Rocket Fox: The Series So Far
I haven’t promoted this in a while. The entire series of Rocket Fox to date, including the Appendix that has detailed descriptions of the world these characters live in, and the original series that started it all, Rocket Fox: The Barrow’s Revenge. These are all in handy PDF Files that you can download and read on whatever device you wish.
EDIT: Rocket Fox: The Barrow’s Revenge is NOT in PDF Format and leads back to my orignial posts where each part is posted as a blog post. There are previous and next links at the end of each part, however. The story also contains elements of the universe of Rocket Fox that no longer exist. For example, the original work was set in one star system, now there are many different star systems and it involves a sector of space. As well, Pau Theta II used to be a moon of Vulpinia Prime. Now it’s the second planet in the Vulpine Star System. Still, it is the original work and it’s an interesting look at how things changed.
Rocket Fox: Flight of the Nighthawk by Tim Holtorf is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada License.
Based on a work at http://taholtorf.wordpress.com/thebarrowsrevenge/.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://taholtorf.wordpress.com.
Vulpinia Prime. A utopian paradise on the edge of the Lupine Sector of Space. The third planet of the Vulpine Star System, her inhabitants take to heart their age old adage that they are meant to protect the sector from any and all threats. For many, it is an honour to be chosen to attend the many Academies of science, engineering, mathematics and even the famed military colleges that dot the planet. Rarely has there been a serious threat which the Royal Vulpine Armada has had need to deal with. But Article 16 of the Space Exploration Charter is there for a reason. And for many of the cadets at the Chattingham Academy, they are soon going to find out why.
Rocket Fox – Chapter One | Rocket Fox – Chapter Two | Rocket Fox – Chapter Three
Rocket Fox – Chapter Four | Rocket Fox – Chapter Five | Rocket Fox – Chapter Six
Rocket Fox – Chapter Seven | Rocket Fox – Chapter Eight | Rocket Fox – Chapter Nine
Rocket Fox – Chapter Ten | Rocket Fox – Chapter Eleven | Rocket Fox – Chapter Twelve
Rocket Fox – Chapter Thirteen | Rocket Fox – Chapter Fourteen | Rocket Fox – Chapter Fifteen
Rocket Fox – Chapter Sixteen | Rocket Fox – Chapter Seventeen | Rocket Fox – Chapter Eighteen
The Full Series - Rocket Fox – Flight of the Nighthawk
The Barrow’s Revenge by Tim Holtorf is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada License.
Based on a work at taholtorf.wordpress.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://taholtorf.wordpress.com.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six
Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine | Part Ten | Part Eleven | Part Twelve
Part Thirteen | Part Fourteen | Part Fifteen | Part Sixteen | Part Seventeen
Part Eighteen | Part Nineteen | Part Twenty | Part Twenty-one
Part Twenty-two | Part Twenty-three | Part Twenty-four | Part Twenty-five
Part Twenty-six | Part Twenty-seven | Part Twenty-eight | Part Twenty-nine
Part Thirty | Part Thirty-one | Part Thirty-two | Part Thirty-three
Part Thirty-four | Part Thirty-five | Part Thirty-six | Part Thirty-seven
Part Thirty-eight | Part Thirty-nine | Part Forty | Part Forty-one
Rocket Fox – Appendix One | Rocket Fox – Appendix Two | Rocket Fox – Appendix Three
Rocket Fox – World Building
For those who downloaded the full series PDF, you’ll notice at the end of the book there are five chapters to an appendix which describes the world (and star system) the people of Rocket Fox live in. Religions, politics, slang terms, life styles, and species. For those who didn’t, however, here is the world building guide, chapter by chapter.
Rocket Fox – Appendix One | Rocket Fox – Appendix Two | Rocket Fox – Appendix Three
Rocket Fox – Appendix Four | Rocket Fox – Appendix Five
These guides will be in each series, describing new slang terms as they crop up, new planets, new ships, new species, new cities, and new cultures. Once each book is complete, each new appendix will be posted here. With the completion of the entire series, a full PDF download of the entire appendix will be made available.
