About the Book
Book: Silent Stars (Tomorrow’s Edge Book Three)
Author: Brett Armstrong
Genre: Christian dystopian, science fiction
Release date: September 26, 2023
AD 2040: Barely eighteen, things have become much harder for Elliott. Reeling from the losses during the confrontation that brought Project Alexandria to a halt, Elliott feverishly hunts for the original files needed to finish it off. Finding only dead ends, he instead stumbles upon something dire: messages about the Babel Initiative. Conceived as a successor that would make Project Alexandria’s manipulations seem tame, this new threat once again forces Elliott into alliances with morally grey programmers known as siegers. Beset by continual setbacks and defeats, many siegers abandon the cause and go underground to survive the dangers ahead. The bleak reality that Elliott and those closest to him are almost certain to die in the fight against Dr. Almundson begins to set in. But Elliott isn’t ready to give in. He knows the cost of such a silent surrender will be humanity itself.
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About the Author
Brett Armstrong has been exploring other worlds as a writer since age nine. Years later, he still writes, but now invites others along on his excursions. He’s shown readers haunting, deep historical fiction (Destitutio Quod Remissio), scary-real dystopian sci-fi (Tomorrow’s Edge series), and dark, sweeping epic fantasy (Quest of Fire). Every story is a journey of discovery and an attempt to be a brush in the Master Artist’s hand. Through dark, despair, light, joy, and everything in between, the end is always meant to leave his fellow literary explorers with wonder and hope. Always busy with a new story, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and spending time with his wife and son.
More from Brett
Dystopian stories remind me of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. In it, Ebenezer Scrooge is heartbroken for Tiny Tim and asks the Ghost of Christmas Present if the boy will live. The ghost, to paraphrase, says that if the shadows of the things present are not altered the child will not live. Dystopian stories show us the shadows of things that if left unaltered, if not safeguarded against, can bring dire consequences. Years ago, I began writing the Tomorrow’s Edge series because I was concerned. Looking at headlines and articles about everything from the latest tech developments to the weakening links in western society’s integrity, I could understand why so many people fear the future. For me, it was fear for a tomorrow that is the fulfillment of every dystopian nightmare to us, but because it is so gradual so innocuous in coming, those in the future living that dystopia won’t even see it.
Our hold on reality is tenuous in the modern digital world—particularly with AI deepfakes, virtual reality, augmented reality, and the metaverse increasingly edging into our daily lives. And when combined with post-modernist philosophy’s denial of objective truth it makes for a serious existential threat. So, I wrote a story about some teens living in the near future where it is very nearly too late to come back from that edge. Teens who are gifted a glimpse of truth and reality and now can’t turn back from pursuing it. I hope it isn’t a stretch already to see that a story like that is layered. The gripping, fast paced surface narrative has beneath it an adjuration and encouragement for those of us who follow Christ to cling to the Truth and the Creator of all reality, no matter what may come. Silent Stars takes that story arc to its conclusion and in writing it I discovered there was an even more potent symbolic meaning to “Tomorrow’s Edge” than us being on the precipice or a dangerous dystopian tomorrow. It was one of the most rewarding discoveries I’ve had as a writer and I hope you enjoy uncovering it as well.
Interview with the Author
- What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
There are so many books that so desperately deserve to be read and are worthwhile it’s hard to name just one. I will say that recently I had the privilege of reading a series I had been interested in for some time by my fellow Christian speculative fiction author, CE Stone. Her Starganauts series is a blend of Star Wars-esque space opera and dramatic Mission Impossible style action woven through with Scripture and a heart that thrums with a steady devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. The world-building is so well done and the array of characters so diverse and delightfully blended between quirky and noble that I feel like it, particularly her latest release, Invasion, deserves a look. But really, there are so, so many books by authors I’ve met and gotten a glimpse of their faith and heart and storytelling prowess…It makes me wish we had more time in this world to spend reading and discovering the stories the Lord has laid on the hearts of my fellow writers.
- What was your hardest scene to write?
In Silent Stars, it was definitely the final showdown between Elliott and Dr. Almundson. Almundson is the head of Project Alexandria, which is manipulating the information and historical records for the whole world in a sinister scheme. He’s ominous in Day Moon and doubly so plus creepy in Veiled Sun. I’ve written villains before but what was required for Silent Stars made him a very different sort of villain to write and everything about that showdown just needed so much care in how it was handled from its mechanics to thematic and spiritual implications. Plus, it was THE big battle the series had been moving towards. Everything was on the line for the characters and writing that kind of stress and drama and emotional state isn’t easy. Especially not the way the scene had to work on multiple levels simultaneously. Once you’ve read it, all of my cryptic rambling will make a lot more sense, but I stressed for years about writing that scene and did so only with prayers—which were answered beyond my hopes.
- What comes first, the plot or characters?
For me, they tend to come together, packaged up in a scene. Almost all of my stories start from me imagining a single moment, like a still image, that encapsulates a story world I’d like to explore and draws me in to find out more. As I look closer at the scene that’s captured my imagination, I discover more about the people of that world (characters) and events going on (plot). I think the best and most natural writing keeps a balance between setting, characters, and plot. Each shaping and being shaped by the others with every turn of the page.
- Who is the author you most admire in your genre?
Sticking with those who are currently living, and this might be a cop out, but there are so many I admire. Especially the longer I’ve been writing Christian fiction and the more of my fellow writers I meet. So many of them have such beautiful faith and live it out amidst some truly trying circumstances and in such admirable ways. Some have received accolades for their work and others haven’t seemed to break out and get noticed yet. So, here’s a sampling of them in no particular order (and these are only the speculative fiction ones):
Nadine Brandes, CE White, CE Stone, Paul Regnier, Dawn Ford, Erin Howard, Suzanne Brachter, Janilise Lloyd, Morgan Busse, Brent Weeks, Jason Joyner, JJ Johnson, Ted Atchley, Patrick Carr, C Kevin Thompson, Joanna White, …
- What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Usually anything and everything related to day-to-day life. I have a full-time job as a database administrator/programmer/informatician. Anyone in any of those three jobs knows just how different they are and can probably appreciate how interesting that would make my task list each day at work. I also have a little boy who is quirky and spunky and so loveable. We spend a lot of our time playing together—video games, outside, board games, and anything else he comes up with for us. Nights before 11 are for my wife and I to just spend some time decompressing together. We watch TV, a movie, or listen to an audio book (if we don’t have things like dishes and prep for the next day we need to do).
When I get a chance, I really like to draw. It’s so relaxing and it helps so much with enhancing my stories with the small details it helps to “draw” out. And as you can tell, I also developed a strange affinity for dad jokes after my son was born.
Blog Stops
Stories By Gina, August 22 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, August 23
Vicky Sluiter, August 24 (Author Interview)
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 25 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, August 26 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 27
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 28 (Author Interview)
Through the Fire Blogs, August 29 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 29
Artistic Nobody, August 30 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, August 30
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 31
Beauty in the Binding, September 1 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 2
Guild Master, September 3 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, September 4
Giveaway
To celebrate his tour, Brett is giving away the grand prize package of $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of Silent Stars, and an illustrated print featuring a scene from the Tomorrow’s Edge series!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.