Brian K. Larson's Blog: Author, Brian K. Larson Blog

Story development: Twists and Turns

Greetings from the Author’s Chair.

Today, I’ll be discussing what a twist and turn is when plotting. How do the many twists and turns of a science fiction book, change the mission of the protagonist.

First of all, one must use caution when developing a storyline. Don’t give too many twists, as it will tend to confuse the reader. Now, you ask I have a great idea for my story and tons of twists. How can that be a bad thing?

Well, it’s not really a bad thing to have twists that the reader can’t possibly anticipate. However, you can overload them. Now, don’t confuse twists and turns with cliffhangers. I’ll discuss cliffhangers in my next article.

So, what is a turn in a story? Before you can turn the story or add a cool twist to take the reader by surprise, the author needs to have a mission. These are goals for the hero to achieve by the end of the story. Here’s an example of one of my favorite movies, and everyone should know this if you’re any kind of sci-fi buff; “Star Wars”.

The main goal at the beginning of the story is, Princess Leia has been captured by the evil Darth Vader. She now is in need of rescuing by her knight in shining armor. However, we don’t yet know who that knight is. Right before the princess is captured, she sets the stage for the stories first turn. She programs R2D2 to find help on the planet below. C3PO and the cute little R2D2 escape in a pod and crash land on the plant below.

This turn at the beginning of the story, puts the robots in the hands of the first hero, Luke Skywalker. Luke then goes out to seek out and finds Obi Wan Kenobi. Eventually, they hire Han Solo to take them to Alderon where the rebel base is located.

Later in the story, they discover that Alderon is been destroyed. This new revelation creates a new obstacle: the Death Star. This new turn in the story, changes the mission of the protagonist. They now must destroy this evil machine that’s nearly the size of a moon.

This is a classic example of storyline turns. There are several, and they are manageable throughout the story. What the hero wants, changes from saving the princess, to preventing the Death Star from destroying more planets.

There are a couple of types of turns or twists. These events can be either from revelation or by an action, such as sending the robots to the planet in an escape pod. The discovery of the Death Star is a revelation that causes the story to twist mid-way.

One method used, is keeping the main goal alive. However, make each step to achieving the goal, harder and more challenging. Another method, is to drastically use an action that creates a barrier that’s so hard to overcome; the protagonist has to choose a different course of action in order to reach the goal.

One of my favorite movies uses a wonderful revelation in the story that changes the way the hero behaves. In the original Planet of the Apes, our hero, Charlton Heston learns that the very planet he’s trying to get off, is in fact the planet he wants to get back to: Earth. He learns that he’s hundreds of years in Earth’s future. The cool thing is that he doesn’t find this out until the final scene. Not only does this create an interesting twist in this storyline, it also sets up a cliffhanger, making room for more films.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, is another classic cliffhanger that turns the storyline at the end with the revelation that the evil Darth Vader is in actuality, the father of the protagonist.

Now that you have your main plot, you should also know how your story will end. You need to begin to formulate your twists and turns. You’ll need to figure out what obstacles you’re going to toss at your hero, and where in the storyline those will be placed.

Don’t forget that your story should have a climax; a central point in your story that your hero needs to make a major decision. This should be one of your major twists to the story. It needs to be a big one, and it should make the outcome possible or impossible. Make your character choose one direction. This is where the conflict comes to a head. What you decided to do from here on out, will change the entire outcome of the story, so use prober planning.

Finally, after your hero has made their choice, do their actions help or hinder the plot-twists? Will they succeed or fail in their mission? It’s your story, so you decide. There are several benefits of causing your hero to fail; it could set up your story for more books down the road. Of course, everyone wants to see your hero reach his goal, so perhaps give them a partial success.

Make sure you tie up as many loose ends as possible. Then, choose if you will end the story with a cliffhanger. Just don’t go too crazy with cliffhangers at the end of the book, as it can lead the reader to frustration. If you do leave it up in the air, make sure you give the reader something to feel good about. You want to ensure you do it in a way that will have them coming back for more when the next installment is written.

Twists and turns in a storyline are very important in the development of a book. Use them wisely, and throughout your book to make it interesting.

Next time, I’ll be discussing what cliffhangers are, and how to use them throughout a story.

From the author’s chair,

Brian K. Larson

Demon Chicanery – A Short Story

Greetings from the Author’s Chair.

Today, I bring you a short story that I wrote a few months ago. It will be part of a short story collection that I’m working on titled – Strange Tales

I hope you enjoy this cool little tale, called “Demon Chicanery.”

—

“Dr. Blakely, I’m sorry. I just can’t,” Katheryn Simonson sobbed.

“Oh, come now, Katheryn. You’re not going to let your demons win, are you?”

