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. One of them is available for FREE!
Author’s name:
Matthew Kadish
Title of book and/or series:
The Series is called The Earthman Jack Space Saga. The first book is called “Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet,” and the second book is called “Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army.”
Brief summary of the story:
The story centers around a young boy from Earth named Jack. He’s kind-of a slacker, isn’t all that bright, and is also a bit of a troublemaker. But he’s got a good heart and maybe possesses more courage than smarts. The Earthman Jack Space Saga is the tale of how this kid became the greatest hero the universe has ever known, and we get to see him grow and mature from that unassuming underachiever he was at the beginning of the tale to a kick-butt superhero who is the universe’s only hope for survival at the end of it. It’s an epic story filled with massive battles, deceit, treachery, magic, spaceships, aliens, robots, mind-boggling technology, friendship, coming of age, life lessons, tragedy, humor, adventure, mystery, and pretty much every other adjective known to exist.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:Since this is a massive, sprawling space opera, there are multiple locations that make up this universe. Even though it’s set in our “Milky Way” galaxy, there are a number of planets, moons, asteroids, space stations, and other habitable bodies that exist within it. The basic background of the universe is that long ago, there was an Ancient race of advanced beings who helped to populate galaxies and then suddenly (and mysteriously) disappeared. There is now a galactic Empire based on the technology these Ancients left behind, and this Empire is being attacked by mysterious aliens who may or may not have had something to do with the disappearance of The Ancients. This Empire consists of 100 planets, and a number of colonies, outposts, and space stations encompassing roughly 30,000 lightyears of space.
I don’t really have an official name for the universe I’m creating, so I just lazily refer to it as “the Jackverse,” named after my main character, Earthman Jack.
If we were to visit the Jackverse as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Oh, there are many great vacation destinations in the Jackverse, depending on what it is you enjoy. For those looking for culture, they can tour the Hive Mind of Valghanna VII which houses the largest repository of art and literature in the known universe, including the complete collected works of the famed poet Vonnugat Van Habledorff (known more commonly as ‘Lil VonVan), encompassing approximately 7,000 volumes written in iambic pentameter, each of them containing sonnets where he rhymes the word “shoeboxes” with itself in every line – a feat previously believed impossible even by the most hardened of literary snobs.
For those interested in history, one can visit the capitol planet of the Empire, Omnicron Prime. Though Omnicron has a long and colorful history, like being the capitol of the infamous “Twilight Empire” – a rival Empire manned by autonomous, sentient robots a thousand years previously – it was chosen as the new capitol for the Empire after the original homeworld – Regalus Prime – was destroyed by the Deathlords. Capitol City, the seat of Imperial Government on Omnicron Prime, contains massive supertowers which are tens of thousands of feet tall, each one catering to specific worlds of Imperial members and housing millions of life forms. Capitol City also consists of up to 200 levels, called “stratums,” with each stratum housing various commercial and residential districts. The stratums and supertowers make Capitol City one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the universe, and also makes it a “melting pot” for every culture and race represented within the Empire.If one is interested in more entertainment-based venues, they can travel to the pleasure planet of Vas Lagas, 98% of which is covered in ocean, which makes it easy to house numerous man-made islands for beach living and tropical nightlife. Vas Lagas is also surrounded closely by an unregulated asteroid belt where numerous casinos operate. “Resortroids,” as they’re called, run the gamut from “cheap & seedy” to “luxurious and family-friendly” and cater to any and all types of tourists and vacationers. In fact, it’s just been announced that the Convention for Leisure & Anti-Social Male Escapism (also known as LAME Con), the largest pop-culture convention in the universe, will be re-locating there after outgrowing its old venue.
There are literally millions more destinations to recommend to tourists travelling through the Jackverse. For a complete list of getaways, please see The Intergalactic Wayfarer’s Guide to Tourist Traps for more ideas and great offers on lodging. (Be sure to use promo code “Earthman”)
What dangers should we avoid in the Jackverse?
As with anything in life, the Jackverse is not without its fair share of hazards. Anything that shoots at you should probably be avoided, if you’re not into that type of thing. There’s also your run-of-the-mill space piracy, malfunctioning robots, and the rare swarm of space insects which will consume any and all matter they come into contact with. Mysterious viruses which cause intense illness followed by turning one into a violent, rampaging zombie have been known to break out on occasion. Oh, and an evil, malevolent race of aliens called Deathlords which like to kill anything they meet and blow up entire planets. It’s recommended you avoid them at all costs. They’re kinda jerks. And, of course, don’t drink the water on the third moon of Davlos Penumbra. It’s been known to cause explosive diarrhea, followed by explosive vomiting, followed by an even more explosive build-up of ear wax.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in the Jackverse?
The Jackverse has a wide palate of intergalactic delicacies to be enjoyed, depending upon your species. Food runs the gamut from spicy fried larvaworms (a bar-food favorite) to slow-cooked spiced Gourvine belly in a sweet-and-sour mustard glaze (particularly favored among Gourvines, who are well-known cannibals). Though most food is of the replicated variety, since it takes large agricultural resources to cater to such a huge Empire, occasionally you can enjoy a genuine Demonsaur steak, which is heralded to be one of the most tender, succulent, and flavorful pieces of meat in all of existence. As long as you’re okay with dozens of Ramballah hunters dying to provide your meal, since Demonsaurs are also one of the deadliest animals in all of existence. But boy, do they sure pair well with a nice glass of nectarplum wine!
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in the Jackverse?
Though some cultures still use melee weapons and projectile weapons, the primary weapon used in the Jackverse is some form of “plasma gun.” Essentially, these guns fire superheated bolts of gas, and can appear to look as though they are “laser bolts” as they light up from the chemical reaction of the plasma being heated. The plasma bolts tend to melt whatever they come into contact with, and the heat of the gas can be adjusted depending on the goal of its use. For instance, when engaging on a firefight in a spaceship, the heat level would be toned down so as not to pierce a ship’s hull. Plasma weapons also use gas canister magazines, which make the weapons lighter weight and allow them to hold greater ammunition since gas is far more compressed than projectile weapons such as bullets. While a typical handgun may hold just 12 rounds before needing to reload, a plasma gun can hold hundreds of rounds in its compressed canister magazine.
Fighting styles vary from culture to culture and species to species. For instance, a species with six hands will have a different fighting style than a species with only two hands. Most fighting styles are catered to a species’ specific anatomic strengths and weaknesses. A truly skilled fighter must know the vulnerabilities of the race he’s facing to best defeat them. This can make close-quarter combat and hand-to-hand combat complicated.
The best fighters in the Jackverse are usually “Warrior Paragons,” who are trained in the way of the Free Mind. Paragons tend to favor melee weapons since it’s easier for them to control and exert their unique brand of “magic” through them. Because of their “free minds,” they often have knowledge of how best to defeat whatever opponent they may be facing, and they can quickly learn new styles of fighting by simply opening their mind and discovering the knowledge of how to fight the way they need to in order to win. This makes Paragons extremely formidable opponents in any combat situation.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to the Jackverse?
Travel methods vary depending upon which planet one is on and that culture’s preferred modes of transportation. But the most common ones on a planetary level involve teleportation, which facilitates matter transference locally, allowing fast travel across great distances on the surface of planets (but at great energy expenditure).
Between planets, one can travel through the Portgate network, which is a network of stable wormholes which allow instantaneous travel across thousands of lightyears of space. Portgates are extremely safe and reliable, however, they were built by the Ancients long ago, so the network is limited to a certain number of planets, and no new Portgates are able to be made, thus limiting the number of destinations one can travel to using this method of transportation.
If the destination is outside of this network, one must rely on hyperspace travel to go somewhere. Though hyperspace allows for faster than light travel, it still takes much longer than a Portgate. Depending upon the destination, a hyperspace trip can take days, weeks, or even months – and that’s on pre-scouted hyperspace lanes. Deviation from these routes could lead to fatal collision with gravitational bodies. However, sticking to these routes can also leave one vulnerable to piracy.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in the Jackverse that we don’t see on Earth?There are actually far too many to list here, but I can give some examples of each. For instance, there is a plant named Solanacus, which is more commonly known as “dreamleaf.” The Solanacus plant is mainly used as a recreational or medicinal drug. It is a purple, cabbage-like plant which only grows on the dark-side of the Barbitol Moons. Its leaves are often harvested, dried, and consumed for its psychological and physiological effects. Chemical compounds in the plant shift brainwaves from Alpha state to Theta state, mimicking the effects of REM and NREM sleep cycles while the consumer remains conscious and aware. This allows those who consume dreamleaf to stay awake for long periods of time with no adverse side-effects from sleep deprivation. It is a popular recreational drug for those who work long hours, students cramming for exams, and partiers who wish to avoid feeling tired. While under effects of dreamleaf, users can experience “waking dreams” that bleed into their conscious reality. While not harmful in low to moderate use, continued heavy use of dreamleaf has been known to cause permanent dream states.
As far as animals go, there is a wide and varied bestiary across the galaxy, ranging from domesticated pets to wild beasts. One of the most peculiar is the Lucheep, a small animal with fur that reflects light around it, causing it to be practically invisible to the naked eye. Though harmless and docile, large packs of these animals can cause all types of problems, particularly if they wander into busy roads. Though their fur is highly sought after to create “stealth suits” for military purposes, it takes a great deal of patience and skill to raise these animals, since it is easy for them to wander off and never be found again. Also, because their fur is practically invisible, even when shaved off them, it makes building such suits a difficult and trying endeavor, making Lucheep shepherding a risky and potentially unprofitable endeavor.
When it comes to sentient races, there are over 50 sentient races within the Empire alone, and that doesn’t count those that exist outside the Empire. The Jackverse has an extremely diverse and eclectic collection of sentient life, ranging from slug-like Scollums to sentient colors such as #00B2EEn (who is able to communicate with all shades of the color blue). There are the monstrous, hulking Rognoks, the rock-like Recklek, the boisterous Stonehooligans, the dragon-like Izards, and the multi-colored Visini. And that’s just scratching the surface!
