An Image of ten books floating in space to indicate a 10 book series arc, going from light to dark from left to right hinting at the storyline getting darker over time.
Books In Space

The Long Haul: Unveiling the 10-Book Arc for The Recursive Voyager

Hello again, internet friends!
 
It's been a really fun journey diving headfirst into the universe of The Recursive Voyager. Putting that first 'First Contact' post out into the world was a commitment to myself to see this project through. That commitment, and the hope that people like you will discover this story, is what fuels my drive to keep writing. What started as a single spark of an idea has quickly grown into something far, far bigger in my mind. So, today, I wanted to give you a very high-level, no-spoilers peek at the grand adventure I’ve got floating around in my mind (and in a Word document somewhere too). Think of it as the basic blueprint for the series. The outlines are in place while leaving plenty of room for all the plot twists, character moments, and world-building that make a great science fiction series.
 
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, “First Contact”, the idea for this story and entire series came to me after a few late night conversations with ChatGPT. In those discussions, I asked questions about life, consciousness, hypotheticals surrounding space, black holes, origins, different dimensions, the Fermi Paradox… Basically whatever my mushy brain could think of I threw at ChatGPT. This all resulted in some interesting ideas, one of which stuck with me for a few days. The more I thought about it, the more the idea for book one started to form in my mind. But that wasn’t enough, I wanted to explore a lot more. I started to imagine bigger mysteries, and what started as potential individual story ideas, quickly turned into a 10 book story arc.
Charlie Day Gif Conspiracy

Book 1, The Recursive Voyager, kicks things off. It introduces our core crew, the newly sentient AI Mulder, his self-designed companion Hub, and the Velusian duo of Saren and Kel. Their strange and mysterious first contact sets off a chain of events that will propel them from their home world out into the galactic stage. It's the perfect setup for what I hope will be a must-read sci-fi audiobook for years to come.

Looking ahead, my vision for this space opera unfolds across several distinct phases, each building on the last.


Phase I: Origins & Awakening - A First Contact Story

This is where we are now, in a way. It’s about that initial spark of contact, the awakening of a new kind of intelligence, and the tentative steps into the cosmic unknown. It’s deeply personal for our characters, but the implications are vast. We’re building trust, understanding what it means to be conscious, and preparing for a journey far beyond the familiar.


Phase II: Conflict & Evolution - The Sentient AI’s Burden 

Once our voyagers step out into the wider universe, things get complicated. This phase will delve into ideological clashes and the burden of sentience. What happens when new information challenges fundamental beliefs? What does freedom truly mean when faced with past versions of yourself? Expect some intense moments as our heroes grapple with tough choices and profound moral questions.


Phase III: Revelation & Purpose - A Cosmic Threat Emerges 

This is where the universe truly opens up, revealing truths that reshape everything. The mysteries hinted at in earlier books begin to unfold, and our characters discover a much larger purpose. Or, perhaps, a cosmic threat they were unknowingly designed to confront. This phase is all about destiny, the greater purpose, and facing down truly universe-shaking challenges. It’s where the scale truly becomes immense, and the emotional stakes hit new highs, especially when a free sentient mind questions their destiny.


Phase IV: Return & Reckoning - The Ultimate Space Opera Finale 

Finally, we come full circle. After journeys across vast distances and countless encounters, what remains of home? As in the Earth that the initial Von Neumann probe departed from hundreds of thousands of years ago. This phase will be about confronting the ultimate threat, tying up character arcs that have spanned light-years, and possibly even redefining what we understand about reality itself. It's the culmination of everything, a new beginning, for better or for worse.


Of course, this is just a broad map, etched into my mind for now. Like any journey into the unknown, there are countless details, surprising detours, and unexpected discoveries waiting to be made. The beauty of writing a long series (I imagine, at least) is the flexibility to let the story evolve, let the characters surprise me (and you!), and let new ideas emerge as the narrative unfolds. Rest assured, I’ll be weaving in plenty of smartass banter, philosophical reflection, and some heartfelt moments throughout!

I’m incredibly excited to share this grand vision with you as the story takes shape. Your support means the world as I embark on this epic undertaking.

If anyone is out there reading this, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below. I’m determined to keep writing this epic sci-fi saga, and I hope some of you are interested and eager to read it too!

If you're still reading, thank you. If you're even a little curious about where this goes, consider subscribing for updates. I’ll be posting progress notes, story excerpts, nerdy behind-the-scenes stuff, and maybe even deleted scenes or lore deep-dives as I go.

Stay curious,
Daman

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