About the Book
Originated Under Twin Suns tells the story of what happened when aliens find wisdom and guidance in the Voyager space probe's iconic information
plaque (launched in 1977) that literally falls into their possession.
Frobs, a species of sentient rocks, are struggling to stabilize their society—
with less than encouraging results—when the Voyager plaque
unceremoniously lands on their planet, mounted as the heat shield on an
invasive spacecraft. Once the splattered invader pilot has been properly
crated up, Frob researchers, with the assistance of some sleazy interstellar
consultants, attempt to extract information from the vandalized disk.
The two factions of planet Frobzb's ruling body argue mightily about
everything: why their society is failing, what actions to take, the identity and
intentions of the invader, what nutritives to suck up their pucker and, of
course, what to do about one uniquely troublesome Frob named Gerfnit. In
desperation, they launch a mission to Urrth, a planet of peace and harmony,
the role model they hope will provide the answer to their fatal societal
problems. Who will they assign to lead the mission? Who else but Gerfnit,
quick learner who remembers everything and the only Frob with seven
ometers.
Readers of all ages love unusual heroes. Originated Under Twin Suns is an
epic social, political and sexual satire, the story of the origin of the reluctant
but brilliant Frob who becomes Earth’s defender.
Mike Pickard’s writing serves as the bridge between his professional work in technology and his
passion for the creative arts.
Several of Pickard's
short stories have been published, including Hardwired, which won a
Ray Bradbury Creative Writing Prize in 2005.
Pickard's major works are The
Gerfnit Chronicles and Originated Under Twin Suns, science fiction mystery/adventures. The stories began as a series of letters to his daughter who spent several
summers at overnight camp. Pickard’s
extensive backgroud working with cutting edge technology has proved helpful for
imagining fictive universes and societies. Strong satire keeps readers grounded
and laughing.
Pickard has studied
writing at the University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin at Madison,
Northeastern Illinois University and at the Science Fiction Novel Workshop at
the University of Kansas. He has also been a member of several writers groups
over the last 14 years, and is currently both a member and the webmaster at the
Chicago area-based “The Writers of Glencoe.”
Pickard’s “day job” for
the last 45 years has been in Information Technology (IT). Here, too, his
“inner writer” played a role. In addition to countless technical reports and
position papers, Pickard penned dozens of articles as lead columnist for a
microcomputer newsletter.
Among his other creative
exploits: amateur theater, playwriting, paper mache sculpture and inventing a
board game.
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