DTI Issues…

[DS9_Klingon]

This should be prefaced with the fact that this is nothing against Mr. Bennett, the author. This is related to me specifically reaching out to other people.

I attempted to read ‘Forgotten Hisotry’ this weekend and also, I have in the past tried to get into ‘Watching The Clock’, but the verbal, physics jargon(?), is just too much and I cannot follow or ever get into the series. I personally find this very frustrating. I’m still trying to figure out if it’s me or if anyone has ever had this issue with Mr. Bennett’s DTI books specifically?

Generally speaking, I find them mundane (probably because I cannot understand much of the verbal), to each his own I guess, which is unfortunate because I have all the hardcopies, except the books in the series that are e-book versions only, obviously. Maybe I will attempt them again sometime in the future….‍‍

 

[Christopher]

No offense taken. There are a variety of different styles of science fiction, and different people have different tastes and preferences, so not every story is going to be for everyone. My style tends toward the "hard SF" side, driven by plausible science and often seeking to be educational about real-life science. My goal with DTI was to take the usual inconsistent fantasy of Trek time travel and try to wrangle it into some vaguely plausible form based on real theory.

Still, my advice is not to worry about the science if you're not following it; just focus on the characters. The science itself isn't as important as how it affects the characters -- what they think and feel about it and what it catalyzes them to do. I've always tried to balance the hard-SF elements of my work with more character-driven and emotional elements, and I think it's the characters and their relationships and distinct worldviews that were the most interesting and satisfying part of writing DTI.

 

[DS9_Klingon]

Actually, Mr. Bennett, this response gives quite me a bit of hope and a resurgence of jumping back into your DTI series again in the near future. Beginning with 'Watching the Clock'. As you mention, the character's and how their environments, situations and circumstances affect them, I've always been in of awe of in your books. I loved the 'The Captain's Oath' & 'The Face of The Unknown'. Thank you, Sir!