Rodger E. Carty's Blog: Rod Spills
July 18, 2026
Book clubs and author fees
I've now had enough contact with book club scams/offers to state an opinion on characteristics of scams vs. legitimate contacts. Yes, I have used the recent tsunami of emails for research purposes.
Here is an email reply I just sent. Names withheld, of course.
I've been thinking about this whole issue of authors being charged a fee to engage with book club readers.
I have determined that offers which require a fee of some kind, or even couch it as a (required) donation, are almost always scams. When it comes to guest appearances at legitimate venues, there is payment to the guest, not by the guest. The amount varies depending on the fame of the guest, so an unknown like myself could reasonably expect the amount paid was zero. Still, it never goes into the negative, that is, the guest paying to appear.
Now, I said "almost always". There is the possibility that a real book club does this, without realizing it's in bad taste, unethical, and goes against established practice. What I've been thinking about today, as a result of your email saying you require a fee, is how one could further check whether the offer is legitimate.
With scammers, once they get your money, they might string the author along for a bit, perhaps in the hopes of claiming last minute expenses the author needs to cover. Most, I expect, simply ghost them, and later reinvent themselves to do it again. In either case, it's highly unlikely that any actual book readers exist related to that contact, and even more unlikely that they would actually buy any copies of the author's books.
In the case of real book clubs, it's expected that multiple copies of the author's books would be bought. Perhaps not many, depending on the membership size, but some. Now, here is an interesting part to this. Usually, the fees are claimed to cover the cost of presenting the author and their book to the club members. That precludes the members buying the book since it happens before they learn about it. But does this track? What are book club members there for, if not to read books and discuss them? Thus, it seems to me, illogical for there to be any need to sell the members on any given book, as they're already hungry to read. Minimal effort is required. A link to the product page, which typically will have a book description, should be all the effort required and appropriate.
A typical scenario to me would be members meeting to discuss a book, and at the end of the meeting there would be suggestions and discussion on which book they should read next, with a decision made. It's at that point that the organizer or some other delegated person would contact the author to see if the next meeting could be enriched by their presence. When books are already starting to be bought by their members. Independent even of the author agreeing to do so. That's a far cry from the implication that the book won't be known to the book club members unless the author gets involved. That sounds rather like the visibility to the club is being held hostage, pending a ransom being paid.
Author involvement is a further draw for membership in the club, and that's where the benefit comes in for the club. That's why I always offer involvement when emails like yours come in. This is my added value to your club and your readers, if you're legitimate. Not my wallet.
I want to add that paying for the privilege of entering a competition for a book of the month award in a book club seems like a corruption of the competition. Shouldn't the members be voting on all books they read in the month based on the book, not on the author's involvement, including monetary?
Here is an email reply I just sent. Names withheld, of course.
I've been thinking about this whole issue of authors being charged a fee to engage with book club readers.
I have determined that offers which require a fee of some kind, or even couch it as a (required) donation, are almost always scams. When it comes to guest appearances at legitimate venues, there is payment to the guest, not by the guest. The amount varies depending on the fame of the guest, so an unknown like myself could reasonably expect the amount paid was zero. Still, it never goes into the negative, that is, the guest paying to appear.
Now, I said "almost always". There is the possibility that a real book club does this, without realizing it's in bad taste, unethical, and goes against established practice. What I've been thinking about today, as a result of your email saying you require a fee, is how one could further check whether the offer is legitimate.
With scammers, once they get your money, they might string the author along for a bit, perhaps in the hopes of claiming last minute expenses the author needs to cover. Most, I expect, simply ghost them, and later reinvent themselves to do it again. In either case, it's highly unlikely that any actual book readers exist related to that contact, and even more unlikely that they would actually buy any copies of the author's books.
