The Beyond Saga Science Fiction Book Series - Official Blog https://www.BeyondSaga.com/Blog.aspx RSS feed for the official blog of the science fiction novel tetralogy written by Greg Spry Beyond Existence First Draft Complete https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=96 author Tue, 05 Jan 2021 22:56:00 GMT <img src="images/hny2021.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:250px;margin-top:0px;border:1px solid #fcb3c7;" /> Happy New Year! I hope everyone has been staying safe and following the advice of medical experts during this trying time. With any luck, the outlook will be much brighter as 2021 progresses. </i></b><br /><br /> The pandemic has brought its share of hardships. For me, it's yielded at least one positive. Being stuck at home more often gave me time to finish the rough draft of Beyond Existence (BEX), the final book(s) in the Beyond Saga (more on that ambiguous plurality in a bit). Below, I talk about the forthcoming story, my publication approach for it, the estimated release timeline, and what comes next. </i></b><br /><br /> Beyond Existence (BEX) has been the most complex, challenging, and rewarding work of fiction that I've written to date. It consists of many viewpoint characters, both familiar and new. It also covers multiple interconnected time periods and timelines. I've also done my best to include deep personal stakes for both Maya and Brooke, something I arguably did a better job of in book 1 compared to books 2 and 3. You will find that while the final chapter of the Beyond Saga ties all of the previous books together, it has particularly strong tie-ins to Beyond Cloud Nine (BC9). </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=96">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Astronaut Exercises Rights, Refuses to Wear Spacesuit https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=95 author Mon, 27 Jul 2020 23:24:00 GMT <img src="images/nospacesuit.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:250px;" /> International Space Station &#8212; On July 27, 2020, NASA mission control asked astronaut Major Karen Mumpsimus to perform a spacewalk to repair one of the International Space Station's solar panels. However, the astronaut refused to wear a spacesuit during her excursion outside the station based on the grounds that doing so violated her constitutional rights as a United States citizen. </i></b><br /><br /> "No one is going to tell me what I should or shouldn't wear," Major Mumpsimus said at the time. "I can't breathe with a helmet on or through any sort of face covering. I have a medical condition." </i></b><br /><br /> Doctor Voisoff Rezonski, a cosmonaut and fellow station occupant, rebuked the claim that people with asthma and other chronic pulmonary diseases would breathe easier in space without wearing a suit. "As a matter of fact," the doctor said, citing multiple studies and scholarly articles as evidence, "those afflicted by these conditions are more likely to survive in space with a suit as opposed to without." </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=95">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Review: Alien Affairs https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=94 author Sun, 28 Apr 2019 15:09:00 GMT <img src="images/alienaffairs.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:250px;" />Alien Affairs by Scott Skipper is a very well-executed first contact science fiction novel. The book gives the author's take on how the alleged UFO crash near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947 might have transpired. As the story progresses, it covers the subsequent ramifications decades in the future. </i></b><br /><br /> I was pleasantly surprised at how many of the events and character actions seemed plausible. Even though the tone of the drama is light-hearted, the author still took the time to think through the logistics of how first contact with a more advanced species might truly unfold. In fiction, the underdog triumphs over a superior force all the time because it's satisfying. Such a feel-good result emboldens us to believe that we can each transcend whatever stands in our way. But in real life, Goliath slays David the vast majority of the time. With that in mind, the struggles and failures of humankind's efforts against the aliens in the story rang true, and the bittersweet ending concluded the tale appropriately. </i></b><br /><br /> The characters, while seemingly dry at first, eventually show a great deal of personality through their dialogue and actions. This, as opposed to descriptions given in prose, is a sign of effective writing. Along those lines, the story unfolds very fluidly. It was an easy read. I tore through the novel in a pair of four-hour flights. However, in the last quarter of the novel, the author increased the level of detail and made his prose a bit meatier. This is in contrast to the first three-quarters of the story where the exposition was more bare-bones. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=94">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Review: The Lost Spell https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=93 author Sun, 28 Apr 2019 15:00:00 GMT <img src="images/lostspell.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:250px;" />The Lost Spell (Tales from the Lost Horizon) by Michael Eging is an entertaining short story within the sword & sorcery (S&S) subgenre of fantasy. </i></b><br /><br /> When the cantankerous old wizard and main protagonist, Thondric, suspects the theft of one of his spells, he embarks on a quest to reclaim it. Along the way, Thondric's viewpoint is engaging enough to maintain reader interest. </i></b><br /><br /> Some of what transpires does so a little too coincidentally, and the tale has its typical S&S pitfalls (lack of firm magical rules, a character casting or not casting the right spell at the right time for the convenience of the plot, etc.). </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=93">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Review: Alita: Battle Angel (2019) https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=92 author Sat, 23 Feb 2019 12:36:00 GMT <img src="images/alita.png" class="blogPostImage" style="width:250px;" />In short, go see this movie. It's awesome. Alita: Battle Angel (2019) features an endearing main character who kicks butt, a plot and story far better than what the critics are claiming, edge-of-your-seat excitement, and excellent world-building. Refreshingly, the movie honors the source material. I rate Alita 9/10 = 4.5/5 stars. For a much more detailed review, keep reading. </i></b><br /><br /> <b>Overview</b> </i></b><br /><br /> Opening weekend, I had the opportunity to see the Alita: Battle Angel (2019) movie. I don't often write movie reviews (never mind the fact that I don't post to my blog anywhere near as often as I should). The exception, of course, is when the movie is based on something I've loved for a long time. Since the early nineties, I've been a fan of the original Battle Angel (1993) Anime and Gunnm comic (manga) by Yukito Kishiro on which Alita is based. My writing draws significant influence from Anime, and I would include Gunnm/Battle Angel as one of those influences. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=92">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Beyond Tech: The Wave Gun https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=91 author Tue, 27 Mar 2018 23:16:00 GMT <img src="images/raygun.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:250px;" /><b>Status Update</b> </i></b><br /><br /> Before I get into the tech talk, I'll start with a status update. Scroll down if you only care about the rad-tastic tech. I won't hold it against you. </i></b><br /><br /> I've written about ten chapters of Beyond Existence (BEX). That's probably somewhere around a quarter of the first draft. I'm guessing book four is going to be the longest entry in the Beyond saga, given all the loose ends that need tying off and the general awesomeness that needs to occur. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=91">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Review: Our Justice https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=90 author Sun, 05 Nov 2017 22:02:00 GMT <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LDFM9WM/" target="_blank"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472768563l/31820291.jpg" class="blogPostImage" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LDFM9WM/" target="_blank">Our Justice</a> by John W. Howell, a thriller about a patriotic lawyer trying to thwart a rich and powerful terrorist, provides a mostly satisfying conclusion to the series. </i></b><br /><br /> Similar to the first two books, Howell writes book three with a concise and straightforward style, often overexplaining things. This largely works in the story's favor. The fact that the main protagonist, John Cannon, carefully thinks through everything becomes part of his personality and charm while aiding reader comprehension. The supporting cast is likeable, and I couldn't help but cheer for the do-gooder to finally achieve justice. </i></b><br /><br /> Unlike the first two books, book three suffers from a few minor plot holes (or at least from a few things left unexplained). Along those lines, I would've liked a little more falling action to wrap up the loose ends. I was also specifically disappointed that the antagonist's grand plan never materialized, and that the cool and deadly new technology the author reveals is never utilized in the plot. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=90">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> State of the (Star) Union https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=89 author Sun, 29 Oct 2017 18:49:00 GMT <img src="images/stateofunion.png" class="blogPostImage" />Howdy, folks. It's been some time since I last posted...yeah, I know my posts often begin that way. Here's what's been going in the universe of this author. </i></b><br /><br /> Move and Writing Progress </i></b><br /><br /> Throughout the past six months or so, moving from Madison to San Diego has absorbed much of my time. Whether I was packing for the move, dealing with getting my duplex ready to rent out, coordinating shipping my stuff to California, driving west, searching for condos, moving into my temporary apartment, moving out of the temporary apartment, finally moving into my new condo, or fixing stuff in the new condo, suffice it to say that the move has kept me busy. And to top it off, I worked over forty hours a week in my day job as a software architect this summer. I tell you. When it rains, it pours. And then add the fact that San Diego offers its fair share of distractions. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=89">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Review: His Revenge https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=88 author Sun, 23 Jul 2017 19:24:43 GMT <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445542804l/27257202.jpg" class="blogPostImage" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016P42OH6/" target="_blank">His Revenge (John Cannon #2) by John W Howell</a> was an enjoyable thriller that held my attention from beginning to end. </i></b><br /><br /> In the equally-riveting book one, My Grl, lawyer John Cannon gained recognition as a national hero by foiling a terrorist plot. Now in book two, John faces the consequences of his actions. The terrorists try to eliminate him for what he did and then use his status to further their agenda. </i></b><br /><br /> Howell writes with a very concise, matter-of-fact style. The prose and dialog are short and to the point, yet the author takes the time to thoroughly explain the reasoning behind what's happening. This approach makes for a very quick, easy, and satisfying read. That said, Howell will occasionally devote too much page space to minutia. For example, I don't need to know the step-by-step details of the main character's shower and bathroom routine. But I'll gladly skim over a few irrelevant side notes in exchange for comprehensive treatment of the important parts of the story. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=88">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Beyond Yesterday Now Available https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=87 author Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:58:11 GMT <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490846539l/34732614.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:250px;" /><a href="https://bit.ly/bydkdle" target="_blank">Beyond Yesterday</a> (<a href="https://bit.ly/bsaga" target="_blank">Beyond Saga</a> #3) is now officially published and available for purchase on <a href="https://bit.ly/bydkdle" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. In this latest installment of the <a href="https://bit.ly/bsaga" target="_blank">Beyond Saga</a>, Captain Maya Davis travels back in time to determine how a piece of tech ended up in the past. </i></b><br /><br /> Beyond Yesterday Links: </i></b><br /><br /> - <a href="https://bit.ly/bydkdle" target="_blank">Amazon</a> (Buy Kindle or Paperback)</i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=87">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Review: Rise of the Prince (Pearseus #1) https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=85 author Sat, 24 Jun 2017 16:06:39 GMT <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442695324l/26720103.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:250px;" />Overall, I enjoyed parts of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FYRKLPI" target="_blank">Rise of the Prince (Pearseus #1) by Nicholas Rossis</a> but ultimately felt that the novel struggled to come together as a cohesive story. I finished reading RotP a month ago. Given my recent move across the country, I haven't had many free moments to write or read, let alone write reviews. Now, I'm finally getting back to it. Here's what I recall. </i></b><br /><br /> The story was well-written and flowed well. Rossis knows how to write dialogue and prose. </i></b><br /><br /> Personally, I found Rossis' focus to be a little misplaced. Too often, the reader is abstracted away from what's really important. Too many of the scenes involve characters sitting around talking about what's going on rather than actually showing what's happening. Every other scene portrays character(s) talking about the ill-explained and ill-motivated war going on on a battlefield far, far away. I don't care much if I cant't see it. When the reader is actually immersed in the drama or action, the story shines. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=85">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Review: Leviathan Wakes https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=84 author Wed, 12 Apr 2017 08:52:59 GMT <img src="Images/leviathan_wakes.