Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:
H. L. Burke
Title of book and/or series:
Lands of Ash: Elemental Realms Book One
Brief summary of the story:
After decades of Elemental Invasions, the once flourishing Kingdom of Forra has been reduced to ruins. A band of survivors pulls together in one last attempt to defend their homes and families as the Elementals make a push to wipe them out completely.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
At the beginning of the book, the majority of the continent is a scorched wasteland with the humans clinging at the edges in scattered settlements. These include the forested Mountain’s Feet and a swath of land near the sea called the Green Band. Few cities remain, most humans dwelling in small hidden encampments. The Fire Realm is a parallel version of the human land, but with fiery molten seas and hot acrid atmosphere, perfect for the Fire Elementals who live there but inhospitable to humans. Of course, the rains and seas of the human lands are just as deadly to the Elementals.
If we were to visit Forra as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Stay near the sea. Much less chance of getting toasted there. The mountains and forests that remain are beautiful, old growth pines, pristine air, but every year more land is devoured by the fires.
What dangers should we avoid in Forra?
If you see a swirling blue whirlpool of light forming on the ground, that’s a portal. Elementals come through portals. Elementals burn things. Run!
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Forra?
When fighting Elementals, water is your friend. Large settlements will often have water bucket brigades or even wooden tubes set up to pipe water onto open portals. There is also a special metal called “icestone,” a blue ore, cold to the touch, found in glacial melts. This is poison to Elementals and even a scratch from an icestone blade will cause an Elemental to break apart. However, icestone is rarely found in large deposits so normal steel blades, stone-tipped arrowheads, and other mundane weapons are frequently used.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Forra?
Horses are rare. They were never common in the northern reaches of the kingdom where packrams and goat carts are the more common means of transport, and so most were lost when the valley burned. Packrams are large, horned sheep, about the size of donkeys. The males are used as beasts of burden and the females for milk.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Forra that we don’t see on Earth?
Elementals come in multiple sizes. They are born as tiny “Sparks” out of the heat of their world. As they expand they become “Flares” and finally “Inferno Lords.” They also have the ability to reanimate human corpses into the mindless but still deadly “Charred.” Charred resemble blackened corpses with a flaming core giving them strength. They can fade, becoming smoke, to travel and avoid weapons, but lack the intelligence needed to be truly formidable foes.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Forra? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
Humans have two varieties of magical healers. The abilities are hereditary, and while both can heal the sick or injured, they are polar opposites in their approach. A syphonic healer draws lifeforce from one individual to bolster another. The absorption of energy becomes addictive to syphonics, and they often steal energy from others when they don’t really need to. A syphonic’s powers are also an effective weapon, as they can weaken or even kill a person (or Elemental) by drawing away their lifeforce.
An empathic, however, heals with shared energy. She/he draws on her own lifeforce and the powers of memory and emotion. Empathics feel the emotions of those they are in contact with and can read their patient’s memories during the healing bond. Also, if you harm an empathic, identical harm will immediately befall you, but the sword cuts both ways. If an empathic healer strikes another, he/she will feel identical pain, and if an empathic kills, they will perish.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Forra? Please describe what it involves.
With most of the society scattered and living hand to mouth, organized religion is almost non-existent. Few temples remain, but some people still keep faith in an unnamed Creator. The most widespread remaining practice is that of the Late Litany. People awaken after midnight to say prayers, meditate, or make an offering. The traditional offering is three bowls, one with water, one with a live coal, and the other with some form of plant life, often a flower. Water offerings are often given over graves, to cleanse the souls of dead in preparation for the afterlife.
In recent years, a cult has arisen that worships the invading Elementals.
What is the political or government structure in Forra? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
When the Royal City fell in the early days of the invasions, the last King of Forra left no heir. A militia rose up from the various settlements in order to drive back the Elementals and protect the remaining human settlements. Militias are controlled by influential village leaders, usually the oldest man, and certain “hero captains” have sprang up, most notably Draven at Fork Vale Fortress and brothers, Karvir and Ketyl, out of the isolated Haven.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
I grew up in rural Oregon, and wildfires were a yearly occurrence. I remember specifically one night when we were ordered to evacuate our home and the sense of dread knowing that a wall of fire was creeping towards my house, but I could do nothing about it. (Thankfully our home always stayed out of harms way. We kept it pretty clear and irrigated.) There’s something so primal, destructive, and yet alluring about fire. Also, seeing the burned out skeletons of trees and blackened earth was emotionally gutting.
I’m also a military wife, and a major theme in the book is seeing fathers and husbands go off to war. To me there is nothing scarier than that, and so in some ways in this book I was playing with my worst fears.
Author Autobiography:
I’m a life long fangirl who always had plenty of free time on my hands to spend with books and exploring the woods. I married my high school crush who had grown up to be a handsome US Marine, and we have two daughters together. My long term goal is to be a cat, but if that doesn’t work out, I’m content with “writer/mom” on my resume. I am the author of multiple fantasy novels, including the four part series “The Dragon and the Scholar Saga”, the series is a full length fairy tale centered on the friendship between young scholar, Shannon, and a dragon with a mysterious past.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?
My books are available in paperback and ebook through Amazon.com. You can view my author page at this link.
Where can readers connect with you online?
My website is www.hlburkeauthor.com
you can find me on Facebook.
and Twitter.
You can preorder Lands of Ashnow on Amazon.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Forra. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the planet of Beinan, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXX!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Ron Townsen
Title of book and/or series: Watcher in the Fall (Connections, Conversions, Evolution and under development, Trans-Link)
Brief summary of the story:
Three Major Plot lines
1) An ancient civilization (known as the Old Ones) on the edge of visible universe, learn how to create a multi-dimensional connection across the universe with unique life forms known as Watchers. On earth, George is a watcher and becomes involved with an advanced secret science team that only the President of the United States is aware of. Later the team finds a young watcher in Switzerland who eventually joins the team.
2) There is a cold war between the U.S, Russia and China dealing with advanced String Theory development driving spies and attacks with the U.S. leading the way.
3) A new universe is born just on the edge of our universe. The new universe expansion destroys the galaxy of the Old Ones and others in the area. The Old Ones developed ships just in time capable of Trans-Swap (swapping areas of 11 dimensional space to transport faster than light) able to reach adjacent galaxies and take some of their civilizations in time to survive. The move is now on to transport civilizations deeper into the current galaxy to preserve life.
Book 1 – Connections
When an ancient race living on the edge of the universe energizes a unique pattern, an advanced super secret U.S. Defense team suddenly becomes the focal point of one of the greatest events in human history. Action erupts from the collision of two universes driving the ancient race to flee, scattering races deeper into our universe with the destruction of galaxies; while an intrigue based game of chess pits the U.S. with the Russians and Chinese in a deadly underground war to protect the greatest secret in human history. While the U.S. BELLOWS team is tapping into communications across the universe gathering the answers to long held questions; new technology is being derived from highly advanced M-Theory as the team attempts to protect the United States from deadly attacks ranging from Al Qaeda to the Russian Mafia and the Chinese Triad. This First book in a series covers our multiverse in a thrilling SciFi Spy adventure.
Book 2 – Conversions
A complex game of spies and military conflicts evolves both on earth and across the universe. The roller coaster ride explodes across the world where the highly classified deep black DARPA BELLOWS team with its M+ theory derived tools deal with terrorists, Russian infiltrators and war. A variety of races escaping their destroyed galaxies begin dealing with civilizations across galaxies in an attempt to organize and start a massive migration to escape from the advancing force of the newly born universe collision pushing into our older universe. With the unique watcher communications network connecting rare “Watcher” life forms across our cosmos, advanced aliens discover the extraordinary abilities of a young planets population in the Milky Way galaxy including unexpected abilities that only the most powerful the most powerful math provides hints of. The ancients moving across space battling with a killing machine intelligence attempting to annihilate life where ever it exists.
Book 3 – Evolutions
Action continues to flow from the edges of the universe to Earth as linkages between Earth’s Watchers to Watchers in Andromeda galaxy, brings risks and rewards, love and hatred, life and death and the birth of a star. The roller coaster ride on Earth drives a cat and mouse game between the Humanity First organization as they exploit nuclear threats of destruction and the highly classified DARPA BELLOWS team with its M+ theory derived tools attempting to protect lives. As the migration at the edge of the universe is organized in the distant galaxies to begin its drive deeper into the older universe, the new universe continues its destructive but unstoppable movement forward while a frantic search for missing ancients brings forth new questions and exposes new powers of a special Watcher.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
There are multiple worlds created and destroyed. In the third book, there is focus on a world known as Xlamu located in the Andromeda galaxy. It contains a race called Xmual which is split into two societies, the Rete and the Manxe. The main society living on the singular mainland is the Rete, run by a corrupt but advanced government. The Manxe is an island society where boys raid the coastal areas of the Rete to prove their right to be men.
If we were to visit Xlamu as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Mainly their beaches with homes built on cliffs.
What dangers should we avoid?
Being on the beach when the Manxe raid (if you are female, you will be captured, if you a man, you will be killed).
Being on the beach when the Manxe raid (if you are female, you will be captured, if you a man, you will be killed).
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Xlamu?
They use explosives and kinetic based weapons. Of special note is a hand pistol loaded with poison darts. But through the captured information from the Watcher girl, Jxry (girl friend of the young earth boy watcher, Nicky) they develop laser handguns and larger weapons.
They use explosives and kinetic based weapons. Of special note is a hand pistol loaded with poison darts. But through the captured information from the Watcher girl, Jxry (girl friend of the young earth boy watcher, Nicky) they develop laser handguns and larger weapons.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Xlamu?
The Rete have flying transports of all sizes and ground transports. The Manxe mainly use a submarine transport.