In the case of real book clubs, it's expected that multiple copies of the author's books would be bought. Perhaps not many, depending on the membership size, but some. Now, here is an interesting part to this. Usually, the fees are claimed to cover the cost of presenting the author and their book to the club members. That precludes the members buying the book since it happens before they learn about it. But does this track? What are book club members there for, if not to read books and discuss them? Thus, it seems to me, illogical for there to be any need to sell the members on any given book, as they're already hungry to read. Minimal effort is required. A link to the product page, which typically will have a book description, should be all the effort required and appropriate.
A typical scenario to me would be members meeting to discuss a book, and at the end of the meeting there would be suggestions and discussion on which book they should read next, with a decision made. It's at that point that the organizer or some other delegated person would contact the author to see if the next meeting could be enriched by their presence. When books are already starting to be bought by their members. Independent even of the author agreeing to do so. That's a far cry from the implication that the book won't be known to the book club members unless the author gets involved. That sounds rather like the visibility to the club is being held hostage, pending a ransom being paid.
Author involvement is a further draw for membership in the club, and that's where the benefit comes in for the club. That's why I always offer involvement when emails like yours come in. This is my added value to your club and your readers, if you're legitimate. Not my wallet.
I want to add that paying for the privilege of entering a competition for a book of the month award in a book club seems like a corruption of the competition. Shouldn't the members be voting on all books they read in the month based on the book, not on the author's involvement, including monetary?
July 10, 2026
video trailers
I've tried several times for a video trailer, something many people have offered to make for me. The first one I paid for and got an AI hallucination of my novel. Since then I've told the people offering that they have to at least prove to me they can do content faithful to the novel before I'd pay, and none have gotten even close.
The issue I realized just today is that with non-fiction, the trailers talk about the book, so short clips of random people are effective because it's implying multiple people benefitted by reading the book. With fiction, they have to instead talk from the book. That means usually the main character has to be present in every clip; the same character. Can't use stock random clips and stack them together to give a coherent representation of the novel. There is also the issue of context. It has to accurately represent the scenes in the novel, including, in the case ofZero-I: Falling Up Series Book 2, the revolutionary technology. If there are multiple scenes, then they have to be in a chronologically faithful order as well.
The issue I realized just today is that with non-fiction, the trailers talk about the book, so short clips of random people are effective because it's implying multiple people benefitted by reading the book. With fiction, they have to instead talk from the book. That means usually the main character has to be present in every clip; the same character. Can't use stock random clips and stack them together to give a coherent representation of the novel. There is also the issue of context. It has to accurately represent the scenes in the novel, including, in the case ofZero-I: Falling Up Series Book 2, the revolutionary technology. If there are multiple scenes, then they have to be in a chronologically faithful order as well.
July 7, 2026
Mach 1 and beyond
On Peter’s very first flight, safe inside a gravity bubble, he flies so fast he’s supersonic, and doesn’t even know it. From Falling Up chapter 2:
Now he moved the bubble at the same time as he moved himself. Success! He didn't feel any air movement inside, but he could feel air pressure outside against the bubble: more at the front, and less at the back. Some ripples here and there, too, when he sped up. He was really moving! Then he noticed movement beside him, and carefully turned while keeping himself and the bubble moving in the same direction. It would hurt a lot to hit the shield at this speed! On the ground not that far below, he saw his flight was breaking off the tops of trees behind him. He slowed down until the trees didn't seem to move at all as he passed. Without the feedback of air moving past him, he hadn't realized just how fast he was going.
Then, in chapter 4, he meets Terence, who knows about such things:
Terence suddenly joined the conversation. “Does it get dark earlier here than where you live?”
“Yes, it does.”
“So, you live some distance to the west from here! That explains why you were talking to the night guards!” Jumping out of his chair, he continued, “Of course! The sonic boom!”
“The what?”
“The thunder we heard just before you walked in. You were flying faster than the speed of sound! You broke the sound barrier!”
“I didn't know there was a barrier. Who calls it that?”
“The men who were building jet planes to go ever faster over a century ago. Do you ever experience turbulence while flying?”
