#Star Quest: An Incredible Voyage into the Unknown

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Star Quest: An Incredible Voyage into the Unknown by Fred Gambino

[humanoidhistory]

Jim Burns illustration from Star Quest: An Incredible Voyage into the Unknown by Steven Caldwell, 1979.

[manyworldspress]

”Suddenly the alien figure dropped to its knees, hands pressed to its massive head in telepathic communication.” Jim Burns, interior illustration in Star Quest: An Incredible Voyage into the Unknown, by Steven Caldwell (Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK: Intercontinental Book Productions, 1979).

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[shadow-kings-legacy]

"Even if we only have one life, together we have an unlimited supply, I had nothing, but you gave me a sense of meaning, Now I'm unstopabble!" Joshiro Joko the human, Way of the Astral Self Monk. (know by the party as the second in command, the foreigner from Kara-Tur, the Jojo reference, the light hearted goof)

Now, before I say anything else about him I wanna get something out of the way: yes he is a Jojo's Bizarre adventures reference, yes he started as a joke, no he didn't stay as a joke character for long, no you can't insult my son, he is the best and I love him. Anyway, moving on... H i s b a c k s t o r y Joshiro (known as Jojo by his father and friends) was born in the far away land of Kara-Tur, in a cute little fishing village with his father. the local leader figure at his side. A calm chilhood full of his developing as a sailor by helping out his dad's crew in the fishing business, life was good. Right up until it wasn't. On one fateful voyage, a storm caught his father's boat unexpectedly, with the whole crew and Joshiro on board. The violent cyclone rocked and teared to pieces their helpless vehicle, everyone tried their best to fulfill their duties as sailors, to stay afloat; but as soon as they realized their efforts were for naught, chaos reignded, it was every man by themselves. Joshiro's father, ever the good dad never gave up hope, trying to keep everyone safe he was the only one to hear the thunderous cracking of the main mast being splintered appart by the mighty winds of the sea; and that's when his eyes landed on his son, directly under the path of the heavy wooden post. He acted without thinking, pushing Joshiro aside to save him from the impact, which he ended up receiving himself. The momentum pushed the man and our future monk overboard, both sinking deep into the freezing waters of the eastern sea. The poor boy found himself paralized by the sight of his father receiving a fatal blow for him, letting his body float down into the water, dazed and cold, the last thing he saw was a bright light ripping through the dark depths, getting closer to him. Next thing he knew, he was coughing up salty water out of his lungs in an unknown white sanded beach, completly alone; but not for long. A mysterious man approached him, helping him by nursing back to good health. He soon explained Joshiro was a very special young man, a kind of monk not seen too often around the world, one who could manifest their soul on a semi-physical level to use as it may seem fit. A very special talent, one he would help him develop. This man became his teacher and master, helping Joshiro on his training as a Way of the Astral Self monk and the beggining of his new life as an adventurer. During this time, young Joshiro unconsciously buried deep the memory of his father's death, the mental image morphed into the man simply being thrown into the water safely with him, only to mysteriously dissapear. So it became the monk's life goal to find his dad, wherever he might be. After years of grueling preparation from his teacher, he decided to depart from the small island he had called a home. Exploring his home country led him to dead ends, rapidly leading him to traveling to the odd continent of Faerûn, where he found himself in the city of Neverwinter on the Sword Coast. In here he worked with the half-elf captain Mossprinter on her fishing boat the Rainbow Fish to earn himself some coppers to stay afloat in this unknown land. And here is where his fate would take a radical turn, as he befriended an odd tabaxi woman named Korinn Haladar (we'll get to her when we get to her), who had a dark omninous aura around her, but was friendly enough to him. This is how he ends up with the party, as Korinn introduces him to her friends and unknowingly gets pulled into a bigger scheme which would affect the whole continet. Y̴o̶u̴ ̴s̵h̴o̶u̷l̵d̸'̵v̴e̵ ̴s̷t̶a̷y̴e̴d̶ ̶i̶n̸ ̶y̵o̵u̴r̸ ̸h̵o̴m̵e̴ ̷c̴o̶u̶n̵t̷r̷y̶,̶ ̷i̷g̴n̵o̸r̸a̴n̶t̴ ̷f̶o̷o̸l̷.̵ P e r s o n a l n o t e s As a disclaimer, I have to say I loveeeee Jojo's Bizarre Adventures, I even have the Joestar's birthmark pink star tattoo. So when one of my players told me he wanted to use the (then) new Way of the Astral Self monk to make a Jojo character, I was like "Let's fucking hecking do it". He started as a quite silly and goofy dude, who said dumb but cute stuff from time to time, but as

