Richard Paolinelli's Blog, page 32
September 8, 2020
Planetary: Jupiter Trailer
Checkout the book trailer for Planetary Anthology Series: Jupiter, set for release on September 29th!
You can pre-order your copy of Planetary: Jupiter here.
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Un-Social Media
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September 7, 2020
New Interviews Posted
Two new interviews have been uploaded to the site.
Every month I’ll post two interviews with other authors and creators. You’ll need to be a premium subscriber to view them, but at $2 a month you get these and loads more exclusive content for premium content subscribers.
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Remembering A Lost Friend
While today is a holiday for most of us, it is also a sad anniversary for me and several others.
[image error]Michael Gibson was a friend to many. He was a husband, a father and an author, writing under the name Gibson Michaels, who had just completed a great trilogy. He was nearly finished with an epic sci-fi/fantasy novel, Eeire, when he made his way to his home office in Houston on the morning of September 7th, 2017. We were going to meet in Santa Barbara one week later.
The meeting never happened. He never got to finish his fourth book. He suffered a massive heart attack that morning, and passed quickly. Getting awakened at 5 in the morning by a phone call rarely brings good news. That morning was no exception.
It is still hard to believe his is no longer with us. He is still very much missed by his family and friends. Several of us combined our efforts to finish his final book for him. I hope someday soon it will be published. It really is a very great book. Whenever I read it it makes me wonder what other great stories Mike would have created were he still alive today.
And rather than be sad on this day, I think instead that I’ll count among the blessings of my life the fact that I called a man named, Michael “Reb” Gibson, my friend.
Gone, but never forgotten.
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September 6, 2020
2020 Dragon Awards Winners
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September Short Story #1: Death On The Range
Slim Jenkins swore softly as his buckskin dun topped the ridge and saw what he’d been hoping he wouldn’t see again for a long time. Another dead cow, the sixth in the last two weeks. Even as he rode up to the carcass he knew exactly what he’d find.
The animal would be dead, drained of every drop of blood, and no sign of the wound that caused the loss save for two small holes near the head. Even more puzzling to the lean, aptly-named cowboy, there would not be a spot of the animal’s blood to be found on the ground nearby.
Want to read more? Become a premium member now and you can. You’ll also be able to read all previously posted short stories, and every short story to come. I’ll be posting two short stories here every month.
You’ll also have access to a lot of other content here that isn’t available to non-subscribers. Certain blog posts, vlogs, video interviews with other authors, my reviews of books, movies and TV shows and lots more.
Best news? Its only $2 a month.
So sign up here to become one of Scribe’s Penmen and then head for the Short Stories page and enjoy!
Coming Sept. 16th: September Short Story # 2: Kek Wills It
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Superversive Sunday Spotlight: Kit Sun Cheah
Welcome to this week’s Superversive Sunday Spotlight. Every week we will chat with a Superversive author that you really should be reading.
This week we welcome Superversive author, Kit Sun Cheah:
How long have you been writing?
19 years. Since I was in Primary 6, what Americans would call Grade 6. I’ve been writing for most of my life. I caught the writing bug long ago and never stopped writing since.
[image error]Which writers inspire you?
A lot!
Off the top of my head: Stephen Hunter, Barry Eisler, Gregg Hurwitz, John Ringo, David Drake, Christopher Ruocchio, Marcus Wynne, Peter Nealen, Larry Correia, Robert E Howard, H P Lovecraft and Tom Kratman.
So, what have you written?
As Kai Wai Cheah, I wrote the Covenant Chronicles series, published by Castalia House, and Song of Karma, available through Silver Empire. As Kit Sun Cheah, I wrote the Dungeon Samurai trilogy, Babylon Blues, and now I’ve embarked on a new series, Singularity Sunrise. There’s also a bunch of other short stories and serials, but there are way too many of them to list here.
What draws you to Superversive writing?
The Superversive philosophy. Heroes who are heroic, clear moral values, beauty and romance, inspiring hope, transcendence, the idea of building up civilization. So much modern fiction revels in tearing down the history, the values and the societies that created them. It is time to reverse the damage and reach for higher and greater glories.
What are you working on at the minute?
I’m currently preparing Book 2 of Singularity Sunrise, my latest cyberpunk thriller series, for publication. I am also working on Dawn of the Broken Sword, the first entry in an upcoming science fantasy cultivation series.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors.
I don’t have a lot of time to read much fiction these days. The authors I do read are the same authors who have inspired me.
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
My website can be found at www.kitsuncheah.com
I’m active on Twitter at @thebencheah, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/benjamin.cheah.7, and on MeWe as http://mewe.com/i/benjamincheah.
Finally, to stay up to date on my writing news, you can sign up for my mailing list here: https://bit.ly/30snxA6.
Thanks for sharing Kit. Be sure to check out Kit’s books and be sure to check back next Sunday for our next chat with a Superversive author.
