Featuring Bassan From Cassa Storm &The Write Club

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I always love to hear what kids have to say about their lives and the world they live in, so I'm really excited about having Bassan, Byron's young son, here today.




Hi Bassan. I've read CassaStorm and feel as if I've visited Tgren. Can you tell everyone what your home planet is like, so they can understand where you live?




Good day, Lee. A lot of Tgren is desert, although there are areas of vast lakes and grassy plains. Where I live, there’s a lot scrub brush, except near the river. We grow most of our crops near the river. Our buildings are made of stone and clay, with lots of windows to catch the breeze. Of course, I live on the Cassan base with my parents, and all the buildings are of Cassan design. Still really dusty though. Makes me sneeze sometimes.




Nice to know that even in the future Kleenex is a necessity. :-) 



You have a wonderful mom. What's she like?




Mother is wonderful! She always makes time for me and we play games and stuff. She almost never gets mad, either. Of course, I don’t want to make her mad. Sometimes I worry when she and my father are flying. I don’t want to lose them.




They have a lot of responsibility for your planet's safety. I can see why you worry. 






I know you've had some problems with other kids because you're half Tgren and half Cassan. Tell us what's it's like being different from the others.




Most days it’s no fun. I attend classes with the other Cassan children and sometimes they call me a half-breed. My best friend Drent is half Tgren, but no one messes with him. Wish I was tough enough to stand up to the bullies.




Some things like bullies and intolerance never change. I'd hoped those kinds of things would be long gone from our galaxies. Guess not. 






Your dad's famous. What's it like being the son of a famous Cosbolt pilot?




It’s really awesome what he did during the Vindicarn War, but it makes me feel awkward. I’ll never do anything as great as that. I don’t even like to fly.




We all have our place in our worlds. I'm sure you'll find yours.



What do you want to be when you're grown up?




I want to work on the alien ship that’s buried in mountains next to our city. It carried my ancestors to Tgren! I want to know more about the ship and those people.




 See? When you grow up I'll bet you'll be a great scientist and make amazing discoveries for all the inhabitants of these worlds.




Is there anything you’d like to change about your life?




I wish I could fit in better. I wish people respected me like they respect my father. I’m not even sure he likes me that much.




That's hard, but when I met your father in the book he seemed like someone who had deep feelings for his friends and family. He just didn't show them very much. 



If you could send a message back to a planet called Earth, say about 2013 or so, what would you tell them about your time?




They need to be prepared, because they aren’t the only ones out there. And not everyone is nice, either.




I'm passing this along. It's a great heads up for this century.




Thanks so much for coming here today, Bassan. It has been very interesting to talk with a young representative from the future. You're amazing!









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Book three, Cassa Storm, finds Byron facing a galaxy-wide war that could end life on all of the planets. In this stage of his life, Byron has more to fight for than ever--his mate, Athee and his son, Bassan. Facing his greatest challenge, Byron must convince the diverse and warring races to sign a peace agreement if he's to save his world and his family. However, the the final step in securing peace will put him and his son in terrible danger.

I liked how the racial conflicts propelled much of the plot in this story, driving home a message that's relevant to our own world and giving the book an interesting texture.

At the center of the family theme, is the coming together of father and son. Byron learns of his son's isolation as a mixed race child and Bassan learns of his father's love and belief in him.  READ MORE




CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars









View all my reviews








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Have you voted for your favorite entry in the WRITE CLUB? It's hard to choose, but very interesting to read the entries this year. 















I'll be celebrating some small things on Friday! Hope you'll join me and the others in this Celebration.








Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12