The Noise Within - cover revealed (This one's SF)

[Ian Whates]

Oh dear, I feel almost apologetic about mentioning the fact that I have another novel coming out in May...

However, yesterday, out of nowhere, the cover suddenly appeared on Amazon where previously there had been a blank space with a 'no image available' message, and I don't have any hesitation whatsoever about praising the work of the excellent Dominic Harman.

This is the first in a duology, space opera with a twist, set a generation after a centuries long war. A failed experiment tried during that war returns to haunt humanity, with far-reaching consequences.

 

[Pyan]

Oh dear, I feel almost apologetic about mentioning the fact that I have another novel coming out in May...

Congratulations, Ian, and don't apologise - if you don't tell us, we may miss it...

However, yesterday, out of nowhere, the cover suddenly appeared on Amazon where previously there had been a blank space with a 'no image available' message, and I don't have any hesitation whatsoever about praising the work of the excellent Dominic Harman.

Do you not see the cover before it's selected, then, or am I misreading the sense of that?

This is the first in a duology, space opera with a twist, set a generation after a centuries long war. A failed experiment tried during that war returns to haunt humanity, with far-reaching consequences.

Sounds great - *adds yet another name to the multi-page screed that is my Get This Book list*...

 

[Ian Whates]

Do you not see the cover before it's selected, then, or am I misreading the sense of that?

Yes, Pyan, sorry. Dom submitted several mini-paintings of ideas he had based on a scene from the novel, which I'd sent across to him. The publishers and I both then sorted out which one we preferred and Dominic then followed through on that one, developing it into a completed piece of artwork.

I was shown a mock-up of the cover a week or so ago, but had no idea when it would be ready to be unveiled to the world, so its appearane on Amazon came as a pleasant surprise.

 

[J-WO]

Woo-wee! Did ya see that space station go up? Did ya? Like the fourth of July in a shrapnel factory! Now that's what a'hm talkin' 'bout! Yeeyah!


Ahem- sorry about that. So... will you have any early copies at Eastercon? Just wonderin'...

 

[Patrick Mahon]

I managed to get a copy of 'The Noise Within' from Ian at The Write Fantastic's event in Oxford last weekend, and can confirm how great the cover looks up close . I've only read the first chapter to date, but have enjoyed what I've read so far. I'm off on holiday in a week, and will be taking this with me to read on the beach...

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Wonderful cover art, and you paint an intriguing picture yourself with your description of the story.

It all looks good.

 

[Ian Whates]

Many thanks, Teresa, and glad you're enjoying it so far, Patrick.

 

[Paradox 99]

Looks great, Ian. And my kind of story too. It's on my wish list.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Oh dear, I feel almost apologetic about mentioning the fact that I have another novel coming out in May...

Enjoy it!!!!!

 

[Ian Whates]

Another nice review of the book has just been posted here: SF Reviews May to August 2010

It's a real thrill to discover people are actually enjoying the novels.

 

[Ian Whates]

Another really enthusiastic review of the book here:

Speculative Book Review: REVIEW: The Noise Within by Ian Whates

"The Noise Within is one of the best sci-fi books that I've read in recent years. It ticked all the boxes for me and left me looking forward to the next installment. I'm expecting great things from this space opera series."


Good Lord, is that really my book he's talking about??!?

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Seems so, dear chap!

 

[ctg]

I really liked the protagonists. Whates has created a number of very interesting characters who come alive through the pages. Divided in multiple threads, the story takes different flavors and fragrances with each main protagonist: Philip, Leyton, Kyle and Kethi.

I take you wrote in third person, with interweaving story-lines, didn't you? What sort of character types they are, and did you find it easier to write them in close 3rd than in first person perspective?

PS. Congratulations.

 

[Fried Egg]

Ian, can I ask whether this book will form the first of a series? And if so, does it stand alone?

 

[Ian Whates]

Ian, can I ask whether this book will form the first of a series? And if so, does it stand alone?

Hi, FE, yes... a very short series -- a duology (ie two books). I'm currently working on the sequel, which is due out early next year.