“I really do want to go to Alpha Centauri for vacation, but I keep having the same dream.  Night after night, it’s the same thing.” She wiped her tears with a tissue.

“The sleeping pills? Are they not helping you at all?” Dr. Blakely tapped the tip of his stylus on the edge of his data pad.

“No. No, they only make it worse.” Katheryn jumped at the laughing demon she heard behind her.

“Then I highly recommend you take the trip. If not all the way to Alpha Centauri, then at least to Jupiter Station. Cryo-sleep, even for three days will do wonders for you, Katheryn.”

“Noooo, don’t goooo, Katherrrryyyn” the invisible demons whispered in her head.

“There it is again!”

“There’s what, Katheryn?” Dr. Blakely scratched his stylus on his data pad taking notes, “You’re hearing them again, aren’t you, Katheryn?”

“No…I’m NOT!”

The demons echoed in Katheryn’s head once more, “You arrrre hearing meee…hearing meee…hearing meee. Katheryn, don’t gooo, don’t gooooo, don’t goooooo”

“Okay, Mrs. Simonson,” Dr. Blakely sent a prescription to his printer, “Here, Mrs. Simonson. These are orders, now.”

“What’s this?” Katheryn asked, the papers rustling in her fingers.

“That is your prescription. You want to get better, don’t you?” Dr. Blakely grinned.

“Why yes, I do…but this isn’t for medication.”

“I know it. It’s an all expenses trip to Jupiter Station. You are to enter the sleep chamber for three days.”

“Well, Dr. Blakely, that’s mighty kind of you, but I don’t know…”

“Doctor’s orders, Katheryn,” he smiled. “You’ll feel like a million bucks.”

“Are you sure?”

“Why, yes. There’s no dreaming in cryo-sleep. It’ll give your body the rest that it needs….and you deserve the time. Now, pack your bags, take John, and the two of you have a wonderful time. You can stay on Jupiter station three days until your return flight.”

“Doctor…” Katheryn sighed.

“Then you and your husband can talk about continuing on to Alpha Centauri, or not.”

“…and you say it’s only another eight days from Jupiter station?”

“Yes, only using the jump-gate takes eight days. It’s an entire month round trip, Katheryn. You really need this. You already said you wanted to get better, didn’t you?”

“Well, I-I do want to get better.”

“Good! Then trust me, you’ll thank me later.”

Katheryn was haunted by more whispers, “Heee’s lyyyying…don’t lisssstennn to himmm.”

“Okay!” Katheryn wiped her eyes once more, “I’ll go to Jupiter Station!”

“You’ll feel so much better, Katheryn.”

“Thank you again, Dr. Blakely.”

“Don’t thank me, Katheryn. You’re making this decision on your own, and I’m very pleased with your will power to ignore your inner demons. You’re doing great, Mrs. Simonson.”

The deamon whispers continued as Katheryn stood. She walked to the door and turned to address the doctor. With her eyes squeezed tight, she shook her head, “I still hear them, but I’m going to follow your advice and pay them no mind!”

“That’s my girl.”

* * *

A computer voice began speaking softly, “Katheryn…Katheryn, time to wake up, Katheryn. We’re arriving at Jupiter Station in one hour.”

“It’s been three days already?” Katheryn groggily mouthed.

“Yes, ma’am,” the robotic voice answered, “you’re vital signs have returned to normal. You didn’t stir once for the entire trip. Are you feeling better, Katheryn?”

Katheryn sat upright in her sleep chamber and yawned, “Yes. Yes, as a matter of fact, I do feel better.”

The computer answered once more, “That’s good, Katheryn. Showers are to your left. Your clothes will be ready for you when you’re done. Please, take your time. We have an hour before we dock with Jupiter Station.”

“Where’s my husband?”

“John is already awake and doing well. He’s waiting for you on the promenade.”

Katheryn smiled, “Okay. Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”

“Very well, Katheryn…Message delivered. He’s responding…one moment…yes, he’s says he’s excited to see you too.”

Katheryn paused a moment, listening for any of those voices. Pleased that they had stopped, she got out of the sleep chamber, and headed to the showers

* * *

“Oh, John!” Katheryn said, nearly yelling across the transport’s promenade.

Her husband stood to greet her, and took her in his arms, “I’m so glad you’re feeling better, my dear.”

The two kissed and then he held her out at arm’s length, “Are you sure? No more voices, right?”

Katheryn listened and then returned a smile, “No. Not a single voice. They’re gone, John.”

“Well, I can see that Doctor Blakeley was right.”

“Oh, John. I’m so sorry I’ve put you through all this.”

“Never mind that, now. Those voices are gone. We’ll both be able to rest now.”

“It’s been months.”

“I know, I know. It’s not your fault.”

“But it is, John. You’ve been suffering as much as I over these…these voices of mine.”