Rocket Fox – Chapter Eighteen
The Final Chapter!
The crew has boarded.
The mission is clear.
The Nighthawk prepares to launch.
To be continued in Pau Theta II
Rocket Fox: Chapter Seventeen
Graduation is finished, every student is now looking forward to their new assignments. For Captain Senia Felix and the crew of the Nighthawk, they already have an excellent idea. Now, they just have to board the ship they have studied through schematics and data pads for some time now. The Nighthawk awaits.
Rocket Fox – Chapter Seventeen
This weekend the final chapter!
Rocket Fox – Chapter Fourteen
The senior staff of the Nighthawk has been chosen. Graduation is only two days away. Senia has surrounded herself with trusted peers and each has put together a good team of engineers, scientists, doctors, and pilots. She’s even found that there are some colourful characters, what with the two Felanus barbers in Simon and Hector Longfur, and the veteran galley cook with Angus Longear.
But most importantly, the crew has learned just what the plot was that affected the academy. Fillias Stigian reveals there is indeed a nefarious plot at work.
Download Chapter Fourteen of the Rocket Fox adventure, or catch up with the entire series to date with Rocket Fox – Flight of the Nighthawk.
Rocket Fox: The next story
As I’m writing the last few chapters of Flight of the Nighthawk, I’m jotting down some notes and getting some ideas for the next story. It’ll definitely continue on from this first one, as the crew of the Nighthawk will try to uncover this nefarious plot to undermine the safety of the Vulpine Star System. But I’ll also add some to the next story.
This first story is what I would hope the future would look like for us (even though it’s with anthropomorphized foxes, cats and raccoons), where society has ridden itself of ills, accepted equality and made even more steps toward progress. War, disease, poverty, all eliminated in this future. Which is nice to think of that we’ll one day move past the aspects of segregation and bigotry that we face today. And yes, we are still facing that. All you have to do is watch the evening news and see it. Every. Single. Day.
Well, having a utopian type society to look forward to is nice, but it doesn’t really make for an overall story arc. There are obviously dangers that the Vulpinians recognize, otherwise they wouldn’t have a military to help protect their star system. Many of those dangers are outside forces like the Jackai raider and even the Raptory that has been hinted at. But there’s one danger within the star system itself.
Introducing Pau Theta II.
Pau Theta II will be an original Vulpine Colony, but many of the societal changes that happened on Vulpinia Prime did not take place on Pau Theta II. After Vulpinia Prime went through its Gender War (which will be explained in the second story) and went to a Matriarchal system, Pau Theta II gained her own independence and broke off most ties with Vulpinia Prime. Within the last three hundred years, the Royal Vulpine Policing Authority placed a base on Pau Theta II and a maximum security prison was also placed there, but they have no jurisdiction with the citizens of the planet, nor is their location close to the main city of Rondu.
Pau Theta II’s society will be a stark contract to the clean paradise of Vulpinia Prime, and this even though the planets are right next door to one another, both orbiting the Vulpine Sun. There is a decided difference in wealth, as Pau Theta II has kept her own currency system (whereas Vulpinia Prime has no banking system, and persay, but they do have a barter system). There are several different sections of Rondu, which include a more affluent section which resides on one side of the river, while the poor sections are right across the river, behind a forty foot wall (this is assumed to have been built so that anyone living in the more wealthy area wouldn’t have to look at the poverty on the other side). In this more poverty stricken area, disease, hunger, crime are all high. Females are treated as second class citizens, even though Vulpine and Felanus are not segregated. There is four different sections, however, which includes a Vulpine Section, a Felanus Section, a Critainian Section and a Lupine Section. Many of the Critainians and Lupine were merchants who would find their merchant hauling ships impounded for one infraction or another. Because Rondu and most of Pau Theta II broke off contact with Vulpinia Prime and the RVAF, a large number of those from Critainia and Lupinia found themselves in front of unfair judicial systems. Many were jailed and released after a few years, only to find their merchant haulers were confiscated to help pay for the fines levied against them. Usually this happened to the captain of a merchant hauler only. The crew (which in Lupinians’ case was the family or pack) were often pushed out into the streets, told they would have to await the final decisions. Most never heard from the judiciary body again.
