Friday, October 31, 2014

Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month for October 2014

Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month
It’s that time of the month again, time for “Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month”, this time with a special Halloween edition or rather one that just happens to be published at Halloween.

So what is “Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month”? It’s a round-up of speculative fiction by indie authors newly published this month, though some September books I missed the last time around snuck in as well. The books are arranged in alphabetical order by author. So far, most links only go to Amazon.com, though I may add other retailers for future editions.

Once again, we have a broad spectrum of titles, featuring science fiction, space opera, horror, dystopian fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction, steampunk, cyberpunk, biopunk, epic fantasy, urban fantasy, historical fantasy, Asian fantasy, YA fantasy, weird western, space western, paranormal romance, gothic romance, demons, werewolves, superheroes, psychic powers, GLBT characters, fairy tale retellings and much more.

As always, I know the authors at least vaguely, but I haven’t read all of the books, so Caveat emptor.

And now on to the books without further ado:

Pack of Lies by Annie BelletPack of Lies by Annie Bellet

Let sleeping dogs lie. Wolves, on the other hand…
Recovering from a broken heart and coming to terms with her family history, all sorceress Jade Crow wants is to resume running her comic book store and gaming with her friends. With a town full of strange wolf shifters, a hundred-and-fifty-year-old peace accord hanging in the balance, and the Justice who broke her heart back in her life, Jade’s plans go out the proverbial window.
Wolves are killing wolves, innocent human lives are caught in the crossfire, and not everyone in town is who they appear to be. As the bodies stack up and the doubts build, Jade and her friends race to find the true killer.
And then Jade’s evil ex-lover makes another move…

Pack of Lies is the third book in The Twenty-Sided Sorceress urban fantasy series, following Justice Calling and Murder of Crows.

Wave Links by Randall BoleynWave Links by Randall Boleyn

They feared how the truth might alter Llad Fleck. No one told him about his talented ancestors, their extraordinary heritage, or how they died. He never learned that a powerful research institute in London considered him a lethal threat. Other than the need to move on to the safety of a different city every few months, the only thing Llad knew for sure was that the men he played ball against said he had “mad skills not suitable for a fifteen-year-old.”
When Llad meets an eccentric parapsychologist, Dr. Jemma Rask, she explains that she has waited decades just to teach him how to expand his mind and utilize the unique traits which she believes he has inherited. Even though Dr. Rask and her stories come across as way too weird for Llad, he begins studying her techniques. He quickly realizes that just because the link might be there, it doesn’t mean he actually has the talent or the patience to develop his abilities.
After multiple killings shatter Llad’s life, he still doesn’t know who is behind the brutal murders or why he’s involved. But he knows now that he’s fighting for his life against a fanatical enemy. He must discover more about his family tree and learn how to control his psychic gifts - if he has any. Alone with his grief, Llad searches for clues about his cryptic lineage while being haunted by reoccurring dreams of a mysterious girl trying to help him master the bizarre talents he will need to survive.

Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by S. Elliot BrandisOnce Upon a Time at the End of the World by S. Elliot Brandis

Meet the android with no name. Seventy years ago, he was freed: his permission chip was removed and a gun placed in his hand. He was sent to fight for his country.
It was the war that ended the world.
Now, America is a wasteland. Wild towns have emerged across the frontier, lawless places filled with drunks and opportunists. The android rides from town to town, collecting warrants and seeking justice. Life is violent and meaningless—full of blood, whiskey, and dust.
When he meets Sierra—a fiery southerner with a chip on her shoulder—they embark on an unlikely journey, a dangerous search for vengeance.

Heart of Fire by J. DamaskHeart of Fire by J. Damask

Jan Xu, wolf and pack leader, faces more dangers when she saves a foreign male wolf in love with one of her ancient enemies, a jiang shi, a Chinese vampire. Throw in a love-struck drake—and Jan finds her situation suddenly precarious, with her reputation and health at stake. How much is a wolf going to take when everything is out of control again and her world thrown into disarray? How is she going to navigate the complexities of Myriad politics while keeping her pack and family intact without losing her mind? The third book of the Jan Xu Adventures will see Jan Xu’s continual fight as pack leader, her clan’s Eye (seer) and mother of three young children. Her mettle, courage and love for her family will be tested to her utmost limits.

This is the sequel to Wolf at the Door.

Blades of Illusion by Terah EdunBlades of Illusion by Terah Edun

Sara Fairchild, duelist and combatant, is out for vengeance. Her father was betrayed. Her mother is dead. All she has left is her desire for revenge and a quest for answers.
Now a member of the Mercenary Guilds’ elite guard, she fights on the front lines of her empire’s first civil war. But Sara’s priority isn’t winning the war for the crown or empire. It’s finding out the true circumstances of her family’s downfall while keeping one mild-mannered curator alive.
As emotionally detached as she is from everyone around her, Sara can’t seem to shake the stubborn affection of her one friend. When she stumbles upon the secrets of not one but two Kade mages, she soon finds out that neither of their lives is worth anything to either side.
As she fights to outmaneuver a group of fiendish imperial assassins and win a war that grows more complicated by the day, Sara Fairchild knows that no matter what, the empire will never be the same.

This is book 2 of the Crown Services series, following Blades of Magic

Wizard of Ends by Vanessa FinaughtyWizard of Ends by Vanessa Finaughty

When Lashlor Leaflin offers to escort Queen Narraki Dragonsbane to the Jeltar Woods, he’s unwittingly caught up in a magical adventure of the type he would rather not have.
The sorceress Assassa believes the Land of Ends to be rightfully hers, but King Lanaran refuses to hand over his crown. In retaliation, the sorceress conjures creatures of darkness to hunt the queen and end her life. Lashlor helps where he can, but it isn’t easy when the Guards of Ends who protect the queen believe him to be false.
A confrontation with Assassa will be the death of him, Lashlor is certain. However, the king insists on his help and it soon becomes apparent that he may have no choice.