Static was heard through the overhead speakers on the cruise ship, “Ladies and gentlemen of flight six-six-five, this is your captain speaking. We’ll be docking with Jupiter Station in ten minutes, please take your seats. Thank you for flying Jupiter Lines. If you are going on to Alpha Centauri, please proceed to section three, gate two. Centauri Cruising flight six-six-seven is scheduled to depart tomorrow morning. If you are returning to Earth, this flight departs in two hours. If you miss this flight, the next departure to Earth Station is in three days. Once again, I want to thank you for flying Jupiter Lines, may your hopes come true and your dreams be fulfilled. Flight attendants, prepare for docking.”

John lovingly gazed into Katheryn’s eyes, “It’s not too late to purchase tickets.”

“Really? You still want to go?” Katheryn asked, returning a smile.

“Doctor Blakely says it’s the best way to overcome your demons.”

Katheryn took in a deep breath, and then sighed, “Okay, okay. Let’s do it!”

“You’re sure now?”

“John, I’m sure. I’m feeling so energized. I’m ready to go.”

“Excuse me, Ma’am, Sir?” one of the flight attendants began, tapping Katheryn on the shoulder, “I need you to return to your seats and buckle in. We’re docking with Jupiter Station in a few minutes.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.” John took Katheryn by the arm and led her forward to their seats, “Oh, and Miss?”

The attendant turned to John, “Yes?”

“My wife and I have decided to take the cruise to Alpha Centauri. There’s still room, right?”

Katheryn swatted John’s shoulder, “You don’t even know if there’s still tickets?”

The attendant took out her data pad and typed in a couple commands before answering, “Yes, we have two seats left. Do you want to reserve them?”

“Yes!” Katheryn answered for John.

“My, my, Honey. You really do want to go now, don’t you?”

“I told you, John. No more voices. I’m ready!”

* * *

Katheryn and John’s voices where drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the busy Jupiter Station.

“Come on! We’re going to miss our flight,” John insisted.

“I’m coming, I’m coming, already!” Katheryn answered, packing the rest of her suitcase.

“I trust you slept well?”

“You tell me?” Katheryn said, struggling with the suitcase zipper.

“Well, you didn’t wake me if that’s what you mean.”

“I slept wonderfully. No more voices, John. I think the doctor really did cure me this time.”

John smiled, picked up the suitcase and turned to their exit, “Come on then. Let’s go.”

They made their way to the departure gate, nearly running when they heard over the loudspeaker, “Flight six-six-seven for Alpha Centauri, last call for boarding at gate two. Flight six-six-seven for Alpha Centaury departing at gate two in fifteen minutes.”

They arrived at the gate just before the attendant closed the boarding door, “Wait! Wait! Hold that door!” John yelled.

“Of course. You’re just in time,” the flight attendant smiled, “I’ll take your bag and stow it. Hurry up and take your seats now.”

The two settled into their seats and gazed into each other’s eyes.

“This is going to be so much fun, John.”

“I’d like to think so too, Katheryn.”

* * *

Katheryn and John retired to their state room on the cruise liner, which had departed from Alpha Centauri a few hours earlier in the day.

“What a wonderful day,” Katheryn said, removing her clothing, “I’m so ready for bed.”

“You should sleep well, my love. I’m just as tired as you.”

The two fell asleep out as soon as their heads landed on their pillows.

Demons began to whisper in her head, and Katheryn tossed in her sleep, trying to fight off her dreams, “Katheryn, Katheryn…can you hear me, Katheryn?”

Katheryn found herself within her nightmare once more. She was floating in the blackness of space. A bright light was before her. She turned and saw wisps of fog coming from the darkness behind her. She fought to get away, but the wisps wrapped around her arms and legs, pulling her backward toward the darkness.

The demon voices got louder, “Katheryn, listen to me. Can you hear me? Don’t let them win.”

“Who are you?” she screamed within her dream, “Why are you tormenting me!?”

“I tried to warn you, Katheryn. Doctor Blakely is lying. You should have listened to me. Resist, don’t go to the lights…don’t go to the lights…”

“Stop! I won’t let my demons win. I won’t! I must go to the lights!”

“You have made your own choice, Katheryn,” the demon voice echoed. “It’s too late, there is no turning back now…I tried to save you…but you refused to listen to me.”

“Who are you!? Why don’t you leave me alone?!” Katheryn began sobbing in her dream. The wisps of fog untangled and let her drift freely.

Her screams woke John. He shook Katheryn, “Honey! Honey! Wake up! You’re having a bad dream!”

Katheryn shot upright. She let John hold her as she sobbed in his shoulder, “The dream! It returned again! I want to go back, John! Can’t we just go home?”

