Over the last few months, I have been working on a new novel with the hopes of building a new audience. This book I have been working on revolves around space welders aiding in the construction of a new planet, but there is a monstrous secret that threatens the lives of the work crew.
I understand this drawing resembles the Death Star. However, the man made planet in this book I’m putting together is not a weapon, but rather a planet for inhabiting. Every layer of the plaent is build to create and maintain elements of life that is supposed to make it inhabitable for a living being. In a way, the company building the planet are attempting to play God, which will have its consequences.
I also like to compare to the biblical story of the tower of Babel, where the world leaders came together and attempting to be like by building a tower that could reach heaven. As a result God gave them different lanugages to confuse them and end the construction of the tower. This man-made planet I have written is the equivalent of threat as anyone could try to play god by starting new life in the stars without completely understanding how creation works. I will have an equivalent to the gift of language, but I will not spoil that, yet.
When writing a story revolving around messing with nature, playing God, or pushing beyond scientific limits, a writer must ask, what are the characters trying to achieve? What will be the positives they expect? What will the consequences be? How will the consequences affect the characters? Is there a way to save the characters? How will the characters respond to the consequences? Will they learn or will they be ignorant?
That is all I have to say about my book project for right now. Let me know what you think. Is there more you would like to know about this planet? What are your takes on a playing God story? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.