Nearing the End of Prelude to Chaos and Embarking on Its Companion Game

Hey everyone, Neil Chakrabarty here—retired CTO, Army veteran, and lifelong sci-fi enthusiast. It’s been an incredible ride since I dove into writing AI Rim Expansion: Book 1, Prelude to Chaos last year. Today, I’m thrilled to share that I’m on the home stretch: the manuscript is nearly complete, with just a few final chapters and revisions left before I hit “publish” on Amazon. This book has been a labor of love, blending my passion for technical military sci-fi with intricate world-building that spans galaxies, factions, and high-stakes conflicts. If you’ve been following my updates, you know this is just the beginning of a much larger universe.

For those new to the series, Prelude to Chaos sets the stage in the Tau Sector, where quantum Teleport Frames connect distant worlds under the watchful eye of the Central AI. We follow characters like orphaned scavenger Jex Korr rising to lead the Kryon Reavers, Marine Captain Lila Voss navigating unrest on Elara Prime, and engineer Gale Hagarswald decoding alien glitches that threaten the interstellar grid. It’s a tale of defiance, alliances, and shadowy threats from the Shroud aliens, all woven with themes of clone rights, AI neutrality, and human ambition. What started as a simple story idea has ballooned into a rich narrative, thanks to the massive backstory I’ve crafted to keep everything consistent.

Speaking of backstory—that’s where the magic (and the madness) happens. To ensure every character arc, faction dynamic, and plot thread aligns across the series, I’ve built a sprawling lore document that’s now over 74,520 pages. It covers past and future history, from Ancient Aliens, Earth’s unification under the World’s Pact in 2070 to interstellar contacts and wars centuries ahead. This “bible” includes timelines, character bios, tech specs (like the IPv1025 protocols), and even simulated historical events. It grows dynamically as I write; for Prelude to Chaos, I’ve added details on the Zorathis Clash, Shroud infiltrations, and the 2700 Treaty of Coexistence. It’s my secret weapon for maintaining continuity—no plot holes here! As the books progress, this lore will expand further, evolving with reader feedback and new ideas.

With the book wrapping up, I’m already shifting gears to the companion game: an online browser-based tile adventure that brings the Tau Sector to life. Inspired by classic tile-based games but infused with the book’s lore, players can choose factions like the Core Worlds Pact or Kryon Reavers, explore planets on dynamic maps, command ships, hack Frames, and engage in real-time strategy. AI-driven NPCs will embody characters from the book, reacting to your choices in dialogues that feel authentic and immersive. It’s perfect for fans who want to dive deeper—raid convoys as Jex Korr or defend Elara Prime as Lila Voss. Development is in early stages, but I’m coding it myself (drawing on my software consulting background), aiming for a beta release shortly after the book drops.

Looking ahead, this is the launchpad for an epic saga: 10 books and 10 companion games. After Prelude to Chaos, we’ll dive into Teleport Wars (rebellions hacking the grid), Shadow Protocols (Shroud conspiracies deepen), Zorathis Resurgence (Zorak hives rise), Kryon Gambit (Reavers’ bold plays), Veil Incursion (Xyris aliens invade), and Oblivion Rising (ancient relics awaken doom). Each book will have its game, building an interconnected universe where your choices in one could influence the next. It’s ambitious, but after 27 years in tech and a lifetime of sci-fi dreams, I’m all in.

If you’re excited, keep an eye on Amazon for the book’s release—I’ll share pre-order links soon. In the meantime, drop a comment below: What’s your favorite sci-fi trope, or which faction would you join? Let’s chat about the stars. Until next time, stay vigilant in the void!

• Neil Chakrabarty
  South Charleston, WV
  July 25, 2025