Ask the Author: Jay Allan
Answered Questions (33)
Jay Allan
I didn't see this question. Sorry. That book is now out.
Jay Allan
Absolutely no specific reason. I often roughly match civilizations/nations with Earth cultures/naming conventions, but it is mostly random. With something like the Alliance, I very specifically used latin/Roman names because there is a real Roman Empire kind of connection. In most other cases, it's just whatever came to mind. I'll try to make a mental note to use French names for the good guys in a future series.
Jay Allan
Donald, my books always get misplaced when I don't get here and add them first. I'm constantly chasing to set the right. To answer your question, the series is currently planned at 15 books, so we've got a while to go. If you've been reading up to the latest, you can probably see some of the developing plotlines that need to be resolved.
Jay Allan
The main 9 books are obviously in chronological order. The three Successors books are set 30 years later. The five (soon to be a 6th and final) Refugees books start after Crimson Worlds 6, and then they proceed on their own timeline, ultimately advancing 30+ years in books 4/5. Red Team Alpha is a standalone set a couple years before Marines.
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
Jay Allan
Norman, I can't tell you specifically when I will get to the second Portal Wars trilogy, except to say that I do intend to do it. The Black Flag, the follow up to The Prisoner of Eldaron, will be out in late November.
Jay Allan
Chris,
Here is the entire list. If you want to proceed with Crimson Worlds, either the Refugees (which takes off on a tangent after To Hell's Heart) or Successors (which is a direct continuation after The Fall, set 30 years later). Also, Red Team Alpha is a standalone novel in the universe.
If you want to try something else I've written, my new Blood on the Stars series is doing really well (4.5, 4.8, and 4.9 stars on Amazon), and my Flames of Rebellion series with Harper Voyager has just started (and the Far Stars is my previous series with them).
Thanks for your support!
Jay
The Crimson Worlds Series
Book 1: Marines
Book 2: The Cost of Victory
Book 3: A Little Rebellion
Book 4: The First Imperium
Book 5: The Line Must Hold
Book 6: To Hell's Heart
Book 7: The Shadow Legions
Book 8: Even Legends Die
Book 9: The Fall
Crimson Worlds War Stories (Crimson Worlds Prequels)
Crimson Worlds Adventures Series
Red Team Alpha
Here We Stand (Coming 2017)
Blood on the Stars Series
Book 1: Duel in the Dark
Book 2: Call to Arms
Book 3: Ruins of Empire
Book 4: Echoes of Glory (coming Summer 2017)
The Far Stars Series
Book 1: Shadow of Empire
Book 2: Enemy in the Dark
Book 3: Funeral Games
Far Stars Legends Series
Book 1: Blackhawk
Book 2: The Wolf’s Claw (Coming 2017)
Crimson Worlds Successors Series
Book 1: MERCS
Book 2: The Prisoner of Eldaron
Book 3: The Black Flag (Coming 2017)
Crimson Worlds Refugees Series
Book 1: Into the Darkness
Book 2: Shadows of the Gods
Book 3: Revenge of the Ancients
Book 4: Winds of Vengeance
Book 5: Storm of Vengeance (Coming 2017)
Portal Wars Series
Book 1: Gehenna Dawn
Book 2: The Ten Thousand
Book 3: Homefront
Pendragon Chronicles
Book 1: The Dragon's Banner
Here is the entire list. If you want to proceed with Crimson Worlds, either the Refugees (which takes off on a tangent after To Hell's Heart) or Successors (which is a direct continuation after The Fall, set 30 years later). Also, Red Team Alpha is a standalone novel in the universe.
If you want to try something else I've written, my new Blood on the Stars series is doing really well (4.5, 4.8, and 4.9 stars on Amazon), and my Flames of Rebellion series with Harper Voyager has just started (and the Far Stars is my previous series with them).
Thanks for your support!
Jay
The Crimson Worlds Series
Book 1: Marines
Book 2: The Cost of Victory
Book 3: A Little Rebellion
Book 4: The First Imperium
Book 5: The Line Must Hold
Book 6: To Hell's Heart
Book 7: The Shadow Legions
Book 8: Even Legends Die
Book 9: The Fall
Crimson Worlds War Stories (Crimson Worlds Prequels)
Crimson Worlds Adventures Series
Red Team Alpha
Here We Stand (Coming 2017)
Blood on the Stars Series
Book 1: Duel in the Dark
Book 2: Call to Arms
Book 3: Ruins of Empire
Book 4: Echoes of Glory (coming Summer 2017)
The Far Stars Series
Book 1: Shadow of Empire
Book 2: Enemy in the Dark
Book 3: Funeral Games
Far Stars Legends Series
Book 1: Blackhawk
Book 2: The Wolf’s Claw (Coming 2017)
Crimson Worlds Successors Series
Book 1: MERCS
Book 2: The Prisoner of Eldaron
Book 3: The Black Flag (Coming 2017)
Crimson Worlds Refugees Series
Book 1: Into the Darkness
Book 2: Shadows of the Gods
Book 3: Revenge of the Ancients
Book 4: Winds of Vengeance
Book 5: Storm of Vengeance (Coming 2017)
Portal Wars Series
Book 1: Gehenna Dawn
Book 2: The Ten Thousand
Book 3: Homefront
Pendragon Chronicles
Book 1: The Dragon's Banner
Jay Allan
David,
I think I've always shown some sort of refinery extracting tritium (without going into too much detail that would bore most readers). I've also never really stated whether there are other fuel components like Helium-3, or something else unknown to current science. For that matter, I wouldn't even try to guess what technologies may be available in the distant future, or what seeming useful materials may prove to be useless, and what is mostly garbage today might become useful.