“I’m so sorry, Katheryn. Once we crossed the jump gate, there’s no turning back, sweetie.”

“Then put me back in cryo-sleep! I can’t take this anymore! I don’t want to dream anymore…please John…please!”

“Okay, darling. Have it your way.”

Katheryn fell into cyro-sleep, the demons laughing and tormenting her as she lost consciousness.

* * *

The room was still, the only sound that could be heard was the constant swoosh noises of a hospital ventilator.

“I’m sorry, John,” Dr. Blakely said, “She started to come out it, but she slipped back into a coma.”

“What happened? Why won’t she wake up?” John pleaded.

“Her head injuries are too severe. It’s going to take time, John. You need to have patience. People that suffer major head trauma during the kind of accident she was in, well, I’m surprised that she made it at all.”

“Will she ever wake up?” John asked, holding Katheryn’s hand.

“That depends on how much she wants to wake up.”

A tear fell from John’s eye and trickled down his cheek. It fell on her hand as he spoke to her, “Come on, Katheryn. You hear me? You can wake up, I know you can. Are you hearing me? Katheryn, don’t go. Don’t go.”

“She can’t hear you, John. I’m sorry, you’re wasting your time.”

“He’s lying to you. Don’t listen to him, Katheryn,” John sobbed, “I know you can hear me…don’t go, don’t go…don’t go…”

John sobbed over his wife, left for dead in a car accident, and now lying in a coma in a hospital bed. He continued to beg Katheryn to come back to him.

Space Elevators could be a reality in the not too distant future.

Imagine stepping inside an elevator. The doors close, and you don an oxygen mask. You begin your ascent from the basement of a complex on Earth, and then when the doors open again, you’re walking (floating, really), out the doors. You just traveled 100,000 kilometers (62,100 miles) to the new Earth space station.

Doesn’t that sound a little far-fetched? I mean, really? A Space Elevator? Come on. Well, it’s not that far from being a reality.

Scientists actually think they could have a go at constructing such a Sci-Fi contraption. In fact, they think they can do this by 2025 and have it extend from the Earth 1000 kilometers (621 miles) above the planet, and they think they could stretch this elevator as far as 100,000 kilometers, ten years after that.

Research shows that we nearly have all the technology already discovered that we would use to build such an endeavor. It would be expensive, and there are numerous obstacles needing to be addressed. However, the benefit of being able to launch a payload every two days at the cost of $500 per kilogram, as opposed to what we have today (oh yeah, we don’t have our own method right now), at $20,000 bucks per kilogram to launch.

The complex would be tethered to the Earth at the equator. The cable would then be fastened at the other end by a counterweight that stretches way beyond the Geostationary orbit at 35,800 kilometers (22,236 miles), up.

Wow, that’d be quite a heavy cable? How do they expect overcome that weight issue, yet have the cable strong enough to support itself from the gravitational pull of the planet?

The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), reports that the material would have to be constructed from carbon nanotubes and similar material. This is one of the largest obstacles that would have to be overcome, as we currently don’t have the material. Significant research must be placed on the existing technology in order to create the perfect material that could support this massive undertaking.

Material science of other countries are close to inventing the stuff. Existing technologies are little help, but they are getting close to a material that can support 100 kilometer mark. However, that’s still a significantly lower altitude than would be needed. This new material must have strength, flexibility, and density for this to work.

The advantages outweigh the initial costs, as well as maintenance costs. Government spends billions installing space orbiting infrastructure. Channeling some of those funds would go a long way in advancing our ability to build more space stations and a moon base. They even said trips to Mars would be feasible as well as mining the asteroid field. Gee, just what my book, Salvage-5 is all about; mining the asteroid field for valuable resources.

“The design is really simple,” says an article from extremetech.com, “A sea platform (or super-ship) anchors the tether to Earth, while a counterweight (also called an “apex anchor”) sits at the other end, keeping the system taught through centripetal force.”

The article goes on to say that perhaps garbage, or old satellites could be used as the initial counterweight, but also argues that the tether itself could be used as the counterweight.

Several other small things would have to be considered as well. Such as, how would the area be protected from Earth’s elements, or an enemy attack? Who would “own” the land rights, or who would control the station in space? Those are just some of the questions that would be raised during the planning stages of any such endeavor.

Author C. Clark once said that we’ll build a space elevator 10 years after they stop laughing at it. Apparently, the laughing has stopped and NASA has begun serious consideration to this possible new technology. As budgets shrink and new emerging technology is born, we will have to have some type of new innovative ways to access space.

I must say, I’m not all too happy about the seven day trip that the scientists think it would take. Perhaps by the time they perfect the technology, it won’t take seven days. As for me, I’ll stick to the ground and writing about those endeavors. Now if the trip was as simple as a couple of minutes, well, hey, you never know. Maybe I’ll step inside one someday in the not too distant future, but not for seven days.

