Hi, everyone
It’s a smaller update this time, I’m afraid. I completed the first draft of The Family Secret, but – as always – it needs a great deal of editing and suchlike before it can be put on sale. Standing Alone is being edited now, so – as you can see – there’s a bit of a backlog. Still, it could be worse <grin>.
My planned next project, in a couple of weeks (school holiday and really, I need a rest), is The Prince’s Gambit, a direct sequel to The Prince’s War.
Beyond that, I would like to try something new. It’s a choice between a pure alternate history story and a semi-urban fantasy. The former is set in the 1950s, a world where the Third Reich bestrides Europe, Hitler is dying … and, as the succession question suddenly becomes very dangerous, Werner Von Braun, the founder of the Nazi Rocket Program, wants to defect to the West. (I don’t have a title for this yet, so suggestions welcome). The latter – provisionally entitled The Stranded – follows a trio of students from a magical world who find themselves trapped in our world, unaware that they’re under threat from shadowy enemies intent on keeping the doors between the two firmly closed.
Which one would you like to see?
Chris
The Chrishanger 
Hi
I would like the alternate history story, I am not a magic fan so would have no interest in this and while the Nazi’s won has been done a lot it can always be done again and better 🙂
Thanks
Definitely the latter, the one with the three magic students
Stranded sounds interesting. Just out of interest would the students have knowledge of tech
I would prefer The Stranded.
>
The Prince’s Gambit Please!
As mentioned above, the “Hitler won” theme has been done before, with varying levels of success (mostly on the low end). The Man in The High Castle was perhaps the best (to my mind) and the Prime series was actually pretty good, at least initially. The last series and the ending was worthy of a Stephen King book – he always seems to have good ideas, but never a clue on how the end, so the ending is always rushed and apparently written by his 12 year old assistant. I know you can do better, so why not?
My personal vote would be for the trio, but go with whichever is driving you at the time.
I guess I’ll be the milquetoast fence sitter here. I like both ideas.
“The Stranded”
The stranded!
The Stranded please. The Hitler thing has been done already.
The stranded. Your idea of people from a magical realm is quite the opposite from what is most often done, so how you handle magical beings stranded here without it could possibly be a fascinating new idea!
Although history.
I would like the urban fantasy.
I would love to see the alternate universe story, done in your style I think it would be great. Title wise how about the ‘The Führer’s Will’
Alternate Hitler Universe: In Summer 1939, General Gamelin becomes ill and retired. His accidental replacement inspects armies, and replaces General Corap (French 9th Army) with someone highly competent. The German Ardennes offensive fails to break through.
Hitler is Dying
Well Chris, whatever you do, just keep churning out the Stuck in Magic sequels left and right – I’d devour each and every chapter that comes out – hopefully on a daily basis.
Both sound interesting, but the German thing has been done too many times.
Regarding the magical world of Emily, considering it’s about technology vs magic, perhaps someone can investigate the third continent and find a crashed alien spaceship there. This would fit with the “Greys” hinted at in the time travel book. What if someone found technology capable of defeating magic?
I suppose for me, it depends on:
a) point-of-view in the Hitler story (e.g., who is the ‘main’ character and why would I care…) and,
b) are you going to try your hand at some humo(u)r similar to Dresden Files or Iron Druid series?
Honestly, neither one really appeals to me, but if you have a story in there itching to come out, get it out! Don’t let it take up any more mental RAM. New material is always risky. But can you imagine being Mick Jagger and having to sing the SAME thing over and over forever? So also consider why you want to write these. If you need the money, stuck with what has been working, if not, write anything you want! 🙂
Have to say that every book I’ve read of yours so far has been enjoyable so it will be a win for your readers either way you go. Will admit I’m a huge fan of the empire corp series so seeing your character and storyline development in them I would love to see what you could do with the alternate history story line
The Stranded has my vote.
Contemplate editing Warlord so that it is not dependent on having read the SIM series, and try sending it to Baen. Or Tor, for that matter, if they are still reading.
The Stranded sounds much more interesting to me.
Alternate history gets my vote.
Both
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Would never buy another alternate Nazi book, but Stranded sounds fascinating and an immediate purchase.
I wanna see a sequel to Science and Sourcery, but failing that, alternate history sounds good.
Why can’t it be both? Perhaps the reason magic is fading on earth is that it is in fact evolving. The earth is influencing raw magic to be something else…psionics, mentalist, telekinesis etc which in their own ways are more powerful (if not more subtle) than magic…
I am always in for alternative histories, but “Hitler winning” stories have been done and overdone.
What??? The Empire Corps is up to book 20??
Man am I slacking.
What happened to the Ark Royal series ?
I say Stranded with a twist.
the three students are from the Nameless world
they stumble into an industrial revolution museum,
they recognize a LOT of what “Lady Emily” introduced to the world.
they stumble on a missing person story about Emily herself and realize the source of all the ideas she had was from centuries old history from her own world. Wouldn’t it be a shocking event to realize the ideas that turned their entire world on it’s head were primitive compared to the standards she was used to?
I always wondered about a story where an energy source is converted. like, converting electricity into magical energy for spells. Perhaps batteries to fuel the magic?
I have tons of ideas myself but I sadly lack the maglev train that is YOUR muse to churn out stories on a non-stop basis. Even still I very much look forward to reading whatever you choose to write!