Genrenauts: Season One

by Michael R. Underwood

  Acknowledgments

  Genrenauts began with a single tiny seed of an idea:

  A woman from our world, transported to a fantasy-land, where she ends up in front of the King & Queen of a land plagued by a traitor in their midst. The young woman, being a fantasy fan, instantly points to the goatee-wearing advisor standing by the throne and says, “It’s him! It’s the vizier!”

  Because it’s always the vizier.

  That small vignette, with the genre-aware woman solving problems using her knowledge of story structure and familiar tropes, would eventually grow into the six-novella season of adventure science fiction you hold in your hands now.

  It’s all Lee Harris’ fault, really. Lee and I were colleagues at Angry Robot, and working together, I came to appreciate his keen eye for SF that combines action, adventure, and interesting speculation. Tor.com very smartly snapped him up to be the Senior Editor of their novella project, now called Tor.com Publishing. I’d already been looking at maybe pitching something for the novella project, as I’d seen authors like Matt Wallace writing series of novellas independently to great effect.

  So I gave myself a challenge – come up with a series to be written in novella form, for a digital-first publication approach, that would let me re-connect with the readers of my Ree Reyes Geekomancy series, while branching out to a broader readership, and do so in a way that Lee would like.

  Enter the genre-aware woman and the vizier.

  As I often do, I took the seed of an idea and I started bouncing it around in my mind. It acreeted influence and touchstones, from Leverage and Redshirts to Quantum Leap and The A-Team. I thought about each novella as a mission, for a procedural adventure serial. I thought about Babylon 5 and its long-arc storytelling, where episodes built into season arcs, which built into series arcs.

  I got so excited about the idea and the long arc that I sketched out a five season arc for the series. Lee got on board with the idea and we signed a deal for the first two episodes of season one, enabled by the fabulous Sara Megibow, my agent. And so I went to work.

  It was the first time I’d written connected shorter works, and I quickly found that the 25-30k word size fits me really well. Long enough to tell a story with some substance to it, but not so long that I get bogged down in the Mushy Middle. It was like writing a weekly adventure TV show all on my own, with no one telling me what I could or couldn’t do.

  I’ve had a lot of help in this journey, from many different parts of my life. I’ve thanked these folks in the individual episodes along the way, but they deserve the thanks again.

  So here’s a quick tour of thank yous to people who helped make Genrenauts possible:

  First, my wife, Meg White Underwood – my best friend and #1 brainstorming buddy. Meg is as fine a reader for characterization as I have ever met, and I am very grateful to have her feedback on this and all of my work.

  My parents, David and Becky, who helped nurture my insatiable interest in storytelling.

  Bryan Roberts, Andrew Reyes, and all of the Game Preserve family – flunkies, cashwrap monkeys, and more.

  Hundreds of fellow gamers across the years, from my elementary school D&D group to card gamers, tabletop RPGers, the Embracing the Muse LARP (players, STs, and staff), and my college gaming crew - Jack Norris, Jason Inglert, Jim Wong, Jonathan Crum, Joe Bowman, and Miranda Wagoner.

  Megan Christopher and Ron Mitchell, for the gut check right as the idea for Genrenauts first took shape.

  Dave Robison, Master Brainstormer, for helping me unpack the core concept and explore the many possibilities.

  My marvelous beta readers - Beth Cato, Effie Seiberg, K8 Walton, Daniel Bensen, A. Jarrell Hayes, Michelle Jones, Jason Kimble, and Jay Swanson. You all helped me find my way through the forests of revision, to know which jokes were working, which were not, how to push myself to explore the character’s voices and personalities most effectively and honestly, and helped me make sure that the series was doing its job.

  Patrick S. Tomlinson, for feedback on stand-up comedy.

  Marie Brennan, Delilah S. Dawson, Matt Wallace, Howard Tayler, and all of my other colleagues and friends that have helped spread the word and get the series in front of readers. Every blurb, review, and signal-boost has meant the world to me.

  The brilliant Mary Robinette Kowal, for lending her talents to bringing the Genrenauts stories to life in the audiobook editions. Props also to her top-notch audio engineer, Andrew.