From the Author’s chair,

Brian K. Larson

Get to know Colonel Tucker Petersen today

Get to know Colonel Tucker Petersen today.

Get to know Colonel Tucker Petersen today

Find out what SALVAGE-5 is all about. Start with Book 1 today athttp://amzn.com/B00JZ1D90S

You don’t know what’s out there until it’s too late…

Snippet from Chapter 1:

“We originally thought that the CSMO Euna-1 ran into mechanical trouble. We lost their signal just shy of four months ago. Three lost Salvage missions later, the civilian company contracted the military to oversee the next one.”

“That’s when you reached out to Gus.”

“Right, uh, we reached out…Major Jamison and his crew arrived at the Kirkwood Gap and the target asteroid 15 Eunomia,” then the General clicked a button on his data-pad and played a video for Tucker on the wall.

He digested everything from the crew cutting the hole in the CSMO, to the stark scared faces of the dead crew. Then the scene changed to the telescope view on the surface of the asteroid.

That’s when the General froze the image, “It’s right here that we are the most interested in,” drawing a circle with a laser pen.

“What is it?”

“That, is an unidentified flying object.”

“Wow… boy oh boy! Changed my mind…never mind, you can put me in the brig. I really don’t like this, not at all,” Tucker said to Cass.

“Tuck,” the General said, as somberly as he could, “I need you. I need you to do this.”

“That there thing on the screen? It’s not flying…it’s crashed. Looks to be buried in the rocks and I’m not about to join its ranks,”

then he turned to Cass again, “Are these people nuts? They want me to be the meet and greet committee for these aliens?”

“Relax, Tuck. There’s no sign that the aliens are alive. We estimate that the disk-shaped vessel had been buried on that asteroid for tens of thousands of years. That’s why I need you and your team…and whoever else you want to take out there…to recover that technology before anyone else.”

“What makes you so sure that try number, um, five will be any more successful? I mean, we’ve already gone way past third time’s a charm here.”

“Tuck, this is a chance of a life time.”

“Yeah, I’m thrilled.”

Launching of Word Press Web Site

Greetings one and all,

I’ve been working on developing a new web page, dedicated to everything that I do with writing Science Fiction and Fantasy books.

Stay tuned as this site is developed, thanks to my friends at WordPress.com

Author, Brian K. Larson

March 01st, 2015

Greetings from the Author's Chair.

Just because I finished 'The Warlords of Antares' doesn't mean that's all there is...oh contraire. 

Attention, all you Salvage-5, and Colonel Tucker Petersen fans!! Hold on to your seat. The swashbuckling, cigar chomping, whiskey drinking, no-nonsense hero is back for 'Another Mission.' 

Colonel Tucker Petersen botched the mission to destroy the Cyborg's Noosphere. Sent out under the guise of a CSMO deployment, something terribly goes wrong, stranding one of his crew. Now, Tucker is on a personal mission to rescue Captain Cassandra Phillips. It's been a long six months for the Colonel, but now the time has come for him to steal the SSV-5 and embark on his most dangerous mission of all: Return to asteroid 52 Europa.

***Please keep in mind, this snippet raw, and is not yet edited***

Chapter 1

Location:
Seattle: Downtown Alley
Earth Date: 03/19/2065 19:25

A silver haired, short but stocky man lurked behind a dark alley in the heart of downtown Seattle. Looking over his shoulder to ensured he wasn't being followed, he descending the few cement steps, bringing him to a door at the bottom of the staircase. He picked the old lock and slowly swung the door open. The creaking snapped and popped, making him wince at the disturbing noise.

“Geez, don’t they ever oil these hinges? Where do they find these people?” he said to himself.

The room was dark, only being illuminated by the soft lights coming from a machine that was covered with white sheets. Next to the sheet covered machine was a computer console and keyboard. He sat at the computer station, illuminating the room further as the screen came to life.

He pressed a few keyboard commands, and then stood to poke his head under the sheet. He made a few adjustments, and then returned to the computer console.

Turning on the camera, he began recording a message, “Bennie,” Colonel Petersen leaned forward, looking close to the camera that was imbedded into the computer screen, “I know you’re alive, son...just don’t know where to find ya...but I do know you use this accelerator from time to time...heh, heh, you know me, I never could get myself a data pad, so that kind of makes it hard for you to find me too. Look, son, there’s a lot that’s happened...just know that it’s too complicated to contact you...or I would have...you have to know that, son.” Tucker turned away from the camera and then back, “I don’t have much time. I hope the day will come that you actually find this recording. Anyway, I want you to understand...I have to go back....I can’t leave her there. It’s been an awfully long six months...but we had to wait...you know, these orbits, trajectory and such...so they wouldn't let us go back, oh yeah...the date’s March 19th 2066. Salvage-5 is set to depart on the 20th. They took the ship from me...they won’t let me go back anymore...especially after botching the last mission. So I’m stealing the Salvage-5 tonight after I get buzzed off Jamaaludeen’s accelerator...I don’t know if we’ll ever see each other again. But in case we don’t, I love you son...never forget that, okay? Okay! I think someone’s lurking outside...got to get AMP’d and outta here!”

