If you grew up in Britain, you’ve probably heard the phrase, I’m just going outside and may be some time. For non-Britons and fellow countryfolk who don’t know the phrase’s origin, it was spoken by Captain Lawrence Oates, member of the ill-fated expedition to reach the South Pole led by Captain Scott in 1913.
Knowing that his weakened state was slowing the other men down, Oates voluntarily left the tent in the middle of a blizzard after uttering his famous last words. His body has never been found. Scott and his remaining companions also died tragically, only a short march from a supply depot.
Why am I telling you this? The Scott Polar Research Institute is in Cambridge, and last weekend your captain and her brother paid it a visit. I already knew Oates’ story and had no doubt repeated his famous phrase flippantly in the past.
Never again.
My brother had forgotten his reading glasses and so I read out the entry in Scott’s diary relating to Oates’ death. I was so moved I verged on tears several times and had to take a couple of breaks. The courage and self-sacrifice Oates displayed in extremis and Scott’s admiration for him remains something that even now I can’t bring to mind without welling up. The text is too tragic for what’s supposed to be a light-hearted bulletin so I won’t say more, but I recommend Scott’s diary if you would like to read the entry.
The reason this is relevant to the bulletin is that it’s these values, this bravery and selflessness in unbelievably harsh conditions I try to capture in the Space Colony One series. I hope through books like these I can pay tribute to the true heroism of real men and women.
The free sci-fi box set of Space Colony One books 1 – 3 has been free for a while but I’m not sure for how much longer, so if you’re interested in reading about humanity’s first deep space colony, now’s your chance. The penultimate book, Redeemer, is in progress and up for preorder. Paid subscribers to the bulletin are currently reading it.
What else has been happening? The exciting Kickstarter for the entire Star Legend series in glorious hardback is in preparation. You can see one of the gorgeous new covers over on the shipmates’ Facebook page.
Free Sci-Fi Box Set
Terror stalks a new world colony
After nearly two hundred years’ space travel, humanity’s first deep space colony expedition has arrived at its new home.
Ethan, the descendant of six generations who lived and died aboard ship, treads on soil and feels the wind and rain for the first time.
But the new planet is not the paradise the scientists predicted. Alien predators lurk beyond the camp’s perimeter, and stowaway saboteurs are determined no one will survive.
Tensions in the new colony rise, and Ethan must fight to preserve the last hope of humankind.
Download books 1 to 3 direct or at your favourite bookstore today and start this epic space colonization adventure.
In case you don’t already have it, you can download the free prequel, Night of Flames, here.
Take care and enjoy your free sci-fi box set.