I am really excited today to have David on my blog! I have spoken to a little bit since he reached out to me to read his book Universe: Awakening and his wife Natasha is a fab lover of blogs too!
So what is his book about?
Universe: Awakening by D. Ellis OverttunSeries: Terra Nova #1
Published by Nialldara Books on October 7 2018
Pages: 472
Amazon UK
Goodreads
The year — 526,780. A probe is deployed from ISV Intrepid at the outer edge of the universe. It is the last of a complement of twelve that is part of the Deep Exploration of Uncharted Space or DEUS. Its mission: collect data on the redshift of light and spatial distortions. Time horizon: 1,000 years.
Before ISV Intrepid can return to base, something goes wrong. There is an accident. The ship is later salvaged but its pilot is missing, its copilot in a coma.
The probes collect their data with uneventful regularity.
Fast-forward to 526,880. A sole-surviving probe still sits in the darkness at the outer edge of the universe. Now, unseen to the naked eye, the space around the probe begins to stretch and distend. Then, the probe disappears, engulfed by an energy of unknown origin and unknown composition. However, it manages to transmit one final message.
CD3C has monitored the disappearance of each probe over the last three years. While the interpretation of the data remains a mystery, speculation is that something has invaded the universe and is moving a superluminal velocity. Its effects could be manifested in as little as the next thousand years. To the Celesti, this is one lifetime.
What can be done?
The one person who might be able to solve this problem is the copilot of ISV Intrepid. He has been lying in stasis suffering from mental trauma. He has been this way for the past century, the longest recorded case in medical history. His unchanging condition has been a convenient solution to stall any inquiry into the accident that put him there.
This threat changes everything. Now, he is needed.Is it possible to unlock his mind?
The task falls to Auberon, a career nobody inhabiting the lower level of the hierarchy of the Ministry of Science. Can something be awakened in him to allow someone ordinary do something extraordinary?
Universe: Awakening answers this question. In the process, it explores the world of the Celesti, a highly evolved humanoid species with advanced technology, physiology and a unique way of procreation. It blends science and political intrigue to reveal the interplay of storyline and character development that forms the staging ground for the Terra Nova Series.
So not going to lie, Sci-Fi is not my bag really. But once I had read the blurb, walked away and came back, I could not bring myself to say no. There was something about this book that had me thinking. So without further ado, I will now hand everything over to David!
✮ Guest Post ✮
Background to Universe: Awakening
If I had to describe the Terra Nova series in one sentence, it would be: The Bible meets sci-fi. Marvel did it with a Norse god and DC did it with a woman from a tribe of warrior women from Greek mythology. So, why not take elements of stories from the Bible and incorporate them into a sci-fi tale? There is the obvious etymology of the names of some of the main characters (eg. Jo’el means “Yahweh is God”,
The main theme of
Perspective is a second major theme. How do we respond today to something consequential tomorrow? My anecdotal observations are that people tend to be
A third major theme is
There is no science fiction without science and these threads have been drawn from a very diverse quilt. The prologue was inspired by a 2007 episode of the History Channel series The Universe entitled “The Moon” that described the research on tides done by George Darwin, son of Charles. He used his observations to wind back the clock but, at some point, he had to stop because the denominator in his equations was approaching zero. I used it to ask a question: What is the implication of dividing something by zero? What does it really mean? It is the mathematical fact that prevents us from knowing what happened at the instant of the big bang and before. It is the starting point for my speculation of how the universe was created.
The impact of evolution in the story reflects a current trend in developed nations: Women are having children later in life. Universe extrapolates this trend to the extreme. Later and later childbirth implies that physical relations are for pleasure not procreation. What if they separated? What would this possibility look like? The answer: awakening, a departure from physical sexual reproduction.
So, it is obvious why “awakening” appears in the title. However, it also describes more than just a procreative process. It is a rousing or revival in a metaphoric sense. Characters such
Artificial gravity makes stories about space-travel so incredulous. While it is sci-fi, this premise has always bugged me because the generational effects of a weightless environment will essentially turn us into a different species. Universe operates in a
Relationships form the backbone of
Another relationship that is only briefly touched upon is a forbidden one between the First Minister and one of her subordinates. Why is it forbidden? Are there consequences to being discovered?