However, Regals are the dominant race within the galaxy, mostly due to their colonization efforts of other inhabitable planets. They are descended from a race known as The Ancients. Those with stronger genetic links to the Ancients tend to be tall and beautiful, fair in complexion and with great skill of body and mind. Regals tend to be slender, graceful, and strong, with slightly pointed ears that have a subtle leaf-shape to them. Regals are very similar to humans, and though those with strong genetic links to the Ancients may look close to perfect, not all Regals have such strong ties. Those with weaker links to the Ancient gene can have various differing appearances. But even though hair color, eye color, height, and weight may differ, Regals tend to be very homogenous, and are by-and-large Caucasian in appearance.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in the Jackverse? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
In the Jackverse, the “magic” that exists is basically science we have yet to fully understand. The magic is based on a holistic synergy of the body, mind, and soul which is referred to as a “Free Mind.” Essentially, the magic system is based on two things – quantum physics and the biocentric theory of reality.
In quantum physics, existence essentially comes down to the consciousness of the person observing their reality. In essence, quantum physics says that our brains “make things real.” And until we make an observation, an infinite amount of possibilities exist in our reality.
The biocentric theory of reality is a theory that says consciousness creates life, not the other way around. This theory essentially states that sentient consciousness uses quantum physics to form the reality we find ourselves in, as opposed to our environment forming the life that exists within it.
By meshing these two concepts together, those who wield “magic” in the Jackverse essentially use quantum physics to change the reality around them. They can manifest into reality weapons, vehicles, armor, and pretty much anything else their brain can come up with. Since quantum physics states that everything already exists – including knowledge – someone with a “Free Mind” can conceivably know everything there is to know in the entire universe.
By aligning one’s body, mind, and soul, and achieving a “Free Mind” capable of manifesting anything, it would appear as though one is able to perform supernatural feats. The Ancients are a race that created astounding wonders that break the very laws of physics using this method. In the Jackverse, there is a group called “Paragons” who study the teachings of the Ancients and strive to achieve a Free Mind. These are the primary “magic users” of this universe. However, it is hard to free one’s mind from all its limitations, so most Paragons are only able to achieve small amounts of quantum physics-based magic, depending on their skill level.
Because this is so difficult, Paragons are relatively rare. However, the Emperor of the Empire usually has a strong connection to the technology of the Ancients, which is based on this “magic,” and the Emperor and his offspring are usually the ones who are naturally gifted when it comes to achieving “Free Minds.”
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in the Jackverse? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.There is a multitude of advanced and unusual technology at play in the Jackverse, mostly from the creations of The Ancients. Some of the Ancient’s greatest technological advancements have been studied and secularized so that their use becomes common, while other advances are so complicated and hard to understand, that they have yet to be replicated.
In terms of advanced technology, one example is hyperspace travel. In the Jackverse, this is how spacecraft traverse large distances between planets at faster than light speeds. Essentially, an engine called a Brane Accelerator creates a field that excites the particles that form membranes between dimensions (known as “branes”), allowing windows into other dimensions which can be crossed. Hyperspace is a mirror dimension to our reality, but whereas our universe is constantly expanding and growing, Hyperspace is constantly contracting and shrinking, making distances far shorter than they are in regular space and time. By entering the hyperspace dimension and engaging lightspeed engines which accelerate ships to 99% the speed of light, starships are essentially travelling “faster” than lightspeed in our reality, without actually breaking the laws of physics. And since the hyperspace dimension is linked to our own, when a ship reaches a certain destination in hyperspace and exits back into normal space, they come out at basically the same location, even though it took far less time to get there.
Probably the most unusual technology known to exist takes the form of “Great Seals.” Great Seals are remnants of the civilization of The Ancients and are responsible for creating mind-boggling feats of scientific engineering that bend (and sometimes even break) all known laws of science. Though no one fully understands how Great Seals operate, it is theorized that a collective form of corporeal knowledge is housed in a chamber behind a Great Seal, which the Seal then manifests into reality. In this respect, the Seal acts like a sentient consciousness, one powerful enough to alter reality based on the corporeal knowledge it houses. This allows for the creation of wondrous things, such as habitable planets with a breathable atmosphere but no plant life or nearby star. The entire Portgate network is powered by one such Great Seal as well. Though powerful, only a few Great Seals have been discovered to date, and their study is ongoing.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in the Jackverse.
For those looking for recreational activities in the Jackverse, there is a multitude to choose from. Popular activities include going to the holocinema, nightclubs, and robot wrestling matches. One of the more popular games in the Jackverse is a card game known as Loquir, which is a game similar to poker, but with multiple elements of strategy to it. Loquir can be played for fun or for money, and is a large part of any gambling establishment in the galaxy.
For those looking for more of a mental challenge, one can partake in the game of Optiass, a chess-like strategy game played on a 12×12 board using holographic figures as board pieces. Each figure has its own Artificial Intelligence, and can only be moved on the board by having the player convince it to perform the desired action. Players communicate with the pieces by holding a “thought stone” which allows them to have mental conversations with the pieces. The goal of the game is to get one’s pieces to move so that the Emperor piece of the opponent is captured. Because of each piece’s unique personality, this can be quite challenging. Some pieces will not act as the player wants them to, particularly if the piece realizes it is about to be sacrificed, in which case it may choose to act in its own best interest. Both sides play in turns, and games have been known to last anywhere from a few hours to months or even years, depending on the difficulty setting of the A.I. being used.
Each culture in the Jackverse has its own type of sports that it enjoys watching or participating in. For instance, the Egoi like to partake in a sport called Mentat, which consists of two Egoi entering a circular ring and trying to use psychic abilities to push the other player out of this ring. Though exciting to other Egois, most races find the sport to be rather boring since it mostly consists of two beings staring at each other for long periods of time. Another example is the popularity of the Orean dance competitions, where the most powerful politicians in the Orean race show-off their sweetest moves. Though popular among other races, Oreans communicate through body language, and find these dance-offs rather stale, since to them, they are the equivalent of watching political debates. And then there’s the Stonehooligan sport of ROCKBALL, which is essentially an excuse for Stonehooligans to headbutt each other.
However, probably the most popular sport among the Empire is the sport of Gravityball. Gravityball combines elements of football, basketball, roller-derby, and rugby in various degrees of gravity. A typical Gravityball court is divided into five vertical arenas, each with its own anti-gravity generator. The goal of the game is to get the gravityball from the bottom arena to the top in order to score. The weight of the ball decreases the higher up it gets, whereas the weight of the players are inversely proportional, with the first arena being nearly zero gravity for the players and the top arena being normal gravity. Players use magnetic grind boots to skate along rails within the Gravityball court, and use a grappling hook to pull them to other levels, as well as trip up other players and steal the ball. A typical Gravityball match is two hours long, and is normally comprised of two teams consisting of 8 players each. Because of its fast-paced and chaotic nature, it has transcended cultures to become an almost universally loved sport.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in the Jackverse as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
All calendar measurements vary depending on the planet one is on, but there is a “Universal Timedate” which is based on the revolution and rotation of the Empire’s original homeworld, Regalus Prime. Though not all planets in the Empire adhere to the Universal Timedate standard, it is used throughout the universe for the purpose of commerce, shipping, and communication. A typical day on Regalus Prime was very close to that of Earth’s, so its minute/hour/day/week/month schedule is very similar.
Every culture within the Empire celebrates their own holidays and special events, such as the Stonehooligan culture on the planet Brittlecore. Known to be some of the hardest laborers in the universe, the Stonehooligans are also the hardest partiers in the universe and will declare holidays for the smallest of things as an excuse to cut loose. Their latest holiday, “My friend Remar found a penny on the ground” day, was said to have lasted several weeks and created a shortage of good beer on the planet.Outside of these “local” holidays, there are universal holidays set out by the Imperial Government and the dominant religion of the Empire, The Church Of The Great Observer. For instance, “Foundation Day” is a universal holiday celebrating the founding of the Empire by its first Emperor, Arcturus I, who was the first man to discover and utilize technology from The Ancients and unite his planet under one government.
Then, there is Chrimeria, which is the big religious holiday of the Church of the Great Observer. Chrimeria is a month-long time of reflection where those who follow the religion are meant to examine their lives of the past year and try to right their wrongs using the teachings of the church. However, the holiday has become quite commercialized, since most people choose to right their wrongs by sending gifts to others as a form of atonement, thus creating an intense retail season for the month of Chrimeria.
Is there a particular religion practiced in the Jackverse? Please describe what it involves.
The Jackverse has numerous religions which are practiced within it, since each culture tends to support multiple different religions based on its species’ history. However, there are some religions which are extremely popular and attract followers across planetary and cultural boundaries. For instance, The Church of RNGsus of Pre-Determined Destiny (the RNG Church or, informally, RNG) is a popular galactic religion dedicated to the God of Random Number Generation. Followers believe in pre-determined destinies and that through random numbers they can be guided toward doing what they need to do to in order to follow the path fate has laid out for them. The church is most widely recognized for its RNGsus booths, which can be found throughout the galaxy. They are a great source of income for the church and give followers guidance on what to do by printing tickets with random numbers that correspond to advice on how to live one’s life. Members of the church can also roll church-sanctioned dice to assist them when making decisions. There are a number of actual church buildings where the congregation of RNGsus gather to worship. Their services are often described as being very similar to games of Bingo.
However, the official religion of the Empire is that of the Church of the Great Observer. It was started by Emperor Arcturus I and the first Order of Peers, based off the teachings of the Ancients. The doctrine of the church preaches the existence of a “Great Observer” who watches over the universe, and is responsible for manifesting everything within it. The Great Observer is the embodiment of a true Free Mind, and possesses knowledge of all things, thus being “all seeing and all knowing.” Followers of the church believe that all life is connected to this Great Observer, and that all living beings are part of him. It is said that should the Great Observer ever blink, even for one second, all of existence would cease. It was Arcturus’s belief in this Great Observer that led him to adopt the symbol of an all-seeing eye to be the official crest of his family, and thus the symbol for the Empire at large. The religion is said to foster “free minds” in its followers, creating a culture of learning, freedom, and acceptance among its congregation.
