Hi, everyone
First, a piece of good news. The Black Sheep is completed and currently being edited for spelling, grammar, continuity, etc. I’m hoping to have it up on sale by Monday or Tuesday – as always, there may be unanticipated delays.
Second, Wedding Hells is currently undergoing it’s line-edit and the cover is being finalised. I’m hoping to have the eBook available for sale in 6 weeks, probably less – keep an eye on this space for updates.
My current plan, as I mentioned earlier, is to write the third and final book in The Decline and Fall of the Galactic Empire. After that, I’m torn between They Shall Not Pass (Empire’s Corps 12) and Vanguard (Ark 7). After that … well, I think it’s time I returned to the universe of The Royal Sorceress, if I can overcome my writer’s block and complete the plot. I do have quite a few ideas, but tying them all together is taking time.
As always, I have more story ideas than I know what to do with. I’ve got an idea for a high fantasy where the widow of a sorcerer sets out to avenge her husband, even if it means sneaking into a castle and assassinating a prince. Then I have a trilogy in mind, set in the same universe as Bookworm, where the death of the Witch-King unlocks powers that have been sealed away for a very good reason.
I’ve actually been giving a great deal of thought to a story following the course of a global conflict, a third world war. (I was quite displeased with Ghost Fleet.) The problem, of course, is outlining such a war – should I stick with the old idea (China, Russia and India Vs. US/NATO) or try to come up with something new? I think, assuming it doesn’t go nuclear, that there will be a brief and violent spasm … and then a long pause as everyone rushes frantically to rebuild their arsenal of modern weapons and develop new ones. (Space-based weapons, for example.)
Thoughts?
Chris
The Chrishanger 
WW3 sounds good, especially if it has a new approach. Maybe the majority of European NATO countries siding with Russia, China and N Korea siding with the U.S.? (This would be uneasy bedfellows for sure, as allies). Space Based weapons arms race could include a breakthrough of some type, perhaps?
Jack Boone
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What about the last of the Democracy trilogy?
I like the idea of WW3, but I’m desperate for Vanguard to be honest… That continuity has always been my favourite of yours, and Warspite proves its not just a one-trick pony.
WW3 thoughts; why not take the Call of Duty Ghost approach and have a Pan-South-American or Pan-African Alliance against the Chinese or US, with the EU playing Switzerland? (Better written than Ghosts obviously, less said about that game the better.)
I like that idea: seeing how the EU chickens out before Putin, I’m sure they’ll try to be a go-between in WW3 – and will be very much surprised and hurt when both sides, whoever those might be, will at the end spit on them and spurn them.
I think you just made my day. Looking forward to that Bookworm trilogy now.
Please give us more sci fi rather than the fantasy!
Hi Chris, if you are thinking about a WWIII series, will there be a sequel to “The Fall of Night” or will that remain a stand alone book?
Cheers
Lindsay
For a WW3 idea, have you thought about a 2 or 3 phase story of China vs US/Australia staring in Pacific before becoming a fight through (and for the allegiance of) a bankrupt Europe and a collapsed Russia, followed by a religion-inspired caliphate type invasion northwards from Africa and Asian 3rd-world type armies following revolutions? Maybe even throw in Australia and/or Canadaas a new nuclear power after the British dispatch the remainders of their surviving forces and civilians to them in a modern diaspora?
Honestly, I’m not really interested in another large scale conflict story. I know I haven’t read all your books, but the series I have read are all fairly large scale in terms of conflict. I even dropped off the Empires Corps series since it went from small isolated system to large scale conflict. I’d much rather have a smaller scope world building story. I hate to say it since it’s so prevalent right now, but dystopian future with a focus on the main character and a small cast of good guy military would be great right now. Probably just me because I’ve read a lot of end of the world stories where military is the bad guy always, but it would be a change at least. Much more focus on character and base/tech development then huge overarching conflicts is what I’m into right now.
