If you are getting lost between Alpha Centauri and Luhman 16, you may ask Tim (a.k.a theidiotmachine) for directions. He knows many great planets and systems to visit.

Let's see what else he'd share with us.

Dear Tim
We are glad to have you on board for this SciFi Relay adventure.
And we want to thank you for spending this moment with us for this interview.

Tell us a bit about yourself, your journey as a writer and your foray into the Orange part of the web (a.k.a. Wattpad)

I'd done some writing a long time ago, wrote the obligatory first novel that didn't get published and a handful of short stories. It was, of course, lockdown that got me back into it. I put the stories up on Wattpad, and started writing longer and longer stuff. Now I'm in the process of self-publishing my first book, Edit Like You Stole It! That should be out early next year.

1, 2, 3... Tell us about ONE story you would have wanted to write, TWO authors you admire, who inspire you.... THREE characters who often come into your mind when you start a new story...

One story -- A Scanner Darkly by Philip K Dick. This novel blew my adolescent mind away, and it got put back together very differently. I still write tributes to PKD and the grimy, immanent world portrayed in that book.

Two authors -- N. K. Jemisin, the finest living writer of fantasy. Go and read the Fifth Season, it's the best fantasy book ever written. I wish I had half her talent. Then, Ursula K. Le Guin, who wrote the Earthsea books. These are three books for children and then three further books for those same children once they had become adults. She has a great warmth where she tells the little stories of ordinary people in a great fantasy world, while gently asking sharp questions about this one.

Three characters -- Oh, I don't tend to work like that! Um, let me think of three that might have influenced me, though.

Deckard from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. The weird virtual reality religion from that book didn't make it into the movie, which is a pity because it was one of the bits which stayed with me, how this cold bounty hunter had a faith.

Susan Calvin from Isaac Asimov's robot stories. Asimov was terrible at characters, but Calvin had an unusual depth. She's interesting because she's a female lead who solves everything with her mind: she's always one step ahead of all the men around her, and never seduces or kicks anyone to get what she needs, just uses iron logic and willpower. 

Lastly, the biologist from Jeff VanderMeer's Annihilation. That and its sequels are all about understanding your sense of self in a world literally gone mad, and the biologist is a wonderful portrayal of someone wrestling with her own identity through grief and the unknown. We learn all this, and yet we never find out her name.

What made you want to participate in the relay?

I participated because the last one was so much fun, and I made some wonderful friends!

How did you find the experience?

I wasn't as involved this time because of some personal reasons, which was sad. But I managed to help with some of the world building, and I enjoy that.

What challenged you the most in this venture? Something that maybe brought you out of your writer's comfort zone?

I find planning really hard, and the way that Jinn puts these together is so clever. I'm thinking of using the same technique for one of my projects, just to try and get some structure around the way I write. I'm experimenting with planning software.

Something we are most curious about... How about you give us a little teaser of your part in this story? A sentence or two that will keep us on our toes and impatiently wait reading your chapter?

I'm just here for the vibes, dude.

And while we are feeling the tease, as we consider the Science Fiction genre, we are all expecting wondrous worlds and weird alien species... Can you tell us about one element you brought to the Relay, one element you created for this story? It may be an alien race, a location in space, or maybe a special technology... Tell us about this special character, object, environment or settings you built up for your part in the story. What was your inspiration for it?

The thing I'm the most proud of is Talalt station! It wasn't my idea, I just named it, but I wanted the place to be as much of a character as the people and aliens, and so I loved adding to the flavour of this seedy part of the galaxy.

And just to make it even more understandable. This little part of yourself you added to make the story even greater, can you give us a definition as if it was an entry in The Great Dictionary of Science Fiction?

Talalt station: one of the sketchier parts of the Orion arm. Keep your weapons close, enjoy the noodles, and have a nice day!

What is happening on this station? Let's read Chapter 8.Enjoy!