What is the political or government structure in the Jackverse? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The central government of the Jackverse is known as “The Galactic Regalus Empire.” Though imperialism is typically frowned upon as a system of government, it has been found to be the most effective way to govern lightyears-worth of territory. Democratic or republic-based governments, though good on a planetary level, are far too inefficient on the galactic level.
The Regalus Empire is essentially a constitutional monarchy, with an Emperor at its head. Though the Emperor has certain reserve powers, his job is primarily as a figurehead, and his primary responsibility is the use and discovery of Ancient technology for the benefit of the Empire.
There are two major governing bodies within the government, known as the Council of Juniors and the Council of Elders. These are the government bodies which make the laws, with the Council of Juniors representing member planets of the Empire based on population and the Council of Elders representing all the member planets equally.
There is a judicial branch called the Royal Judiciary which consists of a “Council of Seven” and acts as a watchdog group to not only enforce the laws, but keep the Emperor in check as a way to prevent tyranny from taking hold. The executive body is known as the Directory, and consists of five Directors who oversee their own little slice of the Empire. Since the Empire is so massive, it is impossible for one being to oversee all of it, thus, the Directors have a great deal of flexibility in how they run their own sections of the Empire, but they must also reach majority agreement in order to govern the Empire as a whole.
The governing of individual planetary systems falls to regional governors known as “Legacies.” A Legacy is a title that is usually passed down from generation to generation, ensuring consistency in the governing of a planetary system. The Empire allows all planets to govern themselves on a local level, but Legacies oversee entire planets and ensure that Imperial law is enforced. Essentially, a Legacy is the ruler of their own “mini-empire,” with every planet, outpost, settlement, and space station in their system under their control. Legacy titles can only be granted or revoked by the Emperor.
At the time of Earthman Jack’s adventure, the only member of Legacy Prime still alive is Princess Glorianna, who is next in line to become Emperor on her 18th birthday. She is a young girl who is overwhelmed by her position, and it is unclear what type of ruler she will one day become. However, with Jack’s support, she may just grow to be one of the greatest Emperors the universe has ever seen. Only time will tell.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit the Jackverse?
Indeed, and it is entirely dependent upon which culture or race one is interacting with. An example of this is the Tygarian race, which appends silent letters to their names as a way to dignify certain achievements. To possess a silent “K” in one’s name is the mark of a great warrior. However, pronouncing the “K” is considered to be an insult and a direct challenge to the Tygarian who possesses it. Thus, mispronouncing a Tygarian name with a silent “K” in it, even by accident, could in fact lead to a deadly encounter.
Because it is so easy for a “faux pas” to occur between cultures, it is highly recommended that one always travel with a certified attaché android that is fluent in the various cultures of the universe to best advise one on how to deal with all the different species one will encounter on their travels.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
Pretty much everything in my life inspires the different aspects of the world I’m creating in my books. I love taking normal, mundane things I see around me and giving them a unique, sci-fi twist and coming up with something fun and different. A lot of what I create comes from pop-culture influences from the 80’s and early 90’s. In lots of ways, this story is a love-letter to the sci-fi I grew up enjoying, and I find it a lot of fun to build this world out and make it feel real (even if most of what I come up with is a bit goofy).
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Pretty much everything you can think of, but not blatantly. For instance, in the Jackverse, there is an alien race that bases its class system on the color of one’s skin. In their culture, most beings have yellow skin, but the upper class have blue skin and the elite have purple skin. Criminals and undesirables have red skin. A white-skinned being is said to be the pinnacle of existence, while a black-skinned being is said to be inherently evil. They think the skin is a reflection of the soul, so what a person is on the inside is reflected on the outside. Of course, this brings into play issues of race and what one’s skin color really means. It’s not an overt way of analyzing the role skin color plays in society, but it does allow me to underhandedly convey the message “racism is bad, m’kayyy?”
The story I’m writing has lots of themes, ranging from personal responsibility, to religion and spirituality, gender issues, political beliefs, and a host of other hot-button topics. But they’re never the focus and it’s not preachy. The great thing about sci-fi is that as an author, I can mask different messages in the cloak of fiction and explore them in a non-threating way for the reader. This way, if the reader doesn’t agree with my viewpoint, they won’t get turned off by the story, and if they do agree with my viewpoint, they’ll enjoy the story even more.
Author Autobiography:
Matthew Kadish is an independent author and world-recognized evil genius. When he isn’t writing or being evil, he enjoys relaxing at the beach and videos of puppies. Much like Scottish cuisine, most of his literary works have been based on dares. He currently lives in Las Vegas and always bets on black, because Westley Snipes has yet to steer him wrong in life. He is the most talented author ever. His mother tells him so every day.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your books?
You can purchase my books in the usual places – Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc. If you’d like to check out the Jackverse yourself, try reading the first book in the series “Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet.” I actually give a special edition of the book away at my website, which contains special features like full page illustrations, interviews, and appendixes that you can’t get in the retail version.
If you want to check out the first book, just head over to www.EarthmanJack.com to download it for free.Where can readers connect with you online?
I am all over the interwebz! If you’re interested in checking out my inane ramblings and getting glimpses into my rather boring and nerdy life, feel free to cyberstalk me. I make it SUPER easy!
And of course, my official website www.MatthewKadish.com!
I’m pretty active, so if you have any questions about the series of the universe I’m creating, feel free to contact me. I love hearing from readers!
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Jackverse. 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 Cupola, in Realm Explorers Part LXXXI!
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 Cupola, in Realm Explorers Part LXXXI!
-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: Dianne Astle
Title of book and/or series: The Six Worlds: Book 1. Ben the Dragonborn; Book 2. Ben and the Watcher of Zargon
Brief summary of the story:
There are six worlds under the care of one known as the Guardian. Each of the six worlds has a Watcher with a mystical connection to the Guardian and the world they serve. The Watcher guards the portals and is the Principal of a school where those chosen by the Guardian are trained. The Chosen of the Guardian are sent through the portals to other worlds so that they might protect and serve the cause of justice and peace.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: On Earth the school is on a mist shrouded island off Canada’s west coast. To get to the school requires a boat, a float place or use of special portals that connect the school to the far corners of the world. My main character goes through a portal to a world named Lushaka in the first book. It is a world covered in water, which is a problem, because Ben is afraid of being in water over his head. When Ben arrives in Lushaka, he finds that humans are about to go to war with the merfolk.
If we were to visit Lushaka as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
The Guardian’s school is only for those with a special invitation so I would recommend visiting the human community. However, think twice if they are on the verge of a war, because they become very suspicious of strangers.
What dangers should we avoid in Lushaka?
It is best to avoid any of the larger islands on Lushaka. The land tends to have very dangerous creatures on it. Of course this is the very place where Ben needs to go. He needs to travel to the top of one of the bigger islands.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Lushaka?
Ben was served raw fish, eggs, pickled sea slugs, sea cucumbers, and a seaweed and snail salad.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Lushaka?
Those who travelled with Ben carried a spear and a knife, both of which they used to fight off spiders.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Lushaka?
The portals that link one spot to another within the world are normally used for travel by the Chosen who go to Lushaka. Ben could not use the portals because he was not given the gift of being able to breathe under water. Ben travelled on the back of an orca-like whale and in a boat. At the end of the book some of the characters travelled on the back of a dragon.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Lushaka that we don’t see on Earth?The two sentient groups are merfolk and human. The humans live in huge trees that grow up from the bottom of the ocean. In and around the trees are cork lily pads. On these lily pads the humans keep some animals. The land is dangerous. The island Ben went to had piranha like sand creatures, large spiders and huge birds that sometimes carry away children and small adults.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Lushaka? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
There are supernatural abilities given by the Guardian of the Six Worlds to those who are going through a portal to do the Guardian’s work on a world not their own. These gifts are returned to the Guardian when the quest is over. Ben receives the gift of becoming invisible and the gift of octopus hands and feet. When he is sent to Lushaka no one understands why he is only given two gifts. That mystery is revealed near the end of the book.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Lushaka and the other five schools.
Every school teaches a wide assortment of sports related skills. Hang gliding, parasailing, horseback riding, archery, sword play, tracking and outdoor survival, rope climbing, martial arts and much more. The Guardian’s school want to equip the Chosen for whatever challenges they face on a new world.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Lushaka as on Earth? There is a special medallion that reveals the day, month and year when the Chosen will go from one world to another which necessitates that the calendars be the same, although the special holidays will not be the same.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Lushaka?
The Six Worlds are similar to the Narnia series in that they are not explicitly Christian, but there are spiritual themes, particularly in the second book, Ben and the Watcher of Zargon. My characters do offer up prayers and blessings.
What is the political or government structure in Lushaka? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The merfolk have a king who is behaving unreasonably. He is insisting that the humans get his crown back if they want to continue to harvest food from the ocean. Getting the crown back involves travelling to the top of a very dangerous island. The humans have a council which has a hard time making decisions.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?I spent a few days on a float home moored near a small island off of Canada’s wild and wet west coast. I loved the area. It is my favorite place. An ancient castle makes little sense off the west coast where everything is relatively new, but I couldn’t imagine the school anywhere else. However, the place I spent a few days is a very lonely place. Very few people live in the vicinity or stay overnight in the area, so it is possible to imagine an ancient castle hidden away on a mist-shrouded island.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
In my mind there are no controversial topics. One of the themes in the book is finding friends where you expect to find enemies. The other is that we are more than we think we are and we need to find the treasure of our own true selves.
