Presenting: The Fallow Orbits
But first, I have to address the elephant in the room
Today I’m proud to launch the serialization of my short SF novel, The Fallow Orbits. This book is an homage to the inspiration of my youth, the late great Andre Norton.
As many of you know, I discovered science fiction through Norton’s books. Her books are still my sick-day go-to reads, even if I spend the rest of my time trying to keep up with the astonishing and beautiful works being produced by current authors like Ada Palmer, Karen Lord, Deji Bryce Olukotum, and so many others. Norton was a born storyteller, and what I know about narrative momentum and pacing, I learned from her.
The Fallow Orbits may be honoring an older style of science fiction—and it’s definitely in the Atompunk genre, with no tech higher than 1960s-era—but it’s packed with modern ideas. In particular, I’ve replaced the usual vague hand-waving about why we would want to build a Dyson Sphere (“for the real estate!”) with an actual, solid reason. It’s a really fun one, too—I think you’ll like it.
I haven’t used Substack’s Sections feature before so stuff might go a little wrong today, but I’ll get it figured out. I’m publishing the first chapter for all my subscribers. If you like it, please become a paid subscriber so that you can read the rest. (My writing is work—sometimes hard work—and I don’t work for free.)
Before I post the first episode, though, I need to talk about something. It’s a case of epic bad timing, but it wouldn’t be fair to you for me to try to ignore or sweep this under the rug.
Nazis on Substack
Just as I was preparing to go live with this serialization—holding my breath with my finger poised above the big green button—this newsletter platform, Substack, stumbled badly. In a now-famous article in The Atlantic, it was revealed that the platform had failed to meet previous commitments to remove hate speech from its servers. The company violated its own terms of agreement by permitting several hate groups to monetize vile and antisemitic propaganda.
To say that I and many other writers who depend on the platform are outraged is a huge understatement. Substack is currently bleeding authors, and I can’t blame anyone for leaving. For the most levelheaded discussion of the current situation, check out Margaret Atwood’s recent post (yes, she’s a Substack author). Atwood sums up the dilemma: many good writers make their living from this platform, because it is simply the best medium available to us right now. Making any kind of a living from writing is incredibly hard—the median income in the US for fiction writers is $2000 a year and payment rates (per word) have not increased in my lifetime. In a world where so many writers are drowning, Substack has been a vital lifeline. Some authors, like myself, came to the platform to diversify and improve our communication with our readers, and maybe publish more, more often. Some, like me, are like pilots who’re speeding down the runway, have just gone full-throttle and are about to lift off when people start screaming ‘abort, abort!’
We Substack authors are faced with a choice. We either leave, burning down houses we’ve spent years building in some cases; or, we hold Substack’s feet to the fire and demand that they abide by their own rules and ban all the offenders. Over 250 authors—Atwood included—have chosen the latter strategy. I’m with them because I believe in my fellow writers and in what this platform could and should be.
But here’s my pledge to you: if Substack fails to honour its own standards and continues to host this offensive material, I will migrate us to another platform and you will continue to receive Unapocalyptic posts and episodes of The Fallow Orbits, with as little disruption as I can manage.
I’m telling you this because it wouldn’t be fair to pretend there’s no problem; but also because I want to say that if you were planning to become a paid subscriber before the current controversy, please do so; we can always migrate your subscription to a different platform if we have to. But whether I create and sell an ebook/paper version of The Fallow Orbits depends on how well the serialization succeeds, and the only way I can measure that is in subscription numbers.
So please, do not sit back and wait to see how the controversy ends before subscribing. I can only interpret your absence from my subscriber list as a lack of interest in the book. If the launch of The Fallow Orbits is met with a resounding silence, I will have to conclude that my readers don’t care about it, and will move on to other projects. On the other hand, if you subscribe now and Substack crashes and burns, we’ll just reconvene somewhere else at no cost to you.
Ultimately, it’s your decision and I won’t fault you either way for what you choose to do. I just want to make sure you know about the controversy, know that we Substack authors are not taking it lying down, and know that you’ll still get the quality content from me that you subscribe to, whether it’s here or ultimately somewhere else.
Liftoff (?)
Okay, it was exhausting writing the above. I have no idea whether I’ve just shot myself in the foot; we’ll see. Either way, in a couple of hours you’ll have the first installment of The Fallow Orbits in your inbox. The second half of this chapter will drop on Thursday.
I hope you enjoy it and stay with me for the rest of the ride.
—K