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Schism Universe #1
Mouse in the Wainscoting
David Walker Craven hauls freight for Red Star Haulage. He has done so for five long, lonely years with only a sarcastic, sexually deprived computer as company. Her name is Miranda, the bane of his existence, but the one he depends on the most as well. Everything seems to be going along swimmingly. David’s plans of retiring on a desert island, once he has saved up enough money, looks to be in the bag. After each successful haul his dream moves one step closer to reality and all he left behind fades into memory.Until Miranda detects a life form on board.A stowaway.David is soon embroiled in a series of events that involves a dead young man, a legendary being called a shifter and an alien race that scares the absolute shit out of him. Can he survive the events that unravel? Or will his past, present and future catch up with him in ways even he couldn’t have expected? In ways that will change everything…forever.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2011
About the author
Mark Alders
57 books212 followersI live in Melbourne, Victoria, in the land of Oz. According to my own Teenage mis-adventures, I am just an ordinary guy with a penis which likes to get me into trouble…a lot. I’ve seduced trees, copulated with watermelons, and had nice old ladies pick ants off my naked body. Yep, that’s me. Mark Alders. All round nice guy and with my brain firmly in my pants, exactly where it belongs!
So what about the here and now? Well, I am a mild, mannered post office worker by day. I have a mortgage to pay and a partner named Lee who I have been with for *cough* twenty one years *cough.* At night, my muse, the bitch, forces me into bondage and makes me sit at my computer and type out stories about men having sex with each other…all the time…over and over…in varying degrees of WTF, too!
I mean, I have stories out there about alien spiders needing humans to nourish their eggs, red-skinned aliens whose balls glow when they are sexually excited, beings who cock dock with their victims to drain them of their life force, and a young man who discovers puberty is just the start of his problems as he comes into ‘magolescence’ on his eighteenth birthday and his penis turns into a snake!
Ah, the life of a story teller. The fun never ends.
So what about the here and now? Well, I am a mild, mannered post office worker by day. I have a mortgage to pay and a partner named Lee who I have been with for *cough* twenty one years *cough.* At night, my muse, the bitch, forces me into bondage and makes me sit at my computer and type out stories about men having sex with each other…all the time…over and over…in varying degrees of WTF, too!
I mean, I have stories out there about alien spiders needing humans to nourish their eggs, red-skinned aliens whose balls glow when they are sexually excited, beings who cock dock with their victims to drain them of their life force, and a young man who discovers puberty is just the start of his problems as he comes into ‘magolescence’ on his eighteenth birthday and his penis turns into a snake!
Ah, the life of a story teller. The fun never ends.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 6, 2015
This was a fun book. I can't wait to read more in this Universe. I enjoyed having a different shifter story. David is so lonely. Naru was just what he needed. Miranda was hilarious:)
May 1, 2011
I really liked this story. The new world Mark Alders created was very creative, I liked the new view on shifters and the characters were very likeable, Miranda was just too funny :P I wished the story would've been a bit longer, it would've done more justice to the new world and the relationship between the characters:)
January 19, 2013
Did not finish. Got slightly more than halfway through it before I couldn't take it anymore.
Ok, I'm giving this two stars instead of one because I recognize that some of my dislike is just a matter of personal preferences.
Legit reasons I couldn't finish it:
There was nothing compelling about the story or characters. The descriptions of the characters and ship were meh at best, and totally non-existent at worst. By halfway through the book, not much had happened, and I still had 0 sense of who the main character was or why I should feel for him. I could tell there was supposed to be some emotion involved, but it was too little, too late. There wasn't even enough humor to make it worth plodding through.
And when there was finally some dialogue, it was incredibly awkward. Now, it took half the book before the second MC was introduced (not too big a deal with such a short book) but after about 10 pages of their interaction, I had to walk away. The conversation was awkward, unnatural, and forced. The way they spoke wasn't distinctive, it was just weird. And the character's reactions just didn't seem natural. The description of the second MC's past was obviously meant to evoke empathy and liking, but instead of feeling emotional and meaningful, it felt fake, unbelievable and unrealistic. The characters just didn't react in a way I thought made sense, and there wasn't enough description of either them or their motivations to make me believe in them.
Also, there were some serious formatting problems. I purchased this as a Nook book, so obviously I can't comment on the quality of other versions. But the text kept going from one size font to another about every 3rd paragraph. Trying to read a meh story where every third paragraph was in a font 3 sizes smaller was extremely irritating.