“Sure, I feel turbulence on the outside of my bubble, but it's no problem.”
Slapping his arms against his sides, Terence said, “No problem? No problem? Men died figuring out how to build aircraft that could go faster than the speed of sound!”
It was Peter's turn to stand there with his mouth open. Airplanes that could fly as fast as he could? The thought that they might, and that it would be dangerous, simply hadn't occurred to him. Then a memory struck him. “Can flying faster than sound break the tops off trees?”
Laughing, Terence said, “Are you bragging? Or asking?” He held up his hand. “I get it.” After he had control of himself again, he said, “You are such a remarkable young man! What did you say your name was?”
Now imagine how fast Peter might fly if he really wants to go fast. From chapter 48:
Peter grinned. “It's ok, it's only about a half hour away.”
Lucy laughed. “Yeah, but that tells me nothing. You can go halfway around the world in a half hour!”
Now he moved the bubble at the same time as he moved himself. Success! He didn't feel any air movement inside, but he could feel air pressure outside against the bubble: more at the front, and less at the back. Some ripples here and there, too, when he sped up. He was really moving! Then he noticed movement beside him, and carefully turned while keeping himself and the bubble moving in the same direction. It would hurt a lot to hit the shield at this speed! On the ground not that far below, he saw his flight was breaking off the tops of trees behind him. He slowed down until the trees didn't seem to move at all as he passed. Without the feedback of air moving past him, he hadn't realized just how fast he was going.
Then, in chapter 4, he meets Terence, who knows about such things:
Terence suddenly joined the conversation. “Does it get dark earlier here than where you live?”
“Yes, it does.”
“So, you live some distance to the west from here! That explains why you were talking to the night guards!” Jumping out of his chair, he continued, “Of course! The sonic boom!”
“The what?”
“The thunder we heard just before you walked in. You were flying faster than the speed of sound! You broke the sound barrier!”
“I didn't know there was a barrier. Who calls it that?”
“The men who were building jet planes to go ever faster over a century ago. Do you ever experience turbulence while flying?”
“Sure, I feel turbulence on the outside of my bubble, but it's no problem.”
Slapping his arms against his sides, Terence said, “No problem? No problem? Men died figuring out how to build aircraft that could go faster than the speed of sound!”
It was Peter's turn to stand there with his mouth open. Airplanes that could fly as fast as he could? The thought that they might, and that it would be dangerous, simply hadn't occurred to him. Then a memory struck him. “Can flying faster than sound break the tops off trees?”
Laughing, Terence said, “Are you bragging? Or asking?” He held up his hand. “I get it.” After he had control of himself again, he said, “You are such a remarkable young man! What did you say your name was?”
Now imagine how fast Peter might fly if he really wants to go fast. From chapter 48:
Peter grinned. “It's ok, it's only about a half hour away.”
Lucy laughed. “Yeah, but that tells me nothing. You can go halfway around the world in a half hour!”
July 3, 2026
How do new authors gain visibility
There was a question in a FaceBook writer's group about how to gain visibility, specifically asking if marketers were a good idea. I thought it could be useful to post my reply here as well.
Now that I have a little bit of a clue and experience on this, I'll offer advice from my limited perspective.
The world of authors is a sea full of sharks seeking to make us their chum. Those offers are so complimentary that it's hard to not get drawn in. Just keep reminding yourself that, sadly, they are not sincere. (Ok, I'll say it more bluntly: they are lying.) They just know what we authors crave to hear.
For a new author, the hill is even steeper because you, as well as your novel, are unknown. The author is the brand, and the books are the product. But, of course, until you have a product, how can you gain visibility as an author?
It might be rather cynical of me, but at this point I gauge my books and my visibility more by the number of scam emails I get than anything else. (One day I hope my visibility will rise to the point that I can gauge it by sales instead.) Their value is only in showing that my novels and I are to be found if one is searching.