Honestly, the big mulligan, so to speak, is not inadequate concern for detailing fusion fuel plausible to today's technology, but the various devices for allowing FTL travel. They're all pretty much nonsense (mine and everyone else's), but they're necessary to most space opera stories, so we (writers and readers) look the other way.
My target is not hardcore plausibility so much as, generally speaking, avoiding drifting into pure nonsense. Though even there, in something like my Far Stars books, I drift more in the direction of pure space opera, where I'm not too shy to put a sword in a character's hand or something of the sort. I'm not fond of made up science as a way to resolve a plot, so I try to avoid that when I can.
Thanks for reading the new series. I'm having a great time writing it, and I'm overwhelmed at the response.
I think I've always shown some sort of refinery extracting tritium (without going into too much detail that would bore most readers). I've also never really stated whether there are other fuel components like Helium-3, or something else unknown to current science. For that matter, I wouldn't even try to guess what technologies may be available in the distant future, or what seeming useful materials may prove to be useless, and what is mostly garbage today might become useful.
Honestly, the big mulligan, so to speak, is not inadequate concern for detailing fusion fuel plausible to today's technology, but the various devices for allowing FTL travel. They're all pretty much nonsense (mine and everyone else's), but they're necessary to most space opera stories, so we (writers and readers) look the other way.
My target is not hardcore plausibility so much as, generally speaking, avoiding drifting into pure nonsense. Though even there, in something like my Far Stars books, I drift more in the direction of pure space opera, where I'm not too shy to put a sword in a character's hand or something of the sort. I'm not fond of made up science as a way to resolve a plot, so I try to avoid that when I can.
Thanks for reading the new series. I'm having a great time writing it, and I'm overwhelmed at the response.
Jay Allan
Chris, sorry I'm just answering this. I thought GR was emailing me questions when I had them, but it seems they weren't.
I don't know what kind of trouble you had downloading one of my books, but in the future, feel free to email me at jay@jayallanbooks.com, and I'll make sure you get what you need.
Thanks!
Jay
I don't know what kind of trouble you had downloading one of my books, but in the future, feel free to email me at jay@jayallanbooks.com, and I'll make sure you get what you need.
Thanks!
Jay
Jay Allan
If you still haven't received a book you were supposed to get, email me at jay@jayallanbooks.com. That actually goes for anyone, whether it's a giveaway or if you have trouble downloading a book you bought. I want to make sure everyone gets what they are supposed to get.
Jay Allan
Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the Far Stars books. Yes, I am writing more Far Stars Legends. Book 2 will be The Wolf's Claw, and it will be out probably sometime in May. I don't want to give too much away, but you will see some familiar names turn up in the subsequent books.
Jay Allan
Call to Arms was released last Friday. The third book, Ruins of Empire, will be out late March.
Jay Allan
I'm afraid not. I an anxious to get to the second trilogy in that series, but I have a lot of projects in the hopper. I certainly hope to have the first book out sometime in 2017.
Jay
Jay
Jay Allan
Chris - The whole KU thing is difficult to navigate. On the one hand, many readers would like to get their books that way. On the other hand, I do have a lot of fans on BN and the other retailers, and I want to be sure to treat them fairly. On November 3, the original nine books of the Crimson Worlds series will be on KU. I plan to rotate books in and out. My book, Blackhawk, is also on KU at the present time. I hope this helps.
Jay
Jay
Jay Allan
Val, sorry it took so long to reply. I've been crazy busy getting some new releases ready, and I'm afraid I haven't been on Goodreads in a while. I did send out the copies of Blackhawk. I'm sorry if you didn't get yours, and I'd be glad to send another one. Can you email me at jay@jayallanbooks.com and confirm the correct address? I'll get that right out to you.
Jay
Jay
Jay Allan
Jonathan,
My next release will be the fourth book in the Refugees series (the start of a second trilogy in that storyline). It will be out in mid-August.
