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The Paradox Paradox

By Daniel Hardcastle

A bit Star Trek, a bit Doctor Who, and a bit fucked up.

Fiction | Sci-fi & Fantasy

949% funded

3686 supporters

Writing in progress

Publication date: TBC

Support this project

REWARDS
ABOUT THE BOOK

The crowd has spoken – The Paradox Paradox is happening. Pre-order your reward now.

FEATURED REWARD

$45 + shipping

1891 pledges

Signed Hardback

The book, but with my signature scrawled somewhere near the front. Rebecca's too! Note: Due to our last book becoming a bestseller, our signatures will be 48% more egotistical than previously.

PLUS:

First Edition Signed Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

FEATURED REWARD

$195 + shipping

322 pledges

Collector's Edition

I see it in your eyes. You want it all. The trading cards, the art prints, the pin badges, the poster and a signed first edition hardback? Well, what if I threw in a Certificate of Authenticity too?! Ok, stop salivating, just back this tier and you shall get it all! I said stop salivating.

PLUS:

Certificate of Authenticity
8 Trading Cards
2 A3 Art Prints
4 Pin Badges
Poster
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

236 pledges

eBook

Want the book but also don't think that we'll have any trees left in a few years? This is the tier for you!

PLUS:

eBook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

$15

46 pledges

Audiobook

Look, we're all getting old. This is the tier for those that don't even know if they'll have eyesight by the time I'm done writing. Read by me again, or Wil Wheaton if he's available.

PLUS:

Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

$20

130 pledges

Digital Bundle

The tier for people who want to look at the book, but can't be bothered to read it themselves.

PLUS:

eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

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$30 + shipping

388 pledges

Hardback

The book, in proper paper form. Sure, you can't zoom, and the search feature is manual, but it's also far less likely to crash or run out of battery, and about as equally waterproof.

PLUS:

First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

$75 + shipping

48 pledges

Signed Snuggle Edition

Celebrate your friendship with someone with 2 signed books for the price of 1.66666667 books. Cuddle up, feel the warmth of another human and read a book that will make you question your own existence.

PLUS:

2 Signed First Edition Hardbacks
eBook
Audiobook
2 names in the back of the book

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$75 + shipping

61 pledges

Trading Cards Edition

The Affinity is made up of eight seriously weird and occasionally wonderful species from all corners of our little galaxy. With this edition you'll get eight high-quality trading cards, one for each of them, with gorgeous art and some facts and figures. Perfect for displaying, using as bookmarks for eight people, or just gazing at blissfully.

PLUS:

8 Trading Cards
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

$75 + shipping

130 pledges

Art Print Edition

With Rebecca returning to do a small handful of images for this book, it would simply be illegal to not offer some of them as art prints. The focus of these images will likely be the technology of the era, so if your walls need some future-tech, then this is the tier for you!

PLUS:

2 A3 Art Prints
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

$75 + shipping

94 pledges

Pin Badges Edition

Every good sci-fi utopia needs rank badges, and The Paradox Paradox is no exception. With this tier, you'll get four badges that will be modelled after their book counterparts! Perfect for decorating bags, cosplaying, or plugging up tiny holes in a sinking submarine.

PLUS:

4 Pin Badges
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

$75 + shipping

27 pledges

Poster Edition

This will be a ruddy great poster of the final cover of the book, or a slight variation of it exclusive to the poster. Did I mention that we’re aiming to use a model and have a proper photoshoot for this? No? Well, now I have.

PLUS:

Poster
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

$120 + shipping

56 pledges

Half a Collector's Edition (Arty)

Bare walls? Empty frames? Need something to mask the entrance to your escape tunnel? Then this is the tier for you! Features both the art prints and the poster! The future is now! Wow!

PLUS:

2 A3 Art Prints
Poster
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

$120 + shipping

32 pledges

The Other Half a Collector's Edition (Not Arty)

Do you hate art? Did a painting kill your baby? Well with this tier, you get the trading cards and the pin badges! Fuck art! Fuck it to hell!