Tucker ended the recording and hid the message deep within the memory core of the machine. He reached over and picked up the cable that was draped on the desk, reached around to the back of his neck and plugged it into his jack. Then he launched the code, sending a quick AMP charge into this alien chip. His eyes changed to a bright green color. 
As soon as the accelerator finished with the AMP sequence, he pulled the cord out of his socket and quickly left the dark cellar.

Tucker looked down the alley each way and noticed a black van approaching from one end. In a panic, he ran to the side of the building and began scaling the brick wall like a spider, climbing it with no effort.

Five stories up, he reached the roof and flung himself over the edge. He looked down at the policemen scouring the area.

He saw one of the men pointing at the roof, “Up there!” he heard one shout. 
“After him!” another pointed.

Tucker didn’t wait to see how they planned on pursuing him, and took off across the rooftop. Coming to the edge, he leaped across to the next roof and continued running. 
The men climbed back into their police vehicle and drove down the alleys, attempting to follow the man jumping from roof to roof.

After the fourth rooftop jump, Tucker turned and ran in another direction. He leaped across to an apartment building with a much larger gap between the two, and two stories shorter. Landing with a roll to the ground, Tucker quickly got back to his feet and noticed the fire escape and ran to climb down. 

Traversing the second story fire escape, he climbed on the ladder and rode it to the ground as it made clattering sounds.

He jumped the rest of the way to the ground and shoved the ladder back up. When he turned around he saw a car heading toward him with its lights turned out.

The vintage Prius all electric car pulled up to Tucker and rolled the passenger window down. Tucker leaned down and saw a nerdy teenage-looking boy with black horned rimmed glasses.

“Lieutenant Buster Clark, reporting for duty, Sir!” the unassuming boy said.

“Buster, thought you'd never get here!”

“Climb aboard my starship, we’re heading to the skies!”

Tucker opened the door and hopped in just as another black van turned the corner from behind.

“Go! Go! Go!” Tucker urged.

Buster slammed the electric accelerator and slowly moved to speed. 

“Geez, Buster? Where in the hell did you get this antiquated jalopy? Can’t this thing go any faster?”

“Well, Commander, it might help if you...you know...” Buster motioned to Tucker’s eyes and then wiggled his fingers at the car’s electronics.

“Oh...right,” Tuck nodded, and then he closed his eyes and held his hand over the indicator panel and shot a bolt of AMP’d energy into the car. 

Buster nearly lost control as the car rocketed forward, “Whoa Nellie!”

“Keep it together, Lieutenant!”

“Oh, don't worry about me, Commander,” Buster said, pushing his glasses up.

“...and keep both hands on the wheel, will ya?”

“You got it, Commander...remember? I can pull my own weight, Sir.”

“Umm, yeah...right.”

Buster adjusted his rear view mirror, “They're still gaining on us!”

Tucker turned in his seat, “Not for long,” he smiled, extended his hands out in front of him, and sent a wave of energy down his arms aimed at the quickly approaching van.
The powerful wave hit the van causing them to careen off the road, slamming into the corner of a building. Buster and Tucker exited the alleyway, turned toward the freeway and faded into the night, blending in with the rest of the traffic.

Buster took a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed a few small beads of sweat from his brow.

Tucker looked over at the Lieutenant, “Why Buster, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sweat before, nice!”

“Well, Commander, we've been through a lot...”

“Yes, we certainly have...”

“...but the one thing that always makes me the most nervous are the cops.”

“You're more nervous being around the cops, than you are being around cyborg clone alien things?”

“Well, yeah! At least with the cyborgs, we can kill ‘em...well sort of kill, but I guess if you really come down to it...”

“Okay, okay, Buster. I get that you're nervous. Just keep your eyes on the road, shall we?”

“Oh, sorry, Commander, sure thing.”

Tucker reached in his jacket pocket and pulled a half smoked stogie. He held it with his lips and lit it with the tip of his finger, “I'm really beginning to like this chip thingie.”

“Commander,” Buster said, pinching his nose, “Do you mind?”

“No, not at all.”

“No, I mean, can you roll down your window, Sir?”

“I can...”

“Please?”

Tucker cracked the window and blew his plume outside.

“Thanks, Commander.”

“No problem, kid. How much longer to the base?” Tucker said, drawing in another drag from his prize cigar.