My next release will be the fourth book in the Refugees series (the start of a second trilogy in that storyline). It will be out in mid-August.
Jay Allan
First, I'm glad you've enjoyed the books.
As far as what to read next, I would probably go to Into the Darkness. It is a spinoff from the end of To Hell's Heart, and readers have really seemed to enjoy it. There is a finished trilogy, and I am about to release the first book of a new trilogy in the storyline.
As far as what to read next, I would probably go to Into the Darkness. It is a spinoff from the end of To Hell's Heart, and readers have really seemed to enjoy it. There is a finished trilogy, and I am about to release the first book of a new trilogy in the storyline.
Jay Allan
Kyle, I'm glad you have enjoyed my books. To answer your question, the third collection will be out May 24, and it is currently available for preorder on all retailers. If you search for Crimson Worlds Collection III (along with my name) it should show up for you on whatever retailer you prefer.
Thanks again!
Jay
Thanks again!
Jay
Jay Allan
Shawn,
First, sorry it took me a week to answer this. I've got a lot of deadlines too close for comfort right now.
So, do I know how something is going to end? The answer there is sort of a combination of yes and no. I am a "pantser," which means I do a lot of my writing by the seat of my pants, so there are definitely changes that occur while I'm writing and ways the story veers from what I originally had in mind. However, that said, I do usually have a pretty good idea what a whole series will be about, so while a lot of things may wiggle (and someone who might have lived might feel the icy hand of me thinking, "maybe he doesn't make it out of here..."), the basic overall story pretty much stays the same.
As far as characters are concerned, the answer to that question might vary on the day you ask it. They're all my children in a way (even the baddies), but I will pick out a couple. Obviously Erik Cain. People who know me would say he's my alter ego in many ways. No, I'm not an invincible Marine hero, but I incline to be cynical and a little grim sometimes. I am a very skeptical person, disinclined to believe in anything not proven to me, and I think a lot of that went into Cain.
Admiral Garret is another favorite, one that grew on me as the series went on. If you've read the Bitter Glory novella, you know he carries some pain and guilt with him, and I am happy with how he developed. A total creature of duty, who will do what he must...but as a man, he's sacrificed much of what mattered to him. It's not a cheerful thought, perhaps, but it makes him feel real to me, that his heroism came at such a personal cost. He's revered everywhere, but we think maybe he'd have given all that up to have taken a different road long ago (I told you I was grim).
Lastly, I have to add Blackhawk from my newer Far Stars books. I know you asked about Crimson Worlds, but I figured I tack this on. Blackhawk is a redemption story, but one different than most. He's a man who has done terrible things, but under the effects of conditioning and brainwashing, and he must constantly fight with himself to keep moving away and not to slip back into what he was. I find him very interesting to write.
Thanks!
First, sorry it took me a week to answer this. I've got a lot of deadlines too close for comfort right now.
So, do I know how something is going to end? The answer there is sort of a combination of yes and no. I am a "pantser," which means I do a lot of my writing by the seat of my pants, so there are definitely changes that occur while I'm writing and ways the story veers from what I originally had in mind. However, that said, I do usually have a pretty good idea what a whole series will be about, so while a lot of things may wiggle (and someone who might have lived might feel the icy hand of me thinking, "maybe he doesn't make it out of here..."), the basic overall story pretty much stays the same.
As far as characters are concerned, the answer to that question might vary on the day you ask it. They're all my children in a way (even the baddies), but I will pick out a couple. Obviously Erik Cain. People who know me would say he's my alter ego in many ways. No, I'm not an invincible Marine hero, but I incline to be cynical and a little grim sometimes. I am a very skeptical person, disinclined to believe in anything not proven to me, and I think a lot of that went into Cain.
Admiral Garret is another favorite, one that grew on me as the series went on. If you've read the Bitter Glory novella, you know he carries some pain and guilt with him, and I am happy with how he developed. A total creature of duty, who will do what he must...but as a man, he's sacrificed much of what mattered to him. It's not a cheerful thought, perhaps, but it makes him feel real to me, that his heroism came at such a personal cost. He's revered everywhere, but we think maybe he'd have given all that up to have taken a different road long ago (I told you I was grim).
Lastly, I have to add Blackhawk from my newer Far Stars books. I know you asked about Crimson Worlds, but I figured I tack this on. Blackhawk is a redemption story, but one different than most. He's a man who has done terrible things, but under the effects of conditioning and brainwashing, and he must constantly fight with himself to keep moving away and not to slip back into what he was. I find him very interesting to write.
Thanks!
Jay Allan
Shadows of the Gods will be out literally within days...either over the weekend or Monday depending on the retailers. The book is done...we just had a tech issue that cost a few days on the final edits and formatting.
Jay Allan
All my books are now updated, and I have added a link to my website.
Thanks.
Thanks.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more
Jul 12, 2023 05:34PM · flag