Saffron Bryant's Blog, page 5

The Eden Project – Book Review

 

 

Last week I had the pleasure of reading The Eden Project, a science fiction novel which I found quite enjoyable.

The premise is that something has happened to Earth, sending the human race hurtling towards extinction. In an effort to prevent this a group of forward thinking scientists have set up ‘the dome’. Inside 117 children are born and raised completely separate from the rest of human kind.

This first book in the series is an excellent introduction to this frightening new world and the characters who inhabit it.

The Eden Project manages to combine romance, science fiction and the zombie apocalypse into one satisfying read.

As always there are aspects that could have been improved; the characters occasionally said or did things which I felt was quite at odds with their normal selves. These character inconsistencies were a bit jarring but not bad enough to make me put down the book.

The Eden Project is focused more on the characters and their relationships rather than the threat to humanity or the actual ‘science fiction’ aspects. So don’t expect to find an alien sucking off someone’s face on the first page.

Spelling, formatting and grammar were all pretty spot on and I didn’t notice any major errors which brought down the book.

So, 4 stars for The Eden Project, a good, light, science fiction novel and highly recommended.

If you enjoy science fiction check out my work in progress novel here.

Memory Deletion and Black Holes

This week in When Science Fiction Becomes Reality there are two great discoveries I want to share.

Memory Removal- Scientists have been able to remove selected memories from mice and rats.

So the possibility of ‘brain wipes’ isn’t that far off at all. (Although of course this study was done for the medical benefits to addicts and PTSD sufferers).

Medically – In medical terms the ability to ‘delete’ certain memories while leaving others unaffected could mean significant improvements to the quality of life of many people. Those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or recovering addicts, both of whom may have memories which are best forgotten could benefit from such treatment.

Other Applications- Aside from the medical implications the ability to ‘delete’ or ‘edit’ someone’s memories could have many other consequences. Reconditioning a population, for example, to change their beliefs, or editing a witness’s memory so that they can’t recall the event. What if someone wanted to forget their life completely? Could you offer it as a kind of ‘cosmetic intervention’?

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.07.036

10 Black holes found- ‘NuStar’ a new black-hole hunter craft has discovered 10 supermassive black holes.

These particular black holes were unidentified previously on lower powered equipment but with NuStar they stand out. With the technology to now easily identify these monstrosities- what else might we learn about the several decade long mystery of black holes?

Are they vortexes to another dimension?

Are they a means of time travel?

Are they just a centre of extreme gravity where your body would simply collapse in on itself?

Personally I’m looking forward to finding out what these enigmas really are. And, with technology advancing as quickly as it is hopefully we won’t have to wait too long!

http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/773/2/125

 

Reading up on real science is a great way to improve your science fiction writing. How can you predict what might be possible in 100 or 1000 years if you don’t know what’s possible now?
For a taste of my in-progress sci-fi novel, go here.

Breakthrough Breakdown

Today in When Science Fiction Becomes Reality I’m not going to break down just one incredible story for you; today I’m giving you a whole list!

 

Researcher’s grow teeth from urine – Not many sci-fi applications, but still pretty cool!

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/07/31/3814782.htm

 

Mars is phosphate rich – Mars has more of the essential building block of life; phosphate, than Earth does! Imagine what other planets further out hold?

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/09/02/3837761.htm

Freeze dried sperm are the way of the future – So we run a few species into extinction… no problem! We’ll just breakout the freeze-dried sperm! … Not to mention populating far away planets with new animal life.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/08/29/3836646.htm

 

 

 

Another sun, just like ours – Could this star host planets capable of producing life?

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/352866/description/The_suns_older_twin_250_light-years_away

http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1337/eso1337a.pdf

 

Tiny brain-like organ grown in a lab – A little scary, sure, but think of the medical research applications! This advancement could give invaluable insight into neurological conditions.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/352830/description/Tiny_human_almost-brains_made_in_lab

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature12517

 

If you enjoy science and science fiction, you might like my sci-fi sneak peak, or this fantastic zombie short story by Michael Cairns.