A natural question for the reader to ask is: Are there intimate personal relationships between
Current events filter into the story. One of the main characters gets into trouble when he inadvertently triggers a security alert. What is, is not or could be classified was inspired by the discussion that revolved around the Hilary Clinton email scandal of what was and what was not classified. The storyline surrounding surveillance was inspired by the Mueller Russia Investigation.
The Celesti are a society of logic and reason. How does that affect someone whose mental faculties are impaired? This speaks to the issue of mental health and pertains to the ongoing discussion in our own society from stigma, isolation and embarrassment to
LGBTQ has been on its long journey toward universal equality. Universe describes a world where there are no prejudices based on sexual preference. No advocacy is required because it is something that is taken for granted, the true metric of acceptance. Also taken for granted is gender equality reflected in the prominence of strong female characters in positions of power.
However, racial inequality exists.
Names of people and places and various words specific to the story have been chosen to give the story an otherworld feel, almost Terran but not quite. To be chosen, it has to roll off the tongue and sound cool. Names have been chosen from all over the world from across time. The same goes for words that are part of the lexicon of the planet.
Almost every number in the series has some connection to numerology. There are numbers in the 1 to 12 range that many will know. But there are obscure numbers like 18, the numeric value of the Hebrew word “chai” meaning “living”, 70 for the Septuagint or 3068 related to “Yhvh” from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.
The cover ties in two of the science themes in the book. It is meant to give the reader a sense that awakening has something to do with genetics since the double helix is easily identifiable as DNA. The woman seeming to emerge from the strand in a burst of light is a visual rendering of awakening. The sphere in the background is not a planet. It is a universe surrounded by what the reader will discover is the volume. The green patches represent the encroachment of
Wow!! That was intense and insightful thank you David!
If you want to also check out some other posts he has done a Q&A with Lorna @ On The Shelf Reviews, a Q&A @ The Bookhole, and recently he did a guest post which was #MusicMonday on Kelly’s blog @ From Belgium with Book Love.
And keeping with the music theme before I leave you today! It is a short excerpt from the book with a bit of background to it! Enjoy!
Here’s the set‑up to the song. Some of the main characters have just assisted in the passing of one of the main political leaders on the planet. They make their way to a balcony in the predawn to see what looks like a comet, known as a “wanderer”, that has just emerged in the eastern sky. As they observe the phenomenon that is said to be a harbinger of either hope or danger, one of the group begins to sing.
While not a lament, there is a certain sadness to it. It speaks to weariness and a desire for rest, a sentiment I’ve heard echoed at the passing of someone who has lived a long full life. The acapella was inspired by Enya’s “May It Be” from Lord of the Rings. (For me, acapella equals Enya.) While the chapter is not a cliffhanger, it is the stepping stone to the next book in the series, Genesis: Vision of the New World, in which this “comet” features prominently.
Wanderer
When the dawn comes, I wake to the day
The same old world, the same old way
It’s only at night when I look to the sky
And if I am lucky, I see you go by
Wanderer, wanderer come rescue me
Break the bonds of this world please set me free
Wanderer, wanderer bright light of the night
Infinity calls you’re a beautiful sight
Every day as I race the sun
So little time, so much to get done
Sometimes before sleep, in the dark of the night
I look to the stars and dream of respite
Wanderer, wanderer come rescue me
Break the bonds of this world please set me free
Wanderer, wanderer bright light of the night
Infinity calls you’re a beautiful sight
As the time draws near for my journey to end
I think of days past and I think once again
To the days of my youth and I ask myself why
Why it took me so long to look to the sky
Wanderer, wanderer come rescue me
Break the bonds of this world please set me free
Wanderer, wanderer bright light of the night
Infinity calls you’re a beautiful sight
Until next time xxx
Kelly says
Thanks for the mention ?
Zoé says
Anytime lovely x
macsbooks311 says
A very intriguing interview. Thank you.
Zoé says
Thank you! It really was to read! I am intrigued to read the book now!