What is The Inventor?
The Inventor is my current favorite fiction project. I am absolutely in love with the character of Dr. Cooper and his interactions with my main character and with Lilian. One of my favorite characters of all time!
It's about a young man named David Archer who receives a letter from the mysterious (and known eccentric) Dr. Henry Cooper, a scientist and inventor who is known to be reclusive and is believed to be mad. But Cooper turns David's expectations around upon their first meeting, and David soon begins to question why the Nobanian Council is so hostile towards the brilliant doctor. David's father wants to help Dr. Cooper see a rise to fame and tries everything in his power to get the Council to grant the doctor a patent. But life can get in the way of everything, and so it does in the lives of the Archer father and son. Relationships will bloom, tragedies will befall, and friendships will be forged and broken.
What is the genre?
The genre is a splice of both Science Fiction and Historical Fiction, plus Fantasy. It's a genre well-known as steampunk, which is taking Victorian times and adding modern technology to it--- but making it look like it came from the time period itself! Common objects related to steampunk are goggles and gears, but simply adding one of these items to a character does not make that character "punk'd". Steampunk and its relatives (i.e. Dieselpunk) all fit under the title of "retrofuture".
Characters
The Inventor doesn't have many characters, but it has connectable ones. Human, deeply relatable characters amid the sci-fi makes for a believable story. Yes, there are people like Dr. Cooper out there, as odd as he is.
Dr. Henry Cooper
Referred to as: Cooper; Dr. Cooper; Henry
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Physical Appearance: Tall and thin, with large, calloused hands and a huge mess of curly red hair. Expressive pale blue eyes, and blind in the right one. Walks with a limp and carries a truly fascinating cane named the Falcon's Claw.
Personality: Introverted and prone to being reclusive. On the other hand, he can be excitable and is highly energetic. Very loyal to those he calls his friends. He's eccentric and has many bad habits, but he's also brilliant and determined. Also a talented artist.
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Physical Appearance: Tall and thin, with large, calloused hands and a huge mess of curly red hair. Expressive pale blue eyes, and blind in the right one. Walks with a limp and carries a truly fascinating cane named the Falcon's Claw.
Personality: Introverted and prone to being reclusive. On the other hand, he can be excitable and is highly energetic. Very loyal to those he calls his friends. He's eccentric and has many bad habits, but he's also brilliant and determined. Also a talented artist.
David Elliot Archer
Referred to as: David
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Physical Appearance: Handsome, with chocolate-colored hair and deep brown eyes. Wears shades of brown in his clothing, but later wears a dark red jacket as a visible "change-of-outlook" on life.
Personality: A factual thinker and a studious learner. After becoming apprentice to Dr. Cooper, he expands his knowledge of both science and of people, his experiences with the doctor making him more open to the problems of the world around him.
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Physical Appearance: Handsome, with chocolate-colored hair and deep brown eyes. Wears shades of brown in his clothing, but later wears a dark red jacket as a visible "change-of-outlook" on life.
Personality: A factual thinker and a studious learner. After becoming apprentice to Dr. Cooper, he expands his knowledge of both science and of people, his experiences with the doctor making him more open to the problems of the world around him.
Miss Lilian Cartigan
Referred to as: Lilian
Gender: Female
Age: 20
Physical Appearance: Small and pretty, with dark hair pulled up into a bun and blue eyes. Most often seen wearing a housekeeper's outfit, but wears a green dress on occasions.
Personality: Lilian tries to be courteous and ladylike, but she is a real tomboy at heart and often acts in ways that are quite off for a young lady. She bonds very quickly to people she believes need a little friendship. She refers to Cooper by his first name, hinting at a deeper relationship than what is initially presented to the reader.
Gender: Female
Age: 20
Physical Appearance: Small and pretty, with dark hair pulled up into a bun and blue eyes. Most often seen wearing a housekeeper's outfit, but wears a green dress on occasions.
Personality: Lilian tries to be courteous and ladylike, but she is a real tomboy at heart and often acts in ways that are quite off for a young lady. She bonds very quickly to people she believes need a little friendship. She refers to Cooper by his first name, hinting at a deeper relationship than what is initially presented to the reader.
Cyril Adsen Archer
Referred to as: Cyril
Gender: Male
Age: 42-45
Physical Appearance: Short, gray-haired, and has blue eyes. He is David's father but shares no real physical traits with his son.
Personality: Polite and intelligent, and brings up his son in the same way. He has a deep sense of justice and fairness, resulting from his time as a judge. Serves as one of David's closest confidants. Will do anything in his power to help Dr. Cooper, whom he believes has been wronged by the Council.
Gender: Male
Age: 42-45
Physical Appearance: Short, gray-haired, and has blue eyes. He is David's father but shares no real physical traits with his son.
Personality: Polite and intelligent, and brings up his son in the same way. He has a deep sense of justice and fairness, resulting from his time as a judge. Serves as one of David's closest confidants. Will do anything in his power to help Dr. Cooper, whom he believes has been wronged by the Council.
Gillian O'Daniel
Referred to as: Gillian; Gillian O'Daniel; the shopkeeper
Gender: Male
Age: 48-50
Physical appearance: Heavyset, with graying rusty-red hair. Almost always seen with a grin on his face. Dark blue eyes.
Personality: Childlike, outgoing and friendly. It's these traits that allow him to befriend almost anybody who comes by his shop. Kids especially love him. He has an uncanny knowledge and interest in the reclusive doctor of Warren Street. Could Gillian also have an unknown tie to Dr. Cooper? And if so, what is it?
Gender: Male
Age: 48-50
Physical appearance: Heavyset, with graying rusty-red hair. Almost always seen with a grin on his face. Dark blue eyes.
Personality: Childlike, outgoing and friendly. It's these traits that allow him to befriend almost anybody who comes by his shop. Kids especially love him. He has an uncanny knowledge and interest in the reclusive doctor of Warren Street. Could Gillian also have an unknown tie to Dr. Cooper? And if so, what is it?