“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

—Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry into the Limits of the Possible by Arthur C. Clarke (1962)

CREATING a beautiful world is essential for any good story. For a space opera book series, this task is even more complex. Worldbuilding involves creating an entire universe, complete with its own rules, laws of nature, and cultures that interact and evolve over time. In my space opera book series, Stars Reach, I have combined elements of science and magic to create a unique world in which all kinds of things are possible.

Below are only a few.

The Dilation Drive

The dilation drive is my version of a warp drive, a type of technology featured in many science fiction stories. It allows for faster than light travel, allowing starships to reach distant points in the universe almost instantaneously. This type of transportation has long been a dream for both sci-fi enthusiasts and physicists alike.

The concept of a warp drive was first developed by Mexican physicist Miguel Alcubierre in 1994, based on equations from Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. Today, it’s now called the “Alcubierre Drive.” His model proposed that space could be distorted around an object, "stretching" space ahead while compressing it behind, thus moving the spacecraft at speeds much greater than the speed of light. While this idea has not yet been proven possible with current technology, scientists continue to explore ways warp drives may one day become reality.

ARO Technology

Autonomous Replicating Omnidroid (ARO) Technology are inseparably connected to the Arrows in my stories. Its fundamental unit is the “nanochain," which is based in real life science.

Magnetic nanochains are an exciting new form of technology that is beginning to make its way into the world of science fiction. They are a type of nanoelectronics which use magnetism to operate and interact with other devices. Magnetic nanochains have the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, from communication and transportation to medical applications, energy storage, and more.

Nanochains consist of interconnected nano-sized magnets that can be arranged in various shapes and sizes depending on their specific application. These magnetic chains are incredibly small but powerful; they are capable of storing huge amounts of data and performing complex calculations at lightning speeds. They also have an unlimited range due to their strong magnetic fields which can be used for communication purposes between any two points on the planet.

The Ansible

I didn’t invent the ansible. That honor belongs to Ursula K. Le Guin, but I’m not the only author who’s appropriated it for their science fiction (i.e. The Ender Saga by Orson Scott Card). It is a shortened version of the word, “answerable” because whoever used the machine could receive answers to their messages without delay.†

Ansible technology is a form of communication across vast distances instantaneously and without any noticeable delay, allowing people to communicate with each other as if they were in the same room. Although this type of technology may seem like something like magic, it's actually based on real-world physics and mathematics.

Ansibles are usually depicted as a device that allows users to communicate over large distances faster than light speed. This means that data can be sent from one end to the other almost instantaneously, regardless of how far apart the two points are located in space or time. In addition, since it takes advantage of quantum entanglement and relativity theory, ansible communication does not slow down or degrade due to distance like traditional radio waves do.

The Aegis

The Aegis, originally, was a mythological shield of Athena (probably) made of goatskin†. In my books, I’ve appropriated it into a robotic suit that enhances the wearer’s abilities and can be used for various applications such as military operations or exploration of new planets.

The technology behind the exosuit combines robotics with advanced materials science to create an incredibly powerful tool. Exosuits typically contain life support systems that allow users to survive in hostile environments and special sensors that allow them to perceive their surroundings with greater detail than humans can on their own. Some exosuits also come equipped with weapons, allowing users to fight enemies on land or even in space!

Genic Programs

These programs were begun early on in Temperance’s reign and focused on modifying human genes before they were even born. In some cases, humans were grown in amniotic vats so that they could be protected from the complications that often plagued childbirth. The most infamous effect of these programs were the super soldiers created to fight the empire’s intergalactic wars. Later, after the fall of Temperance, the Vine, as well as the Dominion, continued these programs without restraint.

Gene modification entails manipulating the genetic make-up of an individual or species to alter certain physical traits. This could range from changing eye color to creating superhuman abilities. It has already been developed in labs around the world and has been used in medical treatments as well as agricultural production processes. The possibilities are endless when it comes to gene modifications and its applications will continue to be explored into more detail in science fiction literature and other forms of media.