During the time of the Great Lupine Land War, the “government” of Pau Theta II declared any RVAF ship found within her orbit would be considered an act of aggression. This was ratified to make accommodation for the Main Authority and the maximum security prison. While officers of the Main Authority can go to Rondu, they are not allowed to go into the more influential section. They are assigned an administrator of communication should they have any of their own issues, and that same administrator reviews all communications from the Main Authority before they are sent on to Starbase Omega One.
Many in Vulpinian society know that Pau Theta II has problems, and even the global government has been trying to help change things, offering suggestions how to make relations more friendly, but the ruling powers of Rondu don’t really care about changing at all.
None of this includes the conditions which the main indigenous population of Pau Theta II has endured.
Yes, there is a native population of the planet, though they aren’t as simple and backward as some might think. They are considered a threat by Rondu ruling class, and have branded them terrorists. This native population is called the Chiroptera, nicknamed the Flying Foxes. They have gained some sympathy and empathy from the poorer sections of Rondu, but the Flying Foxes have taken a longer time to feel sympathy for them. For many Flying Foxes, they still see any Vulpine or Felanus as an invading oppressor.
So that’s some of what the next story has in store. I realize I have a lot of work ahead of me.
Rocket Fox: Chapter Thirteen
When last we left our story, the cadets of Chattingham academy along with Colonel Tyrell and Captain Mallard were trying to track down Colonel Stigian. Stigian, it had been revealed was attempting to set a bomb at the faculty building, when discovered, he fainted and was taken to the academy medical facility. Meanwhile, Senia Felix has been informed by General Gerring she has been chosen to captain a new breed of starship in order to root out this conspiracy that could affect all of Vulpinia Prime. Why exactly did Stigian faint, and is he in dire medical need? And who will Senia recruit to join her as part of the crew of the latest ship in the fleet; the Nighthawk?
The latest chapter of Rocket Fox: Flight of the Nighthawk is now available. Download and read via pdf reader.
Well, how are they different?
I’ve been asked this question a few times about the different characters in Rocket Fox. How are they different? Usually, at first I think they mean as in their character, their likes and dislikes, how they react to situations. But no, what the question ends up meaning is what is their physical differences.
Well, aside from the obvious (there are three species, one is fox like humanoids, another is cat like humanoids and the third is raccoon like humanoids) there are some major differences in the types of “races” within each species. The Vulpine and the Felanus so far have the most varieties, with the Procylon having very rare differences (mostly because I haven’t completely done a lot of research on raccoons). The Vulpine are made up of different peoples, such as the Arctish, Fennesh, Kit, Auburn and Swift. Each has a different fur colouration, while the Fennesh, who are the smallest of the Vulpine people, are known for their large ears. With the Felanus, there is the Ocata, Lynx, Carac, Serva, Sandicia, and the Sphynx.
Of all the animals I’ve used in Rocket Fox, the Sphynx is the only cat that was purposely bred in domestication. And, the Sphyx was a complete accident. The first Sphyx cat was born in Toronto, Ontario, making it the only domestic cat which has it’s origins in Canada (there is the Russian Sphynx which came after the Canadian Sphynx). The Sphynx is known for being a hairless cat.
In the world of Rocket Fox, the Sphynx are a race of Felanus who live primarily in the island nation of Mayalasia. They call themselves Mayalans, and like the real life animal, they have no fur. When the first Vulpine and Felanus explorers met the Mayalans, they believed the island chain to be a quarantine zone for those Felanus (believed to be mostly Sandicians) who were suffering from one of the worst diseases known across Vulpinia Prime; the Mange. It wasn’t until much later that they realized they did not in fact suffer from Mange, but were hairless to begin with. The Sphynx are a very curious, inquisitive and intelligent race of Felanus. Not many join the ranks for the space fleet or the global military, but Sphynx are known for their use of the sciences. Many of the medical breakthroughs of Vulpinia Prime began thanks to common practises with the Sphynx people. The Sphynx are not usually known for their love of snowy climates, which may be a reason why not many join the RVAF. One of the survival classes at any academy is to hike for three weeks during winter in the northern areas of Kanata. Keeping warm is a very important thing during this time.