Author Autobiography:
Dianne Astle has worked at a variety of jobs in her life. She has been a draftsperson, a news correspondent for a radio station, a teacher’s aide, and most recently had the opportunity to practice servant leadership in a faith community. Dianne loves fishing, riding horses, and walking with her dog. She lives with her husband Doug, his three cats and her beloved dog Thomas
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.At the moment my books are only available through Amazon.
Ben the Dragonborn at Amazon
Ben the Dragonborn at Createspace https://www.createspace.com/5713690
Ben and the Watcher of Zargon at Amazon
Ben and the Watcher of Zargon at Createspace https://www.createspace.com/5598284
Where can readers connect with you online?
Twitter @bendragonborn
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Lushaka. 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 ______, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVIII!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the _____ world of ______, in Realm Explorers Part LXXVIII!
-Annie Douglass Lima
My third National Novel Writing Month has finally ended, and it’s been an exciting experience! I’ve braved the 4:30 alarm clock almost every weekday morning, gained motivation and focus from word wars and sprints with other authors online, and squeezed writing into almost every spare moment I’ve had in the month of November. And now that it’s over, I have just over 97,000 words under my belt, plus a completed rough draft of my new young adult science fiction novel, Heartsong. I’ve enjoyed every step of this journey with my characters, especially when new characters not in the original outline decided to jump in and join the adventure.
I can hardly wait to dive back into the story from the beginning and start editing and touching things up, but alas, that will have to wait. The Gladiator and the Guard (the novel I drafted for last year’s NaNoWriMo and the sequel to The Collar and the Cavvarach) is next in line, since I’m hoping to publish it in the spring. The fourth book of my Annals of Alasia series, tentatively titled King of Malorn, is next.
But in the meantime, for anyone who’s curious, below is the first chapter of Heartsong. (Please bear in mind that it’s still a pretty rough draft – just a sneak preview for those who are interested, and not the final polished version.) Many thanks to my many Facebook friends who have already contributed with helpful hints about the science involved – I’m sure I’ll have lots more questions in a few months when I get back to working on it, since this is my first foray into science fiction!
I can hardly wait to dive back into the story from the beginning and start editing and touching things up, but alas, that will have to wait. The Gladiator and the Guard (the novel I drafted for last year’s NaNoWriMo and the sequel to The Collar and the Cavvarach) is next in line, since I’m hoping to publish it in the spring. The fourth book of my Annals of Alasia series, tentatively titled King of Malorn, is next.
But in the meantime, for anyone who’s curious, below is the first chapter of Heartsong. (Please bear in mind that it’s still a pretty rough draft – just a sneak preview for those who are interested, and not the final polished version.) Many thanks to my many Facebook friends who have already contributed with helpful hints about the science involved – I’m sure I’ll have lots more questions in a few months when I get back to working on it, since this is my first foray into science fiction!
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| Screenshot of my Word Count Page on the NaNoWriMo Site |
Heartsong
Chapter 1
My love of reading started the whole thing.
The best place to read on the Laika was on the lifeboats. I had discovered that on the first part of the trip, during the flight from Earth to the jump point by Phoebe. I mean, what else is there to do when you’re not close enough to any planet or moon to see much through the viewports? The view is exciting when there is one, but when you’re far away from anything, space all looks the same.
The hyperspace jump had been quick, of course, so no time to get bored there. And after we came out of it at the jump point by Somav, the flight toward Soma I was pretty exciting, too. I couldn’t stop staring as we passed Somavia, the blue and gray and white planet none of us would probably ever see that close again. It was awesome to think of the aliens who lived there and wonder what they were really like. The few decent pictures taken by the Forerunner left everyone asking more questions than they answered. And what about the planet itself? Of course we knew it was cold, being further from Somav than Earth is from our Sun. But it did have a thin but breathable atmosphere. If it hadn’t been for the alien race who already lived there — and the tirtellium that we were going to mine on Soma I — The Corporation might have decide to set up the Colony on Somavia instead of on its moon.
But we had passed Somavia three days ago, and we had been in orbit around Soma I ever since. Which was also exciting at first. I couldn’t wait to get to my new home — my permanent home. A home I would never have to leave again, never be taken away from just when I was starting to settle in. A home that I would get to help put together, along with the scientists and the miners and the rest of the Young Colonists.
The moon was prettier to look at than the planet, though not by an awful lot. It was brown and gray, with little splotches of green and blue here and there where the lakes were. There wasn’t much water, no actual oceans, but enough to support a little plant and animal life. Nothing too dangerous, at least as far as we could tell from the Forerunner’s pictures. Some fish and crustaceans that might or might not turn out to be edible to humans. Some amphibian or maybe reptilian creatures that lived in and around the lakes. Insects and a handful of different mammals, all tiny, that lived on the plains. Nothing likely to bother two hundred human colonists setting up a new home on their world.
Of course, there were the Somavian miners. We knew the Somavians had developed a limited form of space travel; we knew they had mines on Soma I too. But whatever they were mining for, it wasn’t tirtellium, and it was only in a few little spots relatively close together. We planned to set up our colony hundreds of miles away, where with any luck, they wouldn’t even know we were around. Forerunner’s sensors had not detected any other artificial satellites in orbit around either Somavia or Soma I, and as far as we knew, they had no way of knowing Forerunner was there or that we were coming.
The adults all said that hopefully we would never even have to see any Somavians, but every kid in the group hoped we would. I mean, why would anyone not want to see aliens? Anyway, from the Forerunner’s pictures, they sure seemed to be a peaceful culture, with no evidence of any wars going on down on their home world. If they did find out about us being on their moon, hopefully they wouldn’t get mad. We wouldn’t bother them, and hopefully they wouldn’t bother us. If they did get mad, well, the Laika did have some weapons. Not a lot, but enough to defend ourselves if we absolutely had to.
Of course the two hundred of us on board could hardly wait to get down there and get started with our new life. But here we were stuck in orbit, as we had been for the last three days. Three painfully long and boring days. Earth days, that is; it had been nearly five Soman days.
Atmospheric storms and solar flares. No one had anticipated that they would go on this long. At first, I was glad of the opportunity to orbit the moon and see what it was like. I had an aisle seat, though, and it was a pain to lean past three people just to see out the window. And after a while, when everyone’s excitement faded, most of them turned grouchy as they got more and more bored and impatient. The movies and games preloaded on our tablets just weren’t good enough to keep everyone happy for that long when the adventure we’d waited over a year to start was being put on hold, and I’d never been a big fan of video games and movies anyway.
So I did what I usually do when real people get too annoying. I pulled out my Kindle and turned to my true friends, the ones who would always be there for me, who I never had to say goodbye to. And I went to the one place I had found on board where nobody would bother me or interrupt my adventures to ask what I was reading or exclaim over their new high score in who-cares-what-virtual-adventure.
The Laika was designed to be taken apart when we arrived. Its decking and bulkheads would be used to help create the buildings in the colony until we could create more permanent buildings from local rock, and that was one of the reasons it was so large. But big though it was, it had no extra empty space. Every compartment was full of freeze-dried food items, mining equipment, packages of seeds for genetically modified crops designed to grow well in the moon’s dry soil, or educational resources for the youth, because even on an interstellar adventure, there was no escaping school in some form.
So I had discovered in between Earth and Phoebe that the lifeboats were the best place to read. I’m not sure if I was really supposed to be in them, but there was no lock, because after all, what would be the point of locking a place that people would have to get to in a hurry in an emergency?
And so I sat curled up on a seat in one of the lifeboats, alternating reading and looking out the viewport to see if there was anything interesting to see down below. But the lifeboat’s position was such that the window mostly looked out on space, with just a tiny sliver of Soma I visible from one edge. I could have turned on the screen, but that might trigger some sort of alert, and I didn’t want anyone coming to tell me I wasn’t supposed to be in here.
So I traveled with Caz and her friends across the Granbo system, caught up in an imaginary space adventure, since my own real space adventure had been put on hold. It would be at least another two hours until they served lunch, so I might as well get comfy and enjoy myself.
And I did — until the ship vibrated and the fasten seat belts sign flicked on.
For a moment I wondered if I should return to my seat. But what would be the point? I would be just as safe here in the lifeboat, and if the turbulence got bad, it would be a better idea not to walk around the ship with it lurching under me.
I fastened my seatbelt and kept reading. We had encountered turbulence lots of times in the last few days, thanks to the solar flares. It was no big deal.
But the vibrations got stronger, and in a moment the ship really was lurching under me. I set down my Kindle and looked around, not that there was anything to see in the little lifeboat. No clues as to what was going on. But the stars were jumping and jerking outside the window, and if it hadn’t been for my seatbelt, I knew I would have been thrown around and probably injured already. Now I wished I had returned to my seat while I could. Whatever was happening, I would rather face it with the others in the main cabin, where I could hear any announcements from Captain Tyler over the intercom and know what was going on.
Without warning, the lights in the lifeboat flickered and then went out. At the same moment a blaring alarm started screeching on and off. Now that was a first. I gasped, really worried for the first time since we had left Earth. The stars swirled and zigzagged outside the window, sending faint but frightening shadows thrashing through the escape pod around me like alien spirits trying to take over the ship. For a second I wondered if that could actually be what was happening. Maybe the Somavians had powers we didn’t know about. Maybe they were trying to drive us out of their system.
But then the emergency lights embedded in the deck by my feet glowed to life, and I let out my breath in relief. The navigational computer two rows ahead of me came on automatically, its screen lighting up green.
My relief was short-lived, though. The alarm was still blaring its warning: Screech! Silence. Screech! Silence. Screech! The turbulence was worse than ever, and now it felt like the Laika was a wild horse, bucking and leaping and trying to throw its rider off. The rider being me, gripping the edge of my seat all alone there in the lifeboat, wondering what in the universe was happening.