What does it take for reader visibility? For the new author, I think the best avenue is getting reviews. Typically this is a product of all the rest of the promotion process, but you can enlist the help of avid readers in your genre by giving them a free copy of your book to kickstart it. The most common is called ARC, Advanced Reader Copy. That is, once your book is ready to publish, you delay publishing and offer free copies to readers. So, the draws for the readers are the free copy and before it hits the shelves.
To be ethical, you cannot require them to do a review, nor can you require only good reviews. You need honest reviews. Expect about 10% of ARC readers to leave a review. (Better percentage than with readers who purchase, which appears to be 1% or less.)
There are many ARC groups on Facebook. Join them, be careful to follow their rules, and get as many readers as you can keep track of. Ideally, you have the reviews come in over the first couple of weeks after publishing. Don't require them to all post their reviews on the same day, as that can be counterproductive.
The second best scenario is you've already published, but you're still needing reviews. In this case, you need an additional incentive to get people interested. For most readers you will have to give them printed copies. I've put out an offer on several ARC groups and had some small success. I also put out a call on my feed in FB, and with almost 1k followers I had enough visibility to get some there too. That effort is currently in progress for me.
Yes, there is a cost to this: the cost of your books and possibly shipping. But, where those marketers who contact you will not be able to guarantee results (only the more dishonest ones will guarantee such), you will have the real result of getting your books in the hands of readers if nothing else. I'd rather give away some books than spend the same amount or more on some marketer.
The next best is book clubs. If you have book clubs in your area, get in touch with them and offer author interaction if they choose to read your book. Sadly, there are many scams about this as well, so extending your reach beyond local requires more work. If they require money up front to consider or to include your book, step away.
Contact book stores in your area to see if they would carry your book. Bookstores that aren't part of chains will often be interested in supporting local authors. Contact local libraries for the same. It may seem counterintuitive, if you're focused on sales, but it will legitimize your book. They often support local authors as well.
Do book signings. I understand many authors sell quite a few books at them.
Give copies away to people in your area. Of course, this requires talking about your books in person, often not an easy thing for authors. It gets easier with practice. Sign them if they want you to.
Do interviews on radio and online. This legitimizes you as an author.
I also recommend you sign up with Goodreads (free account) and add the author status part, then claim your books as they get added automatically a few days after you publish. It's the largest reader site in the world, over a million readers. A slightly higher percentage of readers will leave reviews here. Enable the option for readers to ask you questions. One of the features of the author tools is a blog. This is one of the few ways authors can put content on the site. Stay well away from all offers to increase your visibility through Listopia engagement. Those are clearly marked as reader voting lists, so marketers are gaming the system to promote your books there. You'll be the one to bear the brunt of the readers' backlash. They think they're smarter than the readers and can get away with it. Be smarter than the marketers and walk away from such dishonesty.
Now that I have a little bit of a clue and experience on this, I'll offer advice from my limited perspective.
The world of authors is a sea full of sharks seeking to make us their chum. Those offers are so complimentary that it's hard to not get drawn in. Just keep reminding yourself that, sadly, they are not sincere. (Ok, I'll say it more bluntly: they are lying.) They just know what we authors crave to hear.
For a new author, the hill is even steeper because you, as well as your novel, are unknown. The author is the brand, and the books are the product. But, of course, until you have a product, how can you gain visibility as an author?
It might be rather cynical of me, but at this point I gauge my books and my visibility more by the number of scam emails I get than anything else. (One day I hope my visibility will rise to the point that I can gauge it by sales instead.) Their value is only in showing that my novels and I are to be found if one is searching.
What does it take for reader visibility? For the new author, I think the best avenue is getting reviews. Typically this is a product of all the rest of the promotion process, but you can enlist the help of avid readers in your genre by giving them a free copy of your book to kickstart it. The most common is called ARC, Advanced Reader Copy. That is, once your book is ready to publish, you delay publishing and offer free copies to readers. So, the draws for the readers are the free copy and before it hits the shelves.
