Building a sci-fi universe is a thrilling adventure, but it’s also full of unexpected challenges. Today, I want to share the unique joys and hurdles I encountered while creating the expansive universe for Merchant of Vision. 🛸 As much as we love imagining starships zooming through the galaxy, or massive space stations orbiting distant worlds, creating a coherent and believable sci-fi world that supports all of that is far more complex than just inventing cool tech or exotic alien species. It demands a deep dive into the intricate workings of everything—from galactic economies to the gravitational mechanics of space stations. 🌌
Let me take you behind the scenes and show you what it really takes to build a universe from scratch.
It’s All About the Details 🔍
When you’re writing a story that spans multiple star systems and interstellar factions, consistency is your best friend—and your biggest challenge. The tiniest detail can make or break the believability of your world:
How long does it take to travel between star systems? How far can ships go without refueling? Do they need fuel? Can they be intercepted or communicate with others while travelling between systems? What are the polities of known space? How does an interstellar economy function?
It’s these foundational elements that turn a fun, flashy setting into a living, breathing universe.
For example, during the early drafts of Merchant of Vision, I quickly realized that I hadn't thought enough about the economics of my universe. Sure, there were starships flying around and empires clashing, but I had to ask myself: How are these massive civilizations sustained? What fuels these ships? Are they running on antimatter, solar energy, or something more exotic like dark matter? And who controls the shipping lanes? 🤔
These seemingly small questions led me down a rabbit hole of world-building. Suddenly, I had to create entire guilds and trade alliances to make the galactic economy feel real. For instance, the Orion Merchant Guild and the Coalition of Free Planets became pivotal factions, each vying for control over crucial trade routes. Without fleshing out these systems, my universe would have felt hollow, lacking the depth that readers expect in a sprawling sci-fi epic.
Tip for fellow creators: Don’t shy away from the minutiae. Your readers might not see every piece of your world-building, but they’ll feel it in the authenticity of your universe.
Finding the Balance Between Science and Story ⚖️
One of the trickiest parts of writing sci-fi is nailing the balance between scientific plausibility and compelling storytelling. On one hand, readers expect a certain level of logic—especially when it comes to things like space travel or advanced technologies. But, on the other hand, too much detail can slow the pacing or overwhelm your audience.
In Merchant of Vision, I often faced this dilemma. Take, for example, the issue of artificial gravity. Should I explain the exact science behind how my ships generate gravity? I could dive into theories involving gravitic fields or centrifugal force generated by rotation, but would that serve the story? Instead of bogging down the narrative with highly technical mathematic explanations, I opted to keep it simple. Hey this is Space Opera!🚀 What matters most is that the world feels plausible, not that every bit of science is dissected in excruciating detail. After all, we’re here for the adventure, not a physics lecture.
The key lesson: Always ask yourself, Does this serve the story? If not, it’s okay to skip the in-depth explanations and focus on keeping readers engaged in the journey.
Characters Make the World Real 🌍
No matter how intricate your world-building is, none of it will resonate without characters that readers can connect with. In Merchant of Vision, the universe isn’t just about starships and political intrigue—it’s about the people who inhabit it. Characters breathe life into the world, adding stakes, motivations, and emotional depth.
One of my favorite characters, Kars Vandor, is a daring merchant driven by a relentless need to succeed. His ambition pushed me to think deeply about the social, political, and economic structures of my universe. How does someone like Kars rise through the ranks of interstellar trade? How does he navigate complex political landscapes while dealing with rival factions? 🛸 The answers to these questions helped shape major aspects of the universe. These details then not only provide depth to the setting, but also create rich narrative tension.
Pro tip: Let your characters drive your world-building. Their personal stakes and challenges can open up new avenues for creativity and enrich the universe you’ve created.
The Evolution of the Universe 🌌
One of the most satisfying aspects of building a sci-fi universe is watching it evolve over time. What started as a straightforward story of a merchant navigating dangerous trade routes has blossomed into something much more intricate. The universe of Merchant of Vision now encompasses multiple factions, star systems with unique cultures, and centuries-old histories. A lot of it is mapped and codified, but much more of it are sketch concepts of the setting, that need further development, only limited by that time I choose to take to do that, vs. actual writing of the novels. But I am getting it to where I want it to be.
Take, for instance, the ancient civilizations that once ruled the galaxy, long before the current factions rose to power. These forgotten empires left behind powerful relics and technologies that shape the present-day struggles in my universe, and in fact are a main story thread through all of my writing in this setting. As the story evolved, I had to expand on these civilizations, creating entire backstories for their rise and fall. Now, characters like Kars can explore these ancient worlds, uncovering lost technologies that give them an edge in their interstellar conflicts.
The best part: The universe is still growing! Every time I sit down to write, new ideas emerge, old systems evolve, and the story takes unexpected turns. That’s what makes writing sci-fi so exhilarating—it’s a universe with endless potential.
Embracing the Unexpected ✨
Sometimes, the most exciting moments in world-building come from unplanned surprises. In one of the early drafts of Merchant of Vision, I had a scene where Kars Vandor visits a remote planet, Basa Haula, that was once a technological hub. Originally, I planned for it to be a simple stopover, but as I developed the setting, the planet’s history unfolded before me. It had once been a major trade hub, now cut off from the galaxy by political upheaval. Suddenly, an entire subplot developed around the planet’s lost aristocracy and its struggle to reclaim its former glory.
These are the moments that remind me that world-building is a journey of discovery. 🌟 You never know where the story will take you, and that’s where the magic happens. My advice to fellow writers? Embrace the unexpected—some of your best ideas will come from the places you least expect.
Exploring Alien Cultures 🛸
One of the most fun—and challenging—parts of creating a sci-fi universe is designing alien species that feel unique and fully realized. In Merchant of Vision, I created the Zynari, a species with a hive-mind culture that is slowly fracturing due to their exposure to human individuality. This theme of collective vs. individual resonates deeply with the human characters and drives home the universality of personal struggle, no matter what species you are.
Building alien cultures isn’t just about inventing strange biology or languages. It’s about creating species with depth, their own histories, politics, and internal conflicts. For the Zynari, I had to think about how their biology (a shared consciousness) affects their social structure, their art, their politics. What does individuality mean to a species that has always functioned as a collective? This kind of world-building opens up new storytelling possibilities and lets me explore big philosophical questions within the framework of a sci-fi adventure.
Looking Forward 🚀
As the Merchant of Vision universe continues to grow, I’m excited by the endless possibilities. There are new star systems to explore, new characters to introduce, and more layers of history, politics, and conflict to unravel. The process of world-building is never truly finished—it evolves as the story does. And that’s what makes writing sci-fi so rewarding.
Thanks for joining me on this journey through the galaxy of Merchant of Vision. Stay tuned for more updates, new stories, and a few surprises along the way. The adventure is far from over! 💫
Kommentare