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Nuklear Age Frequently Asked Questions! |
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Q: what is Nuklear Age?
A: It's a book I "finished" writing in December of 2000. I've been dreading/putting off the editing and proofreading and re-editing process ever since. But I got tired of feeling like crap for not having really completed it, so finishing it has been a major priority since early 2003. Due to numerous set backs, including but not limited to, people dying, the editing process was significantly delayed. But all that is behind us now 'cause you can buy Nuklear Age!
Q: All right, enough of your self promotion, you money whore, what's Nuklear Age about?
A: Isn't this whole thing self promotion? Anyway, it's a book about a group of superheroes who aren't very good at what they do. And 8-bit theater is about a group of fantasy heroes who aren't very good at what they do. I guess you could say that the theme of my work is "incompetence" which only makes sense since it's something I'm very familiar with personally.
Q: Superheroes, huh? So I guess I won't get most of the jokes unless I know all kinds of annoying comic book trivia?
A: Lord, I hope not. One of the most appealing things about 8BT is that it draws from a lot of different geeky niche interests -- because I have a lot of geeky interests -- to tell an interesting story with lots of jokes that aren't so narrow in scope that you have to know crap like the how many attacks a 17th level monk can pull off in D&D 3.5 or whatever. Where do you think I learned to do that? From writing my book. The only thing you have to know about superheroes to enjoy my book is that they are often strong, they like loud clothing, they can usually fly, and they fight villains.
Q: Okay, what if I think superheroes are really lame?
A: First, in regards to superheroes in general, I suggest you read The Authority, Planetary, and the all-too-short-lived Mr. Majestic titles. These books make superheroes epic and cool. Second, in regards to my book specifically, I wouldn't worry about it too much. The emphasis is on the characters. The superpowers are only there to give the world a greater potential for comedy.
Q: Well, it's got superheroes, so is this thing a graphic novel or what?
A: Nope, it's all words.
I can't really call it a regular "novel" though either. It's more like a collection of short stories that all happen to star the same characters and all happen to be arranged in chronological order. In other words, I wrote it in an episodic format (like 8BT or regular print comics) and that's how it's meant to be read.
Q: Okay, so who are the characters?
A: The main characters are Nuklear Man, the primary "Superman" style hero, and his sidekick Atomik Lad who is also known as Sparky, much to his chagrin. The supporting cast consists of Rachel the non-stereotypical love interest, Mighty Metallic Magno Man, Angus the Iron Scotsman, Shiro the Tetsu Samurai, The Minimum Wage Warriors, Dr. Genius, and more. Against them are villains such as The Socially Maladjusted Overvillains Without a Name, Superion, and the nefarious arch-fiend Dr. Menace just to name a few.
Q: And what do all these people do?
A: Well, Nuklear Man and Atomik Lad live in the Silo of Solitude -- which is much more crowded than the name implies -- which is located outside of the city, Metroville, which is constantly in the grip of peril and/or danger by acts of villainy and the cosmos. Nuke and Sparky, with the help of their buddies, defend Metroville against everything from giant monsters to giant corporate plots to incompetent drive-thru window workers. It's a lot like the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with superheroes instead of Sci-Fi.
Q: So why should I buy this book?
A: Well, if you like 8-bit theater, then you'll probably like this book too. Think of it as a 600 page long joke.
Q: When will it be available and how can I get it?
A: It's available now!. You can pick it up at online bookstores such as Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com. Of the two, it seems that B&N has a tendency to get the book to you a little faster, but either way you'll be set. If it's not on the shelves of your favorite local bookstore, you can ask them to order it for you. They'll want the ISBN so write it down: 0595325114. Lastly you can get copies from me personally at any conventions I go to from now on. They'll be a few bucks cheaper that way and you can get them signed.
Q: How much will it cost?
A: Nuklear Age retails for $32.95 in paperback or $42.95 in hardcover (available in the next few days!). I know that sounds like a lot, 'cause it is, but consider the following. The book is 6 inches wide, 9 inches tall, and over 660 pages long. You're not just buying a book, you're buying a blunt instrument of pain. If it were up to me, it'd be much cheaper, but the publisher decides these things. They're obsessed with this idea of not going bankrupt.
Q: I'm one of your legion of your readers who happens to be a foreign devil, will I be able to get your book?
A: Yup! If you live in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, or Japan there's an Amazon for you, so that's no problem. If you don't like ordering things online, you ought to be able to pick it up at most local franchise bookstores. You may have to ask them to order it for you though (remember, ISBN: 0595325114). I'm not sure if you'll have to pay a little extra since the book will have to be shipped very far to reach you, so be sure to ask about any extra charges.
Q: Will I be able to order, say, special signed copies through nuklearpower.com?
A: Yes. The availability of signed copies may be somewhat limited, however. Say, 100 or so restocked every one or two months. Signed copies may cost a few bucks extra to cover the cost of shipping large quantities of books from my publisher to me to my online store to you. That's basically up to the Post Office though and we'll see what we can do to keep the extra shipping costs as low as possible.
Q: What if I want my signed copy to be personalized?
A: In that case, you should either wait to buy the book from me at a convention (or bring a copy you've already bought elsewhere) or buy the book through one of the online sources and then contact me through e-mail  . If you pursue the latter, then you'll have to pay to ship the book to me and then to have it shipped back to you. It's the more expensive choice, so you may want to wait for a convention.
Q: What if I can't order things online? How will I be able to get your book?
A: Easy. Just go to any local bookstore and ask them if they have my book. When they tell you that they don't, ask 'em if they'll order for you. They'll want the ISBN which is 0595325114.
Q: Where can I go for more information in the meantime?
A: The news updates at nuklearpower.com will have links and information to anything important that develops. In the meantime, if you have more questions, send them to . That way, I can know what else you guys want to know and include it here for everyone else.
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