Starpiercer: Sunlight's Edge

Forward & Maps

FORWARD ON TECHNOLOGY
Feel free to skip this, though one is encouraged to give it a once-over.
Sunlight's Edge and other works set in the Starpiercer universe are written through the perspectives of a variety of characters in a variety of locations. Being hard science fiction, every calculation and piece of technology was thought up in accordance with the scientific understanding of today, with an emphasis on technology currently in development, such as biological quantum computers (Cogitators) coilguns, known as Masers (shorthand for Mass-Accelerated-Slug-Electromagnetic-Rail) and spacecraft, with their speed measured in Gs of acceleration. Note also that, given highly divergent biology, most aliens cannot speak human dialects and humans likewise cannot speak theirs. Thus, the development of Glossic, via language engrams, an interstellar-mandated program of mapping understood linguistic concepts to alien languages. Invariably, some things are lost in translation when alien characters speak. Italics or [] in speech indicate an otherwise incomprehensible language (often a combination of both physical and audible signals) being deciphered through a language engram.

Space ships and most other craft, to cross the vast distances that span spacetime in Starpiercer, must have their speed measured in acceleration and time, and so the standard system of charting speed is not at knots, or miles per hour, but at Gs (Gravities) of acceleration, with 1 G being roughly the equivalent of earth gravity. Given she sheer heat put out by fusion engines, they must take time to cool down, bleed off heat and radiation and replace their fuel stores, and so engines generally cannot be kept burning for more than a few hours at a time, and when moving, the crew must be secured, as they would rapidly lose consciousness with the force of acceleration acting on their bodies otherwise.

This work is written as part of a two-novella-long prequel series entitled A High Tower, to the first book of the proper Starpeircer story, entitled: A Dark Frontier. Several characters from Sunlight's Edge are mentioned or appear in A Dark Frontier.

All  Images drawn, sketched or rendered by the author, including paper & photorealistic 3-d format

Upcoming installments of the High Tower series
Sunlight's Edge
Midnight's Reach
Short Story: A Pale Horse

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VOLUME ONE: SUNLIGHT'S EDGE 

PROLOGUE

I. LIEM I

II. TOMAS I

III. CARCOSA I

IV. TOMAS II

V. LIEM II

VI. TOMAS III

VII CARCOSA II

IIX TOMAS IV

IX CARCOSA III

X TOMAS V

XI: CARCOSA IV

XII: TOMAS VI

XIII: LIEM III

XIV: TOMAS VII

XV: INTERLUDE: CRISIS

XVI: TOMAS VIII

XVII: LIEM IV:

XVIII: TOMAS IX

XIX: CARCOSA V

XX: TOMAS IX

                                                                                   Welcome to Solace
Pour yourself a glass of lichen rum, strap into your acceleration chair, mind the active  radiator plates, and whatever you do...don't mess with a Voytazi's personal space.