The Rete have flying transports of all sizes and ground transports. The Manxe mainly use a submarine transport.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Xlamu that we don’t see on Earth?
While similar, the Xmual are humanoid in design, but have a blue tint to their skin.
While similar, the Xmual are humanoid in design, but have a blue tint to their skin.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Xlamu? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
None, all my stories are based on String Theory version known as M+ Theory, an extension of current M Theory being studied.
None, all my stories are based on String Theory version known as M+ Theory, an extension of current M Theory being studied.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Xlamu? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
The Xlamu are slightly backwards compared to earth. They have never been to space and have not developed laser technology.
The Xlamu are slightly backwards compared to earth. They have never been to space and have not developed laser technology.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Xlamu as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
When a young girl approaches the marrying age “Utel”, they spend a year where her parents and older men are to only approach if she agrees.
When a young girl approaches the marrying age “Utel”, they spend a year where her parents and older men are to only approach if she agrees.
What is the political or government structure in Xlamu? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The Rete are run by a group of ministers in charge of different parts of the government (security, science…). The Maxmul are led by a single ruthless leader.
The Rete are run by a group of ministers in charge of different parts of the government (security, science…). The Maxmul are led by a single ruthless leader.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Xlamu?
The Rete people are on the verge of revolution and in book 3 the revolution starts.
The Rete people are on the verge of revolution and in book 3 the revolution starts.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your books?
1) In the second book, the Old Ones arrive at earth. Just prior to arrival, the decision is made to expose the information to key governments and religious leaders around the earth. The religious leaders call a meeting in Israel at key religious monuments to receive a briefing by the U.S. scientific team.
2) Death for Watchers means a mental transition to a new universe.
3) Nuclear blackmail occurs by a terrorist group formed around a violent Muslim sect with help by disinfected Russian leaders.
4) World War III happens but not in the way you might think.
Author Autobiography:
Ron Townsen
This ongoing series of stories draws from the breadth of the intriguing ideas presented in a growing body of military and scientific ideas and concepts. From a story about first contact to colliding universes, destruction of galaxies, to back street spies, gun battles, ships dying in combat to transports jumping across the universe through dimensional shifts; stories take the reader on a ride resulting in reactions of some people to ask if it could actually be happening in their lives now.
Having worked on studies from the depths of the oceans to scientific platforms in space, from major weapon systems to sophisticated communications concepts, from advanced supercomputers to highly developed signal processing algorithms implemented in micro computer code, my life has covered a unique spectrum of science and engineering. Along with my life knowledge, calling upon my years of field experience blended with the study of advanced physics I have been able pulled together an ongoing tale covering the spectrum of the wonders and dangers of the universe along with the human experience; a tale which will take the rest of my life to tell.
From my years of traveling the world from Japan to Europe, from Singapore to working ships in the center of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, from a life in San Diego, CA to years of living and working in the Washington D.C. area. The story line is designed to take the user around the world and across a universe of planets and galaxies as the stories of aliens and humans alike evolve in unique ways. From artists to warriors, from an alien farmer to senior engineers; from deadly spies to a boy who definitely is not what he appears to be from the outside; races of aliens that destroy worlds to others that build worlds along with structures that encapsulates stars.
I write these stories as an offer providing my readers a chance to imagine, to ask the questions of “What If” to think about who we are in this wondrous universe; question what they think they know as a fact; and to examine the subject of “Are we alone?”.
I hope you enjoy.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.
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Ebooks
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Softcover
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Where can readers connect with you online?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Xlamu. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the fantasy world of Forra, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXIX!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the fantasy world of Forra, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXIX!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Ray Ellis
Title of book and/or series: KRACKEN
Brief summary of the story:
The year is 135 New Reckoning. A Godless world is rebuilding itself. When a stranger from Mike Stone’s past appears on his doorstep, his ordinary life is suddenly and violently destroyed. Mike’s past has come back to haunt him. Now with his family attacked and his home destroyed, Mike finds himself running for his life through a jungle-planet filled with terrors and a monster known only as the Kracken.
In the midst of the chaos, Ted Waters launches his plan for domination. In a post-apocalyptic world, Waters sets himself up as the sole leader of the emerging world government. Using children as slaves, he mines a new narcotic used to subdue the people’s will.
Kracken, the story of two men, two opinions and two bases of power set on a collision path. When the two collide, Mike finds himself confronted by the God he thought he left behind.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The story begins in New-New York set at an undetermined date in the future. The city has grown to encompass all of New Jersey and the south-eastern portions of Connecticut with skyscrapers creating deep valleys and dark shadows on the streets below; and all this atop a hidden world that sinks several kilometers beneath the city street and spread almost as wide.
The action then transfers to the planet Yargon in the Gliese System, near Corot 27b. The planet is separated into two worlds, the deep jungle side inhabited by the book’s titled creature and dominate predator, the Kracken; and the arid desert side where the Sand Serpent, a giant anthropoid, serpent combination that lives beneath the yellow sands.
If we were to visit Yargon as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
The strange fauna is a natural draw for any visitor and would garner the greatest traffic to the deep jungle. The unique texture of the sands and vibrating rocks is a natural attraction to the desert. But if you were to visit Yargon, you would have to visit the underground caverns and follow the rivers that run through the caves. Of course, while there you wouldn’t need any lamps or flashlight due to the natural fluorescents in the rocks and water.
What dangers should we avoid in Yargon?
Apart from the Kracken, the dracs are three meter tall, and with 360 kgs of muscle and bad attitude, would represent a real danger to anyone traveling on foot through the jungle. Leathery hide and protruding poisonous fangs makes the drac a hard battle and not easy to kill.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Yargon?
Actually no, the plant life while different is very similar to the fruits and vegetables that grow here on earth.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Yargon?
Beam technology is the tool of the day. The handheld IMR/S457 Agitator is the weapon of choice for the bad guys. The weapon burns the optic nerves and causes the brain to swell in the cranium, paralyzing the victim on its way to cause neuro-shutdown prior to cranium explosion.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Yargon?
In the city the common means of transport is the hovercraft, which is kind of like a car-minivan-rocket, but if the idea is be space bound, then the inter-orbit ships are what is used.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Yargon that we don’t see on Earth?
The animals of Yargon are many and varied from the 10 meter tall Kracken, to the 15 meter long sand-serpent. The dracs, the gorilla sized carnivores, and the murkurs, a fuzzy wide-eyed plant-eating mammal that has a playful curious nature.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Yargon? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
There is no magic, but on occasion, the supernatural is experienced when the characters interact with the Spirit of God.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Yargon? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Beside form the weapons used, the apartments are smart and equipped with A.I. that builds a relationship with its inhabitants, and builds an environment that is best for the user’s needs.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Yargon.
None come into play in the course of the story.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Yargonas on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The only celebration is the New Reckoning and is reminiscent of New Years and Fourth of July combined.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Yargon? Please describe what it involves.
There are two religions prominent, Humanism and Christianity; although the other world religions are still around, but in lower levels and small pockets.
What is the political or government structure in Yargon? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The government is in the beginning of change. The world’s governments and systems of control are all coming under the control of a single man, Ted Waters. Ted Waters is single minded and is set on taking control of the world, he is an Anti-Christ type.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Yargon?
It is only mentioned in the first book, but comes into greater play in the second – which is being written now- but the underground church is a viable subculture and is fighting against the rise of The Company.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
In a funny way yes, during the two terms of former President Bill I began to observe in him a continued striving to build a legacy of greatness. It seemed to me the more he strove the murkier things got for him. This is where the germ of my protagonist was born, a man who had fallen from the zenith of power and was forced to rebuild himself. To ask the questions what would it takes to rebuild one’s life and what could replace a life’s ambition and ultimately become more than he was before.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
The book deals with the topic of child slavery, child sexual abuse and illegal drug use/abuse.
Author Autobiography
A veteran law enforcement officer, former Marine, and ordained Christian pastor, Ray’s first novel, “Notorious” (previously released as “N.H.I.: No Humans Involved”), was published in 2011. Since then Ray has been selected as one of Idaho’s Top 50 Authors for the year of 2011, and then as a Top 10 Idaho Author in 2012; most recently Ray was awarded the 2014 ACFW, Idaho Chapter Writer of the Year.When not writing, Ray can be found still working as an active duty officer, speaking to student groups, or teaching Bible studies in his local community.
Ray’s published works include three novels and one short story:
– “I” – A Short Story
– Notorious – A Nate Richards Novel – Book One. Previously released as N.H.I. (No Humans Involved)
– Dead List – A Nate Richards Novel – Book Two. Previously released as D.R.T. (Dead Right There)
– Insidious – A Nate Richards Novel – Book Three.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
All my book are available online: http://www.nccpublishing.com/
Notorious –http://goo.gl/ZshfR
Dead List – http://goo.gl/jPVfY
Insidious –http://goo.gl/u3D9z
“I” –http://goo.gl/zj7ZM
KRACKEN – http://goo.gl/xaeyo3
Hastings Book Stores
Where can readers connect with you online?
I can be reached at my blog at http://truefiction.rayellis.org/ or at my email address at [email protected], Tweeter: @RayEllisBks, FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/ray.ellis.94
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Yargon. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the sci-fi world of Xlamu, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXVIII!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the sci-fi world of Xlamu, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXVIII!
-Annie Douglass Lima
I’m excited that The Collar and the Cavvarach is now available for purchase! Want to see if you’ll like it? Read on to sample the first chapter. (Want to know what the collar is for and what a cavvarach actually is first? Click here to open up a brief explanation in a new window.)
Chapter One: Before You Get a Collar
Everything was quiet in the next room, had been quiet for at least half an hour. Bensin pressed his ear against the wall again, and this time he heard the sound he had been waiting for: faint, rhythmic snores. Perfect. Mr. Creghorn always slept the soundest when he was snoring, and that meant that Mrs. Creghorn would probably have her earplugs in.