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:250px;" />The SyFy TV series The Expanse is based on this book, in case you've been living in a black hole. I saw season one of the show before reading the novel, and the former likely colored my perception of the latter. I loved the show, and I really liked the book, but experiencing them in that order confirmed that I can never read a book after seeing the show or movie. I had a hard time judging the appeal of the novel given that I knew what was going to happen and was picturing the characters as the actors as I read. </i></b><br /><br /> Having said that, the book is for the most part written well as one would expect from a work of traditionally published fiction. The story unfolds smoothly and logically. It's a solid, believable plot even though it isn't overly complex (human race fights over alien tech). There are a couple twists but nothing too unexpected. As a matter of fact, one of the things the author did well was to keep things simple, and sometimes less is more. The science and world-building is outstanding with things like future racism (Belters vs. Earthers), how the different gravities of different worlds affects space travelers, etc. This is one of the more plausible futures I've seen or read about except for perhaps the extent to which the author takes the alien tech. And I'm not so sure that Earth and Mars would each be these neatly unified entities. A typical pitfall of space opera is to make each planet equal a nation, but now I'm getting overly picky. If that's the worst issue, the book is doing great. </i></b><br /><br /> The alternating Holden/Miller viewpoints also work well. Both protagonists are flawed do-gooders, which are the types of characters with which I best identify. The likable characters each have their own recognizable personalities with strengths and flaws. The author is a master at knowing when to show a character taking action that characterizes him or her. But again, it was hard to know whether I was truly getting to know them through the words on the page or if my mind was substituting the actors. Miller does a lot of brooding, particularly toward the end. It was endearing up to a point and then I just wanted the author to get on with the story. Would I have had the same level of impatience if I didn't know what was going to happen? It's hard to say. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=84">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Review: Ghost in the Shell (2017) https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=83 author Sun, 02 Apr 2017 19:36:37 GMT <img src="Images/gits2017.jpg" class="blogPostImage" />I've been a fan of GitS since the original manga (comics) in the early 90's. I saw the movie in the theater in 1995 and then the sequel. I've watched every episode of Stand Alone Complex (SAC), SAC: 2nd Gig, and Arise more times than I care to admit. SAC: Solid State Society and The New (Arise) Movie mostly continued to uphold the high standard of the shows. And I've even read the three hard to find novels. The GitS franchise ranks in my top 5 works of fiction of all time and has heavily influenced my writing. It's one of the smarter works of science fiction out there, animated or otherwise. So it's an understatement to say that I know the GitS universe very well, have been waiting for a live action movie for a long time, and had high expectations for it. </i></b><br /><br /> I went into the 2017 GitS movie "apprehensively pumped." I was excited that a long-overdue Hollywood adaption was being made but worried about the whitewashing debates, the early reviews by critics, the plot changes, the casting, and plenty of other things. So what did I think after finally getting a chance to see the 2017 version? </i></b><br /><br /> Overall, I enjoyed it. The visual effects looked good, the plot and story worked well enough even if it didn't wow, and Scarlett Johansson effectively portrays the Major. It's a good-to-very good movie but not a great one. It ranks right in the middle of all the GitS works. Not the best but not the worst. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=83">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> BYD Cover Reveal and More https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=77 author Wed, 29 Mar 2017 20:33:40 GMT <a href="images/covers/beyondyesterday-cover-full-hires.jpg" target="_blank"> <img src="images/covers/beyondyesterday-cover-full-small.jpg" class="blogPostImage" /> </a> <b>Beyond Yesterday Cover Reveal</b> </i></b><br /><br /> Only three months left until <a href="https://bit.ly/bydhome" target="_blank">Beyond Yesterday (Beyond Saga Book 3)</a> is published on July 1, 2017. <a href="https://bit.ly/bc9mail" target="_blank">Sign up for my mailing list to read it for free</a>. Check out the full cover by clicking on the image to the right. </i></b><br /><br /> <b>Website Updates</b> </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=77">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Radio Interviews https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=76 author Sat, 10 Dec 2016 16:52:35 GMT <img src="Images/radio_interview.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:200px;" /> In the last several months, I've been lucky enough to do three different radio interviews. Use the below links to listen to each of them: </i></b><br /><br /> 1) <a href="https://bit.ly/gsbc9rw" target="_blank">Rave Reviews Book Club - Rave Waves Blog Talk Radio - Beyond Cloud Nine (Beyond Saga #1)</a> (30 min) </i></b><br /><br /> 2) <a href="https://bit.ly/gsawradio" target="_blank">America's Web Radio - The Prologue - Beyond Cloud Nine (Beyond Saga #1)</a> (60 min) </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=76">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Review: Acts Beyond Redemption https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=75 author Sat, 10 Dec 2016 16:28:02 GMT <img src="Images/actsbeyond.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:200px;" />Overall, I enjoyed reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015MGSY18/" target="_blank">Acts Beyond Redemption (Unintended Consequences Book 1)</a> by Suzanne Burke, a gripping police procedural about an FBI task force charged with investigating a series of murders that aren't what they seem. </i></b><br /><br /> The novel held my attention throughout the majority of my time reading it. Even the parts that didn't seem as relevant still held great intrigue and tension. The major characters are thoroughly entertaining and mostly well-rounded, each with their own strengths and vices. </i></b><br /><br /> My chief constructive criticism concerns the motivation and purpose behind the serial killings. I'm still trying to figure out whether I glossed over a stroke of genius or identified a huge plot hole. Also, even though I understand why many things turned out as they did, most aspects of the resolution failed to satisfy after such a strong buildup. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=75">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Radio Interview: BTH https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=74 author Thu, 13 Oct 2016 15:38:53 GMT <img src="Images/americas_web_radio_podcast.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:200px;" />At 11am EST on Fri 10/14 tune in to <a href="http://americaswebradio.com/the-prologue/" target="_blank">The Prologue on America's Web Radio</a> for my next interview. I'll be discussing my second novel, Beyond the Horizon (Beyond Saga Book 2). <br><br><b>Oct 19 2016:</b> If you missed the live interview, <a href="http://www.americaswebradio.com/podcasts/thePrologueOct14.2016.mp3" target="_blank">click here</a> to listen to the archived podcast.</i></b> Review: Deception (Powell #3) https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=73 author Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:30:00 GMT <img src="Images/deception.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:200px;" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018K6JZP6/" target="_blank">Deception (Powell Book 3)</a> by Bill Ward is a brisk, straight-to-the-point international conspiracy thriller that held my attention from beginning to end. The author develops the plot well, brings it to a satisfying conclusion, and mostly avoids the cliches of the genre. The writing style is very bare bones. While the wording and short chapters lack much in the way of descriptive detail, they make for an easy read and a lightning quick pace. There's very little character development, which limits emotional investment in the story, but readers who love plot-driven thrillers will find much to enjoy.