Chapters 60 to 61

You can download the various formats there :

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch60to61.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch60to61.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch60to61.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch60to61.mobi

17 pages

The quick and deep changes left Erich and Kathryn estranged one to the other. Erich chooses to flee into work, where he is much needed. He discovers the food situation in town and the grim options that are left.

The next two chapters will be published next weekend.

Current writing status : Chapter 67 is still underway. As anticipated, the opportunity window for writing has closed, I hope to be able to post two chapters a week until the book is finished, though.

"Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 333,000 words long.

Solsys

avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Chapters 58 to 59

You can download the various formats there :


https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch58to59.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch58to59.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch58to59.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch58to59.mobi

18 pages

The pivotal question of agriculture and food in general will be addressed in these two chapters, including a first glimpse at cannibalism. A subsequent chapter will dwelve more in this aspect, as the book is also a reflection upon technology.

The figures provided are indicative, since I'm not a farmer. It should, however, illustrate the scope of the problems at hand.


The next two chapters will be published next weekend.

Current writing status : Chapter 67 is still underway. As anticipated, the opportunity window for writing has closed, I hope to be able to post two chapters a week until the book is finished, though.

"Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 333,000 words long.

Solsys

avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Chapters 56 to 57

You can download the various formats there :

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch56to57.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch56to57.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch56to57.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch56to57.mobi

18 pages

The different waves of refugees crash into town and achieve to disrupt it. Now Erich's people are on their own and have to fend off an organised attack on the single place where there wheat can still be found. Brutality and barbaric methods are also becoming more common.

The next two chapters will be published next weekend.

The "maggots as chicken feed" idea was taken from this page : http://farmlet.co.nz/?p=374

Kevin, the author, runs the highly respected blog : http://www.cryptogon.com/

Current writing status : Chapter 67 is underway.


Chapters 45 and 46 still need to be written ; this story arc will be addressed once the end of the transitional story arc is over, at the ned of chapter 67.

"Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 333,000 words long.

Solsys

avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Chapters 54 and 55

You can download the various formats there :


https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch54to55.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch54to55.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch54to55.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch54to55.mobi

18 pages

The town is given a respite, enough for the people in Erich's Program to settle some political matters,  evacuate some more people and food, and finally remove as much opposition for the survivors as possible.

The next two chapters will be published next weekend.


Current writing status : Chapter 63 is finished.

I intend to finish chapter 64 before the end of the year. It will see the end of the transitory period in the story. The story is also slowly coming to an end, which will be reached at around chapter 85, ten more than previously thought.

Chapters 45 and 46 still need to be written ; this story arc will be addressed once the end of the transitional story arc is over. 

"Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 317,000 words long.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Chapters 52 and 53

You can download the various formats there :

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch52to53.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch52to53.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch52to53.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch52to53.mobi

17 pages

Erich gets involved in the dramatic evacuation of his people out of town.
 
The next two chapters will be published next weekend.


Current writing status : Chapter 62 is finished.

I intend to finish chapters 63 and 64 before the end of the year. It will see the end of the transitory period in the story. The story is also slowly coming to an end, which will be reached at around chapter 75

Remember, htere are still two chapters, 45 and 46, who have not bee written yet, and it turned out to be a good decision, since the original plan for these would have taken us too far in another direction.

"Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 311,000 words long.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Chapters 50 and 51

You can download the various formats there :

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch50to51.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch50to51.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch50to51.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch50to51.mobi


18 pages

There is a bit of action as Mark and Erich fight off the attacking gang. Still it ends up worse than expected.

While they're licking their wounds, it seems the rest of the nations is suddenly collapsing due to a complete denial of service situation.


The next two chapters will be published next weekend.
I am reaching the end of the favourable period of time for writing. I expect to be able to finish chapters 61 and 62, and then will have to devote time for other, quite pressing matters (but I hope it'll be worth it).

I hope to be able to resume writing in February ; hence there would have been about one month and a half without updates. Also, chapters 45 and 46 will be dealt with at a later time.

