Kent Wayne

Echo, a Dystopian Science Fiction Novel: Chapter 1

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by

DirtySciFiBuddha
in

I’ve been talking it up for a while now. Here’s Echo, chapter 1: https://dirtyscifibuddha.com/echo-chapter-1/

Author’s notes: Instead of opening with a focus on the fantastical setting, I’ve decided to go with the base of the character. Chapter 1 shows the world of the protagonist and how he is beginning to become out of sync with it. I’ve also thrown in allegory (the mountain, the plateau, the rucks, the beating), some foreshadowing (the lookalike). With all this, I thought that opening with the sci-fi setting would be too much on top of that. Aside from brief mentions of the Dissidents and a holographic wrist device, there’s not much. There’s more “icing” in chapters 2 and 3.

Apologies for stilted language and any hitches that fall short in evoking emotion or imagery. As much as I harp on about structure, in fiction I believe structure should serve the emotional punch of the story, not vice versa. This is my first serious foray into writing fiction. It’s vastly different than the logically constructed argument of an essay, so I apologize if any wording falls short. I have had to learn where to break from traditional grammar and structure in order to purify the imagery and emotional evocation of wording rather than the academic integrity of it. Thanks for all you guys’ interest! I wish you inspired drafting and insightful editing!

Comments

22 responses to “Echo, a Dystopian Science Fiction Novel: Chapter 1”

  1. DragonSpark Avatar
    DragonSpark

    I looked around your blog a little bit yesterday (great stuff BTW) and found the page where you talk about your experience in the army. You mention how the normal portrayal is too single shaded, too black-and-white. I just read chapt 1 and the notes, and found that the portrayal of the crew is also very dark, single shaded hell of a place, with no redeeming ideals and values. Did you do that do demonstrate the dystopian aspect of the story or is there another reason?

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      No you hit the nail on the head. The Crew is an extremely one-sided portrayal of elite warriors. While people like this exist within those communities, there are many that are also the exact opposite. But yes, because it’s a dark age in Echo, that’s how the majority of them there will be.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Steve Bailey Art Avatar
    Steve Bailey Art

    I found your sentence structure and flow very good. Your mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences keep your reading fast and tight. Very short sentences give the reader a chance to catch his breath, as well as adding strong emphasis. I am impressed with your writing ability and the ability to keep your readers engaged. Now, on to chapter two…

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Thank you! Actually I look at the early chapters and I cringe… 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. Steve Bailey Art Avatar
        Steve Bailey Art

        As long as we grow with each new writing, it is good.

        Liked by 2 people

  3. todgermanica Avatar
    todgermanica

    Very good writing! I feel compelled to check out bloggers who read my stuff and usually I find very poor writing with bad grammar, spelling, agreement of subject and object, etc. Not here, very crisp, good choices of sentence length, complexity. Pretty grim world but I want to know more. Now I have to read chapter 2!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Thank You! My god, you should read my first drafts! I think all that stuff is a matter of editing, but when I go back and read it, there’s little things that still bother me. My criteria is that when I can finally read it without huge things hitching in my brain, it’s starting to get ready for release.

      Liked by 1 person

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  4. Echo Chapter 1 – by Kent Wayne – Br Andrew's Muses Avatar
    Echo Chapter 1 – by Kent Wayne – Br Andrew's Muses

    […] Here’s a link to the author’s notes for chapter 1:  Chapter 1 Author’s Notes […]

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      And Thank You again, haha! 🙂

      Like

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  5. Sci-fi Magic – Echo Chapter 1…

    […] Here’s a link to the author’s notes for chapter 1:  Chapter 1 Author’s Notes […]

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. theceaselessreaderwrites Avatar
    theceaselessreaderwrites

    Hi Kent. I like chapter one a lot and love that you’re including author’s notes. Write on!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Thank You! Chapter one basically foreshadows almost the entire story…I’m glad that it could be entertaining without going into some of the cooler bits, haha!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. jane tims Avatar
    jane tims

    Hi. I am impressed. A finely written Chapter 1 … the character believable and immediately familiar. I’ll be reading the rest. I really like the idea of author’s notes. Gives a little of the writing process. Jane

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Thank You Jane!! I’m actually a little embarrassed when I go back and read my earlier stuff; there’s a lotta “flow” mistakes I’m currently hoping to suss out with my editor (I know that’s a humble brag, but it’s the truth—I wince when I go back and read those early attempts at fiction by me)

      Liked by 1 person

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  8. andrewdenson Avatar
    andrewdenson

    I visited your site following a like you gave one of my essays. The first thing I did was read your “About the Author” piece and really took to interest what you had to say about your experience in the military. I served in the military also and you shed light on a side of the “service” that I forgot about. Social media does a good job of projecting this image you wrote on and portraying military as “badass” all the time. While reading Chapter 1, it reminded me of being a trainee and how “hard” the guys were or had to be. almost to try and out act one another.
    In regards to your writing style, I like the set up in Chapter 1 and feel you did good setting up the story. I also like your authors notes.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Hey thanks Andrew! Apologies for all the swearing (I actually encountered more when I served) and the noobie roughness; hopefully, both get a bit better in my later works, where I’ve matured a bit as a writer. Yeah, the military is simply a reflection of human nature in a specific context, like all things. The “badass” portrayal becomes counterproductive if it ever eclipses that basic truth. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  9. Robert A Schorr Avatar
    Robert A Schorr

    Hi Kent,
    Yes that was a real good first chapter. No apologies needed for “stilted language” either. You stretch your reader a bit—that’s exactly what most of them want. Have you tried going through (excuse the profanity) “agents” to get published Kent? I’m wrestling with that right now. My “Morning Frigate” blog is just my attempt at a platform actually. I have a detective novel completed and a children’s. Agent:”not what I’m craving.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Ha! I looked up the agent publishing process and decided they deserve too much profanity to try, LOL. Maybe later…after I’ve gotten a little more leverage through some recognition.

      Like

      Reply
  10. happyseaurchin Avatar
    happyseaurchin

    Good setting of the story through character. Nice to read your note. Your comments suggest you wrote several versions, are these based on responses from folks? Or have you trusted an editor?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Yep! After about a year or so, I sent it to an editor, then fixed some typos and changed up a bit of the flow.

      Like

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  11. Donna Black - Author Avatar
    Donna Black – Author

    You were right to start with character development instead of world building. Who cares about the world if we don’t care about the character? That’s a more mature approach as a writer. Couple of things that would have enhanced it for me: 1) what’s the temperature out there? Mentions were made of seeing their breath, but it also seems hot. 2) Are the Select volunteers or drafted/conscripted? That would give us insight into their level of motivation to succeed. There are a few other editorial thoughts you didn’t ask for so I’ll not get into that, but overall, well written. Compelling and engaging.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Thanks! I’ll keep those factors in mind. I was new to writing at the time and I think during that particular one I was focused on trying to foreshadow what’s going to happen, as well as his current mentality relative to life (symbolized by an actual plateau)

      Like

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