</i></b> BC9 Free (Limited Time Only) https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=72 author Mon, 26 Sep 2016 19:24:22 GMT <img src="Images/Covers/bc9_front_3d.png" class="blogPostImage" style="width:200px;" />From Wed 9/28 through Fri 9/30, <a href="https://bit.ly/bc9kdle" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine (Beyond Saga Book 1)</a> will be free! You'll be able to add the novel to your Kindle at no cost on the Amazon product page. </i></b><br /><br /> "I loved how unpredictable this story line was...this was refreshing!" -gvalt (Amazon) </i></b><br /><br /> "The book kept me engrossed all the way to the end..." -Phil (Amazon) </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=72">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> BC9: A Slow Start? https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=70 author Mon, 01 Aug 2016 21:34:44 GMT <img src="Images/Covers/bc9_front_3d.png" class="blogPostImage" style="width:200px;" />When readers voice their opinions of my work in their reviews, I have a strict no retaliation policy. If someone expresses a negative viewpoint, I don't respond. I instead choose to appreciate the time they took to read the book and leave a review. </i></b><br /><br /> Now that <a href="https://bit.ly/bc9kdle" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine</a> has been published for almost two years, I've received enough feedback to glean a few recurring patterns in what people are saying. Therefore, this blog post takes a look at the top three constructive criticisms about the novel: the "slow start" of the beginning, the grand-sweeping conspiracy, and the likeability of the main protagonist. </i></b><br /><br /> The first and most common shortcoming I read in reviews is that the book starts off slow. I understand what readers mean when they say "slow," but from a pacing and action standpoint, the first few chapters are anything but slow. After a handful of introductory pages, chapter 1 portrays two space battles. Following a terrorist attack at the end of chapter 2, chapters 3 and 4 are mostly action. Chapters 5 through 12 take it down a notch with character building and interpersonal conflict but the pace of the exposition remains steady. I think readers who get used to the action in the first 4 chapters might perceive a brief lull in 5-12. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=70">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Radio Interview: 11am EST Fri 7/15 https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=69 author Wed, 06 Jul 2016 20:37:42 GMT <img src="Images/americas_web_radio_podcast.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />I'm excited to announce that Doug Dahlgren will be interviewing me on <a href="http://americaswebradio.com/the-prologue/" target="_blank">The Prologue</a>, a radio show on <a href="http://americaswebradio.com" target="_blank">America's Web Radio</a>, at 11am EST/10am CST on Friday, July 15h. Many thanks to Doug to having me as a guest. You can listen to the show live by clicking <a href="http://americaswebradio.com/the-prologue/" target="_blank">here</a> when it's time for the show (find the play button where it says "click here" on the right side of the screen). Or you can download the America's Web Radio app on Google Play or iTunes. During the show, we'll be discussing <a href="https://bit.ly/bc9kdle" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine (Beyond Saga Book 1)</a> and other aspects of my writing. It should be a good time!</i></b> Review: Beyond the Hidden Sky https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=67 author Sat, 02 Jul 2016 12:38:15 GMT <img src="Images/beyond_the_hidden_sky.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />I liked a great many aspects of Beyond the Hidden Sky by Marcha A Fox. The book follows a teenager who must survive on her own in a dangerous galaxy after getting separated from her family. However, the novel often struggled to hold my attention. </i></b><br /><br /> First, the positives. When events are taking place, the story shines. Creena is a likeable protagonist. She whines and pouts a bit too much, but she's a teenager, so she gets a partial pass. Her adventures and her unique supporting cast (especially the non-humans) are entertaining. </i></b><br /><br /> I also enjoyed the scenes where her father takes clever action toward resolving the conflict, and I appreciated the bittersweet ending. And who doesn't empathize with the struggle of a loving family trying to reunite? </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=67">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Beyond the Horizon Published https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=66 author Sun, 01 May 2016 10:13:18 GMT <a href="https://bit.ly/bthkdle" title="Buy Beyond the Horizon (Beyond Saga Book 2) on Amazon" target="_blank"><img src="images/covers/bth_cover3d_frontrev_medium.png" alt="Buy Beyond the Horizon (Beyond Saga Book 2) on Amazon" class="blogPostImage" /></a>I'm thrilled to announce the exciting publication of <a href="https://bit.ly/bthkdle" title="Beyond the Horizon by Greg Spry on Amazon" target="_blank">Beyond the Horizon (Beyond Saga Book 2)</a>, the sequel to <a href="https://bit.ly/bc9kdle" title="Science fiction novel Beyond Cloud Nine on Amazon" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine (Beyond Saga Book 1)</a>. </i></b><br /><br /> Beyond the Horizon is the story of Maya Davis, a young officer who must foil an attempt to exterminate a benevolent species during the first interstellar expedition. Get your copy on <a href="https://bit.ly/bthkdle" title="Beyond the Horizon by Greg Spry on Amazon" target="_blank">Amazon</a> today. </i></b><br /><br /> Read the <a href="https://www.gregspry.com/pressRelease.php" title="Beyond the Horizon Press Release" target="_blank">press release</a> or visit the <a href="https://bit.ly/bthhome" title="Science Fiction Novel Beyond the Horizon by Greg Spry" target="_blank">Beyond the Horizon official homepage</a> for more information. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=66">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Press Release: Beyond the Horizon https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=65 author Thu, 14 Apr 2016 20:49:03 GMT <img src="Images/covers/bth_cover3d_frontrev_small.png" class="blogPostImage" />We're a little more than two weeks away from the exciting publication of <a href="https://bit.ly/bthkdle" title="Beyond the Horizon by Greg Spry on Amazon" target="_blank">Beyond the Horizon (Beyond Saga Book 2)</a>. As is customary for new book releases, I've written a <a href="PressRelease.aspx" title="Beyond the Horizon Press Release" target="_blank">press release</a> to announce the event. Here it is in all its glory:</i></b><br /><br /> <b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b></i></b><br /><br /> <b>CONTACT: <a href="https://www.gregspry.com/contact.php" title="Contact the author" target="_blank">Greg Spry</a>, <a href="https://bit.ly/byinbks" title="Beyond Innovation Books Publishing" target="_blank">Beyond Innovation Books</a></b></i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=65">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Review: Jessica: The Autobiography of an Infant https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=64 author Thu, 14 Apr 2016 20:26:24 GMT <img src="Images/jessica.