the story developed and we hit more serious beats on the plot, he quickly took more of a support leadership role with Alyssa. And after his personal quest, where they encountered another (but incredibly more powerful) monk like him (based on the Ancient One from the Doctor Strange series), who they were fully expecting to fight but ended up being a pacifist; Joshiro realized he had been in denial for quite some time about his father's death, and instead of being violent towards the past and life, he would follow a new path of self discovery with his new friends (and family at this point). He's transformed into an awesome character and a good man, and I can't wait to see what he'll be willing to do to protect his adventuring group. B̵e̶c̶a̵u̸s̸e̴ ̷n̵o̵t̴ ̷e̵v̸e̶n̴ ̶t̵h̸e̸ ̸g̶o̵d̵s̸ ̷c̵a̸n̴ ̵h̷e̵l̶p̴ ̴y̴o̸u̸ ̷n̵o̷w̵ ̵m̶o̵n̸k̷. Stay tunned and beware of the shadows 💀 Joshiro and his art (except for the first illustration) belong to Eclipsewyvrn, check him out on Insta! ✨

[egypttours1]

When visiting Egypt, can you go on a tour inside the pyramids?

While the year 2020 might very well have put the brakes on your ambition to voyage out into the unknown and treat yourself to an exciting, memorable vacation, the year 2021 is slowly but surely changing the dynamic. Are you still enthralled by the idea of visiting abroad to a destination that offers an experience so unique that no other place can match? Well then perhaps setting your sight to a possible Egypt Day Tours Cairo might just be the perfect relaxing experience that you need to recharge your batteries and isolate yourself from the monotonous, automated city-life.

It’s such a surreal experience when you get the gist of the true desert life, by sleeping beneath the blanket of stars, with a campfire lit around and incredible tales of Pharaohs to accompany you at night. We truly believe that every person at least once in his/her lifetime should get a taste of the amazing adventures that the “Land of The Pharaohs” has to offer.

The City of Cairo is a place that captures our imagination, sends chills down our spines, and yet its rocking city-life in the neighborhood makes us wonder how the country has preserved its unparalleled historical value to this day! The fun, the mystery, the tales, and the tranquility, everything is in abundance when you visit a country that’s like no other!

A splendid combination of an exciting, unwinding, enthralling, and fulfilling experience, an outing to the immense deserts of the Sahara will stimulate your creative mind. You'll adore the conventional vibe, while the inconceivable stories catch your brains to free the wayfarer once again from you. All things considered, Egypt offers lots of places of interest that can convey you a highly mesmerizing experience blended in with a conventional as well as modern community. 

Not even the most bad-to-the-bone of adventurists can think about the possibility of voyaging abroad during these unexpected times brought to us by 2020. While the nations on a wide scale are opening their arms to the days of yore before the pandemic, you may now be hoping to gather your sacks and simply repay your spirit for all the times of remaining inside your home with a protracted excursion.

The best Egypt Desert Safari Tours experience is always a call away, all you have to do is be aware of the best ones who offer the best deals. Well, we bring an end to your quest by presenting a whole list of extraordinary Egypt tours and travel packages that are not just meant to be pocket-friendly but also deliver on the promise of serving an experience worth a lifetime!

Our exotic Egypt Tours Packages includes the best experiences of the Sahara land, with a vast variety of staying arrangements based on your taste, whether you prefer to mix with the local nightlife of the region or want the finest luxurious hotel rooms as you travel from city to city. We not only offer cool travel offers to visit the Pyramids of Giza that you’ll inevitably want to, but our vast experience and expertise allow us to deliver amazing tips and guidance to other incredible destinations within the country too, something that you’ll not be able to acquire with a regular holiday package!