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September 5, 2020
I Finally Made It To DragonCon…sort of…
I’ve had a strange relationship with DragonCon over the last five years. It started in 2016 with the advent of the Dragon Awards. I was thrilled when a good friend of mine, Gibson Michaels, was a finalist in the Best Military Sci-Fi novel category with the final book of his sentience trilogy.
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Of course, as he was sure was going to happen, David Weber won the award that year. Gibson wasn’t upset, he was thrilled just to be a finalist.
The same held true the following year when I was a finalist for Best Sci-Fi novel for the 2017 Dragon Awards with escaping Infinity. I had a pretty good idea that I was not going to win but I was then, and still am, very honored that I was a finalist. I got word that I was a finalist too close to the award ceremony in Atlanta to be able to make it.
But I had planned on attending DragonCon in 2018 but between a cross-country move and all sorts of health-related issues those plans were shelved. I didn’t try for DragonCon 2019 but I did have everything lined up to go this year. Hello COVID.
But after several near misses, I finally made it to DragonCon, virtually anyway. I recorded a panel with L. Jagi Lamplighter, Declan FInn, Hawkings Austin and Marina Fontaine for DragonCon 2020’s Fantasy Literature Track. It was a lot of fun and the hour passed far too quickly.
Check it out here: Superversive Dragons to the Sky! Panel Dragon Con 2020
Meanwhile, I’m going to start planning on actually attending DragonCon, in person, in Atlanta, in 2021.
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A New Page
There a new page here on the site for you to check out. You’ll find it in the Videos tab above or you can just click this link: Book Trailers.
All of the book trailers for the seven released books of the 11-book Planetary Anthology Series can be found here, and the remaining four trailers will be uploaded closer to each book’s release. Plus, there will be a trailer that encompasses all 11 books and will list all of the approximately 90 authors who are a part of this amazing series.
You’ll also find some trailers for some of my books too.
Enjoy!
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The Calling: Part 2, Chapter 11
A Work Of Star Trek Fan Fiction By Richard Paolinelli
© 2020 RICHARD PAOLINELLI . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO COPYING OR ANY OTHER REPRODUCTION OF THIS STORY IS PERMITTED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. This is a work of fan fiction based in the universe of Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry. It is not intended to be sold, to be used to aid in any sale and is not to be copied or used in any other way by any other party.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Checkmate, Commander.”
Spock released his hold on his white bishop, completing his trap of Forelni’s black King.
“Indeed it is, Commander,” Forelni said, foregoing the traditional post-match handshake by lifting his hand in a Vulcan salute as he rose from his chair. “An excellently played game.”
Spock returned the gesture and nodded his head.
“This concludes the twenty-second match,” Sondra Bateman, the President of the Intergalactic Chess Federation, announced. “The series is now tied at six wins each with ten draws. Tomorrow’s match will be for the Galactic Championship. Should it end in a draw, another match will be played and we will continue until a match end with a victor.”
“Commander Spock, may I have a moment of two of your time?” L.J. Ramones, from Starfleet’s Public Relations Office, stepped up as Forelni turned away from the chess table set up in Main Rec. Ramones, like Bateman, had boarded the ship at Starbase 28 and the tournament finals had immediately gotten underway. Playing two matches a day, Spock and Forelni had spent the last eleven days playing what many of the ‘Nets were calling the best chess seen in the history of the game.
“An interesting decision, Commander,” Kirk observed as he walked over to where Forelni had taken station, near one of the vid screens.
“What decision, Captain?”
“You could have easily played to a draw,” Kirk explained. “Then all you would need to do would secure another draw tomorrow and the title would be yours.”
“I played for the win,” Forelni agreed with a slight shrug. “And Spock figured out what I was up to and made me pay the price for it. Besides, it doesn’t seem…”
“Sporting?” Kirk offered when Forelni paused.
“Honorable,” Forelni settled on a word. “Playing it safe in battle when prudence dictates is one thing. Playing it safe in chess? What’s the point of that?”
Before Kirk could reply, the comm panel whistled for attention.
“Bridge to Commander Forelni.”
“Go ahead, Uhura,” Forelni thumbed the switch and the vid screen flared to life with Uhura’s image..
“Receiving transmission for you from the Grand Palazzo on Etalya.”
“Send it down here, Uhura.”
“Aye, Sir.”
The viewer shifted and Forelni did a very good imitation of a raised Spockian eyebrow.
“Father, this is an unexpected surprise,” he said when he recovered his voice. “Allow me to present my commanding officer, Captain James T. Kirk.”
“Your majesty,” Kirk greeted with a slight bow of his head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine, Captain,” the King returned. “You must bring your ship to Etalya so we may meet in person. I trust my son, aside from recent events, has otherwise been behaving himself?”
The younger Forelni bit off the long-suffering sigh universal among all sons when their father is teasing them.
“He’s been doing just fine so far,” Kirk answered, diplomatically hiding a grin.
“That is good to hear, Captain. Still, if you should need…
“Was there a specific purpose to your call, Father?” Bari Forelni cut in.