To be ethical, you cannot require them to do a review, nor can you require only good reviews. You need honest reviews. Expect about 10% of ARC readers to leave a review. (Better percentage than with readers who purchase, which appears to be 1% or less.)
There are many ARC groups on Facebook. Join them, be careful to follow their rules, and get as many readers as you can keep track of. Ideally, you have the reviews come in over the first couple of weeks after publishing. Don't require them to all post their reviews on the same day, as that can be counterproductive.
The second best scenario is you've already published, but you're still needing reviews. In this case, you need an additional incentive to get people interested. For most readers you will have to give them printed copies. I've put out an offer on several ARC groups and had some small success. I also put out a call on my feed in FB, and with almost 1k followers I had enough visibility to get some there too. That effort is currently in progress for me.
Yes, there is a cost to this: the cost of your books and possibly shipping. But, where those marketers who contact you will not be able to guarantee results (only the more dishonest ones will guarantee such), you will have the real result of getting your books in the hands of readers if nothing else. I'd rather give away some books than spend the same amount or more on some marketer.
The next best is book clubs. If you have book clubs in your area, get in touch with them and offer author interaction if they choose to read your book. Sadly, there are many scams about this as well, so extending your reach beyond local requires more work. If they require money up front to consider or to include your book, step away.
Contact book stores in your area to see if they would carry your book. Bookstores that aren't part of chains will often be interested in supporting local authors. Contact local libraries for the same. It may seem counterintuitive, if you're focused on sales, but it will legitimize your book. They often support local authors as well.
Do book signings. I understand many authors sell quite a few books at them.
Give copies away to people in your area. Of course, this requires talking about your books in person, often not an easy thing for authors. It gets easier with practice. Sign them if they want you to.
Do interviews on radio and online. This legitimizes you as an author.
I also recommend you sign up with Goodreads (free account) and add the author status part, then claim your books as they get added automatically a few days after you publish. It's the largest reader site in the world, over a million readers. A slightly higher percentage of readers will leave reviews here. Enable the option for readers to ask you questions. One of the features of the author tools is a blog. This is one of the few ways authors can put content on the site. Stay well away from all offers to increase your visibility through Listopia engagement. Those are clearly marked as reader voting lists, so marketers are gaming the system to promote your books there. You'll be the one to bear the brunt of the readers' backlash. They think they're smarter than the readers and can get away with it. Be smarter than the marketers and walk away from such dishonesty.
June 30, 2026
Book 3 in the series
I am currently working on book 3 in the Falling Up series, a sequel to book 1. Book 1 ends with the MC's wedding. Book 3 picks up the story the next day, as they head out on their honeymoon. Where would someone who can fly anywhere in the world go for a honeymoon? Everywhere. They tour the world, but this is a world rebuilding from a nuclear apocalypse, so life gets in the way.
It doesn't mean there aren't some romantic times, though. For example, they fly west from Brazil to New Zealand. Peter the MC intentionally waits until sunset before they leave, so they're flying off into the sunset.
Well, that seems pretty romantic, doesn't it? But sunsets last only a few minutes. What if you could make it last longer? Peter can. The Earth turns at about Mach 1, but Peter can fly much faster than that. He keeps up with the sun, so the sunset lasts hours.
This is the kind of epic physics-flipping that I write.
It doesn't mean there aren't some romantic times, though. For example, they fly west from Brazil to New Zealand. Peter the MC intentionally waits until sunset before they leave, so they're flying off into the sunset.
Well, that seems pretty romantic, doesn't it? But sunsets last only a few minutes. What if you could make it last longer? Peter can. The Earth turns at about Mach 1, but Peter can fly much faster than that. He keeps up with the sun, so the sunset lasts hours.
This is the kind of epic physics-flipping that I write.
June 2, 2026
Author spotlight
Although I don't write children's books, I do write fiction clean enough to be appropriate to about 16 year olds. In fact, my first novel, Falling Up, is in the local public library's YA section, by their choice.
