B. Rojas January 18, 2019
Anatomy of a science fiction story like no other There are several objectives behind the science fiction story, Not what you thought, but its true anyway. Of course, it is your prerogative to decide what is true and what is invention, but that is a separate matter. For now the best thing to say is that it is a combination of both. At first there was only one objective, namely, preparing an introduction for "The Game of Planets," to explain the assumptions of the game and set guidelines for creative development of fictional planets. However, as work progressed it became clear that full length story, call it a novella at this stage of things, was needed and that it should include a statement of values necessary for the kind of game play that has always been in my mind. The goal has never been to open the game to anyone and everyone. Not at all. Yes, it would be good if a million people decided this was right for them, but a billion players who do not share the common purpose for which the game was designed would destroy everything that I had hoped to achieve. It would be nice, indeed, if the game earned significant money. However, I have lived in poverty for many years and I will not, under any circumstances, sell out my ideals even if it means more years of very low income. I can live on my current 1K per month, I know how to do so, and that is a better alternative than compromising away what I believe in and regard as unarguable truth. Hence the game has taken the form it has, as a vehicle for seeking to influence others about the wisdom of those beliefs and the fact that the truths in question are demonstrably just that, truths. The game is far more than a pastime, of course. It follows from a model of how reality itself is structured in our universe. Not because I claim to have "all the answers" but because I think I have some of the answers and that various speculations are consistent with those answers. In other words, the game, and the "science fiction" story, are intended as a way to "evangelize" for what I think is right and good and true. If it earns significant revenue, terrific, that would be most welcome. But making money is secondary to my "higher purpose." At this point nothing at all anyone can possibly say can dissuade me from those purposes so, if anyone has the view that "this is a great story but we need to change the stuff about homosexuality" -or about Islam- here is my response in advance: F*ck you. To be sure, geofiction is a passion of mine. There really are many, many maps of my design that depict imaginary worlds of various kinds, and imaginary lands here on planet Earth. But in all cases the objective is to promote the good as I understand it. I don't give a damn about the manufactured "values consensus" which prevails in popular culture at this time. Indeed, I mostly regard that consensus as a pile of crap. It needs to be dismantled and replaced. Hence another objective is to offer a strong critique of contemporary popular culture and suggest ways that it can be consigned to the trash heap and a new culture created from its ashes. This is also a challenge to traditional approaches to what may be called "utopia construction." This is not Tolkien Mark II, intended to proselytize for conventional Christianity. My kind of Christian faith is very different even though it has far more in common with the traditional interpretation than otherwise; this is not a departure in which the commonalities are window dressing or secondary. In any case, I regard conventional Christianity as so problematic that, by and large, it is indefensible. But as much as possible, since a good deal in it is noble and true, it should be defended and made into a source of renewed life. Saint-Simon called this the "New Christianity" and that is my model as well. It is far more ecumenical that any form of Christian faith now in existence, however, and this says that my very positive views of elements of Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Confucianism, Taoism, etc, are not open to compromise, either. For which there are a large number of verses in the Bible which also make this point. While these passages are almost always overlooked or ignored by Evangelicals, they have vital importance for me. The sci-fi story and the game reflect this philosophy and, indeed, everything is presented in such a way that all of these factors are part of a seamless garment. Everything hangs together, you can't remove one part and still have the same story or the same game. As a game, this is intended to be far more than a diversion in one's life. The idea is creation of fictional worlds or imaginary countries that suggest new ways to do things in the real world, new and useful ideas, but that, in the context of a game, are open to experimentation, redesign, and modification as needed. Plus, no small thing, since this is a game it should be fun to play. In other words it also is an entirely new approach to education -starting in grade school but so good as a game that it can become a source of satisfaction and meaning all of one's life until the very end. Marx ridiculed utopianism and many other people have followed suit. My approach says that, on the contrary, creation of realistic utopias is a good thing, something with practical value, something that can motivate people to educate themselves, and an outlet for creative work -designing new planets or countries. And, for anyone so inclined, new fashions, new styles for cars, new architecture, and so forth. My