Suddenly the stars were gone and Soma I swung into view, filling the viewport ahead of me, a blur of gray-brown-blue-green-brown-gray. I barely had time to stare before it was gone, and the streaking stars were back. Then there was the moon again. My stomach was spinning as fast as the ship. Thank goodness I had inherited the Smith Stomach of Steel, or my breakfast probably would have ended up all around me. I could only imagine what a nasty experience that would be with the ship thrashing all around like this.
A new noise caught my attention. A mechanical noise, a series of clicks and clinks and the sliding of metal against metal. I had only ever heard it before in simulations, but I knew right away what it was. My heart caught in my throat. “No!” Not that there was anyone around to hear me yell.
Words flashed across the computer screen, big enough to read from where I sat. Lifeboat launching.
My heart hammered in terror. “No! I yelled again. I fumbled for the seatbelt clasp and flung myself across the tiny cabin the moment I was free, lunging for the manual override button beside the door. Not a smart move, I have to admit, considering how wildly everything was moving around me, but I was panicking. None of our training, none of the simulations, had dealt with what to do if the lifeboat you were sitting in alone accidentally detached from the ship.
I knew what to do if a lifeboat didn’t detach when it was supposed to. I knew which lifeboat everyone in my seating section was supposed to board in an emergency. It wasn’t this one, though they were all the same. I knew who my lifeboat buddies would be — a fairly even cross-section of the ship’s crew in terms of age and skills, so everyone would have the best possible chance of survival on the surface in case not every lifeboat made it. I knew how to steer the lifeboat and bring it down for a controlled landing, even though I wasn’t the assigned helmsperson in my group. We had all learned all those things, just in case.
But what I didn’t know was how to survive on the surface on my own, if the rest of the ship didn’t land close by or shortly after I did. There were emergency rations and survival gear stashed in every lifeboat, of course, but not enough to live off of indefinitely. Of course the lifeboat would emit a signal that the ship’s sensors would pick up — it was picking it up already, I knew, as of the moment the lifeboat had started to detach — but what if they couldn’t come and get me right away? What if they weren’t able to land for days or even weeks? What if I ended up on the opposite side of the moon from where our colony was supposed to be? Our little 4-wheel-drive trucks were designed for carrying tirtellium back from the mining site, and harvested crops from the fields to the settlement. Not for making cross-country trips across rough terrain to the opposite side of the moon to rescue a stranded kid who shouldn’t have been reading in an escape pod in the first place.
And what if the Somavians found me before my own people did?
All that went swirling through my brain in a moment as I slammed my fist into the manual override button again and again. But nothing happened. That is, the hatch didn’t open to let me out into the ship’s corridor. But a second later, the incessant alarm went silent, and the frantic jerking and thrashing stopped, replaced by a slow, gentle twirl. As my feet drifted up off the floor, the dizzy feeling in my tummy told me that the ship’s artificial gravity had stopped working.
No, that wasn’t it. The lifeboat was no longer connected to the ship.
Too horrified even to yell again, I watched the Laika drift across the viewport like a big white bird against the blackness of space, still spinning and dancing as the solar flares played havoc with its electrical systems. And then I saw only stars again, and then the gray-brown of the moon, then more stars. And then there was the Laika once more, further away this time.
I pushed off from the bulkhead, thankful for the zero-gravity training. I had to get to the controls. I had to steer myself back to the ship. But as I grabbed the back of the helmsman’s chair and maneuvered my body into it, I realized I had no idea how to reattach the lifeboat to its port on the side of the ship. They had never taught us that. Were lifeboats even designed to reattach once they were separated?
I grabbed the seatbelt, twisting my ankles around the legs of the chair so I wouldn’t float off it before I could strap myself in. The controls in front of me looked just like the ones in the simulator. I could do this. It would be just the same as I had practiced.
Except this was no game, where I struggled to beat my classmates, to be the first to land my virtual lifeboat safely. This was a real emergency.
This was my life at stake.
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: Alex Steinberg
Title of book and/or series: Millennium
Brief summary of the story:
In 2091, four years before the Great Civil War, Humanity expanded to a multitude of planets across the galaxy, setting up colonies, officially declaring themselves to be the only sentient life in the Milky Way Galaxy. They were wrong.
Nine years later, Lieutenant Commander Keane Blaze, a young, but well-respected soldier, is ordered to help evacuate the colony on Ordem, a strange desert planet. Everything goes as planned at first, until an unknown enemy initiates an ambush, destroying Keane’s transport. In order to save him, the ship’s artificial intelligence launches his cryo-pod to the surface of the planet, putting Keane into cryo-sleep for 1000 years.
Waking after his long slumber, Keane learns the enemy that long ago destroyed his transport is back, again fighting against Humanity and its allied races. With the help of a younger alien race and a mysterious figure from his past, Keane races to end the threat that this enemy poses, once and for all.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Millennium is set in the Milky Way Galaxy, starting off on the Human colony of Ordem. Later into the story, the plot transfers to the Eskrate 223, a large space station on the edge of known civilization that hosts the Cajin King, The Spectre commander, and a human delegate.
If we were to visit the Eskrate as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Well, there’s tons of things to do! You could visit the Lunar academy, which trains military officers. There is Wanata Beach, the first man made beach in space. You could visit the Cajin gardens, or go grab a bite to eat at The Bar, a Spectre owned restaurant.
What dangers should we avoid in the Eskrate?
Since the Eskrate is home to a variety of important officials, there isn’t much danger. You may have the occasional pirate raid or crime, but most threats are stopped by the police and military force.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served on the Eskrate? Human culture has influenced the development of the station significantly. Therefore, you can find familiar foods such as burgers, salad, and sandwiches. However, you can also find traditional Cajin foods like their famous red wine, or their styled sushi.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common on the Eskrate?
The military, HCSTA, used the most advanced weaponry available. Their ammunition varies from graphine bullets to laser induced plasma. Both of these types of ammunition vary on the target, using the bullets against unarmored targets and the plasma against armored opponents. Black Hole grenades are also implemented in warfare.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel to the Eskrate?
Since the Eskrate is in space, the only way to travel there is a certified ship, preferably a destroyer, carrier, or frigate equipt with a slip space engine.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter on the Eskrate that we don’t see on Earth?
As stated before, the king of the Cajin race is living on the Eskrate. The Spectres are alsostationed there, as well as the Actuell and the Txuasentshai. All of these are not found on Earth,
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Millennium? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
None. The universe of Millennium is magic free.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology on the Eskrate? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Yes. Magnetic cars free up space and help transportation, as well as transporting goods much more quickly. Energy shields are vital to the protection of the station, and ships help move items and people.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same on the Eskrate as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there? Yes, the dates are the same. The Eskrate follows the Earth Calendar, which makes it easier for the human government to link up dates.
Is there a particular religion practiced on the Eskrate? Please describe what it involves.
Other than ancient human religions, no.
What is the political or government structure on the Eskrate? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The government is composed of a trio of three leaders: Rippa, The Specter commander, Leonidas, The Cajin king, and Ben, the human delegate. These three men serve as the presidents of the Eskrate, while a larger congregation of elected officials serves as a parliament. Author Autobiography:
I’m a young author and a senior in high school! I’ve got big plans for the future, and hope to write many more books!
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
Where can readers connect with you online? https://www.facebook.com/Millenniumstory
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Eskrate. 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 LXXV!
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 LXXV!
-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:
Neal James
Title of book and/or series:
The Rings of Darelius
Brief summary of the story:
Darelius – a planet in crisis with its civilisation facing the treat of extinction from a virus to which it has no natural defence.
The Darelian people had not been at war for many generations, but now faced not one, but two threats, as a warlike neighbour lay in the wings, awaiting its opportunity.
The only hope of salvation lay in a cure derived from the flora of a primitive planet in the Orion System – eighty light years distant.
It all began on Balan – a planet at war, and also facing its own apocalypse – hundreds of years in Darelius’ past.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Darelius- second planet in the Arthrelian System. Mass 5.2413 x 1024Kg. Volume 1.0652098×1017km³, Circumference 3.865977×107m. Atmosphere 75% nitrogen, 22% oxygen, 3% carbon dioxide and other minor gases. Surface Pressure 100.05kPa.
Its population of just under 1billion had been stabilised for many generations and was spread evenly across a planet of dramatically contrasting climatic zones. From the frozen wastes of its polar expanses to the sultry regions of its tropical paradises, much care had been taken by its inhabitants in preserving a delicate ecological balance.
Culturally, it was, and had been for many millennia, diverse and tolerant. History had revealed alternatives too appalling, and its races had long since thrown off the xenophobia which had dogged earlier times. Politically it was a model of democracy, and a planet-wide federation ensured that, as well as guaranteeing individual freedoms, there was a collective mentality of co-operation and tranquillity.
Magnanimous in their attitudes towards friends, the Darelian people were, nevertheless, unafraid to stand up against tyranny and injustice. They had not been at war for many generations.
Orbited at its Equator by a ring system of stunning beauty, it was the jewel of the Arthrelian system.
The threat of extinction had come out of the black void of space with no warning.
Distance from Earth: approximately 80 light years.
If we were to visit Darelius as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
The rings – a halo of stunning beauty viewed clearly on approach with the Arthrelian solar system. Touchdown would reveal a planet of physical and sociological beauty; the Darelian people, comfortable in their democracy and unafraid of welcoming strangers, is a race at peace with itself, and the traveler is quickly absorbed into its cultural make-up.
What dangers should we avoid on Darelius?
Not in Darelius itself, but it its neighbours, the Kolkats. Whilst it would be unusual for the traveler to the Arthrelian System to be molested by these barbaric and warlike creatures as a result of Darelian protection, it has not been unknown for their hostility towards Darelius to manifest itself in accosting strangers crossing their path.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served on Darelius?
No – the Darelians are travelers amongst the stars and, as a result of visits to an Earth many millennia ago, much of the flora and fauna found on our own planet owes much of its genetic make-up to colonization by species from the Darelian world.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common on Darelius?