I've looked at Angela G. Williams' selection of books on Amazon and I like that she writes heartwarming stories. If you like my fiction and have young children, I think her stories would be a good fit.
I write science fiction that flips physics on its head. I write about the wonder and the discovery of physics and imagining how different things would be if we could make changes. It's about relationships and enjoying life, and making a difference. It's about triumphing over evil.
I've looked at Angela G. Williams' selection of books on Amazon and I like that she writes heartwarming stories. If you like my fiction and have young children, I think her stories would be a good fit.
I write science fiction that flips physics on its head. I write about the wonder and the discovery of physics and imagining how different things would be if we could make changes. It's about relationships and enjoying life, and making a difference. It's about triumphing over evil.
May 19, 2026
Controlling gravity in Falling Up
There was a question in a Christian Writer's group about writing fantasy that has some type of magic, so I thought I'd revisit this issue here in my blog as well. Here was my answer:
My approach in my first novel Falling Up might work for you. The premise of the story is the MC has a supernormal ability, to control gravity. (Note I didn't say paranormal nor supernatural, as both of those terms have extremely negative connotations for Christians.) Just like someone being able to remember everything, calculate large numbers in their mind, and so on, the MC's abilities are unusual and inherent to him, not given to him by some external source.
I stated in the story that the MC is pretty sure his ability is genetic, thus heritable, but I don't even mention evolutionary ideas on this. My thinking on this is savant abilities, like those I mentioned, are throwbacks to earlier generations. Abilities that are rare today, but were once common. Thus there isn't even a need to postulate new, useful abilities.
One example of this in the Bible is Adam naming all the land animals as God brought them by. This would require an impressive level of observation and creativity to come up with so many names—and perfect memory to remember them all, so as to not duplicate. Yet this is not expressed in the Bible as an unusual ability, so apparently everyone, at least in the first few generations, was at this level of intellectual capacity.
I write science fiction that flips physics on its head, with fantasy as well in my first novel. So the fantasy part is there is no scientific explanation for his abilities, yet what he can do is consistent with known physics if he were able to do so.
My approach in my first novel Falling Up might work for you. The premise of the story is the MC has a supernormal ability, to control gravity. (Note I didn't say paranormal nor supernatural, as both of those terms have extremely negative connotations for Christians.) Just like someone being able to remember everything, calculate large numbers in their mind, and so on, the MC's abilities are unusual and inherent to him, not given to him by some external source.
I stated in the story that the MC is pretty sure his ability is genetic, thus heritable, but I don't even mention evolutionary ideas on this. My thinking on this is savant abilities, like those I mentioned, are throwbacks to earlier generations. Abilities that are rare today, but were once common. Thus there isn't even a need to postulate new, useful abilities.
One example of this in the Bible is Adam naming all the land animals as God brought them by. This would require an impressive level of observation and creativity to come up with so many names—and perfect memory to remember them all, so as to not duplicate. Yet this is not expressed in the Bible as an unusual ability, so apparently everyone, at least in the first few generations, was at this level of intellectual capacity.
I write science fiction that flips physics on its head, with fantasy as well in my first novel. So the fantasy part is there is no scientific explanation for his abilities, yet what he can do is consistent with known physics if he were able to do so.
April 30, 2026
Zero-I news
My second novel is close to being published on Amazon. It will be available for pre-order soon, with a summer or fall release.
I write science fiction that flips physics on its head. In this one it's inertia, Newton's third law of motion, the principles of thermodynamics, the physics of causality, and Einstein's theory of relativity.
"High speed" is a term that is redefined several times in the story. The main character is an ex-fighter jet jock who drives a modified Camaro—and gets in trouble with the law in the first scene.
He is pivotal in the efforts to develop a revolutionary propulsion technology and energy source. Imagine how disruptive a new, abundant, green energy source would be in today's oil-dependent world! Imagine the efforts taken by those in the oil and gas industry to block it.