King Ruins by Michael John GristKing Ruin by Michael John Gist

“The twists & drama of this roller coaster ride are wild from the start.” – Bethany.
The Arctic ice is gone, blasted apart in decades-long resource wars, and global tsunamis have scoured the world into ruin. Survivors hide in utopian cities behind vast flood-walls, or on lawless floating slums on the open ocean, living in fear of the next big wave.
Ex-Arctic marine Ritry Goligh isn’t afraid. His enemy Mr. Ruins is dead, crushed by a tsunami at the edge of the slums, and Ritry’s long nightmare is finally over. Then comes an explosion that makes no sound, but blows all his thoughts to shreds. In an instant Ritry is prey again, hunted by a power so vast he can’t even comprehend it.
This is King Ruin, and before him all Rit can do is run, so far and so fast he starts to forget who and what he is. Soon half of his mind is gone, the King is closing in, and the souls of billions are at stake. Because King Ruin wants the Bridge, a direct path into the minds of every living thing, and only the lost and broken Ritry Goligh can stand in his way.

This is book 2 in the Ruins Sonata series, following Mr. Ruins.

After the Winter by Mark R. HealyAfter the Winter by Mark R. Healy

The Earth is in ruins. Cities and nations destroyed. Those who survive the onslaught succumb to the cold blackness of winter. A handful of machines finally emerge into the light, lost and directionless. They are the last remnants of civilisation.
Brant is a synthetic – a machine who has the appearance and emotions of the humans who made him. He is hunted across the wasteland by cruel scavengers known as Marauders who are intent on cannibalising his body to prolong their own lives.
Brant carries a great burden as he tries to return home: a secret that can change the world. Against the unforgiving desert, the twisted denizens of this new world and his own dark past he needs to find a way back at any cost.

Consumption by Michael Patrick HicksConsumption by Michael Patrick Hicks

You Are
Reclusive chef Heinrich Schauer has invited six guests to a blind twelve-course tasting menu.
What You Eat
While snow blankets the isolated Swiss valley surrounding his estate, the guests feast eagerly, challenging one another to guess at the secret tastes plated before them.
Meat Is Murder
As they eat, each guest is overtaken by carnal appetites, unaware of their host’s savage plans…or of the creature lurking below.
One thing is clear: There is more on the menu than any of them have bargained for.

Consumption is a 12,000 word (approx.) short story. It contains graphic depictions of sex and violence, and is intended for mature audiences.

Sol Shall Rise by G.P. HudsonSol Shall Rise by G.P. Hudson

The Sol System was conquered and humans lived as slaves for 500 long years.
Now, after years of brutal warfare, humanity has been liberated. Liberation, however, comes at a cost. And the Sol System has become nothing more than a puppet state for a vast galactic empire.
For Jon Pike, a war hero who has lost everything, there is no substitute for freedom. And he blames the aliens for humanity’s troubles, especially the one living inside him.
But when he is sent on a top secret mission into unexplored regions of the galaxy he discovers that humanity’s troubles are just getting started.
Can he find freedom for himself and humanity?

Diabolical Taste by Ros JacksonDiabolical Taste by Ros Jackson

Kenssie just wants her fellow demons to respect her. A little hero worship now and then wouldn’t go amiss either. But as the lowly thrall of Rak, an embarrassment demon, she’ll take whatever crumbs she’s offered.
When the demon council turns against her master, Rak and Kenssie are forced to relocate to the countryside. It seems Rak has been holding out against his thrall and keeping a secret that will shake her trust in him forever.
When someone from Rak’s past returns to claim him, Kenssie has to fight for much more than his attention. The lives of innocents and not-so-innocents are on the line. How much of herself is she willing to sacrifice for someone else’s happiness?

The Registry's Secret by Jana JaneawayThe Registry’s Secret by Jana Janeaway

“I feel lost in the middle of a weird dream I can’t wake up from. Where everything is upside down, and all the rules have changed.”
Jessica Mitchell didn’t know just how true that statement would turn out to be.
Living the carefully constructed life that the Registry dictated, under their firm thumb and watchful eye, was starting to feel more and more like a prison sentence. The stifling existence had only one redeeming factor, amid the endless restrictions and constant scrutiny; Craddock Daniels, Jessica’s husband for all intents and purposes.
Even as discontentment spurs despair, they continue to find solace in each other, clinging to the hope that their imagined future together might still be possible.
But they soon learn that not everything is as it seems. It is much, much worse.
On the run again, joined by old and new friends, Jessica and Craddock try to reclaim their lives… by taking on the Mengliad community’s most powerful agency.

THE REGISTRY’S SECRETS is book two of THE MENGLIAD SERIES, following The Mengliad.

The Idiot King by Patty JansenThe Idiot King by Patty Jansen

Johanna, Roald, Nellie and Loesie have come to Florisheim finding many of their kinsmen there. The survivors from the burning of Saardam who have come here are the nobles who were never great supporters the old king, and it is likely that they won’t support his son either, even if he was normal. They support his marriage to Johanna even less and Johanna’s position as the new king’s wife would be improved immensely if she produced an heir, but so far that’s not happening.
Florisheim is alive with evil magic, and that magic is starting to affect the Saarlanders who are unused to it. They suffer apparitions of ghosts, people driven to injure themselves, or taken prisoner to work in a mysterious hole in the ground. Johanna knows that they have to get out of that evil place, but where can they go when the violence covers the entire known world?

This is part 3 of the series For Queen and Country, following Innocence Lost and Willow Witch.

Mission: Lights of Langrenus by V.A. JeffreyMission: Lights of Langrenus by V.A. Jeffrey

Something is rotten in Langrenus.
Or technically, north of the city.
Bob has settled down into work and family life but beneath the surface things have changed. He’s a secret agent now, building a budding network of people searching for the alien shadow groups on Earth and working to stop the coming alien invasion from beyond the solar system. But for now, all of that is far away.
The Boss, the mysterious head of Vartan, Inc. sends Bob to the moon city of Langrenus to investigate the Transient Lunar Phenomenon, which has changed pattern and intensity over recent years. No one knows why. At first, Bob suspects he’s been sent on a fluff mission. But the more he investigates, the more questions are raised in his mind as to what is really going on. The heart of the problem lies within the lunar mining communities and the increased frequency of the beautiful lunar lights are the result of something far more sinister than Bob ever imagined.

This is the sequel to Mission: Flight to Mars.

