The Thinker

The Thinker
The writer at work on a grand work of fiction.... :)

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Kinth Universe Commentaries Part 2 - Galactic Defense Force Musings

Something that remains unclear and obscure in science fiction settings is the size of armed forces. Different Sci-Fi settings exhibit varying sizes of respective defense forces, whether they be space-based or land-based. In Star Wars, the Empire at its peak under Emperor Palpatine counted more than 25,000 Star Destroyers of various classes, not to forget the Death Star itself, although the Imperial Navy is not specifically divided into fleets and task forces, rather into several generalized formations and groupings which allow a certain leeway in the way of numbers. In Warhammer 40,000 the Imperium's military forces consists of thousands of genetically altered warriors such as the Space Wolves, millions of ordinary soldiers, hundreds (and perhaps thousands) of mechanical armor and a certain unspecified number of spaceships, perhaps numbering in thousands given the backdrop of an Imperium-wide Crusade. In the popular Star Trek television series Deep Space Nine hundreds of Starfleet ships can be seen fighting against the combined Dominion and Cardassian Fleets and it can be inferred that hundreds of such ships form a single fleet.

The Kinth Universe does away with such obscurity in the form of specifically classified naval defense forces and ground forces. As it emerges over the course of the Kinth Legacy Trilogy, each faction has a certain amount of (space-based) fleets which vary in their sizes and compositions from faction to faction (not within the faction itself) and are divided into specific fleets and task forces and such with a finite amount of ships and fighters. The same follows for the ground forces in the Kinth Universe where each military is divided into a finite number of groupings consisting of certain specific numbers of men and material.

For example, the Ranisian Empire has 10 space-based fleets, which consist of approximately 9500 ships larger than a starfighter and nearly 36,000 fighters, while the land-based forces are made up of 10 regimental groups of various sizes which consists of hundreds of thousands of soldiers/commandos, armor and artillery and atmospheric fighters.

I believe that in order to write a novel, it is not enough to pick up a pen and start writing away. Rather, this creative process requires research and understanding of what is to be written. In that regard, I have attempted to hammer down sizes of the military forces in the Kinth Universe so that I have an established pattern of how things are while I write the story.

While my ideas on ground forces are woefully undeveloped, my ideas on space fleets are very precise with regard to vessel types and classes. In this matter my greatest inspiration and research material comes from Star Wars with its hundreds of types of vessels and classes which provide a rich and action-packed experience when reading the novels and comics. Starfighters, capital ships like Picketships, Gunships, Corvettes, Frigates, and Destroyers, and larger super capital ship designs such as Battlecruisers, Dreadnoughts, Juggernauts, Carriers, are just some of the 'outline' designs that I use. Crossover designs such as Battleships, Super Star Cruisers and Cruiser Carriers also make an appearance throughout the Kinth Universe.

As depicted in Star Wars, starfighters are very crucial instruments of space warfare with dozens of designs for as many purposes, something that is reflected on a smaller scale in the famous television series Battlestar Galactica. This is a style that I made a point of specially including in the Kinth Series since these one- and two-man small attack craft offer a host of plot points and twists and turns. Therefore in the tradition of these shows, the factions of the Kinth Universe employ several designs of these attack craft in their fleets with many more existing otherwise, used by neither major faction but by fringe groups and private security forces throughout the Kinth Galaxy.

As in all other science-fiction works, the space fleets of the Kinth Universe work much the same as the naval fleets of today, although there exits a far greater range of ship designs in this day and age than in the science-fiction settings we all know.

Kinth Universe Commentaries Part 1 - Overview, Random thoughts

A unique aspect of the Science-Fiction and Fantasy genres is their scope - a backdrop of greatness, variety and great size. Isaac Asimov's Robot and Foundation novels take place in galaxy of human expansion and dominance. George Lucas' Star Wars franchise takes place in a galaxy with millions of varied species, billions of planets, intrigue and action. Raymond E. Feist's Midkemia/Kelewan novels take place on worlds alive with magic, political intrigue, savagery and an eternal battle of good versus evil. Frank Herbert's legendary Dune Universe is another example of the issue at hand; the stage that Frank Herbert set all those years ago is a universe dominated by humans, extolling a feudal system of rulership that has survived for thousands of years after humanity leaves Earth.

