One of the foundational aspects of the Merchant of Vision universe is trade—the economic lifeblood that ties together the myriad worlds, cultures, and factions scattered across the stars. As I developed this setting, I kept returning to one central question: What would drive interstellar civilization forward once the glow of exploration faded? The answer, as it so often is in real life, was trade.
The Foundation of the Universe
From the earliest drafts of Merchant of Vision, trade was always meant to be more than a backdrop. It’s a narrative thread that ties together characters, conflicts, and entire systems. Kars Vandor isn’t just a protagonist—he’s a merchant navigating a galaxy of opportunities and dangers, with his livelihood dependent on the ability to connect worlds in meaningful ways.
As I designed the setting, I found inspiration in the Silk Road, the spice trade, and the maritime empires of Earth’s history. These were vast networks that connected disparate cultures, sparked innovation, and sometimes created conflict. Trade isn’t just about the exchange of goods—it’s about the exchange of ideas, values, and even philosophies. I wanted that same sense of interconnectedness in my universe.
Building the Economic System
When creating the Merchant Galaxy, I started with questions like:
- What resources would be valuable in a spacefaring civilization?
- How would different planets specialize based on their natural environments?
- How would trade routes be influenced by geography, technology, and politics?
The answers weren’t always straightforward, but that’s what made the process so exciting. Resource-rich worlds like Obarwinko might export raw materials, while high-tech worlds like Anorag Del manufacture advanced goods. Some planets are known for their unique cultural exports—art, cuisine, or even psionic artifacts—while others thrive on being trade hubs, facilitating the flow of goods across vast distances.
But trade isn’t just about abundance; scarcity plays an equally important role. A desert world like Port Saya might depend entirely on imported food and water, making it vulnerable to price fluctuations or blockades. These dynamics add tension and stakes to the story, forcing characters to navigate not just physical dangers but also economic challenges.
Trade Routes: The Arteries of the Galaxy
The trade routes themselves became a focus of world-building. In a galaxy where faster-than-light travel is possible but not instantaneous, I imagined corridors of commerce stretching across the stars, influenced by the locations of jump gates, planets with suitable Hydrogen fuel in the system, stable wormholes, and navigable space lanes relatively free of pirates.. These routes aren’t static—they shift with political alliances, technological advances, planetary resources, and industry, and the rise and fall of civilizations.
One of my favorite aspects of this was designing "choke points"—key systems where multiple routes converge, giving immense power to whoever controls them. Think of them as the Panama Canals or Straits of Malacca of the galaxy. These locations often become hotbeds of intrigue, conflict, and opportunity for characters like Kars.
Conflict Born of Commerce
Trade isn’t just a driver of prosperity—it’s also a source of conflict. Smugglers, pirates, and corrupt officials thrive in the shadow of legitimate commerce. In the Merchant of Vision universe, some factions view trade as a means of uniting the galaxy, while others see it as a tool for exploitation and control. The Scorpio Concordat, for instance, sees trade as a weapon, using economic pressure to bring weaker systems to heel.
These conflicts add depth to the narrative. Kars might start out simply trying to make a living, but he quickly finds himself caught between competing factions, forced to choose between profit and principles.
A Personal Connection
For me, crafting this economic tapestry has been one of the most rewarding parts of writing Merchant of Vision. It’s not just about creating a backdrop for action—it’s about exploring how people adapt and thrive in a universe where survival often depends on the ability to trade and connect.
In some ways, I think my fascination with trade stems from my own experiences. As a Navy veteran, I’ve seen firsthand how interconnected the world is, how the flow of goods and ideas shapes nations and lives. As a writer, I get to take that understanding and expand it to a galactic scale, imagining the ripple effects of a single trade deal—or a single betrayal.
The Human Element
At its core, the trade networks of the Merchant of Vision universe aren’t just about goods—they’re about people. The merchants, smugglers, dockworkers, and traders who keep the galaxy running are the true heart of the story. Their struggles, ambitions, and choices bring the universe to life, making the economic systems feel real and impactful.
When I sit down to write, I often think about the unsung heroes of trade—the people who risk everything to keep the wheels turning. In a way, their resilience and resourcefulness mirror my own journey as a writer. Like them, I’m navigating uncertain terrain, driven by a dream and the hope that my work will connect with others.
So, the next time you read a story set in the Merchant of Vision universe, I hope you’ll see the trade routes not just as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing part of the narrative. After all, in both fiction and reality, trade is what binds us together—it’s what makes the stars feel just a little closer.
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