Bensin rose from the mattress he had been kneeling on, stretching his stiff limbs. Fishing in his pocket, he pulled out the two paperclips he had straightened and then re-bent near the ends. He felt his way across the dark room to the door, ran his hands over the handle till he found the keyhole, and inserted the first paperclip. Though he could hardly see anything anyway, he closed his eyes to concentrate as he inserted the second one, raking it in and out to work his makeshift lock pick the way Ricky had taught him. The metallic clickety-clicketyseemed horribly loud in the quiet house, but there was nothing to be done except hope his owners were truly sleeping soundly.
Finally he felt the last pin rise out of the way. With the first paperclip, he turned the lock, and with a quick twist of the handle, the door swung open.
I did it! Grinning in triumph, Bensin tiptoed through the doorway, down the carpeted hall, past the bedroom where Mr. Creghorn was snoring away, past the baby’s room, and into the living room. As softly as he could, he slid back the deadbolt on the front door and found the keyhole. The clickety-clickety seemed even louder now, and he held his breath, wondering if anyone would hear.
But the only other sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall above the couch. Turning the handle to make sure the front door was really unlocked, Bensin dared to breathe again.
Pocketing his paperclips, he tiptoed back into the bedroom and pulled the door shut once more. Then he hurried over to the other mattress and shook his little sister gently by the shoulder. “Ellie, wake up!”
In the darkness, Ellie rolled over. “Hmm?”
“Wake up,” he repeated softly. “We’re leaving!”
She sat up, catching the urgency in his voice. “What do you mean?”
“We’re escaping. Here, put your shoes and sweater on.” He was already wearing his own sneakers, uncomfortably tight at the toes since the Creghorns didn’t believe in buying shoes for slaves very often. He bent to pick up the light jacket he had left at the foot of his mattress. Though it still got warm in the middle of the day, nights were cool at this time of the year in Jarreon.
“The Creghorns are asleep,” he told his sister as he thrust his arms through the sleeves, “and I’ve got the door open. You’re going to be free tonight!”
“But it didn’t work last time,” she protested, fumbling in the dark to put on the clothes he handed her. “And they were really mad.”
“I know, but I have a better plan this time. And with it being New Year, I figure most of the City Watch will have the night off, so we won’t be spotted as easily.”
“But what if they catch us again?”
“Then you just look small and cute like you’re so good at, and you’ll have nothing to worry about. You’re too little to lash.” He hoped.
“Can I bring Bunny?” She reached for the stuffed rabbit Mom had made before Ellie was even born.
“Of course. Here, I’ll carry him in my pocket for you. Now come on, and be quiet.”
Her little fingers tightened around his as he led the way out of their bedroom, pausing to close the door silently behind them. They tiptoed down the hallway and through the living room, and he eased the front door open. Outside, he led her down the steps and along the walkway.
The front gate creaked loudly, and Bensin winced. Ducking, he pulled Ellie down with him into the shadows behind the low fence and then froze again. But there was no sound from the house, and no lights went on behind the Creghorns’ bedroom window. Last night they had stayed up past midnight to welcome in the New Year, so he knew they had been extra tired tonight. Good.
Bensin rose to his feet and he and Ellie slipped out onto the sidewalk, a cool breeze ruffling their hair. From the tight clutch of her fingers around his, he could tell that his sister was scared, but she knew better than to make a sound.
The street was still and empty, but that didn’t mean anything. You never knew when a City Watch officer might pass by on patrol. The moon was hidden behind a thick layer of cloud, but the street lamps gave plenty of light. Strings of colorful New Year’s lights twined their way along fences and around the trunks and lower branches of trees, making it harder to find dark places to hide in.
Trying to avoid the light as much as possible, Bensin steered Ellie along the edge of the sidewalk, hugging the shadows of the neighbors’ hedges, darting across the well-lit areas. At the end of the block, he turned left. Partway down the street, he crossed to the opposite side, quickly pulling Ellie across the open space. There were fewer shadows to hide in here, but he knew a couple of the families on the other side kept dogs. The last thing he needed was for them to start barking and alert the neighborhood to the presence of two runaway slaves. When he was sure they were well past, he led his sister back across the street, thankful for some unadorned trees that gave some protection from the street lights.
“Where are we going?” Ellie whispered, breaking the silence.
“To the park, first,” Bensin whispered back. “We can talk there. Now shh.”
They hurried on in silence, Bensin darting wary glances at the houses on either side. In addition to the glowing New Year’s decorations, many had porch lights on for safety, with an occasional nightlight gleaming through bedroom curtains. But as far as he could tell, no one was awake; no one heard them pass. Probably they were all dead to the world in their beds, sleeping off their New Year’s dinners, dreaming about the gifts they had received from friends and family and their hopes for the coming year.
I know what the year 154 will hold. Freedom for Ellie. Bensin could endure anything himself if only his little sister could be free and safe. That was the best, the only New Year’s gift he wanted.
Turning a final corner, they saw the neighborhood park at the end of the block. Ahead, street lamps and houses gave way to dark open space. “Almost there,” he whispered encouragingly.
They crossed the street one more time to avoid another dog. Beyond the last of the houses, concrete became grass beneath their shoes. There wasn’t much cover here, with trees standing only around the edge. Bensin pulled Ellie after him at a run, aiming for the playground in the center. He was thankful there were no lights, but anyone looking out a window in one of those last few houses would see them darting across the grass.
The playground loomed before them, beckoning like the safe haven he hoped it would be. He led Ellie past the swings, drifting back and forth a little in the night breeze, to the tallest slide. The platform at the top was covered; they could rest there for a few minutes and not be seen.
“I don’t want to play right now,” his sister objected, panting, at the base of the ladder. “I’m too scared.”
“We’re not going to play. I’m going to explain our plan up there where no one will see or hear us.”
He followed her to the top, pulling his feet out of the too-tight shoes as they sat across from each other on the narrow platform. The twisty slide spun away to his right and the ladder dropped down to the left, but here at the top stood a sheltered island of safety. The City Watch, if they passed by on patrol, wouldn’t see them in the shadows under the domed plastic roof.
Lightning flickered from far off across the city, and Ellie scooted closer to him. “Is it gonna rain?”
“Probably not.” Rainstorms were rare in Jarreon. Only slightly less rare were the dry storms that sent dark clouds roiling across the usually clear sky, bringing thunder and lightning and unfulfilled threats.
And change. Mom had told him that stormy skies were a sign that change was coming. The weather had been just like this the day Ellie was born.
“Your life is about to change,” he told his sister as thunder grumbled in the distance. He grinned, knowing she would hear it in his voice even if she couldn’t see it. “We’re going to make you free! You’re going to live with a mom and dad who love you, and maybe some brothers and sisters too; and you’ll get to go to school — real school, not slave school — where you’ll not only learn how to read and write, but all sorts of other fun things. You’ll never have to wear a collar or be lashed, and no one will ever force you to wake up early to feed the baby or change his diapers, or yell at you if he cries. And someday when you grow up, you’ll be free to get a proper job — whatever kind you like — and earn money, and buy whatever you want, and maybe get married and have your own children if you feel like it. They’ll never be sold away from you, and you can do whatever you want with your own life!”
“That’s what you said last time.” Ellie refused to be impressed. “But it didn’t work.”
“I told you, I have a better plan this time. Last time we tried to go too far. The orphanage is miles away; I should have known we wouldn’t make it before it got light and the Watch caught us. But this time we’re only going to a City Watch station. I’ve been talking to Ricky, and I know how it works now. When free kids have problems, they can talk to a Watch Officer, and he or she will help them. If the Watch officers think you’re free and you don’t have any parents, they’ll find foster parents for you.” At least, Ricky had been pretty sure that was the way it worked. “We don’t have to go all the way to an orphanage for that.”
“But I thought the Watch station is the other way.”
“There are lots of stations in Jarreon. The one they took us to last time is the other way, but we’re not going there. I don’t want to risk anyone recognizing you. Besides, when they find out you’re gone, that’s the station the Creghorns will probably call, ’cause they’ve talked to the officers there before. So we’re going to a different one. I looked it up when we were in the library the other day, and I know how to get there now.”
“But I don’t like the Watch. They lashed you last time.”
“Yeah, but it didn’t hurt. You know that. When you’re as strong as I am, hardly anything hurts.” Bensin pushed up the sleeves of his light jacket, flexing his muscles for her to see. “Grr! You know how tough I am!”
She giggled. “Okay, but what are you gonna tell them when we get there? They’ll know we’re running away.”
“No, they won’t. Since you don’t have a collar yet, they’ll have no reason to think you’re a slave. You’re going to tell them that you have no parents and nowhere to live, and then they’ll take care of you until they find a nice family for you to live with.”
“But what about you?”
Here came the part she wouldn’t like. “They won’t see me. I’ll take you as close to the station as I can, but you’ll have to go knock on the door without me.”
Ellie drew in her breath, and her next words came out in a wail. “But I can’t do it by myself! I don’t wanna go without you!”
Reaching out, he took both her hands in his. “You have to be brave, Ellie. This is the only way it will work.”
“But I want you to be free with me!”
“I know, and I will be.” Maybe. “But not yet. The moment they see my collar, they’ll know I’m a runaway slave, just like before. This is probably our last chance, because I heard Mrs. Creghorn saying the other day that you’re old enough you should be wearing a collar too now.”
Ellie pulled a hand free from his and reached over to finger the cold circle of steel around his neck. “I always wonder what it’s like to wear one. Is it that bad?”
