The "Ports of Call" series is built from the universe created to provide background to several novellas and short stories I have created over the past couple of years. The galactic nations in the spotlight include the Cairn Galactic Union, the Cying-Gon Empire, the Nor lo Korish, and Tara. Much of the series, however, focuses on the maturing Cold War and the eventual high-intensity war between Cairn and Cying-Gon.
There are references throughout to the previous conflict between Cairn and Nor lo Korish known in the history books as The Fifteen-Year War. This war could play out in a prequel or two, but am currently toying with the idea of using this past to spark a political issue in the aftermath of the Cairn/Cying-Gon war. More to come.
The series' main character is Matthew Kelly. He is a very junior officer in the Terra Scouts--a strategic reconnaissance unit of the Cairn military--and comes of age in this series. His mother and his grandparents raise him, with his grandfather plays a critical role in Matt's upbringing. His father fought in The Fifteen-Year War and winds up missing in action. Although his grandparents assumes their son is dead, Matt's mom holds onto the hope he is still alive--even though fifteen years have gone by at the point of "Juxtaposition Reality" (the first installment).
Although war is ever-present throughout the series, the real story captures the second- and third-order effects of conflict. The volumes explore the impact it has on people as individuals and as a collective body; the impact the collective body has on the individuals and the prosecution of the war; and the impact it has on the future of generations or the lack there of. In a recent article the writer discusses how SF writers tend to simplify war. I strongly disagree. To simplify war is to step into the bounds of absolute war, and that's not where we go. Humans are complex beings and when you add the horrors of war to their world…well, where's the simplification in that? Thus, my philosophy is to focus on the second- and third-order effects that are the results of a warrior's action, the results of a political action, and the results of actions from a collective body of fear. Together the actions and inactions weave the complex web that is war, and the overarching theme of this series.
Why another series involving conflict and fighting? One common reason for tackling a series is for the money (hey, just trying to be honest here). Actually, the series concept serves as the perfect medium to explore a full spectrum of evolution of a war. Take a look at any long war--the nation, the people, the military, the warrior that steps across the start point on day one is not the same that comes back when it's all said and done. The equipment changes, the tactics change, attitudes change, and ways of life change. And this is what we'll probe with "Ports of Call."