PLUS:

8 Trading Cards
4 Pin Badges
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

$450 + shipping

33 pledges

A Hardcastle Original (Limit 50)

That's right, I'm getting my Bob Ross on. If you back this tier, you shall receive a hand painted artwork by yours truly. After the campaign, I'll email asking what you'd like me to paint for you, and then I shall paint it. (Full disclosure, I've never actually painted anything in my life.) Oh, and we'll throw a Collector's Edition in for good measure.

PLUS:

An original artwork by someone who hasn't used a paintbrush since he picked my nose with one in primary school
Certificate of Authenticity
8 Trading Cards
2 A3 Art Prints
4 Pin Badges
Poster
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

$1,851,855 + shipping

I Will Quit YouTube (Limit 1)

Fuck it, worth a shot isn't it?

PLUS:

I will quit making YouTube Videos
Certificate of Authenticity
8 Trading Cards
2 A3 Art Prints
Poster
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

Sold out!

$150 + shipping

200 pledges

Personalised Edition (200 Limit)

Just my signature not good enough for you? You want more?! How about I write your actual name, fling some silly bullshit that I make up on the spot onto the page and top it all of with a Rebecca doodle? Is that what you want? HUH?!

PLUS:

Personalised Signed First Edition Hardback with your name, a message and a Rebecca doodle
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

$450 + shipping

32 pledges

Front of the Book Edition (Limit 32)

Congratulations Class of 2597! Send us in a headshot (a picture, not a kill) and we'll print it at the very front of the book alongside your name in the style of a yearbook! Dress as sci-fi as you like for the photo, but just remember one thing... I'll be supplying the quotes for you all. Mwahahahahaha. Oh, and the collector's edition too, I guess.

PLUS:

Your face in the very front of the book
Certificate of Authenticity
8 Trading Cards
2 A3 Art Prints
4 Pin Badges
Poster
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

$1,500 + shipping

5 pledges

Redshirt Tier (Limit 5)

In this tier, not only will you be a character in the book, but you will die pretty much immediately. A horrific, gory death as the ship you're on explodes in various ways. You will be named, given a role on the ship, and killed before you can even say "aye captain." You might utter some words, but most likely will just gargle as something melts your skin off. Collector's edition too! Enjoy it before... you know.

PLUS:

You will die in the book. Horribly.
Certificate of Authenticity
8 Trading Cards
2 A3 Art Prints
4 Pin Badges
Poster
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get my book delivered to?

We deliver to most countries worldwide. Enter your delivery address during checkout and we'll display the shipping cost when we know where to send your book.

How do supporter names work?

Every person who pledges to help to make a book gets their name included in a supporter section as a thank you as long as they pledge before the list closing deadline. If you want to add a different name, this can be changed in your account after you have completed your pledge.

How long will the campaign stay open?

We keep the campaign open and accept orders right up until we need to close the supporter list and set the print run. We can't say for sure how long this will be yet as Daniel is currently writing the novel, but we'll give notice before we close things off.

Still have a question? Visit our Help Centre to find out more.

Right, that's the first book out of the way. Yes, I’m now a Sunday Times Best Selling Author, but it’s time to stop giggling about that and ask a very, very important question.

What's next?

Sure, I could focus on another one of my hobbies (Fuck Yeah, Philately anyone?), but now my foot is in the door, I need to remember why I wanted to get into this room in the first place. I need something... fiction-y, a story, some sort of... damn, the word escapes me for now but rest assured, this is a novel idea.

So, introducing my next book: The Paradox Paradox

The Paradox Paradox is a dark sci-fi comedy set hundreds of years in the future. Also, a fair few times in the past. Oh, and a little bit right now... did I mention that it's about time travel yet? You got that from the title? Ok, just checking.

In 500 or so years the galaxy is at peace. Eight species – one of them human, the rest very much not – have spent centuries working, living and learning together, creating a galaxy-wide utopia known as The Affinity. Poverty has been eradicated, violence is virtually non-existent, and nobody even takes the last biscuit anymore. Not even if it’s a hobnob.

