Brown Bear Picnic
I'm finally into the climax of Cold Witness. The chapter entitled BEAR TRAP has come up and clobbered me on the ear, way before I'm ready for it.
This is the point where the borders between fact and fiction become very indistinct. Almost everything that happens in this chapter is based directly on real events--the crazy stuff that happened over Christmas 1980. There really was a meteor shower, and the Cosmos 749 satellite (a.k.a "Brown Bear") really did change course suddenly during re-entry and break up over East Anglia. I've got to the point where I'm having to check and re-check my research data, comparing it with the stuff I'm writing. I've even got the exact re-entry bearing of the satellite built into the dialogue (example):
Foyle scratched his head. 'What's the current target bearing, Doctor?'
Doctor Morgan checked his monitor. '74 degrees, 19 degrees off the horizon. Orbit is degrading at a rate of one degree every thirty seconds. It'll be out of range in seven minutes, sir.'
Right now, I'm spending as much time researching as I am writing; the perils of writing a book based so closely on reality. I'm not too worried, though. I actually think it gives the story a great feeling of depth.
(Oh yes, and more fun stuff follows. Doctor Morgan's radar telemetry indicates that Cosmos 749 has entirely burned up--well, almost entirely. The nuclear motor is heading directly towards Orfordness, and with the bunker under three foot of water and badly irradiated, they've got nowhere to hide. Yay! More yummy conflict!)
I'm finally into the climax of Cold Witness. The chapter entitled BEAR TRAP has come up and clobbered me on the ear, way before I'm ready for it.
This is the point where the borders between fact and fiction become very indistinct. Almost everything that happens in this chapter is based directly on real events--the crazy stuff that happened over Christmas 1980. There really was a meteor shower, and the Cosmos 749 satellite (a.k.a "Brown Bear") really did change course suddenly during re-entry and break up over East Anglia. I've got to the point where I'm having to check and re-check my research data, comparing it with the stuff I'm writing. I've even got the exact re-entry bearing of the satellite built into the dialogue (example):
Foyle scratched his head. 'What's the current target bearing, Doctor?'
Doctor Morgan checked his monitor. '74 degrees, 19 degrees off the horizon. Orbit is degrading at a rate of one degree every thirty seconds. It'll be out of range in seven minutes, sir.'
Right now, I'm spending as much time researching as I am writing; the perils of writing a book based so closely on reality. I'm not too worried, though. I actually think it gives the story a great feeling of depth.
(Oh yes, and more fun stuff follows. Doctor Morgan's radar telemetry indicates that Cosmos 749 has entirely burned up--well, almost entirely. The nuclear motor is heading directly towards Orfordness, and with the bunker under three foot of water and badly irradiated, they've got nowhere to hide. Yay! More yummy conflict!)
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