The Library of Indecision
Buckle in for a long post! Keep on to the very end...
Greetings, lovely humans and robots!
OMG I love libraries.
But before we get into that and today’s flash fiction story, the first thing to know is that this weekend, I’ll be at the Farpoint Convention in the Baltimore area. Come say “Hi!” if you’re able to attend. Here’s my schedule:
In addition to the talk and panels, I should be able to sign some books at the author signing at 5pm on Saturday!
If you' aren’t local and want to grab copies of my books::
Links: Lunar Logic | Robot Galaxy Series | Final Orbit | Objective Reality
I know MANY of you have read these. Thank you!! Here’s an easy way to show your continued support: Are you on Facebook? Are you in any bookclub-type groups like Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Fans or International Sci fi and Fantasy Book Club? Well, often in these groups there are posts that start out “I’m looking for my next read…” and the poster specifies their criteria. If you see these, and the criteria seems to meet what I’ve written, please suggest my books! (And feel free to tag me as well.) Or, just post about my books there — it’s another version of giving a review. (And of course, if you have other Indie author favorites, please do the same thing for them!)
To ensure I keep writing more, especially in the Robot Galaxy Series, check out my for-real-it’s-really-forthcoming Kickstarter! Head over to the pre-launch page and hit that “Notify on launch” button right now so you’ll be notified the minute it launches!
…and make sure to read to the end of this newsletter and check other Indie writings and a bonus picture today.
Yes, I love libraries. In my last newsletter, I invited y’all to download some of my free stories.
One person wrote in commenting on how much they appreciated free stuff because of limited budgets to buy books.
I totally get that. And responded that you can certainly ask for my books at your local library. There’s no guarantee they’ll stock it, but ask. My books are all in the correct distribution system (at least here in the US).
And if you didn’t know, a lot of libraries have reciprocal programs: if you’re joined to library system X, then you can also join other libraries. My local county library system has reciprocal programs with at least 7 or 8 of the neighboring and nearby counties. I have a card at several. If one library doesn’t carry something, another might. And many libraries have extensive digital collections (which include my favorite: audiobooks!)
I don’t know when/where my love of libraries started, but I have fond memories of my parents letting me lose in the children’s section of my local library as a kid, while they went off and looked at their grown-up books.
How does this all tie into today’s story?
Well, in my last flash fiction piece, “Not Your Standard Orbit,” I introduced a new character, Ensign Rowe Rivers.
And then in the newsletter after that, I asked for y’alls help to develop Rowe’s character a wee bit through a series of polls. I know, a totally weird way to do character development, but I love doing weird and different things when it comes to writing. The fact that ANYTHING can be done and happen in writing is one of the reasons I love it so much.
Based on the results of the polls, here’s what we now know about Ensign Rowe Rivers:
He is from a colony in another star system (not from Earth)
He suffers from self-doubt/imposter syndrome (oy — don’t we all, at least a little?)
He is not in a relationship but looking for someone
His closest friend on the TSS Ecliptica is an engineering ensign. (This was tied with the ship’s chef, so I made this choice because I had a recent interaction with Lycia Naff who played Ensign Sonya Gomez in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Donate to her charity, btw: https://www.drivebydogooders.org/. I won’t forget about the chef )
He wants to explore uncharted regions of space
His sibling is a notorious pirate
He talks to the ship like it’s alive
Good stuff, everyone!
The only problem is that I’ve had library on the brain and needed this story to ALSO incorporate the concept of a library.
As of Tuesday, my story wasn’t complete and I didn’t think I was going to get it done in time for this morning. I’m usually done further ahead of time and writing the rest of this newsletter early. Luckily, Wednesday morning, I was able to rally and finish the story and then finish this newsletter a few minutes before publishing it.
I hope you enjoy the story and appreciate the effort that goes into it (all the while knowing that I enjoy doing this so much)!
The Library of Indecision
"Computer! Lower the volume by 90%!"
The thunderous sound of Mozart's Requiem dropped to a barely-there murmur, and Ensign Rowe Rivers looked up from the book in his lap.
Ensign Zara Zolani, his bunkmate and best friend on the TSS Ecliptica, strolled in like she owned the place.
"Aren’t you supposed to be working mids in Engineering?" Rowe asked, frowning at her.
"Did and done," Zara said, settling herself into a dark burgundy leather chair that materialized beside Rowe. "And when you weren't in your bunk, I had a feeling you'd be here. I thought you'd used up your SimSpace time for the month."
"Special allowance from the Captain," Rowe said. "Said it was the 'least he could do.' And feel free to make yourself at home in my simulation, by the way."
"I always do," Zara grinned, then turned to the air and added. "Computer, drink. My usual."
A tumbler appeared, and she grabbed it with a satisfied sigh.
"Still can't believe you're willing to order like that, after that prank when Veris re-programmed everyone's 'usual.'"
Zara arched an eyebrow. "I like to live dangerously," she said. "Besides, I think he learned that you don't mess with someone who has access to the environmental controls of your quarters."
The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, the music providing a relaxing atmosphere that one could easily imagine they were in an actual period library on Earth and not light years away on a spaceship. The library Rowe had created felt real. Smelled real.
It was Zara who broke the silence.
"Have you decided what you're going to do?"
Rowe chuckled bitterly. "Zara, right now, I've lost the ability to decide what I want for lunch. This... this is too huge."