Hellcat's Bounty by Renae JonesHellcat’s Bounty by Renae Jones

Lesbian romance meets adventure in the first Rosewood Space Western.
The hellcat of Rosewood station is the best of the best. Anelace Rios is a good old-fashioned troublemaker, fiercely independent, and best of all, a steady hand with a flamethrower. Carnivorous amoeba are slowly taking over the half-abandoned mining port, and the freelance exterminator rakes in big bounties killing them off—then she spends those bounties in a grand way. Work hard, play hard.
Meidani Sintlere’s reputation is exactly the opposite of her wild friend. She’s the station’s hardworking black market doctor. She’s shy. She’s nice. She’s got a weakness for imported chocolate and pastel dresses. And she gets mad as a sani-vacced cat when Anelace shows up missing chunks of skin.
The hellcat never lacks for a willing partner. Even so, Meidani’s got notions to cut to the front of the line and stay there. She upends everything Anelace knows about good girls and the bad girls who don’t deserve them, and in a blisteringly hot night they go from friends to lovers.
But their new closeness forces the kind of reckoning even tough Anelace can’t escape unscathed. She thrives on her job, relishes the payoff, but now she’s endangering more than her own adrenaline-junkie hide—every run risks Meidani’s happiness. For the first time, Anelace is risking her shot at love.

Praying for the Surgeon by Frank D. LawrencePraying for the Surgeon by Frank D. Lawrence

“Praying For The Surgeon” is a fast-paced novel with lots of twists and turns that keep smashing its reader’s head against the wall… It is full of action, drama, and suspense – all set in a future where genetic engineering and total data control is running rampant. It combines cyberpunk, 80s retro style and the modern genre of biopunk into a thrilling ride of a book!
Witness what happens when Philip K. Dick meets Mickey Spillane… Deckard and Mike Hammer are about to have a little baby – and it is nasty!

The Commorancy: Orientation by Al K. LineOrientation and Contamination by Al K. Line

Nobody noticed as it swept around the globe – until billions began to die. Then it got a name: The Lethargy. Everyone just gave up, all interest in life relentlessly gnawed away. 15 generations later humanity is on the brink of extinction.
The only safe refuge is the fabled Commorancy, where Marcus Wolfe, tyrant, oligarch and absolute ruler offers those lucky enough to pass Orientation one of the seven Rooms, where life extension, knowledge of The Noise and more is there for the taking. But running such a home is not without its consequences – Marcus is institutionalized and has to fight daily with a madness that threatens his very reality.
As The Commorancy comes under attack young Letje finds herself out of her depth amongst a group of strangers with a millennium of experience between them. Haughty goats, an almost mythical man obsessed with changing his clothes at every available opportunity, and doors that go whoosh don’t help her situation as the very future of mankind hangs in the balance.
Now Marcus has to protect not only The Commorancy and his guests, but try to hold on to his sanity as well.

Moons of Solisticia by K.A. MadisonMoons of Solisticia by K.A. Madison

Ten years ago, humans created machines so powerful that they became aware of the world around them. The bots improved themselves until their intelligence far surpassed all of humanity’s. They used this intellect to take over everything. Their awakening ushered in a time of darkness for all mankind.
Now, Aiden is determined to find a way to help the resistance infiltrate the bots’ network. Working with his soul mate, Kyra, he must find a way to harness the unimaginable power of the Nether for his fight against the machines.
The fate of two worlds hangs on their shoulders. They must not only face an unbeatable foe on Earth, but race to find a traitor on Solisticia that will stop at nothing to do the unthinkable.

This is book 2 in the Nether Chronicles, following The Awakening.

Chase the Dark by Annette MarieChase the Dark by Annette Marie

Piper Griffiths wants one thing in life: To become a Consul, a keeper of the peace between humans and daemons. There are precisely three obstacles in her way.
The first is Lyre. Incubus. Hotter than hell and with a wicked streak to match. His greatest mission in life is to get Piper into bed and otherwise annoy the crap out of her. The second is Ash. Draconian. Powerful. Dangerous. He knows too much and reveals nothing. Also, disturbingly attractive — and scary. Did she mention scary?
The third is the Sahar Stone. Top secret magical weapon of mass destruction. Previously hidden in her Consulate until thieves broke in, went on a murder spree, and disappeared with the weapon.
And they left Piper to take the fall for their crimes.
Now she’s on the run, her dreams of becoming a Consul shattered and every daemon in the city gunning to kill her. She’s dead on her own, but there’s no one she can trust — no one except two entirely untrustworthy daemons . . . See problems one and two.

CHASE THE DARK is the first book in the Steel & Stone series. BIND THE SOUL, Steel & Stone Book 2, is now available for pre-order.

The Final Solution by R.M. MarshallThe Final Solution: A Half Way Home Story by R.M. Marshall

They started with five hundred, but their numbers are decreasing every day. Exponentially.
Science Officer Brent and Medical Officer Kelley are tasked with discovering who – or what – is picking off colonists from their expeditionary settlement on the seeming Eden of this alien planet.
But science and logic are no match for their rapacious nemesis, as they race to find a solution before their colony becomes unviable and the unthinkable becomes reality.
“The Final Solution” was a finalist in the Hugh Howey / Booktrack fanfic short story competition, and is set in a new colony in the “Half Way Home” universe, with Hugh’s kind permission.

Mirrorfell by Grace McDermottMirrorfell by Grace McDermott

Magnolia Hammond encounters Solstice, Blue Earth, and even a god whilst the mirror is falling – and a poison that slows Agent Taylor enough to take him out of the field, and away from combat.

This is a short companion story to Mirrorfall.

Island of Glass by Ruth NestvoldIsland of Glass by Ruth Nestvold

Seventeen-year-old Chiara Dragoni is a master glassmaker of Venice, a position that is both a privilege — and a trap. For the glassmakers of Murano are forbidden to ever leave the islands of the Venetian lagoon.
When Chiara’s uncle is caught on the mainland and thrown into the dungeon of the Doge’s Palace, she must use all her talents, including magic, to help free him. But the gift she creates for the prince of Venice has unintended consequences, and now Chiara must decide whether to give up everything — and everyone — she knows and loves in order to save her dream.

Set in an alternate historical Venice with alchemists, witches and magic, the story uses familiar motifs from the beloved fairy tale “Cinderella” to tell a tale with a very different message.

A Call to Arms by Shiriluna Nott and SaJa H.A Call to Arms by Shiriluna Nott and SaJa H.