“Yeah, it is. Before you get a collar, people don’t always know if you’re a slave or not. But when you have one, it’s obvious. Everyone looks at you different, talks to you different, like you’re an animal and not a person. When free people ask your name or who your owner is, usually they don’t even wait for you to answer before they grab your collar tag to read it for themselves. Sometimes if they really want to be mean, they even call you ‘collar’. And I can’t pick the lock on my collar; I’ve tried I don’t know how many times. So if you’re going to escape, it has to be before you get one.”
She nodded, but she still looked sad. “Don’t worry, though,” he assured her. “Once you’re free and safe, I’ll work on all my days off and save all my money — every last sliver — until I have enough to buy my own freedom. Then I’ll come and find you, and we’ll both be free and happy together.”
Ellie sniffed, and he could tell she was trying not to cry. He squeezed her hand. “When you were only one day old, I promised Mom that I would take care of you and that I would make sure you were free someday.” He had also promised to teach her to be strong and brave, but he hadn’t made much progress yet in that area.
She wiped her cheeks with her sleeve. “I’ll get a job first thing and start saving up all my money too. And then I’ll buy your freedom right away and we can live together again.”
Free kids don’t get jobs. At least not when they’re five. But Bensin rose to his knees and reached over to hug her. “What a great idea! I knew you’d think of something smart like that. Now come on, it’s time to go.”
She scooted over to the slide and pushed off. Though Bensin knew he was too big, he squeezed onto it and spiraled his way down behind her.
He had often brought her to the park to play on their days off. Something inside him clenched up at the thought that he would never come here with his sister again, never hear her laughing and calling out to him as she zoomed down the slides or while he pushed her on the swings. But he couldn’t let himself dwell on that. If she ever came to this park again, it would be as a free girl with a new family. I’m keeping my promise, Mom.
Taking her hand in his again, he ran with her toward the shelter of the trees at the edge of the playing field as lightning flickered once more. “And remember,” he told her in a low voice, “you can’t ever tell anyone you were a slave. Don’t ever talk about it with a single person — not the Watch Officers, not your new family, not your friends, not the teacher in your school. If they find out, they’ll make you a slave again.”
The two of them hurried down another residential street, still keeping to the shadows as much as possible. Bensin tried not to let himself think about all that might go wrong. And even if everything goes right, Mr. Creghorn will bring out the Motivator and lash me within an inch of my life tomorrow. Of course Bensin would pretend he didn’t know where his sister had gone, but of course his owner wouldn’t believe a word of it. It didn’t matter, though. Let him do his worst. I’ll die before I tell. No matter what they did to him, it would be worth it.
In the distance, he could hear the sound of traffic. “The next street is a busier one,” he warned Ellie in a whisper. “There will be cars, so we’ll have to be extra careful to stay out of sight.” Watch Officers were more likely to patrol there, too. He would have to keep a sharp lookout.
They crept along the new street, Bensin bent nearly double, staying in the shadows of the low brick wall that ran along the front of people’s yards. Every time he heard a car coming, he dragged his sister toward the nearest bush or parked car, crouching behind it with her until the vehicle had passed. If only there were another way we could go. But the only other routes he knew would take them far out of their way.
Three blocks down, they came to the little shopping center where Mrs. Creghorn sometimes sent him to buy groceries. Most of the buildings were dark, but the parking lot was well lit, and he could see lights on in the all-night pharmacy. The Happy New Year sign in their window was flashing red and gold.
“We’ll go around the edge,” he whispered, thankful for the thick hedge that bordered the parking lot.
They were less than halfway around when he heard footsteps approaching, loud in the stillness. Ellie gasped, and he turned and slid his hand over her mouth before she could make a sound that would give them away. “Get down,” he breathed, and pushed her gently to the ground at the base of the hedge. He dropped beside her, shielding her body with his, and the two of them lay there where the shadows were darkest, holding their breath.
The footsteps drew closer. Bensin didn’t dare turn his head, but out of the corner of his eye he could see a pair of black boots below the dark blue pants of a Watch officer’s uniform. The man was walking past the buildings with measured steps, a flashlight in hand. From time to time he swung the beam of the light back and forth across the parking lot.
If he shines it this way, he’ll see us for sure. Bensin squeezed his arm more tightly around his sister’s shoulders, willing her to stay silent. He could feel her little body trembling.
The officer drew closer, and Bensin could see the sidearm in its holster at his belt. I bet I’m a better fighter than he is. But the thought gave him no comfort. If they both had cavvarachs, he could probably beat the officer in a duel, but that wouldn’t help him now. He was unarmed; and anyway, a cavvarach, perfect for close-quarters combat, was no match for a gun. Besides, you couldn’t fight a Watch officer. Not unless you were looking for a death sentence.
Of course, the death penalty was the consequence for a slave who attacked any free person. Mr. Creghorn loved to remind Bensin of that, but Bensin was sure that law wasn’t always enforced. Who wanted to waste a valuable slave when you could just sell him to someone else?
“Is it the Watch?” Ellie whispered.
“Shh!” He should have kept a hand over her mouth. Had the officer heard? The man turned toward them, but he was still some distance away, and it was impossible to guess anything from his expression. The flashlight scrutinized the parking lot, asphalt and painted lines and occasional scattered trash appearing in its sweeping beam. Bensin waited for it to flash across his face, but the officer pointed it the other way, examining the space between two buildings.
And then he was gone. The blue uniform disappeared around a corner, and the sound of footsteps faded.
Bensin released his grip on Ellie and rose to his hands and knees. “Get up, but keep quiet. Yes, it was a Watch officer, and he’s just around the corner. We’re going to stay in the shadows and crawl in case he comes back.”
He led the way along the hedge, keeping its comforting darkness at their right, the open parking lot stretching away to the left, the buildings beyond. They reached the corner and turned, still crawling. We’re halfway around.
“My knees hurt,” whispered Ellie from behind him. “Rocks and things are poking them.” The officer was nowhere in sight, so Bensin stopped to let her rest. “What if he comes back and sees us?”
“If he sees you, just tell him what I told you to say: that you don’t have any home or parents. As long as he doesn’t see me, you’ll be fine.”
“But what if he sees us both?”
“That’s why we’re staying in the shadows. Now come on.”
Bensin breathed a sigh of relief when they completed their circuit of the shopping center without spotting the officer again. He must have gone off to patrol somewhere else. “We can stand up again, as long as we stay away from the light,” he told Ellie. “We’ve got two more blocks to go on this road.”
They were nearly to their next turn when they passed a gate behind which a large dog stood, wide awake and watching the street. Bensin didn’t see it in time, and it burst into furious barking.
They both jumped, and Ellie shrieked in alarm, immediately clapping a hand over her own mouth. “Sorry!” she whispered through her fingers.
“Run!” Bensin grabbed her arm and dragged her past the gate, the dog still shattering the night with its barking. A van was parked by the curb a few houses ahead. He dashed toward it, sister in tow. “Scoot under,” he ordered, just as a porch light flicked on.
Flinging himself to the ground, he wriggled forward on his belly, his dangling collar tag scraping over the asphalt and the back of his jacket snagging against the van’s undercarriage. Ellie followed, and the two of them lay there on the cold ground, listening. From inside the house, a woman’s voice called to the dog.
Ellie reached for Bensin’s hand as a door opened. “What’s the matter?” they heard the woman say. “There’s no one here. You barking at stray cats again?”
The dog gave one last wuff and went silent. They could hear its owner walking around her front yard, probably checking for intruders, and then the front door opened and shut once more.
Bensin waited until his heart had slowed back to its normal pace. “You’re doing great,” he whispered. “You’re so brave! Mom would have been proud of you. Ready to keep going?”
“I guess so,” she whispered back, her voice tremulous.
They crawled out from under the van and continued down the street, darting into the shadows whenever a car drove by. At last they reached their turnoff.
“I’m tired,” Ellie complained. “Are we almost there?”
“Not really. It’s still a long way.”
“Can’t we stop and rest some more? I’m hungry, too.”
“I’m sure they’ll give you something to eat at the station. But I guess we can stop for a bit if I can find somewhere safe. In the meantime, I’ll give you a piggyback ride.” He crouched low and hoisted her onto his back.
A moment later, Bensin almost jumped out of his skin when a ragged man who had obviously had too much to drink came stumbling around a corner and bumped right into him. He leaped aside, nearly dropping his sister, and wondered at the same moment what kind of kick would work best with his hands occupied and the extra weight on his back.
But no. The man wasn’t wearing a collar, and Bensin couldn’t afford to risk his life by attacking a free man, even a bum. Not when he was already risking so much tonight anyway.
But the bum didn’t seem to care. He mumbled what might have been a greeting and staggered on his way, clutching a bottle.
Still, Bensin didn’t want to chance the man remembering them and telling someone in authority. He crossed the street at a run, darted down another, and turned at the first corner. Ahead, he saw lights and heard music. Probably the bar the man had come from, full of revelers toasting the New Year.
“Are we lost?” squeaked Ellie in his ear, arms clasped tightly around his neck.
“No, we just took a detour.” Bensin spied a dark opening between two buildings. “Look, there’s an alley. I’m going to set you down and check if it’s safe, and if it is, we can sit in there and rest a little while.” He squatted down and gently unpried her arms.
Spying an empty beer can on the ground nearby, he tossed it into the darkness. It bounced off something with a metallic clatter, but there was no other response. Satisfied, Bensin beckoned his sister forward. “Okay, let’s go in.”
The metal object turned out to be a trashcan, which Bensin bumped into and nearly knocked over in the dark. Wincing at the loud clang, he sat down behind it and pulled Ellie down beside him. It smelled none too pleasant, and he didn’t want to think about how filthy the ground probably was. But at least no one would see them. “We can rest for a few minutes. Not too long, though.”
“Can I hold Bunny?”
“Of course.” He pulled the toy out of his pocket and handed it over. Freeing his feet once more, he rested them carefully on top of his shoes so he wouldn’t dirty his socks with whatever was underfoot. He massaged his sore toes. I’m going to have blisters after this for sure.
