Substrate Constraints: First Draft Complete

Well, that was fun. In my last blog post about Substrate Constraints, I was about to embark upon fleshing out the additional short stories to complete the collection. They simply whizzed past. It was such a pleasure to revisit characters from my older novels, and even to discover the hidden past of a few of the people in my more recent ones.

Hence, the first draft is now complete, coming in at around 70,000 words in total. I'll be taking a short break before reviewing it, getting it ready to publish, and then sending it out to my expert reader for comment. I don't want to do that until he's finished with feedback on The Muffler's Misery, which shouldn't be too long now. I'll be returning the favour with his latest novel in between too.

The next time you'll hear from me, it'll be concerning the plans for The Muffler's Misery, although I'll be adding a webpage for Substrate Constraints in the meantime. After these two books are published, and I've painted a few more walls, it'll be full steam ahead on my next novel, the all-new Foundations of Dichotomy. I'll probably give it a new working title before I start, but it's crystalising nicely in my mind.

To finish off, I'll give you a breakdown of the short stories in this collection, grouped in chronological order with the novels with which they're associated. Any story marked * is also available in my free collection, Mutterings of Consequence.

Chris Parsons

In Memory of Universal Truth: How the movie being filmed in Lacock whenever Chris Parsons visits Erica came to be made *

In Memory of Chris Parsons: The novel

In Memory of Psykhe: Erica Shaw has to placate the corporate lawyers doing due diligence, but who is the boy in the corner? *

In Memory of Tethys: Five years later, it's a time for celebration, but Erica is fed up with her boss

Raj Tamboli

A Misdivision of Consciousness: Raj Tamboli's experiences before, during and after Flood Day

A Vision of Unity: The novel

A Provision of Succession: How Katinka Farkas ended up where she began A Revision of Reality *

A Division of Order: The novel

A Redivision of Community: A generation later, is history about to repeat itself on Juno? *

A Revision of Reality: The novel

A Subdivision of Humanity: It's time for Nevin and Amy to make a fresh start *

A Supervision of Society: Nevin and Amy are ready to complete their journey and pass on their burden

Juventas

Approaching Juventas: The Juno II has reached a critical moment in its journey

Scouring Juventas: The novel

Expanding Juventas: Decisions need to be made as election loom in the newly expanded colony

Leaving Juventas: Bekomdef has a surprise when visiting the homeworld of the colonists *

The Mufflers

A Muffler Rebellion: How and why Brenda joined the Mufflers

A Muffler's Adoption: How Ashley came to be adopted into the Ministry

A Muffler's Recruitment: How Ashley recruited Colin *

The Muffler's Ministry: The novel

A Muffler's Vigil: Rowan has a cocoon to babysit *

The Muffler's Mission: The novel

An Officer's Disaffection: Dave Elkington makes critical decisions about his future, sometimes by accident

A Commander's Duty: Wynn Ridgard makes plans to protect Ringwall

A Muffler's Marriage: Lance has a delicate matter to raise with his King *

A Muffler's Assignment: Gwen is sent on her first assignment *

The Muffler's Retrospective: The Oracle reviews history to help decide how to keep humanity safe *

The Muffler's Misery: The novel

Two Mufflers Chatting: Brenda and Bristow chat about the future

The Substrate

A Substrate Reunion: A sequel to A Revision of Reality, Leaving Juventas, and The Muffler's Misery in one fell swoop *