There is discovery and development, secrecy and treachery, adventure and exploration, amidst friendship building and romance. There is humour, high stakes action, joy, tragedy, and triumph.
Suitable for ages 16 to 116.
I write science fiction that flips physics on its head. In this one it's inertia, Newton's third law of motion, the principles of thermodynamics, the physics of causality, and Einstein's theory of relativity.
"High speed" is a term that is redefined several times in the story. The main character is an ex-fighter jet jock who drives a modified Camaro—and gets in trouble with the law in the first scene.
He is pivotal in the efforts to develop a revolutionary propulsion technology and energy source. Imagine how disruptive a new, abundant, green energy source would be in today's oil-dependent world! Imagine the efforts taken by those in the oil and gas industry to block it.
There is discovery and development, secrecy and treachery, adventure and exploration, amidst friendship building and romance. There is humour, high stakes action, joy, tragedy, and triumph.
Suitable for ages 16 to 116.
February 23, 2026
Starbow
In writing the prequel to Falling Up, I'm researching space travel, and a scientific phenomenon called a Starbow. It's been used in various science fiction novels. I came across a 2018 article about this, saying 'we'd love if it were true, but it's not'.
https://oikofuge.com/the-myth-of-the-...
Well, I'm not giving up on it quite yet. Here is my reply to the article:
Thank you for your well-researched article. I'd like to add a little more to this discussion, and I look forward to well reasoned replies.
Stars are broadband emitters, in frequencies well beyond visible light in both directions. However, typically, they emit strongest within the visible light spectrum. The Planck curve depicts this as a bell shape, an average of all stars. The emission strength drops off fairly rapidly in higher frequencies, but remains fairly strong in lower frequencies.
The faster a craft moves, the more the perceived frequencies would be adjusted. Star emissions would remain within the visible range on a fast craft, but the intensity would change.
Moving forward would increase the perceived frequency of the star emissions while decreasing the perceived frequency behind. The classic example of a siren on a fast-moving vehicle as it goes by demonstrates this. Said another way, lower frequencies below light from stars in front would be shifted up into visible light, while higher frequencies above visible light would be shifted down behind.
My conclusion is stars behind would quickly fade to black as the speed of the craft increased, while stars in front would reduce in intensity slowly.
I write science fiction that flips physics on its head. I'm currently writing a story about faster than light travel. Impossible, you say? Well, what about if there was a way to almost eliminate mass? It's the premise of my novel. E=MC2 presumes some relatively large values of mass. Inertia is a property of mass. I'm calling the novel Zero-I.
Now, to bring this more directly to your topic of the Starbow. What happens to stars seen beside the fast moving craft? They would be perceived as rapidly moving streaks, as they go from approaching to retreating. Doesn't it seem like there is the possibility of a starbow there?
https://oikofuge.com/the-myth-of-the-...
Well, I'm not giving up on it quite yet. Here is my reply to the article:
Thank you for your well-researched article. I'd like to add a little more to this discussion, and I look forward to well reasoned replies.
Stars are broadband emitters, in frequencies well beyond visible light in both directions. However, typically, they emit strongest within the visible light spectrum. The Planck curve depicts this as a bell shape, an average of all stars. The emission strength drops off fairly rapidly in higher frequencies, but remains fairly strong in lower frequencies.
The faster a craft moves, the more the perceived frequencies would be adjusted. Star emissions would remain within the visible range on a fast craft, but the intensity would change.
Moving forward would increase the perceived frequency of the star emissions while decreasing the perceived frequency behind. The classic example of a siren on a fast-moving vehicle as it goes by demonstrates this. Said another way, lower frequencies below light from stars in front would be shifted up into visible light, while higher frequencies above visible light would be shifted down behind.
My conclusion is stars behind would quickly fade to black as the speed of the craft increased, while stars in front would reduce in intensity slowly.