The Body in the Library – Book Review

 

 

 

So I’m currently drafting a murder mystery as the second installment of my up and coming sci-fi series (read a snippet of book 1 here) and thought I’d better do some reading in the genre. Where better to start than with Agatha Christie herself? So after trawling through blogs and reviews I settled on The Body in the Library and got stuck straight in.

As you’d expect, the writing style isn’t what you’d find in a contemporary novel, the dialogue etc. just isn’t what you’d find in a modern book but that didn’t detract from the story at all. I had expected the whole book to be written from the sleuth’s point of view (Miss Marple), but actually very little of it was seen through her eyes. Instead we are fed small clues through the eyes of a variety of other characters.

I read this book as more of a study guide than for entertainment so I was taking notes on everything that was said, every clue, every connection and I managed to get it down to two possible scenarios (one of which was right) a little before Miss Marple came to the same conclusion.

But enough about me. The book itself is well written (like you’d expect anything less) and the mystery was perfect. The book didn’t rely on gore to carry you along. It was just a very interesting read that lead you through the clues, and I was eager to follow. The clues were well placed and definitely had me thinking.

So, not that Agatha Christie needs a review from little me, I’m giving it anyway. 4.5 stars for The Body in the Library, it was a good read, good style, good mystery. The only thing I’d ask more of is of the sleuth herself! I wanted to get inside Miss Marple’s head but the reader is actually kept at quite a distance.

So if you feel like a light Sunday murder mystery, The Body in the Library should be just right!

The Herald of Darkness – Release

Here it is ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…

Today The Herald of Darkness was officially released for your enjoyment. So, don’t waste another second, head over to Amazon and grab your copy now!

I am the one who walks the night,

I am the heart that sees no light,

I am the crow upon the carcass,

I am the bringer, the herald of darkness.

Like the calm before the storm the Draconum are thrust from their peaceful oasis into a vicious war. Refugees flood the shores in a desperate attempt to escape the coming darkness and the death it carries.

Allies become enemies and trust becomes a thing of the past. Laila and Sarin must wrestle to maintain control as racial tension and disputes threaten to tear apart their command.

The dragons struggle in a strange new land and no place is safe as they very shadows reach for their throats. What is it about their past that comes back to haunt them?

Astrocytes tries to contain an army which is bent on its own destruction. But how can you find the light in a world consumed by darkness??

The clouds are gathering and no-one can outrun them…

Indie Interview – Giacomo Giammatteo

Today’s interview can also be read at http://masqueradecrew.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/indie-interview-with-giacomo-giammatteo.html#more

Meet a mystery master; Giacomo Giammatteo, a.k.a. Jim and hear what he has to say about his writing style and the advice he has for new authors.

I have had the pleasure of reading one of Jim’s books; Murder Takes Time (review here) and thoroughly enjoyed it, so you can imagine how excited I was to have the opportunity to interview him.

Dear Jim thank you very much for agreeing to participate in the Indie Author Spotlight.

 

How long have you been writing and how did you get started?

GG: I got started late in life, when my youngest son was a teenager. He had been an avid reader until 8th grade when the school began mandatory reading of certain books. To keep him from losing interest in reading altogether, I bought some fantasy books and we began reading them together and then discussing plots, characters, etc. Soon we carried this further, to the crazy notion that we could write a book, so we plotted out a series of epic fantasies, and started writing. But then he discovered girls, who were far more interesting than fantasy books, and that left me alone. I put the idea on the shelf for years, but then got the bug and began writing. I haven’t stopped since.

 

Your book Murder Takes Time is doing exceptionally well, was this your first book? If not, what was your first published book and did it do well?

GG: The first book I wrote was the fantasy I mentioned above, but I haven’t published it. I have three of the four books done in the fantasy series. When I finish the fourth, I’ll publish them. I like to make sure things all fit into place before I publish.

 

Tell us a little bit about Murder Takes Time…

GG: Murder Takes Time is my…baby. I grew up on those streets mentioned in the book, and a lot of the trouble the kids got into really happened. Even the roach races were real. (There is a picture of the original sign we used to advertise on my website.) It came about because my kids kept insisting I write a story about my time growing up, but I couldn’t figure out how to tell it. Then I came up with MTT.

