The Voyages of Ralf, Vol. 1: The Arc of Purchaser received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author R. M. Kozan.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
My new book is titled The Voyages of Ralf, Vol. 1: The Arc of Purchaser. It was published as a paperback on August 7th, 2020, and as a Kindle eBook on August 17th, 2020. A previous, telepathically-based distribution scheme has been rethought.
What’s the book’s first line?
Rather than jumping in with action, as so many do, this book instead provides strong context: “In the beginning, was this universe.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
In a future where Mars is the center of power, and Terra is viewed as a problematic colony with delusions of grandeur, young Terran Ralf emerges from Space Corps Academy with much knowledge and skill, but little understanding of his place in it all. He soon faces intergalactic and inter-dimensional challenges that culminate in the upset of the tri-galactic status quo.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I was inspired to begin this book out of sheer frustration. At the time I was an avid reader, and had a burgeoning love of TV SF such as Space:1999. Unfortunately, I also had a very frustrating speech impediment. Having my own worlds and characters to create allowed an emergency release valve for my rich inner life.
The first version of this book was written in the 1970s, and was the first novel I had ever written. The first two parts were written in high school, and the final part was completed in my first year of university. The book then lay fallow for decades, until it was very recently extensively re-imagined and re-written over the last several years. After writing a very long and serious first novel (‘Breakaway: 1977’, released in 2013), and struggling with a second, as-yet-unpublished manuscript, writing comedy was a welcome breeze.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
To be entertained, but also to be exposed to a few new ideas, perhaps (i.e. euhemerism).
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Ralf, my protagonist, is unusual as he is not a standard, factory-settings hero. He begins clearly callow, but progresses to merely shallow by the end of the book. He has a good heart; his brain, however, necessitates partial stars. Ralf’s genius is in choosing his friends wisely.
Ralf should remind us of the average Joe, trudging to work, declaiming a newfound coffee stain on their work shirt, and watching the clock as it counts down the minutes to a release from responsibility. He may be related to Douglas Adam’s Arthur Dent, Harry Harrison’s Bill, the Galactic Hero, or Red Dwarf’s Dave Lister. Except, he clearly remains virginal. Let’s leave something for the sequel!