primary interest along these lines is vexillology, designing new flags, of which there now are hundreds in which I take great pride. The next step is deciding which flags make the best sense as emblematic of which nations -or states or municipalities, or organizations. ------------------------------------------------------------ About the story, clearly it has considerable potential. But you can be certain that the saga has uses far above entertainment purposes. Another objective is to become an opinion leader, to be a leader, to show the world in which we live a better model for the future than those assumed by anyone else. And to show how defective the libertarian and Cultural Marxist visions of the future really are -visions that are simple-minded and pathetic. The story is controversial -as it was intended to be. In journalism the rule is: No controversy, no-one purchases your paper or book or magazine. While there are exceptions, this rule is far more true than not. In any case, I thrive on controversy, generally speaking I like controversy. I also intend to make good use of controversy to promote ideas and values, This is not about conventional marketing in which the rule is: You must appeal to what already is popular, you must appeal to established tastes and preferences. That is the exact opposite of what I am seeking to accomplish. My objective is to lead the way to new tastes and preferences. I want to upset almost every apple cart on the street. Anyone who wants to work with me on the game or the story needs to understand this and be comfortable with a lot of controversy. Think of the Apostle Paul and the history of the early Church. Paul's viewpoint was very unpopular, Christians were a tiny minority and they were the targets of considerable opposition and calumny. I take it for granted that there will be a good deal of opposition every step of the way. This is also part of the picture. The question is not: "How can I thread the needle and maintain my reputation as a conformist middle class bourgeois while creating an innovative new product?" For me the question is: "How can I foment a new Reformation as extensive and dynamic and basically successful as the one started by Martin Luther?" I may never get remotely close, but that IS the objective. And to hell with any thought that I would ever become anyone else's amanuensis or subordinate. In fact, that kind of suggestion is insulting to me. My personal goal is leadership, not something else. How many more years I will be able to say this I do not know. What I do know is that I feel better physically than at any time since a series of medical problems caused me considerable grief in 2016 and a temporary problem arose in late 2017. At least I think I can do my best work for an unknown number of years yet, and for a fact nobody else can do the kind of work at which I excel. But I am more than willing to work along-side of others. ----------- The story could be developed in a number of ways that I simply did not have time for at this stage of things in my life. In effect, it is a novella with the potential to be expanded into a full-fledged phone book novel. What is missing is character development, a few 'juicy' sub-plots, romantic interest, and far more personal action than exists now. In an ideal contract, I would work along with one or another writer with professional skills and develop the story in detail. That is, any contract would grant me full creative control. This is non-negotiable. I do not want the story mucked up in any way. I do not want Hollywood values creeping in via subterfuge, nor any nods to conformist religion of any variety, or the like. It should not be much of a problem to see where the story could be built upon, though, and it would be a pleasure to see things "fleshed out" and made into something worthy of several hundred pages of printer's ink. The story as it stands uses the names of many real life people in the public spotlight. The idea was to generate controversy -and leverage. I mean, my advertising budget is $0.00 and some publicity is desperately needed. The thought was that these names would make everything more "interesting" for a good number of potential readers. Since this has been circulated only by means of 1 : 1 e-mails there have been no compromises with legalities. A legitimate publisher, of course, would want to change this feature of the story and I am amenable to reason about it. Elon Musk might become "Elmo Moss", let us say, and that might be OK. Those kinds of changes I can live with -although if a legal means could be found to continue to call Mr. Musk, Elon Musk, that would be preferable... At any rate, creative control needs to be part of any contract. This might still be an attractive proposition for a writer who possibly might, in the last analysis, contribute 150 pages to a 300 page novel. It would be a pleasure to work with someone who is in basic agreement with my values even if he (or she) may have 100 ideas for developing the story in fresh new ways. Surely you may have noticed that the story has movie potential. I mean, the Grand Canyon, Australia and the Coral Sea, a rocket launch, a conference at a swanky estate in Topanga, a space probe zooming through an alien solar system, a whole new planet with its own civilization, an affair with a teenage chick in colorful New Mexico, what more do you want? But the same thing for any screenplay: Creative control needs to be part of the contract. signed: B. Rojas -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
