Character-Driven Erotic Science Fiction: Cosimo, a Families of the Empire Story
One of the problems with writing Erotic Science Fiction is the fact that many potential readers assume the focus is on the erotic elements rather than the underlying science fiction and general plot. To try and overcome this perception, I’m sharing some excerpts from my stories to share some of the “non-erotic” elements.
Cosimo, a Families of the Empire Story is my most problematic title. While it has explicit content, it also has what I feel is a strongly character-driven plot. The character of the story lives within a culture in the far future. Part of the culture includes voluntary and involuntary indenture. Couple this with some of the explicit scenes and situations, and the story falls into what some consider troublesome topics such as slavery and trafficking. However, this is the problem with labeling works in the worst-possible light. I did not set out to write anything endorsing current-day beliefs or problems. Anyway, here is a non-explicit excerpt for your enjoyment. This is chapter two of the book.
“She’s coming around,” Kira said as she looked down at Talia Dennison, first Emperor of the new empire.
“Talia, do you hear me?” Ayako asked softly, leaning toward her long-time friend’s ear.
“Uhmmm,” Talia mumbled.
“Can you move your right hand?” Kira asked.
The patient’s hand twitched.
“Good. Now your left.”
Her left fingers fluttered.
“Excellent. You’re past the worst of it,” Kira said. “Now it’s just going to take time for your body to shake off the affects and for you to get some strength back.”
Ayako sat back and then glanced at the tube feeding nutrients and medicines into the emperor. She held up a small syringe and looked at Kira, the former chief medical officer of “Man’s Hope” while keeping it out of Talia’s sight.
Kira nodded.
Ayako slipped the needle into the socket on the tube and slowly pushed in the plunger. Kira leaned close to Talia’s ear and whispered. Ayako handed Kira a plastic and metal band which the doctor slipped onto Talia’s head. Two pads rested on the patient’s temples, and she pushed an activation switch. Talia’s eyes fluttered and then closed.
Kira and Ayako sat back and exchanged a look.
“We were lucky,” Kira said. “If I hadn’t gotten my team here as quickly as I did, we would not have been able to revive her. I can’t imagine what would have happened if Darius had succeeded. We would have a short-lived empire then.”
Ayako nodded. “We would have dealt with him, but the trust built with the people since landing would have been broken.”
Kira rubbed her temples and sighed. “How will Talia react when she learns that her loving son-in-law tried to overthrow the emperor? How will her daughter react?”
“Her daughter will be spared but cannot be trusted with any power. I’ll take her away with me. Her grandson will come to the capital to be with his grandmother. He will inherit the mantel of the Dennison line when Talia does finally pass. Hopefully she’ll have enough time to get him trained.”
“Barring an accident or another attempt on her life, she should be good for twenty or so more years. Of course, once she recovers and understands the depth of her family’s betrayal, she may step down.”
“No, we can’t allow that,” Ayako said. “Maybe in a decade, but not in the short-term. Our culture is starting to solidify with the academies and collegium. People are generally happy. The other colonies are faltering, as we expected. We have to remain strong, or the world will devolve, and our race will be at risk.”
“What will you do to Laura?” Kira asked, curious how Talia’s daughter would be treated.
“My son needs a suitable mate. She will be tamed and used to benefit the empire,” Ayako said.
Kira looked up sharply. “Your research?”
Ayako nodded. “Laura Dennison will be my final test subject. Her husband’s life is forfeit. I’ll not waste resources on him. For our friend’s sake, her daughter will be indentured and bound to my son. My family will continue through the bloodline of my friend’s daughter, but she will have no power to threaten us ever again.”
Kira nodded. “I’ll take genetic samples from Darius. We don’t want to lose any bloodlines.”
“Take them yourself, today, Kira. Tomorrow, Ksogi will do his duty in closed session with the Senate as witness. We will then reinforce their oaths to the empire.”
“It seems barbaric, but I understand. I’ll bear witness as well.”
Ayako nodded; her lips set in a grim tight line. “Barbaric, yes, but required. We need to remember so many of our shipmates who have slipped into barbarism. Might makes right in their world now. We must be better, to strive and stabilize our culture and world,” she said passionately.
“Our civic institutions will survive, since we stopped this plot,” Kira said.
“But the plot was born because we do not yet have firm social structures and norms,” Ayako said. “We need accepted social interactions that will prevent the aristocracy from only interacting amongst themselves. If we did not hear from Conner about Talia’s health, we would not have been in position to act. A simple conversation based on a random observation tipped their hand. It was happenstance and luck. We need to create social structures that will tip the odds of that sort of luck in our favor.”
“What are you thinking? It’s hard for my people to monitor the empire from orbit with the communications restrictions we’ve adopted. How will you manage random conversations across millions of people?”
“I may have an idea,” she said. Ayako considered their world. Perhaps she had an idea. She wished Kgosi was still alive to provide his counsel. Maybe it was just a dream. She would not know if she did not try.
“I think I’ll open a very special club here, and in my hometown. We will cater to the rich, ambitious, and powerful. I will create the social scene needed for us to watch from the wings and be prepared. Can I count on your support?”
“Always, my old friend. Now tell me more about this idea and the vision for your club.”
“Less of a vision than an idea at the moment. It will be exclusive. It will be private. It will be both where people want to be seen and where people know they can meet for a private rendezvous. It will be discreet. It will cater to people’s senses and desires.”
“And be filled with your eyes and ears?” Kira asked.
Ayako nodded.
This chapter is the shortest in the book, and sets the scene for much of the culture examined in the remainder of the book. For subscribers here, I’ll also be posting a short excerpt of a more explicit scene next week, so you can draw your own conclusions on what the story entails. Cosimo is available on Amazon, as well as Smashwords and other ebook channels.
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