Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Other Systems








 

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
 Review
I was given this book by author for honest review. Ever hear it sounds to good to be true. Abby and her family certainly find out that their dream of Kipos is not what was promised. Sci-fi epic tale of survival in a world unfamiliar to them.
 
Excerpt
Abby went on: “I’m going to Kipos, but I’ll take you home right now. Once we are around this bend, there’s no turning back. Do you still want to go?”  “Yeah.” The younger girl lifted her chin to look at her sister. “Remember when Mr. Tygh said that on Kipos I could go to school to become anything I wanted, maybe even a doctor. I like that idea. Ma and Da can’t send me to the university.” Abby felt a lump in her throat. Orchid’s reasoning was much more mature than her own.  “If I can go to school, I always thought it would be neat to invent something instead of just building something that someone else designed,” Jin said. With a guilty look, he glanced up at Abby. “But I understand if I have to work.” Abby nodded. “My hope is that both of you can attend school.”
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
 





Contact: Elizabeth Guizzetti – Author
elizabethguizzetti@gmail.com

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.

Inspired by NASA's Kepler mission (the search for other Earth-like planets) the novel explores the shifts in culture and belief systems, the definition of humanity, and family structure as humans for new homes. Finally it asks: Would you go? 

As the author explains, her novel showcases the true power of a determined human mind. “Abby is an intelligent protagonist that grows through the course of the novel. Even though life does not turn out as planned, she uses her mind--not violence--in order to find a way out of her problems,” says Guizzetti.


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

Verdict Book Reviews 
Review: Tuesday September 11, 2012

Books are my way of Living
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


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