It’s been a few months, but I’m happy to announce that as of this evening, I’ve finished the second draft of my as-of-yet untitled science fiction novel!

It’s currently sitting at 209,000 words, which I know is quite beefy and will probably immediately turn away many agents, but I’m really proud of how it’s turned out so far.

It’s got a complete beginning, middle and end, with the ending being in that sweet spot where it’s a satisfactory conclusion to the story but also open enough that I could write a sequel.

Also, I’m just really, really happy with it. I know every writer probably says this, but I really feel like I managed to write something decent here. I mean, maybe it won’t appear on any top 10 lists or get super popular or make me a ton of money, but for what it is, I think you could do a lot worse!

The basic premise of the story follows an interstellar war between two rival forces, and leans quite a bit into military science fiction with a heavy dose of cyberpunk. At its heart, however, it’s a story about destiny, and how the characters in the novel try to find personal meaning in a universe that literally designed them with a specific purpose in mind. A purpose that they didn’t ask for, and often don’t want.

It’s set in a universe in which humanity, most of which exists spread across the universe in a post-feudal empire known as the Sovereign Authority, is no longer born but designed and grown. Each person is made with a purpose in mind, and given a set of skills and physical attributes to help them accomplish that purpose. However, unlike in ancient times, they are no longer beholden to their design and can pursue any path they desire.

The Authority itself is ruled by the Sovereign Eternal, an enigmatic Empress who saved human civilization long ago, and she split Authority space into semi-independent states known as sectors. To govern each sector, the Eternal designed and grew a new class of synthicant – the primosynthicant – to rule as her children and vassals. Each sector is the lawful territory of a primosynthicant of her choosing, and in each sector the ruling the primosynthicant, known as sovereigns, has the power of kings.

Unfortunately, however, not everything is going as smoothly as planned.

The Authority’s centralized power – the power of the Eternal – is waning, giving rise to primosynthicant warlords who openly plot and war against each other. It’s a time of warring states in a universe thousands of years from now, each beholden to an empire on the verge of total collapse.

The novel’s main protagonist, Kaiden, is the primosynthicant of Sector Karenda, a wealthy sector on the outlying fringes of the Authority. After many years without a primosynthicant to lead them, during which time they have been attacked by their neighbours the Almaren, the Eternal delivers Kaiden to Karenda and gives him one simple instruction: he must win his war.

The problem, however, is that Kaiden is newborn. Fresh out of his growth tank, he’s forced to accept a responsibility he never asked for, and he finds himself thrust into a life or death conflict with an older sibling who is as ruthless as he is terrifying.

To help him succeed, Kaiden is forced to rely on a group of companions who don’t even know him. There’s Vinn, the grizzled old spymaster and commander of the Karenda’s intelligence agency; Saya, the elite and cheerful soldier who must train Kaiden to fight; Kara, the doctor who specializes in primosynthicant anatomy; and finally Cayla, the woman who was specifically designed to stop him losing his mind.

Needless to say, quite a lot happens. The story deals with conspiracies, assassinations, religions, criminal underworlds, honour, treachery, addiction, relationships, geneticism, and more. For every epic battle or duel, there’s a sinister plot or philosophical discussion, and I’ve tried to make the setting feel as layered as it is believable. Of course, it’s still got super soldiers and cool technology, and at least one character with a badass sword and the skill to use it, but I really think I’ve managed to nail an interesting world.

I don’t think I could ever truly do it justice in the short amount of space I have here in this update, and there’s certainly a lot I’ve not even mentioned, but I hope I’ve made it sound at least somewhat interesting and enjoyable.

The only problem is that I still don’t have a name! I have absolutely no idea what to call it, and it’s driving me nuts! “Swords of Shattered Stars” suddenly popped into my mind while writing this and it certainly has the kind of cool, mysterious feeling I’d like the title to have, but honestly I have no idea.

Anyway, it’s past midnight and this got kind of longer than I expected. Now that I’ve finished the second draft, I’m going to leave it a couple weeks to refresh my mind, and probably do more work on my planned epic fantasy. Also, that’s another point! I finished a brief planned outline for my epic fantasy novel, and hooo boy it’s turning out good. The only problem is that, at the rate it’s going, it’s going to turn into an absolute behemoth of Sanderson and Martin proportions.

Anyway (again), thanks for reading my dumb writing blog thing. Stay cool!