Monday, September 22, 2014

A Conversation with H. Peter Alesso, author of 'Lieutenant Henry Gallant'



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?

I like to work both hemispheres of the brain using a wide variety of skills and abilities. I am a voracious reader and I have habitually read several books a weeks in a wide variety of subjects since I first obtained a library card. 

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 the past, I’ve published several books through large traditional publishers, but for Lieutenant Henry Gallant, I chose self-publication in order to get the book to market more quickly. It allowed me more flexibility in editing and marketing choices

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.

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