[kjaneway115]

Star Trek Voyager: Sacred Ground

Episode 3.7 “Sacred Ground” Stardate 50063.2

Kes is so enthusiastic walking around the Nakani world, so incredibly curious and doesn't know where to stop.  It is easy to forget how innocent she is, and how little she has experienced.

B’Elanna gets hostile when the Nakani say they have to leave.

The Nakani have a separation of church and state.

KJ requests to undergo the ritual on the basis that a captain is fully responsible for her crew.

Chakotay is surprised in a way, but understands when she explains her scientific purpose.  Chakotay says she needs a way to call for an emergency beam out.  She rolls her eyes.  Chakotay suggests that maybe she will meet the ancestral spirits.  Chakotay’s mother taught him about the science behind vision quests.  I would say there is a clear difference since “Resolutions” in their interaction with each other.  Tuvok suggests that she take a phaser but she refuses.

Spiritual guide: “You are fond of your little devices, aren’t you?” KJ: “They’ve always served me well.”  Ironic considering that this is right after Basics.  KJ says she can’t draw.  Her sister was the artist in the family.  She has to hold up a stone for a long time, until she sees something other than a stone, a glowing crystal.

The Doc tells Neelix not to wallow in useless remorse.  Neelix feels helpless, the Doc tells him he understands.

At the end of the ritual she has to put her hand into a box and gets bit by some sort of poisonous creature.  She says she’s not quitting.  She says her chest is burning after the creature bites her.  Then she gets sealed in a coffin.

Chakotay is going a little crazy with worry.  It’s been three days since she had any sleep and has been poisoned with an unknown toxin.  He’s obviously going through all the worst possibilities in his mind.  C: “Are you getting enough meaningful information to justify continuing this ordeal?”  The Doc says she’s experiencing the equivalent of a psychoactive drug.  Tuvok tells C that the decision is his but it would be the captain’s desire to continue.  C: “All right.  We’ll leave her there for now, but I’m not moving from this monitor until she gets back.”  KJ wants proof, the guide says it’s irrelevant, that everything she’s gone through is meaningless.  The whole ritual took 39 hours.

The Doc checks out the captain when she returns.  Chakotay is close by until he sees that she’s ok.  When it doesn’t work, the Doc says “everything you went through was meaningless.”  Then KJ goes back.  She says she doesn’t know what she’s seeking, and the guide says, then she is ready to begin.  

“Most of the challenges in life are the ones we create for ourselves.”  “And you’re particularly hard on yourself.”  “If you can explain everything, what’s left to believe in?” -Nakani spirits.  They mock her science, saying that she has faith in science.  They say there’s no rational explanation, she just has to act on faith and take Kes back into the biogenic field.  They tell her she can have no doubt or hesitation.  She says she wants to believe it’s possible.

KJ signals the ship, Chakotay replies they’ve been worried about her.  He and Neelix bring Kes down to the planet.  “Captain,” C says, but he reaches out to touch her, but doesn’t.  He suggests that she take some time to think about it, he says it isn’t like her.  He’s afraid that she will die.  Neelix says he can’t ask her to risk her own life.  Chakotay agrees and says it’s his responsibility to keep her safe.  He says he could relieve her of duty.  The guide says she doesn’t know the answers, but KJ does.  C: “Captain, I don’t understand this.”  KJ: “Neither do I.  That’s the challenge.”  And then he steps aside, trusting her. 

What did KJ see in the second she touched the shrine?  I think this is probably the first experience with genuine faith that Kathryn has ever had.

The Doc has a full scientific explanation for how Kes was cured.  Janeway says it’s a perfectly sound explanation, but she’s clearly not satisfied with this.  She leaves sickbay… does she go to see Chakotay?

Original Airdate: October 30, 1996

Production Number: 143

Episode Tags: J/C, Character Background

Meanwhile, back in the Alpha Quadrant...

