet finished Part 1 (Part 4 is posting as I start this query.)

That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Books One through Four are complete on both SOL and SciFi Stories. I'm still working on Book Five.

I looked for a review, but could not find one (which very possibly means it is user error rather than absence.)

The only review posted is for Book Three.

Review by Knight6 [other reviews by Knight6 - Contact Reviewer]
Reviewed: 7/3/2021

For all those who have read A True History 1 & 2 and those who haven't. I HIGHLY recommend book 3 but 1 & 2 must be read first to understand everything in 3. I bought 3 and have read all of it and highly recommend you read it as it posts or buy and read it.

It something that'll make you laugh at points but make you think at others. It's a GREAT read and when the Clitoride awards come out I fully expect it to be nominated many times. Enjoy the reading and for those who've read any of it follow the 3 guidelines. Lol.

Plot: 10 | Technical Quality: 10 | Appeal to Reviewer: 10

My personal thought on where there haven't been more is everyone was too damned busy reading it. All four books have more than a cumulative 1.5 million downloads.

I an intrigued by the latter-day Superboy similarities of the opening chapters. Does the story continue along those lines or does it go somewhere else?

Superboy? Who's that? DC Comics doesn't exist in this alternate universe. Marvel does, though. Here's the key thing - we all know how the Big Blue Boy Scout acts. Well, Cal didn't arrive on Earth as a baby, he has his own code of morals and ethics, and he's 16 years old.

If I continue reading, am I likely to care what happens to the characters? (That's of more importance to me than whether the author gets all the spelling, punctuation and proofreading right).

Funny, that. I've done a lot of intertwining people that exist on both the alternate Earth as well as OUR Earth. I think you'll be pleased with it. Also, most of the geography and locations are quite real. No 'Gotham City' or 'Metropolis' - I've had people ask me when I went to Hutchinson High School, because I describe it so well. Same later on when I'm discussing the San Francisco Bay area. Book One was retro-edited by Jim07 and the FireDrake, and the other three have had Jim07 (you may know him as the guy that has Lazlo's accounts), Soronel, and the FireDrake checking everything before publication.

Opinions?

Well, Book One won the Clitorides for Epic Erotic Story of the Year and Best Erotic Science Fiction Story for 2020.

Book Three won Epic Erotic Story of the Year, Best Erotic Science Fiction Story, and Best Erotic Fantasy Story for 2021. Book Two was in the finalists for Best Erotic Science Fiction Story. And somehow or other, I won Author of the Year.

So, that's a whole lot of opinions that aren't mine.

REP 🚫

@PotomacBob

Does the story continue along those lines or does it go somewhere else?

The story has a very different plot, and I enjoy it even though it has exceeded my threshold for believability. It is a good fantasy.

The MC starts out at 15 YO in Part 1 and I think he is about 17-18 YO in Part 4. The underage MC's actions and orders are basically just accepted and followed by people in powerful positions. The MC builds a financial empire from scratch almost overnight. He hobnobs with Presidents, Kings, Premiers, Dictators, etc. Need I say more.

akarge 🚫

@PotomacBob

While we are on the topic, I am giving Starfleet Carl an ultimatum.

You shall post Book 5 immediately! Followed in short order by books 6, 7, 8, etc. If you do NOT comply, I shall be forced to hold my breath until I turn blue, while lying on the floor, kicking and flailing around.😡

Hmm, I wonder if that should be 'laying on the floor'?🤔

Replies: StarFleet Carl REP

StarFleet Carl 🚫

@akarge

You shall post Book 5 immediately!

Chapter 01
"When was the change in orbit noticed?" I asked.

There. That's all you get of Book 5 until I finish writing it. I actually had a bit of a writer's block for a time, plus simply getting the math at least close to correct. The website I used to use to help calculate nuclear detonation effects went offline about a week after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Oh, in case anyone was curious, the ending of both 'Armageddon' and 'Deep Impact' are so scientifically inaccurate as to classify both movies as comedies.

REP 🚫

@akarge

Depends on if you are on the floor by yourself or with a willing lady. :)

muyoso 🚫

@PotomacBob

If you like a story with little to no suspense because the main character is basically a god and a story with no natural human reactions to things and a story where all of the bad guys are evil incarnate caricatures, then yea you should continue reading. I noped out after the first or second book, can't remember.

The entire story lacked any sort of realism, which you have to have in order to ground a fantastical character like Superman. Literally the entire point of writing a Superman character is exploring the conflict created by having all the power in the world while trying to balance your humanity. You need to have people have rational and realistic reactions to things in a story like this or its just a fawning mess where everyone is circlejerking over how cool superman is. God I wish I could discuss some of the absolute dumbass shit that happens in this story, but I dont want to spoil it for anyone.

Replies: joyR StarFleet Carl

joyR 🚫

@muyoso

Literally the entire point of writing a Superman character is exploring the conflict created by having all the power in the world while trying to balance your humanity.

Whilst your post of view isn't uncommon, it is factually wrong in as much as superman isn't human, was not born on earth, did not have human parents. Therefore he can't "balance (his) humanity". There is none to balance.

Also, Superman is a bad example because almost all other superheroes 'dress up' to become their character, whilst Superman 'dresses up' to HIDE his character.

Replies: awnlee jawking

awnlee jawking 🚫

@joyR

superman isn't human, was not born on earth, did not have human parents.

Oddly enough, despite coming from a more advanced civilisation, superman conforms to American values.

BTW, which country are you currently in and when are you coming home? Those Tesco news bulletins, 'Britain, we have a Joy shortage' are seriously annoying ;-)

AJ

Replies: joyR

joyR 🚫

@awnlee jawking

Tesco "Every Lidl helps"

:)

StarFleet Carl 🚫

@muyoso

God I wish I could discuss some of the absolute dumbass shit that happens in this story, but I dont want to spoil it for anyone.

Well, you could always PM me, after all.

Just a few things to consider, though. This is a coming of age story, based upon what happens if the person in the rocket was NOT a baby, but was already a teenager. That means Kalikulo did not need to be raised by Earth parents, AND he already had his OWN morals and ethics - not those implanted by others as they influenced how he grew up.

At the same time, we get to see the conflicts he has both morally and ethically as he both attempts to adjust to some Earth standards, while also realizing that he DOES have the powers and abilities that he could BECOME a god if he desired to do so. If you found yourself on a planet where you had those abilities as a teenager, could YOU resist that temptation?

As for realism? It's science fiction. Other than the abilities of Kalikulo (and certain others), everything else is as real as an alternate Earth can be. How 'real' is it to have an entire culture of humanoids living under the sea, or a guy that can run faster than light? The other thing is - this is a multi-book series. There's no way I could have the character growth needed by everyone in a single novel. It'd be a single book half the length of Arlene and Jeff. The four books already are are 1.65 million words - and Book Five starts this Saturday (11/12).

Oh, and Kalikulo IS human. DNA analysis proves that, because Star Home and Earth were both colonized by the same race of humanoids. The Big Blue Boy Scout isn't human. The only reason he was sent here was because we look like his people, so he could blend in. Go read Larry Niven's 'Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex' for just some of the issues facing the BBS and any LL woman.

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Forum: Story Discussion and Feedback

A True History

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