Ellie settled the crocheted rabbit on her lap and stroked it as though it were a real animal. “Don’t worry, Bunny,” he heard her whisper. “We’ll be okay. At least me and you will still be together.”
She leaned against Bensin’s shoulder. In a few minutes he felt her relax, and her breathing grew regular.
Lightning flickered overhead, illuminating bulging layers of cloud. It must be a good sign. Ellie’s life is going to change tonight, Bensin reminded himself. It won’t be much longer now.
Several times he heard people walk past the mouth of their alley, some talking loudly and drunkenly. Nobody ventured in, though, and Bensin was confident he had chosen a safe hiding place. Still, they couldn’t wait around too long. He had to drop Ellie off at the Watch station and get home before morning.
Finally he pulled his shoes back on and shook his sister awake. “Come on, Ellie. We can’t sit here all night.”
“I’m sleepy,” she protested as he pulled her to her feet. “I don’t wanna go any farther. I wanna go to bed.”
“The Watch officers will give you a nice, warm, comfortable bed to sleep in as soon as we get to the station. And something to eat,” he promised, hoping he was right. “Now let me put Bunny back in my pocket, and let’s go.”
“No. I wanna hold Bunny.”
He didn’t bother arguing. “All right, but if we have to run and you drop him, we might not be able to go back.”
“I won’t drop him.”
At the mouth of the alley, he paused to glance both ways before venturing out. Almost immediately, a flashlight beam from across the street sliced through the darkness. Bensin jumped back, nearly tripping over his sister. “Get back! Get back!” He pushed her behind the trashcan once more.
“What is it? Is it another Watch officer?” she whimpered, wide awake now.
“I think so.” Crouching, Bensin peered out from behind the trashcan. He was horrified to see a uniformed officer crossing the street toward them, his flashlight beam playing back and forth across the alley entrance. “He must have heard us. We have to get further back. Maybe there’s another way out of here.” He grabbed her hand and dragged her after him, still crouching low. Another trashcan loomed, and he dodged just in time. Darting behind it, he was dismayed to find that they had reached a dead end. Could they climb the wall?
“Who’s back there?” called a stern voice from the alley entrance. A beam of light illuminated the dirty ground just to their right and the brick wall behind them.
We can’t get over the wall without him seeing us. On his own, Bensin might be able to shimmy over and flee down the next street without getting caught or shot. But with Ellie, his chances were much smaller. Besides, there were probably more officers nearby, especially considering that this was a neighborhood with a bar. He could call for backup, and before we know it we’ll be in the middle of a manhunt. Bensin had seen such things on TV when the Creghorns watched the news.
There’s only one way out of this. “Ellie,” Bensin whispered through a sudden terrified tightness in his throat, “it’s time for you to do what we talked about. The man won’t hurt you. Go tell him your parents are dead and you have nowhere to live.”
“You mean — go out there all alone?” she gasped.
“I know you’re there,” called the officer. “Come out, whoever you are.”
Bensin clenched his fists in anguish. How could he send his little sister to face a Watch officer by herself? The man had a gun, for the emperor’s sake! If he couldn’t escape with her, his instincts screamed that he had to protect her in any way he could — with his own life, if necessary. Certainly not hide in the shadows and send her out to face an armed man alone.
But Bensin couldn’t forget his mother’s words that day he had visited her in the hospital. “Slavery is worse for girls, Bensin. Their owners think they can do anything they want with them. Promise me you’ll look after Ellie as much as you can. Teach her to be strong and brave.”
And Bensin, tears in his eyes at the frightening sight of Mom so pale and weak on her hospital bed, had looked down at the red, wrinkly bundle that was his little sister and promised. “I will, Mom. I’ll take care of care of her no matter what.” As an afterthought, he had added, “And someday she’ll be free. I’ll make sure of it, I promise. I promise!”
And this was his last chance to keep that promise. The Creghorns would take Ellie to get her collar any day now, and she would never escape after that.
“Come out with your hands in the air!” the officer called. He sounded closer.
“Go, Ellie,” Bensin whispered, trying to make his voice encouraging. “It’s time for you and Bunny to get a new home. Step out where the man can see you and say what I told you to. And don’t let him know I’m here.”
She gave a frightened little whimper but obeyed. Rising to her feet, she took a shaky step forward, Bunny clutched to her chest like a life preserver.
Bensin had never felt like such a loser.
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Author’s name: Annie Douglass Lima
Title of book: The Collar and the Cavvarach
Brief summary of the story:
Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire’s most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie’s escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The story takes place in a world almost exactly like our own. Although most aspects of the culture are just about what they are currently on Earth, a few sports are different, such as the martial art known as cavvara shil (more about that later). The main difference, however, is that slavery is legal there.
Jarreon, where this story is set, is the second-largest city on the continent of Imperia. It’s located on the coast and has a warm climate most of the year, though winter nights are cool enough that you would want at least a light jacket.
What is the political or government structure there?
The Krillonian Empire rules much of the world. An emperor (Geoffrey Kolvar Vandion, though his name isn’t actually mentioned in this book) governs from the capital city, Krillonia, on the continent known as Imperia. Eight separate provinces (independent nations before they were conquered) can be found on nearby continents. Each province, plus Imperia, is allowed to elect its own legislature and decide on many of its own laws, but the emperor reserves the right to veto any of them and make changes as he sees fit. This seldom happens, however, and to most people the emperor is merely a vague and distant ceremonial figure.
If we were to visit Jarreon as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
The city of Jarreon is famous throughout the empire for its martial arts, especially cavvara shil. If you enjoy sports, you will definitely want to attend one of the many local tournaments. I recommend the Grand Imperial Cavvara Shil tourney held in Jarreon every spring. The contest is held on four consecutive weekends at one of the city’s large arenas. Contestants of all ages, both male and female, battle it out for fame, trophies, and large cash prizes. Reserve your seat early, though, as tickets usually sell out months in advance. If you can’t get a ticket, you’ll be able to watch the matches on television on any of Imperia’s sports channels.
What dangers should we avoid in Jarreon?
On the whole, Jarreon is a pretty safe city, thanks in part to the City Watch officers who patrol its streets. (One of them, Officer Kalgan Shigo, plays an important role in the story.) I would recommend not walking around alone at night, however, especially in the bad parts of town.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Jarreon?
Not really. Most foods you might find on Earth are readily available there, including fast food such as pizza and hamburgers. One item often eaten by manual laborers is boxed meals that include rice or noodles with vegetables and meat (how much meat depends on how much you want to pay). Many side-of-the-road eateries specialize in variations of the boxed lunch, which owners will often order for their enslaved workers.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Jarreon?
Firearms very similar to ones we have on Earth are readily available throughout the Krillonian Empire. Watch officers carry them, and they’re legal for citizens to own. However, it is against the law for slaves to use or even touch a firearm.
A number of martial arts are popular in Jarreon. One kind is called kickfighting, which is similar to our kickboxing. Another is cavvara dueling, in which fighters strike at each other with a sword-like weapon called a cavvarach. The cavvarach has a hook about halfway along the top edge of the blade, and you win a duel by disarming your opponent: hooking or knocking the cavvarach out of his or her hand. Contestants wear poncho-like padding that protects their torso and groin.
Cavvara shil is the most widely respected martial art in the Krillonian Empire. It is difficult to master, since it is a combination of kickfighting and cavvara dueling, with a little wrestling thrown in. You can win a duel either by disarming your opponent or by pinning his or her shoulders to the mat for five seconds. In addition to the protective padding, you wear a narrow shield-like guard on one forearm, with which you can block an opponent’s blows or kicks. Bensin, the main character, is particularly skilled at cavvara shil. He and his owner/coach, Steene, each have their own reasons for hoping he will qualify for and eventually win the Grand Imperial Cavvara Shil Tourney. (Click here to read a tournament scene from the book.)
Cavvarachs used by most martial artists are unsharpened and not very dangerous, though minor injuries can and do occur. Only professional gladiators, who live and compete in Jarreon’s four major arenas, use sharpened weapons and fight without the protective padding. While not usually intended to be to the death, these duels can nevertheless end in serious injury, and all gladiators do die on the job eventually. (Barely mentioned in The Collar and the Cavvarach, gladiators and the whole arena system play an important role in book II: The Gladiator and the Guard.)
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to the Krillonian Empire?
Transportation works the same way there that it does on Earth. Steene, Bensin’s owner, drives an old blue pickup truck. When not riding with him, Bensin takes the bus to and from the different places where he works.
What types of sentient races might we encounter in the Krillonian Empire that we don’t see on Earth?
Humans are the only sentient race in this world. There are different races of humans, closely coinciding with races found on Earth, though their cultures don’t necessarily match. Bensin, a Tarnestran, has “light skin, short blond hair, and green eyes” (though hair and eye color can vary). Nelirians, like Bensin’s friend Ricky, have “narrowed eyes and high cheekbones”. Skeyvians, like Officer Shigo, have “dark skin, kinky black hair”, and in his case, “the stereotypical deep voice”. Imperians such as Steene are described with “medium brown skin and straight black hair”.
I should add that race is really not much of an issue to most people in Jarreon. As you might expect in the largest port city on the continent, it is a cultural melting pot, and people from all over the empire can be found there. One character does recall someone making racist remarks to him, but most don’t see others any differently based on their skin color or appearance.
