New Horizons Part 3: Arrival
“Every period of human development has had its own particular type of human conflict – its own variety of problems that, apparently, could be settled only by force
And each time, frustratingly enough, force never really settled the problem.
Instead, it persisted through a series of conflicts, then vanished of itself, – what's the expression, – ah, yes 'not with a bang, but with a whimper,' as the economic and social environment changed.
And then, new problems, and a new series of wars.”
– Iassc Asimov's 'I, Robot'
The long wait is over. After a century and a half, the New Horizon Generational Starship has finally arrived at its destination and the planet seems to be everything the crew could have hoped for. Four simulants of the mission's original founders wake up after their long sleep to discover a dangerously factionalized crew, and the animosity and hatred amongst the crew threaten to destroy the mission before its dream can be triumphantly realized.
Arrival is the third book, and is about what happens when the New Horizon finally arrives at Haven. Simulants of the original mission founders wake up excited, expecting to help establish a toehold on the new planet, but instead find themselves mediating an embittered conflict amongst the crew. One faction takes drastic action and the results leave not only the mission's ultimate success in peril, but the lives of everyone who travelled so far...
Much like Midway, Arrival is complete and in a polished state, but has become somewhat dated. I believe it requires very little revision, but I'm certain it will benefit from another pass of editing. This was really the first book I self consciously wrote for the reader, just trying to tell a compelling story well with far less self indulgence. It was so gratifying to finally get here, and to appreciate the scope of the journey through the founder simulants, and to finally be able to tell their own story. I hope you enjoy it too.