Current writing status : chapter 60 is half-written, but chapters 45 and 46 are still missing. "Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 300,000 words long. Three-hundred-thousand. Repeat that slowly.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Chapters 48 and 49

You can download the various formats there :

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch48to49.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch48to49.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch48to49.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch48to49.mobi

18 pages

In chapter 48, Erich learns a bit more about the still distant technological war. Normalcy returns gradually to Trois-Chênes, but not for long.
Indeed, in chapter 49 we adopt the point of view of the Red and Blue Teams as they witness the impending and mysterious menace that is about to be unleashed on Trois-Chênes. Can they stop it ? We will know for sure in chapter 50 and 51, to be (spellchecked, reviewed and) released in eight days.


I use a favourable window of opportunity to write as much as I can ; the chapters will be released at a pace of two per week.

Current writing status : chapter 55 is finished, but chapters 45 and 46 are still missing. "Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 275,000 words long.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Chapter 47

You can download the various formats there :


https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Chapter47.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Chapter47.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Chapter47.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Chapter47.mobi

9 pages


Chapters 45 and 46 are not written yet, but chapters 47 to 50 are. The missing chapters will continue to tell Richard's children progression, but as of now I have a couple of free days at long last and will continue on the Erich & Kathryn side.


This chapter ties up some loose ends and also serves the purpose of reconnecting the reader with the context. There is a sort of cliffhanger as Erich travels to Houma, but chapter 48 will follow in the coming week.

You might ask yourself : why not publish all the other chapters right now ?

Well I need to dedicate entire days to write  properly, and preferably several days in a row. So this is the time where I make some progress. Spellchecking, trimming and fact-checking can be made in a much shorter time frame, and also doesn't require the same mindset : I can do it after work.

When a chapter is published, I can't really modify it afterwards, so it has to be consistent with the rest of the story and especially the chapters that are still being written. This is why it's taking so long.



Current writing status : chapter 50 is almost finished (but chapters 45 and 46 are missing...). "Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 250,000 words long. Woohoo !

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Delayed until further notice !

Hi everyone,

There are a lot of things happening right now in my life, thus I can't sit down for weeks on end and write properly.

I've tried to go on with the story a couple of times already but the result was not great.

So when will it be resumed ? The best guess is : when they weather will allow it. Perhaps, just like this year, between January and April.

Until then, have a nice time and speak about "Glasses and Pulleys" all around you ! ;)

Summer pause

Hi all,

I haven't had a single free moment in two weeks, including water damage yesterday.

Writing will be resumed at some moment between July and September.

Thank you for your understanding !

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com 

Eleventh part : chapters 43 to 44

You can download the various formats there :




https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part11-ch43to44.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part11-ch43to44.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part11-ch43to44.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part11-ch43to44.mobi

20 pages

We follow Norman, Jessica and Jamie as they try to get to Louisiana. Their journey is cut short, and they have to find a way to survive immediately.


Notes:
We are going to follow these children for the upcoming chapters, as they provide insight as what happens outside of Joyeux-Tiburon. It will provide some little E&E fiction, for those interested.
 
It wasn't easy finishing these chapters. Two chapters in two weeks is a much more realistic schedule than the previous one. This is why the next two chapters will be added in two weeks only.

Current writing status : chapter 44 has been finished an hour ago. "Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 232,000 words long.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

No update this week

Hello all,

I've been sick (fever) for two days, and I couldn't write past half of chapter 43.

All things considered, two chapters a week is a bit too much. I'll try a new schedule of two chapters every second week.

Thank you all for the regularity of your visits.

Take care,

 Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Tenth part : chapters 41 and 42

You can download the various formats there : 

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part10-ch41to42.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part10-ch41to42.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part10-ch41to42.mobi
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part10-ch41to42.epub

19 pages

Erich follows indirectly the unfolding events he set in motion.  The emotional burden is harder to bear than he thought.


Notes:
It is not easy to publish these two chapters in the wake of what happened in Boston yesterday.
One of the main ideas of the novel is to present situations of war and how people cope with it, especially the perpetrators. It is written in the same way that the second season of Jericho (TV series) was written.

It is not about condoning acts of terrorism, on the contrary if people can understand that the use of violence is not what is shown in videogames or Hollywood movies, it can only help.