The Darelian people, whilst adopting a peaceful style of existence, are not afraid to stand up for their beliefs, and as such have an arsenal of advanced weaponry at their disposal. Sonic and laser ordnance far in advance of anything on Earth is readily available. Fighting styles and martial arts, transplanted to Earth in it distant past would be very familiar to the casual traveler.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Darelius?
Vehicular transport has surpassed the dirty fossil fuel technology prevalent on Earth. Power systems based on clean, renewable sources which power high capacity and low output electrical propulsion would be familiar to 21st century Terrans. As pointed out, flora and fauna are of similar genetic structure to that of Earth. Technologically, the Darelians are far in advance of anything available on Earth, and they are able to travel, many times faster than light, as a result of the discovery and harnessing of the Graviton – a particle unknown to their counterparts on our planet in any practical form.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter on Darelius that we don’t see on Earth?
Flora and fauna have developed in slightly different ways on Darelius, but bearing in mind that the chemical structure of the planet, and the similarity of its Star, Arthrelia, to our own sun allows for evolution in a strikingly consistent manner, any differences are fairly cosmetic and due more to slight variations in climatic conditions across the planet.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people on Darelius? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
The Darelian people are pragmatic and realistic on their approach to life. They are a scientific race whose belief systems are based firmly in what is provable. Their culture has, apart from references to the religions of its neighbours, no place for magic, superstition or the supernatural.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment on Darelius.
A race at peace, and with much time to devote to leisure and the arts, Darelian entertainment systems and facilities are very similar to those now maturing on Earth. As a consequence, their choices of relaxation activities are more widespread and varied than those which we enjoy. However, the basic rules remain the same, whilst the games etc have developed to a higher level of sophistication – there is no room for violence in any of their leisure regimes.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same on Darelius as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The Darelian calendar works in a very similar way to that of Earth. The seasons vary with the same axial angle as that of our planet, and the Darelian day is 30 hours – very close to that of the Earth. There is the same number of days in a weekly period, but there are only ten months in a Darelian year. The holidays on Darelius are not fixed to specific events such as Bank Holidays in the UK or Labor Day and Thanksgiving in the USA – the attitude to taking time away from work is much more fluid.
Is there a particular religion practiced on Darelius? Please describe what it involves.
The Darelian people evolved away from all forms of religious idolatry many millennia in their past. Their attitudes towards social integration are focused more on the needs of the peoples who inhabit the planet rather than towards any needs of a spiritual kind. This has been the main reason for their lack of internecine conflict for as long as anyone can discern.
What is the political or government structure on Darelius? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Darelius is a federation of states which grew from a tribal system in its distant past. At its head sits a democratically elected President supported by a US-style Congress of representatives. Raymond Challis is the leader of a liberal coalition of members from a variety of political persuasions, and he runs the government of the planet supported by a second tier of continental sub-parliaments. He is a benign and understanding head of state who is, nonetheless, unafraid to confront tyranny from which ever quarter it may come.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Darelius?
Since the Darelians, in their past, were visitors to a number of other galaxies including our own, it is reasonable to assume that some of their culture remained after departure. Any Earth visitor would therefore find much about Darelian society and its philosophy to compare to that ‘back home’.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
The final part of ‘The Rings of Darelius’ is set in Derby, a city in England ten miles from my home, and a place where I have worked. I am therefore familiar with the geography of the place I use for the critical phase of the plot. The cultures of the main players in the story are influenced by my reading of a number of science fiction stories, and the watching of a variety of films/TV series. Among the writers are Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert and Arthur C. Clarke. Of the visual inspirations, I relied heavily on Gene Roddenberry’s ‘Star Trek’ series in all of its formats.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
War and inter-racial conflict are two of the more violent subject dealt with, and I found it important to maintain a balance to ensure that the ‘good guys’ didn’t always win a particular battle whilst ensuring that the end of the conflict came down on the ‘correct’ side.
Author Autobiography:Neal James is a UK author of crime fiction. He is a prolific short story writer turned novelist. ‘The Rings of Darelius’ is his first venture into the world of science fiction, and his seventh book in as many years. He lives in Derbyshire with his wife and family.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?
The Rings of Darelius, as with all of my books, is available in both hard copy and digital format. It can be bought direct from the publisher, Lulu.com in paperback at:
and from Amazon on both sides of the Atlantic on paperback and on the Kindle.
It is also listed by Barnes & Noble in paperback, but should be available also on the Nook later this year.
Where can readers connect with you online?
My website: http://www.nealjames.webs.com
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Darelius. 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 LXXVI!
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 LXXVI!
-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:
Linda M David
Title of book and/or series:
The Firestone Crystal
Brief summary of the story:
Agathea Fulstropp (prefers to be called Thea) becomes the first Earth pupil at The Firestone Academy on Planet Aruuliah after coming into possession of a strange crystal. Not only does she have to contend with strange, alien technology and lessons in telepathy and astral projection, but also hostile aliens and a mysterious cave creature that continuously invades her dreams. What can it possibly want from her?
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
On the planet of Aruuliah the sky is pale mauve with just a hint of violet, and has a bright red sun. It is a world filled with an abundance of exotic trees which dwarf everything around them, and strangely-shaped plants and flowers, the like of which has never been seen on Earth. The wealth of colour is amazing, their vibrancy, stunning and the air, clean, pure and fresh.
The Firestone Academy itself is a vast circular complex of gleaming glass and marble buildings set out like the rings of a circle, each joined together by open walk-ways and glass corridors. The centre of the complex comprises an attractive courtyard which is encircled by the Halls of Residence, consisting of Celestial House, Cosmic House and Asteroid House.
The middle ring of buildings house the Chambers of Learning, where all lessons take place as well as several Lecture Halls, the Halls of Dining and Communication Chambers, while the outer ring contains the Halls of Knowledge and Great Meeting Hall. They are bordered by the Recreation Zone where students can engage in sport and leisure activities, buy supplies and sweets and eat at the Fun-Food Café.
If we were to visit Aruuliah as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Utopia is the planet’s main city and it is, as you would expect, very futuristic. All of the buildings are constructed from glass and marble that gleam and sparkle from top to bottom. The unique structure of each building sees them reaching dizzying heights and are built in such a way that seem to defy gravity itself. They also have their own individual shape and style that manages to fit in with the overall design of the city, giving it a certain sense of majestic splendour. Although the first book is set mainly on school grounds, in the second book there is a trip to Utopia’s famous Leisure Centre, where the students learn to hover-skate.
What dangers should we avoid in Aruuliah?
Aruuliah is not really a dangerous place, however, it is very early on in the series, so there are a lot of things I haven’t discovered yet!
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Aruuliah?
Oh, too many to mention! The Fun-Food Café at the Academy has a very interesting menu. Their specialty is the Thunderbolt Sizzler, an extremely hot and spicy burger, Crispy-Crusted Weedroot, which are long, curly crispy-fried chips made from an assortment of tasty local vegetables and Honey-Roasted Warty Bread, a kind of sweet-flavoured pizza. There is also a dessert called a Chocolate-Chilly Shock, which freezes your entire body for ten seconds, allowing you to savour the flavour as it slides down your throat.
The Molten-Lava Shakes are also popular with the students, a steaming-hot milky drink that bubbles thickly when poured and comes in a variety of flavours such as Crystalized Ginger, Candied Orange and Butterscotch Toffee.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Aruuliah?
Aruuliah is a peaceful planet, however I have a feeling Book 3 may involve some combat.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Aruuliah?
From Earth, travel to Aruuliah is via portal, where an ‘invisible window’ in space opens up and when you just step through, a brief moment of weightlessness is experienced.
Travel to the Firestone Academy is via a vehicle known as a Tierrapod. This is metallic silver in colour and shaped like a giant bullet, with the main body being made from a bright, sparkling metal, while the top and sides are glass. All transport on Aruuliah uses hover technology or flies. They moved on from the wheel long ago!
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Aruuliah that we don’t see on Earth?
In the first book, we are introduced to sprogletts which are tiny humanoid creatures, about three inches in height. They come in a variety of colours and are completely hairless. Upon reaching maturity, and depending upon their habitat, they take on the characteristics of their environment. For example, those living in or near water may develop fins and gills, whilst those living in an area populated by birds or specific insects may grow wings or feathers. They will blend in and camouflage themselves in order to live in harmony with their surroundings and commune with nature.
There is also a mysterious cave-dwelling creature, but I can’t reveal too much about that in case I spoil the surprise. Other creatures, such as gruzzlings and cheebles are introduced in Book 2.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Aruuliah? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
There is no magic as such, however, at the Academy, there is a powerful concentration of energy in the Gardens of Meditation and Tranquility which the students are taught to use to increase their own energy levels. By merging their consciousness with nature and the natural energy it provides, the state of kinaaja can be achieved. There are ten stages of kinaaja and at each stage, students can accomplish different things, such as promoting plant growth, seeing auras and engaging in astral projection.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Aruuliah? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Most mundane tasks such as making beds, taking baths and showers and cleaning are fully automated. There are also Duplicating Machines which are programmed with foods and dishes from a wide range of planets and are voice activated. By stating the name of the planet and dish you would like, the machine dispenses a compartmentalized tray with different sized, shaped and coloured pills. At the push of a button on the tray, the pills transform into the requested meal (which tastes just like freshly-made food). By pushing another button on the tray, any left-overs simply disintegrate leaving the tray clean and spotless.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Aruuliah.
Apart from hover-skating, there is a game called Dodge-Ball Dilemma available. The game involves two teams of up to six players, each of whom possess a total of three soft balls, filled with a thick, luminous fluid. Players have to hit the members of the other team with these balls which are designed to burst on impact. A computer-controlled ball is then released which automatically targets any player spattered with the slimy gunge. There are several levels to this game which could end up with as many as five of these balls targeting the players at any one time. Once the player is hit, they are out. Although it is a lot of fun to play, all players end up drenched in a wet and sticky liquid that takes forever to wash off.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Aruuliah as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
Strangely enough yes, they are exactly the same. Students have lessons all week and have weekends off. There are half-term holidays and although the end-of-year-holiday is not called Christmas, the concept is the same.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Aruuliah? Please describe what it involves.
