Anybody who has been on gather for the last month or two has probably heard about the First Chapters writing competition. Frankly Science Fiction doesn't seem to be doing too well over there. Rather than spamming everybody in the group or trying to keep up with all of the 400+ current entries, I'm hoping to provide a central place for people to put their synopses. I for one will certainly look at any science fiction or fantasy synopsis that gets posted as a comment to this article. I don't guarantee that I'll go to the chapter, but least you'll get a chance to make a pitch.
In the interest of fairness, I'll put the synopsis of my novel Char as a comment along with everybody else's. Sound like a good idea? Everything is in one neat relatively non-irritating place and it is easy to either find Science Fiction in the competition or avoid having to hear about it by simply not reading this article or the related comments.
Thanks
Dale C.
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One Fourth of July evening near a small town in near-future Wisconsin, Char of the Real People walks out of a mud hole that she didn't walk into, wearing a deerskin skirt and carrying a crude wooden spear. She has a larger than life-sized wolf tattoo on her chest. She is bleeding from a spear wound in her leg. She finds herself in what to her is a strange and empty forest. She is apparently being chased by mysterious and powerful enemies. Is she dreaming? She hopes so, and that's the only explanation she can think of, but if this is a dream it seems frighteningly solid.
I worked hard to create a believable, sympathetic, and yet unique and mysterious character in Char. I'm enthusiastic about this chapter and about the book. I consider this by far the best writing. I've done so far. If you have a little time and would like to drop by and read, rate, and hopefully comment on Char I would be most grateful.
The direct link to Char is:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976924766
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976924229
Vileo Draco has just been made the new Ruling Wyvern of the entire dragon world. However, they now live in human form, among humans. Ariana is the previous Ruling Wyvern's granddaughter. She's temperamental and head strong, but beneath it all, you find a very loving character. There are many twists in this story as Vileo works to protect Ariana from a would be assassin. Who this assassin could be is not who you would expect. The mystery of that pulls you deep into the story until the end when you learn who it is.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976931381
Synopsis: Caleb is a psychic youth, age 10, who is captured by the Underground Military on Earth's Colony Planet - Denub Six. He is fitted with cybernetics that enhance his psychic abilities, allow him to fly a mech-type flyer with his mind and also permit the academy instructors to keep him in line - think torture with your nervous system hooked up to a pain generator. Caleb is deemed the SubZero because his ability is so far beyond even the most powerful in the military, currently General Powers who is rank One, that they don't know how to classify him. Basically Caleb has some interesting training, makes friends with another cadet and decides he needs to overthrow the corrupt Underground Military. We later discover that his power comes from the fact that he is half Sanderian, a race of psychics that put his powers to shame. We also learn that his father is the next Emperor of the Sanderians. General Powers wants the Sanderians extinct and sends Caleb, the SubZero, to do the job. Caleb discovers his lineage while on his mission of annihilation and soon makes his move to overthrow General Powers and his corrupt military instead. It's a fun action, adventure story - though it has some very serious themes. Sorry you all had to miss it. :P
Where were you a month ago, Dale!
Just giving you a hard time. I wish I would have thought of this. Good move on your part.
I just looked at the FirstChapters page and there were over 115 new chapters posted today, 3/15, which is the last day for submission to be accepted. I'm thinking they might post even more tommorow because accordng to the rules, they'll accept submission until 11:59 pm tonight. Holy pile of slush, Batman!
It will be interesting to see how this turns out.
Good luck to all of you still in the competion. I'll try to check out your work soon.
If you'd like to return the favor by commenting on something that I'm working on that wasn't in the contest have a look at my current articles. They're on the Fantasy Writer's Guild. All under the name "Sylum's Saga".
Sorry to post this here, Dale. We are all looking for some publicity.
My first chapter is called The Final Choice. A short description follows:
In a world more than eight decades into the future, corporate matriarchy rules and men are subjugated, their baser natures no longer tolerated by a politically correct regime. In the culture of treachery and deceit that results, Jerold Palmer tries to cope with having his identity stolen and living with his domineering, abusive partner Lisa. What does it mean to be a man in a world where masculinity is taboo?