Current writing status : chapter 43 has begun. I'll have to catch up the delay induced by weeks of hard work. It's always better to have chapters written in advance, not only for comfort but also to be able to add details or better introduce a situation.

Two chapters will be posted at the beginning of next week.

 Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

E-reader formats

I used the Calibre program to convert texts into e-reader formats.

Open Office files (.odt)
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters01to10.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters11to20.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters21to30.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters31to40.odt

Kindle files (.mobi)
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters01to10.mobi
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters11to20.mobi
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters21to30.mobi
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters31to40.mobi

Open-source Epub files, for Kobo readers for instance (.epub)
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters01to10.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters11to20.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters21to30.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Glasses-and-pulleys-chapters31to40.epub

PS : many thanks to Jeffrey for his review and comprehensive error check for the first chapter !

EDIT : Chapters 45 and 46 are still missing, here are the chapters 41 to 48

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch41-48.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch41-48.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch41-48.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch41-48.mobi


EDIT : I'm adding the links to part 2 (chapters 49 to 81)

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch49-81.odt
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch49-81.pdf
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch49-81.epub
https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Ch49-81.mobi

Chapter 41

You can download the PDF there :

 https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Chapter41.pdf

10 pages

Erich follows indirectly the unfolding events he set in motion.  The emotional burden is harder to bear than he thought.

Notes:
This is a temporary fixture : the last half of the chapter is not even proof-read. I felt you had to have something to read before I can catch up with the schedule.




I will have more time in the coming week to write chapter 42 and possibly more.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Ninth part : chapters 39 to 40

You can download the PDF there : 

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part9-ch39to40.pdf

17 pages

The final elements before a first confrontation are being set up.


Notes:
Next week, two chapters will be added.

Current writing status : chapter 41 is halfway through. That's right : no progress made this week. I have an awful lot of work right now, and also I am not in the right mindset to resume writing. I'll rather skip some days than fail to write something correct.


Still, until next Monday I'll probably end up with the two chapters, as always. The longer time also helps to accumulae ideas and order them.


It seems about 60 people are following this story. Any remarks, suggestions, comments are welcome.





Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Eighth part : chapters 37 to 38

You can download the PDF there : 

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part8-ch37to38.pdf

18 pages

 When Glenn leaves, the place enters another period of time. A worrying development in Joyeux-Tiburon reveals that conflict is coming closer and sooner than expected.


Notes:
After a final intimate moment, the scope of the story is getting increasingly broader, and story elements are being set up for the local collapse moment. But there is still room for an obligatory mechanical pr0n moment.

Next week, two chapters will be added.

Current writing status : chapter 41 is halfway through. "Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 212,000 words long.

Work keeps accumulating ; it's getting difficult to find time and peace of mind to write. Especially as this Euro crisis unfolds in even more worrying ways.
Nevertheless, I think I can maintain the update schedule of two chapters a week.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Seventh part : chapters 35 to 36

You can download the PDF there : 

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part7-ch35to36.pdf

18 pages

In these two chapters, we learn about Richard's family and his attempt to save his children from the unfolding city collapse.


Notes:
This is a part I wanted to write about for some time. The fate of the three chilldren will be something we'll read about in dedicated chapters. It will provide another point of view about the crisis, away from Erich and Kathryn's situation.

Next week, two chapters will be added.

Current writing status : chapter 40 is finished. "Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 207,000 words long.

I had a very busy week, and couldn't make any advances whatsoever. The Cyrpus Crisis also had a part of responsability in this.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Sixth part : chapters 31 to 34

You can download the PDF there : 

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part6-ch31to34.pdf

34 pages

From the deconstruction of a house to the construction of another. In parallel, a worldwide crisis looms then unfolds.


Notes:
The upbeat cycle is coming to an end, and a new cycle is introduced, which is a cycle of adaptation to a new set of economic rules. Of course, you can guess this cycle is only an intermediate stage to something nastier.

Starting next week, only two chapters will be added weekly.

Current writing status : chapter 40 is half written. "Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 207,000 words long.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Fifth part : chapters 26 to 30

You can download the PDF there : 

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part5-ch26to30.pdf

46 pages

Erich is organising a small group of people with common interests. In parallel, he prepares the construction of his house


Notes:
More people and elements are added to the configuration of the story. A more upbeat cycle of the story is unfolding now and will continue in the two following chapters.

