Mnemo's Memory
Page 25
"Oh yes, I have a number of ideas. Detailed schematics too, if my cabin remains intact. Tell me, Edward, what do you think of the notion of extra-atmospheric travel?"
"Do you propose to sail to the moon?"
For one long, dreadful moment she thought his wide eyes were searching her for signs of madness.
Then he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. She sighed, wrapped her arms about him and pulled herself close.
"I think," he said, some while later, "I can't imagine anything beyond your reach, Lady Gracemere."
"I hope not, Captain Hollioak."
This short story collection would not exist except for this story.
'Mnemo's Memory' was originally published in an anthology called The Worlds of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Volume 2. When I originally submitted it, the editor liked the story but felt it could be stronger: the original climax sidelined one of the main characters, and another sacrificed themselves to save the day. The editor asked me for a new, more heroic ending. I liked the idea and obliged, rewriting most of the story in order to set up the new climax. What came out was the version you've just read – faster-paced, more adventurous and with bigger explosions than the original.
Unfortunately, that's not the version that appeared in the anthology. Imagine my horror, on opening my contributor's copy of The Worlds of... to discover the original draft of the story. The version with the downer ending and *cough* several typos.
Mistakes happen. I wasn't too upset about it. As was asserted just a touch too often on Lost, "Whatever happened, happened." Besides, at that stage of my career I considered any publication credit better than nothing.
But I was disappointed, because dammit, I was proud of the new and improved incarnation of the story. I wanted to show it off, and there was little hope of selling reprint rights to an 11,000 word story originally published in an obscure micro-press anthology.
My original plan was to put the story up for free on my website, once the publication rights reverted to me, along with a few other stories I couldn't do anything else with. Of course it would be the superior edit (or "The Unexpurgated Edition", as I like to think of it). It was the obvious solution, though it felt unsatisfying. The thought that Mnemo and company deserved better nagged at me
The idea to collect my published and various stray stories occurred to me early in 2017. Once the notion occurred, I couldn't shake it. Once I stumbled across the beautiful cover art in a designer's catalogue, I was sunk. I had to have it, and once I had cover art, I needed a book to put it on. So I taught myself how to publish a book.
(I don't really have projects. I have impulses which I retroactively convince myself were a great idea).
'Mnemo's Memory' was originally published in The Worlds of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Volume 2 (Altair Australian, January 2017), edited by Robert N. Stephenson.
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Acknowledgements
I've been "going to be a writer" since I was about nine years old. For more than thirty years, through high school, university and a (long) public service career, I've always been about to make a start on my writing career. A few times, I even wrote some things.
The truth is, I would never have started taking storytelling seriously if not for a handful of people who inspired me to take concrete steps rather than think about the destination.
In particular, I want to thank Andrea K Höst, my high school friend and the author of The Touchstone Trilogy and The Trifold Age novels, who convinced me that self-publishing was a real thing; and Stuart Barrow, whose encouragement and good cheer kept me going through my first (wildly terrible but technically successful) attempt at National Novel Writing Month in 2003. Without their examples I would still be an aspiring writer.
I have the astonishing good fortune to have the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild (CSFG) as my local writers' group. The generosity with which its members share information, build skills and encourage each other is second to none. Most of the stories in this collection walked the gauntlet of the CSFG short story critiquing group and emerged all the stronger for the ordeal. Thanks to all my CSFG comrades-in-arms, but especially the critters who have weighed in on my work over the past few years: Mitchell Akhurst, Chris Andrews, Phill Berrie, Craig Cormick, David Dufty, Kristy Evangelista, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Kim Gaal, Donna Hansen, Rik Lagarto, Chris Large, Oliver Lewis, Juliette Morley, Nicole Murphy, Tim Napper, Linh Nguyen, Ian McHugh, Shauna O'Meara, Simon Petrie, Gillian Polack, Rob Porteous, Mike Richards, Tim Roberts, Leife Shallcross, Cat Sheely, Val Toh, Kaaron Warren, and Angus Yeates, amongst many others. These people are my crew, and I owe them big time.
To all the editors who had a hand in making these stories better: Simon Petrie and Rob Porteous (again), Jennifer Brozek, Dan Rabarts and Lee Murray, Dirk Strasser, and Robert N Stephenson.
To the friends, too many to name, who indulged my terrible scribblings over the years, notably the ones who had to suffer through over-complicated roleplaying game plots during my frustrated novelist phase.
To my best friend in the world, Evan Dean, with whom I hope someday to collaborate on a work surpassing in greatness our song 'Karmic Moose'.
And finally to Fiona, Connor and Bella, without whom none of this would matter.
Biography
David Versace writes fantasy and science fiction in Canberra, Australia. His work appears in the anthologies Next (CSFG Publishing) and At the Edge (Paper Road Press). His short story 'The Lighthouse at Cape Defeat' was a Best Fantasy Short Story finalist in the 2016 Aurealis Awards.
He is a member of the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild, who can vouch for his whereabouts on the night in question. He is a voracious consumer of speculative fiction, comics, wine, and television drama. He is teaching himself basic coding, bass guitar and how to write novels.
His heartfelt dream is to stop drifting aimlessly through the Australia Public Service, where he has worked for over 20 years. Until the dream becomes reality, he remains focused on corporate governance, risk management and business continuity, the sexy invisible lifeblood of well-regulated government.
He lives with his wife Fiona and two children. They tolerate his interests with patient good humour.
David is online at www.davidversace.com and Facebook