# My third novel (sci-fi thriller) Spindown **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522 "2018-10-05T20:04:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/1 "2018-10-05T20:04:49Z")
My earlier thread was moved to Marketplace, but the mods told me I could talk about my book in Cafe Society as long as I didn’t include any links to the online stores. However, I am allowed to link to the Marketplace thread in my sig, which contains those links, so you can see that below if you’d like. I’m really excited about my new book. I think it’s my best, by far. It’s a sci-fi murder mystery and thriller that takes place on a massive spaceship called Aotea, the first colony vessel to leave our solar system. Here’s the back cover blurb: > [@](#): > > Cyrus Konami is the Chief Inspector on the first colony vessel, Aotea, to leave Earth’s solar system. Deep within the machinery of the ship, a suspicious death upends the routine on board. Mysterious signals from deep space add to the confusion, along with a series of debilitating malfunctions. > > Cy and Lieutenant Beatriz Mattoso dig into the deceased crewman’s background. The first signs point to a tragic accident. Ship scuttlebutt points to the deep-space signals – is a mysterious force trying to prevent humanity from spreading into deep space? Or are the radical pacifists and cultural separatists who funded the journey somehow involved? > > With an increasingly uncooperative populace, a shocking assassination attempt, and a spaceship falling apart around them, Cy and Bea must unravel secrets that threaten the lives of thousands before it’s too late! The wonderful cover art is by Doper **GuanoLad** – book covers are a regular gig for him, and [here is his website](http://bookcoverwhisperer.net). I hope sci-fi fans among Dopers will give it a try and let me know what they think. I love to get feedback, and I know tough criticism is how writers improve. So let me have it, if you’re interested! And thanks for reading. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/2 "2018-10-05T20:05:49Z")
For some reason, my sig didn’t show in the OP. Here it is, with links for the book. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/3 "2018-10-05T20:27:19Z")
I’ve already socked Spindown away to read later, but I have a question: Did you and **GuanoLad** know each other previously or is the collaboration born of “meeting” via the SDMB? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/4 "2018-10-05T20:36:43Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I’ve already socked Spindown away to read later, but I have a question: Did you and **GuanoLad** know each other previously or is the collaboration born of “meeting” via the SDMB? We met on the board – he noticed one of my earlier book covers and thought he could improve on it (and did!). And thus a beautiful parternship was born! Hope you enjoy the book, and I look forward to reading your thoughts about it! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/5 "2018-10-05T20:52:29Z")
🆒 Cool, I was hoping you’d say that! It’s a lovely cover; I’ll have to get back to you on the book review, as I’m saving it for an upcoming trip. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/6 "2018-10-05T23:19:47Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > 🆒 Cool, I was hoping you’d say that! > It’s a lovely cover; I’ll have to get back to you on the book review, as I’m saving it for an upcoming trip. Looking forward to it! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/7 "2018-10-06T14:24:36Z")
I also posted Part One on Medium – the link is in post #10 of the Marketplace thread (linked in post #2 of this thread). Sorry for not linking here; trying to avoid breaking any rules about linking to one’s own material outside of Marketplace. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/8 "2018-10-14T23:27:35Z")
Can’t help but quote this wonderful review from **Ann Hedonia** – thanks so much Ann! > [@Presenting my third novel, sci-fi thriller "Spindown"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/14): > > Andy, wow! That was a really good book, it hooked me fast and I couldn’t put it down. > > And I’m not just saying that. There’s a reason I didn’t post about buying it before I read it. Because I’ve had friends that self-published books that I couldn’t get through. Frequently. In which case I would’ve just not posted anything. > > I decided to try it because I do like sci-fi books set on colony/generation spaceships, but a lot of those lose me especially when they go military. I certainly didn’t expect to be up until 3AM because I couldn’t put it down. > > I’d love to read a sequel, maybe one set on on Samwise. ( hint hint ) > > Now I’m not much of a book reviewer but I wrote one which should show up on Amazon soon. Here’s what I wrote: > > * * * > > “I’m usually skeptical of books by lesser known authors, especially science fiction novels. So many of them sound good but quickly break down due to unwieldy story lines and one dimensional characters. > Happily, this one was different - once I got started I was quickly hooked and couldn’t put it down. > This book was captivating, with a suspenseful story line and compelling characters. The physical and social structure of the spaceship was beautifully imagined and easily visualized and the political intrigue added dimension to the action/adventure. It somewhat reminded me of Kim Stanley Robinson’s “Aurora” and I highly recommend it. I hope there is a sequel in the works.” > > * * * > > Nice work and thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2018, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/9 "2018-10-15T16:14:25Z")
I was blessed to read this book in pre-publication and made the usual round of not-very-helpful suggestions and recommendations, which, if the author has the sense of a sea-squirt, he ignored entirely… 😉 This is a Darn Good Book! A thriller, an adventure, and some mighty good nuts-and-bolts science fiction. The characters are well-developed and believable, and the pacing is seat-of-the pants. Also, the author is a great fellow, one of the very best, all-around, that the Straight Dope has ever known! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2018, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/10 "2018-10-15T18:07:23Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I was blessed to read this book in pre-publication and made the usual round of not-very-helpful suggestions and recommendations, which, if the author has the sense of a sea-squirt, he ignored entirely… 😉 > > This is a Darn Good Book! A thriller, an adventure, and some mighty good nuts-and-bolts science fiction. The characters are well-developed and believable, and the pacing is seat-of-the pants. > > Also, the author is a great fellow, one of the very best, all-around, that the Straight Dope has ever known! Wow, I’m touched by the kind words! Thanks so much, and your input really did help make the book better. Writing is usually a very lonely process, and I’m very grateful for the feedback I get both while it’s in progress and when it’s complete. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/11 "2018-10-16T15:24:48Z")
