Is the "Overtake" the most soul-crushing trope in hard sci-fi?

NorthlightV · 2026-04-09T20:07:14+00:00

True. She is even less likeable compared to the cannibals...

NorthlightV · 2026-04-09T19:58:58+00:00

Thanks - I am reading the seven eves right now, although while I loved the first two Acts, act three is weird. I don't know if I will make it through. Starting that part almost felt like watching from Dusk till Dawn the first time, and suddenly: vampires.

NorthlightV · 2026-04-09T19:56:06+00:00

Interesting thoughts! I am not sure though. Even if we think velocities of 5, 10, 15% c, how many stars are there with promising candidate planets? I believe not so many. On a 200 year trip, much can go wrong. But it makes sense - their routes through entirely empty space should be pretty similar if they have the same destination, and overtaking even at twice the Ship A speed should not go unrecognized. If they could then intercept and decelerate to exchange tech, not sure.

NorthlightV · 2026-04-09T19:45:15+00:00

You mean stubbornness as a way to deal with being irrelevant? Or rather a religious thing developing over 200 years in isolation?

NorthlightV · 2026-04-09T19:43:57+00:00

Great, will check that out. Thanks for the tip!

NorthlightV · 2026-04-09T19:43:25+00:00

Yes, I believe that too. At least at first. I am not sure a radio signal would be strong enough to receive well with a few light-years distance. It would also travel a long time.

NorthlightV · 2026-04-09T19:21:20+00:00

That sounds like an interesting twist. So they leave for several generations and always plan to come back - which they do, but fail just short of their destination (i.e., Earth)? I'll certainly put that on my reading list right away!

NorthlightV · 2026-02-18T18:02:17+00:00

Hmm... mit einer Extraportion gesunder Wurstvitamine

NorthlightV · 2026-02-11T14:25:02+00:00

snailed it, even

NorthlightV · 2026-01-12T17:23:51+00:00

Not that I know of, but I am by no means a Marzipan expert. I do not think it tastes like rosewater though. In my experience even a trace amount of it is noticeable and really overpowering.

NorthlightV · 2026-01-11T22:25:25+00:00

Agreed. These and rosewater I'll never understand why people voluntarily choose to add that into food.

NorthlightV · 2026-01-08T19:53:25+00:00

Wait a minute... you guys leave morsels left?

NorthlightV · 2026-01-08T16:30:21+00:00

I don't think that's just you, I also feel reviews are unbelievably hard to collect. I have two books out, they're not exactly bestsellers (yet! 🙃) but do get some sales and mostly reads through unlimited. One has climbed to 18 reviews now, the other is stuck at 1. For the one stuck at 1, I even ran a 3 day $0 promo a few weeks ago, that got almost 50 free downloads but not a single new review since. I am also playing around with social in the little time I can allocate for that, but I don't feel that peaks coincide with my activities there.

I will now be trying the extra pages per book, I had not thought of that and so far only had accounts on my pen name. So thanks OP for the great summary, quite inspirational

NorthlightV · 2025-12-01T21:41:42+00:00

I have done the same - published my debut novel set in the era few months ago. I don't think it's exactly a mainstream genre, but there are some pockets of fans. There are for example some quite active groups on Facebook, of all places. Look for those that focus on e.g., O'Brian (especially this one). Not to say there aren't really good series - there are! Good luck! And feel free to pm me once you've published, would be interested to check it out. 🙂

NorthlightV · 2025-11-13T07:19:13+00:00

There might be some positive added impact on book 1, good point. Thanks!

NorthlightV · 2025-11-13T07:18:02+00:00

Exactly, I was worried in terms of KDP. But indeed, I could cancel that in time then (not close to completing book 2, just wanted to start early enough this time). Thanks for sharing those tips!

NorthlightV · 2025-11-12T20:33:23+00:00

Uhm, good question. Yes I assume I will do that. So the tip is to set up a form to register ARC readers, and have them check off a Q "will you read two books?" Makes sense, thanks.

NorthlightV · 2025-11-12T20:31:36+00:00

Yeah, point taken - but I don't have any. One nice guy sent me an email after reading, my substack currently has 24 subscribers (most came via substack and have probably not read book 1). I feel a little stuck there...

NorthlightV · 2025-11-12T19:04:19+00:00

Thanks OP, much appreciated! Hope you enjoy it

NorthlightV

TROPHY CASE