Synopsis:
Without an influx of human DNA, the utopian colony on
Kipos has eleven generations before it reaches failure. Earth is over ninety
light years away. Time is short.
On the over-crowded Earth, many see opportunity in
Kipos' need. After medical, intelligence, and physiological testing, Abby and
her younger siblings, Jin and Orchid, are offered transportation. Along with
750,000 other strong young immigrants, they leave the safety of their family
with the expectation of good jobs and the opportunity for higher education.
While the Earthlings travel to the new planet in
stasis, the Kiposi, terrified the savages will taint their paradise, pass a
series of indenture and adoption laws in order to assimilate them.
When Abby wakes up on Kipos, Jin
cannot be found. Orchid is ripped from her arms as Abby is sold to a dull-eyed
man with a sterilized wife. Indentured to breed, she is drugged and
systematically coerced. To survive, Abby learns the differences in culture and
language using the only thing that is truly hers on this new world: her
analytical mind. In order to escape her captors, she joins a planetary survey
team where she will discover yet another way of life.
Other Systems Buy Links
Amazon US, Barnes
& Noble, Kobo
and 48Fourteen.
For
more information
FB
Page:
Website
with deleted scenes and other extras!
Trailer
Links
Other
Systems: Voices from the Stars Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAHQJBjRvgE
Other
Systems: The Stargazer Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiIJBPJ1DV8
Seattle, WA – Elizabeth
Guizzetti opened a new door to the science fiction genre with a character
driven multi-world fiction that grabs readers’ emotions and refuses to let go.
Garnering a growing and dedicated readership, Other Systems examines what an actual life of might entail if
someone chooses to leave Earth and live on another planet. Hailed as both
‘thought-provoking’ and ‘emotional’, the book is resonating with readers—some
who have never read science fiction before.
Other Systems FAQ
and Links
What inspired you to create Other
Systems? Other Systems was inspired by the Kepler
Missions along side many other factors. First of all, I tend to be interested
in groups of people that encourage camaraderie and I like ships (both space and
sea-faring) so I knew I wanted to write a book with a ship in it. Secondly, I
find the idea of time dilation and how it effects families really fascinating.
Finally, I wanted to write a book that my husband would really like and he's a
science fiction fan.
The
concept really hit me when I was out walking the dogs. A young Earth woman goes
to another planet and realizes she has become a slave. However, due to her
intelligence, she will escape and become a ship’s captain while she rescues her
siblings also somewhere lost on this planet. (Obviously this isn’t the final
story.)
That
very night, I saw an article about young, uneducated girls from India’s rural
areas traveling into cities with the expectation that they are going to get
factory jobs only to end up working as sex slaves. Suddenly, I knew the how
Abby got caught up in all of this. Then the Alekos plot hit me. I knew the
breeding laws were more expansive than just the bonded Earthlings. There would
be more species than Homo sapiens and Homo kiposi. Those other species would be
sterilized due to their genetic makeup.
How much research did you do?
About three months, though most of it was during the early drafts of the
novel as I was writing I would discover something I needed to know. I went to
the Museum of Flight. I watched the Universe Series. I also listened as my
husband and smart friends watched StarTrek, Prometheus, Aliens, and other
Science Fiction hits. I wanted to know one thing: where did they groan because
the science was lacking. My
other emphasis was making the scientists act like scientists. It is a pet peeve
of mine when I see people who are supposed to be intelligent acting stupid. So
I tried very hard to make the crew of the Revelation
and Discovery to act like scientists
on a survey mission. Yes, that means they spend a lot of time collecting
samples, just like our own astronauts.
Do you identify with any of the
characters? I
identify with all the characters at one point or another during the writing of
a novel. By the second draft, all the primary and secondary characters start
speaking to me even if they are not a point of view character. Mark changed his
whole sub-plot.
Why did you choose to tell the
story with the two characters Abby and Cole? Abby was always the main
character, but originally Cole's parts were told by Harden and Helen. However
when I looked over their chapters they all were repeats of Abby chapters just
from their viewpoints or they were too introspective. Since they did not add
forward momentum to the plot ultimately they had to go. I loved the Prologue
from Harden's perspective, but it was so angry and emotional that it was hard
to understand what was happening. The other reason I used Cole as the narrator
is he looks at all three of his kids, the fleet and Kipos whereas Harden is
focused upon himself and Helen is focused on protecting her brothers, running
the ship, and everything else she has to do. Mark was never considered because
he starts the novel at age 6 and is too young to narrate the prologue.
Also
while Abby grew up on Earth and ages 17 through 19 during the course of the
novel, Cole is an adult. He was raised in the fleet and begins the novel at 36,
already a father of three and ends the novel at 54. The difference in their
perspectives is literally astronomical.
Would
you like to go to another planet?
Sure, but we are in the beginning steps of space travel and I am in my 30’s, so
it’s likely I will be Earthbound for the rest of my life. If it were a one-way
trip, I would never leave my husband. I will say I am excited to see space
travel opportunities that we might discover if we began a colony on Luna or
Mars. We know we can make it to the moon with today’s technology. Imagine what
a vacation that would be.
Were
you always a sci-fi fan?
Yes, I am a sci-fi fan. Honestly I love all speculative fiction (fantasy,
horror and science fiction.) I love books and movies that take me to another
world.
(SLIGHT SPOILER IN THE NEXT QUESTION) I understand why Helen took Abby in, but why
didn’t Harden fight more to get rid of her?
Now, this is a funny question, because I actually originally wrote
this scene. However it was cut very early in the 2nd draft (of 7) since Harden
and Helen were no longer point of view characters.
However the other more pressing
story-telling problem is that the argument is repetitive of the next chapter
when we see Cole and Harden discussing Abby’s employment. Also by this point in
the book, the reader already knows Harden loves his family and while Helen is
second in command, she runs the ship in regards to personnel. So the argument
really didn’t add anything new to the story. That being said: check out the deleted scenes on
http://other-systems.com if you want to read it!
Select Interviews
and Reviews
Tam’s Two Cents Review
Three Nerds & a Book Club Book
Recommendation March 24, 2013
The Big Nerd Review
April 2, 2013
The Middle Nerd Review
March 24, 2103
The Small Nerd Review
March 21, 2103
Dan Thompson (Author of Caseworker’s Memoirs) Interview
and Review October 30, 2012
Books are my way of Living
Interview with Ruth : Monday August 20, 2012
Review: Wednesday August 15, 2012
Interview with Ruth : Monday August 20, 2012
Review: Wednesday August 15, 2012
Interview
with The Red Reader: Thursday July 12, 2012
Review by the Red Reader: Monday July 23, 2012
Review by the Red Reader: Monday July 23, 2012
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