Guilty until proven innocent - Nicola McDonagh

Recently, Amazon put a warning on my book Whisper Gatherers. A Dystopian/sci-fi novel set some 350 years in the future.

They emailed me to say that they have received complaints that the book has an excessive amount of typos. Now, I use a slang-based language that often combines words to make one long one, much the same as George Orwell does in 1984 - Newspeak, crimestop, thoughtcrime, goodthink, oldspeak, pornosec, unperson, and so on.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is a good thing to have quality checks on books, but it needs to be managed correctly so that the author can make necessary changes before their book is published, not after.

I emailed Amazon to tell them that the 'Errors' they cited are not typos but are in fact intentional, and add to the futuristic tone of the book. They told me that I must make the changes they specify or they would keep the warning sign up. What gives Amazon the right to edit, and, re-write my work? If they think the book is substandard, they should not allow it to be published on their platform, yet they are happy to let me use their site to sell my book regardless of the quality.

Here is an example from the email Amazon sent me:

Error Category: Typo; Kindle Location: 1580; Errored text: nanorope,; Context: It was as light as a bub’s eyelash, as strong as nanorope, and as see-through as a raindrop when it came into contact with its owners heartbeat. ; Comments:  "strong as nanorope" should be  "strong as nano rope"

So, using their logic regarding grammar, my ‘nanorope’ is incorrect, yet words such as ‘raindrop’ and ‘heartbeat’ clearly two different words stuck together to make one, are acceptable?

Error Category: Typo; Kindle Location: 1632; Errored text: comtext; Context: A whole load of comtext appeared. ; Comments: "A whole load of comtext appeared." should be"A whole load of context appeared."
This change does not even make sense, especially since the character is talking about some text written on a computer screen, hence the word 'comtext'.

This book, Whisper Gatherers has been for sale on Amazon since 2015 without any complaints. In fact, I have received many 4 and 5 star reviews that enjoyed and recognised the quirky use of language. Here is a snippet from one such review:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great language!

ByKata Mlekon December 6, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Dystopian is one of my favorite genres and I try to stay up-to-date with the latest novels. How come I missed this one so late? I don't know!

The author created a very complex and appealing world I traveled with Adara with great pleasure. I must say the experimental English was at first hard to understand (English is my second language) but as I got used to it, I found it stunning. It helped develop the feeling of being there with the main character who narrates the story.

You can see more here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YMSP1UA

Anyway, after a week of correspondence explaining my deliberate use of language to Amazon, they emailed me to say that they have taken down the warning sign.

Maybe if they had consulted me before condemning my book, this issue would never have arisen. But it seems Amazon’s policy is to find authors guilty until proven innocent.

For more information on my books, please go to: www.thesongofforgetfulness.com

The Cloak of Invisibility #OurAuthorGang

I love to write science fiction. It is a genre where you can really let your imagination fly. From creating futuristic or other worlds where anything can happen, to inventing all kinds of amazing gadgets that can do incredible things. Like flying cars, characters with super human powers, clothes that make you invincible, and or, invisible, to name but a few. None of this exists but wouldn't it be fabulous if it did?

Well, technology is quickly catching up with the wacky notions that spring from authors of sci-fi and fantasy. One such incredible idea is the cloak of invisibility. A thing of myth and legend, it has fascinated writers for centuries. Rightly so, for it allows the wearer the freedom to come and go undetected. A powerful tool indeed. Armies who possessed this robe could easily defeat their enemy by stealth and surprise attacks. For us ordinary folk the idea of not being seen is tempting. Imagine being able to listen in on conversations that you would normally not be privy to, or walk anywhere you wanted? You'd never have to pay to go to the cinema, or your favourite concert, sports event, ah, the list is endless.

The idea of an invisibility cloak has been around for thousands of years, sorry J.K. Rowling, but you weren't the first author to come up the notion. Folklore and fairy tales such as Culhwch and Olwen, a Welsh prose tale from 12th Century about a hero who is connected to the legenary King Aurthur, has a 'Mantle of Invisibility'. The Brothers Grimm have one in The Twelve Dancing Princessess, and in Wagner's opera DAs Rheingold, Alberich dons, Tarnkappe, and disappears.

Today, scientist have created a material that can render the wearer invisible. Inspired by nature from animals such as cuttlefish, octopus, and squid, this cloth can change colour so that it appears invisible when it matches the hue of its surroundings, "...by using dielectric elastomers, stretchy polymers that expand when hit with an electrical current. To mimic the squid's colour-changing muscles.' 

Known as biomimicry, it has potential for military and everyday usage. As suggested in a 2012 article by the BBC: "This could help us create a whole host of new technologies, ranging from active camouflage and clothes that change colour and pattern, to a smart second-skin that can cool you when you are hot and keep you warm when you are cold." 

You can read the full article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17925309

A Canadian company, Hyperstealth, has produced a camouflage material that can hide people as well as objects. It already issues uniforms and coverings for military vehicles.

"Quantum Stealth is a material that renders the target completely invisible by bending light waves around the target. The material removes not only your visual, infrared (night vision) and thermal signatures but also the targets shadow."

You can see the material in action via CNN YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/Rqi3jpBSyCc

Needless to say, I have used this idea in my work. Here is a snippet from A Silence Heard,  book 3 in the Song of Forgetfulness series:

The moon shone bright. A shock-faced ball in the black sky that looked down on the three of us as if to shout, "Prevail. Stand steady." The wind whipped around our feet and legs and a swirl of ash and dry earth spiralled up before us. I coughed and spat out the filthy soil that bore the taste of Agro boot.

And through the cloud of churned up dirt came the sound of Agro army.

"Where are they? Where?" Brennu said and blinked.

"In front of us."

"Wa? But, Adara, I see nowt. Is it magic they use?"

There was a ripple in the landscape before us.

Four figures appeared and walked steadily up the gravel path that led straight to where we stood. They halted. Behind them, the scenery shivered.

I stared all in wonder as shimmering into view came row after row of Agro soldiers dressed in the same black shirt and troos. They wore black peaked hats and below the brim identical round black-eyed faces looked out. In each cloned hand was a black stick-like weapon.

They stood still as a forest.

A blast of dusty wind hit my face and I shuddered.

For more information about the series please go to: http://www.thesongofforgetfulness.com/

Hyperstealth are hesitant to reveal exactly how their wonder fabric works, but perhaps one day we will be able to purchase it and make our very own invisible cloak.

All images are copyright free.