As to whether or not it stands alone... Up to a point, yes. What I've tried to do is provide an ending that resolves all the issues that have motivated the characters and driven the narrative throughout this first book, but at the same time there's an over-reaching story arc which continues through into the second book, so I've left a few threads very obviously dangling as a lead-in to volume 2, The Noise Revealed.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Ian Whates]

I take you wrote in third person, with interweaving story-lines, didn't you? What sort of character types they are, and did you find it easier to write them in close 3rd than in first person perspective?

Sorry, ctg, a little late answering this... Yes, written in third person with storylines that initially are quite separate, but, as the book progresses, converge. Two main viewpoints (Leyton and Philip) plus two subsidiary ones (Kyle and Kethi)

As for who they are:

Philip: CEO of a major company. Something of a genius himself, he's trying to escape the shadow of his late father, a household name who developed the engines that push starships between the stars. Philip is close to perfecting the long sought after human/AI gestalt, when a secret from his father's past returns to haunt him. He soon finds himself the target of assassins, even in his own home.

Leyton: Government black ops specialist, one of an elite unit of agents who are used by ULAW (United League of Allied Worlds) as troubleshooters. Leyton is far from happy when he's diverted from normal duties to help bring down a mysterious pirate vessel which has become the darling of the media, The Noise Within. Leyton reckons this ought to be a job for the navy.

Kyle: Hot shot ship's engineer, ex-navy man, who is growing bored in his current position aboard a luxury liner that has so many back-ups he's virtually redundant. So when the chance of a little excitement presents itself, he jumps at it, little realising what he's getting himself into.

Kethi: A citizen of the habitat, a secretive breakaway colony founded a couple of generations ago at the height of the Great War which helped forge current human society. She is a particularly gifted indiviual, both mentally and physically, and is one of those who crew The Rebellion, a rapid response ship dispatched by the habitat as soon as they learn of The Noise Within...

There, hope that helps.

 

[J-WO]

Hello, Ian. I'd be fascinated (and grateful) to know how you found writing a multi-viewpoint/ multi-storyline novel. Does it require more planning, for instance? Are there any inherent pitfalls?

Best of luck with it all, by the way.

 

[Fried Egg]

Hi, FE, yes... a very short series -- a duology (ie two books). I'm currently working on the sequel, which is due out early next year.

As to whether or not it stands alone... Up to a point, yes. What I've tried to do is provide an ending that resolves all the issues that have motivated the characters and driven the narrative throughout this first book, but at the same time there's an over-reaching story arc which continues through into the second book, so I've left a few threads very obviously dangling as a lead-in to volume 2, The Noise Revealed.

Hope that makes sense.

Fair enough, that's good enough for me.

 

[Ian Whates]

Hello, Ian. I'd be fascinated (and grateful) to know how you found writing a multi-viewpoint/ multi-storyline novel. Does it require more planning, for instance? Are there any inherent pitfalls?

Best of luck with it all, by the way.

Hi, Jim, Hmmm... planning...? To be honest, the amount of plotting performed varies enormously from author to author. Some plan meticulously, so that when they start writing the actual text they have a pretty firm sense of what each character does in each chapter. I don't. I write very organically. I know where my characters are at the start of a piece and I know where I want them to be at the end, so I give them a gentle nudge in the right direction and then stand back to see what happens. (The process is actually a little more structured than that... but only a little).

The reason I've gone with more than one viewpoint character in both series to date is simple; I wanted to avoid stepping too far away from the protagonist and suddenly presenting details from an 'omniescent narrator's' viewpoint. I knew there would be a lot going on which no single character was going to be privvy to, so the alternatives were to leave the reader in the dark about a lot of cause and effect, to contrive a way of inserting substantial info dumps at various points, to give in and use 'omniescent viewpoint'... or to use more than one viewpoint protagonist, which is the way I chose.

As far as pitfalls are concerned, the biggest one is keeping your timelines straight and ensuring that your characters are where you want them when you want them for the inevitable meetings somewhere down the line.

Hope that answers the questions.

 

[J-WO]

Yes, I suppose the timelines must be a problem- plot strands run at their own, different speeds. The skills required to synchronize all that must be many and mind-boggling.

Thanks for your time and insight! By hook or by crook (by which I mean internet or convention table) I'll have to get Within. Like a lot of people in this vicinity, I'm a sucker for sweeping space operas.