A casual Scene-by-Scene Breakdown of my novel Three Immortals.
No scene in a novel works as hard as the first. Not only is it supposed to sell you the book—if the back blurb wasn’t enough—but it also sets the tone for the entire story. It gives you a taste of the protagonist, the conflict, and the broader themes at play. After reading the first scene, you should be able to make a sound decision: “This is my kind of book” or “This isn’t for me.”
When I started writing Three Immortals, I knew I wanted to write the kind of story that I enjoy reading: fast-paced, packed with conflict, and heavy on action. No slow burns here. Throw me into the action and drag me along before I even have a chance to buckle my seat belt.
That’s why Three Immortals opens with a short, single-scene chapter where the protagonist, Kel Chaada, is held at gunpoint. The first sentence does a lot of heavy lifting: “Kel Chaada, disgraced hero and immortal, had survived wars across the galaxy against fearsome foes, only to be killed by his best friend.”
Boom. Right away, you get a sense of who Kel is—a hero, though now disgraced. That single word tells us there’s baggage, conflict, and plenty of backstory. That Kel is immortal also reinforces that we’re dealing with some larger-than-life stakes here, not to mention the sci-fi setting—wars across the galaxy suggest interstellar conflict, fearsome foes, and fast-paced action. But that last twist—his best friend aiming to kill him—raises all the right questions. Why would his friend betray him? What could have driven someone so close to this decision? Questions are the hook that keep readers moving from sentence to sentence, page to page.
In this first scene, Kel Chaada isn’t just dealing with betrayal—he’s facing the consequences of a galactic game of power that has unfolded over centuries. The quest for ultimate control led to creating an elite immortal class, while ordinary humans were left behind to suffer. Kel’s downfall is a direct result of the brutal politics around this secret.
How is Kel dealing with his impending death? Rather than pleading for his life, he tries to talk his way out. Kel knows his former friend, and he knows what motivates him. Their past involves a deadly mistake—years ago, his friend shot a man carrying the Human-AI interface, a legendary technology their enemies have been seeking ever since. The irony is powerful: his friend could have had what they were searching for back then, but one impulsive action destroyed it. Now Kel is trying to prevent history from repeating itself.
This isn’t just a fight for survival. Kel uses his intimate knowledge of his friend to shift the power dynamic, sowing doubt by reminding him of his past mistakes. It’s a psychological battle—Kel is unarmed, but he understands that his survival depends on making his friend question himself. If his friend pulls the trigger again, he risks losing the Human-AI interface forever.
That blend of betrayal and strategic thinking drives this scene. Kel’s ability to read his opponent and exploit his weaknesses reminds us that survival isn’t always about strength—it’s about understanding the complexities of your enemy. And just when you think Kel might have succeeded in talking his way out, the situation takes another twist.
The “friend” decides to hold captive both Kel and his companion AI core, but he underestimates what’s coming. When he questions how Kel survived an attack 20 orbits ago, Kel reveals the truth: the Traaz, a mysterious entity, saved him. And in this tense moment, the Traaz reappear, heralded by the sound of crushing armor and the screams of Kel’s captors.
This opening scene isn’t just about setting up the plot—it’s about giving readers a taste of everything that’s coming: betrayal, mythological technologies, interstellar conflict, and alien species. In these few pages, I introduce major themes and plot arcs that will carry the story forward, while giving readers enough action and intrigue to keep them hooked.
As we dive deeper into the novel, I’ll take a closer look at key scenes, breaking down the themes, plot devices, and the inspirations behind them. This isn’t a literary analysis—it’s more of a geeky behind-the-scenes reveal collection, showing you why things ended up in the story the way they did.
After all, one of the most common questions authors get is: “Where do you get your ideas?” Stick around, and I’ll show you just that. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.
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