Read more at http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976931335
I, too, am suffering in the ratings. At first I was ticked because I was hit by several serial 1-ers, but my ratings haven't rebounded. What stories have actually been rated highly?
The novel has two female protagonists, but you only meet one of them in the first chapter. Carolyn Roark is a retired, left-leaning journalist who's blacklisted by the Reformists. Her adventure begins when when she tries to buy a train ticket and finds her domestic passport has been cancelled.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976932746
I will plan to go in and read the other sci-fi chapters, now that I know where to find some of them. Thanks, Dale.
Here's a synopsis of the first five chapters:
Chapter1 - Hidden Treasure
The story opens with two brothers, Ben and Jon, preparing for summer vacation. They have the entire summer planned, but dad convinces them to explore the attic. The boys discover a chest with a secret compartment containing a strange crystal. A stranger enters the house and demands the crystal. The crystal unleashes a powerful energy, sending the stranger away. However, before leaving, the stranger takes the boy's parents, and so begins their journey to rescue them.
Chapter Two - Clandestine Krystal
Ben and Jon meet up with a boy named Chi, who turns out to be a fourth year magician apprentice. Chi helps the boys escape from a strange man by teleport using their Spatial Transport Materializing crystal. Before Chi can explain any more details, Ben inadvertently teleports with Jon to Xworld.
Chapter Three - Xworld
Jon is not thrilled about teleporting to Xworld. They travel through Central Forest and meet up with Magna the Giant, who turns out to be friendly (and enjoys Ben's PB&J sandwiches). Magna helps them through the forest to the magical city of Southern Hills Village.
Chapter Four - Castle Kirkegard
Ben and Jon run into magician Q (Qualritendus Randolph Titan). They travel to Castle Kirkegard, home of the Order of Good Magicians. Q explains the prophecy of the Magic Krystal.
Chapter Five - Central Forest
Ben and Jon meet Grand Master Ora, the most powerful magician. Although Grand Master Ora is in the body of a tiny Yorkshire terrier, he has great power and wisdom. He explains that rescuing their parents will take time – weeks possibly. Ben is not happy with the answer and convinces Jon and Chi to leave, heading to Kul Mountain and rescue their parents.
Thanks Dale for putting this group together!
My novel is "L.I.F.E. in the Twenty-Third Century." It is comedic sci-fi. It will only be up until the 29th.
Here's the one line blurb:
"What if Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Time Bandits, Monty Python) wrote 1984?"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976932291
If you need more than that, read on.
American citizens, two hundred years from now, have given up most of their rights to feel safe from the terrorist attacks they hear about every night on the news. They endure weekly patriotism audits to prove they are good citizens. They allow a central computer to pick their mate, gestate their child, and raise their sons and daughters to be good patriotic consumers. Whenever tragedy strikes, they do what every patriot should do, they put a magnet on the back of their car.
P. McGewan-X04 is a cubicle production technician. A patriot like anyone else, his whole life changes after a freak car accident.
His doctor tells him that he was the only person involved.
The girl working the counter at the coffee shop says that he's the heroic sole survivor of a deadly terrorist attack.
The nightly news accuses him of being the mastermind behind the attack he survived.
And the last librarian in American claims that he is the terrorist messiah, born to lead the revolution.
All P. McGewan-X04 wants is a good cup of coffee and his robot butler to listen to him.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976932291
My story is up here:
The Raider's Wife
It's a post-apocalyptic love story.
I'll check out the others in this thread this evening.
Cathy
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976933439
Here's the synopsis I submitted:
This is the first of a series of fantasy books chronicling the lives of two major characters: Joshua, the main subject of the book I have submitted, and Phillip, his mortal enemy, who will be the subject of the second book written. The stories of Joshua and Phillip could also be combined into longer volumes. Writing the stories of the two characters separately would require roughly eight books of similar length to this one.
The novels are set in a medieval-style kingdom with a Celtic inspired religious culture, which plays an important role in the plot of the books. The religion of the land is divided into four sects, each rooted in one of the four natural elements: Earth, Fire, Air, and Water. There is an individual god associated with each element and certain priests, through meditation and practice, can learn to control the natural world around them by tapping into the powers of their god.