Sisko, O’Brien, Worf and Odo go to the Klingon Empire to expose Gowron as a Changeling. Gowron agrees to fight Worf.  Martok helps them escape from prison.  Then Odo realizes that Martok is the changeling.  Gowron realizes the true plan.  Gowron says the Federation must allow the Klingons to annex certain worlds that they have seized.  He finally agrees to advise a temporary cease-fire.  Gowron thanks Sisko for his service to the Empire.  He tells Worf he should have killed him when he had the chance.

Another interesting note about the top of Season 3...

If the episodes at the beginning of this season are viewed in stardate order, rather than airdate order, the chronological order of events is:

Basics, Part II

Sacred Ground

False Profits

Flashback

The Chute

Remember

The Swarm

I think this is particularly interesting considering Janeway’s vulnerability in Sacred Ground directly following the events of Basics, and then the disappointment of False Profits following directly on that.

[swipestream]

New Release Roundup, 12 January 2019: Science Fiction

Viking astronauts, grounded mech pilots, and stranded colonists are featured in this week’s roundup of the newest releases in science fiction.

Alliance Rising (The Hinder Stars #1) C. J. Cherryh and Jane S. Fancher

For years, the stations of the Hinder Stars, those old stations closest to Sol, have lagged behind the great megastations of the Beyond, like Pell and Cyteen. But new opportunities and fears arise when Alpha station receives news of an incoming ship with no identification. The denizens of Alpha wait anxiously for news about the outsiders, each with their own suspicions about the ship and its origins.

Ross and Fallon, crew members of the Galway, believe the unidentified ship belongs to Pell and has come to investigate another massive ship docked at Alpha, The Rights of Man. Though Rights is under the command of the Earth Company, it is not quite perfected–and its true purpose is shrouded in mystery.

James Robert Neihart, captain of Finity’s End–a huge faster-than-light ship flown by one of the Merchanter Families–has heard whispers of The Rights of Man and wonders at its design and purpose, especially as Sol struggles to rival the progress of the Farther Stars. Now docked at Alpha, he must convince the crews that there is more to The Rights of Man than meets the eye.

Because the reasons behind the creation of The Rights of Man, and its true plans, could change everything–not just for Sol, but for the Hinder Stars and the Beyond itslf.

Arkad’s World – James L. Cambias

Young Arkad is the only human on a distant world, on his own among beings from across the Galaxy. His struggle to survive on the lawless streets of an alien city is disrupted by the arrival of three humans: an eccentric historian named Jacob, a superhuman cyborg girl called Baichi, and a mysterious ex-spy known as Ree. They seek a priceless treasure which might free Earth from alien domination. Arkad risks everything to join them on an incredible quest halfway across the planet. With his help they cross the fantastic landscape, battling pirates, mercenaries, bizarre creatures, vicious bandits and the harsh environment. But the deadliest danger comes from treachery and betrayal within the group as dark secrets and hidden loyalties come to light.

Black Swarm (Rise of the Empire #11) – Ivan Kal

The war for the fate of the galaxy is underway.

The Empire and its allies struggle to find a way to strike back at the Enlightened, who are employing raiding tactics to set the galaxy on fire. And with their new ability to travel through access points, the job of the galactic alliance is that much harder. Meanwhile Adrian, unable to force a confrontation with the three Enlightened turns his eyes to the Custodian, the ancient AI that had until recently kept the Enlightened contained. Now the AI had joined the Enlightened side, allowing them the use of access points. And Adrian worried that the threat of the AI might eclipse even that of the Enlightened.

Tomas moves to keep the galaxy from collapsing, as different star nations reach out seeking help as the Enlightened invade and decimate their systems. Meanwhile the Josanti League, the star nation that had been the primary target of the Enlightened, refuses the galactic alliance’s offer for aid.

Adrian and Tomas have different ideas as to how this war needs to be fought, but there is no more time. The Enlightened have put their plan into motion, and the doomsday clock is ticking.

Conspiracy (Mindspace #2) – A.K. DuBoff

Kira’s greatest opponent may be herself.

