This week: an update on my writing; The Spike-related links; and the rerelease of Interstellar.
progress_report
Not a massive week in terms of words written (3,154), but two of the chapters have required time-consuming research.
What kind of research? Hacking mostly (to give details why would be a massive spoiler), but also locations in London. I’m currently reading one of the Tom Thorne novels by Mark Billingham (a good gritty cop series if you’re looking for one) and I like the way he details the city as the characters move around. It brings the location to life as a character itself.
The coming week will be busy in my day job – running with a skeleton crew over Christmas requires preparation – so I might not get much writing done. My target though is to finish this draft of this part by the end of 2024. It should be doable with six chapters remaining, and three of those will link with part 1 that I’ve already written.
status.vol2
The Spike Volume 2 will contain three separate books from the perspective of seven characters.
Part 1 – draft 2 complete; further chapters to add.
Part 2 – draft 2 written up to chapter 70; six chapters to go.
Part 3 – draft 2 written up to chapter 18; forty-eight chapters to go.
The intention is to complete draft 2 for all three parts by the end of February 2025.
Then a readthrough will determine how much revision is required.
The ultimate aim is to have Volume 2 finished by the end of 2025 for publication early 2026.
opinion\interstellar
Beware: spoilers ahead for “Interstellar”.
The Christopher Nolan movie “Interstellar” is going through a resurgence. Having been rereleased in cinemas to celebrate its 10th anniversary, it’s keeping newer films off the IMAX screens it was intended for by sheer audience demand. There are pieces proclaiming it to be the best movie of Nolan’s career, and one of the best sci-fi movies ever.
Some of the reviews at the time of it’s original release were less kind, bemoaning sappy moments and a third act that required the viewer to take a leap from known science. Much like the complaints about the spinning top at the end of “Inception”, they missed the point.
It’s been interesting to see some of those who panned it previously now apparently changing their minds, like Richard Lawson at Vanity Fair. I can’t help wondering whether they deliberately gave it a poor review when it first came out to get attention or to seem clever somehow, or they’re now revising their story to try to fit in with the audience consensus.
For my part, I was amazed by Interstellar from the first viewing. I’d never seen the scale of space and man’s tiny part in it communicated so effectively, from the visuals to Hans Zimmer’s stirring, organ-infused score. I feared subsequent viewings on smaller screens would diminish the film, but as the epic parts become familiar, the father/daughter story at the core of the film shines through. Along with all that spectacle is incredible writing and wonderful acting performances.
For a massive sci-fi extravaganza, it’s one of the most emotional films I’ve watched, and the scenes that have since become genuinely iconic are split between both categories that are rarely seen together. One is linked in the weekly inspiration below, but there were several I could have picked: Coop watching messages from his kids; the docking scene; or the tidal wave planet, to name just a few.
If you haven’t seen it recently, it’s well worth a rewatch.
connecting_links
The Spike is set in our world, incorporating real events; the links below are relevant to the themes and overarching storyline, and may or may not provide clues to the direction of the series.
I do not necessarily agree with or endorse any of the views within.
Google unveils ‘mind-boggling’ quantum computing chip
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c791ng0zvl3o
‘Unprecedented risk’ to life on Earth: Scientists call for halt on ‘mirror life’ microbe research
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/dec/12/unprecedented-risk-to-life-on-earth-scientists-call-for-halt-on-mirror-life-microbe-research
What should we do if AI becomes conscious? These scientists say it’s time for a plan
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-04023-8
The GCHQ Christmas Challenge 2024
https://www.gchq.gov.uk/news/gchq-christmas-challenge-2024
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, I include a scene from “Interstellar”. As mentioned in the opinion piece above, there are several scenes I could have picked but few in the history of cinema give such a sense of scale as this. It’s a reminder that, when writing, context and the bigger picture is always important, even when we’re inside one character’s head and dealing with the very personal. And also, like in all of Nolan’s films, dumbing-down is not necessary.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 