Origins of Jack Commer

The UR Jack Commer consists of early and later experiments that never made it to the published Jack Commer, Supreme Commander series. Jack's first appearance in the fifth-grade "Voyage to Venus" electrified the author's nine-year-old self and sent him on his writing path. Kid consciousness unfolds in increasing maturity through the first few stories and the abandoned eighth-grade draft of The Martian Marauders. "The Martian Holes" then showcases the author's wild but somehow amusing post-college writing style. The interviews with Jack in "Zorexians" develop a new adult flavor; in addition to finally admitting that he's way in over his head with the sexy, unattainable Jackie Vespertine, Jack also muses on his long acquaintance with the author and critiques his writing procedures. The author eventually integrated child and adult consciousness when he revised the eighth-grade version of The Martian Marauders into a fast-paced adult novel, then wrote a cycle of Jack Commer novels. Michael D. Smith was raised in the Northeast and the Chicago area, then moved to Texas to attend Rice University, where he began developing as a writer and visual artist. His Jack Commer, Supreme Commander and Supreme Commander Laurie science fiction series are published by Sortmind Press. In addition, Sortmind Press has published Smith's literary novels Sortmind, The Soul Institute, CommWealth, Akard Drearstone, Jump Grenade, Asylum and Mirage, The University of Mars, and Zarreich. Smith's web site, sortmind.com, contains further examples of his novels and visual art, and he muses about writing and art processes at blog.sortmind.com. After the Final War, the evacuation of Earth, and battle with Martian terrorists, is eldest brother Jack fit to lead the United System Space Force? A look at the childhood beginnings of the Jack Commer saga, and the further development of the series and its characters.

In the early stages of developing plot and characters for the novel Balloon Ship Armageddon, the seventh and final Jack Commer, Supreme Commander adventure, the author interviewed twelve characters from the previous six books, wanting to know what energies they could bring to the project. Each character got a post on the author's blog over a four-week period, by turns musing, arguing, and pleading with their creator for a chance to star in this last Jack Commer novel. All surprised the author with their eloquence and their concerns, even those characters who were eventually cut from the book. Michael D. Smith was raised in the Northeast and the Chicago area, then moved to Texas to attend Rice University, where he began developing as a writer and visual artist. His Jack Commer, Supreme Commander and Supreme Commander Laurie science fiction series are published by Sortmind Press. In addition, Sortmind Press has published Smith's literary novels Sortmind, The Soul Institute, CommWealth, Akard Drearstone, Jump Grenade, Asylum and Mirage, The University of Mars, and Zarreich. Smith's web site, sortmind.com, contains further examples of his novels and visual art, and he muses about writing and art processes at blog.sortmind.com. After the Final War, the evacuation of Earth, and battle with Martian terrorists, is eldest brother Jack fit to lead the United System Space Force? A look at the childhood beginnings of the Jack Commer saga, and the further development of the series and its characters.