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />I've reviewed <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jessica-autobiography-Jeffrey-Von-Glahn-ebook/dp/B007B6V9DI/" title="Jessica: The Autobiography of an Infant by Jeffrey Von Glahn PhD" target="_blank">Jessica: The Autobiography of an Infant</a> by author Jeffrey Von Glahn PhD. Overall, I enjoyed this novelized account of a psychotherapist's real life sessions with a patient plagued by psychological problems due to her experiences as an infant (4/5 stars). Read the full review on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3GSCZAI392SQ7/" title="Jessica: The Autobiography of an Infant" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1580052485" title="Jessica: The Autobiography of an Infant" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</i></b> Anatomy of a Cover https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=63 author Mon, 18 Jan 2016 20:45:50 GMT <a href="Images/Covers/bth_cover3d_front_medium.png" title="Click for larger image" target="_blank"> <img src="Images/Covers/bth_cover3d_front_small.png" alt="Click for larger image" class="blogPostImage" /> </a>It's been a while since I wrote a blog post, so this one is long overdue. I don't do many posts or spend much time on social media because I'd rather put the little free time I have into the next book. </i></b><br /><br /> We're still over three months out from the official publication of <a href="https://bit.ly/bthhome" target="_blank">Beyond the Horizon</a> in May 2016, yet people have already lavished me with praise regarding the cover. Thanks for that! As a result, I've received a number of questions about what it takes as a self-published author to come up with such an eye-popping design that, in my humble opinion, beats out a lot of traditionally-published covers. Below I'll discuss the process I follow. </i></b><br /><br /> As a software developer by daytime trade, I have experience coordinating web design and other software implementation projects. I've worked with graphic designers on creating web sites, and so I approach the cover design process in a similar manner. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=63">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> BC9 Now at PJ Boox https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=61 author Tue, 10 Nov 2015 21:45:29 GMT <img src="Images/bc9_pjboox_shelf_lowres.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:250px;" /><a href="https://bit.ly/bc9kdle" title="Science Fiction Novel Beyond Cloud Nine by Greg Spry" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine</a> can now be found on bookshelves at <a href="http://www.pjboox.com/" title="PJ Boox Independent Bookstore" target="_blank">PJ Boox</a>, an independent bookstore catering to self-published and indie authors. It's exciting to see my books on sale in their first physical store. I especially appreciate how the display copies face forward rather than being positioned with the binding facing out and crammed together with a bunch of other books. Very cool.</i></b> Review: Charlie Robot https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=60 author Sun, 08 Nov 2015 21:59:35 GMT <img src="Images/charlie_robot.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />I've read and reviewed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Robot-Benedict-Martin-ebook/dp/B00N9NSVZQ/" title="Charlie Robot" target="_blank">Charlie Robot</a> by Benedict Martin. Overall, I enjoyed this story about a pessimistic scientist who gets stuck having to pretend he's the first artificially intelligent android. Read the full review on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1XL2Z44QPMLK2" title="Charlie Robot" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1429982223" title="Charlie Robot" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</i></b> BC9 Wins Silver in RF Awards https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=59 author Mon, 07 Sep 2015 20:21:22 GMT <img src="Images/readers_favorite_silver_medal_lowres_shiny.png" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" /><i>Beyond Cloud Nine</i> has won the silver medal (second place) in the 2015 Readers' Favorite Book Awards in the Science Fiction category. Check it out on the <a href="https://readersfavorite.com/2015-award-contest-winners.htm#cat231" title="Beyond Cloud Nine Silver Medal Winner in 2015 Readers Favorite Awards" target="_blank">2015 contest winners page</a>.</i></b> BC9 is Finalist in IAN Awards https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=58 author Mon, 07 Sep 2015 20:20:33 GMT <img src="Images/ian_scifi_finalist_2015.png" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" /><i>Beyond Cloud Nine</i> placed as a finalist in the 2015 IAN Book of the Year Awards in the Science Fiction category. Check it out on the <a href="http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/book-of-the-year.html" title="Beyond Cloud Nine Finalist in 2015 IAN Book of the Year Awards" target="_blank">book of the year awards page</a>.</i></b> Review: Beyond Vica https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=57 author Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT <img src="Images/beyond_vica.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />I've reviewed <i>Beyond Vica</i> by author TC Booth. Overall, I enjoyed this piece of YA fiction about a teenage girl who struggles to deal with her friend's illness (4/5 stars). Read the full review on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/review/R1Z9PX0OFYTI4H" title="Beyond Vica" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1337280588" title="Beyond Vica" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</i></b> Review: Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=56 author Sat, 04 Jul 2015 19:53:39 GMT <img src="Images/esquelle_tesla.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />I've reviewed <i>Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol</i> (Book 1) by author Joe Dacy II. Overall, I enjoyed this solid technothriller about a French database programmer hunted by US intelligence services because of her brother's invention of a new communications technology (3/5 stars). Read the full review on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/review/R1R5R93ZUMC14H" title="Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1272399939" title="Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</i></b> Review: My GRL https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=55 author Tue, 21 Apr 2015 14:49:52 GMT <img src="Images/my_grl_cover.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />I've reviewed <i>My GRL</i> by author John Howell. Overall, I enjoyed this thriller/murder mystery (4/5 stars). Read the full review on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/review/R1OZFM405KHZP3" title="My GRL by John Howell" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1191923175" title="My GRL by John Howell" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</i></b> Review: Rule-Set https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=54 author Tue, 21 Apr 2015 14:41:05 GMT <img src="Images/rule_set_cover.