This is the guide to all the elements
of the little universe in which I write most of my science fiction. Below
you will find buttons leading to pages detailing specific areas of interest
that work together as a common thread throughout most of the stories I am
writing. It is intended to be a smaller, more friendly version of the very
large and complex Word hyperfile encyclopedia I use to keep all the little
details of my universe straight.
Each section explains some aspect of my system, all of which will be featured
in future novels and short stories.
Please keep in mind that this is the active and growing part of my site -
the content here will always be changing. Some of the pages may be blank or
have very little useful content. I will try to keep that sort of thing to
a minimum. Know that if you see a blank page, or one with only a header and
very little else, I will be adding to it soon. If you are curious, you can
come back when it is updated. I will note the latest six updates on the Latest
Updates page
My "history" diverges
from the real thing in 1986 - that's when I first started writing this stuff
down, long before I had more than a Smith-Corona Clipper (that's an old *manual*
typewriter) to hammer a page out on. If that bothers you, just think - how
many of your favorite sci-fi novels are years, even decades out of date? You
still love them. Think of me as starting out with an "alternate"
history and going from there.
What is science fiction without aliens? Okay, so some of the best sci-fi has
nothing to do with aliens - but they let us explore things it is uncomfortable
or impolite to explore as humans. Here are the details about several of mine.
All the fun "whiz-bang"
stuff. Some of this is off the wall, and any competent scientist or engineer
can tell you it's nonsense. Hmm - they said that about airplanes, automobiles,
rockets, and the nulear bomb, too, didn't they? I wouldn't worry about it
The following is an excerpt from
my notes written in 1992 as
an attempt to define my focus in writing and developing my
universe.
The David Hawk
Universe
The David Hawk universe is composed
of three essential parts, to which all else is subsidiary. The events take
place in the "real" universe; everything in the Hawk system is,
of necessity, told, if not from a human standpoint, at least with a human
slant.
History:
The Earth history diverges from "real" history in 1986, and proceeds
from there. The majority of my writings seem to take place in the twenty-eighth
through thirty-second centuries, with most stories before that only serving
to provide context.
Technology:
The Hawk technologies differ from the popular Star Trek technologies in several
ways. In point of fact, the Hawk technologies may be so much whiz-bang; the
theories are not well-reasoned, and probably not acceptable in scientific
circles. I am not a scientist, and most of my "book learning" deals
with matters of philosophy and sociology, with a great deal of historical
background from the standpoint of cultural and social evolution. Technological
parallels can be found, however. The dilithium basis for Star Trek has been
largely replaced by a "Bolmer lattice", a crystalline compound originally
thought to be a superconductor and later found to exist in several dimensions.
"Impulse" or ion-based drive systems are replaced by "compression
cells", a field generated by a complex interdimensional electromagnetic
arrangement. The transporter is partially replaced by "phase gates",
stable interdimensional wormholes connecting two fixed points. The primary
faster-than-light transport systems also use a wormhole effect, generated
in a similar manner. There are other technologies mentioned; some are referred
to off-hand, some mysterious; the Sheirka drive, power, and weapons systems
and the M'nsee,as well as T'kwoi and Avenni, "super-space" sail
technologies are notable examples of technologies that are currently incomprehensible.
One species does use an inefficient form of Star Trek-styled warp drive. Hawk
assumes space-time to be a multi-layered structure, with a full set of dimensions
for each layer. Normal space, subspace, and hyperspace all exist in a structural
super space. Hawk technologies tap into these various layers; how is clarified
just enough to impress the reader who is not particularly well-versed in matters
scientific. A certain amount of the technology also depends upon the emerging
Chaos fields.
Aliens:
The central themes of David Hawk stories involve either humans in their state
at the time of the story; or various aliens in their present states; or interaction
of the two. The idea is to use these elements either to make a point about
the human condition, engage in games of "what-if", explore the psyche
of the reader, or simply indulge in a little harmless fantasy.