War is brewing on the eastern border of Arden. The shaky truce between Arden and the neighboring realm of Shiraz has all but dissolved, and both sides are building their forces for battle. But in the quiet farming community of Willowdale, the rumors of war are the least of young Gibben Nemesio’s concerns. With both parents dead and two younger brothers to care for, Gib doesn’t have time to focus on anything besides keeping food on the table. Everything changes the day he receives a conscription notice and must report to Arden’s capital.
In Silver City, Gib is forced to leave his life as a farmer behind when he enters the legendary Academy of Arden as a sentinel trainee. If called to war, he will have no choice but to go, for the Sentinels of Arden are the realm’s first line of defense against the evils beyond the border.
A newcomer to this breathtaking city of stone, Gibben finds himself thrown into a world of cutthroat politics and scandals that run deeper than he ever imagined. Caught between the responsibilities to his family and to his country, Gib struggles to find balance. When he unwittingly overhears a sinister plot–that if seen to fruition will bear dire consequences for all of Arden–the young sentinel trainee must find a way to warn those in power before it is too late.

Talking with the Dead by K.L. PhelpsTalking with the Dead by K.L. Phelps

Having recently come to terms with her psychic gift of communicating with the comatose, all Kat Parker wanted was a bit of relaxation and to replace her broken cell phone. But her uncle’s death reveals a new and potentially dangerous wrinkle to her abilities — she can see and talk with the dead.
Phoneless, fed up, and worried for her sanity, Kat is still determined to help her uncle. Discovering he had more than a few secrets, she embarks on a treasure hunt for the one object she believes will help him rest in peace. Standing in her way is the CIA, a Mexican drug cartel kill squad, a group of mask-wearing gang members, and a wild alligator determined to eat her pet turtle.
As things spiral out of control, the absurdity of it all has Kat wondering if she hasn’t already gone insane, if she’ll be forever saddled with babysitting her uncle’s spirit, and if she should even bother to replace her phone.

This is book 2 of the Kat Parker series, following Mind If I Come In.

Sympathetic Magic by Christine PopeSympathetic Magic by Christine Pope

Some guys have all the luck….
Warlock “Lucky” Lucas Wilcox has a gift that ensures his success in all things, but his magic fails him completely when it comes to sexy Margot Emory, the vibrant “elder” of the McAllister witch clan.
Margot’s own magical gifts weren’t enough to protect her from a terrible romantic betrayal, and she’s wary of repeating past mistakes—especially with a Wilcox—even if it means she’s destined to live her life alone.
When Lucas sets his sights on the one woman he wants but can’t have, it may take a bit of sympathetic magic for the couple to have the happy ending they deserve.

This is book 4 in the Witches of Cleopatra Hill series, following Darkangel, Darknight and Darkmoon.

First Daughter by Susan Kaye QuinnFirst Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn

With the war begun, Aniri, Third Daughter of the Queen, has to battle not only a prince with a deadly skyship, but her own sister, the First Daughter, who finally sees her chance to become Queen. With their mother gravely ill and the Second Daughter kidnapped along with Aniri’s husband-to-be, Aniri embarks on a desperate mission to save the people she loves from a war that will tear all three countries apart.

First Daughter is the third book in the The Dharian Affairs Trilogy following Third Daughter and Second Daughter. This steampunk-goes-to-Bollywood (Bollypunk!) romance that takes place in an east-Indian-flavored alternate world filled with skyships, saber duels, and lots of royal intrigue. And, of course, kissing.

The Body Electric by Beth RevisThe Body Electric by Beth Revis

The future world is at peace.
Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift–the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother–to help others relive their happy memories.
But not all is at it seems.
Ella starts seeing impossible things–images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience–and influence–the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love–even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…
Someone’s altered her memory.
Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.
So who can she trust?

Dirt Magic by Hollis ShilohDirt Magic by Hollis Shiloh

Trey has dirt magic. It’s messy and not very fun. But some miners in his old hometown are trapped underground, and he feels duty-bound to see if he can help. He doesn’t expect to meet a nerdy, weird gay romance writer who just might have a talent or two of his own. But Leo has a way of growing on Trey—and together, they might just have what the situation requires. Not to mention each other…

A quirky gay paranormal romance
Length: 18,000 words
Heat level: low

Naked Moon by Brian SpanglerNaked Moon by Brian Spangler

An unexpected storm.
A sudden distraction.
For one traveler, the sight of a naked moon might just mean the difference between life and death.
Excerpt
I DIED THIS morning on a winding road in the Ohio Amish Country. Rainy daylight spilled around me while heaping clouds piled high into the sky. In the distant west, the sky bore a giant bruise, sending a curtain of stormy green and black over my head. When the winds became sudden, a howling gale blew leaves and twigs across the road like a child throwing a tantrum. That is when I should have slowed down. That is when I should have eased into the turns and the sharp curves. But I never let up on the gas and marched forward without giving it a second thought.
The weather fronts played together in thundery efficacy while sunlight peered in through a closing blue window, hinting that the storm might soon pass. A torrent of rain and hail came then, pelting the road and ticking off of my windshield and roof. The hollow sound bounced in my car and rang in my ears like an old mechanical phone…

Mists of Seacliffe by Rosselyn SparksMists of Seacliffe by Rosselyn Sparks

Amanda Shorr, 32, lands a job as the private teacher to the children of action movie star Jace Jencks. When she arrives at his coastal California estate, it seems the ideal job: sunny California with a view of the ocean, on-site swimming pool and gym, and a talented private chef.
But the sun is often hidden behind the mists, the star’s son has emotional problems, and Amanda begins to have bad dreams–about a young woman, her French lover, and her cruel industrialist husband. As her dreams grow stranger and begin to invade her waking hours, her lifelong skepticism about ghosts crumbles.
Then comes a series of accidents, ones that she suspects are not accidental at all. Is someone is out to scare her? Is it the star himself, his son, the gray-haired housekeeper, the chef, the handsome estate manager, or the bodyguard? Is she being haunted? Or is it just possible that Amanda is losing her mind?

Gifted by H.S. StoneGifted by H.S. Stone

In a kingdom where the Gifteds are captured and thrown into fights to the death, Voima is fortunate that she is just a Regular. However, her brother, Vendd, isn’t so lucky. Since his Power started manifesting itself, the siblings have lived a life on the run, barely escaping the king’s soldiers.
Just as Voima and Vendd have settled into a new home, a fleeing Gifted enters their lives, begging for help but bringing soldiers after him. Despite the siblings’ efforts, the soldiers discover Vendd’s Power. Now Voima, an outmatched Regular girl, must find a way to defeat the kingdom’s most dangerous Gifteds in order to save her brother from certain death.