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />I've reviewed <i>Rule-Set: A Novel of a Quantum Future</i> by author Merrill R. (Rick) Chapman. Overall, this book had definite moments of brilliance but suffered from a handful of pitfalls that made it hard to read at times (3/5 stars). Read the full review on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R2ONXYEI8YLIFD" title="Rule-Set by Merrill R (Rick) Chapman" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1109746014" title="Rule-Set by Merrill R (Rick) Chapman" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</i></b> The Cool Tech of BC9: Starthroats https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=50 author Thu, 19 Mar 2015 17:26:32 GMT <img src="Images/starthroat.png" class="blogPostImage" />This article continues my blog series about the technology, world, plot, characters, and other aspects of <a href="https://bit.ly/bc9kdle" title="Buy novel page" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine</a>. This is the second installment of a two-part post. In this article, I'll be discussing the technology behind the Starthroats (star fighter craft) in the novel and how they cope with the <a href="https://www.beyondcloudnine.com/Blog.aspx?id=47" title="BC9 Orbital Conflict 101" target="_blank">realities of orbital conflict outlined in the first post</a>. </i></b><br /><br /> I'll be the first to admit that the Starthroats and space battles in BC9 aren't perfect. I allowed myself to embellish a little in the name of excitement as long as I didn't do anything impossible, and I think I did a reasonably good job of creating believable spacecraft and orbital conflict. I have yet to hear one person say the fighter craft are unrealistic or the battles would never happen as portrayed...so far (knock on futuristic smart wood). </i></b><br /><br /> One thing that's kind of ironic is the design of the Starthroat on the cover of the novel. I worked with a talented designer on it, and he came up with something very cool. If I were to get nit-picky and technical, though, I'd point out that the cover design is too close to a modern fighter jet, isn't all that space-worthy, and doesn't match my exact description from the novel. Nevertheless, cool is the way to go when you're trying to sell a work of action-packed fiction, so I have no real complaints. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=50">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> BC9 - Orbital Combat 101 https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=47 author Wed, 11 Mar 2015 11:26:55 GMT <img src="Images/starthroat.png" class="blogPostImage" />This article continues my blog series about the technology, world, plot, characters, and other aspects of <a href="https://bit.ly/bc9kdle" title="Buy novel page" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine</a>. In this post (part one of two), I'll be covering the realities of real space flight and how fictional space battles should take these factors into account. In the second part (to be posted later), I'll discuss the technology behind the star fighter planes and how that tech helps the fighters cope with these realities. </i></b><br /><br /> According to the unofficial bylaws of hard science fiction, any discussion of orbital conflict has to begin by recognizing that most popular sci-fi gets it wrong. As much as I loved Star Trek: Into Darkness, I rolled my eyes when the Enterprise fell out of lunar orbit toward the Earth, and you should understand why after reading this article. </i></b><br /><br /> The laws of orbital mechanics, otherwise known as astrodynamics, govern motion in space, and various fundamental properties of space lead to orbital results we Earth dwellers might not expect. Let's take a look at the major differences between air travel and space travel. Stick around. It'll be fun, and you might learn something. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=47">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> The Theme of BC9 https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=41 author Thu, 19 Feb 2015 21:10:16 GMT <img src="images/truth.jpg" class="blogPostImage" />This article continues my blog series about the technology, world, plot, characters, and other aspects of <a href="https://bit.ly/bc9kdle" title="Buy novel page" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine</a>. This time around, I'll be covering the thematic aspects of the plot. </i></b><br /><br /> Most readers have told me that the conspiracy in BC9 is plausible and thought-provoking, and the the "alien invasion with a twist" strikes them as something positively different. I aimed to leave these impressions, so I'm thrilled to have other people vindicate my efforts. On the other hand, a small handful of naysayers have questioned or even rolled the eyes at certain aspects. </i></b><br /><br /> The question that encompasses the overall theme of the novel is, "Would you rather be miserable knowing the truth or happy living a lie?" In chapter 3, Brooke has a conversation with her father while they're flying high above the Rocky Mountains. In that talk, we see that how she chooses to deal with being picked on as a kid prepares her for the larger moral conundrum she faces as an adult. When Brooke stumbles upon the conspiracy in the novel, she has a hard choice to make. Should she reveal the truth--something people deserve to know--even if that truth does more harm than good? Or should she keep quiet and help bury the truth, an act of deception which would bring about a much better life for everyone? It's a classic case of "do the ends justify the means?" </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=41">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> The Importance of Reviews https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=39 author Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:29:46 GMT <img src="images/reviews.png" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />Authors understand the importance of book reviews. Obviously, we want as many positive reviews as possible because they help us sell the next book. Much has been written, researched, and debated about why book reviews are important. For the purpose of this article, I'm going to take their extreme value as a given, so that's not what I want to talk about. Rather, I don't think readers truly get how important their reviews are to everyone else, so consider this an impassioned plea to review each and every book you read, especially self-published/indie books. </i></b><br /><br /> So much work goes into writing and releasing a novel: dreaming, brainstorming, research, outlining, writing, editing, rewriting, more editing, still more rewriting, critiquing others' works in exchange for feedback, proofreading, cover design, publication, signing up for about a million sites and services to promote the book, writing blog posts like this, lots of money--you get the idea. Novels take years and hundreds, if not thousands, of painstaking hours to produce. It took me five-and-a-half years to write my debut novel, Beyond Cloud Nine (I hope to cut that down to about a year-and-a-half for the sequel, Beyond the Horizon). </i></b><br /><br /> Conversely, a reader will consume those carefully-crafted pages in a matter of hours or days, depending on their reading rate. If someone really enjoyed a book, they should strongly consider hopping over to Amazon, Goodreads, and/or wherever they made their purchase and take all of 5-10 minutes to write a review. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=39">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> The World of BC9 https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=38 author Sun, 18 Jan 2015 20:57:02 GMT <img src="images/jupiter_lowres.png" class="blogPostImage" />This article continues my blog series about the technology, world, plot, characters, viewpoint, and other aspects of BC9. This time around, I'll be covering the world/setting of the novel. A number of readers have both praised and questioned the setting of Beyond Cloud Nine, so I thought I'd spend a little time talking about why I created the world the way I did. </i></b><br /><br /> BC9 begins in the year 2247 AD, which is the mid-twenty-third century. The main reason I chose set the book that far in the future is because of my educated prediction about how long it will take the real space industry to progress to the point in the novel (I do have a graduate degree in this sort of thing). If there's one thing a lot of science fiction gets wrong (in my view, anyway), it's the overly optimistic dates. In other words, stories are set too near in the future and advances are predicted to happen much too soon. </i></b><br /><br /> Due to the rapid pace of the advancement of electronic devices like smart phones, people tend to get the false impression that other types of technology should progress at the same rate. This is misinformed thinking. For example, while improvements have been made to make propulsion technology more reliable and efficient, today's rockets work more or less the same as those that took the first astronauts to the moon decades ago. With current chemical rocket power, it takes 6-8 months to get from Earth to Mars, and that's when the two planets are at the closest points in their orbits on the same side of the sun. Therefore, it takes over two years to reach Jupiter. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=38">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Happy New Year https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=34 author Mon, 12 Jan 2015 16:05:59 GMT <img src="images/brooke_flight_armor_small.png" class="blogPostImage" />A new year brings new happenings in the world of this science fiction author. After taking a little time off for the holidays, I'm back to writing and promoting <a href="https://bit.ly/bc9kdle" title="Buy Beyond Cloud Nine on Amazon" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine</a>. </i></b><br /><br /> First, if you haven't signed up already, please take a quick moment to <a href="http://eepurl.com/baRlcT" title="Subscribe to the New Releases &amp; Deals Mailing List" target="_blank">subscribe to the New Releases &amp; Deals Mailing List</a>. This will be the first method of contact I use when the sequel becomes available. </i></b><br /><br /> Speaking of the highly-anticipated sequel to BC9, I've written about a third of the first draft of <a href="Saga.aspx" title="Science fiction novel Beyond the Horizon" target="_blank">Beyond the Horizon</a>. In chapters 11 &amp; 12, mankind's first interstellar mission faces a major predicament while the situation back home is anything but stable. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=34">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Happy Holidays https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=33 author Thu, 18 Dec 2014 21:36:05 GMT <img src="images/brooke1_santa.png" class="blogPostImage" />It's the holiday season, so it's a good time to point out the holiday scene within <a href="Buy.aspx">Beyond Cloud Nine</a>. </i></b><br /><br /> Brooke Davis, the main protagonist, ventures out into New Galilei, the largest colony on Jupiter's moon Callisto, in search of the sparks she needs to maintain her piloting edge. While en route to Vik's Virtual Gaming, she encounters far too much artificially-generated winter and holiday cheer for her taste. Here's an excerpt: </i></b><br /><br /> <i>"She leapt out into New Galilei's subterranean downtown and sucked in a gust of frigid air. It stung her lungs but liberated her senses. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=33">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Interview: BC9 Cover Designer Tobias Roetsch https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=32 author Sat, 29 Nov 2014 12:42:23 GMT <img src="images/tobias.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="margin-top:0px;" />This post continues a series of interviews with the people who helped me publish <a href="Buy.aspx" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine</a>. Next up is <a href="http://www.gtgraphics.de/" title="Tobias Roetsch of gtgraphics.de" target="_blank">Tobias Roetsch of gtgraphics.de</a>, the designer who created the overall cover for the novel. I asked Tobias a few questions about working on BC9, being a graphic designer, and life in general. </i></b><br /><br /> <b>What was your favorite aspect of working on the cover for Beyond Cloud Nine?</b> </i></b><br /><br /> I really enjoyed the part at the end when the ship and character designs were finished and ready to be added to the cover design. With those elements, the image made it to the next level. Besides that I loved to work on Jupiter and alter it to the books needs. To work with an actually existing planet is somewhat special for me as I am normally creating my on worlds. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=32">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Interview: BC9 Proofreader Sophie Logan https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=30 author Sun, 23 Nov 2014 19:30:42 GMT <img src="images/sharperediting.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="margin-top:0px;" />This post continues a series of interviews with the people who helped me publish <a href="Buy.aspx" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine</a>. Next up is <a href="http://www.sharperediting.com/" title="Sophie Logan of Sharper Editing" target="_blank">Sophie Logan of Sharper Editing</a>, the editor who proofread the novel. I asked Sophie a few questions about working on BC9, being an editor, and life in general. </i></b><br /><br /> <b>What was your favorite aspect of working on Beyond Cloud Nine?</b> </i></b><br /><br /> Working with texts I enjoy is always fun, and I enjoyed the protagonist, Brooke Davis, a lot. She's tough and driven, which I admire, but she also deals with incredible guilt and shame. She certainly is not a perfect woman, and does her best to be a good person amidst some difficult decisions. I like reading books about imperfect heroes, and working on this book was a treat. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=30">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> BC9 Review by Rick Chapman https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=27 author Wed, 19 Nov 2014 22:04:06 GMT <img src="Images/rick.jpg" class="blogPostImage" />Merrill R. (Rick) Chapman, author of <a href="http://www.rule-set.com/" title="Rule-Set science fiction novel by Merrill R. (Rick) Chapman" target="_blank">Rule-Set: A Novel of a Quantum Future</a>, has been kind enough to write a positive <a href="http://www.rule-set.com/ricks-blog/starbuck-and-sushi-my-review-of-beyond-cloud-nine-by-greg-spry" title="Review of Beyond Cloud Nine by Greg Spry" target="_blank">review of Beyond Cloud Nine</a> after reading the novel. Check it out!</i></b> Interview: Designer Chi-Chun Liu https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=22 author Fri, 14 Nov 2014 16:28:31 GMT <img src="https://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/276/c/a/zero_by_pvtskwerl-d2zz206.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />This post continues a series of interviews with the people who helped me publish <a href="Buy.aspx" target="_blank">Beyond Cloud Nine</a>. Next up is <a href="https://pvtskwerl.deviantart.com/" title="Chi-Chun Liu, freelance graphic designer" target="_blank">Chi-Chun Liu (pvtskwerl)</a>, the designer who created the amazing Starthroat (star fighter plane) found on the book cover and website. I asked Liu a few questions about working on BC9, being a designer, and life in general. </i></b><br /><br /> <b>What was your favorite aspect of working on the fighter plane design for the cover of Beyond Cloud Nine?</b> </i></b><br /><br /> I would say, the most enjoyable element was the challenge of trying to combine identifiable features of fifth generation fighter jets with elements of space flight technology in a visually coherent and functional manner. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=22">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Interview: BC9 Editor Rose Fox https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=14 author Wed, 05 Nov 2014 17:02:04 GMT <img src="Images/rose.png" class="blogPostImage" style="width:125px;" />This post begins a series of interviews with the people who helped me publish <a href="Buy.aspx">Beyond Cloud Nine</a>. First up is <a href="http://www.copymancer.com/" title="Rose Jasper Fox, freelance editorial services" target="_blank">Rose Jasper Fox (The Copymancer)</a>, the editor whose insights helped me take the book from good to great. I asked Rose a few questions about working on BC9, being an editor, and life in general. </i></b><br /><br /> <b>What was your favorite aspect of working on Beyond Cloud Nine?</b> </i></b><br /><br /> I really admired the care and precision with which you (the author) approached the editing process. Your communication with me was always crystal-clear, and you obviously had a very strong vision for the book that could withstand comments on how well you were expressing that vision to the reader. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=14">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> The Female Lead Protagonist https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=9 author Thu, 23 Oct 2014 20:23:59 GMT <img src="Images/brooke1.png" alt="Brooke Davis, the main character in science fiction novel Beyond Cloud Nine by Greg Spry" class="blogPostImage" />A number of people have asked me why Beyond Cloud Nine and many of my other stories feature female main protagonists. This is a pretty interesting question, so I gave it some thought, dug deep, and came up with several reasons. </i></b><br /><br /> First, I think my natural inclination toward writing about a female lead began with the boyhood crushes I had on the strong women in the shows, movies, books, and comics I immersed myself in at a young age. The heroines of Anime particularly captivated me as a prepubescent, back before I understood why, if you know what I mean. Characters like Lisa Hayes, Lynn Minmay, and Rook Bartley from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotech_%28TV_series%29" target="_blank">Robotech</a> were not only sexy (as sexy as animated characters can be, anyway), but they played major roles in determining the fate of the universe. Same with the strong-minded pilot of the blue lion, Princess Allura, who refused to be left out of the action while the other boys formed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltron" target="_blank">Voltron</a>. Or how about the high-tech armored gals of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubblegum_Crisis" target="_blank">Bubblegum Crisis</a>. As I got a little older, slightly more sophisticated series with heroines like the Major from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell" target="_blank">Ghost in the Shell</a> continued to compel me. Atypical influences for a sci-fi author now writing for an adult audience, to be sure. Of course, there were many more strong female characters in live action shows and movies, too. Therefore, I got used to the ladies playing major roles early on, and my interest in them has only increased over the years. </i></b><br /><br /> Second, from the standpoints of uniqueness, marketing, and history, the heroine hasn't been (over)done as much as the hero. Traditionally, the man is the knight in shining armor and the woman is the damsel in distress, but as women have gained more equality in modern times, so too have the roles flipped. Lately, there have been more and more female leads in major books and movies (Katniss in the Hunger Games and Scarlett Johansson in Lucy are just two of many recent examples). Still, there remain far more stories where guys take the lead. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=9">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> BC9 Digital Editions on Sale https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=8 author Sun, 12 Oct 2014 18:03:12 GMT <img src="Images/kindle.png" class="blogPostImage" alt="Kindle edition of the science fiction Novel Beyond Cloud Nine" />SALE ENDED. For a limited time, I've slashed the price of the Kindle and Smashwords editions of Beyond Cloud Nine to US $0.99. That's $4.00 off the retail price. Head to the <a href="https://www.beyondcloudnine.com/Buy.aspx" title="Buy the science fiction novel Beyond Cloud Nine, written by Greg Spry" target="_blank">Buy Beyond Cloud Nine</a> page to purchase your insanely cheap copy.</i></b> Author Interview Posted https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=7 author Sun, 12 Oct 2014 18:00:41 GMT <img src="Images/greg5.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="width:100px;border:1px solid #ffffff;" alt="Kindle edition of the science fiction Novel Beyond Cloud Nine" />Check out my first author interview on <a href="http://rachaelrippon.blogspot.com/2014/10/interview-with-greg-spry-author-of.html" title="Caravan Girl, the book blog of author Rachael Rippon" target="_blank">Rachael Rippon's blog</a>. In the post, I answer ten questions about my writing and my first published novel, Beyond Cloud Nine.</i></b> The Cool Tech of BC9: Gravgel https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=4 author Wed, 08 Oct 2014 19:27:00 GMT <img src="Images/gravgel.jpg" class="blogPostImage" style="margin-top:0px;" alt="The Cool Tech of Beyond Cloud Nine: Gravgel" /> Hello, my loyal minions...I mean, fans. This post begins a series of articles I plan to write about a variety of topics, including the writing and publication processes, my motivation and influences, content specific to one of my stories, and a bunch of other interesting anecdotes. </i></b><br /><br /> First up, I thought I'd talk about some of the cool technology I invented in Beyond Cloud Nine. One of the things I love about smart science fiction is tech that's realistically attainable in the future. I've tried my best to create things in BC9 that could really happen because real possibilities are more exciting to me than pure wishful thinking. </i></b><br /><br /> In BC9, our heroine, Brooke Davis, is a star fighter pilot who engages in orbital combat. As a member of UN Aerospace Defense, she gets into plenty of dogfights. The star fighter craft of our hypothetical twenty-third century setting are capable of much greater speeds and acceleration than 21st century fighter planes. Greater acceleration means a pilot is subjected to greater g-force on the order of hundreds of gees. Such extreme force would crush a human being without some type of advanced protection that hasn't yet been invented. </i></b><br /><br /><i><a href="Blog.aspx?id=4">Continue reading the full article &gt;&gt;</a></i> Trade Paperback Edition Published https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=3 author Wed, 24 Sep 2014 15:28:50 GMT <img src="Images/createspace.png" class="blogPostImage" alt="Trade Paperback Edition Published" />At long last, I'm excited to announce that I've published the trade paperback edition of the novel via CreateSpace. Head to the <a href="Buy.aspx" title="Buy novel page">buy novel page</a> to purchase your hard copy of the book.</i></b> Kindle Edition Published https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=2 author Thu, 18 Sep 2014 12:09:00 GMT <img src="Images/kindle-big.png" class="blogPostImage" alt="Kindle Edition Published" />I'm excited to announce that I've published the eBook edition of the novel via Kindle Direct Publishing. Head to the <a href="Buy.aspx" title="Buy novel page">buy novel page</a> to purchase your digital copy of the book. </i></b> New Site Launched https://www.BeyondTheHorizon.com/Blog.aspx?id=1 author Mon, 15 Sep 2014 10:47:27 GMT <img src="Images/construction.jpg" class="blogPostImage" alt="New Website for Beyond Cloud Nine Under Construction" />Welcome to the new beyondcloudnine.com, home of the science fiction novel by Greg Spry.</i></b><br /><br />This site is currently under construction and will go live in September once the book has been published.</i></b>