 

How does this book differ from other mystery novels?

GG: I think it differs in a lot of ways. First, the entire premise is different. People call it a mob story, and a mystery, and so on, but it’s not really that. It’s a story about three kids and the friendship they had. It’s about life and how people get torn apart by things that happen in their lives. Most of all it’s about friendship and honor–old school codes by some standards—and how that can affect a person’s life.

So instead of starting with a mystery, I started with three boys and their code of honor and built a mystery around them. Perhaps the best way to describe it is to use something one of the Amazon reviewers said. I wish I’d have thought of this myself:

This novel is not just a murder mystery.
This novel is not just a thriller.
This novel is not just a love story.
This novel is not just a life story.
This novel is all in one. OBI Amazon reviewer

 

You have achieved what many indie authors dream of- how did your success come about?

GG: It’s difficult to say what success is, or isn’t. I certainly haven’t achieved “success” in terms of sales, but I have in my own mind by the reception I’ve gotten for my books. The readers seem to enjoy them and that matters the most to me. In fact, the best measure of success for me was when I went to the genre I’m in on Amazon—hard-boiled crime fiction—and I sorted by Average Customer Review. Out of @ 4500 books, my three books were rated # 1, 2, and 3. That made my day when I saw that. It was far better than sales, although my wife might disagree with that.

 

Do you have any special tips that you’d like to share with other authors, regarding writing, marketing or publishing?

GG: I’m not big on giving advice because everyone has to do what they feel is right, but there are a few universal truths to writing, IMO. If I were forced to name three, it would be these: make all your characters real, not just the primary ones; learn to be a storyteller; ignore most rules of writing and write what you feel in your heart.

 

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?

GG: Thanks! And I mean that. Readers are fantastic. When I get a letter from a reader telling me they liked the book, it makes my day. If there is one thing I’d like to let them know it’s that (IMO) most writers don’t do this for money; they write to share their stories and, hopefully, have them enjoyed.

 

Why did you choose to write in the mystery genre?

GG: I first published in the mystery genre, but I actually write in several genres, including Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Non-Fiction, and have even started dabbling in children’s books.

 

Do you also read? What sort of books?

GG: I used to read every night. Lately I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time. When I do read it’s a wide range: mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, history, military history, biographies, business.

 

How did you learn to write?

GG: By reading.

 

What are your thoughts on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing?

GG: I could probably go on forever about this. They both have their place, but I think in the long run big, traditional publishing is in for a rough ride—unless they change. The biggest obstacle all writers face is visibility, even traditionally published writers have this problem, unless they happen to be one of the lucky few who get the big budgets for advertising. The second biggest obstacle is getting into physical bookstores. Most of them won’t take an indie, which is almost unbelievable nowadays, but it’s still the norm. That obstacle will soon fall though, and when it does it will open up a huge new area of opportunity for the self-published authors.

 

Do you have any more books being released soon?

GG: I have five books out now, although two were just released. Murder Takes Time, and its sequel, which is Murder Has Consequences. There will be six books in this series, each one following the “rules of murder” mentioned in book one. Book three Murder Takes Patience should be out in the spring.

I also have A Bullet For Carlos out, which is the first in another series, Blood Flows South. And I have just released a novella about one of the secondary characters in that book. The sequel, A Bullet From Dominic, will be out either late this year or early next year.

I also have my first non-fiction book out, No Mistakes Resumes, and it is the first in a new series. The second book No Mistakes Interviews will be out late this year.

I have another new series, Redemption, starting with a release in September of Old Wounds.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself or your books?

GG: As to myself, I’ve been married to my “Angela” for 44 years, since we were 17. (If you read MTT you’ll know what that means.) I never graduated high school because I got married and was supporting a family. My wife and I have an animal sanctuary where we care for abused and abandoned animals; we have 45 at present.

