After mentioning the Shuttlers sequel, the Paranormal City series and its eighteen spin-offs, and Opener of the Ways in my last post, there’s a fourth project that I haven’t talked about publicly, either. It’s a YA science fiction tetralogy titled Tachys, and it’s yet another thing that’s different to write.
Why I Haven’t Said Much About It
I didn’t plan to write this either. Unlike pretty much everything else I write, it’s not episodic. There’s a continuous story through all four volumes.
Not to mention that its roots lie much further back in the past than those of Opener of the Ways and Paranormal City. The original ideas came to me in my mid-teens while I was in boarding school. I remember writing the first chapters on a typewriter in the school library.
However, it was doomed because of the unthinking cruelty of my English teacher half a decade earlier. As I’ve already told this story earlier in Why I Came to Writing Late in Life, I don’t think it’s necessary to discuss it again.
I had completely forgotten about it by the time I started on Opener of the Ways and Paranormal City. It was only when I was going through an old external disc drive a couple of years ago before throwing it out that I discovered the manuscript. The odd thing was the timestamp; it was 25 years earlier, right in the middle of the decades when I wasn’t writing any fiction. Moreover, I had no memory of writing it. I can only assume that the memories of the teacher caused me to suppress recalling writing anything fictional. But, fortunately, I had done it, so the books weren’t lost. I added them to my Scrivener collection.
By the way, I also found an old list of book ideas from even earlier, during my university days, covering over a dozen books and some 30 short stories that I have yet to write.
What’s Different About Writing It
The worldbuilding and history in science fiction tend to differ somewhat from those in epic fantasy, especially when other species and non-human civilisations become involved. However, the characters whose threads eventually need to meet up in ways that make sense are pretty much the same; people are people everywhere and everwhen. It’s the aliens’ motivations and actions that can be problematic. This is as difficult for me as a committed Pantser as it is in epic fantasy, but the world’s size requires just as much care.
Why I’m Enjoying It Anyway
It’s as challenging as epic fantasy, too, but I enjoy it just as much. However, due to other commitments, this project is very much on the back burner at present.
When You’ll Hear More
Even less than for Opener of the Ways, I can’t even conceive of a possible date for this to appear, unless someone gives a very good reason to finish it (I’m looking at you, Annalisa!).
For now, consider this your first official hint that it exists, too. Oh, and I may also get around to that list of books and shorts someday.