If you like Sci-Fi fiction, try this

[UtahPete]

A new book by one of our own .... John Simion

https://www.amazon.com/Zarmina-John-...ywords=zarmina

[Bob Denman]

I kind of liked the 1951 Classic: "Forbidden Planet."

As well as anything and everything "Star Trek"...

[Lew L]

Science Fiction fan----- Just bought it for the tablet to read on our up coming trip. Recently finished " The Swarm" by Orson Scott Carpenter. ( " The Formic Wars ") Also a good read for those who like Science Fiction.

Lew L

Bob-----" Live long and prosper"

[ARtraveler]

I kind of liked the 1951 Classic: "Forbidden Planet."

As well as anything and everything "Star Trek"...

Have the VCR of Forbidden Planet. When one considers this was made in 1951, the special effects are awesome. It was also the introduction of Robbie the Robot. We usually watch it about once a year.

[ARtraveler]

to Mr. Simion.

[Bob Denman]

Lew L

Bob-----" Live long and prosper"

You betcha!


Spock LLandP.jpg

[johnsimion]

I wasn't going to promote myself here but since Pete did it anyway, I'll gladly accept and say "thank you."

I wrote "Zarmina" because I got so frustrated with ordinary sci-fi in which everything is too perfect. In real life there is no gravity in space, the chances of encountering a Class-M (Earth standard) planet are between slim and none, and space aliens are highly unlikely to be either intelligent, hostile, or zombies. Specifically, I read a book by famed sci-fi author Stephen Baxter called "Proxima." That is a story of space colonization which starts out realistic and ultimately goes off the tracks when the colonists discover a "hatchway" in the planet (!) that is actually a wormhole to Earth. I read that and thought, "Rubbish!"

"Zarmina" is the opposite of the usual fantasy sci-fi. I went for realism from Day One. The planet Zarmina is real and tidally-locked with a real red dwarf star, Gliese 581. Because it's tidally-locked, one side of the planet always faces its star and is in perpetual light, much like Earth's moon always shows the same face to Earth. Scientists also believe that Zarmina is within the "habitability zone" of its star. All of this is factual - you can google it. However, what does "habitability zone" mean to human colonization? Nobody knows but my book speculates on it in the tradition of hard sci-fi. For example, I've dealt with issues such as the alien atmosphere, temperature, gravity, and the water cycle. There's even alien life, some of which is highly dangerous, but it's the kind of alien life that might actually on a planet with no seasons or even night.

Into this setting, the starship "Turing" arrives with a load of 100 colonists, who soon discover that their spaceship (built by the low bidder) doesn't have everything they need. For example, what do you mean, there are no power tools? They only have hand tools because power tools are heavy to carry aboard the spaceship, they cost more and would wear out long before the colonists could build a factory to make more of them. Then the colonists discover that the planet is lacking one thing necessary to human life. So what do they do about that? The "Turing" colonists also brought with them human error, emotions and drives. In the beginning, they have to come together to survive but as time passes, conflicts start to arise. Anger over mistakes. Sexual tensions. Greed. Murders occur, there's a grab for power and by the end of the book the colonists have been pitted against one another in outright warfare ... with a twist to that, too.

The book is about 385 pages with two maps and a list of characters and includes the science necessary to support my speculation. It's the work of over two years and has been professionally edited. You can get a sample by clicking on the link Pete provided. If this sounds intriguing to you, PM me and I will send you a FREE copy for Kindle (and there is a free Kindle app for PC if you don't own a Kindle, BTW). There's also a sequel in the works, "Battle for Zarmina" which deals with first contact -- although it's the opposite of what you might expect. That one is in draft form and will be released in the Fall.

[UtahPete]

I wasn't going to promote myself here but since Pete did it anyway, I'll gladly accept and say "thank you."

I wrote "Zarmina" because I got so frustrated with ordinary sci-fi in which everything is too perfect. In real life there is no gravity in space, the chances of encountering a Class-M (Earth standard) planet are between slim and none, and space aliens are highly unlikely to be either intelligent, hostile, or zombies. Specifically, I read a book by famed sci-fi author Stephen Baxter called "Proxima." That is a story of space colonization which starts out realistic and ultimately goes off the tracks when the colonists discover a "hatchway" in the planet (!) that is actually a wormhole to Earth. I read that and thought, "Rubbish!"

"Zarmina" is the opposite of the usual fantasy sci-fi. I went for realism from Day One. The planet Zarmina is real and tidally-locked with a real red dwarf star, Gliese 581. Because it's tidally-locked, one side of the planet always faces its star and is in perpetual light, much like Earth's moon always shows the same face to Earth. Scientists also believe that Zarmina is within the "habitability zone" of its star. All of this is factual - you can google it. However, what does "habitability zone" mean to human colonization? Nobody knows but my book speculates on it in the tradition of hard sci-fi. For example, I've dealt with issues such as the alien atmosphere, temperature, gravity, and the water cycle. There's even alien life, some of which is highly dangerous, but it's the kind of alien life that might actually on a planet with no seasons or even night.

Into this setting, the starship "Turing" arrives with a load of 100 colonists, who soon discover that their spaceship (built by the low bidder) doesn't have everything they need. For example, what do you mean, there are no power tools? They only have hand tools because power tools are heavy to carry aboard the spaceship, they cost more and would wear out long before the colonists could build a factory to make more of them. Then the colonists discover that the planet is lacking one thing necessary to human life. So what do they do about that? The "Turing" colonists also brought with them human error, emotions and drives. In the beginning, they have to come together to survive but as time passes, conflicts start to arise. Anger over mistakes. Sexual tensions. Greed. Murders occur, there's a grab for power and by the end of the book the colonists have been pitted against one another in outright warfare ... with a twist to that, too.