As to the books, I am passionate about writing and delivering the best books I can to readers. I do everything to ensure there are no mistakes. I even guarantee my books. If you buy a book and don’t like it, all you have to do is write me and tell me what you didn’t like and I’ll give you another one free, or, if you don’t want that, I’ll refund the money. This applies to digital books only. And your reason can’t be because of violence or language, because I tell everyone up front the books have that. I have this stated on my website. The guarantee does not apply to my non-fiction books.

Thanks,

Giacomo Giammatteo

You can learn more about Giacomo and his books here:

http://giacomogiammatteo.com

http://nomistakes.org

Murder Takes Time is available through Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/MURDER-TAKES-Friendship-Honor-ebook/dp/B007UNJJYI/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fantasy Author Interview- Mia Darien

Today I have the pleasure of talking to Mia Darien, author of the Adelheid series. She is a rising indie author who isn’t afraid to write what she enjoys. She is also keen to talk to her readers and has some good advice for authors.

 

Dear Mia thank you very much for joining me.

Thanks for having me!

 

How long have you been writing and how did you get started?

I started writing when I was fourteen, which I’ll admit was about fifteen years ago. I’ve been writing in some form or another ever since. How did I get started? Oh, dear… I don’t know that I remember! I just loved reading, have since I was three, and I guess I wanted to try to write stories like I’d been reading. Though there is some evidence of little stories I tried writing when I was six or seven. So maybe it started even earlier!

 

Your Adelheid series seems to be well-liked… Tell us a little bit about the series…

I hope it’s well liked! It seems to be pretty well received, yeah. The original idea actually started when I was around sixteen, which is when my reading shifted from epic fantasy to paranormal, like Anne Rice and P. N. Elrod and Laurell K. Hamilton. I really liked the styles of the latter two, and I loved all the vampires and werewolves.

 The basic idea was always that there was a law passed that made preternatural creatures into legal citizens, stemming a little from inspiration from Hamilton’s work though I go in a fairly different direction. It’s changed a lot from where it started, but my goal was always to look at paranormal beings like they’re human, just a little extra. That they have everyday issues, and then not so everyday issues.

 Each book has a different narrator, even though they’re all written in First Person Sarcastic. There are generally mystery angles, though the tenor of each angle changes with the narrator, but it’s all tied in by the city it takes place in: Adelheid, CT.

 

How does this series differ from other fantasy/Fiction novels?

That’s a very hard question to answer, since I haven’t read them all! *lol* I think that the multiple narrators gives a different feeling to the series on the whole, and gives different in-depth perspectives to the characters and city, and the focus on the “rights” issue for them. Such as looking at the anti-preternatural groups that have risen, even going so far as attacking them, and the fight they have to keep the legal rights granted to them.

 

You have achieved what many indie fantasy authors dream of- how did your success come about?

Well, I’m still working on it, I think! But it’s really just persistence. I’ve had a lot of bumps in trying to learn my way, and I’m still learning, but just being stubborn in not giving up can go a long way.

 

Do you have any special tips that you’d like to share with other authors, regarding writing, marketing or publishing?

Write what you enjoy, because then you’ll never get tired of it. Don’t be afraid to do what you think is best for your story and your characters, let them live their lives. Publishing… Do your homework, and know what you’re doing. Follow instructions! Marketing is the area I’m still working on learning myself. But again, be smart and be stubborn.

 

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?

Continue to read and enjoy my books? *lol* Seriously, though, that’s as much as I ever want. I want people to enjoy my stories, because I write to entertain. I’m not writing high drama or moral message tales. They have their place, but it’s just not what I aim for. I want people to read my stuff and set the book aside and say, “That’s was fun!”

 Also, I love to hear from people who read my stuff, so never hesitate to get in touch with me. I like to hear if a reader has an idea or a request, even, and I’ll try to accommodate. There is a collaboration that is possible between a writer and their readers when communication is open, and that’s a lot of fun for me.

 

Why did you choose to write in the fantasy genre?

I don’t think that I did, really. It chose me. I just gravitated towards it, but I write in all sorts of fantasy sub-genres, so I really think I enjoy the flexibility and diversity of it.

 

Do you also read? What sort of books?

