Military Science Fiction Novel – An interview with Allen Stroud about his new book Fearless published by Flame Tree Press. Check out the book here https://amzn.to/3kWGwuS
Of all the creative ideas you have, how did this one idea rise about the rest and get written?
The original ideas were a fusion. I have wanted to write a space opera duel between two ships in the best tradition of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan and I was inspired after a discussion with Science Fiction writer Pat Cadigan at the Foundation masterclasses in the Royal Observatory Library in Greenwich. We were talking about types of character and protagonists who we identify with. We were discussing the work of Alfred Bester who was trying to portray different types of people as heroes in his stories and do what he could to counter the default image of the white male in the mind of the reader.
What is the book about – protagonist, setting, and conflict?
Fearless is rescue mission that goes wrong, resulting in conflict, mutiny, and tragic loss. The sheer force of Ellisa Shann’s personality drives her crew onwards. After my experiences with writing fiction for Elite Dangerous, I decided I wanted to write a novel that was a little more realistic in terms of the science and the day to day issues with living in zero gravity.
Shann is disabled. The zero gravity environment is great for her as she doesn’t need to have legs to move around. I’ve watched and read many stories about people overcoming disability. The conversation needs to move on and some writers are seeing that. Most people live with their disability.
What sort of aesthetic does the book have?
It is definitely a Military SF Space Opera. The first person present perspective keeps it action-oriented and closely connected with the three main characters, Shann, Johansson and Sellis.
If the book had a soundtrack, what might it be like?
If the book had a soundtrack, I’d probably compose it. My last SF novel, Elite: Lave Revolution had a composed album which I created whilst I was writing it and this became the music for the audio adaptation by The Radio Theatre Workshop. When I finish writing the sequel to Fearless, provisionally titled, Powerless, I may have some time to work on some music for it. I’m influenced by composers like Vangelis and Thomas Bergersen.
Did you have to do any research for the book?
Quite a bit. To start with, I’m not the greatest scientist, so making sure the technology had a plausible basis was important to me. I also tried to work in some connections to historical events.
The more important research was to try to make sure I got the mindset and humanity of the characters right. Some of their life experiences are very different to mine. I wanted their lives to be as authentic as possible.
What are some of the genre works that inspire you – books, movies, tv, music, etc.
For this novel, I mentioned Star Trek: Wrath of Khan. I’d also say The Expanse TV series. In general, I balance ideas from my own imagination with different things I watch, read and listen to. In the past, writers like Tolkien, filmmakers like George Lucas, all the usual touchstones of genre fiction!
What other things inspire your creativity?
I teach creative media and how to develop and maintain a creative mindset. With some of the computer game deign work I’ve done and other projects I’ve been involved in, I always try to be a person with ideas. I don’t mind if people choose to go in a different direction – I don’t feel judged if my idea is the one used or not, but I try to have something to start the conversation on what we’re going to do.
What aspects of computer game design do you work on? How does writing for a computer game story differ from writing a novel?
I wrote the background and history for Elite Dangerous, essentially taking the content from Frontier’s previous games and creating a coherent story from the different perspectives of each faction. My work was a primer for all the subsequent content. You can see it in game as the text for a lot of the points of interest.
For Phoenix Point, again, I developed the world, wrote a collection of short stories that describe the events leading up to the start of the game in 2047. I spent three years writing about a global pandemic that came from the Arctic and turned humanity into crab people. When I finished in February 2020, the real thing started. I am not Nostradamus! 😀
The in game plot and mission texts were written by Jonas Kyratzes and myself. The story is one we devised together.
What is your writing and editing process like? Anything different from other authors?
I think I’m a little unusual compared to others in my different writing groups, but not in general when you look at the vast array of different methods writers have. I’m mostly a pantser, but I need to have an idea of the ending I’m writing towards. I don’t tend to do many drafts, my first is usually fairly close to the final version, but there’s always a plot hole to find and sort out!
Like most people, I can struggle to put words down. I write best when I’m tired, I stop censoring myself or editing in my head.
How has your approach to writing changed over time?
I never dreamed I’d be writing in first person present for a whole novel. That was certainly a big shift. I do think gradually I’ve got better at making it to the finish line and understanding the different devices being used. I know more about what I’m doing now – I have more control, I guess.
Have you done any non-writing work that has influenced how you write or what you write about?
