The sound of pages quietly shifting under senior Galen Han’s fingers marked the first moment he opened the final printed copy of his debut novel, “The Galaxy Memories.” After three years of sleepless nights and countless storyboards, what was once an unthinkable dream became a complete, published novel. Han, who once grappled with the difficulty of learning English, uses his love for science fiction to become a storyteller, bridging culture and language by writing in both English and Chinese.
Han first immigrated from China to the United States in 2022, where he initially struggled to communicate with his peers. In class, Han not only struggled with learning concepts but also with speaking up for help.
“Some classes were especially hard because I felt like people would judge me when I spoke with an accent,” Han said. “There were many times when people couldn’t understand what I was trying to say and just stopped talking to me, which made it harder to learn.”
Even before immigrating to the U.S., Han found comfort in the sci-fi genre. Although currently disbanded, he led a sci-fi club at Lynbrook that allowed him to explore and share unique elements of sci-fi, like advanced technology, that he felt were underappreciated. One sci-fi novelist that Han looks up to is Cixin Liu, the author of the “Three Body Problem” series.
“I think his writing is some of the most engaging that I have ever read,” Han said. “The way he crafts his language makes the universes he creates more real, and it comes alive in a way that is unique to his writing style.”
Within Han’s novel, the boundaries of time, identity and gravity are tested in a phenomenon he calls “Curse of the Universe,” describing cases where six astronauts have gone missing over the past six centuries. As the story progresses, Luoji, one of the main characters, is forced to mature in order to handle new responsibilities.
“The most interesting thing about Luoji is how he evolves throughout the book and eventually grows into his role,” Han said. “His character represents how someone seemingly normal can handle the weight of an entire civilization’s wellbeing when put under pressure.”
Taking inspiration from Liu’s prose, Han combines cinematic detail with scientific imagination. In “The Galaxy Memories,” he writes, “The cabin door gradually closed, and I squeezed my eyes shut, counting down the time remaining until liftoff. Three seconds, two seconds, one second. With the launch command transmitted worldwide, the ‘Gate One’ rocket pierced through the sky at the sixth cosmic velocity, like a brilliant star in the history of spaceflight.”
“What Galen’s writing does so well is bring science to life without forcing the characters to lose part of their humanity,” senior Gaura Jha said. “His writing is vivid and sticks with you long after reading.”
When Han writes, he often starts in his native language, Chinese, before translating it into English for other readers. His writing process is unique: he begins by listening to music, which sparks ideas. Publishing was a rather simple process for Han, with formatting only taking a few days before sending it to a publisher for the final print.
The process of writing and publishing a book is an experience that will stick with Han forever. His passion for sci-fi has shaped how he navigates storytelling, fueling him through his journey to author a book.
“My love of sci-fi is what motivated me to publish this novel,” Han said. “I wanted to take the ideas that pushed me through life’s hardest moments and turn it into something meaningful that could help others.”
