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[Talanic]

I'm an as-yet unpublished science fiction / fantasy author.  My first book is officially done, and I'm finally satisfied with it to the point that I'm trying to publish. 

I'm also trying a Stupid Internet Trick, specifically that of attempting to auction off a unique pre-publication copy.  The auction's gotten a little bit of attention; so far it's going for $17.50, up from its original 99 cent opening.

The first couple paragraphs:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The light blinked every three point two seconds, and for some reason Derek found it riveting. 
 
He was not in the habit of staring at blinking lights, but for some reason this one was all he cared to look at. It wasn’t until higher portions of his brain began to function that he thought to ask, 'what exactly is that light?' 
 
Now that the question occurred to him, he wanted an answer. The light was actually a number of lights, each in a distinct shape. No, some of them repeated. 
 
A few more neurons moved back into position and he remembered what letters were. Yes, the lights were definitely letters. This raised a  new question: Why couldn't he read? 
 
He tried again. 
Critical…brain…damage. 
Please…stand…by. 
 
Derek found himself completely unsurprised.  After all, it had taken him an absurd amount of time to remember how to read. He had to have sustained severe injuries. 

The full first chapter can be seen here.  The auction can be found here. 

[Tack]

... How is it a 'trick'?
Are you going to actually finish it?

[Huesoo]

My first book is officially done.

Facepalm. Books also good.

[Blargityblarg]

I liked the first chapter. Best of luck.

[Talanic]

Thanks.  Sorry I haven't been faster in my response, but I got pulled into a night security gig where I don't have internet access and only have about half an hour of free time (with internet access at least) a day. 

Glad you like it.

[Talanic]

Wow.  The auction sold for $287.

[Huesoo]

Shit! 

[JoshuaFH]

Wait just a goddarn moment here. Someone on these here boards has... motivation?!

[inteuniso]

Pretty good for a first-time novel. Better than mine anyways.

Also, that's quite a hefty sum for what is essentially nothing. Still a good first chapter. I'll pick up the book if it gets published.

[Caz]

I read the first chapter. I want to read more now. XD Put up a link when it's published?

[Acanthus117]

I WANT MOAR

[Supermikhail]

Don't you find it a bit hard to read, with those square brackets for the AI's voice everywhere? Ah, it speaks non-vocally. Then nice... But why does the protagonist speak aloud, then?

[Talanic]

Single quotation marks for the protagonist's thoughts - because the preview's format doesn't allow italics, which I use in the normal manuscript.  Double quotation marks for dialogue.

[Supermikhail]

It's a nifty idea to use square brackets for thought dialogue. They inexplicably well convey the idea of something hidden. But what made you restrict them only to the AI, and reject the more conventional methods of denoting the actors - that's a mystery to me.
Ah, well, I haven't written anything as big as a book, how do I know what works and what doesn't...

[Talanic]

All computers in the setting use square brackets for their thought dialogue - except when they're speaking aloud (usually in bodied simulations). 

And I'd have to say, as the reader, you have every right to question.  From what you said, I think it's working pretty well - but I'm still not sure why I did it.  It felt right.  Sometimes that's all I can say.