 “I think we can make it in two hours, Commander.”

Tucker pointed forward, “Then drive, James.”

“It’s not...”

“I know, I know...you need to get a sense of humor, Buster.”

“...James.”

“Geez, where do they find ‘em?”

Buster looked once more in his rear view mirror, “Uh oh.”

“Uh oh, what?” Tucker asked, cranking his head around.

“I think we've got another tail, Sir.”

“Hmmm, you may be right, wiz-kid.”

“What should I do, Sir?”

Tucker pointed to the side of the freeway, “Take the next exit and let’s see if they follow us.”

“Okey Dokey,” Buster said, turning the car across the lanes of the freeway.

Tucker held on to his arm rest, “You mind? I’m trying to keep my stomach contents, well, in my stomach!”

“Sorry, Sir. I didn't want to miss the exit.”

“I would have been alright if you took the next one, Lieutenant.” 

“Oh, sorry, Sir.”

Tucker turned and looked at a car that followed them down the off ramp.

“I think you're right about the tail.”

“See, I told ya...”

“Alright, alright, you pull your damn weight already.”

“Thank you.”

“Take a left.”

Buster turned off the ramp to the left and stepped on the accelerator and sped down the lonely road.

“They're still on our tail, Sir!”

“Fine, fine...stop the car!”

“Stop the car, Sir?”

“Yes, stop the damn car.”

“Here, Sir?”

“Yes, here! Right here!”

Buster slammed the brakes and skidded to a sudden halt.

* * *

So, there ya have it...at least the first half of the Chapter 1. Hope you enjoyed this small sneak peek.

Stay tuned for more as this story progresses.

Author, Brian K. Larson

Warlords of Antares - Another Sample

Greetings one and all. With the finishing touches being done on 'The Warlords of Antares' today, I thought I'd post another small sampling. This is from Chapter Nineteen. The book will be released on April 10th, and you can pre-order it now on Amazon, iBooks, or Barnes & Noble.  Please keep in mind, this is not an Edited work as yet...
Enjoy, Author, Brian K. Larson...


“Delta leader, Delta Five, come in.”

“Delta leader, go ahead Delta Five.”

“How much longer we gonna be out here, Captain?”

“We’re just about to the end of our patrol...”

“Whew, it’s been a pretty boring CAP, Sir...sure will be glad when this is over...wait a minute. Stand by.”

“Delta Five? What’s your situation?”

“I’m picking up two unidentified bogies inbound, twenty-five kilometers out!”

“Copy that, Delta Five. They just appeared on my screen too, stand by. Delta squad, arm weapons and engage enemy!” the Delta leader commanded, “Rocinante, Delta leader, do you read? Two inbound bogies twenty-five out...repeat two inbound bodies, do you copy?”

“Confirmed,” Lieutenant Henderson said. Then he turned to Captain Fits, “We’ve got company, Sir!”

“Sound General Quarters!” Jameson ordered.

Lieutenant Collins pressed the ships alarm button, sending a repeating buzzing noise throughout the ship. Then he shouted over to Captain Fits, “Three incoming missiles!”

“Charge plasma weapons,” Fits commanded, “launch countermeasures, and fire our main guns!”

“Aye, Captain!” Collins shouted in return. “Launching drones and activating point defense systems!”

“Helm, hard to port!”

Lieutenant Payne turned the fourteen hundred foot destroyer, repeating the command back to the Captain as she executed the turn.

“Rotate ship thirty degrees,” Commander Jameson ordered, “Fire plasma cannon when ready!”

“Plasma cannons charged, Sir!” the tactician replied. “Point defense systems are online. Firing cannons!”

There was a large boom that sounded within the massive destroyer as the plasma cannon discharged its powerful energy blast at the two enemy vessels.

The two hundred drones buzzed about the hull of the sturdy Rocinante, firing their laser blasters at the incoming missiles, successfully destroying two out of three.

“Brace for impact!” Jed commanded, grabbing the arms of his chair.

The missile struck the Rocinante’s armor plating. The detonation nearly buckled the hull, shaking the massive ship. The ship’s ion charged shielding preventing the hull from being breached.

Captain Fits regained his composure and ordered tactical to recharge the plasma cannon for a return volley.

“Sir, the two inbound ships have launched a squadron of fighters!”

The Captain turned toward Henderson, “Lieutenant, launch the alert fighters!”

“Aye, Captain. Chief Kelly is already in process of launching the fighters.”

“Attention flight deck!” Chief Kelly shouted through his comm link, “Launch all fighters. Inbound ships are twenty kilometers out. Your ETA is six minutes.”

Captains’ Phillips and Jones walked arm and arm on either side of Captain Simon. Stopping at the announcement, they turned and looked at each other, and then took off down the causeway toward the flight deck.