  I am incredibly grateful for the support Tor.com has given me, in launching the series, promoting it, and generally being fabulous to work with. Thanks to Lee Harris, Irene Gallo, Mordicai Knode, Katharine Duckett, Carl Engle-Laird, Christine Foltzer, and to Peter Lutjen for creating the first two covers and setting the series style.

  Sean Glenn picked up seamlessly where Peter left off, building out the covers for the individual episodes.

  Thomas Walker rose to the task of bringing my vision for the omnibus cover to life, and went far beyond what I could have imagined, creating a piece of art I will treasure for many years to come. Working in publishing, I’ve come to appreciate the power of a good cover, and I have been very blessed in this field with this series.

  Bryon Quertermous answered my call with excitement and insight, serving as the developmental editor for episodes three through six. Bryon challenged me to dig deeper, to be sharper, to not be lazy with my comedy or sloppy with my explanations. He pushed me to write the stories to the absolute best of my ability, and for that I am incredibly grateful.

  And then Richard Shealy came along with a fine-toothed comb, delivering copyedits that cleaned up my mistakes, pointed at places where I could be even that much clearer and crisper with my prose. Copyeditors are always worth their fee, folks. They keep you from face-planting all over the page. And if you do it even after they’ve given their input, that’s on you (or for this series, me).

  When I decided to take the reins of Genrenauts to publish independently, Margot Atwell was there to help me bring Leah & the crew to the Kickstarter community, where it has grown and become stronger than ever.

  Sara Megibow, aka The Agent of Awesomeness, helped seal the initial deal to give Genrenauts life, and has been a partner and advocate for the series every step of the way.

  And saving the best for last, my eternal gratitude goes out to the three hundred and twenty-one backers of the Genrenauts: The Complete Season One Collection Kickstarter, who made this edition possible. You rock!

  OBSERVER

  Beverly Bambury, Levi Ryan, Louise Lowenspets, Mary Mascari, Tieg Zaharia

  RECRUIT

  Aaron Clites, Aaron Jamieson, Adam Danger Taco Rakunas, Adam Woods, Aidan Elliott-McCrea, Aitor, Alasdair Stuart, Alison Fleming, Aly Ross, Amanda Nixon, Anders M. Ytterdahl, Andrew Kinzler, Andrew Turnwall, Andrew Wilson, Angela Carlson, Anthony C. Senatore, Ashley Nunn. Aulne, BeePeeGee, Beth Cato, Bitter Old Joe O’Toole, Brendan Hong, Brian M, Bryan Young, Caitlin Jane Hughes, Carla G. Chiodi, Carol J. Guess, Caroline Mills, Cat Vincent, Chloe Ng, Chris Vincent, Chris ‘Warcabbit’ Hare - City of Titans, Christopher C. Cockrell, Christopher Nickolas Carlson, Colin Newell, Coral Moore, Corey McKinnon, Courtney Schafer, Daniel Chadborn, Daniel Rhodes, David Annandale, David Holden, Denise Lhamon, Di, Dominic Quach, Dustin Gerald Fickle, Eduard Lukhmanov, Elizabeth Poole, Elsa Sjunneson-Henry, Enrica “Cool Whip” Jang, Eric Buscemi, Evelyn Sawtelle, Ferrett Steinmetz, Gavran, Gerald Gaiser, Gillis Björk, Glen Sawyer, Greg Noe, Haley McDonald, Hisham El-Far, Hugh J O’Donnell, J.R. Murdock, James Classen, Jason M. Hough, Jen Baluk, Jen Woods, Jens Heinrich, Jibreel Ford, Joanne BB, Joel Cunningham, Joel Fischer, Jon Lundy, Jonathan Killstring, Jordan Thomas, Joris Meijer, Josh S., Josh Storey, Joshua B. Marin, Julia Rios, Julie Winningham, K.J. Larsen, Kat Feete, Kate Heartfield, Kerri Regan, Kevin Henderson, Kristy Griffin Green, Kristy Mika, Lennhoff Family, Lily Carnahan, Lord Admiral Matt Gould, Mari Kurisato, Matt (Twpsyn) Hill, Matt Dovey, Matt Hurlburt, Matt Leitzen, Mattia Forza, Max Kaehn, Mayer Brenne
r, Megan Christopher, Megan E. O’Keefe, Meghan Ball, Meredith Gene Levine, Michael Bentley, Michael Bernardi, Michael Hicks, Michael J. Martinez, Misha Dainiak, Mitch Eatough, Mitchell Shanklin, Monica Valentinelli, Monica W., Mur Lafferty, Natalie Luhrs, Nehemias Bailon, Nicholas Dao, Nikki Tysoe, Noel Rappin, Nor Azman, Oko, Paul Jackson, Paul Swanson @AssortedNoise, Paul Weimer, Peter Hansen, Peter Tieryas, Philip Harris, Poppa Connelly, R Devine, Rachel Neumeier, Rebecca Smith, Renata Vander Broock, Rhodri Morgan-Smith, Robin Hill, Ron Jarrell, Ross Williams, Royal Hinshaw, Sarah Williams, Sean, Shawn Ta, Sheryl R. Hayes, Sidsel N. Pedersen, Sir Lee of the Yorkshire Harrises, Smashingsuns, Solomon Foster, Sophie Lagacé, SorchaRei, Stephanie Cranford, Sven of the Dead, SW Sondheimer, Tessa Brunton, Tevin Deante’ Hill, Thomas Butler, Timothy Reid, Tom Nugent, Trish E. Matson, Wright S. Johnson, Yannick Allard, Zac Derenne, Zvi Gilbert