I totally agree. All momentous periods in history, real, alternative, or fictitious, are usually a lot more interesting when seen through the eyes of ordinary people who live in them, and live normal human lives – or try to – rather than having some ‘great destiny’ and knowing that the fate of the Universe rests on their shoulders. Makes that Universe and its fate a lot more believable.
I vote for Vanguard.
As far as WW3, it may be a bit old hat but what about a unified Islamic nation.
Perhaps Turkey turning to radical Islam and reuniting with ISIS to form a large Caliphate incorporating Pakistan and parts of the far east and of the former USSR. That nation would then seek to reclaim countries like Spain and Greece lost to Islam since the middle ages,
You would then have Nato and Russia with high tech weapon fighting a great number of less developed enemies. With the threat of Iranian and Pakistan Nucs.
You could include 5th column elements slipped into Europe as asylum seekers.
It would be topical.
This is a great idea. Also, where is Iran in all this? It is Shia, thus anti-ISIS. Perhaps a regime changes there, embracing modernity?
I have read all of Clancy, so, I like the ww3 choice.
Presumably you are aware of Richard Fernandez for situational analysis of the political, military and economic in terms of information transactions, http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/.
and how could I forget the war nerd https://pando.com/author/garybrecher/
At present I am wondering what if a slightly more united planet earth went to war with the Solar Union. You mentioned the difference between England and France in the Napoleonic War so this would be a chance to write a world war with a difference and get around the one side controlling the high ground.
You could have a media campaign to discredit the sky government and attempt to call in the Earthers who fled as refugees and are now wanted back. Technology that banned on Earth because they are luddites could turn out to have real drawbacks. The politics of the few million in the sky controlling the billion luddites destiny despite believing in democracy.
Aliens who want to visit the Academy on Earth that is turning into an innovation centre don’t realise the difference between Earth the planet and the solar union which controls the solar system.
You could draw on the Stuarts in A Learning Experience but make it different as its now an Earth vs Space war. Obliterating all of Earth might not be politically acceptable should Earth be reasonable and competent.
Love RSR as well Sir John Hackett’s take on the subject. For a “grunt” view try Red Thrust by Zaloga,Team Yankee by Coyle or First Clash by Macksey. How about Iran/Iraq/Afghanistan (maybe an additional “stan” or two) versus Saudi/Gulf States/Jordan/Pakistan with the West, Russia, China, India on the periphery. Subsequent books can bring them deeper into the action.
For your WW3 story, I think a previous poster mentioned some of this:
A bit in the future (maybe 15-20 years), ISIS has consolidated its hold on portions of the middle east and established a working state (with passports, currency, etc).
The US and China (as the two world super economies) have a growing alliance.
The Caliphate (ISIS) goes to war against the Sino-US Alliance.
The cause, original instigator, etc for this war is left murky.
The story is told through the eyes of a Caliphate boy who joins the military to beat back the foreign invaders. He’s doing it out of nationalism and desire to protect his homeland. He doesn’t hate the Caliphate because its the only home he’s ever known and he doesn’t know any better.
Having through the point of view of a boy who believes his homeland is in the right could make for some interesting directions.
I read all of the sf story lines, so dealer’s choice. Looking forward to ’em all.
Hi Chris
I’d really like you to fit infinite regress in the list of upcoming work
I’m unfortunately hooked in a way that surprises me
I don’t particularly care too much about space empires as I’ve read so much science fiction that such themes start to blur Unless you’re Cordwainer Smith
That said I admire your work ethic
It will be done, but I need to get WH out the way first.
Chris
My Site: http://www.chrishanger.net/
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A world war three, i believe a different approach of US, Russia, and japan vs. China with the other pan Asia countries stuck in the middle. In Europe Nato staring at a possible war with Russia while it is on the brink but at the same time the middle east has fallen and Nato is there trying to hold the flood gates with turkey, Israel, Egypt alliance trying to liberate the fallen and broke Arabia, just a thought.