by guest blogger, EJ Randolph
posted by Kris Neri of the Femmes Fatales
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Today the Femmes welcome guest blogger science fiction writer, EJ Randolph. Read on to learn how you can get a free copy of her latest book, Spiders & Spice.
Take it away, EJ.
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Writers are advised to write what they know. In my case, my educational background is in history with a heavy emphasis upon diplomatic and military affairs.
What should I do with this?
I could write popular history. Still could, I suppose. Or, I could write historical novels. I used to read these as a child, but now that I've learned history, I can’t stand the inaccuracies. And I don’t think an accurate tale would be that interesting in today’s market.
We tend to write about burning issues of the day. For instance, today’s romance writers take seriously the notion that they are modeling ideal relationships both in and out of the bedroom, how mutual respect and consideration must be in every relationship along with a basic equality. A historically accurate romance would offend modern readers. As a result, historical novels tend to be costume dramas.
I write science fiction. What? You ask. You study the past and write about the future?
History is about universals of humans. We are not going to get rid of anger, ambition, love, hatred, backbiting, mother’s love. Some things are incontrovertible aspects of our very nature.
Many facets of societies repeat themselves. No one will argue against the universality of war. But often the need for cooperation brings people together no matter their differences. Nations will compete for resources, some as basic as water and food.
Enter my diplomat, the protagonist of my Federation Diplomat series, Kate Stevens. She is adept at maneuvering between peoples to bring about cooperation and peace. But she must understand the origin of points of friction between peoples and know what these mean in terms of her options.
I like to create future societies that highlight problems we can find in our world both in the past and in the present. Readers will recognize these and feel they are on familiar terrain. In my most recent book, Spiders & Spice, I look at a society defined by the elevation of the group over the individual. Many societies on Earth do that, especially in the East. Think China.
Another reason to study history in order to write about the future is the need to know how conflicts start and proceed.
Try not to cross your eyes for the following.
Insurgencies throughout time and across cultures follow a distinct pattern. They start out with a political complaint. People mobilize into a movement. We want change, they say. They plead their cause with the governing structure. They tend to expect the government will go along. They are not asking for all that much, and the justice is clear.
But the government cracks down. Always.
The resistance radicalizes.
The government cracks down harder, usually in a general way against whole populations, turning more people against it.
The resistance picks up weapons.
Now, we have a hot war going on. The goals have become expansive.
Think about the recent protests about police brutality in our own country. People complain. We get a Black Lives Matter movement. The government doesn’t listen and probably acts against this movement. I haven’t been getting the news for a while, so I can’t speak to details.
Now, the movement radicalizes. Look at the violent protests in Oregon.
The government cracks down. (Sending federal troops. Even though they have been ostensibly removed, I’m sure the FBI and other agencies are active.)
Cities are talking about defunding police. Yep, the movement has radicalized.
So far, the US has avoided the path of most countries because it tends to eventually listen to protests. But will they this time? Obviously in some places, Black Lives Matter advocates are in position to make these changes. They are the city councils in places. So, I am hopeful. We can vote to make change. That’s not always possible in other places.
Now, you see how a knowledge of history can make a diplomat’s task much easier. She can assess where a society has come on the insurgent continuum. She knows where and how to act to stop the trajectory and bring about peace.
Most books about war talk simply about using bigger guns and more troops. Maybe a kill-first-ask-questions later mentality.
I roll my eyes. The US tried that in Vietnam. We all know how that turned out.
If you want a far more realistic view of diplomacy and war in fiction, you'll find it in my books.
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In Spiders & Spice, protagonist Kate Stevens speeds across the galaxy to forge a defense alliance with an alien culture before a rogue military can crush the peaceful alien planet. Yet it proves impossible, since the aliens forbid a discussion of violence. Can Kate prevent the war? Without the Navy to support her, she must rely upon subterfuge and guts. It’s risky but that’s her only chance against the marauder’s far superior numbers. She must gamble with her own life and the lives of her spaceship crew. If she fails, she’ll end in an unmarked grave. If she succeeds, she must craft the peace under the continued threat of war. Will she survive?
If you like characters with heart and grit, you'll love this space opera in which a diplomat risks life and career to bring about peace in a deadly clash of worlds.
E J Randolph lives in the mountains of Southwest New Mexico and dreams of flying someday to the stars. She imagines future human societies in space and contact with aliens. Her background in military and diplomatic history gives her a firm foundation for the actions and thoughts of her main character, a diplomat of the Federation of Human-Settled Planets. Readers may contact her at randolphweb.wordpress.com.
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Until October 14, 2020 review copies of Spiders & Spice are available free! Free copies!
The paperback is currently available on Amazon.
The ebook is on preorder until October 14, 2020.
Welcome to the Femmes, EJ!
Posted by: krisneri | September 25, 2020 at 07:43 AM