There will be a character coming up in the Rocket Fox story who will be one of the fighter pilots on board the Nighthawk who is Sphynx. Her name will be Chloe Grivana, and she’ll be a bit of a show off, but will prove she’s more than capable of the task at hand and becomes a very valuable member of the crew of the Nighthawk.
Did you know?
Yeah, it’s been a while, so here’s a random round of shameless self promotion.
Books are a passion of mine. Both reading and writing. I’ve written a good number of words in my years (even counting duplicate words, somewhere over 500,000, which is more words than Shakespeare wrote), and I’ve read even more. I used to have a very large library at one time, and slowly I’ve been getting it back to that which I once had (vandals in Rosetown destroyed most of my books over ten years ago). To see what I’ve added, check out my goodreads profile.
From time to time I’ll post up information about the first book I’ve written, called the Adventures of Black Mask & Pale Rider. Here’s a little synopsis about the book, which is a western/fantasy.
Elven magic meets gunslinger grit. What happens when two elven travellers find themselves in the United States in the middle of the Civil War? The Adventures of Black Mask and Pale Rider tells the story of two elven women who’s curiosity gets the better of them.The wild ride takes them from the Union to the Confederacy and back again. Along the way they make enemies and friends and learn a little bit about this world, and about themselves. An adventure of six guns and sorcery.
The Adventures of Black Mask & Pale Rider isn’t the only book I’ve written, Canyons of Steel is also available. Here’s a quick synopsis.
What happens when an old gun hand makes a decision to turn his life around and set a new course? In Canyons of Steel, Johnathon Tiberius Walker makes the choice of turning his back on the underground military of the Red Hand and try to make right his own sins. All because he wants his daughter to live in a better world than he does.
Both my first book, Black Mask & Pale Rider, and my second book, Canyons of Steel, are available for purchase online through many different online book sellers.
Lulu.com (where both books were published)
- Tim Holtorf Author Spotlight the front page store for my books on lulu.com.
Amazon.com (both in paperback and in kindle versions)
Amazon.co.uk (both in paperback and in kindle versions)
Amazon.ca (price not listed and currently out of stock)
Barnes & Noble (for the Nook)
iTunes iBook store
Finally, last but not least, is a current work. I’m posting it as I write it, so it’s all in first draft (complete with spelling errors and a few grammatical errors). It’s called Rocket Fox: Flight of the Nighthawk, and can be read in it’s entirety at wattpad.
Sometimes dreams don’t turn out the way one hopes. For the citizens of Vulpinia Prime, many dream of the race to the stars. For Left-tenant Senia Felix, it’s to become a fighter pilot in the Royal Vulpine Air Corps. But as events happen, she soon discovers that her dream of space will take a completely different direction aboard a vessel called the Nighthawk.
Readin’ stuff!
I’ve been working on a few posts on tumblr for Black History Month, which I might share here because it’s history and history is cool. But I also have a couple of new entries over on Wattpad as well.
The Rocket Fox Appendix which contains entries for terminology, ships, cities, countries, and various other things mentioned in the first book of Rocket Fox: Flight of the Nighthawk.
Black Mask & Pale Rider: The Tales of Terra Kal. I posted up an old story there, which most here are familiar with, How I Wish I Were In Sherbrooke Now.
Science Fiction – Rocket Fox: Flight of the Nighthawk – Wattpad
Science Fiction – Rocket Fox: Flight of the Nighthawk – Wattpad.
Chapter Four is now available on Wattpad for reading. Did you also know that this is the eve of another writing event? Starting February 1st it’s the February Writer’s Challenge. 1000 words per day. 28,000 words in total for the month. That’s an attainable goal.
The February Writer’s Challenge, at least when I was introduced to it, was something that Zombie Chronicles author James Melzer had announced. Sort of a motivator to get writing.