Frost by J.E. ThummelFrost by J.E. Thummel

Ember Frost kills demons. It’s what she knows, and she’s damned good at it. Lately, though, the job isn’t doing it for her like it used to, and after a quick fling begins to look more serious, she’s flirting with the idea of finally getting a life outside of work. Unfortunately, there are a couple of catches.
First: a slight misunderstanding at work just might have landed her on top of her employer’s hit list
and…
Second: a Black Hood named Lazarus. He’s made a pact with a powerful demon and is looking to tear down the Rule of God. But first he’s coming after Ember, and he’s willing to destroy everything she cares about to get to her.
Trying to survive life, work, and keep the faith can be a real bitch. But then again, so can Ember.

Kill Me, Red by Kelsey Warren-BryantKill Me, Red by Kelsey Warren-Bryant

Red Riding Hood: A Tale of Horror
Red is determined to find her best friend who was dragged into the woods by a giant wolf. She doesn’t know the source of the mysterious growling outside her window every night. She doesn’t know why all evidence of the wolf seems to vanish into thin air.
She doesn’t know if she’s being hunted.

The Very Last Days of Mr. Grey by Jack WorrThe Very Last Days of Mr Grey by Jack Worr

When Mason signs up for an experimental drug to treat his insomnia, he hopes he’ll finally be able to fall asleep when he goes to bed that night.
Instead, he falls into another dimension.
Now he must battle super-powered government agents and risk his sanity to unravel the mystery of why they are after him. His only guidance comes from a fair-weather ghost who speaks in riddles and appears only at peak inconvenience, and a mysterious woman who seems intent on killing him.

The Very Last Days of Mr Grey is a fast-paced science fiction thriller about reality, the mysteries of our world, and why some things are better left unknown.

My visit to Bristolcon on 25th October

This was my first ever trip to Bristolcon, a convention in the city of Bristol that has been running for six years.

I sat on three panels, the first one at 10 o'clock after the opening speech by the redoubtable Joanne Hall, who has been running Bristolcon since its inception. I was moderating a panel with Joanne, Emma Newman (one of the GOHs), Del Lakin-Smith and Rob Haines.

We were discussing discoverability and representation, though we focussed on the former, a hot topic for writers whether indie, published, or hybrid (like me). The problem was identified (and indeed located) in how to discover good writing in circumstances where some booksellers seem to unconsciously privilege male writers by putting their books out face-up on tables; and how to deal with the rather more imponderable problem of the Amazon algorithms.

The panel discussed how we might tackle these problems as writers, publishers and fans. A key idea was that of curating the work of other writers, whether by podcast, such as Emma Newman's Tea and Jeopardy, or through blogs, such as Joanne's http://hierath.wordpress.com/ and of course the Speculative Fiction Showcase. Del Lakin-Smith is joint owner of publisher Spacewitch, and talked about their aim of linking and creating relationships between books that have similarities.

There was some discussion of the idea of filtering and "gatekeepers" - an idea especially current in the indie world with regard to mainstream publishers such as the "Big Five". It was mentioned that it is difficult to find good stuff on Amazon because browsing is impossible. There may be a positive role for "gatekeepers" in enabling good stuff to be found, though as Rob Haines pointed out, there is also a (negative) effect since anything off the beaten track may be filtered out.

Panel number two was entitled Influences on Authors and was admirably moderated by Paul Cornell. My fellow panellists were Joanne Hall, John Baverstock and Piotr Swietlik, who was doing his first ever panel and spoke perfect English. This was a fascinating panel as Paul Cornell and John Baverstock testified to the influence of the King James version of the Bible on their writing (and as the original lexicon of the English language). Joanne Hall mentioned the influence of the late, great David Gemmell and Piotr discussed Raymond Chandler.

The writers also talked about originating events, what had started them writing or what had inspired their stories (and worlds). Paul Cornell talked about the way in which his writing had begun as a means of defeating the bullies at school. I described to the workcamp I attended with the Christian Movement for Peace in 1980, which took place in the village of Charols in Drome and provided me with a number of themes (and characters) for my subsequent writing. The writers also talked about the influence of film and television.

My final panel was at 5 o'clock, when Ben Jeapes chaired a discussion on the topic "What can SF writers learn from history?" with Janet Edwards, Dev Agarwal and Justin Newland. The theme of this panel was more recondite; the original description reads: "What events lurk in the past that we don't realise have happened or don't think about - are we recreating the past when we envision the future?" Janet Edwards talked about the future of her Science Fiction novels, where people born on earth - ordinary humans - are disadvantaged and in the minority. Ben Jeapes talked about the way in which SoE and the traditional secret services conspired to unintentionally undermine each other during World War II, and Dev Agarwal related the predicament of a female spy who was first in one of Stalin's gulags and then interned in Buchenwald.

All of these stories could be elaborated or extrapolated from the past, but could also be seen as elements of history that are not traditionally taught or discussed. There were references to both history and the history of science as fruitful sources for the writer. There were interesting and pertinent questions from the audience, especially about the role of archaeology in creating and changing history (and of the part played by archaeological artefacts).

I learned an awful lot and it need hardly be observed, though I think that Joanne Hall said it rather well, that writers can get inspiration from almost anything, including friends and family. Writers are like magpies (or bower birds) and most things can be material, whether from history or the present.

(A longer version of this post appears on my blog Living in the Maniototo).

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for October 30, 2014


  Here is an early edition of our weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web:

Speculative fiction in general:

Writing, publishing and marketing:

Interviews:

Reviews:

Crowdfunding:

Con reports:

Science and technology:

Odds and ends: 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Reign (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Book 4) by Chanda Hahn

Subgenre: Young Adult, Fairy Tale, Mythology
Release Date: November 3, 2014

ABOUT Reign:

Going to the Fae plane against Jared’s orders has cost Mina dearly. Her decision haunts her as a new danger surfaces back on the human plane. The Grimms are fading from existence. To save her family’s future, Mina Grime will have to travel to the past with the help of her Fae Godmother and a pair of magic shoes.

She must go to the Story’s very beginning, to the days before the dark prince’s reign. But can she finish her quest before her time runs out, or will she be trapped in the past forever?

Excerpt:

“Why are you asking me about this?” She had to know.

This time it was Brody who shivered. “Because I dream about you. Every night, I dream of you…and me. Yet at school we act like strangers. But I know things about you I couldn’t possibly know. I know you hate the color red, hate being the center of attention. Love journaling, love Asian dumplings. I’m right, aren’t I?”

“I don’t know.” She avoided looking at him. Afraid he’d see the truth in her eyes.