I noticed something the other day which I think is probably a big influence on my current writing style. I don’t write speeches. My late father never wrote speeches either. I spoke at his funeral in 2016 without writing anything down, I spoke at my sister’s wedding, as a best man for a friend, all of these massive occasions, I don’t write down what I’m going to say. I guess, capturing that mindset when I’m working on a novel and basically communicating my thoughts as coherently as I can is something I seem to be able to do, even in very important moments. I’ve recently been recording lectures for online delivery. A lot of that has been about sitting down with the material and just talking, then transcribing everything.
Is being the chair of societies and conventions a very time consuming task? What about these positions do you like?
I can be time consuming, it can also be very rewarding in that you have the opportunity to be involved in the communities around writing, publishing, awards and incredible art. Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror in the UK is incredible. There are so many talented people. Organising the conventions provides them with opportunities to meet and be a community. We all give a little, whether its our time, or our organisational skills, etc. I am very fortunate to be in a position that allows me to be a part of it.
This year, when we had to move our annual awards online, it met I got to host them in my spare room! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RO2uB3E-U0&
How do you approach running conventions in a post-COVID world? It feels as though from now one, everything will be different?
Well, we ran an online only convention in July, called Lavecon, which is the fan convention for Elite Dangerous. As with most events during this period, the options were to do nothing or to try to manage an online gathering. We did the latter and I’m very glad we did. It allowed the fan community a chance to meet up and enjoy each other’s company in these troubled times.
Our booking for next year was rolled over by the venue, so we’re looking forward to going back to a nice hotel and playing the game in 2021.
The tricky part for everyone was when the Government’s message on what you could or could not was not clear. Most venues are relying on their insurers and most insurers have contracts that are very clear about when they pay out. The UK lagged behind the rest of the world in being clear in its messaging.
We’re currently discussing the details of Fantasycon 2021 with our chosen venue and for the most part, people are planning that by late next year, things will be almost back to how they were. However, I do think lessons have been learned by event organisers, particularly about providing online content. I can see that being a feature of conventions, particularly international ones.
When you were younger was there a power, technology, or fictional setting you yearned for or to be a part of?
Loads! I wanted to live in Middle-Earth, be a superhero, fly a Viper or an X-Wing. I made up my own imaginary worlds, so one week my bedroom would be a fantasy land fought over by vast armies of plastic models, the next it would be a Lego inspired science fiction empire, and the week after that, a city for my action figure superheroes and villains to fight over. That mindset, its one we associate with childhood, but we really shouldn’t. Imagination and imaginative thinking is really important. A lot of those ideas are still with me. One day I might have the writing chops to revisit them and make a good story that someone would like to read.
Did you have any difficulties finishing this book?
The finale of Fearless is pretty intense, a lot happens. I think my biggest trial when I was writing it was knowing whether I’d managed to deliver something authentic. So, rather than the ending being difficult, knowing whether I’d managed to do what I was trying to do with the whole story was the difficulty. I’m still not entirely sure, and I think that’s a healthy place to be. I’m learning as a writer and as a human being all the time, so learning from people who’ve read the book and enjoyed it is a great experience, as is learning from those that didn’t but still take the time to articulate why.
What’s your current or next writing project?
I am full steam ahead on finishing the draft of the sequel to Fearless. Hopefully, it’ll be ready in the next few weeks. I’m also working on an RPG for Spidermind Games, called Jupiter Skies.
Where can people find you online?
A Google of “Allen Stroud” usually brings up my webpage – http://www.allenstroud.com My email is pretty easy to find. As Chair of the British Science Fiction Association, I can also be found doing stuff at http://www.bsfa.co.uk. My partner and I also run conventions in the UK, our site is http://www.hwsevents.co.uk
Biographical information
Name (and title if you’d like) Allen Stroud – Doctor Allen Stroud to my students, but I’m the rubbish kind of doctor who can’t help you in a medical emergency!
Bio
Allen Stroud (Ph. D) is a university lecturer and Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror writer, best known for his work on the computer games Elite Dangerous by Frontier Developments and Phoenix Point by Snapshot Games. He was the 2017 and 2018 Chair of Fantasycon, the annual convention of the British Fantasy Society, which hosts the British Fantasy Awards.
He is also the current Chair of the British Science Fiction Association.
His military science fiction novel, Fearless is being published by Flame Tree Press in September 2020.
Position and specialty: Course Leader of BA (Hons) Media Top Up. My Ph. D was an “Investigation and Application of Writing Structures and World Development Techniques in Science Fiction and Fantasy.”
Affiliation
Coventry University, The British Science Fiction Association, Spidermind Games, HWS Events and Projects.
Project/work being discussed
Fearless – Military Science Fiction novel.
Links of interest
Check out the book here https://amzn.to/3kWGwuS
https://www.flametreepublishing.com/fearless-isbn-9781787585423.html
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