My Favorite Book May Become A Movie

Just read that Paramount Pictures has bought the rights to make John Scalzi's Old Man's War into a movie.

Details at:  http://www.deadline.com/2011/02/paramount-buys-old-mans-war-for-wolfgang-petersen-and-scott-stuber/

If it's a success and goes through the entire storyline with Ghost Brigades as the sequel, I wonder whether they'll use The Last Colony to wind out a trilogy, or use the alternate version of that by following Zoe's Tale?  Perhaps a combination of both.

For those who haven't read this series (and I highly recommend it), The Last Colony and Zoe's Tale are the same story from different perspectives.  The Last Colony follows the actions/POV of John Perry (protagonist from Old Man's War) while Zoe's Tale follows the same plotline from the POV of Perry's adopted daughter Zoe (introduced in Ghost Brigades).

The idea was also done successfully by Orson Scott Card in Ender's Shadow - the telling of Ender's Tale from the POV of one of Ender's lieutenants - Bean.

Regardless, let's just hope that the translation from Scalzi's masterful story to the big screen doesn't crash and burn.

Plant Technology

Here's an interesting article from Fox News on research that will turn ordinary plants into security devices.  The plants turn white when certain elements enter their environment. 

Now think about this for writers.  Take this to the next level.  If technology exists to make plants change in the presence of certain chemicals, what about people?  Setup a biological defense against specific aliens.  Or even more specific.  Say a law enforcement agency has a simple DNA sample.  What about plants that could detect that person's DNA?

Think of how this could be used.  Rather than a large team of tech experts with sophisticated and complicated equipment, maintenance of the system could be done with a biologist.  A story could highlight how this approach could be used at facilities with fewer financial resources.  Create plants that, once "fed" a sample of DNA or certain chemicals, it reacts in their presence.

So keep researching and

Write On.

Books I'm Looking Forward To Getting In Early 2011

So far, there are two books that I'm looking forward to getting either in hard copy or as a download for my iPad.  In the last year, I've basically split my reading.  I'm keeping one hard copy book and one e-book.  The hard copy book is typically what I read on the bus coming home from work, and the e-book is what I'll read in bed.

Anyway.  First up is Center of Gravity: Star Carrier: Book Two by Ian Douglas, due out February 22, 2011.  I have to say that the first book I read by Ian Douglas didn't exactly rate in my top 10.  If you read my December post on escalation vs. twist you'd understand why.  The book had a lot of action, but it seemed too focused on the escalation and not enough twist for me.  That said, I was much more impressed with Earth Strike: Star Carrier:  Book One.  That had enough originality and twists to keep my interest throughout the book.  And it's perfect timing since I recently finished reading my first e-book, When All Seems Lost, by William C. Deitz (part of the Legion of the Damned Series).

The other book I just learned is coming out is the continuation of the Lost Fleet Series by Jack Campbell.  I was thrilled when I first learned that The Lost Fleet Series would be continued in two parts.  The first book for one of those, The Lost Fleet:  Beyond the Frontier:  Dreadnaught, is due out April 26, 2011.  The Lost Fleet Series is one of my three favorite science fiction series and has been a great inspiration to me in my writing.  One reason I loved the Lost Fleet Series is the twists and style of writing gave just enough details on the tech to give credibility and the space battle descriptions were among the best work I've seen.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching Black Jack Geary come to grips with his situation, learn to adapt to a new time and new military, deal with treachery, and his personal feelings.  All-in-all, an exceptionally well-rounded and well-written tale. 

That's all for now.  I urge anybody to put these books on their pre-order list and until you get them,

Write On.

I Thought Those Holes In My Belt Were Just Decorative (Off-Topic: Training Mode)

Since I was first pre-tested for my second degree black belt, I've lost about 10-12 pounds, my SUV spare tire has been replaced by one for a subcompact, and my man-boobs have shrunk from about a C cup to about an A.  The test hasn't been formally scheduled, but I could have another 3 or more weeks to prepare.

Since I'm in "training mode" I am attending more classes, but when the test is over, I'll go back to my normal 2 - 3 classes per week (rest of the weeks is family time).  So how do I maintain when my training routine goes down?  Early losses are typically fastest and taking more classes helps definitely, but some things that have helped included some changes in eating and more cardio work.

Late night snacks/eating after my Tae Kwon Do class are a tough habit to break.  I'm hoping I'll be able to continue avoiding them after the test.