He reached out to touch her shoulders. “How could I know that your kisses taste like honey? And I would give anything for another one, but yet…I don’t think we’ve ever kissed.”


Buy before November 10th to receive the short story "Jared's Quest" as bonus material in the ebook!

Chanda Hahn uses experience as a children's pastor, children's librarian and bookseller to write compelling and popular fiction for teens. She was born in Seattle, WA, grew up in Nebraska and currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband and their twin children; Aiden and Ashley.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Guest post by Andrei Cherascu

Our guest post today comes from Andrei Cherascu, author of Mindguard.





What inspired Mindguard?

Well, the human mind, first and foremost. Obsessions. Borders. Individuality. Identity. Togetherness. Separation. And, as is often the case…my wife.

The whole concept came to me one day in 2012, while Ioana and I were taking a walk. She was sad and upset over something work-related and I remember thinking how great it would be if I could somehow make that sadness just vanish in an instant. I mean, I could cheer her up, but that’s a gradual (and often painfully slow) process. Instead of taking away her sadness, I wished it could be possible to make it so that she never got sad in the first place. I imagined somehow placing an essence of myself between her mind and whatever was making her sad, like a bodyguard intercepting a threat. You can see where I’m going with this.

The concept of “mindguard” came with a face. It was the face of Sheldon, my main character. I remember reading an interview with Dean Koontz a few years ago, where he said that the Odd Thomas character, along with the opening line of the novel, came to him while working on another book. He said he had to stop and just start typing the first chapter of Odd Thomas, as if the character and the story existed as separate, individual identities somewhere outside the realm of his mind.

I thought that’s a load of s**t, just something a writer would say because it sounded better than admitting he toyed around for hours with names like Buff Longhorn, Billy Cardinal White or Jim Bolia.

Well, as it turns out, the same thing happened to me, because life is funny like that. When the word “mindguard” popped into my head, good ol’ Sheldon appeared to me crystal clear, with his black shirt, his cherished light-brown leather jacket and his expressionless face. I instantly knew that his name was Sheldon Ayers, that he was a mindguard and that he was going to be the main character of my first sci-fi novel.


What are the major themes of Mindguard?

Obsessions. Borders. Individuality. Identity. Togetherness. Separation. But mostly human nature. I think any story is at its best when it’s a study of human nature. Good stories can make you understand the minds of the characters, empathize with them and their individual motivations, discover their secrets. Not-so-good-stories give you a bigger dose of the author’s personal convictions, but that’s still a study of human nature, because you get to understand the author’s psychology.

My ambition as a writer is to create worlds populated by characters that aren’t burdened with any moral “weight”, so to speak. They think and live and act driven by their obsessions, desires and motivations, not by clear-cut concepts of good and evil. I feel like they all have the same moral value, if you can call it that, and they all have the same creative value for the story.

I describe Sheldon as the main character because he is the actual mindguard to which the title refers. But really, there is a great number of characters. They all come into conflict with each other and they are all are equally important. I want the reader to pick a side based on the character with whom he or she empathizes the most, not based on some notion of whether the character is “good” or “bad”. I tried to construct Mindguard like a chess-game where all the pieces are queens. Most of my readers describe Sheldon’s antagonist, Tamisa, as the novel’s actual heroine. She does appear in more scenes than he does, so there you go.

As a reader, maybe you like Sheldon and you want him to successfully complete his mission. Or perhaps you love Tamisa and you’re rooting for her to stop Sheldon before he delivers the information package. You are also aware that both cannot succeed in their respective quests, which, I hope, adds a bit of an edge to the whole story. Like Tamisa says to Sheldon in a particular scene: “One of us has to lose!”

I think of a good story as the constant rearrangement of patterns of conflict. This conflict, I feel, is most effective, when the parties are evenly matched.

For example, my all-time favorite novel is Frank Herbert’s Dune. It changed my life. There would have been no Mindguard if it were not for Dune. However, there was one thing I didn’t particularly enjoy. You were immediately told who you should be rooting for. Paul Atreides was noble, brave, very smart for his age, destined to become the ruler of the universe. Baron Harkonnen bore every single negative trait that Herbert could think of. It never felt like they were evenly matched. I didn’t particularly like that. God Emperor of Dune was much better in that respect.


Why science fiction?

Because it’s larger than life, as is every genre that deals with things beyond the realm of the physically possible. I enjoy stories that transcend the human condition. You get to place people in situations which test the fabric of their psychology in ways that other forms of literature, not to mention real life, never do. To me, it has to be about the people. The fantastic worlds and situations are just elaborate environments for the characters to discover and inhabit, but the focus has to be on the human condition, in order to keep me interested. That’s what made Garden of Rama such an incredible experience for me. It was the first sci-fi novel I ever read and, to my thirteen year-old imagination, it felt like a cooler, more modern version of the Wizard of Oz, one that I could completely relate to. From that day on I’ve been in love with sci-fi. It cleanses my mind and my soul, allows me to dream of bigger and greater things. It also allows me to ask philosophical questions that would never arise within the boundaries of the real, physical world.  

Can you describe your creative process?

I think everything I do is part of the creative process. Writing is always in the back of my mind, no matter where I am or what I’m doing. That’s why many of my ideas appear when I’m working out, drinking coffee, waiting in line at the supermarket or taking a walk. You find out what you were meant to do in life when you learn to recognize that little piece of “software” that’s constantly running in the back of your mind, no matter what you’re doing. It’s that one thing you constantly think about, even when you don’t want to. To me, that’s writing. I love stories, information, I love reading anything I can get my hands on. Writing seemed like a good way to capitalize on my love for reading. It also helps justify the long time I spend with a book in my hand. That way I don’t feel guilty for my reading binges. But the actual writing process happens almost exclusively in my little home-office, listening to jazz and drinking wine in the company of my Netherland dwarf bunny.


Will there be a sequel to Mindguard?

Yes, I plan to turn it into a trilogy. Right now I’m working on an unrelated novel called Skyborn, which I plan to release in serial format starting December. Simultaneously, I’m developing the sequel to Mindguard, which will be released sometime next year. I have the plot almost entirely finished, scribbled over twenty-or-so pages in one of my notebooks.