There are a range of religions, as on Earth, however inhabitants tend to lean towards a more spiritual type of existence rather than a religious one.
What is the political or government structure in Aruuliah? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
There is a main Council of the Coalition of Developing and Evolving Planets, which was established to ensure that all planets and people exist in balance and harmony with one another. The Leader of the Council is Caziel, whose wisdom and knowledge is sought by many.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
I consider myself to be a spiritual person, so I have tried to incorporate this into the book, such as the meditation practices and awareness of energy. Also, the importance of having balance and harmony in one’s life.
The first part of the second book is actually located on the island of Nevis, where my parents are from. I was able to include information on some of the island’s natural beauty and attractions, as well as their annual cultural festival, Culturama.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
I think the main topic in this instance would be issues about race. Thea has always been the only black student at her previous schools (on Earth) and so, has always felt different from her peers. That feeling of ‘not fitting in’ has never left her, however, when she enrolls at the Firestone Academy, every student is different as they are all from different planets, yet it’s not a big deal.
Students and staff are from all over the Universe and are descended from reptilian, animal and bird species, all of whom have evolved into humanoid beings. There are a multitude of skin colours, from the palest to the darkest imaginable in a variety of patterns and markings. There are also a range of appendages and attachments, from tails and horns to tentacles and feelers, additional skin augmentations in the form of spikes and ridges, and an assortment of fur and feathers, talons, claws and webbed feet! Thea finds that now she is the one who has to learn to accept others’ differences in the same way that they readily accept hers.
Author Aautobiography:Linda David was born in Cyprus to parents who both hail from the Caribbean island of Nevis. Although she was raised mainly in England, she has also lived in Germany as well as St Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies. She has always enjoyed reading and was encouraged to do so from a very early age, and that is partly what inspired her to write. Even today she can remember the excitement and wonder she used to experience as a child when reading fantasy and adventure stories, so she hopes that through her own writing, she will be able to inspire and encourage other children’s interest and pleasure in reading as well.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your books?
My books are available on Kindle and Paperback here.
Where can readers connect with you online?
More information can be found at my website. I can also be contacted through twitter and my Facebook Page.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Aruuliah. 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 LXVII!
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 LXVII!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Happy fall! It may not feel like fall here in Taiwan, but I guess technically it is. In some parts of the world people are already starting to prepare for winter (and of course in other parts, they’re welcoming spring), but in Taiwan we’re looking forward to cooler weather in the hopefully not-too-distant future.
So, who’s ready to celebrate the change of seasons with a good book? If you live where it gets cold at night at this time of year, maybe you’re looking for the perfect book to curl up in front of the fireplace with. Personally, I’m looking forward to being able to read out in my hammock again without sweating! In either case, I have just the thing for you!
So, who’s ready to celebrate the change of seasons with a good book? If you live where it gets cold at night at this time of year, maybe you’re looking for the perfect book to curl up in front of the fireplace with. Personally, I’m looking forward to being able to read out in my hammock again without sweating! In either case, I have just the thing for you!
I’ve collaborated with a number of other authors in putting together a “Fall Into Reading” sale. The first page on the website has all the books on sale categorized by genre, so you can easily find the type of thing you like to read. Here are the genres we are featuring:
children’s books
middle grade
young adult
mystery/suspense/legal thrillers
clean romance
paranormal/fantasy/science fiction
inspirational
historical
Some books on that page are FREE and others are discounted. All four of my novels are represented there – three are significantly discounted and one is free, so if you don’t have copies of all of them yet, now’s your opportunity!
If you want to find other clean books that aren’t necessarily on sale, check out the second page. All the same genres are represented there, plus one more: humor! (Some of these books are permanently FREE.)
children’s books
middle grade
young adult
mystery/suspense/legal thrillers
clean romance
paranormal/fantasy/science fiction
inspirational
historical
Some books on that page are FREE and others are discounted. All four of my novels are represented there – three are significantly discounted and one is free, so if you don’t have copies of all of them yet, now’s your opportunity!
If you want to find other clean books that aren’t necessarily on sale, check out the second page. All the same genres are represented there, plus one more: humor! (Some of these books are permanently FREE.)
I hope you find some books that are just right for you. And feel free to tell your friends!
On tour with Prism Book Tours.
Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army(The Earthman Jack Space Saga #2)
by Matthew Kadish
YA Sci-Fi
Paperback & ebook, 663 Pages
by Matthew Kadish
YA Sci-Fi
Paperback & ebook, 663 Pages
September 15th 2015 by Twelve Oaks Media
After his heroic battle against the Deathlords on the Ghost Planet, Jack Finnegan is looking forward to arriving at Omnicron Prime, the capitol planet of the Galactic Regalus Empire -the largest and most advanced civilization in the universe.
Things are looking bright for Jack. He has his unconventional group of friends, his mystical spaceship, and the girl of his dreams -Princess Anna. Not to mention a secret mission that could save Earth and everyone he cares about.
But things get complicated when he arrives at Omnicron. Not only is Jack uncomfortable being thrust into the spotlight for his courageous actions to save the universe, but he soon finds life in the Empire isn’t everything he’d dreamed it would be.
His friends abandon him to pursue their own interests. Greedy and cunning politicians conspire to steal his spaceship. Even his relationship with Anna is strained now that she’s gone from being “the girl next door” to the most powerful woman in the universe.
But beneath all that lies a new and terrifying threat from the Deathlords. A threat that grows in secret, slowly spreading throughout the Regalus Empire like a plague, and it threatens to destroy from within the only thing powerful enough to stop the Deathlords and their malicious rampage throughout the galaxy -the Empire itself.
Worst of all -Jack is the only one who knows about this new threat, and no one will believe his warnings.
Suddenly, the Empire is no longer safe for Jack and his friends. Even the people they’ve come to rely on the most can no longer be trusted. As those he’s sworn to protect turn against him, how can Jack hope to save the day?
Fighting the Deathlords was one thing. Fighting the “good guys” is quite another. Will Jack be able to find the strength to be the hero the universe needs?
Or will he finally be defeated by this Secret Army?
Amazon – Book Depository
Also in the Series
Earthman Jack is like Harry Potter meets Star Wars. A sweeping, epic space opera full of adventure, humor, magic, and coming of age. Fun for readers of all ages!
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Book Depository
6 Star Trek Books All Sci-Fi Fans Should Read (Even If They Don’t Like Star Trek)
If you’re a Trekkie, then chances are you’ve picked up a Star Trek-themed book before. But the barrier to entry to some of these novels may be rather large if you aren’t a fan of the TV show. The good news is that some Star Trek novels are so good, they can appeal to any fan of sci-fi, even if they don’t like Star Trek! Here are the top 5 Star Trek books sci-fi fans should check out if they’re looking for a good read.
Enterprise: The First Adventure by Vonda N. McIntyre – Before J.J. Abrams gave us a new version of Captain Kirk’s origins, Nebula winning sci-fi author Vonda McIntyre wrote this masterful novel about a young Captain Kirk having to come to grips with his command — including the uptight Spock, who considers his new captain to be a loose cannon (sound familiar?). For fans of later Star Treks who’ve never quite understood why the Kirk/Spock/McCoy relationship is so important to the series, McIntyre does a great job of establishing and developing that relationship, and showing just why that particular trio are so epic. This is a great place for people unfamiliar with Star Trek to start, for obvious reasons.
Planet of Judgement by Joel Haldeman – From the author who brought us The Forever War, Planet of Judgment has a lot of the great Star Trek staples, some big philosophical questions, and lots of huge space-opera action. The story centers on the Enterprise stumbling upon a rogue planet in space, orbited by a sun no larger than a pea – a circumstance impossible to explain by any known scientific law. Assuming the star to be an artificial construct, a landing party is dispatched to the planet’s surface, and becomes trapped. Unable to contact the Enterprise, Captain Kirk must battle to solve the riddle of a planet where no equipment works and the laws science don’t seem to apply. This is also one of the most adult of the Star Trek novels (not surprising, if you’ve read any of Haldeman’s other works), with the redshirts getting their faces ripped off and the Enterprise crew actually talking about sex.
Harbinger by David Mack –The first novel in the fan-favorite Star Trek: Vanguard literary spin-off series which focuses on Starbase 47, otherwise known as “Vanguard.” In essence, this book is like the pilot episode of a new Trekshow, with lots of new characters and great themes to kick things off, so a new reader won’t get lost. The tale centers around the Enterprise being damaged after traveling to the edge of the galaxy and stumbling upon an unknown Federation space station dubbed “Vanguard.” Captain Kirk is puzzled over the existence of this starbase, and it eventually becomes a focal point of contention among the Tholian Assembly, the Orion Syndicate, and the Klingon Empire, who are suspicious about the Federation’s motives for exploring and colonizing such a little-known region of space.
Prime Directive by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens – These two authors have a long and varied career with Star Trek, but their first novel in the Star Trek Universe is arguably the best they’ve ever done. At the story’s center is one of the most in-depth analysis of Starfleet’s most cherished law: The Prime Directive. This epic story examines what happens when Captain Kirk breaks the Prime Directive, causing a huge disaster in which the Enterprise is all but destroyed. Kirk is shamed and drummed out of Starfleet in disgrace, and the rest of the Enterprise bridge crew has to scatter and go into hiding, enacting an elaborate plan to bring Kirk back. The book pushes the characters to their limits and shows that, even when things are at their worst, this crew is at their best.