Aether

This is where I delve into magic. But aether is not a complete fantasy. The concept of aether has been around for centuries and can be found in ancient texts such as Aristotle’s On the Heavens or Plato’s Timaeus. This concept of an invisible force with properties similar to those of air or water has fascinated many scientists and philosophers over the years. In modern-day sci-fi, aether often serves as an explanation for how advanced technology works or why certain phenomena occurs without any scientific explanation.

In Stars Reach, aether is a power that originates in the center of suns and extends to the various satellites in its system. Humans are able to tap into this energy through much training and meditation, bringing the energy into their bodies and harnessing it in various ways—mostly for combat. Over the millennia, it has been called by many other names by various Civilizations such as “merna,” “redspace,” and “the Lifeblood of the Universe.”

Aether is also based on the idea of Dark Energy, a mysterious force that scientists believe exists in the universe and is responsible for its accelerated expansion. It appears to be an intrinsic part of our universe, but we still know very little about it. In fact, dark energy makes up about 70% of all matter and energy in the universe and yet we don't really understand what it is or how it works.

What if humans could tap into that energy and use it as a tool?

Or a weapon?

The Lighthouses

A Lighthouse is actually a small piece of a much larger megastructure that encapsulates suns to harness their energy. The early years of Temperance’s empire was an age of exponential technological advancement and interstellar prosperity. One of the earliest projects that scientists undertook was how to obtain more energy. Once they could harness a sun’s power, the human race would be limitless. This is based on a hypothetical idea known as the “Dyson Sphere.”

A Dyson sphere is a megastructure that completely surrounds a star in order to capture its energy. This type of technology has been explored for decades in science fiction as a way to provide an almost limitless source of energy. The concept was first proposed by physicist Freeman Dyson in 1959, and it has since become one of the most popular pieces of tech in many science fiction works.

The general idea behind a Dyson sphere is that all the energy from the star would be captured and directed towards one or multiple planets within the structure. This would allow for incredibly efficient resource utilization, allowing civilizations to flourish with far fewer resources than normal. Temperance took this technology to the extreme and formed whole worlds around pulsars that fed on their intense energy for tens of thousands of years. The Lighthouses were massive stations surrounding the inner core of the planet and captured the energy from a pulsar at the center.

The ‘Former Technology

Even before Temperance’s empire formed, humans have been terraforming planets to suit their needs. The earliest terraformers (now known simply as the ‘formers) paved the way for many uninhabitable worlds to be future homes for many Civilizations.

Terraforming is the process of deliberately altering a planet's environment for the purpose of making it more habitable for humans and other forms of life. It’s an incredibly complex idea that has captivated people all over the world. The most common type of terraforming seen in today's science fiction stories is nano-tech. Nano-tech works by using microscopic robots that are programmed with specific tasks, such as seeding the air with oxygen, altering the chemistry of soil, or manipulating the landscape itself. With these tiny robots working together, planet engineers can change an environment quickly and efficiently without damaging any existing ecosystems.

Terraforming is a multi-faceted endeavor; it requires an understanding of physics and biology as well as environmental engineering. In some cases, the goal may be to create an Earth-like atmosphere on a different planet by introducing oxygen and water vapor into its air. In other cases, changes may need to be made to the surface features like mountains or forests in order to make them suitable for human habitation.

The worldbuilding for Stars Reach has been a rewarding experience. It's been an incredible journey of discovery as I have explored and built the universe in which my characters live. I am excited to see how fans will react to this new and vibrant setting, and how it will help bring the stories alive. My hope is that readers will be transported to this new realm and find something inspiring within.

Embark on an intergalactic journey with Breaking Colossus: Stars Reach Book One! Don't let fear of the unknown keep you from all of the excitement, fun, and adventure waiting for you. Make now the time to take control of your destiny and step into a new world full of possibility. 🚀

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The Science & Magic of Stars Reach