We join this universe as The Affinity launch their greatest project yet. A time machine, created to explore, experience and preserve the history of the eight races. Kez, our hero, is tasked with leading these delicate expeditions to Earth’s past, where one wrong move could wipe out the entire human race. It’s a tough job, but Kez is unmatched in intelligence, experience and achievements. She’s the right woman for this job.

With so much at stake, it's a real pity that Kez cheated on her exams, lied about everything she’s ever done and is about as trustworthy as a sign in a spider’s web that reads, “flies welcome”. She would totally take the last biscuit, hobnob or not.

Long story short, we’re all doomed.

A bit Star Trek, a bit Doctor Who and a bit fucked up, The Paradox Paradox is the sci-fi story I’ve always wanted to tell. My words will once again be brought to life by a light peppering of illustrations from my partner-in-everything, Rebecca Maughan, and we’ll have lots of silly backer tiers for you to regret buying at a later date.

The story is locked and I’m now writing it as fast as I can. Well, I’m binge-watching Bob’s Burgers, but after that I’ll be all over it! Estimated release will be sometime in 2021 and it’ll probably be worth the wait!

Enough words! Go grease the wheels of capitalism!

Support this project

Quick select rewards

FEATURED REWARD

$45 + shipping

1891 pledges

Signed Hardback

The book, but with my signature scrawled somewhere near the front. Rebecca's too! Note: Due to our last book becoming a bestseller, our signatures will be 48% more egotistical than previously.

PLUS:

First Edition Signed Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

FEATURED REWARD

$195 + shipping

322 pledges

Collector's Edition

PLUS:

Certificate of Authenticity
8 Trading Cards
2 A3 Art Prints
4 Pin Badges
Poster
Signed First Edition Hardback
eBook
Audiobook
Your name in the back of the book

Choose this reward

View all 18 rewards

Daniel Hardcastle

Daniel Hardcastle, Author
- A big fuckin’ nerd.
- Grew up on the (Sesame) street.
- Has made over 4,000 YouTube videos.
- Can get through ‘Scott’s Tots’ without cringing to death.
- Sunday Times bestselling Author of Fuck Yeah Video Games

Rebecca Maughan, Illustrator
- Vegan.
- Has degrees and shit.
- Has made over 4,000 dogs happy.
- Won on a claw machine the other day.
- Sunday Times bestselling illustrator of Fuck Yeah Video Games
(content warning: contains references to suicide)

Chapter Two

The Last Billionaire

2034

Three weeks after killing himself, Austin Lang’s life had pretty much returned to normal, save for the hundreds of cameras in his apartment that watched his every move. There wasn’t a single inch of his flat, bathroom included, that wasn’t covered by at least two of them. Nestled between books, taped to the ceiling and even two or three under the bed for good measure, these cameras pried into every nook and cranny of Austin’s life.

Read more...
Daniel Hardcastle has written 1 private update. You can pledge to get access to them all.

8th October 2021 DAN'S PLAN TO TAKE OVER DOCTOR WHO
READ DAN'S INTRO HERE

PLEDGE FOR ACROSS TIME AND SPACE SIGNED BY DAN

Dear all, i thought you might like to read the introduction that Dan's has written for our new Doctor Who book. It is, as you would expect very funny and very Dan. If you also pledged for the book we would eternally grateful and it would undoubtedly help Dan's three step plan to take over Doctor Who as revealed in his recent…
25th February 2021 I am bad at updates

In the same way that hob-based kettles scream for your attention after being left alone for a while, I’ve noticed that the best time to write an update here is when lots of people start asking me “Have you forgotten about that book you were supposed to be writing?”

So… Hello! The Paradox Paradox is still marching slowly towards it’s goal of being a finished book. The plot and planning are done…

26th September 2020 One Year Later…

Dinah Washington once sang ‘What a Difference a Day Makes’, but she didn’t bother to warn us about what 365 of the little bastards could accomplish while working together. Remember what the world was like back in September 2019, back before toilet paper became the new currency? Aside from… all of that… we’re all older, we’re all fatter, and one of us at least has written quite a lot of book.