Started reading the Free Sample from Amazon yesterday. Bought it at the end of the sample, so there’s that. So far, I’m enjoying it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/12 "2018-10-16T15:45:20Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Started reading the Free Sample from Amazon yesterday. Bought it at the end of the sample, so there’s that. So far, I’m enjoying it. Wonderful! Can’t wait to read your thoughts on the whole book. And thanks for giving it a try! ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/13 "2018-10-16T21:13:25Z")
Definitely a page turner, I was hooked after three or four chapters (yeah later than others, I’m a hard sell 🙂 ) A good solid chunk of hard SF with an agreeably intricate plot and some fine action scenes. It was quite nail bitey toward the end. And the end didn’t disappoint. Good book. I liked it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/14 "2018-10-16T21:44:08Z")
> [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](#): > > Definitely a page turner, I was hooked after three or four chapters (yeah later than others, I’m a hard sell 🙂 ) A good solid chunk of hard SF with an agreeably intricate plot and some fine action scenes. It was quite nail bitey toward the end. And the end didn’t disappoint. Good book. I liked it. Thanks so much, I’m so glad you liked it! And if you’ve got the time, I’d immensely appreciate it if you could put a brief review on the Amazon page (or wherever you purchased it). ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/15 "2018-10-18T13:39:02Z")
Finished it on the bus this morning. I like the final resolution, which dealt with some issues I’ve seen in other works, that cropped up here: [SPOILER]Why are the Fanatics doing what they’re doing? It seemed obvious that the plan was to kill off everybody, which makes me wonder why the minion-class fanatics are on board with the plan. As it turns out, the minions are just as much in the dark as everyone else about the _Real_ real plan. But it also highlights the flaws in these sorts of conspiracies. Something always goes wrong that ends up making you have to start winging it, which makes all your planning completely unravel. [/SPOILER] ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/16 "2018-10-18T14:20:20Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Finished it on the bus this morning. I like the final resolution, which dealt with some issues I’ve seen in other works, that cropped up here: > > [SPOILER]Why are the Fanatics doing what they’re doing? It seemed obvious that the plan was to kill off everybody, which makes me wonder why the minion-class fanatics are on board with the plan. As it turns out, the minions are just as much in the dark as everyone else about the _Real_ real plan. > > But it also highlights the flaws in these sorts of conspiracies. Something always goes wrong that ends up making you have to start winging it, which makes all your planning completely unravel. [/SPOILER] I’m so glad you liked it, and I appreciate the feedback. And if you have the time, I’d be extremely grateful if you could write a review online. A spoiler response below: The “fanatical secret plan to kill everyone” is of course pretty common trope in sci-fi and thrillers, but I hope the ostensibly ultra-pacificistic nature of the ringleader of this plan made it a bit more suprising and original than others. I also meant to include a perverse logic in it – if everything had gone according to the villain’s plan, she really would have been able to create a whole new human society, and perhaps it would have even been free of the violence and dark elements she was trying to escape. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/17 "2018-10-28T16:37:13Z")
Got my third 5 star review! Kind of short, but still nice: “Takes place a couple hundred years in the future on the spaceship “Aotea” en route to the moon Samwise. The ship is elaborately imagined. I like the sparks between the characters Konami and Madani. Eventually this takes a violent turn.” > **[Amazon.com: Spindown eBook : Crawford, Andy: Kindle Store](https://www.amazon.com/Spindown-Andy-Crawford-ebook/dp/B07HVWCFFJ)** > > Spindown - Kindle edition by Crawford, Andy. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Spindown. Also, the book is available in paperback now – see the Marketplace thread for links. ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/18 "2018-11-01T16:43:42Z")
Congrats on your book. I will try to give it a go as there is a ton of things I am working on. It does check my major category - Sci Fi. I came to this thread from the marketplace thread. I honestly hadn’t noticed that it was a marketplace thread, as I just click new posts, and read the ones that are interesting to me. So I wouldn’t worry about that too much. I will also make an effort to get back to Amazon and give you a five star review once I have read a bit. I would encourage other Dopers to do the same, for all the good that will do, lol. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/19 "2018-11-01T16:54:04Z")
> [@Mikemike2](#): > > Congrats on your book. I will try to give it a go as there is a ton of things I am working on. It does check my major category - Sci Fi. > > I came to this thread from the marketplace thread. I honestly hadn’t noticed that it was a marketplace thread, as I just click new posts, and read the ones that are interesting to me. So I wouldn’t worry about that too much. > > I will also make an effort to get back to Amazon and give you a five star review once I have read a bit. I would encourage other Dopers to do the same, for all the good that will do, lol. Thanks so much for giving it a chance! And hopefully my 5 star reviews are earned. While I hope I don’t get any 1 star reviews, I know that not every book is everyone’s cup of tea, and I have no problem with thoughtful critical reviews. If you think it deserves 3 or 4 stars, by all means be honest. If you think it deserves 1 or 2, maybe just be a teeny-tiny bit dishonest. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522/20 "2018-11-01T16:56:01Z")
And yeah, maybe I’m too hung up on the Marketplace vs Cafe Society thread. I’m just glad so many Dopers are giving it a try! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822522.md?page=2)