Oolite Bulletins

Folks,

Due to the serendipitous usage of the word 'serendipitous' in another thread, various stars aligning, various permissions being begged, borrowed, stolen and likely to be being paid back with zero percent APR, I can now confirm, in light of all previous uncertainty and lack of immediate clairvoyance, that a moment in time whereupon the final Oolite flavoured fruits of my loin will be not only complete, but bestowed in their entirety for the sole and exclusive benefit of any and all members of this enlightened board, their relatives, friends and significant others, and the rest of the known universe, Beverley Hills, Lower Siddenham, along with various parallel universes, quantum uncertainties, higher dimensional planes and alternative realities upon the stardate of the 16th of December, during the evening as defined by Latitude 51 degrees North, Longitude 0 degrees East/West.

In other words, I'll press a button in the Coach and Horses at some point during the evening, hopefully accompanied by a beer fuelled cheer.

My final contribution to the monumental creation that is 'Oolite'

Click the image for a countdown page...

And here's the teaser...

With the alien menace poised to overthrow the galaxy a lone group of combateers is all that that stands between them and total annihilation. When one of their number is kidnapped by the aliens and their plans thwarted, the group must decide whether to mount a rescue and risk losing the war, or sacrifice her for the greater good of humankind...

Write on, commanders!

Cheers,

Drew.

That's great, Drew!

Just a thought: If you launch it on the get-together, mind the timing. Too early, and the other patrons may think the assembled Commanders belong to a reading club; too late and everybody will be on the ...dyslexic... side of alcohol intoxication...

I'm presuming this is an electronic release - the cheer will be because it has happened...


However Drew, I'm hoping this isn't your final contribution to Oolite - that would be a shame, a real, genuine, terrible shame.

(and it won't be either - the name Drew Wagar should appear as Editor I presume on "Alien Items")

I'll still be around on the forum don't you fear, but I'm going to pass the baton on the fan-fiction to other worthies after 'Finis'. When I wrote Status Quo there was only one other piece of fiction available, now there are dozens, and people writing all the time, so I think the forum will continue to be well served. Without trying to blow my own trumpet, it may actually encourage others to write if I 'get out of the way'.

As a writer, I'm now feeling a bit constrained by the 'Ooniverse'. I know that may sound a bit odd given it's Oonfinite possibilities, but if I go back to sci-fi (and it's not my natural genre at all - hence the emotional and relationship arcs in the sequels) I want to write something a bit 'harder' (dare I say it, more plausible) and not have to conform to a back story, the technology and the 'canon' of Elite. Call it a writer's selfishness if you like - I want to be in charge of the whole shebang.

That's in fact the plan. I've got a world to build with my nascant swords and sorcery epic, and based on 1 year = 100k words (for me) and given I envisage at least 3 parts, that's me done until 2015 or thereabouts. If the entire world's financial system doesn't collapse I'm hoping to have paid the mortgage by then... so I've got a bright, but vague, hope that I might be able to take up writing full time by then.

I'll make sure I complete the Alien Items compendium though, don't worry. (Actually not too much to do there.)

So I shan't disappear, I just won't be on active service.

Cheers,

Drew.

Write on (and on) Commander!

A 21 Mil laser salute for your contributions!

Interesting, you decided to release just one day after my b-day.

And the day before mine!!

happy birthday, Wyvern!

That's 'Cmdr Wyvern' - don't get the two confused!

Cheers,

Drew.

drew wrote:

That's 'Cmdr Wyvern' - don't get the two confused!

Heh. I was 'Wyvern' well before the blue dragoness showed up around here. I'm a legend and a classic.