Antigravity

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Robert 'Bob' Smith and his AI pal Felix chart a course through turbulent political waters to bring antigravity technology to maturity. Working with and against entrenched powers to usher in a new industrial age. Opening the solar system for exploration and eventually colonization.

But there are those whose livelihoods, fortunes, and power are based on the status quo. Any massive change threatens that. Join Bob and Felix as they face these and many other challenges, including technical, social, and political. And help find the answer to why Felix keeps wanting to be renamed Sky Net.

Inspired by Robert A. Heinlein's "Let There Be Light."

What to expect:

Some light humor and banter although I am not that funny. I am a retired engineer so the science is based on real theory with some changes to make the story work. Several things in the story are or could be real but have been made less accurate for the story or to keep me from violating an NDA.

As I introduce characters there may be an explanation about them and their world view. This might just be a few lines or it could be a half a chapter. The idea being that the reader (You) understands them enough to understand why they make the decisions they do. It is my belief that ninety percent of humanity doesn't wake up in the morning thinking "I am going to make a stupid decision today" (BTW expect that line in the story it's too good not to use). So, decisions the various characters make as the story progresses actually seem reasoned or emotion based depending on the circumstance. What I dislike in my own reading are decisions being made that make no sense just to push the narrative in a direction the author planned. I won't do that here.

Easter eggs, there will be some from games and books I like.

Any violence will be as accurate as I can make it, but it will not be a focus. If you have read WEB Griffin or Tom Clancy you can expect it along those lines.

What not to expect:

Graphic sex of any kind nor romance currently.

The romance might change, but it isn't planned. As I mentioned above the way I write is I set up the environment and characters personalities', world view, and value systems. Then see what the logical and/or emotional choices would be for a given situation. The story has changed and grown since I started, I would expect this to continue, so I am giving myself a "sea anchor" on the romance.

Release schedule

The release schedule is a chapter a week. The schedule works for me and is the minimum I will release. I occasionally will release more if I get a bigger backlog than 5 chapters.

Feedback

While I know it's going to hurt sometimes, I would love any feedback. I have really put my heart and soul in this. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I am enjoying writing it.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: _None

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 59
Views: 19,562

What readers say about Antigravity

“I love "competence porn" stories like this. Bob isn't a superhero but he's a problem solver. He's good at money, engineering, and even logic. You rooted a lot of it in real science (from acetylene bottles to faraday cages) so when we add in a little of fict…”
SaucingtonRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“I went in not really knowing what to expect and came out pleasantly surprised by how the writing and the characters carried me along. The prose is clean and easy to follow. The author takes time to show process and problem solving without burying the reader…”
ToriLynRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(2)

SaucingtonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I love "competence porn" stories like this. Bob isn't a superhero but he's a problem solver. He's good at money, engineering, and even logic. You rooted a lot of it in real science (from acetylene bottles to faraday cages) so when we add in a little of fiction, the antigravity part, it feels attainable to a guy who can build a vacuum chamber.
I liked how you went with Felix (maybe an Odd Couple moment there). Instead of a cold/logical character (like Data) or an unhinged AI (like HAL 9000), you made him a sarcastic nag. Bob tries to be serious and scientific and Felix undercuts him with snark. It nicely prevents the "lonely protagonist" of him just working alone in a shop. And giving him someone to talk to is a much better way to deliver exposition than just doing 'voiceover'.
Then, linking Felix to his dead wife... every time he works on a project (which is all he has to do with his time), he connects with her legacy. It's a beautiful example of how death doesn't change relationships.
Tropes I loved
The tinkerer.
Deadpan Snarker. This adds levity to what would otherwise be dry technical scenes. It made me want to hug a server rack.
Retired badass. He can fix and design anything and he doesn't trust the military/industrial complex anymore. So I'm sure they're gonna come for his tech and we'll get to see what a badass he is, not a hapless victim.
ToriLynRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I went in not really knowing what to expect and came out pleasantly surprised by how the writing and the characters carried me along.
The prose is clean and easy to follow. The author takes time to show process and problem solving without burying the reader in jargon. Dialogue feels natural and fits the tone of each scene. Grammar is solid overall with only minor slips that never pulled me out.
The cast is the hook. The protagonist comes across as capable and careful rather than a cardboard genius, and the main companion has a clear voice that plays off the MC in a way that makes even planning scenes engaging. Small running jokes and light references add personality without turning the story into a gag reel. No one reads like a flat plot device, which helps the quieter beats land.
The setting works because it feels close to our world. The tech ideas are fun, but they come with tradeoffs and safety concerns that keep the cool moments grounded. It is not hard sci fi, yet it respects cause and effect, so payoffs feel earned. Worldbuilding details show up where they matter and do not slow the pace.
Speaking of pace, it is on the slower side in a good way. The story does not sprint from set piece to set piece. It lets you enjoy the build, the testing, and the choices that lead to the bigger beats. When tension hits, it lands because the groundwork is there.
Overall, a smooth and engaging read with thoughtful craft. If you enjoy character driven stories that respect the nuts and bolts of how things work while leaving room for warmth and humor, this one is easy to recommend.
Also for readers. This story is off meta for the site. It isn’t a standard system grind or power fantasy, so it may have a harder time here. For me, that’s a plus. It’s refreshing to read something that takes a different route and trusts the characters to carry the chapters. Even though I love the genre, I can’t read the thousandth version of an isekai; sometimes you want something with more depth.