“A proud father cannot call to congratulate his son on how well he is representing our world in the chess championships?”
“Father…”
“Very well, my son, I wanted to make sure you had received the video packet of Ambassador Bryna’s funeral.”
“I did. Thank you for sending it and please send my thanks to the Chamberlain. He did a splendid job on the arrangements.”
“I will do so. I also wanted to tell you that most of Etalya shared your outrage at her death. I need not tell you that they approved of how you handled getting justice for her. When you take the throne, my son, you may do so with more popularity than Genoa himself.”
“Most, you say. I suppose I need not ask who can be counted among those who disapproved.”
“The usual suspects, of course. Which is why I wanted to call and speak to you.”
“I care little about what Marcus Antonius and his lapdogs on the Consiglio think of my actions, father.”
“This I know all too well, but that was not the reason for my call. I could not help but notice that the number of Antonius’ cadre on the Consiglio is the same number of Kallitan councilors you sent the Vendicatore after.”
“A coincidence,” Bari Forelni replied, but Kirk heard uncertainty in his tone.
“Perhaps,” the King allowed. “Or perhaps all of the anger, the guilt over what happened to Francesco that you have carried in your heart for over a century and the fact that you could not strike down those you felt were responsible finally found an outlet? You stayed your hand back then, because politically it made sense. But here was a situation where you did not need to exercise such restraint, as long as you could maneuver the situation exactly the way you did. And no one would protest the result.”
The Prince remained silent.
“Let Kallita be the end of carrying that weight from so long ago, Bari. And do not carry any guilt over the death of Bryna for the next century. You have avenged the dead, my son, let them – and yourself – find their peace.
“Captain, it has been a pleasure,” the King continued. “Keep an eye on my son and bring him home sooner rather than later.”
The screen went dark and Forelni stared at it for a very long time.
“You know, I really hate it when he does that,” he finally broke the silence.
“What’s that, Commander?”
“Makes a point that I can’t counter,” Forelni replied, a slight smile forming. “Especially when he’s right. It’s damned annoying.”
“Father’s seem to be really good at that,” Kirk agreed. “It’s a universal trait.”
Forelni nodded, still thinking over what his father had just said.
“Commander, you’re going to be a starship Captain pretty soon…”
“That’s still not yet settled, Captain…”
“Don’t give me that,” Kirk held up a hand. “You’ve earned it, even if you weren’t the frontrunner all along. And yes, I say that even in light of Kallita. But your father is right. You can’t carry around the guilt of those you couldn’t save. All you can do is try to do better the next time.”
“Aye, Sir, and thank you, Captain.”
“It looks like they are finally done with Spock,” Kirk clapped a hand on Forelni’s shoulder. “It’s your turn to be interviewed. I’ll see you at the dinner later.”
* * *
“Congratulations on your victory this afternoon, Mr. Spock,” Dr. Bear Whitme greeted the First Officer as he arrived for the officer’s dinner. Whitme was the head of the team that would be working the ruins found on Auriga III.
“Thank you, Doctor. Commander Forelni has been a most formidable opponent.”
“Well, I for one am glad we’ll get to see the last match before we arrive at Auriga III tomorrow,” Dr. Kirsi-Marja Niskala replied. “I hope what we discover down on the planet is half as exciting as the first twenty-two matches have been.”
“Oh, I think we can arrange that, Dr. Niskala,” Forelni said as he came up from behind the two Doctors. “If Commander Spock tries to pull that same move with his bishop tomorrow I’ll draw my phaser and shoot it off the board.”
“Not only would that be most illogical, Commander,” Spock raised an obligatory eyebrow. “It would also be quite illegal.”
“Hmmm. Such a stickler for the rules. Well, I suppose I will have to devise some other strategy for tomorrow then. Speaking of strategies, Doctors, once we get you beamed down and settled in, how will you proceed with the dig?”
“Much easier than the initial dig was able to, thanks to the presence of your ship in orbit for starters,” Dr. Whitme replied. “Apparently what remained of Auriga III after its Sun burned out was a perfect hideout for smugglers. They didn’t appreciate the presence of an archaeological team digging about and the team had to evacuate quickly.
“What they did discover before they had to flee,” Dr. Whitme continued, “indicated a culture that was rapidly, and quite unexpectedly, advancing just before the end came. We’re hoping to find out exactly what triggered that rapid advance.”
“That sounds like quite a mystery to solve,” Forelni replied. “As we’ll remain in orbit for a while, to make sure those smugglers don’t come back, I hope you’ll find the answer before we break orbit.”
“Commander, most digs like this require a lot of work before they reveal their secrets. You may not be in orbit when we find those answers.”
“Well, one week, one year or more,” Forelni said. “I’ll leave a bottle of Etalyian wine behind for you to open when you finally find your answers, Doctor.”
“I would think you would save that for celebrating, or commiserating, depending on the outcome of tomorrow’s match?”
“Oh heavens no, Doctor,” Forelni quipped. “I have a bottle of Saurian Brandy set aside for that.”
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