I write science fiction that flips physics on its head. I'm currently writing a story about faster than light travel. Impossible, you say? Well, what about if there was a way to almost eliminate mass? It's the premise of my novel. E=MC2 presumes some relatively large values of mass. Inertia is a property of mass. I'm calling the novel Zero-I.
Now, to bring this more directly to your topic of the Starbow. What happens to stars seen beside the fast moving craft? They would be perceived as rapidly moving streaks, as they go from approaching to retreating. Doesn't it seem like there is the possibility of a starbow there?
February 22, 2026
Growing up in an abusive home.
Home is supposed to be the place where you’re safe. Where you’re accepted and supported no matter how bad your mistakes are. It’s where you can make mistakes and learn to do better next time. It’s where you’re loved.
But in an abusive home, every mistake is weaponized and used against you repeatedly. Sometimes for years, and called ‘family stories’, which get funnier to the teller with each repetition. Even when you don’t make a mistake, whatever you do — or don’t do — is used against you on a whim. Rules change without notice, without explanation, and without apology.
You learn that it’s not safe to be around other people. Family does not represent safety, but rather danger. And when your father invites his drinking buddies over, the danger is even greater. Then there is the public humiliation of being told to stand in the middle of the floor, in front of all his drunk buddies, while he humiliates each family member in turn with every sick simile and derision he can think of, to entertain his guests at the expense of the self esteem of the victim. You learn vilification and humiliation is funny — to others. You learn that a compliment is only a set-up for some new insult.
You learn to be hyper-vigilant, watching for the slightest hint of displeasure, for those cause thunder and lightning responses. The slightest idle remark is taken as provocation. You learn to keep all expression from showing on your face, for that, too, is provocation. Someone slamming doors or making other loud noises means you are having a bad day. A raised voice means the world is coming to an end.
There is no love. When the attention is only negative, neglect is the safest circumstance. You learn inaction: invisibility and silence, are safest. When interaction is toxic, being somewhere else as much as possible is the healthiest choice.
That’s not childhood, that’s merely survival.
When I’ve mentioned such things in the past I’ve been told I need therapy. But how does one get past such programming, come out into the spotlight, to get that therapy? I have found that writing is my therapy. I can write such behaviour into characters in my stories, where it’s safe to show that it’s bad behaviour. I can declare to the world — well, at least to those who read what I wrote — that such behaviour is toxic.
But in an abusive home, every mistake is weaponized and used against you repeatedly. Sometimes for years, and called ‘family stories’, which get funnier to the teller with each repetition. Even when you don’t make a mistake, whatever you do — or don’t do — is used against you on a whim. Rules change without notice, without explanation, and without apology.
You learn that it’s not safe to be around other people. Family does not represent safety, but rather danger. And when your father invites his drinking buddies over, the danger is even greater. Then there is the public humiliation of being told to stand in the middle of the floor, in front of all his drunk buddies, while he humiliates each family member in turn with every sick simile and derision he can think of, to entertain his guests at the expense of the self esteem of the victim. You learn vilification and humiliation is funny — to others. You learn that a compliment is only a set-up for some new insult.
You learn to be hyper-vigilant, watching for the slightest hint of displeasure, for those cause thunder and lightning responses. The slightest idle remark is taken as provocation. You learn to keep all expression from showing on your face, for that, too, is provocation. Someone slamming doors or making other loud noises means you are having a bad day. A raised voice means the world is coming to an end.
There is no love. When the attention is only negative, neglect is the safest circumstance. You learn inaction: invisibility and silence, are safest. When interaction is toxic, being somewhere else as much as possible is the healthiest choice.
That’s not childhood, that’s merely survival.
When I’ve mentioned such things in the past I’ve been told I need therapy. But how does one get past such programming, come out into the spotlight, to get that therapy? I have found that writing is my therapy. I can write such behaviour into characters in my stories, where it’s safe to show that it’s bad behaviour. I can declare to the world — well, at least to those who read what I wrote — that such behaviour is toxic.