“How many are you going to take out this time?” Jones asked Major Phillips.

“You’ll be lucky if I leave you any,” Phillips smirked at Eric.

“Ha!” Rene scoffed, “Let me remind you, that I took out more enemy fighters on our last run than the both of you!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jones said, swatting at the tenacious female pilot, “She’s got us on that one, Kurt.”

“Well, at any rate,” Phillips said, climbing into his cockpit, “Free drinks to the one who bags the most today!”

“Well,” Rene said, sealing herself inside her fighter, “Better start filling my cup then.”

The lead fighter pilot signaled with a salute, “TALLY OH!” and then the green lights lit up the launch bay, sending their fighters to intercept the approaching ships.

The Warlords of Antares - Snippet

Thought I'd supply a small snippet from 'The Warlords of Antares' to tantalize your reading pallet ;-)

This excerpt is from Chapter 4. Emperor Dumakas is speaking with one of his top Captains, Thelix of the House of Gornash.

Dumakas leaned back in his chair, “Tell me, Thelix of the moon Gornash, you are familiar with my grandfather’s legend?”

“Yes, my Lord. We are all aware of the Great Warlord, Gorax. He captured two Eridonians and brought them to our home world for analysis. It was the first live Eridonian capture known in the history of Antares. It is his act of capturing them, and fleeing the supernova before it destroyed them; it was this very act that rewarded him with the crown as our new Emperor of Antares. Your grandfather was responsible in achieving the development of our telepathic inhibitor.”

Dumakas smiled, “Yes, that is the legend. But there is more to the story that is only known by the House of the Emperor.”

“Curious, my Lord? Why do we not know the entire story?”

“It has been kept secret. We were told by my grandfather to never discuss this until it was time.”

“...and you’re saying it is now that time, my Lord?”

“Yes, I believe that this is what he was telling us. I will trust you with his knowledge, only because you will be crossing near Epsilon.”

“My Lord,” Thelix answered, wiping his large hands on the front of his clothes, “You can trust me.”

“Very well, Thelix. You will tell no one else.”

“No, my Lord.”

“Swear it!” Dumakas ordered, pulling a dagger from his belt.

Thelix held his hand out before his Emperor. Dumakas held his hand and drew his dagger across his open palm. Thelix grabbed the blade as the Emperor pulled the blade, forming a deep wound.

Thelix winced at the pain, and looked into Dumakas’ eyes, “I swear it, my Lord!”

Dumakas leaned down and licked the blood that pooled in his hand, slurping it into his mouth. Then he closed Thelix’s hand and returned his blade to his belt.

“It is sworn with my blood, my Lord!”

Dumakas licked the leftover blood from his lips, “You have sworn to me your blood oath. I will now reveal to you the secrets of the Gorax legend.”



The significance of this blood oath is that if the one reveals what was to be kept silent is killed by a chemical reaction in their blood.

I hope you liked the snippet...I'll find more to post, but don't want to give out too many spoilers...

April 10th is the release date and I should be wrapping up the story by the end of next week... You can check out the Amazon pre-order page here.

From the Author's Chair.
Brian K. Larson

Slipstream Publishing Update

Well now, it's been a crazy couple of weeks; this I know for sure.

Crunch time for AMP, getting a kickstarter project off the ground, marketing, and trying to writing in my spare time. 

The editing for AMP went very smoothly this time around. Though there were many errors, my beta readers came through and found them. I'm confident that through our teamwork, we got them all. Now, no book is error free, so if anything got past, I ask for your valuable feedback so I can get those corrected as well. Here's the Amazon link for AMP...

Even though today is officially release day for AMP (amplified mental projection) Phase 1: The Gamma Project, it was really available yesterday afternoon. Paperbacks have been ordered and I'm already receiving orders from hungry readers. 

If you are interested in an autographed copy, please let me know and I'll hook ya up.

I've also launched my Kickstarter Project for producing and marketing Salvage-5 and AMP into audio books. It took a bit of time this month putting together this project. I've also got quite a blooper reel that I might share later in creating the video....those are always good for a laugh :-D

You can read all about the project's scope at the link above, but in a nutshell, I'm going to start producing the audio books. To do that I need a good quality microphone and sound barriers. The microphone that I'm going to acquire is one that's recommended, Heil PR40 paired up with an XLR to USB adapter. This is a top of the line recording mic.

I'll also be scheduled for 15 syndicated radio interviews to market the books, no campaign is complete without a marketing plan. If we meet the stretch goal, I'll be able to secure a major network TV interview.

These are exciting times, and I hope you will check out my Kickstarter project and find it worthy of backing.

Now back to writing :-)

From the Author's Chair,
Brian K. Larson
#TheDyslexicAuthor