At long last we get to read how the series came to be. Can't wait for part two and beyond.

Jim

Wait a minute... Mark always claimed the editors wanted the two series tied together, and that he'd originally designed Outlanders as a separate concept. Still, interesting...

No, I always claimed the exact opposite. Just like I state in the blog, I originally designed OL as a separate concept...but when I was asked to add junk to it that was the same as in DL but with different names, it was my suggestion and mine alone that the two series be linked.

The suggestion was approved.

I'd already begun writing the first OL novel so it wasn't that big of a stretch to go back and do some judicious rewriting and tweaking.

Ohh. I guess I misread that. Carry on, then.

This was a fine read. Eagerly awaiting Part 2.

Here you go--

http://tinyurl.com/bmp7qh3

Keep it coming Mark, this is fantastic and such an insight to the inner workings and (lack of) thought processes within Gold Eagle.

To quote from "Oliver"... "Please Sir may I have some more?"

One point though, the Mat-Trans is based on the teleporter from "The Fly" not Star Trek.

Jim

Thanks, Jim.

But teleporter/transporter...meh. Mix-mox.

Since I'm the only writer who provided a theoretical basis for how the mat-trans worked, I get to choose and I choose Star Trek's transporter.

I see it more as a combo of the two - at least in DL - fixed station to station teleportation a la Seth Brundle but with the ability to transport supplies, clothes, weapons, etc as in Star Trek.

Who would really want to see Doc popping out in his birthday suit after every jump? Yikes!

I'm surprised you didn't see it yourself
the fly
enclosed chamber
door closes to activate
smoke or mist
floor glows
flash when teleportation takes place
transport only to another pod

mat-trans
hexagonal chamber
door closes to activate
glowing floor
mist
high pitched whine and flash at moment of transport
only transport to another chamber

star trek
transporter pad open area
transport to any location
same pad or another needed to return to sourse
sound at time of transport
no mist

more like your inter phaser don't you think?

Jim

I guess the "Axler style" was not laid out in detail when you signed up for the job...

There will be no high falutin stuff goin on!

No womens smartin lead characters neither!

No highbrow science fiction whatsitis mumbo jumbo!

Star Trek's transporter and The Fly's teleporter work the exact same way--converting matter to energy and then transmitting the energy from point A to point B where it's reassembled.

Mix-mox. That's like me insisting the faster-than-light drive starship in Death Hawk was inspired by Forbidden Planet but not Star Trek. C'mon.

Besides, wasn't there an old Doctor Who episode that featured a teleport device called the "T-Mat" ?

The interphaser opens localized wormholes...it triggers a temporary overlapping of two dimensions...basically shortening the distance from point A to point B. There is no matter to energy conversion involved.

It was the Doctor Who story "seeds of death" first shown in 1969.

Glad I can get you to argue about stuff that you no longer have an interest in though {chuckles to himself...}

Jim

Outlanders is my intellectual property (the characters and concepts if not the title which I never liked anyway), so I'll always have an interest in it.

Until I don't.

Glad to hear it.

I will stop yanking the chain now

Jim

That just means you're paying attention.

I see all...

Jim

This is real interesting cant wait for part three. I always think its cool that the Author's hang around here.

Posted By Jax2 on 4/22/2013 1:49:48 PM
Outlanders is my intellectual property (the characters and concepts if not the title which I never liked anyway), so I'll always have an interest in it.

Until I don't.

I think Mildred has the final word on the bottom of the penultimate page of Northstar rising when being told about the gateways she asks "...have none of you seen the film the fly?"

Jim