There is a "militia porn" aspect unfolding, but it will be kept within the general tone and logic of the story.

My holidays being over, I can't write as much as I did these last weeks. The updates will take place every Monday as usual, but with less chapters. Next week's part will have four parts, and the parts after that will typically have two chapters, which is my weekly writing volume at the moment.


Current writing status : the chapter 38 is almost complete. "Glasses and Pulleys" is now over 200,000 words long.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Fourth part : chapters 21 to 25

You can download the PDF there : 

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part4-ch21to25.pdf

47 pages


Erich is trying to progress on his installation, but he realises he has to find his own place within the local community. He gets progressively involved in the town's survival as a community while still being an outsider.

Notes:
The story could have been a simple relocation and downsizing story, that ends when the new location is up and running. But since this is survivalist / prepper fiction, it wouldn't be interesting if there wasn't some Big Event or collapse at some moment.

This is why individual aspects of prepping and downsizing are still going to be addressed in the upcoming chapters, but the unfolding event and the group's reactions to it will become an increasing part of the story.

The pace will still be slow, because characters, other groups and the general setup have to be established. Just to give you an idea, the event isn't starting until the end of chapter 33.

I hope you're all still enjoying it.

Solsys
avemarisstella9@googlemail.com

Third part : chapters 15 to 20

You can download the PDF there :

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part3-ch15to20.pdf

56 pages

Erich and Kathryn have settled in Trois-Chênes and get to know each other better. But they have to face unforeseen problems that could jeopardize their project.


The three first parts of "Glasses and Pulleys" accumulate 108,919 words. As a reference, Twilight has a 118,501 words.

The adventure continues. Several chapters more have been written, but they have to be kept coherent with the following chapters before they can be published here.

Next Monday, I'll publish the next five chapters, and then try to hold on to that rythm for two other weeks. After mid-march, the writing speed will decrease to a third of that.

I already have positive responses, I'm glad you people enjoy it !

As a technical note : the town of Joyeux-Tiburon is inspired from whatever information I could find about the town of Cocodrie, but as it is a work of fiction, and there are proeminent baddies there as well, I won't use the name.

Besides, My only experience from Louisiana dates back to 1988, when I spent two days around the French Quarter in New Orleans.

Again, none of this should be taken too seriously.

Second part : chapters 7 to 14

 You can download the PDF there :

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part2-ch7to14.pdf

78 pages.

Erich has found a partner in Kathryn. Together, they witness the emergence of two urban survival communities of different scale.

I'd like to say that I have nothing against any of the ethnic communities mentionned in the book. They are pictured as examples of closed groups inside a fragmented society that comes apart at the seams.

I also have nothing against dogs ;)

First part : chapters 1 to 6

UPDATE : You can download the first forty chapters, in three different formats, here :
http://solsysbooks.blogspot.fr/2013/04/e-reader-formats.html


You can download the PDF there :

https://sites.google.com/site/solsysbooks/Part1-ch1to6.pdf

In this first part, the main character, Erich is confronted with consequences of divorce, unemployability and the bursting of the housing bubble.

On his own, he decides to downsize from a life of comfort and abstraction, aiming for simplicity and freedom.

Presentation

This blog will host books and other texts from me.

Most of them were written from a prepper point of view. Therefore, they are closer to fan fiction than to proper litterature.

The current book, "Glasses and Pulleys" is a work in progress.Over 100,000 words in twenty chapters have already been written, about two-third of the planned length. It will be posted in five to six parts, starting next week.

Other texts will include a rewrite and conclusion of the story "Steve's Side Of The Story", inspired by the movie "Dawn Of The Dead 2004", originally written and posted in 2008 at the Near Death Experiments forum : http://www.neardeathexperiments.com/smf/index.php?topic=2759.0


I would like to thank James M. Dakin, from http://jamesmdakin.blogspot.fr/ (also of Bison Newsletter fame) for his reviews and help in many aspects.

Have fun, and remember : none of this should be taken too seriously.

Solsys