Mindguard

Called out of semi-retirement, the telepath and Mindguard Sheldon Ayers is tasked with protecting an information package located inside the mind of a young woman who claims the knowledge she holds is vital to the future of mankind. Sheldon and his team must help her cross the most dangerous territory in the man-inhabited universe - the Djago Desert. 
Hunted by the Enforcement Unit - the all-powerful Military arm of the Interstellar Federation of Common Origin - Sheldon’s team must fight to keep the carrier alive and guard the integrity of her mind. But nobody suspects that Sheldon also has a dark secret, and it could end up changing the fate of the mission.

*Mindguard is priced at $0.99 (full price $3.99) until November 2nd.


About Andrei Cherascu





Andrei is a full-time author with a passion for science-fiction. He studied Letters and subsequently pursued an American Studies M.A, writing his thesis on the music of Tom Waits. After working in I.T support for a couple of years, he decided to dedicated his entire energy to writing. His debut novel, Mindguard, was published on September 2nd and chosen Book of the Week by SciFi365.net exactly one month later, with the comment:

“Careful, intricate plot lines reminiscent of Greg Bear combine with characters whose fates you will care about - no matter their motivation. This is the type of novel that you might find in an independent bookstore with 'Staff Recommendation' and a hand-written review. One for all Science Fiction fans.”

Andrei also maintains the jazz-themed blog, The Music and Myth, where he reviews records and live shows and features artist interviews. When he is not writing or reading, Andrei likes to spend time listening to jazz and drinking wine in the company of his wife, Ioana and their Netherland dwarf bunny, Picky.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Mission: Lights of Langrenus by V. A. Jeffrey

Subgenre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
Release Date: October 16, 2014

ABOUT Mission: Lights of Langrenus:

Something is rotten in Langrenus.

Or technically, north of the city.

Bob has settled down into work and family life but beneath the surface things have changed. He's a secret agent now, building a budding network of people searching for the alien shadow groups on Earth and working to stop the coming alien invasion from beyond the solar system. But for now, all of that is far away.

The Boss, the mysterious head of Vartan, Inc. sends Bob to the moon city of Langrenus to investigate the Transient Lunar Phenomenon, which has changed pattern and intensity over recent years. No one knows why. At first, Bob suspects he's been sent on a fluff mission. But the more he investigates, the more questions are raised in his mind as to what is really going on. The heart of the problem lies within the lunar mining communities and the increased frequency of the beautiful lunar lights are the result of something far more sinister than Bob ever imagined.

Excerpt:

We came to a ledge.

“Someone's coming,” whispered Liatel. I crouched down to survey the scene below. I could still detect the footprints in the dust I'd made on the way in on the path below. We were outside in the small cave. The lunar lights were going crazy, lurid with color. The drop down wasn't too far, maybe twenty feet down.

“They must really be working them overtime today,” said Justin, looking fearfully at the lights. I glanced at him.

“That comes from crews working over time?” I asked. He nodded.

“Stirs up whatever gases lie below the surface of the moon. It's a sign of over worked crews. Not unusual at Hussa. So, what about that drop down?” He asked.

“We can adjust the levels on our boots to soften our landings, maybe.” I said.

“These boots, like everything else around here are too cheap for that,” Liatel said in disgust.

“Well, we'll have to drop down. There's no way around it. Maybe on that side down there, where we can climb down at least half the way. Once I get down I'll pull some of those rocks over there and build stair-steps up to the cave opening.” I pointed up ahead.

“Where is your rider parked, exactly?” She asked. My mind went to full alert. It was a perfectly reasonable question. And it bothered me. I had no time but it got my hackles even further up about her and it brought to my memory the fact that she'd taken my gun without my knowing it.

“Just outside. You'll see.” I said simply and hopped down against the rock wall of the cave. I slid part of the way before jumping down the rest of the way and then scampered under the walkway ledge the other two were still standing on. I went to the rocks by the opening and piled them up together as best I could. Will simply lowered himself and hovered by me. Liatel, far more limber that I'd suspected, slid part of the way down the wall and then leapt down the rest of the way, landing lightly, even in her gravity boots.

Justin's descent was difficult. He climbed down gingerly and slipped. I could hear the inhuman screams of that Fiorjah creature getting louder.

“What is that sound?” Liatel whispered quietly. I looked at her strangely.

“You mean you don't know?”

“Should I?” There was a sudden alert beeping from the recorder mech. I turned around and Justin, struggling to get down fell backward the rest of the way.

“Uggh!” He yelled.

“What happened, Will?” I asked.

“We don't have time! We must go now!” Urged Liatel. I frowned at her but was spurred on.

“This way!” I said and I took hold of Justin's arm and bounded several times upward until I reached the cave opening. I extended my legs outward until my feet touched the opening and then I used the force of my body to fly through before we landed on the ground just outside. Liatel ran down the path and jumped out of the cave with the grace of a cheetah, just in time for us to hear laser blasts raining down from above inside. Finally out of the cave, I lead them to the moon buggy. As I hopped in I looked back to see the Glia woman raise the lasgun at me and power it up. Will's little alarm went off like a shrieking siren and all this while we were still being hunted. I ducked down just in time to avoid the blast of laser fire. I aimed with my vambraser and let loose a stream of laser fire but my aim was off and she was quick. She leaped out of the vehicle and away from the line of fire, ducked beneath the vehicle and then rose up, reaching over quick like a snake, and grabbed my arm, nearly tearing me from the seat. I had no idea how strong alien females were but at this rate she would rip my space suit right off me if I didn't so something fast.


Victoria A. Jeffrey grew up in Portland, Oregon, attended Portland Community College and studied graphic design. She is an author and an avid reader of science fiction, fantasy. She also enjoys reading historical fiction and non-fiction. She has written four collections of poetry and some short stories. She is a content developer for the Middle-Earth Network, the author of the Red World myth-fantasy trilogy. She has two upcoming series for this year, the Mission space opera series and a steampunk science fiction series.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Author interview - David Wake



Apple or PC?
PC.  I made a bad choice an age ago, but I came from a software background, so it was kind of inevitable.

Do you use Scrivener or Word?
Word.  Again, all that expertise in the monster, which I want to keep current.  I can’t quite see the point of Scrivener, but then again I’ve not used it and people do swear by it.

How many words do you write a day?
I currently in a very good place with my writing: 1,000 words in the morning, 1,000 in the afternoon, although that’s dropping off now the novel has reached the ‘hole-filling’ rather than the ‘make stuff up’ stage.