Slavery is not based on race, either. People from any race can be enslaved as punishment for certain crimes. For example, Ricky and his family were sold into slavery after his dad, who worked as an accountant for a government agency, was caught embezzling money. It’s true that more Tarnestrans are slaves than anyone else, but that’s because the nation of Tarnestra refused to submit peacefully to imperial annexation. After the Krillonian Empire eventually conquered it, tens of thousands of Tarnestrans were ripped from their homes and sold into slavery as a warning to anyone else who might be tempted to resist imperial progress.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in the Krillonian Empire? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Technology is nearly the same there as on Earth, but some of it is used in different ways. For example, all slaves wear a metal collar that locks around their neck and identifies them as a slave. For an extra fee, a slave’s owner can purchase an upgraded version that comes with GPS, making it easy to track the slave if he or she attempts to escape.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in the Krillonian Empire as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The days and months are exactly the same, though the years are based on the time since the empire was founded. The story starts on January 1st of the year 154.
The biggest holiday in Imperia is New Year. People celebrate by buying each other gifts and enjoying a feast with family or friends. As on Earth, it’s common to stay up till midnight on New Year’s Eve. Schools close for two weeks, and families often use the time to go on vacations. In the first few days of the new year, those who can afford it usually buy new clothes.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Jarreon?
The prevalence of slavery is probably what would stand out the most to visitors from Earth. There are nearly as many slaves in Jarreon as free people, and they are easily identified by their steel collars. From each collar hangs a tag inscribed with the slave’s name, their owner’s name, and a tiny copy of their owner’s signature. On the back of the tag is their owner’s phone number and a bar code that can be scanned to access additional information.
Owners may choose to send slave children to up to five years of public slave school, which meets only in the mornings and involves reading, writing, and arithmetic. This is considered all that most slaves need to know for their daily tasks, though some owners pay extra for them to receive additional education or specific vocational training.
Many families own one or more slaves who do their housework and yardwork. Businesses often own a large number of slaves, usually for manual labor, though some are trained for more complex tasks. “Green slaves,” or those who were born free and enslaved later in life for one reason or another, are in high demand. Often they have college degrees and the white-collar work experience so hard to find in the enslaved population.
People or businesses who don’t own their own slaves may “hire in” a slave belonging to someone else. The accepted rate for an hourly wage is two-thirds the amount that a free person would earn for equivalent labor (the money goes to the slave’s owner, of course).
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
I’ve based a few details of Jarreon’s culture on the culture in Taiwan, where I live. The convenient boxed meals and the importance of New Year, for example. In addition, people receive award money in red envelopes. As in Taiwan, some in Jarreon’s lower class chew betel nut, a legal drug sold in shops decorated with flashing colored lights.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Slavery is definitely the big one. I wanted to explore the idea of what our world would be like if slavery were legalized in the modern day. It sounds so impossibly wrong that it’s easy to think we could never let it happen in this day and age, but how many other wrongs do we overlook because it isn’t convenient to do anything about them? It’s my hope that this work of fiction will make readers take a second look at some of the practices we accept or choose to turn a blind eye to in our own culture.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase The Collar and the Cavvarach?
The paperback and Kindle versions are available on Amazon here.
Click here to order it for Nook or in other digital formats on Smashwords.
My other books, including two more novels in the Krillonian Chronicles trilogy and one spin-off novella, can be found here.
Where can readers connect with you online?
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon
Google Plus: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGooglePlus
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Krillonian Empire. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the world of Yargon in Realm Explorers Part XLVII!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the world of Yargon in Realm Explorers Part XLVII!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Just one more week until The Collar and the Cavvarach is available! (Of course, you can preorder it right now by clicking here.) In the meantime, want a sneak preview? Scroll down to read a scene from the book. But first, a quick description of the story.
Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire’s most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie’s escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?
In this scene, fourteen-year-old Bensin is preparing to compete in a martial arts tournament. His coach, Steene Mayvins, is eager to see how his new student will do. Steene’s former prize pupil, Jayce, is competing too.
It was about a quarter to seven that evening when Steene and Bensin pulled into the parking lot of the large park. A cool breeze hit them as they got out of the truck, and they both paused to pull on the light jackets they had brought.
Lively music played from speakers all around, and brilliant temporary lighting illuminated milling crowds in what was almost a carnival atmosphere. Steene sniffed appreciatively; aromas wafted toward them from half a dozen food stalls featuring various local restaurants that offered dinner to the hungry throng.
“Entrance is ten imps per person,” announced an attendant at the gate as they approached.
Steene handed over a ten-imp bill. “Bensin here is a contestant.”
He showed the woman the registration slip, and she compared the name printed on it to the one on the boy’s collar. “All right, your slave gets in free. Good luck!”
Long rows of tables on either side of the entrance sold Springstyle sports equipment of every variety, while other vendors, who had paid well for the opportunity, hawked their wares from around the edges of the park.
In the middle, of course, were the fighting rings. There were six of them: two each for the under fourteen, under sixteen, and under eighteen fighters. Netting hung from poles around each ring to protect onlookers from the occasional flying cavvarach.
Steene checked a nearby sign. “The under sixteen boys’ ring is over on the right there. Come on.” He led the way as Bensin followed him through the crowd on bare feet, carrying the duffel bag with the protective padding, cavvarach, and shil that Steene was letting him borrow for the event.
“Hi, Coach Steene!” A couple of the girls in one of Steene’s intermediate classes waved to him from amongst the crowd.
He waved back. “Good luck this evening! You’ll do great!” He would try to go watch some of their matches if he had a chance, but Bensin was his first priority today.
A cheer went up from somewhere to their left, followed by thunderous applause. The music cut out while an announcer’s voice called over the loudspeaker: “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s hear it for April Levang, our under eighteen girls’ cavvara dueling champion!” There was another cheer, and scattered applause rippled through the park.
They made their way to Bensin’s ring, empty of contestants at the moment, and Steene found the list of pairings for the first round. “So who am I fighting, sir?” the boy wondered from beside him.
I don’t believe this.“You’re going first, and it looks like you’re up against Jayce Torro.” Usually athletes from the same school or training organization weren’t matched against each other in public competitions, at least not unless they both made it to the finals and there was no one else to fight. But Steene had signed Bensin up as his private pupil. He hadn’t mentioned the CSF on the form since the boy wasn’t a paying student there anymore, and so the organizers had had no way of knowing.
“I’m against Jayce, sir? Your former prize student?” Worry crossed Bensin’s face. “I pictured maybe facing him in the final round.”
“Well, now you can beat him at the beginning and get it over with,” Steene replied, trying to sound confident. He wasn’t actually sure which of the two boys was the better athlete, but he wasn’t about to say so now. “Come on, let’s go get you warmed up.” He led Bensin toward the competitors’ tent as another, smaller round of applause went up from the crowd at the other end of the park.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” bellowed a different announcer, “I give you Brock, winner of the boys’ under fourteen cavvara dueling competition!” There were fewer cheers this time. With only one name, Brock was obviously a slave, and people seldom got as excited when a slave won. Not that slaves didn’t have friends who would have been glad to cheer for them, but slaves’ friends were almost always other slaves, and they didn’t usually have the money for the entry fee required at most tournaments.
“And that concludes the cavvara dueling portion of our evening,” the voice went on. “We’ll take a few minutes’ break, and at seven o’clock we’ll start the first rounds of cavvara shil. Check the rings or ask at the information counter for the lists of competitors, and be sure to pick your favorites. Bets can be placed at our betting booth across from the front entrance.”
The competitors’ tent, which was really just a peaked roof on poles, was full of athletes warming up and coaches giving last-minute pep talks. Steene guided Bensin to an empty corner and pulled out the jump rope he had stashed in the duffel bag. “Here. Warm up.” It might look funny, but he had found that jumping rope was the best way to warm up in a small space.
As Bensin began jumping, Steene pulled out the padding and shil that he had worn at so many tournaments in his own teenage fighting days. At the other end of the tent, he could see Jayce’s parents hovering anxiously while their son pulled off his socks and shoes and prepped his custom-designed gear under Markus’ watchful eye.
Steene wove his way over to them, noting the way the boy’s mom and dad sidled away as he approached. They don’t want to have to talk to me about why they pulled their son out of my class.
“Hi, Jayce.”
His former student, who hadn’t seen him coming, started almost guiltily at the sound of Steene’s voice. “Oh, hi, Coach.”
“Ready for your first competition under your new trainer?” He hoped the bitterness he couldn’t help feeling wasn’t too obvious.
“Um, yeah. Listen, nothing personal about switching or anything. It was just, you know ….” His voice trailed away.
“No worries, Jayce. I’m sure you’ll do great with Mr. Brinks.”
Markus smiled toothily at him as he handed Jayce his padding. “Oh, he will. He will.”
“I hear I’m up against a new pupil of yours,” the boy added as he pulled the padding over his head. “Some collar named Bensin.”
“You shouldn’t call him that.” Steene frowned. “Slave or not, he’s a person, and a good fighter too. He’ll give you a run for your money.”
“Well, I’m ready for it!” Jayce grinned and flexed his muscles.
He is ready for it.Steene turned and walked back toward Bensin. Was his new student as good as his old one? He would find out soon, and he had an uncomfortable feeling about this.
Next time I’ll check with Mr. Drogum about mentioning the CSF on the form, Steene decided. Bensin does train there, after all. He should have done that this time.
But he wouldn’t let Bensin see how he felt about this match. “Better start stretching,” he ordered. “They’re going to be calling the two of you out there in a minute.”
“Yes, sir.” The boy coiled the jump rope up. “Was that Jayce you were talking to over there, sir?”
“Yeah.” Steene took the rope, noticing for the first time the holes in the knees of his student’s pants and how threadbare his shirt was. It was quite a contrast to Jayce’s name brand sports clothes and expensive shoes. “Listen,” he began as Bensin pulled one foot up behind himself in a standing quad stretch. “He’s good, but not as good as he likes everyone to think, so don’t let him intimidate you. He’s overconfident. You can beat him if you stay focused.”
“Yes, sir.”