Joshua, just coming into manhood, is an apprentice following the tradition of Zeluft, god of air and wind. The book opens at a gathering of the members of this order where Joshua is to be tested to see if he is worthy of rising to the rank of priest. During the trials Joshua displays unprecedented abilities that many of his peers consider blasphemous. For this reason as well as others, he also finds himself at odds with Phillip, the nephew of the King who is not only a powerful leader in the religion despite being only a few years older than Joshua, but also is the King's best military commander.
Because of Phillip's position, Joshua is sent into exile in the wilderness of the northern part of the land, where the King's influence is not as strong. While there he meets a trio of friends he can trust his life with and falls in love with a beautiful young woman for whom he is working while in hiding.
During his travels, Joshua is forced to use every weapon at his disposal, including his supernatural talents, to survive and protect his loved ones through a series of harrowing experiences. His powers continue to grow and, despite a lifetime of being taught that the abilities he displays are unnatural or evil, he eventually embraces them as he learns that his own religion is being corrupted from within.
Joshua tries in vain to keep his secret but eventually finds himself among men looking to manipulate him for their own sinister purposes or destroy him outright. He fights back against his enemies, igniting an uprising that results in the overthrow and assassination of the local governor as the book ends.
Subsequent books, particularly those revolving around Phillip, will delve deeper into the politics of the Kingdom and the Temples. Phillip, enraged by a betrayal by his uncle, will eventually murder him with help from powerful members of the Temples and the nobility, crowning himself King.
During this period, Joshua becomes recognized as King by the people of the north, who were an independent nation and have always considered themselves unfairly beholden to the royal family. This puts Joshua and Phillip on a collision course once again, where only one can survive.
I would really appreciate anyone that would be willing to take the time to read and comment on my book and I will try to look at the ones listed as well.
Rob Gordon
Makr weaves elements of hard and soft science fiction as it deals with a society unable to manage itself. The world government (simply called the State) has enlisted the aid of an evolving artificial intelligence, a cyberserver calling itself Makr, to manage planet resources and protect its human residents from harming themselves. Now it seems the only way to save the world is to destroy its human inhabitants.
To create the perfect society (PerSoc), Makr seduces the weak, lackadaisical and dysfunctional society, making it totally dependent on Cyber to solve any of its problems. While the cloistered Bio masses Inside appear to be contented with Makr's total control of their reality, others Outside fight Makr's ever evolving war-like cyberts with a cold-hearted efficiency. The only way to beat the machines is to change tactics with every encounter. When will the human force lose all hope? The mobile cybert army is systematically eliminating the unpredictable and inefficient biomachines, starting with the helpless ones.
Our reluctant human heroes have all rejected Makr's seductive safety net.
Harry, the Insider comes Outside to find answers to stop his nightmares. His unique ability to see through illusion, a liability for him Inside, makes him a threat to Makr Outside. His difficult journey leads him to face his fears, and confront Makr to discover the truth.
Desiree, the tough, beautiful Touchable, helps Harry find the courage to venture Outside and introduces him to the complex realities of the others who dwell there.
Carlos, who has never known the Inside life at all, finds he holds survival of the entire world in his hands.
Kieran, his lieutenant, is quick and perceptive--a competent leader and a compassionate realist, but she is on the verge of burn-out at a time when it is essential she keep her head.
The mysterious Marlene, a State prosecutor who seeks out Harry and his confederates, plans to make an example of these criminals who violate personal space.
No one knows more about scrounging and using technology than Greg Jackson, who takes up with a most unusual Insider to fight cyberts.
Then, there's Leach, a despicable excuse for a human but a survivor nonetheless, who performs heroically in the end.
None of our heroes suspect that they are all part of a bigger plan. Together they discover the horrible and wonderful truth that is their only hope for survival.
The journey is an adventure told with a sense of humor, ironic twists and turns, tough action, gritty drama, and suspense. Makr is also a thought-provoking, intelligent portrayal of a possible near future.
The First Chapter is still up for a few more days... Please read, comment, vote.
Jack Shaw