Communion Of Dreams

Communion of Dreams is the best science fiction novel I’ve read in the past 18 months or so. I rank it ahead of Charles Stross’ Accelerando, Greg Bear’s Blood Music, and two enthralling space operas by Vernor Vinge. I’d love to own it in hardcover. -krs in Indiana

Hardcover? Hell, I’d be happy to have it out in paperback…

But thanks for the comment, and the rec!

Jim Downey

Thanks for writing the story Communion of Dreams. I just finished reading it and I loved it. I hope you get it published soon.

I am an aspiring SF writer (7 chapters done on 2 stories).

Do you write about your techniques? Do you write every day or at a certain time? How long did it take you to write Communion? Do you work with a writers group?

Hey Frank!
Thanks for reading the book, and more thanks for stopping by to leave a comment.
I do include some thoughts on the writing process in my blog entries, along with comments on the process of getting published and ruminations on current tech/fiction/life as it pertains to the novel. Look through the archives, you might find what you’re looking for, or just jump in any current thread and ask.
I tried to be consistent about when I wrote, doing so each evening starting about 8 for an hour or two. It was a good time for me then, although I was usually tired an only able to focus for that limited period. It took me about three years working that way to do the initial writing (revising as I went along). Then after a break, I spent about another 6 months doing the first major rewrite of the book, which excised out over 25,000 words (about one-sixth of the book). Then a longer break of a couple of years, and I did the final version you read in about two weeks - I’d had plenty of time to think about tweaks I wanted to make. While there were some substantial changes, the word count wound up being almost exactly the same.
I do not work with a writer’s group, though my initial grad school experience was in the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, and that taught me a lot about how to critique and edit my own work. While writing Communion on the first go, I would send out finished chapters to about two dozen friends, getting feedback and encouragement that way.
Hope that helps! Good luck with your own writing, and when you get something in shape to share, drop me a note.
Jim Downey

I’m on chapter 10 and .. it’s pretty good. Some questions are banging around that I’m sure will be answered in good time.

* The idea of the fire-flu and a depopulated world is fascinating.

* Your spaceship crews work in two twelve-hour shifts for the duration of the voyage. Standard shifts are divide a 24 hour day into 3 chunks, which might be more workable, or at least they are in the surface Navy and most factories.

* Pg 122 a character peers into the faceplate of another to divine who it is.

If you’ve got a culture that does a lot of EVA slapping a name tape on suit and helmet is going to be SOP.

Also same scene - I’d expect a few able spaces to be on hand for cargo unloading.

Put it this way; a terrestrial ship delivers a crew of scientists and technicians via longboat to shore. There is going to be a sailor driving the boat, plus another two or three along to handle the boat, unload cargo and do the scut work. Your scientists could unload the cargo but not being used to the work they might also drop an important box in the drink and who needs that?

But really, those are just nits - I like what I’ve read so far.

Brian…thanks for the little suggestions. I do very much appreciate it. Posting such here is great because it will make it easier when I do any further editing.

Chap 10…ah, it’s just *starting* to get interesting. Hehehe.

Jim Downey

Tease.

Just finished reading communion. I really enjoyed it. In your infinite amounts of free time you should consider reading it aloud and podcasting on podiobooks.com. I loved your recovered post apocalyptic setting. It was hopeful and positive in spite of the vast terrors (extinction and other more spoilerish problems) faced by humanity in your book. It read like science fiction should, giving the hope that the future can be shaped by our will and effort.

Eli - thanks for dropping by and leaving a bit of feedback! Always enjoy hearing what people have to say - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I kicked around the idea of podcasting the thing a few months back in this post. Now that I am actually getting more sleep and regaining some energy, maybe I should revisit the idea…

Anyway, thanks again - and I enjoyed checking out your blog, as well!

Jim D.

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