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Trust and Friendship
Bringer of Light follows the crew of a spaceship on a mission to find new substances who accidentally come in contact with alien genetic materials leading to unexpected results. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As I wrote some months ago on my author website (see below), this novel was originally a joint project with an old college friend of mine. We have both been avid science fiction fans since our teenage years, but he studied science while I went on to study literature and language. At one point in late 2014 or early 2015, he wrote to me about an idea he had based on asteroid mining. The concept of mining asteroids for rare minerals had always been only in the realm of fantasy, but at the time (and indeed, now the pace and planning have picked up) companies around the world actually thought they had developed the technology to do so. Other writers (e.g., the “James S.A. Corey” duo) had just published about it, but we thought it would be more interesting to keep it both much closer to the present day and also add a metaphysical element. I.e., what would happen not just physically but emotionally and even philosophically to people who encountered the unknown in space? how would they view life, and their part to play in their society? how would others who didn’t have that experience react to this change in people they thought they knew?
The world you created in this novel is brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you wrote?
As a long-time fan of the Dune series (well, the original four books, anyways), I had always thought to set the main thread of the narrative on Mars. This is because Frank Herbert had originally planned to set Dune on Mars, then changed his mind to avoid all the political complications. I wanted to tackle those complications head on, and in the process, make them even more complicated (lol). So when my friend dropped out of the project for personal reasons and handed the entire story over to me, I quickly replotted the narrative, changed our original outline, and added several more characters in vying factions. By the time I got to a workable first draft, however, NASA (among others) had announced more discoveries about the presence of water on Mars. So I had to go back and rewrite several spots to make sure the science (and the fiction) were more plausible. Up to a point! (It is science fiction and not science, after all).
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some of the more important themes are power and acceptance, control and chaos, forgiveness and revenge, and above all else trust and friendship, neither of which can be demanded or bought but only given or earned. There may be other themes not evident to me that readers find on their own.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
This is the first book of a trilogy entitled Children of Pella. The second book, Defenders of Aeropagus, will skip ahead to see the burgeoning new cities of Mars, which has undergone partial terraforming but now faces two new threats. In recent years, a band of former asteroid hunters has turned to raiding the Mars cities for captives, believing that by ingesting Martian flesh they can gain the same telekinetic abilities. A Martian girl kidnapped as a child returns to reclaim her heritage, triggering plans for an all-out assault on the dying cities of Earth in a desperate attempt to retake what they believe ought to be theirs, while unknown to all a secret weapon is under construction by a hidden separatist group determined to take it all. The story concludes in book three, Return to Omphales, currently outlined but not yet written, as the Martian hierarchy begins to fracture and the separatists’ weapon increasingly puts them all in peril.
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To the disappointment of the Artemis crew, the rock is ultimately judged as comprising mostly ice and inert materials, with only some trace substances and no valuable minerals. They turn a chunk of it into drinking water for their own use and send the rest to the burgeoning Mars colony for further processing. Unknown to the crewmembers, the ice contains undetectable alien genetic material from outside the solar system. Before long, the crewmembers begin to hear voices, to experience other dimensionalities, and to learn more about the nature of the universe than they were prepared to. Their internal conflicts and new understanding of reality lead them to establish a new community on Mars, where the conflict sunders the Awakened from the Terrans who refuse to participate. Mars is reborn, and humanity will never be the same…
Bringer of Light
In Bringer of Light, M. Thomas Apple presents a captivating vision of future space settlement, crafting a narrative set against the backdrop of political intrigue and advanced technology. The story unfolds on the moon and Mars, where Bardish, a figure whose life resonates with success, feels like a mere pawn in the hands of powerful factions. Meanwhile, Weng, accompanied by Clarissa, anticipates establishing a new home on Mars, now a burgeoning center for space exploration.
Apple skillfully weaves a sci-fi tapestry that integrates alien and supernatural elements with humanity’s quest to explore the cosmos. As Mars stands on the cusp of a transformative settlement influenced by enigmatic alien species, the Artemis crew encounters voices and revelations, offering insights into the universe’s workings. The novel’s multi-perspective narrative allows readers to experience a diverse array of viewpoints, adding depth to the unfolding plot. The political machinations depicted, featuring a race for advancement and power struggles among various nations including China, India, Russia, and the United Americas, enrich the story with a sense of realism and complexity. The book’s use of poetic language creates a dreamlike atmosphere, with alien voices permeating the consciousness of both characters and readers, sparking contemplation about the vastness of the universe.
Fans of science fiction will be particularly impressed by the depiction of futuristic technologies, such as regenerative nanotech and bio-engineered organs, that push the boundaries of human capability. I feel the novel’s multifaceted narrative and intricate world-building, while offering a rich tapestry of political dynamics, may present an engaging challenge to some readers. This complexity encourages a deeper exploration of the story, inviting readers to actively engage with its layers and the subtle intricacies of character development and motivations.
Bringer of Light holds appeal for its imaginative setting and thought-provoking themes. Readers who appreciate a blend of speculative technology and introspective musings on the universe will find this book a stimulating read. I do believe, however, that there is room for even deeper character exploration within this intriguing narrative. For fans of science fiction, M. Thomas Apple’s novel offers a glimpse into a future filled with wonder and complexity.
Pages: 418 | ASIN : B0CVX15VSL
LITERARY TITAN 