An excited apprentice attempts to make a planet for the first time, having watched the making of hundreds. But watching is not the same as doing.

Genre: Science Fiction, Science Fantasy

Excerpt: Nebulous gases shimmered as they swirled past me. Particles crashed and fused. Vapors thickened into plasma and then into liquid. Specks became pebbles. Pebbles became rock. Rock collided with rock…

The layers of the sphere began to close into one sphere, imbued with a strong enough measure of gravity to draw a fine cloak of dust around itself as it spun into place.

What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it's connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. The story that inspired this one, from way back in Season One, is called "Heliotrope," about a device built by hopeful human hands. Fun fact: The character Proto is named for the term "protostar." The character Ring is named so because I have an affinity for ringed planets. (Aside from Earth, my favorite planet is Saturn.)

MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories.

It's now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover.

The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon.

Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE

The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)

Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)

MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE

Music: "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro & Outro) "Cosmic Drifting" by LEE ROSEVERE (Outro

Music by JONATHAN SHAW "A Tale of Peace"

Music by LEE ROSEVERE "Cosmic Drifting" "Puzzle Pieces" "How I Used To See The Stars" "Musical Mathematics" "I Believe in You"

Tracks by Jonathan Shaw and Andrew Sitkov are part of music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Jonathan Shaw and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.

Find more music by Jonathan Shaw and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.uk Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere and leerosevere.bandcamp.com Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital painting. At center, a planet with a dark smooth surface. A pyramidal section has been cut out to show three layers beneath the planet's surface. Two glowing rings surround the planet. Amorphous, plasma-like material swirls around the planet. Watermark of "Storyfeather" curves along planet at bottom.