In the Kinth Universe, our stage is no less grand than any of the aforementioned settings. The Kinth Series travels from one end of the galaxy to another, encountering wonders and things unknown. It all begins with dozens of species, hundreds of planets, thousands of characters and naval fleets numbering in thousands of ships from the first installment of the Series - the Kinth Legacy Trilogy, of which The Hunted Prince is the book. With the establishment of the Ranisian Empire more than ten thousand years ago, the (semi)feudal system of rulership has once again emerged as an important form of major interstellar governance.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Factions of The Kinth Series Part 2 - Our Bad Guys.

- The Gantorian Confederate - The Gantorian Confederate, or as many of the Gantorians call it, the Greater Empire, has been in existence for more than 23,000 years. Coming into being as a galaxy-spanning empire, the Greater Empire underwent a revolution some 10,000 years ago when a high-profile Senator-Noble, Lord Sicur Acurra of the House of Currans, defied the entire might of the Greater Empire. The result was that the Greater Empire split into various factions, the most powerful of which were the Ranisian Empire and the Gantorian Confederate. The Gantorians, having suffered such a defeat, have vowed for all time to vanquish the Ranisian Empire. For 10,000 years now the Gantorians have tried to bring down Ranis, and now, they just might get that chance in the coming war with their Axian Alliance.

- The Darthos Rebels - When the House of Retsorak lost power, few members of this house survived the revolt. Those who remained were distant relatives of Emperor Marocarth Drastein, killed during the revolt. This revolt by the Aerian slaves and all their allies across the Empire generated deep hatred and feelings of intense revenge amongst these rulers of the Darthos sector. In the last 1,300 years, the Darthosians have allied themselves with the Gantorians several times to achieve common objectives. However, their goal is not to destroy the Empire but to undisputedly rule it. They are members of the Axian Alliance as well.

- The Jaron Republicans - Some call them deserters, others traitors and others call them freedom fighters, the latter group being the Republicans themselves. Jaron Vagas Wandel, one of the finest generals of the Kinth Emperors some hundred years ago, decided that the Empire was no place for opportunists like him, and no place to build a new civilization. A master of deception, it was some time before it became apparent that Wandel had seceded from the Empire with a sizable armed force and several systems. Wandel declared himself President of the Jaron Republic and now his descendants continue his tradition. Today, the Republicans dabble in everything underhanded, from smuggling to weapons-running. They are also part of the Axian Alliance.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Factions of the Kinth Series Part 1 - Our Good Guys.

In the galactic stage of the Kinth Series, six factions take centre stage as the major characters of this fantastical drama :

- The Empire of Ranis - The Empire has survived for nearly ten thousand years, outlasting uncountable wars, political machinations, unrest and revolts, and years of peace. Founded by Lord Sicur Acurra, of the Royal House of Currans, the Empire today is one of the major powers of the galaxy. Dozens of noble houses have served the empire in a ruling capacity, from Humans to Iairda to Tharon to Kitharan. The latest ruling dynasty is of the House Kinth, with Lord Arthor Kinth as the current ruler of the Empire.

- The Order of The Shadow Guardians - also known as the Vaunzanor Knights, the Order was formed by Lord Acurra himself, as a reserve military force that served the Empire. The Knights have come a long way since though. Today however, they are an independent power, and a major player in galactic politics. Despite being an separate faction, the Order maintains close relations with the Empire and their link with a past that has since become legendary.

- The Marinans Alliance - an order formed out of the remains of the rule of House Retsorak, the Alliance is made up of what once were mere colonies and slave planets. Today, the Alliance stands tall with all the other major powers in military might and political power. The Alliance, like the Order, maintains close ties to the Empire and House Kinth, since it was Lord Aranth Kinth, the first Kinth Emperor who gave the colonies their freedom and helped them at every turn.

Together, the Empire, the Order and the Alliance are a match for any other coalition in the galaxy, second to none and fiercely proud of their rights and privileges and quick to defend their own.

The Kinth Series, A General Overview and Snapshot

For those of you have read and seen 'Star Wars', 'The Kinth Series' should not be too different. The Series portrays a galaxy at war, and one man must come to terms with his destiny and fulfill an old prophecy.

Vahan Kinth, Crown Prince of the Ranis Empire, must choose his destiny - whether to become the leader he is meant to be or be remembered as the one who brought down way of life that has survived for nearly ten thousand years.

On his journey, he will be accompanied by a diverse group of people, whose mission is to end the coming war no matter the cost. Resistance fighters, dissident Imperial soldiers, loyal Knights, and many others make the journey with the young Prince, so that the galaxy can know peace.

And if our hero is lucky, he may even find true love with someone who has led a much different life then he has.

War. Love. Destiny. Future. The Kinth Series explores the galaxy through an Empire under attack from within and outside.