The book is about 385 pages with two maps and a list of characters and includes the science necessary to support my speculation. It's the work of over two years and has been professionally edited. You can get a sample by clicking on the link Pete provided. If this sounds intriguing to you, PM me and I will send you a FREE copy for Kindle (and there is a free Kindle app for PC if you don't own a Kindle, BTW). There's also a sequel in the works, "Battle for Zarmina" which deals with first contact -- although it's the opposite of what you might expect. That one is in draft form and will be released in the Fall.

Thanks John. I don't mind paying royalties so I'm going to download it to my Kindle. I don't usually do sci-fi, but since this is a departure from the norm, I'll probably enjoy it.

[Bob Denman]

John,
Thanks for the description: I'll fire up the transporter, and go find it!

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

IF the planet is within a red dwarf star then superman won't have his powers, batman will defineately beat his ass

[SteveLaoyster]

Forbidden Planet is one of my favorites. Congrats on the book, it looks like a good one.

[pegasus1300]

Science Fiction fan----- Just bought it for the tablet to read on our up coming trip. Recently finished " The Swarm" by Orson Scott Carpenter. ( " The Formic Wars ") Also a good read for those who like Science Fiction.

Lew L

Bob-----" Live long and prosper"

Isn't "The Swarm" by Orson Scott Card? Wrote Ender's Game and 9 or 10 others,The Shadow of the Hegemon, Empire, Hidden Empire etc.,etc.,etc.

[Lew L]

Yes it is------ Why I wrote "Carpenter" is absolutely beyond me. I actually had the book I mentioned right in front of me??????????

[Lew L]

I'm about 1/3 of the way through Zarmina . It's a good read for the si-fi buff.

Lew L

[UtahPete]

I'm about 1/3 of the way through Zarmina . It's a good read for the si-fi buff. Lew L

Good to know. I've downloaded it to my Kindle but haven't had the time to read it yet. Saving it for a rainy day

[Holly]

Congrats John !!!!!!! I knew you were very good a writing fiction, I bet you learned that from your news channels !!!!!!!!




Seriously........ Congrats !!!!!!!

[Lew L]

Finished Johns book. Good with a nice twist at the end that will lead to the next good si-fi book by John

Lew L

[johnsimion]

Thanks to Lew for such kind comments. Again, anyone in the group who would like a free Kindle or pdf version of the book should PM me. I'm not charging right now because I'm hoping to build up reviews on Amazon and the more copies I can distribute, the more reviews I'll probably get and hopefully I'll sell more copies later. The book only came out in April, so I feel pretty good that there are five reviews already. And BTW, Lew, I'm about 1/4 of the way through the second rewrite of the sequel, but it'll get at least one more rewrite even after this one is finished.

I'm learning a lot about publishing and selling books. Electronic copies are cheap ($2.99) on Amazon and I can give them away for free because it's really not costing me anything other than a $2.00 royalty that I might not get anyway. I can't give away free paperbacks, though, because Amazon charges me $5.60 a copy. Even if I sell a paperback at their $9.99 asking price, I make only 39 cents a copy on it after they get all their fees.

[UtahPete]

Thanks to Lew for such kind comments. Again, anyone in the group who would like a free Kindle or pdf version of the book should PM me. I'm not charging right now because I'm hoping to build up reviews on Amazon and the more copies I can distribute, the more reviews I'll probably get and hopefully I'll sell more copies later. The book only came out in April, so I feel pretty good that there are five reviews already. And BTW, Lew, I'm about 1/4 of the way through the second rewrite of the sequel, but it'll get at least one more rewrite even after this one is finished.

I'm learning a lot about publishing and selling books. Electronic copies are cheap ($2.99) on Amazon and I can give them away for free because it's really not costing me anything other than a $2.00 royalty that I might not get anyway. I can't give away free paperbacks, though, because Amazon charges me $5.60 a copy. Even if I sell a paperback at their $9.99 asking price, I make only 39 cents a copy on it after they get all their fees.

Interesting insight. Thanks

[jpcoder]

Finished it, and really enjoyed it! Looking forward to the next one!

John

[Rishathra]

I've been reading Speculative Fiction since the mid-60's when my mother forced me to do a book report for extra credit when I got a "C" in English in the sixth grade (first non-"A" ever <sigh>). So after all the above comments I'm really looking forward to this, and will report back on my adventures.

[Lew L]

JOHN,
Be sure to get a good proofreader for the upcoming book. Does the publishing company proofread what they publish??? I don't know. But I did find 4 or 5 syntax errors and a missing word or two. IT DID NOT DETRACT FROM THE BOOK AT ALL!!

It's funny how the human brain will magically understand what is being written even when a letter or word is missing.

Lew L

[johnsimion]

Lew - Thanks for the catches and for the kind words. I don't doubt a word you said, but believe it or not I actually I used the MS grammar and spell checker, and a good friend of mine who is a retired legal secretary and a stickler for these things proofread the book TWICE and neither of us caught them. All I can say in my defense is that it's hard to catch everything in a book is 385 pages long. It's also possible I may have deliberately chosen bad grammar a couple of times as part of the story. One mistake that someone else noticed was a reference to "Mason Travis" when the character's name in the story was actually "Mason Brown." Well, maybe one of these days I'll re-edit it and fix everything but right now I'm busy trying to edit the sequel, ​Battle for Zarmina.