I already have a frankly rather interesting concept for a planet dominated by sharp relief, to the tune of nigh-Martian highlands and the usual thick-air jungle-y lowlands, with the ocean reservoirs being underground, primarily. “Cascadia Below, Mars Above” I called it; but siting it in … Continue readingWorlds of Ice, Snow, and Salt
I know I just revisited my fictional planet Cerberus…but why not revisit it again? It is my blog, after all. But seriously, I do have some more details I’ve settled in on as I continue to tune the environment to suit the vibe I have … Continue readingFleshing Out Cerberus: Antarctic Vibes?
Okay, I exaggerate…but not by nearly as much as you’d think. The ice giants of our solar system, Uranus and Neptune, are typically dismissed as habitats for mankind: there is solid surface chauvinism (which leads us to overlook Venus at 55 kilometers altitude or so … Continue readingAnother Earth, in the Depths of Neptune?
Go through the list of the nearest stars, and binaries abound…but few are the close binaries needed for the iconic twin sunset scenes from classic sci-fi. Gliese 866, better known by its variable-star designation EZ Aquarii, is the nearest possibility: located 11.1 light-years from Earth, … Continue readingBlack Seas, Red Sky, Three Suns: Worldbuilding EZ Aquarii
Where is the nearest Earth twin? It’s a crucial question for my sci-fi fictional universe, that I try to base on real scientific information about exoplanets but also keep interesting. Habitable planets abound in the closest star systems, but none are quite Earth-like. Proxima Centauri’s … Continue readingThe Pale Blue Dot, Filtered Through a Dream
I’ve already done some worldbuilding for my planet “Cerberus” and the surrounding system (Sirius B), but what about the Dog Star itself, Sirius A? We wouldn’t want it to be boring, but we also want to keep it scientifically plausible, yet not duplicative of the … Continue readingWorlds of White
I know it’s a direct follow-up from my last post, but why not? After all, Sirius B’s companion world is a fascinating place in my science-fiction-cum-space-opera setting. I now have hard numbers, which dictate tidal locking, the question of it being a moon, the orbital … Continue readingMore Thoughts on my Planet “Cerberus”
“Will, if we’re not on Mars, you tell us where we are?” “I’m not sure yet, we might even be on Cerberus.” Cerberus? So asked Penny Robinson to her older and brainier brother Will Robinson in “Lost in Space”. For a long time I wondered … Continue readingCerberus: A World Like No Other
Having experienced the climate of coastal California, I’m liking it well enough, but there’s room for improvement: it’s a bit too warm, too foggy and cloudy, and way too humid. I’m also missing the spectacular desert landscapes of the interior and the wide daily ranges … Continue readingWorldbuilding the Ultimate Desert Coast
Well, I’ve finally released one of the stories I had in my backlog, a planetary-romance-style space opera story about the last days of a mysterious jungle planet, as told through the eyes of a mail-order bride who has a rather…rocky relationship with her titular husband. … Continue readingMy World Is Never Was: New Sci-Fi Novella Out!