The Legend of Team 9: An Away Science Fiction Book by Norman OroMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a part of the Away series. Dr. Jeremy Marshal joins forces with the legendary Team 9 to battle a foe once thought defeated by the searchers, but is now once again attacking the Allem field. Can Team 9 work with Legion to defeat Apaht before it is too late or will the Alliance fall into ruin?
I found the end of this book wonderful and well worth the wait. I would recommend this to anyone who likes science fiction or epic battles between good and evil. I would however suggest you read any previous books in this series first, as this book was a little hard to follow at first as a stand-alone novel.
**I received an ARC in return for an honest review**
I would like to welcome Norman Oro to my blog today.
1) What genre do you like to write? What draws you to that genre?
There
are many cool genres, but I enjoy writing science fiction the most. In
addition to the fact that I've always been into science and technology,
I'm drawn to it because it's so unconstrained. Science fiction can
accommodate many voices, ideas, styles and points of view.
2) How long have you been writing? What prompted you to start writing?
I've been a self-published author for almost three years. I began writing my first novel, Away (Volume 1: Beginnings), in January, 2011.
I
was looking for consulting work at the time in finance and corporate
development; and the job market was a bit sluggish. Ultimately, I saw
the down-time as an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream. I loved
science fiction growing up and always wanted to at least try writing a
story myself, so I figured, "Why not?"
3) What inspires you to write?
It's
difficult to describe. Although I'm Catholic like most
Filipino-Americans, I also practice zazen. There's the notion within Zen
of an archer holding a bow with an arrow in it and the bow drawn back.
At some point, the archer just knows when to let go and let the arrow
fly towards the target. Not to get too New Age-ish, but it really is
kind of like that. When it feels like it's time to begin writing, I do.
4) When a story idea pops into your head, how long does it typically take to write it (from start to finish)?
It
varies considerably. My first book took a year (with a few months of
hiatus in the middle) to get it into its final form. That first novel
was a valuable learning experience. My latest book, The Legend of Team 9, took around six months. When I'm working on a book, I usually spend several hours a day on it, six days a week.
5) What do you find to be the most difficult part of the writing process? Easiest?
The
proofing and editing phase is the most difficult stage in the process
for me. It can get tedious. However, in at least some respects, I also
consider it the most important. The easiest part is the idea. The
stories often seem to arrive almost fully-formed, just asking that I
write them.
6) Of all your characters whom do you most relate to?
Great
question. In my latest book, I probably relate most to Richard Redding
and Dr. Marshall. I went to UCLA myself as an undergraduate like both
those characters. Also, like them, I tend to be somewhat conservative
and can be a bit of a workaholic sometimes.
7) Is there one of your characters that you did not like when you started writing about them, but found yourself liking by the end of the story?
Another
great question. I like all of my characters at least a little, even the
bad guys. Seydert Pine, one of the book's villains, is probably the one
who grew most on me while writing The Legend of Team 9. As far
as word-count goes, he doesn't get as much attention in the book as the
other characters. Nevertheless, I consider him an important part of the
story. Writing Seydert was a nice break from the good guy mindset and a
bit of a guilty pleasure. Like many of the antagonists I've found to be
most memorable, I tried to instill within him some sense of goodness,
almost nobility. As an aside, writing Seydert gave me a greater
appreciation for the heroes in my book and what separated them from guys
like Seydert.
8) What is your least favorite part about writing? The Most?
Proofing
and editing is the part I enjoy least and, therefore, the most
difficult. I enjoy the very start and the very end of the process the
most. At the very start, everything feels brand-new and anything seems
possible. At the other end of the spectrum, once it's all done and you
have the finished book in your hands, there's definitely a sense of
accomplishment.
9) When you are not writing or editing what do you do for relaxation?
Outside
of reading, I like learning languages. These days, I study mostly
German and Spanish with a bit of Dutch. I listen to sports, mostly
baseball, football and some hockey. I also follow and sometimes play
volleyball. Weather permitting, I enjoy walking for recreation, as well
as general fitness.
10) What types of books do you like to read?
Lately,
I've been reading mostly history books. I have a New Year's resolution
to write an iPhone app, so I've also read a bit about programming
languages, Objective C in particular. I still love science fiction, but
haven't read a novel in a while; I usually see science fiction movies
these days instead. Ironically, quite a few of them are adaptations of
science fiction novels and comic books that I loved as a boy.
11) What author(s) do you enjoy reading? Why?
Really
difficult to choose. As far as science fiction authors whom I consider
archetypal storytellers in the genre, I like Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert
and Ray Bradbury. That list isn't by any means comprehensive.
I
enjoyed reading them because their stories were compelling; and they
brought worlds, civilizations and technologies to life in a way that
made them believable.
12) Tell us about your books where can people find them?
I've written three books: Away (Volume 1: Beginnings), Away (Volume 2: Keepers of the Alliance) and The Legend of Team 9. I also have a fourth book out that's a compilation of Away (Volume 1: Beginnings) and Away (Volume 2: Keepers of the Alliance).
All four are available in paperback through the CreateSpace eStore and
through Amazon.com. E-book versions are also available through Amazon.
Photo provided by author and used with permition.