I love to read! I always have. I don’t know that you can write without being a reader, too. I go through spells where I don’t, but it’s only because too many other things are drawing my focus. I read all kinds of things, though generally all speculative, or “genre,” fiction: fantasy (epic or paranormal), sci-fi, horror, thriller, mystery, romance (though usually when mixed with something else), apocalyptic… If it looks interesting to me, I’ll read pretty much anything. A good smattering of 19th century British literature, too.

 

How did you learn to write?

No idea… I just started writing. I guess I learned just by reading a lot of great authors and great books, including a lot of classics. I was home-educated in middle school and high school by a mother with an English degree, so I’m sure that contributed a lot to it.

 

What are your thoughts on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing?

They both have their pros and their cons. I don’t think one is really any better or any worse than the other. I think that every writer has to choose what works best for them and then pursue it. I tried pursuing traditional publishing for a while, but then I sat down and thought it through and decided that with the wealth of self-publishing options today, it would be the best choice for me and I think it has been. But every writer and every book is different, and needs to have its own choice made.

 

Do you have any more books being released soon?

The fourth book in my Adelheid series, “Written All Over Her,” has just been released. I have other books being written, in various stages, though nothing else in the works for immediate release.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself or your books?

Nothing more than what I said earlier, which is that I hope people keep reading my stuff and enjoying it, and telling their friends! But more than that, I just like to hear that people are reading, because reading is important.

 

Thank you Mia! If you’d like to learn more about Mia check out her blog:

http://www.miadarien.com/

 

And if you’d like to get your hands on the Adelheid Series, check them out:

www.amazon.com/Mia-Darien/e/B006VVHJVA/?tag=wwwsaffronbry-20

 

E-Skin – Out of this World

Not that long ago the only computers around were large, bulky and altogether unwieldy. Since then technology has gotten smaller, smarter and more user-friendly.

Today in When Science Fiction Becomes Reality, we’re looking at the latest in computer advancements; the e-skin. This feather-light technology is thinner than a piece of hair and weighs just 3 grams per meter. Despite its miniscule nature this tiny technological wonder contains pressure, temperature and optical sensors.

Medical

The medical implications of this technology are obvious; no more difficult cables or patches, not more thermometers. Just stick a patch of e-skin on and it can keep track of all your vitals. With today’s wireless technology it would be easy for these values to be transmitted to a visible screen, or for some kind of alarm to sound if values fell outside of the normal range.

 

Science Fiction

Even in its current form the e-skin is pretty out of this world but what could it lead to?

As a piece of spy equipment this kind of device would be invaluable. You could stick it onto a wall where it would be all but invisible and from there it could record sound, images, anything.

Everyone could wear one and it would warn of impending medical emergencies, such as seizures or heart attacks, giving people valuable seconds to get the help they need.

Aside from these applications, just think of the benefits of having such a powerful computer contained to the size of a segment of cling-wrap!

 

What other applications can you think of for the e-skin? How would you use it? Do you have any other cool science news? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

Also, check out a sneak preview for my new sci-fi series here.

To read the published article go here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature12314

Michael Cairns – Short Story

Today I’m lucky to be hosting Michael Cairns as part of his blog tour.

Chocoholic Michael Cairns is a writer and author of the real-world epic fantasy trilogy, The Assembly and science fiction adventure series, A Game of War. A musician, father and school teacher, when not writing he can be found behind his drum kit, tucking into his chocolate stash or trying, and usually failing, to outwit his young daughter.

I’m very excited to present to you today Michael’s short story; Running’s Easy When You Don’t Feel Pain. I have to say this short story was thoroughly entertaining and you’ll be glad you took the time to read it (especially if you’re a zombie fan).

If you like Michael’s writing (and who wouldn’t?), you can get a free novella from his website (as well as lots of other cool stuff) and his books are available from Amazon and Smashwords.

Take it away Michael…

Running’s Easy When You Don’t Feel Pain

By Michael Cairns

There was no pleasure in it, not anymore. The cheers tasted like ashes, the sound of the crowd, noise in her ears. She was blushing when she crossed the finish line, her face burning as the cameras clicked and the flash bulbs painted her in white fluorescent. She had her hands above her head, the smile painted on, but when they thrust the flag in her hands, she shook her head, and passed it back. As much as she hated herself, she hadn’t sunk that low, not yet.