Science Fiction – Rocket Fox: Flight of the Nighthawk – Wattpad
Science Fiction – Rocket Fox: Flight of the Nighthawk – Wattpad.
Each chapter of Rocket Fox will be posted to wattpad. They’ll be posted up each weekday morning, Monday to Friday.
Random stuff
Adventures in winter
My car last night. Wednesdays I always work late. Usually I don’t get home until eight or nine. Last night I plugged away hard and got everything I needed to get done by eight. An hour and a half earlier I had brushed off my car and let it run a little bit, knowing it was going to be cold. An hour and a half later, I walked outside to this sight. My car, covered in snow.
It was snowing and windy, which made for great blowing snow. According to Environment Canada, we’re supposed to have upwards of 25 centimeters by the end of the weekend.
I live in Saskatchewan, a region of the world where winters are very cold and summers can be very hot. I’ve lived through winters where the over night low never rose above -40, and I’ve seen summers where the day time high was +40 (that’s 104 Fahrenheit). And that’s not the highest, nor the coldest, the temperature has ever been in this province. The hottest day in Saskatchewan was July 5, 1937, in Midale and Yellowgrass, Saskatchewan with a national record high of +45. That record still stands. The coldest temperature in Saskatchewan dates back over 100 years to 1893, when the City of Prince Albert hit a chilly -53. That was still 10 degrees hotter than the all time record low of -63 in Snag, Yukon back in 1947. Between the record high and the record low in Saskatchewan, however, there’s a difference of 90 degrees.
But knowing all of that, it still doesn’t make the current -14 feel any warmer.
Rocket Fox
I’m getting back into it slowly. My resolution for 2013 is to finish and edit the first book in the Rocket Fox adventures (and maybe the second, but one step at a time). Chapter 13 is coming along nicely and Chapter 14 has a good layout to work on. By Chapter 15, the Nighthawk herself will be introduced, so I’m quite happy.
I keep pushing back the fact that I know full well the second draft of this will require adding some extra bits to include some of the other characters who were added last minute and give them a bigger spotlight than before. This is becoming more and more apparent ever since this story went from being about three pilots to the entire 50 person crew of an escort class battle ship. Other things are going to need some research for the future, like getting certain things to sound right (or at least good) such as what kind of propulsion system they have, shields, fuel and so on. I do like the idea of adding an appendix at the back, however, in order to give full explanations for certain things like historical events that are mentioned (Great Lupine Land War), the different species of Vulpinia Prime, and slang terms (By the Great Mother).
One thing I am planning on doing something different which is sort of a bit of an homage to past scientists in the field of astrophysics. But I’m planning on making anagrams out of names like Carl Sagan, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Christian Doppler (who coined the term Doppler Effect) for special buildings, memorials and even ships. As an example, there will be a ship that will show up soon in the story that is a science class vessel called the RVAF Oliver Cando Naid, usually dubbed “The Oliver”. Points to anyone who can find out the anagram. Also, the character of Nelson Tyrel will have his name changed; Nelson Ray Strigseed. All other aspects, such as Nelson being a colonel in the Royal Vulpine Armed Forces, as well as a professor of astrophysics at Chattingham Academy, will remain the same. More points if you can solve the anagram.
Two things to talk about, but not much else as it’s a slow week. And really, all there is to discuss is the weather and how awesome it would be to be anywhere warm which does not happen to be here.
World Building: Rocket Fox and the Procylon
Holy crap, it’s a new world building section for Rocket Fox! Yes, I come up with ideas even in the midst of writing. Which will help come second draft. And third. Etc.
I’ve mentioned the Vulpine and Felanus being two species on Vulpinia Prime, the main planet of this interstellar story. But, there is another group and they’ll be featured in Chapter 13 of Rocket Fox: Flight of the Nighthawk. As a matter of fact, there will end up being five members that will join Captain Senia Felix and the crew of the Nighthawk. After all, a ship needs her medical staff, and needs someone to tend to the galley.
The Procylon
What exactly are the Procylon as a species? Just look below.
