So, I got called up for jury duty in the middle of a pandemic lockdown. That was a surreal experience.
This is actually the second time since they called me up last year in the middle of the UK’s first lockdown, but that one got cancelled because they hadn’t figured out how to actually hold trials safely. This time, they had, which is good because they apparently have a massive backlog of cases to get through. It’s a good system too. Instead of turning up and waiting to be put on a jury, they get you registered on the first day (in glorious social distanced isolation), and then you call a number each evening to see whether you should come in the next day. In the courtroom, we all sat there wearing masks with plastic shields on three sides, and you always had to use the same seat and desk to avoid potential cross-contamination. Seriously, if this was in a novel, people would call it unrealistic. We all nearly died of hypothermia because the courthouse was so cold, but catching COVID was unlikely.
All in all, since I spent most of the time at home waiting to be needed, this should not have affected my work very much. Except… I got about an hour’s sleep the night before the first day. I didn’t do much better the next night, and that was followed by sleeping through my alarm for several days in a row as my body tried to catch up. (Seriously, I have no idea how I can sleep through that. It shouldn’t be possible.) My brain is much. Stress, I suppose, though I couldn’t say I felt stressed once it was started. I couldn’t concentrate properly, and I’m still trying to get my head back in the right space. I ended up starting a new project for a bit because I couldn’t work out where I wanted the one I’m supposed to be writing to go.
Which means I have a new book partially started. Titans (the image above is the primary protagonist) will become the replacement superhero series when Ultrahumans comes to an end with the next book (whenever that happens). I’ve taken Cygnus and co about as far as I can. I have some plot threads to resolve and then I’ll be calling an end. Titans is a post-apocalyptic superhero setting, if superheroes can really be said to exist after the end of the world as we know it. Meanwhile, Verification of Intent is still slated as the next book out, though if things keep going as they are, I might end up promoting Titans to that slot. It’ll mean a delay after Sign of the Dragon (which is pencilled in for the 29th of March), but we’ll see how things go. At the moment, I’m trying to plot both Verification of Intent and Titans at the same time. I have two timelines open! I’m mad! Jury duty has driven me insane! (Though I was probably insane before…)
Oh, this all assumes the COVID vaccination doesn’t kill me. I was invited to book an appointment today, so I get my first jab in a couple of weeks. Bill Gates will be able to track me wherever I go (not that he couldn’t anyway if he had the slightest interest in doing so). What other awesomely stupid conspiracy theories could I invoke here? With the way my brain is working at the moment, I may even be persuaded to believe them.
Witches and Ray-Guns 
None of my family members have keeled over from getting the COVID vaccine so far, so I think you’ll be ok. As far as jury duty goes, I’ve been called twice. First time I was empaneled. We returned a guilty verdict for the charges and would have convicted him for bad fashion sense if we could have. One of the pieces of evidence was the mustard yellow jeans he wore while committing the crime. Second time was similar to yours. Show up the first day, go home and call in to see if I needed to show up. Never had to go back.
I think the fictional jury scene that sticks with the most is the one from the fourth Honor Harrington book. I’ll say no more because spoilers even though the book’s 25-30 years old.
This is my second time serving. I was called up about 20 years ago or something, which is how I know what it used to be like.
I must have read that Harrington. I know I’m past the fourth book. I can’t honestly remember the court scene. Maybe I should reread it. (Except I can’t concentrate to read anything atm.)
That particular scene sticks because the jury is so utterly dysfunctional. I have the first five as audio books. Allyson Johnson is a fantastic narrator and they’re in my regular listening rotation. I very much recommend them if you like the Harrington books and listening to audio books.
I have the first couple on Kindle, and the next few on audio. That particular one will be an audiobook.
I seem to be in good company. The Honor Harrington series has been one of my all-time favorites. Webers use of Sci-Fy technology in his space-combat scenes remains remarkable even after all those years and a whole host of other authors following in his footsteps. The series did start to lean more on the political side of things as things went along. Which wasn’t complacently my thing, but I do love his character work.
BTW is it just my imagination or does Mercy resemble a short-haired Angelina Jolie?
Gr Cloak
I think there’s a very slight resemblance. I wouldn’t say she’s very Jolie-ish, but maybe a little. Took me four tries to get her the way I wanted.
Titans, huh. I thought it was cool that Aneka got to see an abandoned Titan base, and Fox got to see the ramp up to setting one up. So will we see something in operation? That would be fun.
Just have to wait and see… 🙂
Its something about the lips, her eyes and the arch of the eyebrows..
In any case I’m looking forward to your next book.