…
These people are helping to fund The Paradox Paradox.

Marcus Kingi

Terri Pick

Nathanial Lively

Georgette Taylor

Kevin Collins

Cat Pirone

Isabelle Gray

Lachlan Baensch

Louis Crowder

Rasmus Jakobsen

Jane Norman

Joshua Westing

Ian Rathke

George Manning

Cameron Gurwell

Jesse Reed

Robin Motte

George Skitt

Ewan Lyle

Timo Steffens

Chris Cooper

Tyler Kelley

View more
Harrison Gordon asked:

Will there be another book tour?

Unbound replied:

Hi Harrison, We very much hope so! Team Unbound

Lee Routly asked:

Roughly how long will we be able to back?

Unbound replied:

Hi Lee, We keep the campaign open and accept orders right up until we need to close the supporter list and set the print run. We can't say for sure how long this will be yet as Daniel is currently writing the novel, but we'll give notice before we close things off. I hope this helps. Unbound Support

Nathan Beddow asked:

How long will the ability to pledge be up for?

Unbound replied:

Hi Nathan, We keep the campaign open and accept orders right up until we need to close the supporter list and set the print run. We can't say for sure how long this will be yet as Daniel is currently writing the novel, but we'll give notice before we close things off. I hope this helps. Unbound Support

Bjorn van Rijszen asked:

So, cheeky question: Should I be able to go to the book tour for this book (curse you Brexit, and your uncertainty vis-à-vis visa-free travel*!), will I be able to bring the book I backed here, or am I "forced" to buy a second copy to have it signed (again)? Yes, I know. A very mean question. And not one I expect a very serious answer on! * This sentence was very accidental, but I'm liking the word play so much that, if anybody were to ask me, I'd claim this excellent wordcraftery was very intentional.

Unbound replied:

You can of course bring your Unbound book to a book tour Bjorn! Thanks for backing this book. Unbound Support.

Colette Horsburgh asked:

How long will this campaign run?

Unbound replied:

Hi Colette, We keep the campaign open and accept orders right up until we need to close the supporter list and set the print run. We can't say for sure how long this will be yet as Daniel is currently writing the novel, but we'll give notice before we close things off. I hope this helps. Unbound Support

WILL O'DONNELL asked:

If I upgrade do I still receive the benefits of the previous teir? Example: pledging for the personalised edition then upgrading to the front of book. Do I no longer receive the personalised edition?

Unbound replied:

Hi Will, This should answer your question: http://help.unbound.com/en/articles/2029048-when-i-upgrade-does-the-new-level-include-the-rewards-from-my-previous-level. We can't group levels together we're afraid so we go with the level that you've upgraded to. Best wishes, Unbound Support

Kanako McKinley asked:

How Long till i can't put my Support in to this project?

Unbound replied:

Hi Kanako, We keep the campaign open and accept orders right up until we need to close the supporter list and set the print run. We can't say for sure how long this will be yet as Daniel is currently writing the novel, but we'll give notice before we close things off. I hope this helps. Unbound Support

Aiden Pattinson asked:

Just out of curiosity do you have an estimated release date?

Unbound replied:

Hi Aiden, As Daniel is currently writing the novel, we can't yet say for sure when the book will be published, but we'll keep supporters updated when the book moves on in the production processes. I hope this helps. Unbound Support

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The Paradox Paradox

Sold out!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get my book delivered to?

How do supporter names work?

How long will the campaign stay open?

Quick select rewards

About the author

Excerpt

Updates

Supporters

Marcus Kingi

Terri Pick

Nathanial Lively

Georgette Taylor

Kevin Collins

Cat Pirone

Isabelle Gray

Lachlan Baensch

Louis Crowder

Rasmus Jakobsen

Jane Norman

Joshua Westing

Ian Rathke

George Manning

Cameron Gurwell

Jesse Reed

Robin Motte

George Skitt

Ewan Lyle

Timo Steffens

Chris Cooper

Tyler Kelley

Q&A