What sort of a mystery book store would there be on Hypatia? It culd be retro, of course, really having paper books. That's one thought. Another could be some sort of virtual experience for the hip people who come there. But I'm reaching for something else.
Here's what I know so far: The place has a name. I'm very excited about this. Names have always been hard for me. I don't have that clever streak, or at least, I never let it out. But I did think of a name: Crime Wave. It's a pirate ship anchored in the Nile-like river on Hypatia. In fact, it's called the Nile. I'm wondering if it should be called the Red Nile since everything on Hypatia seems to be red like all the old stories about Mars.
When I think of a Pirate ship I think of the one in Dizney Land comlete with parrot and restaurant as it was when I went there in 1957. It's changed since then.
Such a structure would allow for a parrot and a restaurant. Star likes restaurants and that would entice it inside. I'm not at all certain a nystery bookshop would unless, of course, Old Kelly has a hankering to check it out and drags Star along. I'll have to think about that because they both need to be there.
It is aboard the Crime Wave, having something to do with fictional mysteries, that STar and Old Kelly come to go to the Third Cataract. I'll have to ponder some more to see how this all comes together.
Of course! Star thinks of itself as a pirate and so would want to tour a "real" pirate ship. That is when some folks tell STar there are real pirates on the Red Nile. STar wants to meet them and a plan to go up the Red Nile is hatched.
There's a lot of work to be done here since the group that goes up the Red Nile will be the characters I have to work with for most of the novel unless they encounter another group or aliens who can survive the hostile, read deadly, conditions on Hypatia.
Well, this post is hardly a gem of writing but the exercise has been worthwhile.
