The reasons for writing "Straman," a story of the sky, are in themselves a story we have told countless times to friends and acquaintances, as no one could understand the causes that led to its creation. Even our publishers, scientists and writers themselves, despite the deep friendly and human relationship they had with us, when they read the manuscript many years before the first edition of Straman, were certain that this was an attempt to compose a science fiction fairy tale with strong mythical and absurd elements. However, this is far from the truth.
The truth is that Straman was simply the expression and outpouring of our efforts to respond to the countless "whys" of our children, questions that grew with them as they learned more from the realm of the natural sciences. We could not describe, in our opinion, the wonderful yet sometimes complex and subtle nature of the Universe around us in a better way: only through an endless and daily "fairy tale," always "in continuation," where children like ours should play the leading role.
In this great story of knowledge, nothing should be false. Thus, even the "absurd" elements of the story borrowed from the traditions and worldviews of various nations and cultures. Our interest and attention were focused on one thing: All knowledge about the secrets of the Universe expressed either by Straman or by Grandpa Asterios must be absolutely real, in the sense that it conveys scientific views and theories.
The scientific perspectives and theories described often exceed the limits of imagination and common sense, something that all people should perceive, but at the same time serve as proof of the boldness and breadth of the mindset employed by modern astrophysics to address the challenges posed by the vast Universe.
But beyond "telling" the secrets of the Universe, what we wanted to convey to the minds and souls of our children was the new quality of scientific and human ethics that is emerging today. A mentality based on a new physical understanding of the cosmic creation around us. At the same time, there was our deep desire to convince them that, in the battle to better understand the Universe, there is no room for dogmatism, reservations, prejudices, or external interests.
Now that our children have grown and no longer listen to fairy tales, we have gathered everything we could remember on the pages of this book, as a form of reminiscence of certain happy moments. Yet, Straman is also a magical fairy tale for older teens of all ages who still have the traveler and explorer of cosmic chaos alive within them.
Perhaps, through the story of this celestial fairy tale, each of our adult readers may recognize pieces of their secret thoughts and visions, while perhaps subconsciously choosing to perceive different things, those that the mind and soul of each of us need to comprehend.
And a little something for the end: The name of our hero is not an expression of adopting a common science fiction nomenclature. It is simply a combination of the first letters of our names, Stratos and Manos (Stram-an).
Sincerely, Manos Danezis, Stratos Theodossiou