That’s a happy clapping raccoon. Raccoon’s are from the family Procyonidae, for which I coined the term Procylon. Procyonidae includes raccons, ringtails, and coatis among others. Raccoons go even further with the genus and species Procyon P. Iotor. The members of the Procyonidae family, like foxes, are omnivores. So there’s another creature you can use to dispel the argument “there are no such things as omnivores”.
For the story Rocket Fox, the Procylon are a rather secluded species that cover a large eastern continent of Vulpinia Prime. Rarely do they leave their home, and are just integrating themselves into other cultures after centuries of segregation. Originally, both the Vulpine and Felanus considered the Procylon untrustworthy and felt that any encounter with a member of the species would mean something would have gone missing. It was a long held stereotype that Procylon were, in fact, thieves.
Quite the contrary, actually, as for generations the Procylon had developed a very strict culture. After dealing with a solving their own societal problems, they came to realize that neither a patriarchal nor matriarchal system worked for them. Unlike the Vulpine and Felanus who have both embraced a matriarchal society, the Procylon have developed what has been dubbed a mated pair society. When Procylon mate, it’s of their own choosing, but they mate for life. And while together, both male and female hold the same position. If at some point in their lives one chooses to study astrophysics, the mated pair will discuss it and if both find it of interest both will enter that field of study. It’s not unusual to find a pair of Procylon working together in any vocation. This is even how their system of government works. Whereas The Ocata Nation still has a monarchy, and Foxburrow has a parliamentary system, the Procylon consider themselves a Republic, and elect members to a House and Senate. The noted thing is that citizens aren’t electing just one member to each seat in a district, but two. Procylon law states that any member of government must be involved in a mated pairing. Therefore, their system of government, right up to their co-Presidents, is split 50-50 male and female. Both sexes have an equal say in the day to day running of governmental affairs. Even their ambassadors are mated pairs.
From time to time, exceptional Procylon will seek positions among the Royal Vulpine Armed Forces deep space ships. Recently, it’s become very valuable having Procylon on board a deep space vessel, especially doctors. Procylonia has one of the finest medical academies in all the planet. Many ships in the fleet have full Procylon medical staff. Another aspect that the Procylon have done well in is diet and nutrition. And many of the finest chefs of Vulpinia Prime have come from Procylon.
Not all Procylon go into a career as a mated pair. Some remain single, choosing to work alone and find their own way in the world. Many find this easier, allowing them to choose careers without long discussions with a mate.
And there you have it. Chapter 13 of Rocket Fox will introduce this species along with four members to start, which will comprise the medical staff of the Nighthawk.
Rocket Fox – Full Chapter Download
It’s been eleven chapters now posted, it’s the midway point of the story. This first book in the Rocket Fox series. If you’ve just joined the adventure, you can download all eleven chapters in a handy pdf format right from the Rocket Fox/Swift Fox page, or just download all eleven chapters as put together in this handy pdf.
Rocket Fox – Flight of the Nighthawk
Only eleven (or so) chapters to go in this first book. Things have changed from the original write up and plot outline, and soon all of that will be revealed.
Related articles
- Rocket Fox: the second half (taholtorf.wordpress.com)
- Writing: Rocket Fox – the soundtrack (taholtorf.wordpress.com)
- Writing: Rocket Fox and Gerring and Pitts (taholtorf.wordpress.com)
- Rocket Fox: Let the games begin (taholtorf.wordpress.com)
- Writing: Switching gears (taholtorf.wordpress.com)
Rocket Fox – Chapter Eleven
There is a spy among the faculty of Chattingham Academy. And it’s drawn the attention of one of the top ranked members of the Royal Vulpine Armed Forces. Will Senia Felix b e able to discover evidence before General Natalie Gerring arrives from Starbase Omega One?
Rocket Fox – Chapter Ten
As the graduation ceremonies draw closer, the semi final for the championship rough ball begins. House Ocelot against House Fennec. As the cadets take the field, members of the faculty put a plan in motion to get some backup in bringing a betrayer out into the light.
