David D. LevineScience Fiction Author

I will be attending ConFusion in Detroit, Michigan this coming weekend! This is my first ConFusion since E/c² ConFusion (Mass ConFusion) in 1979! I gather the convention has changed a bit since then. Here’s where you can find me at the con:

• 9pm Friday, Isle Royale
  Let’s Talk: Physics
  A lighthearted talk on a hard science topics with smart and funny people. Let’s Talk: Physics will dive deep into the building blocks of the Universe and try not to giggle about Super G-Strings.
• 11am Saturday, Petoskey
  Last Exit Before The Worst Timeline
  Alternate histories that explore what the world would look like if a particular horror had been averted can be a way of resisting the narrative that slavery, genocide, colonialism, sexism, and other social evils are inevitable steps on the road to human progress. What are our favorite alternate histories (and alternate presents) that look at better worlds, and how can we use the format to inspire people to hope–and action–in uncertain times?
• 4pm Saturday, Isle Royale
  Nasa Spinoffs
  Since 1976, NASA has featured an average of 50 technologies each year in the annual publication. Of these 1000 , what has changed lives daily? What can we expect in the future?
• 5pm Saturday, St. Clair
  Autograph Session (5 PM)
  Come meet your favorite authors, artists and musicians and have them sign things! (Please limit your signing requests to 3 items per person.)
• 10am Sunday, Charlevoix
  Missing and Deleted Scenes in the Age of the Internet
  On the advice of artist John Tenniel, Lewis Carroll dropped an entire chapter from Through The Looking Glass. That chapter was almost lost to history until a galley turned up in a Sotheby’s auction. These days, writers have a lot more options for their missing scenes, including sharing them as promotional freebies on their websites or including them in newsletters or crowdfunding platforms. Can scenes that ultimately didn’t strengthen the work still merit sharing with readers? What makes a missing scene a good candidate for sharing with readers vs. consignment to the recycling bin of history?
• 11am Sunday, Isle Royale
  Reading: David D. Levine and Stephanie Morris – NOT IN PRINTED SCHEDULE
• 1pm Sunday, Saugatuck
  To Mars!
  NASA is finally ready to make humanity’s dream of sending people to Mars a reality. What challenges need to be overcome, and what is ready to go!

I see that the cover of Arabella the Traitor of Mars, the third and final book in The Adventures of Arabella Ashby, is out in the wild! (Click to embiggen.) The book will be available on July 31, 2018 and here’s the publisher’s description:

Taking up almost immediately after the great Battle of Venus, Arabella has finally returned home to Mars to settle in to life with her husband, the mysterious Captain Singh.

The Regent of the United Kingdom sets his eyes on solidifying his rule in the colonies and dispatches a fleet to better cement his control over Mars. Now Arabella and Singh must decide where their ultimate loyalties lie, with the Empire or with their home.

I turned in the final copy-edited manuscript of Arabella the Traitor of Mars on Boxing Day. This book brings Arabella’s adventures to a close (she’s done more than enough damage to her timeline!), and my next novel project will be something completely different. It’s been quite an adventure and I’m happy and grateful to Tor for giving Arabella and her story a chance!

My big publication in 2017 was the novel Arabella and the Battle of Venus, sequel to the Andre Norton Award winning Arabella of Mars. I also published short story “Command and Control” in Infinity Wars, edited by Jonathan Strahan, and novelette “Under the Arch” in Mississippi Roll, edited by George R. R. Martin.

Arabella and the Battle of Venus was well received:

• “Set in a well-constructed 19th century world where battles between countries take place on the inhabited planets of Mars and Venus, Levine’s latest is an extraordinary read. The very independent and spirited Arabella is a bold, intelligent heroine who stands out as she drives the story forward. The cleverly crafted plot is believable in its originality, and the colorful, distinctive characters will engage readers. Levine’s storytelling is animated, infused with humor and wit, and with this second installment in his series, he pens an entertaining, adventurous tale that readers will not be able to put down.” — RT Book Reviews, 4.5 stars, Top Pick
• “Charming young Arabella embarks on another entertaining quest in an imaginative setting that combines 19th-century seafaring with pulp-style space adventure. … This interesting piece of speculative fiction draws on venerable imaginings of distant worlds while still feeling fresh and original.” — Publishers Weekly
• “Levine’s sophomore work brings back his plucky heroine and introduces charismatic characters for another engaging steampunk adventure among the stars.” — Library Journal
• “The joy is in the details of the language and inventiveness of incidents that Levine piles upon each other. Levine nearly convinced me that this fantastic world is true history. He introduces many notable new characters, especially Commander Daniel Fox, whose personal recklessness contrasts with his charisma and his ability to command a vessel. … This rich, joyful novel of action, espionage, and fascinating characters is completely its own thing. It’s a series to get lost in. More, please.” emissourian.com
• “Juxtaposing space travel with historical episodes from the Napoleonic Wars, and contrasting polite English society with swashbuckling seafaring exploits, Mr. Levine has written a delightful, sometimes amusing, always exciting steampunk adventure.” — New York Journal of Books

The Arabella trilogy will conclude with Arabella the Traitor of Mars, coming in July 2018.