Redshirts by John Scalzi – Aside from the obvious Star Trek reference in the title, this book isn’t really a Star Trek novel. However, it does have a lot of fun playing with tropes from science fiction, referencing everything from Stargate to Dune, but especially Star Trek. When the main character joins the crew of the starship Intrepid, he is expecting a relatively easy gig working in a lab. He soon realizes, however, that something very strange is going on, and low-ranking crew members are dying almost faster than they can be replaced. A group of low-ranking crewmen (the “redshirts”) decide the only way to survive their stint on the Intrepid is to figure out what is going on. To save themselves, they embark on a strange journey that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. The book becomes increasingly meta and philosophical as the story progresses, and there is also an undercurrent of irony and humor as the adventures of the crew become progressively more and more outrageous. Redshirts has a bit of a Hitchhiker’s Guide-esque tone at times, and is just laugh-out-loud funny at others. This book pokes a lot fun at itself and the science fiction books and shows it draws from.
Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet by Matthew Kadish – Okay, so I’m biased since I wrote this myself. But I can’t deny the influence Star Trek had on me. If you enjoy action, excitement, and humor, then you should also read this novel, because it is my love-letter to all things science fiction, and has even been called “Harry Potter meets Star Trek.” And the best part is you can download it for free from my website! So now you really have no excuse not to read it.
About The Author: Matthew Kadish is a Renaissance man, certified evil genius, and novelist. Much like Scottish cuisine, the bulk of his creations are based on dares. He is the most talented writer ever. His mother tells him so every day. Get a free copy of his book Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet at www.EarthmanJack.com. His latest novel, Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army, is available now.
Matthew Kadish is an independent author and world-recognized evil genius. When he isn’t writing or being evil, he enjoys relaxing at the beach and videos of puppies. Much like Scottish cuisine, most of his literary works have been based on dares. He currently lives in Las Vegas and always bets on black, because Westley Snipes has yet to steer him wrong in life. He is the most talented author ever. His mother tells him so every day.
Tour Schedule
9/20: Launch
9/21: Coffee Books & Art & Mythical Books
9/22: Teatime and Books & Colorimetry
9/25: MichaelSciFan & deal sharing aunt
9/27: Grand Finale
Tour Giveaway
$20 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
3 copies of Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army (Print to US entrants, ebook to International)
3 copies of Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army (Print to US entrants, ebook to International)
Ends October 2nd
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:
Lelia Rose Foreman
Title of book and/or series:
Shatterworld
Brief summary of the story:
Amish Wannabes take a ship to another world to set up a peaceful, agrarian society. Once they are self-sufficient, they intend to throw away most of their technology. But twelve-year-old Rejoice does not want to grow up to become a farmer. She wants to be an astronomer. She struggles to understand what God wants her to be as she discovers intelligent aliens in the sea and then discovers an asteroid that is going to destroy the colony’s new world.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
New Earth, or Shatterworld, as Rejoice prefers to call the world, had been hit by large asteroids five hundred years prior to the coming of the humans. Most life on land and sea had been obliterated. Ninety percent of the world is covered by ocean.
If we were to visit Shatterworld as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Sailing in the shallow waters would be fun, as would playing with baby hexacrabs. The occasional fair or feast is fun, but for the most part, the colonists engage in work as a godly discipline. They are not thinking about tourists.
What dangers should we avoid in Shatterworld?
Sailing in deep waters would expose you to a variety of sea monsters. Hurricanes can be severe.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Shatterworld?
The colonists work hard and they do like to eat what we would consider comfort foods.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Shatterworld?
They’re pacifists! No fighting. They don’t even like contact sports.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Shatterworld?
The colonists use VTOLs, space shuttles, boats, rollers, and camels to travel. And walking. Walking is good for the soul.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Shatterworld that we don’t see on Earth?
The most important are the hexacrabs: sentient, undersea aliens with six armored legs, six tentacles, and three eyes on stalks. The hexacrabs are trying to rebuild their shattered civilization and are looking for their lost libraries, all while fighting off sea monsters and these new creatures, the humans.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Shatterworld? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
These Christians love God and have banded together in a discipline that they believe will draw them closer to God. They don’t ever think about magic.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Shatterworld? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
If you are at all familiar with science-fiction tropes, you will recognize all the technology in the book.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Shatterworld.
How entertaining do you think sermons are? Soil creation? Feeding chickens? Oh, discovering and being attacked by aliens?
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Shatterworld as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The colonists follow the Christian calendar, but divergence is coming.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Shatterworld? Please describe what it involves.
Although none of the colonists started out as Amish, the practices they cobbled together most closely resemble the Christian Amish.
What is the political or government structure in Shatterworld? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The colonists start out with a form of socialism, sharing all things in common, until they can separate onto individual farms. The man with the biggest voice is Brother Smith, the financier and organizer of the colony. The next most influential is the pastor. Everyone likes to think things are run by consensus.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Shatterworld?
Please respect their pacifism, their modest dress, and their sexual mores.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
When we were stationed in Japan at Yokota AFB, my husband explored the concept of pacifism, because if that was God’s will for us, we wanted to engage in the practice. There would have been repercussions for adopting pacifism, as the US Air Force had paid for his dental school, but if that’s what God calls you to, that’s what you do. We did a lot of study and reading. My husband retired a colonel, so you can guess which way we went. I like writing about people who aren’t me, so I wanted to write about a people the way they see themselves. What would happen if they met aliens who wanted to fight them?
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Pacifism. Some people consider monogamy and/or Christianity controversial. Is having some main characters with mild Asperger’s controversial?
Author Autobiography:
I’ve raised and released five children, one of them a Wookie. The Air Force gave us the privilege of living in Japan and a number of states, including Texas, Alaska, and Oregon. I have some minor engagement with ministry in Rwanda, and have begun libraries in eleven primary schools there. I also introduced Golden Grain amaranth to farmers there, which was a big hit, and purslane, which was not. They introduced me to the concept of loving and working under murderers.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
Shatterworld can be ordered as an ebook or paperback from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, or from any bookstore.
Where can readers connect with you online?
www.leliaroseforeman.blogspot.com, on Facebook as Lelia Rose Foreman, on Twitter as @LeliaForeman
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Shatterworld. 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 dystopian/fantasy world of To Nowhere, in Realm Explorers Part LXIII!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the dystopian/fantasy world of To Nowhere, in Realm Explorers Part LXIII!
-Annie Douglass Lima
On Tour with Prism Book Tours.
Welcome to the Book Blitz for
Dark Horse
By Michelle Diener
Stepping into the Unknown
Intro to Dark Horse
I’m a writer, but I’ve also always been a reader. I’ve read voraciously my whole life in almost every genre. I’ve always written, even as a child, and when I finally started to write seriously, with the intent of publication, it was honestly a struggle to decide what kind of stories to write. I had so many ideas.
I wrote fantasy, I wrote a time travel, and I wrote historical fiction. The book that got me my agent and a publishing contract with Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books was a historical, and given how much I love history and reading historicals, that was a very happy place for me.
But part of my love of story has always been fairy tales, myth and legend. The original blueprints for all stories. There is something so fundamental and archetypal about fairy tales, and I found myself writing fantasies based on fairy tales between my historicals, which helped to keep me fresh in both genres.
And then, I found the stories that were coming to me, and speaking to me the most, were science fiction story ideas.
I have always loved Star Wars and Star Trek. I loved Battlestar Gallactica (both the old and the new) and movies like Serenity and the new Star Trek movies. I was very selective with the science fiction I read, but I loved Iain M. Banks and Linnea Sinclair.
I got the idea for Dark Horse while I was writing a new historical, and it came to me so strongly, I decided to write a few chapters of it, and then put it aside.
That never happened.
I found I couldn’t put it aside, but at the same time, it wasn’t an easy process. This wasn’t a book that wrote itself. (I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that phenomenon, sometimes referred to by other writers, although I wait patiently with hope in my heart for the day I do!) I wrote, and re-wrote. I second guessed myself. I tore at my hair.
The problem was I had such a clear idea of what I wanted to come across, and I refused to compromise on making that happen.
When it was done, I was happy that I had stayed true to my original idea of the book, but I assumed, because science fiction is a world away from historical fiction, that Dark Horse would find a happy place among readers but not be any kind of record breaker. That I’d be very lucky if a few of my historical readers gave it a try, although I had some hopes my fantasy readers would be more willing to take a chance on it.
I told myself I was stepping into a new genre and that I just shouldn’t expect that much.
I’m really happy to have been so wrong :).
The reception Dark Horse has gotten has really been overwhelming. It is already my most successful book and certainly the best received by readers. I am so thrilled they love the world I created in Dark Horse as much as I do. And I’m happy to say that I am writing another book set in that world right now.
Stepping into the unknown can be scary, but it can be exhilarating, too.
— Michelle Diener
Dark Horse
by Michelle Diener
Adult Sci-Fi
Paperback & ebook, 381 Pages
June 15th 2015
Some secrets carry the weight of the world.
Rose McKenzie may be far from Earth with no way back, but she’s made a powerful ally–a fellow prisoner with whom she’s formed a strong bond. Sazo’s an artificial intelligence. He’s saved her from captivity and torture, but he’s also put her in the middle of a conflict, leaving Rose with her loyalties divided.
Captain Dav Jallan doesn’t know why he and his crew have stumbled across an almost legendary Class 5 battleship, but he’s not going to complain. The only problem is, all its crew are dead, all except for one strange, new alien being.
She calls herself Rose. She seems small and harmless, but less and less about her story is adding up, and Dav has a bad feeling his crew, and maybe even the four planets, are in jeopardy. The Class 5’s owners, the Tecran, look set to start a war to get it back and Dav suspects Rose isn’t the only alien being who survived what happened on the Class 5. And whatever else is out there is playing its own games.
In this race for the truth, he’s going to have to go against his leaders and trust the dark horse.
Michelle Diener writes historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. Having worked in publishing and IT, she’s now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters and wondering which part of the world she can travel to next.
Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
When she’s not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her blogging at Magical Musings. or online at Twitter, at Google+ and Facebook.
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