“If you can get him to underestimate you, you’ve got an even better chance. Focus mainly on defense at the beginning while you get a feel for his fighting style. Then attack when he thinks he’s got you intimidated. Try to pin him or disarm him suddenly, before he can come back from his surprise.”
“Yes, sir. Got it.” They said nothing else as the boy finished stretching. Steene wasn’t sure if Bensin really believed he could do it or not.
Finally Bensin stood up, peeled off his jacket, and donned the padding. The loudspeaker crackled to life as he strapped on Steene’s shil. “And now, ladies and gentlemen,” came the announcer’s voice, “we begin the event you’ve all been waiting for. Will the first contestants for the cavvara shil competition in each age group please step into their rings.”
Steene handed the cavvarach to Bensin and led him out of the tent, through the crowd, and over to the ring formed by the circle of netting. Jayce was already stepping into it from the other side.
A different announcer, the one in charge of just this ring, spoke into his microphone from a few yards away. “For the first round in boys’ under sixteen cavvara shil,” he declared, reading from his sheet, “we have Jayce Torro versus Bensin.”
Excited applause rose from the gathering crowd. “You all set?” Steene asked. Out of habit, he double-checked the straps on his student’s padding and shil, even though he knew Bensin knew just how tight to fasten them. “All right. Get in there and make me proud.”
Bensin nodded under the lights. “I’ll try, sir.”
Steene lifted the edge of the netting, and his student ducked under it and into the ring. A whistle blew and the duel began.
Click here to preorder The Collar and the Cavvarach from Amazon. It will be delivered to your Kindle in one week.
I’m excited to announce that my young adult action and adventure novel, The Collar and the Cavvarach, is scheduled to be released next month! Here is the cover, created by the talented Jack Lin:
About the Story:
Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire’s most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie’s escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?
What is the Collar for, and What is a Cavvarach?
The story is set in a world very much like our own, with just a few major differences. One is that slavery is legal there. Slaves must wear metal collars that lock around their neck, making their enslaved status obvious to everyone. Any slave attempting to escape faces the dilemma of how and where to illegally get their collar removed (a crime punishable by enslavement for the remover).
Another difference is the popularity of a martial art called cavvara shil. It is fought with a cavvarach (rhymes with “have a rack”), an unsharpened weapon similar to a sword but with a steel hook protruding from partway down its top edge. Competitors can strike at each other with their feet as well as with the blades. You win in one of two ways: disarming your opponent (hooking or knocking their cavvarach out of their hands) or pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.
Connect with the Author Online:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:
Michael M. Farnsworth
Title of book and/or series:
HALADRAS
Brief summary of the story:
When Skylar’s enigmatic uncle warns him to stay away from the mysterious winged insects that have been sighted on other planets, he thinks little of it; no one has seen the insects on their own planet of Haladras. His uncle knows more than he’s telling, though. The creatures are not insects, but machines. And they’re hunting for Skylar. Only after Skylar narrowly escapes capture and flees Haladras with his uncle does he learn the whole truth. What his uncle reveals will shatter Skylar’s world. Torn from the girl he loves and thrust into the center of a conflict that will consume the empire, Skylar must fight for all he cares for, even as he struggles to know who he can trust.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Haladras is the principle planet for this story—hence the name. It’s a small desert planet, whose entire economy is driven by teryleum mining. Though small, because of its vast production of teryleum, it plays an increasingly vital role in the empire of which it is a part.
If we were to visit Haladras as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Haladras is a harsh place. Men do not go there to live long comfortable lives. There is little time for leisure. Its mining units are utilitarian. However, if given the chance to see it, the Gorge of Kaladra is a spectacular sight when it’s lit up at night.
What dangers should we avoid in Haladras?
The sun. The deep desert. Sand storms. Drake Blacksands. Most of all, the Trackers.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Haladras?
Like their cities, the people’s food serves one purpose: to sustain life. Food which spoils easily is of little use. They mostly eat grains, legumes, and dried meats.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Haladras?
The blaster is the most common and efficient weapon. But there are some who still carry swords.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Haladras?
Few people on Haladras are wealthy enough to own a spacecraft. Most buy passage on large spacecrafts to travel between planets. On Haladras itself, sand rovers and transports are commonly used to get about the desert. Among the younger citizenry, the personal flying devices called jetwings are popular. If you find yourself on one of the planets with a more habitable climate, you might end up riding on the back of a shaggy-haired paqua.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Haladras that we don’t see on Earth?
Though you won’t find them on Haladras, paquas do make several appearances in the story. Their most prominent feature is their long shaggy hair, which is often shorn and woven into a coarse fabric. Primarily used as beasts of burden, their gait is slow and lazy.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Haladras?
None, practically. Though, the main character will have a few brushes with the supernatural during his adventures.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Haladras? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Yes. Early in the book, synthetic osteoclasts—nanomolecular agents—are used to rapidly mend a cracked skull.
The jetwing utilizes an invisible coupling link which acts as a sort of wing between the two hand-held jet thrusters. This enables an individual to fly with his arms outstretched, as if he were a plane or a soaring eagle.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Haladras.
Teenage boys love to play Orb Scram, a game involving jetwings and a levitating sphere. There’s also sand sailing that can be done out on the dunes on a windy evening.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Haladras as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The measure of years is reckoned by the length of the current monarch’s reign. Months are measured by the phases of its own moons.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Haladras? Please describe what it involves.
Under the current monarch’s reign, religion in the empire has withered. Some still believe in a Spirit King, who rules over the dead. Some believe he also has power in the mortal realm. But there is no active religion practiced on Haladras. The largest contingency of believers are the priests which live isolated on the frozen planet of Kyndoo Yavi.
What is the political or government structure in Haladras? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The Ahlderion empire is ruled by a king. Each official planet of the empire is governed directly by a lord. These lords pledge fidelity to the king, but are bestowed a significant amount of discretion when it comes to operating the affairs of their people. Haladras being a colonial planet, is overseen by a viceroy, who has significantly less power than a lord. The current viceroy of Haladras is Viceroy Aberforce. Generally, he is a prudent leader. Proud, but spineless.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
On Quoryn, one of the nearest planets to Haladras, there are lush forests with towering moss-strewn trees. These were inspired by the magnificent forests of the Pacific Northwest, where I live.
Author Autobiography.Michael M. Farnsworth holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. A degree that comes in handy if you’re a software engineer, which he is, but not so much if you’re a writer. As a native Texan, he should know lots about riding horses and herding cattle—but he doesn’t. He does, however, know a good deal about wrangling small children. He has four of them. When he’s not wrangling children, writing code or writing books, he’s probably building something. He lives with his wife and children in Seattle, WA.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
Where can readers connect with you online?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Haladras. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the Krillonian Empire (which is more of an alternate reality than a sci-fi or fantasy world), in Realm Explorers Part XXXXVI!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the Krillonian Empire (which is more of an alternate reality than a sci-fi or fantasy world), in Realm Explorers Part XXXXVI!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Debbie Brown
Title of book and/or series:
Amethyst Eyes (trilogy) Books 1 and 2 available
Brief summary of the story:
15 yr old Tommy is forced to leave him home on Earth when his mother dies in a car accident. His estranged, alien father returns to collect Tommy, and the teen finds himself having to adapt to life on every level. He never knew of his father’s origins, and knows even less about the world he now calls his own. Tommy’s father is the commander of a Crisis Intervention Vessel that oversees the continuation of the human race throughout our galaxy.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Most of the story takes place on the Phoenix, or on in the Canadian Rockies on Earth.
The Phoenix is used to monitor, seek out suitable alternative planets and relocate populations in desperate situations. The ship is made up of 4 parts. The main saucer houses the entire crew, all of the main departments as well as crew quarters. Three smaller disks or saucer shaped pods, affixed to the underside of the Phoenix, serve in the ship’s duties. One is the arboretum, the other is for geology and xeno-biology, the third is used to for mass transport.
If we were to visit a Crisis Intervention Vessel as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
The arboretum is a must since it carries vegetation from all human inhabited worlds. For anyone who wants to know what their true calling in life is, trying out the Orientation Chamber will surely interest them and give them something to ponder. The Endurance Training room provides an endless obstacle course through every possible setting, climate and condition, starting at the top of a redwood forest.
What dangers should we avoid in Amethyst Eyes?
The main character has amethyst colored eyes, and that makes him the target of some unruly predators. But aside from that, most dangers are encountered planet side, during colony transfers. Or, in Tommy’s case, the occasional encounter with Jayden can prove dangerous.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Amethyst Eyes?
Aside from the food Tommy grew up eating on Earth, he has been introduced to the food of his father’s people…and that can be anything from garagon porridge, shey pod fruit, or warm Durash pulp to help you sleep at night…but Tommy’s least favorite was his father’s attempt to feed his son something that resembled French toast…in flavor only, because the slimy green chunks were too much to ask anyone to overlook.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Amethyst Eyes?
The ship has a full weapon’s array, though they have never used it. There is no violence amongst the Sirians, per say, and because sports can be seen as an ‘organized form of war’ these people do not practice any sports other than endurance training.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used in Amethyst Eyes?Molecular transport can send an individual from point A to point B (ie from the ship to a planet), small shuttles for 3 people or larger ones for an entire group are at their disposition. The main ship holds the entire crew of several hundred people, as well as housing 3 detachable pods along the underside of the disk like vessel. One disk is the arboretum, the other holds geology and the xeno-biology, the third is used to transport entire populations from one planet to another.
Replicators are used to grab a quick meal. Holographic technology is used for medical, educational and recreational purposes. Computer displays are found on many glass-like surfaces, such as desktops and wall-panels. They are all tactile, as well as being voice inter-active or chip interface activated.
