Author: Author John G Dyer

Born in Chickamauga, Georgia, John Dyer moved to Asia in 1956, when his father took an engineering assignment with a power utility. He attended grades 1-12 at an international school, touring with his family through 29 countries before settling in the Midwest. A computer scientist turned author of fiction, he is a founder of an IBM-affiliated software company, and an early innovator in electronic commerce. He brings a lifelong interest in science and engineering to everything he writes.

Stepping away from the WIP

After a few weeks working on the ninth (and presumably last) volume in the Anye Universe books, I’ve decided to give it a rest. The fourth book has lain fallow long enough for a fresh restart, so that’s what I’ll do until inspired to switch horses again.

Here’s a look at the first chapter of Vacuum Forged after some brutal cutting. Who knows what it’ll look like a month from now.

Part 1 – Chapter 0

First House, Planet Vidura, 70,000 BCE

Upon the sixth anniversary of First House’s instantiation, Master Sa summoned his three most important cub-school students to tell them what they were.

Spring was early in the Northern Reach. The scent of young blossoms drifted through parlor doors. Birdsong rang in the air. Tree pollen tickled noses. It was all, said Master Sa, an artful deception. “We call it the Anodyne Virtuality.”

Continue reading “Stepping away from the WIP” →
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Souled — John Dyer Writes

Intelligent and entertaining stories developed for a thoughtful audience.

What if science was to prove the doctrine of the immortal soul? Amil Leyta intended to work in orbital manufacturing, but his studies have taken an unexpected turn. He’s built a device that images the essence of life, evoking the discovery that there’s more than one type of soul.

They appear on his monitor at deathbed vigils, shining bright across the boundary between dimensions. He imagines they’re angels, guiding spirits to the between-life, and wonders if the Gods will allow what he must do next.

Because Amil knows how to bring them here.

All my titles are #KindleUnlimited.

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Free Blender 3D Model

Last year, I created a posable flying house model in Blender for a book cover, thinking I might later use it in Unreal Engine. I have since discovered there aren’t enough hours in the day for me to develop that skill set.

But it’s a cool model. Maybe there’s someone who’d like to fool around with it. There’s a narrative universe, and associated character art begging to be modeled and rigged. For a look at that, click here. For the story behind the model, click here.

If you’re interested, tell me in the comments.

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Crowdsourced — John Dyer Writes

Let’s share an experience. It won’t take more than a minute unless you want it to. Call it a favor, an act of generosity. Click in the box below the image where it says ‘Free Preview’.

Read a page or two. See what happens. I’ve been writing for ten years. This is my best work. It deserves an audience.

You can be part of that.

Please SHARE this post. Heading image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

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Near Disaster

After twenty-three years operating our elevator without mishap, our dog Ernie broke away from my grasp, poking his muzzle through the scissor gate at the worst possible moment. I hit the stop button. The car was three feet down from the middle floor landing. Ernie’s head and neck were squeezed between the gate and a concrete wall.

He cried, lost his water, strained to pull himself out. The gate was more robust than it needed to be. It took four tries to jerk it out of the track.

Ernie came away from the ordeal with a scuff on his neck. I pulled muscles in my back, neck, and hips during a last-ditch, adrenaline-fueled assault on the apparatus.

We were traumatized. Ernie trembled all night, going back and forth between us in the bed. I had to take him out at 3:30 this morning, something I haven’t had to do for two months.

Our friend and elevator mechanic Mike Zeller will install an accordion-style barrier. Until then, Ernie rides in my lap. Both my hands will be around his chest.

It’s Sunday. Linda’s at church, thanking God for a narrow escape.

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Contagious

Nobody in my circle of friends talks about Covid anymore, except to say how many times they’ve had it.

I haven’t felt left out. I had Type B Influenza during the same timeframe. I was sure I would die. That’s relevant.

Thursday morning I went to the dentist. That afternoon I felt terrible. Linda administered a home test kit, and we have a winner in the reverse lottery.

The dentist wasn’t worried. I respect that, although his staff might have had second thoughts if they’d had to take care of me. Not as bad as the flu, but bad enough.

I sweated it out last night. This morning, I went outside. Linda is washing the bed linens, again. According to prevailing etiquette, I will be judged free of contagion by tomorrow.

Is that like, first thing tomorrow, or do I have to wait until noon?

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Unfulfilled

It’s Tinkerer Wednesday! Today I’m contemplating the fill port on a West Bend Manufacturing Webalco 17209 liquid-core electric skillet, and wondering where I can get high-temperature silicone heat-transfer oil on the cheap.

Update: A reader recommended DOT5 silicone brake fluid. I tried it. It works!

#saladmaster #regalware #lifetime

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