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When I created the Hathor Legacy series, I made the planet, Hathor the center of the action. Discovered by astronomers in the 23rd century, it’s later terraformed and settled by inhabitants from Earth. But shortly after the settlers arrive, a virus breaks out (thought to be caused by the terraforming) and eventually their descendants develop psychic abilities.
Hathor’s neighbor, Astarte was also discovered around the same time. But it’s what’s called a “goldilocks planet” with conditions similar to Earth’s. So, they did not have terraforming or have to deal with the effects.
These worlds are run by Novacorp Galactic Incorporated, and the company uses mining of crystals and gems as their main source of revenue. Space exploration is done mainly by business so that they can identify planets with valuable resources. Exploration for research is not the priority in this type of environment.
It remains to be seen if this will be the future of our own efforts. Will companies take over exploration and ultimately send settlers into space to colonize planets? If you’d like to read more about the Hathor Legacy universe, book three, Hathor Legacy: Revelations was recently released.
Check them out here on my Amazon author page: http://amazon.com/author/deborahannbailey
Listen to the audiobook versions here: Hathor Legacy: Outcast (book one) and Hathor Legacy: Burn (book two).
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Greta van der Rol
July 12, 2016 at 12:40 amI find it very, very easy to believe in exploitation by giant mining companies. It’s so plausible.
Deborah
July 12, 2016 at 4:46 pmAs resources get used up on Earth, companies will start to look elsewhere. I’m not sure if that is a good thing, though! 🙂
Kyndra Hatch
July 12, 2016 at 3:04 pmVery interesting. I’m betting there are some folks who would find a planet and not want the corporation to find it and mess it up. Because maybe being able to do research would be a help for future generations. Your concept makes one think. Perhaps, in the future, there really would be companies taking over exploration, especially if they are the ones with the money.
Deborah
July 12, 2016 at 4:44 pmWhen I worked at AT&T years ago, there was a conflict between the Bell Labs research mentality and the focus on corporate profits. Research for research’s sake lost out. I fear that will be what happens eventually with space exploration.
Ed Hoornaert
July 12, 2016 at 6:42 pmI have to agree with the consensus in the comments about corporations (unfortunately) taking over space exploration. In my first science fiction book, The Trial of Tompa Lee, the space fleet is the Commerce Space Navy — more of a merchant marine than a military force.
Deborah
July 12, 2016 at 7:31 pmHi Ed, I think that’s something all science fiction writers can agree on. Ultimately space exploration is going to be about business!
Author Jessica E. Subject
July 12, 2016 at 10:33 pmCongrats on your latest release! Corporations in space flight, terraforming, and mining colonies are all intriguing aspects in sci-fi.
Deborah
July 12, 2016 at 11:14 pmThanks, Jessica!
Kareni
July 12, 2016 at 11:10 pmHathor and Astarte both sound fascinating.
Deborah
July 12, 2016 at 11:15 pmThanks! 🙂
pippajay
July 13, 2016 at 6:49 amConsidering commercial ventures are currently driving most of the missions into space right now, I think it very likely it’ll be more exploration for profit rather than enlightenment.
Deborah
July 13, 2016 at 10:49 amI agree!
S. J. Pajonas (spajonas)
July 13, 2016 at 1:02 pmI think it’s totally believable that terraforming other worlds and colonizing them will be left completely up to private companies. The Expanse series from James S. A. Corey goes into this too! 🙂
Deborah
July 13, 2016 at 4:08 pmI’m going to check out those books!
Pauline Baird Jones
July 13, 2016 at 2:18 pmYeah, I think space exploration will become a business, too. We are already trending that way since NASA’s mission got dialed back. Like your concept!
Deborah
July 13, 2016 at 4:08 pmThanks, Pauline!
wlclark
July 13, 2016 at 4:40 pmSound interesting. Are your characters the colonists or the corporations?
Deborah
July 13, 2016 at 6:49 pmA combination of both. The descendants of the original colonists and the corporate managers. Makes for a bit of conflict. 🙂
leekoven
July 13, 2016 at 6:02 pmNovacorp runs the planets and space explorations…and they also seem to be the government. For-profit government is one direction I think many societies could go, and a very interesting one. Interactions between that and colonization echo some historical companies, and I’m very interested to read your take!
Deborah
July 13, 2016 at 6:51 pmYes, Novacorp is the corp and the “government” running the various planets. Having worked in IT for a few large corporations, I saw a lot of the inner workings. Ive put those things into my stories.
Tracy
July 13, 2016 at 7:23 pmVery cool concept, having terraforming be the cause of gene mutations!
Very interesting!
Deborah
July 13, 2016 at 7:34 pmThanks, Tracy! Based on what might have to be done to change a planet to make it sustainable for humans, I thought perhaps there might be some ramifications. Perhaps microbes might be released that would change the people in unexpected ways.
Anna McLain
July 15, 2016 at 6:31 pmHi! Congrats on the release of Revelations! I have Burn. Your series sounds really good.
Deborah
July 16, 2016 at 11:44 amThanks, Anna! Hope you’ll enjoy the series. There’s more to come!