wiseheart: (Macika)
wiseheart ([personal profile] wiseheart) wrote2011-10-01 12:43 pm
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Party time again!

Hi folks! *waves*

Time is flying by, isn't it? It's that time of a year again - I'm getting older. In this case, I'm turning 55 on October 9, which used to be an important thing, back under the old regime. Women could retire at the age of 55 back then. So I've decided to ignore all that fantastic headway we've supposedly made towards democracy in the last two decades and enter my virtual retirement, blithley overlooking the fact that I'll have to work another 7 or 8 or only God knows how many years.

So, let's party! Last years virtual birthday party yielded 742 comments on 6 pages, which won't be easy to top, but we're good, aren't we? WE CAN DO IT! So, let's give it a try! In the recent years, it has always been great fun, so let's have fun again!

You're all cordially invited to help yourself to a slice of virtual Dobos Cake recipe - it's my absolute favourite, although I never managed to get it as good as my Garnny used to.

Cheers!

Note: The party will be closed on October 9, at midnight, sharp. Join us and have fun!

A birthday gift, in Hobbit-fashion

[identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com 2011-10-02 10:21 am (UTC)(link)
Since I look like a Hobbit anyway, I thought I'd follow their custom and give away birthday presents to my party guests. The first one is for [livejournal.com profile] stevie_carroll: a snippet from the introduction to my original sci-fi verse Windswept. Stevie, I hope you like the new version better!

Excerpt:
Dr. Paul Avakum, the most gifted engineer of his generation, not only on Earth alone but on all the human colonies, stood brooding on the observations deck of Skylab 273, a small communications satellite in stationary orbit above the domed city of Utopia Planitia, one of the semi-independent Mars Colonies. He looked out to the ceaseless activity at Orbital Station Ares: the oldest, biggest, most sophisticated shipyard in the entire solar system.

That was the place where the future of mankind began. Where the great colony ship Windswept, the cradle of a new world was being built. Dr. Avakum had been one of the initiatiors of this ambitious programme. He had been one of the creators of the new engines, made for endurance rather than for advanced speed – as time played only a minor role in this endeavour – and had followed the construction of the ship for the last eight years.

It was slow, patient work that required great attention to each and every minute detail; even with he current level of technology, the smallest mistake could have caused the complete failure of the project. Dr. Avakum bore the responsibility that no such mistakes happened – not alone, of course, but ultimately, he was the one overlooking everything – and the ship could leave the solar system on schedule.

This was the height of mankind’s expansion period, during which he nations of Earth had learned to unite their resources for grand, shared goals. The solar system was already populated to its limits, and humanity was about to make their first brave steps towards the conquering of nearby stars.

But none of those plans was braver, more determined than the one Dr. Avakum and his co-workers had conceived and set on its way. A dream, seemingly too far-fetched to become reality, had taken shape decades before the actual construction would have begun First they had needed to find the right destination, and that alone had taken many years of preparation.

Re: A birthday gift, in Hobbit-fashion

[identity profile] jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com 2011-10-02 10:32 am (UTC)(link)
Very interesting!

I like the character and the background (or so I assume :) ) to some of the other bits that you've posted.

Your worldbuilding in this is really interesting.

Re: A birthday gift, in Hobbit-fashion

[identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com 2011-10-02 11:15 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks. :) The funny thing is, I've just recently found an old concept to the Windswept universe, with somewhat different settings, and I'm now hesitating which one would be better.

Your own birthday gift is coming up!
artemis10002000: Don't drink water... fish have sex in it (Motormaster riding Slingshot)

Re: A birthday gift, in Hobbit-fashion

[personal profile] artemis10002000 2011-10-02 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Backstory! Delicious backstory! *purrs*

Re: A birthday gift, in Hobbit-fashion

[identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com 2011-10-02 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
*patpat* Don't get too excited, dear. The story isn't written yet. ;)
artemis10002000: Don't drink water... fish have sex in it (Default)

Re: A birthday gift, in Hobbit-fashion

[personal profile] artemis10002000 2011-10-02 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I know, but backstory's nice, too!

Re: A birthday gift, in Hobbit-fashion

[identity profile] stevie-carroll.livejournal.com 2011-10-03 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy Birthday! And thank you! There's a lot of potential in your world building there.

Re: A birthday gift, in Hobbit-fashion

[identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com 2011-10-03 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. I'm glad you like it. :)

So, do you think it's better this way? The original version started with the descriptions in the middle and totally lacked any protagonists. Was this what you thought when you suggested to turn it around?

Re: A birthday gift, in Hobbit-fashion

[identity profile] stevie-carroll.livejournal.com 2011-10-04 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, it definitely works better this way. I'd like to see more so I can compare properly, but it's off to a good start.

Re: A birthday gift, in Hobbit-fashion

[identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com 2011-10-04 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
As soon as I actually have written more, you'll see more, promise. ;)