It's Jeb's dream come true! Star Trek meets Smokey and the Bandit
Oct 13, 2023 3:31 pm
TL:DR
- Behind the Scenes with Space Traipse 7
- Space Traipse 7 Scene
October is a busy month. This week, I'm in Colorado Springs with Rob for his 35 Air Force Academy reunion! I'm making a brief online appearance Sat Oct 4 at LegendHaven to talk humor and worldbuilding, if anyone wants to join and say Hi. It's free.
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 7
“Erst Bound and Down”: The Impulsive plays “Smokey and the Bandit” when they have to run a blockade. Erst is in dire need of grain to stop a famine, but the Smo’qui, a federation of fanatics who believe the only humane food is replicated, try to stop them every which way they can.
Behind the Scenes from Space Traipse 7 "Erst Bound and Down"
I got a lot of my sense of humor from my Dad. We grew up on funny country music songs like Wolf Creek Pass, and of course Smokey and the Bandit movies.
Dad was a Colorado State Patrolman for 30 years. During the CB radio phase, he was given the name "Super Bear" by the truckers because he was so good at catching speeders. He ran the Pueblo 100 chasing a couple of Mustangs through town (on some of the curviest parts of I-25, never going under 100 mph). And he loved Smokey and the Bandit.
So when I decided to make a story to try out Amazon Vella, it seemed like the perfect fit. Jeb would be the trucker, with Cruz playing the decoy in a souped-up hot-rod of a shuttle. What I didn't expect was Ellie showing her conniving side.
It was so much fun trying to fit all the chase-and-hide scenes from the highways of the US South to deep space. The biggest challenge was to keep it exciting--after all, watching a Firebird leap a ravine is more interesting than reading about it. Fortunately, the latest Star Trek animated (Lower Decks and Prodigy) gave me some great ideas.
Amazon Vella is an interesting interface for serial stories and "Erst Bound and Down" never did well, so I pulled it for this collection.
Scene from Space Traipse 7 "They Grow So Fast"
One of the pivotal Smokey and the Bandit scenes is when Bandit picks up a hitchhiker, whose fiance's father is the local law. I love this scene because Phineas, a Doctor Who fan, bursts out "Is she ginger?" this is a nod to Doctor Who "The Runaway Bride" with Donna Noble, and I did not expect it. I'm pretty sure, I had to stop for a few minutes to laugh.
“You picked up a passenger?” Jeb said flatly.
Cruz’s reply was full of static, but it didn’t hide the exasperation in his voice. “No, sir! I was passing by. I had to slow down because of the change in currents, and she just teleported on. This was a-not my idea! She’s wearing a wedding dress, and she’s really bossy—”
“Is she ginger?” Phin blurted.
“Sir? No. She’s brunette. And she doesn’t stop talking, but she doesn’t say much. I think she’s running from someone. She’s in the back, changing clothes, which is why I’m calling now for instructions.”
Jeb frowned as he considered their options. There weren’t many. “Does she have any technology on her? Something that might give away our mission.”
“I’d have not called if I thought so, Captain. I scanned her. It’s just her and a bag of clothes and money and a serving platter.”
“Looks like she’s going to Erst, like it or not, then. We can’t afford to slow down and drop her off. We can figure out what to do with her then.”
“She’s coming.”
“Do what you have to to keep her under control. Impulsive out.”
When the comms ended, Jeb turned to his friend. “Is she ginger,” he scoffed.