Following her exposure to experimental nanotech, Captain Kira Elsar faces an uncertain future. But uncontrollable transformations aren’t her only problem.

A previously undetected alien menace, a race capable of remote telepathic control, is threatening her home system… and the Tararian Guard. With the discovery that a government official in Kira’s home system has been subverted, Kira’s team must get control of the situation before the Elvar Trinary descends into chaos.

Gamma Strike (Legacy War #8) – John Walker 

An End in Sight.

Four of the six Orbs have been brought together, combined in an effort to hunt down the secret base of the dreaded Tol’An terrorists. Humanity and their allies have gathered together on Earth to discuss the final attack, combining forces to bring peace to the galaxy. It is a time of hope and anticipation.

But even as the allies stand ready, they find themselves faced with a desperate enemy, one willing to do whatever it takes to win the day. As they struggle against forces outside and in, humanity must fight like never before for the stakes have never been higher. They face the utter destruction of the planet Earth…and all of humanity with it.

Hunter (Iron Legion #3) – David Ryker and Daniel Morgan

The wheels of Federation justice turn slow.

After the clusterfrak on Telmareen, James ‘Red’ Maddox has been out of the fight for thirteen months. When you’re used to the adrenaline rush of fighting aliens while strapped into twenty tons of Federation steel, ship duty is worse than torture. But the team is under scrutiny. One misstep, and they’ll never pilot their mechs again. All they can do is hurry up and wait.

Until they’re thrown a lifeline – a way to prove themselves to the brass. Someone’s slinging Isckara on a neutral trading station, far outside Federation-controlled space. It’s not much, but it’s a clue, and it’s all they’ve got. Volchek and the team mount up – quietly. The Federation can’t afford a diplomatic incident. Unfortunately, where Red goes, chaos follows.

And so does the body count…

Orion Uncharted (Orion Colony #2) – J.N. Chaney and Jonathan Yanez

The Orion has fallen.

After barely escaping with their lives, the crew of the Orion has scattered across an unknown world. With a diminishing hope of returning home, they have no choice but to band together.

But between the local wildlife, lack of supplies, a missing crew, and a strange, ominous door that can’t be opened, Dean and his new friends will need everything at their disposal to survive.

This isn’t the home they expected, but they didn’t come this far to give up and die.

The Voyage of the Iron Dragon (Saga of the Iron Dragon #3) – Robert Kroese

In the 23rd century, humanity has been hunted to the verge of extinction by an alien race. When an exploratory ship accidentally travels back in time to Viking age Scandinavia, the human race is given a second chance. Pursued by the power-hungry King Harald, the four surviving crew members join a ragtag band of Vikings as they pillage their way across Europe. It will take all their ingenuity, courage and technical know-how just to survive. But survival is only the beginning. To save humanity, they must somehow return to the stars.

Thus begins a decades-long effort to teach the Vikings to build a craft capable of reaching space—a ship that will come to be known as the Iron Dragon.

  New Release Roundup, 12 January 2019: Science Fiction published first on https://medium.com/@ReloadedPCGames

[fic-dreamin]