  GENRENAUT

  @johnpatrickmcp, A. F. Grappin. A. Jarrell Hayes, A.C. Wise, Aaron R Corff, Adam Leader-Smith & Megan Browndorf, Alan Weir, Andrea Phillips, Andrea Tatjana, Andy W. Taylor, Angie Pettenato, Ann Chatham, Anna Campbell, anne m. gibson, Barb Moermond, Barry Welling, Becca Horn, Beth Bernobich, Brian O’Conor, Byron J. Hartsfield, Charlotte C. Royal, Claudette Dorsey, Dan Layman-Kennedy, Daniel P. Haeusser, Deborah Stanish, DecodedParadox, Devan Barlow, E.M. Markoff, Ed Potter, Elizabeth A. Janes, Elyse M Grasso, Emily Gilman, Ethan Doubleday-Everett, Gregory A. Wilson, H. C. Newton, Jack Vickeridge, James Dawsey, James ‘Jimbeaux’ Silverstein, Jason Youngberg, Jayson “Luftwaffle” Utz, Jeremy C. Zerby, Jo Robson, Joel Pearson, John Appel, John J Houlihan, Jonathan Boynton, Julio Capa, Kelman Edwards, Kevin Brock, Kristianne, Legion of Leaches, Liam Frazier, Liam Glans, Lothair Biedermann, Marcia Franklin, Marianne, Martin Cahill, Martin Jackson, Megan E. Daggett, Melanie R. Meadors, Melissa Harkness, Melissa Shumake, Michael Kindness, Michael Lee, Miriam Krause, M’liss Garber, Mo Foley, Mon Capitain, Nitin Dahyabhai, Patti Short, Paul E. Olson, Paul Morell, Paul Townsend, Pete Milan, Ragnarok Publications, Raida, Ryan Trottier, Sarah Celiann, Sarah Schweitzer, Scott F Couchman, Shawn Belton, Soli-chan, The Shean-Joneses, “Nexus_General”, Tom Sias, Twigs, Tyler Smith, Vaughn Barker, Victoria Irwin, Whitney E. Novak

  OPERATIONS

  Andrew Folk, Andrew R. Mizener, Darren Radford, Dave Robison, Joyce Ann Garcia from McAllen Texas, Khurrum, Laser Eyes, Mary B. Rodgers, Missy Katano, Nathan Beittenmiller, Russell Duhon, S. Brown, Sam Dailey, The Pinckneys, Tommy G. Junior Agent

  GENRENAUTS FIELD OFFICE

  Game Empire, McLean & Eakin Booksellers

  SPECIALIST

  Alex von der Linden, Amber Simpson, Kent Rice, Laura A. Burns, Rob Durand, Steven Larson, Victor J Kinzer

  VETERAN GENRENAUT

  Adam Zabell, Andy Barker, Joe Bowman, Phil Jourdan, Sally Novak Janin

  NARRATIVE TRAINING

  Dave Heyman, Sturm “Gabriel Kabik” Brightblade, Kyle Anderson, Michael Melilli