The press conference was just as hard, silver and bronze stood either side of her, chests heaving as they recovered. She had to remember to breath. It was getting harder, like she was forgetting what it felt like, how everything worked.

“Sally, you’ve just secured your fourth gold in a row, across three competitions, making you the undisputed champion at the eight hundred metres. How do you feel?”

Cold? Alone? Bored?

“I feel amazing, Jeff, just fantastic, thanks. Can I thank all of my fans for coming out, and supporting and giving me so much love, it really is what keeps me going!”

She made sure to put the exclamation point in, smiling as she did so. She thought that was better than the truth, although, the girl from last night was definitely keeping her going. Her frontal lobes had been particularly juicy.

“What’s next for you? The Olympics are a couple of years away, are you thinking about them yet?”

Two years? If she was still doing this then, she would have gone entirely mad, just lost it, surely?

“I’m not sure, Jeff, I’m just taking one thing at a time at the moment. It’s all been so quick and so much, I’m trying to keep my feet on the ground.”

(and my teeth to myself).

She backed out of the press conference huddle, nipped away from the track, and into the blessed darkness of the tunnel. She grabbed her sunglasses and slipped them on as she entered the neon hell of the changing rooms. A few minutes later and she was out, slipping into her Porsche and motoring away. Driving was still good. Driving was about as fun as it got, as long as she went fast enough, though that was getting harder every day.

The house was dark and welcoming, the air con turned up full. She went to the fridge first, grabbing the nearest jar and swallowing the contents. She would never get used to the combination; the craving and the loathing that accompanied every meal. It was like having really great sex with someone you found utterly repulsive, impossible, yet still, somehow, happening.

Then into the shower, to wash off the makeup. It peeled away in chunks, taking bits of her with it, until the tray was filled with pale lumps of fake skin mixed in with gobbets of real blood. She examined herself in the mirror, a frank appraisal that pulled no punches. She was gonna have to start spending a lot more on makeup. Most of her cheeks were gone now, just tired threads of flesh stretched taut across her bones. One ear had finally sloughed off under the hot water, along with the skin on one shoulder. She wasn’t too fussed from the neck down, she could hide that with clothing, but she was gonna need a wig soon, and quite possibly a new nose.

She slumped in the sofa and flicked on ‘Walking Dead’, playing her favourite game of ‘spot the real ones’. It was heartening to know she wasn’t the only one trying to maintain a normal life. Not that being a world-champion middle distance runner was all that normal, but then TV extras were a pretty strange lot too.

When the next race meet came, she knew it was her last. It wasn’t just about the lack of thrill, the loss of belief in the fairness of racing people who actually felt pain, and got tired, and created lactic acid. No, it was more than that. Her face was falling off, and no amount of makeup could hide it.

She was running in a novelty hat, one of those nasty tartan things with the big ginger hair hanging down. She was raising money for charity, which seemed to be all the excuse one needed to dress up and act unusual. The make up was caked on super thick, and she was just relieved that it wasn’t too hot.

As she stood on the start line, glancing across at the other competitors, she saw something that made her blood run hot, or least pump a little. Third in from the end was clearly in the early stages. It could be the slightly vacant look, or maybe the flaky skin, but what really gave it away was the smear of blood on the lips, and the growling. The girls either side of her were as far away as their lanes would allow them, the one this side nearly touching her.

The blood was surprising, but maybe she hadn’t watched the right movies. When Sally had realised what was happening to her, she gemmed up pretty quick, and looked for the angle, how best to live with the ‘new her’. It appeared this girl had found the same idea, but not bothered with all the boring ‘keeping it a secret’ stuff. She found herself torn. She wanted to win, and here was an opponent she would actually have to try against, but she really couldn’t put too much strain on her body right now. Her limbs felt pretty solid, but her mate on twitter had lost an arm the other day when she was gardening, and that was sedate compared to this.