Do you have any pets? Do they influence your writing?
I’ve no pets as I couldn’t cope with the responsibility.  What do you do with them if you want to go away for the weekend?  I think I’m becoming increasingly anti-pet really, although I am seriously considering getting a robot vacuum cleaner.  I think those can be trusted to be left at home and not make a mess.  Indeed, you can leave them at home and they can clear up your mess.

Would you rather see your stories on the big screen or the little screen?
Depends on the story, doesn’t it?  Some stories are more at home on the big screen, others on the little screen, still others for neither.  I guess I, Phone is my unfilmable book.  How do you represent visually the mind of an artificially intelligent mobile phone?  But then there’s always someone who might rise to the challenge.  My Derring-Do Club books as a TV series, I guess, as they have far more cliff-hangers.  Since Doctor Who went single story, I miss the cliff-hanger.



Are you hooked on any of the shows on the sci-fi channel? If so, which one(s)?
I don’t get the Sci-Fi channel.  Virgin Media, my provider, changes our channels occasionally for no discernible reason.  We’ve got classic Who again, which always seems to draw me in, but then I have the DVDs, so it seems foolish to watch them with adverts.  The current box set is the second series of the excellent Utopia and I still have the last few gasps of a Farscape marathon to complete.

Do you own copies of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings DVDs? The extended version? Do you ever watch them?
I do and I’m not sure which version.  I occasionally watch them.  I saw them originally in the cinema as a birthday treat, usually on my birthday, and I took along my wizard’s hat.

Have you seen the first two parts of The Hobbit? Are you planning to see the final instalment?
Yes, again another outing for the wizard hat.  I am planning to see the final instalment.  They were nothing like as good as Lord of the Rings though, despite the presence of Martin Freeman.  The dwarfs don’t look like dwarves.

Are you a Luddite? Or do you prefer to be on the bleeding edge of technology?
Oh now, that’s a question for me.  Both.  I’ve written two near future SF books, I, Phone and #tag, looking at the effects of new technology.  However, I have just spent an age trying to recover an old 32-bit computer because it runs old software and I just can’t get on with the new versions.  I guess I’m an old duffer now: “Bleeding edge technology was so much more cutting edge in my day!”

Are you--or have you ever been--a gamer?
Role-playing and board games.  I used to be big in freeform role-playing.  I’ve tested plots on role-players.  I liked Space Invaders, but Defender was just too complicated.

What kind of foods do you eat? Are you a health-food-nut or is it strictly junk?
I’m on the 5-2 Fasting Diet: less than 600 calories for a man two days a week.  It’s healthy food during the week, mostly vegetarian, but madness and lunacy at the weekend.

Do you cook? What is your best/favourite/most popular recipe?
Very, very occasionally.  My partner is an excellent cook and I can’t compete (except for rice for some reason).  However, I shall be doing the cooking at Christmas.

Have you ever heard of or had a green smoothie? If you’ve ever had one, what did you think about ?
I went to America once, California, and the first place we went into after arriving, somewhat jet-lagged, was a smoothie bar.  Somewhat dazzled by all the choice, I asked what there was.   The assistant rattled off a loooooong list of options, drew breath and then recited the vitamin choices.

“Er...” I said, “I’m English... can I have tea, ordinary tea, done ordinarily, you know, brown, hot, ordinary.”

Do you have a garden? Have you ever grown your own food?
Yes and yes.  We’ve potatoes at the moment, and we’ve herbs, and had onions, garlic and such like.  There are two very productive mini-apple trees.  I mostly do the shed building and the lawn mowing.  The lettuce is a crop for the slithering hordes of slugs.

Have you ever been to Starbucks?
Must have been.  I’m not a regular and not really a coffee shop person.  The pub for me.

Coffee or Tea or Water? Espresso, Drip, Instant, or French Press? Bag or Looseleaf? Bottled, Filtered, Tap or Rainwater?
Tea.  Brickie’s.  Brown.  Hot.  Wet.  Mug.  Milk.  No sugar.
Wine, red or dry.
Beer, real and ale, dark, malty and resembling mud.
Whiskey, large, cheap with ginger or single malt from anywhere but Speyside.



Do you wear socks?
Yes, but I’m English, so never with sandals.

What are you wearing right now?
Sounds like a question that should be reserved for a dodgy phone call.

Do you wear a hat?
Sadly hats don’t suit me.  I have a vast collection: two areas in the house with hats on display and boxes of them in the loft.  I took to wearing a smoking cap at conventions because I discovered, quite by chance, that people spotted me from a distance more and came over to natter.  It doesn’t suit me either.

How often do you wash your hair?
Daily in the bath.

Do you do your own laundry?
Yes and I study the weather forecast obsessively to find out when I can dry things.

Does life fascinate you?
How could anyone be an author and not answer ‘yes’ to that.  Writing, like psychology, is the study of the human condition.

What would your animal totem be?
The crow.  I like the sound of crows, they always relax me.  They used to caw outside my flat when I was at University.  Strangely, they feature heavily in the fantasy novel I’m writing.  The culture has a whole mix of legends, myths and fables about them.

Do you recycle?
Yes.  Save the planet.  And jokes in plays wot I write.

Do you do Yoga? Meditation? or Deep Breathing? Does it help you cope?
Never!  Mad eastern nonsense that only exists to sell hippie books.  And I’m not coping.

On a scale of 1-10, how eccentric are you?
One... or ten.  Which is the thick end of the wedge?

What’s your astrological sign?
I don’t believe in this hippie nonsense, which means I’m a typical Capricorn on the Sagittarian cusp.

Do you consider yourself a slave to the muse?
Not a slave, but a willing acolyte and accomplice.

About David Wake:

     Photo: Simon Bradshaw.

David Wake started writing one-act plays, won a couple of awards, and toured theatre productions in the UK.  His work has been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Since completing an MA in Writing, he’s published two near-future SF novels, I, Phone and #tag.  There are also two novels out chronicling the steampunk adventures of the Derring-Dolittle sisters: The Derring-Do Club and the Empire of the Dead and The Derring-Do Club and the Year of the Chrononauts.

He was Guest of Honour at the ArmadaCon SF convention in Plymouth and lives within smelling distance of a chocolate factory.

Amazon UK | www.davidwake.com | Blog | Amazon |










Friday, October 24, 2014

Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for October 24, 2014


  Here is our weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web:

Speculative fiction in general:

Writing, publishing and promotion:

Reviews:

Interviews:

Crowdfunding:

Con reports:

Science and technology:

Odds and ends: