Exploring the Future: Writing Sci Fi for Young Adults

ONE WAY TUNNEL - COMING SOON

Look for adventure but keep on track, once in the tunnel there's no turning back.

For the first time in over forty years I am writing a time travel adventure story for young adults. I have no idea how this project will end up but I am having fun creating a different world to the one I am living in.

I don't understand why it took me so long to write in this genre. As a young boy, I had the Dan Dare comic every week and watched Flash Gordon at the cinema on Saturday mornings. My favorite serial that captivated my imagination was Journey to the Moon on BBC Radio Sunday afternoons.

We are discussing a time when the only rockets visible were the initial launches of NASA's Mercury program. Following that, a series of trailblazing individuals emerged, beginning with

• Alan Shepard: On May 5, 1961, Shepard became the first American to fly into space. 

• John Glenn: On February 20, 1962, Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. 

It marked the beginning of the most thrilling period of my life, observing every space launch until the moment arrived when Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon. I sat with my mother at around three in the morning and witnessed that monumental event. I was utterly fascinated by it. I could hardly believe that someone had actually walked on the Moon. I had a strong desire to go myself, to ride a rocket to the Moon and become a hero like Armstrong.

A few years later, I boarded a lunar landing craft and was surprised to find that its frame was enveloped in a very thin layer of aluminized mylar, which I refer to as bacofoil. By that time, we were watching Star Trek and Thunderbirds. It seemed like the film and TV industries had gone completely wild.

So why have I never tried my hand at writing Sci-Fi? Primarily due to two authors who influenced me and guided me in another direction. Since I was seven, when my father introduced me to Charles Dickens, I have been shaped by his descriptive writing, the social injustices, and the moral messages he wove into each of his stories, providing a vivid depiction of Victorian life across different social classes. The first line of David Copperfield reads, "Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show". 

Another significant author and distant mentor of mine is Raymond Chandler. I encountered the opening line of Farewell My Lovely (Phillip Marlowe) - 'I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I needed a home in the country. What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun. I put them on and went out of the room'

I read the book and began to practice what I learned. Chandler completely captivated me. I've read every one of his books.

These two exceptional authors, though distinct, use their unique styles to enlighten readers on social issues and harsh justice, while also evoking emotions and sadness, along with instances of humor and cleverness.

I have authored several thrillers and some poetry, but it wasn't until a decade ago that I began to develop a style effortlessly. I started a story featuring a newspaper political columnist named Pete West. I crafted a plot around him involving Cyprus, where I was residing at the time. The storyline revolved around the notion of Turkey being denied NATO membership due to their invasion of Cyprus and claiming it as their own. Within the narrative, I introduced a Foreign Office contact, a captivating woman, a few villains, and a greedy Greek billionaire, creating a story seemingly pulled from the headlines. After completing the book, I decided to write a second one, which dealt with government corruption and introduced an old MI5 sidekick named Tosh. This was another tale of greed, espionage, and the development of a hyper-speed craft that the USA struggled with, competing against a European consortium, with Moscow getting involved. It's a compelling story where Pete West discovers that his contact of several years is a Russian mole. From this book onward, I delved into the main character, and without realizing it, I began to portray Pete as a somewhat sarcastic character who enjoyed antagonizing his editor. My descriptive writing started to evolve, and the dialogue gradually became more relaxed. Ultimately, I wrote four books in the Pete West Mystery Series and cherished each one. Then, I decided to retire.

So did I, hell.

I chose to write a time travel book for young adults called The One Way Tunnel. Although I'm uncertain how it will ultimately develop, I've discovered a new freedom that allows my imagination to roam without limits. I can seamlessly transition from one scene to another, whether I'm riding a 'Cube' or gliding down the river on a 'Thruster platform' while communicating with control on my 'Dicom.'

Like with any blog, reaching the end often leaves you unsure of how to conclude. Luckily, this isn't an issue for me. I just listen for the spoon clinking in the teacup and say - goodnight all..