As a scientist and
author specializing in technology innovation, H. Peter Alesso has over twenty
years research experience at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). As
Engineering Group Leader at LLNL he led a team of computer scientists and
engineers in innovative applications across a wide range of supercomputers,
workstations and networks. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. and served in the U.S. Navy on
nuclear submarines before completing an M.S. and an advanced Engineering Degree
at M.I.T. He has published several software titles and numerous scientific
journal and conference articles, and he is the author/co-author of seven books.
His latest book is
the science fiction space opera, Lieutenant
Henry Gallant.
For More Information
About the Book:
In an era of
genetic engineering, Lieutenant Henry Gallant is the only Natural
(non-genetically enhanced) officer left in the fleet. Many of his superiors, including
rival
Anton Neumann, have expressed concern he is not up to the challenge.
However, his unique mental abilities have proven essential to the defense of
the United Planets in its fight against the Titan invaders.
Serving on the
first FTL prototype, the Intrepid,
on its maiden voyage to Tau Ceti, Gallant finds a lost colony on the planet
Elysium. Cyrus Wolfe and his son, manipulate planet politics against the
democratic opposition led by James Hepburn and his granddaughter Alaina. Wolfe
has allied himself with an ancient Artificial Intelligence which had lain
dormant on the planet for millennia, but is now willing to protect the
colonists against the Titans.
With Alaina’s help,
Gallant discovers the ancient AI has a sinister ulterior motive and he matches
his unique and exceptional mind against the complexity of machine intelligence
to escape the ultimate trap and prevent the extermination of humanity.
In Lieutenant Henry Gallant, one
man pits the naked human mind against the perspicacity of machine intelligence.
For More Information
- Lieutenant Henry Gallant is available at Amazon.
- Watch the trailer at YouTube.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Thank you for this interview! I’d like to
know more about you as a person first. What do you do when you’re not writing?
In addition, I am the founder of a software company that develops computer apps for Android which gives me a chance to use my math skills.
When did you start writing?
I enjoyed writing
short stories from an early age, though I didn’t develop strong writing skills
until recently. I think that when I dedicated myself to write a novel I was
forced to confront the weaknesses in my story-telling and work to overcome
them.
I feel my writing
has improved, but I can also recognize that I am far from where I’d like to be.
Hopeful with time my skillset with develop further.
As a published author, what would you say
was the most pivotal point of your writing life?
I graduated from
the United
States Naval Academy and served in the U.S. Navy on nuclear
submarines. Also, I was a research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory. My publications reflect my training and knowledge which include
several software titles, numerous scientific journal and conference articles,
and seven books.
I’ve found that
scientific speculation in science fiction stories has helped spark the
curiosity of researchers in many fields. As a result, I believe science fiction
should start on hard scientific principles. I researched the technologies
included in my book and tried to predict their development path into the next
centuries. For example, genetic engineering is current an important social topic
and humanity faces difficult choices ahead. In Lieutenant Henry Gallant, genetic engineering plays an influential
role in the background, but it is cast against a competing
innovation—Artificial Intelligence.
Back to your present book, Lieutenant Henry Gallant how did you
publish it?
In writing your book, did you travel
anywhere for research?
While I did not
travel anywhere specially for this book, I feel that my life travels, including
living in Hawaii for several years, helped provide me with background material
for the setting in this last book.’
Scientific
speculation in science fiction has helped spark the curiosity of researchers in
many fields. As a result, I believe science fiction should start on hard
scientific principles. I researched the technologies included in the story and
tried to predict their development path into the next centuries. For example,
genetic engineering is current an important social topic and humanity faces
difficult choices ahead. In Lieutenant
Henry Gallant, genetic engineering plays an influential role in the
background, but it is cast against a competing innovation—Artificial
Intelligence.
Why was writing Lieutenant Henry Gallant so important to you?
Science fiction
novels provided wonderful adventures in unexpected places with unusual
characters and strange circumstance. I’ve enjoyed them all my life, so when I
first began to develop science fiction stories, I wanted to write adventures
that I could vicariously enjoy.
Henry
Gallant is handsome, brave, and daring—just
what you want in a hero who sets out on a great adventure. A rival challenges
him for the love of a young, beautiful, and bold woman—just what you’d expect
in a warrior princess. Together they face an alien invasion, a jungle full of
dangers predators, and a malevolent artificial intelligence bent on
exterminating humanity.
Can
you guess who wins in the end? I’ll give you a hint, it’s not the corrupt
politicians who maneuver to upset all Gallant’s efforts to protect the people
and stop the malicious AI.
How
much fun do you think I had writing this tale?
Actually,
I had more.
Where do you get your best ideas and why do
you think that is?
Ideas
come from everywhere all the time. It’s more a matter of being receptive to new
thoughts and let them develop natural than anything else. I like to keep a
notebook filled with my ideas and I go through it regularly to cull out the
best ones.
Any final words?
A multi-book story
arc requires a thorough understanding of the characters and their motivations,
as well as considerable planning. An author always benefits from the
encouragement and feedback of his co-conspirators in this endeavor—the readers.
With the release of each book in a series, the voice of the readers becomes
clearer. Their desire to see certain characters prevail and certain events
transpire becomes plain.
I am looking
forward to further developing The Henry
Gallant Saga—if the readers encourage me to do so through their review
comments.
Thank you for hosting the tour.
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