It also seems to help that I changed my lunch habits at work.  I use to bring nothing but stuff you'd find on a fruit/veggie platter (grapes, baby carrots, apples, bananas...).  Unfortunately I never really felt full, so I'd turn to snacks.  Now I take a bit more.  My new favorite at lunch is grilled chicken caesar salads or grilled chicken caesar wraps.   Much more satisfying, so I don't want to snack as much.

Hopefully, by the time I post again, I'll be locked in below 200 pounds.

Blind Driver

That's right, I just heard about a blind man demonstrating a new technology that would allow blind people to drive.  I heard about it and read the story on Atlanta Radio Station Star 94.

The car, obviously is loaded with high tech equipment like laser range finders, cameras, and more that will apparently map out the environment.  The technology "communicates information non-visually to a blind person allowing them to safely drive an automobile."  The driver wears special gloves (you can see wires/cables on the gloves) that help with steering/let the driver know how far to turn.

The system would probably need safeguards that would automatically slow or stop the vehicle in certain instances like if someone stopped abrupty or something/someone moves suddenly in front of the vehicle.  Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if that is added to cars for sighted people. 

For a direct link to the Youtube video, check this out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UdCJDEkTXcI

Now think about this technology for science fiction writers.  Sure, in space opera or futuristic science fiction, you can discuss technologies that let the blind function like sighted people.  One of the best known is Geordi LaForge's VISOR from Star Trek:  The Next Generation.  But what about something more like science fiction in the modern world - urban science fiction?  I could see this type of technology brought up for a blind character, or even a blind protagonist.

So keep researching and

Write On.

Reviewing A Draft Before Sharing

Recently, I went through and critiqued a short story through Critters.  It was one of the worst things I've read.  The writing was so bad and littered with inexcusable grammatical errors that I completely lost track of what the story was about.  Because the writer sent the draft in such poor condition, I really think he/she will not get the best feedback on the story because I believe other readers/critiquers will also be distracted by the poor writing.  Also, since there are lots of stories to choose from constantly through Critters (and other online writing/critting groups) that some may start, get fed up and decide to choose another story that is easier to read.  Poorly written stories can take more time to critique.

Now, let me remind everyont that I'm a fan of Critters.  Overall, I feel they've helped my draft novel, Legacy Soldier, progress and improve.  They also helped me find some stupid mistakes.  There is only so much you can do to edit your own work because you're so close to it that you know what you want to say and sometimes confuse that with what you're actually saying in the story.  That's where having others to give an objective read is important.  That said, we as writers should try to give our best draft to beta readers/editors.

Even a first draft shouldn't go out as just after it's been written.  If you want the best quality feedback, send the best quality drafts.  I know I've mentioned these tricks/tools before, but let me go through a few again.

Run a spell/grammar check.  These tools aren't infallible, but they do help clean up a story.  Another trick I've heard is to read your story/chapter to yourself out loud.  Does it sound right?  If you have a friend/family member willing, let them read it to you.  If they have trouble reading parts, you may want to re-write.  If you don't have someone who can do that, a tool I've found helpful is a free downloadable text-to-speech software called Ultra HAL.  C/NET rated the free version pretty well.

So remember, write, read, re-write, read again, and

Write On.

Innovations for Space Flight

I just saw a slideshow on FoxNews' Tech link focusing on 10 new innovations for future space flight.  Some are pretty much what you'd expect.  There's a slide for a new Mars rover, discussion of what kind of transport vehicle will replace the space shuttle, exercise equipment for astronauts and other things that I've been hearing about for a couple of years now.  But then there are a few that I haven't heard about as much.

Examples:  Nantennaes.  Billions of tiny antennae on the wings of unmanned aerial vehicles that would help provide electricity and power for an engine.  While this sounds like a high-tech version of solar panels, the technology is much more advanced and worthy of note to science fiction writers.

A robot motor that could operate in extreme heat, like on Venus.  Again, while not necessarily something people haven't heard of before in sci-fi, it's still interesting to know that there is currently such a device that could operate in temps allegedly up to 932 degrees.  According to the article, the nearest competitors can only withstand half that temperature.  This is a good example of how sometimes tech takes a massive leap forward before returning to incremental advances.

Whoever came up with this one must have been a 7 of 9 fan.  Skin tight space suits.  Apparently this type of attire helps to reduce the bone loss for astronauts in space for extended periods by simulating the effects of gravity.  When you think of the fact that astronauts going to the ISS often spend months there and considering a recent post I made regarding an article on a manned trip to Mars.  A one-way trip would take months - almost a year IIRC, this is an important development.