The starters orders came and she hunkered down, the butterflies doing laps of her stomach, one of the few things that had stayed the same since the change. Then the gun went and she was off, everything else fading to just her and the track. It had always been like this, and at these times, it didn’t matter that she was a zombie, that her life was measured in months and weeks, or even that she had left part of her little finger back at the start line. All that mattered was the rhythm, the flow of her body in perfect movement.

They had done two laps when she became aware of the screaming, first right next to her, then from the crowd around the stadium. She kept running, refusing to be put off, then heard her name being called and people surrounding her. They were, she realised with a laugh, protecting her. She pushed through the crush and saw the new girl, crouched over another of the competitors, her teeth and mouth covered in the poor runner’s blood, the skin and flesh of her shoulder caught in her mouth.

As they stood and watched, stunned beyond reaction, the new girl dipped her head again and came back up with a chunk of thigh. The squirting blood galvanised the watchers and they dived in, grabbing her and pinning her to the ground. The victim was screaming, high-pitched and helpless as the medics crowded round. Sally slipped quietly back and away, then down the tunnel and out of the stadium. Home was further this time, a full night’s driving, but that was OK. It hadn’t been the retirement race she’d been dreaming of, but it was, at least, an interesting way to finish her career.

She was hungry. Hopefully there’d be a hitch hiker or two on the way home.

Sci-fi Sneak Peak- Nova #1

Hello readers.

Today I have a very special treat to brighten up your weekends; a taste test of my novel-in-progress. It is a bit of a change from fantasy into sci-fi and I hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions- I always welcome constructive feedback. And, if you like the story let me know and you may be selected as a Beta-reader for the full book!

—————————————-

Nova smashed the wrench down onto the metal desk once more and cursed under her breath. She dove back under the control board and began tightening bolts and rearranging wires. The small room filled with smoke as it hissed out from between the cracks in the control panel.

Nova’s blonde hair was pulled away from her face with a simple band. The one blue streak of hair glowed in the flashing orange light filling the command centre. Her legs poked out from under the command desk, encased in their customary black jeans and knee-high black boots.

“Arg! Why can’t you work for just five minutes?” Nova called out as an alarm began to sound and she worked even more furiously through the steam.

“If you had replaced the wires a month ago when I informed you their condition was poor we would not be having this problem,” said an exasperated voice.

Nova pushed herself out from under the metal desk for enough time to cast a glare at the metallic orb that hovered a little way back from the dashboard. The robot was round, about the size of a football with a digital eye that swivelled down to stare back at her. C4L or ‘Cal’ as Nova liked to call him continued to hover and stare at her with his dammed single eye.

Nova sighed in frustration and returned to her work. She was desperately tightening valves as they became lose while at the same time trying to find the source of the original leak.

“The ship’s maintenance log says the 5th input fuse has blown,” Cal said from his position, now even further away from the rattling, hissing set of controls which was the command unit. He wasn’t going to risk his metal casing if the main controls decided to explode.

“Got it!” Nova yelled as she pulled out the offending fuse and replaced it. The control board continued to shake and blow steam for several moments but then began to cool down. Nova breathed a sigh of relief and let her head fall to the metal floor of the ship. She wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and pushed herself out from under the control board.

Nova pulled herself up and sat into the chair which folded out from the adjoining wall. She allowed herself to collapse down in it and brought her feet up onto the control board. The flashing orange lights had disappeared and the wailing alarm had stopped. Now before her were the many buttons and controls which guided her ship, The Crusader. In the very centre of the control panel was an old-style wheel which could be used to control the ship’s movements instead of the ever-present autopilot. The wheel could be turned left and right but unlike the original boats on which the design was based, this control could be pushed forward or back to lift or lower the spacecraft.

Above the metal control panel with its many buttons was the front window which currently looked out over the black panorama of space. Distant stars twinkled through the night but all around there was quiet. The window also functioned as a screen which could be used in communication, navigation or surfing the cloud.

With her legs still on the control panel Nova turned slightly and called over her shoulder, “Cal! You can stop hiding, it’s fixed.”

The robot hovered into view and came to a stop just in-front of Nova.

“I wasn’t hiding,” the voice emanated from invisible speakers, “I was taking inventory in the storage room.”