So, it’s been a while. Well, more than a while. When I put Orphans of Apollo on hold last August - was it really that long ago? - it was my intention to return a few months later with the next season, as I had done previously. But life got in the way, as it has a habit of doing. Summer (December to February down here in the Southern Hemisphere) is always the busiest time for my day job, but this year I was busier, and it started earlier. Then there were a few things going on outside of work, Christmas, and now we are into February 2026.
I am getting back into the swing of things with Orphans of Apollo, but I’m going to change a few things with my process. That means it’s still going to be a while before you get posts every week. So one of the main reasons I’m writing this post is to say, “Hi, I’m still here.” I haven’t gone anywhere, I’ve been lurking on Substack all along.
I also wanted to say thanks to those of you who have joined in the off-season. It has been gratifying to see new subscribers trickle in, even when I’m not posting. Probably some of you hit the subscribe button by mistake, but stick around, you might like it. In the meantime, check out the previous chapters of Orphans of Apollo.
In previous seasons, I have always tried to keep a few weeks ahead of the posts going out, but inevitably this buffer ends up getting absorbed. To keep up the weekly cadence, things invariably come down to the wire. That is what I am going to change this time. I’m going to make this buffer way bigger so I’m not under pressure each week to get the posts out. There is enough pressure in real life without generating more for yourself.
A few things worth mentioning before I get back to working on the draft of Orphans of Apollo. The genesis of this story was the frustration of technological progress not living up to the promise of the 1950s and ‘60s. It’s taken a while, but the tide is turning on this. SpaceX have really stolen a march, but all things being equal, soon we should see the launch of Artemis II. This is the first time humans have journeyed to the Moon since December 1972. The Artemis project certainly has its problems, which I won’t get into here, but there is no understating this launch. It is historic. I have never seen humans leave Earth’s orbit in my lifetime, so I will be watching keenly. Godspeed, Artemis II.
While I have been away, I came across the serial Mars Fire by - A political sci-fi series set in a future Mars under threat from rivalling colonial powers. It’s well worth checking out. It looks like James is following the same model I intend to follow with Orphans of Apollo, serialising first on Substack and publishing the complete novel once this is complete. I will continue to watch this project with great interest.
Recently Apple released the trailer for the upcoming Season 5 of For All Mankind. If you haven’t seen the first four seasons, where have you been? This alternative history series charts a timeline where the Soviets are first to the Moon. Long-time subscribers will know I’m a fan of Apple TV. The catalogue is not as large as some of the other streaming services, but in my opinion the production quality is far superior.
I’ll leave it at that for now. I’m still here and will be back a little later in the year with Season 4 of Orphans of Apollo.
Thanks for reading - the future belongs to the optimists.
Alex
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