"It's not like it's a surprise," Zara said. "I mean, your sister has been a known and notorious pirate for more than a decade. She's been on SEF's most wanted list for how long?" SEF—the Stellar Expeditionary Force—was the organization that Rowe, Zara and thousands of others dedicated their life to exploration and peace. Keeping that peace sometimes meant capturing ship-raiding pirates like Rowe’s sister.
"According to our father, exactly 6 years, 5 months, and 3 days," Rowe said. "He keeps track."
"So, like I said, not a surprise."
"No, but I haven't seen her in ten. Not since before I went off to the academy. Which is fine because you know what they spend a lot of time asking me about every time my security access needs to be renewed? Her. It's been fine because I haven't seen her, I haven't talked to her either. Associating with her now has a real chance of screwing up my career. What do I tell them when they ask?"
“The truth, as always,” Zara said. “It would be a supervised visit, you know. It’s not like you’d be secretly meeting her or giving out any secrets. You’re overthinking it.”
The two of them fell silent.
"Can we play something less 'death march' while you sulk?" Zara asked, finishing off her drink.
"I've always found Mozart's Requiem perfect for sulking."
"And surrounded by books. What were you reading?"
Rowe held up the book that he had spread open and marked with his thumb so Zara could see the cover.
"Catch-22," Zara said. "Isn't that just a phrase?"
"Yeah, it came from this book," Rowe said. "One of my favorites."
"And when the computer can put any book in your hand instantaneously, I never understood why the need to recreate a full library."
Rowe looked up and around at the scene he'd created years ago as a teenager. The simulation contained rows upon rows of books, some organized neatly, with the occasional pile stacked haphazardly on a nearby table as if someone had recently rummaged through them. This place was his comfort zone. His haven. Leather-bound volumes, some ancient, some new, filled with the collected knowledge and literature of human history.
"It’s the feeling," Rowe said, trailing off. "Like I can choose whatever I need based on my mood."
"And you chose Catch-22?" Zara asked, skeptically.
"Yeah, I guess I wanted to remember the paradox of choice..." Rowe smiled wryly. "You know, it’s funny. My life feels like one big catch-22 sometimes."
"Well," Zara said with a smirk, leaning back in her chair, "here's a thought. Maybe you should stop thinking for once and just make a decision."
Rowe looked up sharply, his eyes narrowing in mock surprise. "You—you're telling me to stop thinking?"
Zara raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you the guy who can talk to a starship like it's alive, navigate it through any asteroid field or ion storm, but can't figure out if you want to see your sister?"
Rowe sighed, looking back down at the pages of Catch-22, where Captain Yossarian seemed to have real problems to contend with. "What if I make the wrong choice?"
"Again, you're overthinking this. Just go see your sister. And I think you're reading the wrong book. Your situation is no catch-22."
Rowe raised an eyebrow. "You don’t even know the book."
Zara winked. "You don’t know everything about me, bestie. I still have some surprises."
Rowe stood up, smoothing his uniform. "Alright. I guess it’s time to stop thinking and start doing." He hesitated, glancing around the library once more, taking in the sense of home it gave him. "Maybe the answer is in the journey, not the destination."
Zara raised her glass in a mock salute. "Go get 'em, champ."
Rowe nodded, then turned to exit the simulation.
The computer chirped behind him, "Good luck, Ensign Rivers. Please remember to return your borrowed items to the library."
What did you think of the story?
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We haven’t seen the last of Ensign Rivers. And you should know that I was listening to Mozart’s Requiem while writing it (and the rest of today’s newsletter), and I **love** the novel Catch-22.
I routinely participate in newsletter swaps with other Indie Authors. This is one of the ways we help each other get the word our about our books. So please — check these folks out and see if they’re for you!
You might enjoy this short book by Team Netherworld:
I also participate in Group Promos as well. Here are the ones I’m in that you should definitely check out and see what other stories and authors you might enjoy!
My co-hosts and I took at BIG Sci-Fi podcast had the pleasure of interviewing Dave Barclay. He is a master puppeteer who had his hands all over many of our favorite characters to include Yoda and Jabba the Hutt in Star Wars! It was fascinating to talk to him and hear all his stories!
Find us on: Spotify | Amazon | Apple | others…
What’s next?
Still writing and still working hard on my Lunar Logic sequel. I have my annual writer’s retreat coming up and I plan to make a TON of progress on that sequel there. If my morning writing sessions are as productive as I expect, then during my afternoon sessions I get to start outlining something new!
(Just a reminder that a lot of the T-Set books (the follow-on the The Robot Galaxy Series) has been drafted and I’m waiting on my Kickstarter to complete those.)
One more thing… I want to come back to that Ensign Sonya Gomez I mentioned above. Mostly because I want to share this picture with y’all:
Lycia Naff has this charity and was selling autograph prints to raise money. Of course I was in. I was able to write to her and tell her about how Next Gen was my inspiration to go into the aerospace industry. I got these wonderful autographed prints back! Seriously check out her charity: https://www.drivebydogooders.org/
All always, thanks for reading all of my ramblings. I hope you’re finding it useful. Remember you can reply anytime with questions/comments/feedback!
Until next time… be kind, be well!
-Adeena
I like where this is going. Love the banter.
Good characterizations. Of course the library is great! (But can you get a drink and books in a sim, as physical objects to read/drink?) And - makes you want to know what happened!