Stars Uncharted

The story moves quickly through space exploration but also delves into the characters' inner worlds. Was this balance something planned from the start or evolved during writing?

The detailed tech and ship mechanics made the universe feel real, but at times I wondered if it distracted from the story. What’s the general reader opinion on that?

The universe felt so vivid and expansive, I’m curious whether real scientific concepts influenced it or if it was entirely a creative world-building exercise.