5.0 out of 5 stars The entire series

5.0 out of 5 stars An original and inspired early look on sci-fi starships This is a very great book with very detailed paintings of future warships and a good description to go along with each one, a must have for anyone who loves art, sci-fi, Space, war, or new ideas (or any combination of such), or is just interested in seeing what it is. No computer 3d stuff, just pure imagination. There is none of that old sci-fi pulp magazine rockets and UFOs and many of the starships in the book would put many of the spaceships used in movies today to shame (by judging how they looked like).My favorite warhip has to be the Wasp Go to Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars been trying to buy this book for 34 years ! As others have stated , I too discovered this book when it first was published. It was the late 1970's and I was in Junior High. our school library had a copy and I used to check this book out ALL the time. When I was in studyhall in the library I would go get this book and reread it; over and over again. I would attempt to draw space ships in the style that were drawn in the book, and the story line was facsinating. Once I went to the Senior High I no longer had access to it. Needless to say I loved this book and never forgot about it (did not know it was part of a series). I never found this book in any of the used book stores that I used to go to over the years, and I went to alot of used book stores. Finally ended up in my old Junior High library a few weeks back on a school related matter and it made me decide to finally find the book online. After a few fruitless searches I finally decided to buy this book on the hopes that it would be ' the one' from its description and the art work in the ad. It was the book and I am happy I got it. Go to Amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars A very interesting and fun book to have... Take artwork of spaceships, say from the cover of books or from magazines, and write a history around each one, listing why they were made, what they did and what happened to them. Now put all this ships into a book, split the book into three parts: military, commercial and special function, add a timeline, blueprints and specifcations. Not only did I enjoy the book, but I even recognized much of the artwork used.I just wish there was more to the book and that the 'history' had more 'meat' to it. I may look for other books by the same author. Go to Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent science fiction I read these books as a kid in the early 80's, and I haven't seen them anywhere since. I wish the publisher would reprint them, because, as I recall, the stories and the artwork are better than most of the sci-fi you hear about today (Star Wars & Star Trek included). The stories are basically a future history, but only going forward about one-hundred years or so. Definately worth buying if you can find a copy... Go to Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Terran Trade Authority Library **Adapted from the Wikipedia article on the Terran Trade Authority**Spacecraft 2000-2100 AD (by Stewart Cowley, 1978)Great Space Battles (by Stewart Cowley and Charles Herridge, 1979)SpaceWreck: Ghost Ships and Derelicts of Space (by Stewart Cowley, 1979)Starliners: Commercial Travel in 2200 AD (by Stewart Cowley, 1980)Aliens in Space: An Illustrated Guide to the Inhabited Galaxy (1979)Star Quest: An Incredible Voyage into the Unknown (1979)The Fantastic Planet: A World of Magic and Mystery (1980)Dangerous Frontiers: The Fight for Survival on Distant Worlds (1980)(Printed as Settlers in Space: The Fight for Survival on Distant Worlds in the US)Worlds at War: An Illustrated Study of Interplanetary Conflict (1980)Space Patrol: The Official Guide to the Galactic Security Force (1980)The above series of six books was written by Stewart Cowley using the pseudonym "Steven Caldwell." They were published by Intercontinental Book Productions in the UK and republished by Crescent Books in the US. Go to Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Time Capsule I bought this book with my birthday money back around 1979 when I was 9 years old, and it was the first thing I made sure I left the house with during my recent divorce. It contains incredible & stunning artwork that informed most of the late 70s and early 80s sci-fi/fantasy. A great nostalgia item for Gen-Xers, but I don't know how todays kids would receive it, as its aesthetic is decidedly foreign to the CGI most prevalent today. However, given a chance, perhaps they might pour over it for hours as I used to. Go to Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars A true sci-fi classic A wonderful book I used to read in high school, used to borrow it from the library all the time until somebody did not returned it. It made me dream of space and the future and when the library lost it, I felt really bad. Anyways I remembered it for over 20 years until I decided to Google it and found out its part of a series, once I found out that it was available, I had to have it for my private collection. The book has the power to take you to the stars......beautiful book. Go to Amazon

[humanoidhistory]

Peter Elson illustration from Star Quest: An Incredible Voyage into the Unknown by Steven Caldwell, 1979.

[humanoidhistory]

Cesare Reggiani illustration from Star Quest: An Incredible Voyage into the Unknown by Steven Caldwell, 1979.

[humanoidhistory]

Fred Gambino illustration from Star Quest: An Incredible Voyage Into the Unknown, 1979.

[manyworldspress]

Peter Elson, cover painting for The Best of A. E. Van Vogt, vol. 1 (Sphere Science Fiction, 1979). Reprinted in Star Quest: An Incredible Voyage into the Unknown, by Steven Caldwell (Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK: Intercontinental Book Productions, 1979).

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[manyworldspress]

Peter Elson, cover painting for Starshine, by Theodore Sturgeon (Sphere Science Fiction, 1978). Reprinted in Star Quest: An Incredible Voyage into the Unknown, by Steven Caldwell (Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK: Intercontinental Book Productions, 1979).

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