Their medical technology is something to strive for. Diagnostic tables, made a soft glass-like surface that adapts to the body’s contour, offering support and comfort while the body is scanned. Crystal disks, placed on the patient provoke an electromagnet response in the body, causing the patient to relax or even slip off into sleep. Most procedures are painless, even when they are invasive. It is possible to regenerate bone and tissue. A holographic image of the patient can be called up, showing every detail of the body, down to cellular health, old scars or injuries, as well as bodily functions.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Amethyst Eyes that we don’t see on Earth?
The Sirians, Tommy’s father’s people, are from the planet Sirius, orbiting the Dog Star Sirius. They were the first planet seeded by the Forefathers, and tasked with the role of watching over all human colonies in our galaxy. Mostly, the people are the same as the humans we encounter here on earth…with a few exceptions. Some have milk-chocolate skin and electric blue eyes, without any whites. Others have pale skin, bright green eyes and white hair. The Binari (bi (like bit) Nar ee) are bald, grey skinned people who hunt those with amethyst eyes.
The Kettra, found on one planet, are extremely dangerous. They are cute, furry animals with short, teddy bear snouts and large, paper thin ears. They hunt in groups at night and drag their prey back to the colony to be devoured fresh.
Another minute animal, living in rocky outcroppings, sting their unsuspecting victim and leave a dart that boroughs deep inside the body to release a burst of poison hours later.
Plant life goes beyond all you see on Earth. One example, found on a sister world, includes a short tree with a wide, green trunk and palm like leaves that grows one grey nut at a time. The nut can easily be mistaken for a rock, but like some form of cacti, it has very short, fine spines covering its entire surface that imbed themselves into the flesh of those who dare touch it.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Amethyst Eyes? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
The Binari, those who hunt people with Amethyst Eyes, believe that the eyes hold some magical power. All those who have amethyst eyes have shown a particular gift or ability.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Amethyst Eyes? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
All Sirians have two implants imbedded in their necks. One is a tracking chip, and the other a learning interface that allows them to communicate directly with the onboard computer.
Sirians are thought using people, and much of their technology reacts to their brain impulses. Children use learning orbs, balls that emit holographic images in response to their thoughts. Sirians do not sing, but their thoughts create music, and the more that gather, the more complex the music.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Amethyst Eyes.
No sports are played since they are a form of organized warfare. People keep in shape through Endurance Training…you can think of it as an endless ‘tree-top adventure center’.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Amethyst Eyes as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?I did not change the time/days/calendar in Amethyst Eyes. They do not celebrate the holidays as we do on Earth, but there is mention of the Feast of Gratitude every year. (They celebrate the renewal of the seasons, the coming of life after the death of winter, and give thanks for all they have reaped from the previous year that has carried them through to the new season).
Is there a particular religion practiced in Amethyst Eyes?
There is no mention of religion, though they refer to the Gods, having a male and female version of God.
What is the political or government structure in Amethyst Eyes? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The leader of the people is a Sovereign, chosen not through voting, nor lineage, but through the same evaluation system as the orientation chamber, targeting the best candidate to lead their people.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit the Sirians?
The Sirians share a special bond between close family members, giving an outsider the impression that they can read minds. A bonded, or married couple, shares the most intimate forms of this link. Thoughts, and feelings, as well as images and memories can be shared. Memories can be called up and relived as though they were once again real.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
The only thing that inspired me to write was the loss of my daughter. I needed to create a place where people cared about one another, where family mattered and held together.
I spent my summers with my grandmother in the Laurentian mountains, right on the lake, and every week she would take a class on bead working and such, given by the Native Americans (back then Indians) living nearby, and I would attend…usually to thread the needles of all the older women, lol.
Nature, Native Americans, traditions, cooking, love of animals, and respect for one another all stemmed from time spent with my beloved grandmother. I miss her dearly.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
In the book, the adults are responsible for the kids. And they are considered to be children until the age of 18, much to Tommy’s dismay.
The culture prides itself on its methods of career selection and that 98% of the population is satisfied with the role they play in their society. Random knowledge, such as first-aid for all is not common practice, because the best people for the job (medical professionals or first respondents) are on duty and THEY will handle the situation.
Author AutobiographyAll her life, Debbie has spun stories in her mind, watching characters come to life seemingly by themselves. After working as a nurse, a teacher, a martial arts instructor, an artist, and CIC officer in the Canadian military – not to mention her many hobbies from woodworking to auto mechanics and holistic medicine, her life reads like a story itself. And yet, her favorite thing is still a cozy fire, a good book, and country living with her husband JP and her youngest of five children. After graduating from the Institute of Children’s Literature’s advanced writing course, she is finally devoting herself to writing these stories down, taking us all on a ride we won’t quickly forget.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your books? Please include links.
All books are available in both paperback and ebook formats.
Amethyst Eyes (book 1)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1o06883
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/WM4TzI
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1lT4z7D
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1pCGvXU
KOBO: http://bit.ly/1EDtSsD
Amethyst Eyes, the Legend Comes to Life (book 2)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1xuI4QP
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1BE6utH
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/11tg4ja
Ravenswood Publishing : http://bit.ly/1H6RaWB
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1EDtSsD
Where can readers connect with you online?
Facebook Book Page: http://on.fb.me/IKQkoj
Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/1y8n8Mm
Blog: http://bit.ly/1ztJfh7
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1ES5nF1
Website: http://bit.ly/18uGP3m
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Phoenix and the Realm of the Guardians. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the science fiction world of Haladras in Realm Explorers Part XXXXV!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the science fiction world of Haladras in Realm Explorers Part XXXXV!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:
Geralyn Wichers
Title of book and/or series:
Brief summary of the story:
“A manufactured person is no person at all.” Human cloning technology has advanced to the degree that clones are mass manufactured and used as a customizable workforce. Dominic is a clone who escaped from the cloning facility and made a life for himself. Now he returns to Caspian Genetics, the factory that birthed him, with revenge on his mind. Though he tries to steel himself from the plight of the other clones, when he sees a clone about to be killed for being out of specifications, he cannot turn away. Dominic’s plot begins to unravel, complicated by an unlikely alliance, a secret romance, and the creeping doubt that he’s been lied to. Is he human after all?
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The story takes place in a near-future version of our own world, and I designed it to be generic. ‘The City,’ where the characters live, is never named.
The City is a grey, impersonal megalopolis. It is a bit like a fussy eater’s plate: everything has its own section, and nothing touches. The people are separated from each other based upon their strata of society. The working poor live in a ghetto. The professional class lives in modest houses and condos around planned neighborhoods. The rich avoid the city entirely, sequestering themselves in estates in the countryside. It’s also cold. The story starts in the winter, and the winter never seems to come to an end. I wanted the story and the locale to have a dark grey pallet.
What dangers should we avoid in The City?
The city is a fairly safe place if you’re in your own neighborhood. The city government keeps very close tabs on its citizens, particularly the middle/professional class. They make it difficult to get away with anything.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in The City?
The food the characters eat blends into the sparse city rather well. Dominic lives on a regimented diet of chicken breast, vegetables, almond milk, and other health foods. Food isn’t a priority to him. It’s more like filling his vehicle with fuel, and the best fuel at that. Working class characters Justine and Casey live on wild game, rice and other staples. Yet, you get the idea that they do very well with what they have. Most of the meals in the story take place at their house–they’re hospitable people who’d share their last bit of food.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to The City?
Public transport, such as buses and a network of monorail trains, is important in the city. Wealthier characters, such as Dominic, use self-guided cars. He speaks his destination into the navigation system, and the car takes him to that place.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in The City that we don’t see on Earth?
The key difference here is the entire race of clones, or as they’re called in the story, Manufactured Persons, MP’s or ‘Empties’. The MP’s are perfectly human, but the common belief is that they are not. They are considered soulless, unable to form real relationships or survive in the world.
There are several types of MP’s. The story centers on Caspian Genetics, which produces Manufactured Fighting Personnel for military use. Other types include domestic MP’s, manufactured by Homeland, which fill ordinary labor roles, and High Performance Manufactured Personnel (HPMPs), manufactured by Symbiosis Genetic Labs, who are custom designed for special roles.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in The City? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
One bit of technology that will play a key part is tracking technology. The Manufactured Persons are all tracked by a chip embedded under the skin. Employees at Caspian Genetics are tracked by a bracelet they wear, and in the City at large, anyone with a cell phone is tracked constantly.
Is there a particular religion practiced in The City? Please describe what it involves.
On the whole, religion is not encouraged in the city. There is a state-sanctioned Christian church. Some characters are involved in a clandestine Christian church.
What is the political or government structure in The City? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The City is governed more by giant bureaucracy than by a figurehead. Its departments are famously bad at communicating with each other, which is exploited by one more nefarious character in the story.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
Oh, definitely! The idea came from the pharmaceutical manufacturing plant that I work in. Caspian Genetics isn’t modeled on my workplace but many small details are borrowed–the gowning procedures, the documentation, the general feel of the production area.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
I would call it a very ‘pro-life’ book. Humanity, and the value of human life, is a reoccurring theme. Dominic has lived his life convinced he isn’t human, but Casey, an important character he meets along the way, is determined to convince him that he is just as human, just as valuable, as any citizen of the city.
Author Autobiography:I live in Manitoba, Canada. When not writing, or working in the factory, I can be found running down the sidewalks and trails of my hometown, singing in the church choir, or staring into space–possibly all while carrying a massive book.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
Currently, you can buy Sons of Earth in Kindle and Print on Amazon.
Where can readers connect with you online?
You can come by my blog. I write about adventures in running, relationships, personal development, and humor. You can also read samplesof Sons of Earth and my other book, We are the Living.
Or, if you’re on Twitter, I tweet from @GeralynWichers. I’d love to chat with you!
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to The City. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXIV!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXIV!
-Annie Douglass Lima