Possibly not fair reasons to not like it: I've never read a m/m romance where there was so much attention given to the foreskin. In fact, now that I think about it, of the 2 or 3 dozen I've read, the foreskin was only even mentioned, vaguely and in passing, in a small handful. And for a book that uses minimal descriptions, it was shocking to see so much time devoted to describing, to an almost clinic degree, every aspect of the penis. It may just be that I don't have a thing for foreskins, but the constant mentions of it took me straight from "hmm, I'll just ignore the things that don't interest me" to "wow, this is seriously starting to creep me out."
Between the lackluster storytelling, completely uninteresting characters, and being personally creeped out by the sex scenes, I just could not finish this. Honestly, the story and characters were so dull that the creepy foreskin thing is probably the only thing that I'll ever remember about the book.
Ok, I'm giving this two stars instead of one because I recognize that some of my dislike is just a matter of personal preferences.
Legit reasons I couldn't finish it:
There was nothing compelling about the story or characters. The descriptions of the characters and ship were meh at best, and totally non-existent at worst. By halfway through the book, not much had happened, and I still had 0 sense of who the main character was or why I should feel for him. I could tell there was supposed to be some emotion involved, but it was too little, too late. There wasn't even enough humor to make it worth plodding through.
And when there was finally some dialogue, it was incredibly awkward. Now, it took half the book before the second MC was introduced (not too big a deal with such a short book) but after about 10 pages of their interaction, I had to walk away. The conversation was awkward, unnatural, and forced. The way they spoke wasn't distinctive, it was just weird. And the character's reactions just didn't seem natural. The description of the second MC's past was obviously meant to evoke empathy and liking, but instead of feeling emotional and meaningful, it felt fake, unbelievable and unrealistic. The characters just didn't react in a way I thought made sense, and there wasn't enough description of either them or their motivations to make me believe in them.
Also, there were some serious formatting problems. I purchased this as a Nook book, so obviously I can't comment on the quality of other versions. But the text kept going from one size font to another about every 3rd paragraph. Trying to read a meh story where every third paragraph was in a font 3 sizes smaller was extremely irritating.
Possibly not fair reasons to not like it: I've never read a m/m romance where there was so much attention given to the foreskin. In fact, now that I think about it, of the 2 or 3 dozen I've read, the foreskin was only even mentioned, vaguely and in passing, in a small handful. And for a book that uses minimal descriptions, it was shocking to see so much time devoted to describing, to an almost clinic degree, every aspect of the penis. It may just be that I don't have a thing for foreskins, but the constant mentions of it took me straight from "hmm, I'll just ignore the things that don't interest me" to "wow, this is seriously starting to creep me out."
Between the lackluster storytelling, completely uninteresting characters, and being personally creeped out by the sex scenes, I just could not finish this. Honestly, the story and characters were so dull that the creepy foreskin thing is probably the only thing that I'll ever remember about the book.
July 3, 2011
This is a sweet story about David Craven, captain of the Ultarmarine. For five years he has taken solo cargo runs across the universe, saving up for his desert island. That is until a stowaway or two is found on board. Little did he know that things had already been set in motion to change his life.
I don't want say too much and give things away but I do have to say that Naru was adorable. I enjoyed the foundation twist. The Schism, if you really think about it, is freaking scary to go up against.
Yeah, and a big Ewww to "peanut and pickle sandwich on extra crusty rye, lashing of mayo..." That is just gross.
I don't want say too much and give things away but I do have to say that Naru was adorable. I enjoyed the foundation twist. The Schism, if you really think about it, is freaking scary to go up against.
Yeah, and a big Ewww to "peanut and pickle sandwich on extra crusty rye, lashing of mayo..." That is just gross.
April 23, 2012
A series I'll be keeping up with. This was hot, unique and had a sci fi spin I loved. A favorite to be sure and I'm going to recommend wherever I can. I'll also be reading this again, it's too good not to.
May 4, 2011
I really love Mark's books so I had high expectations for this book.
But I feel that those expectations never came through. This book had such potential but it was just to short to really develop any of its features.
The characters were interesting but not enough back story and relationship developement happened, it was to easy for them to fall into a dependent relationship. Yes I know its biological with the shifter needing someone to ground him but really - it was all just to hurried. Another 10-15,000 words could of turned this story into an awesome book.
The one thing that Mark's previous books did really well - was the world building and the descriptive writing. But again in this case it felt almost rushed. With the action scene during the end I felt that it was a bit trite (almost like when the blonde busty bimbo trips in every horror movie).
For those that are already fans of Mark's then I suggest reading this book. There is going to be others in the series and I trust that the next book will see the return of Mark's awesome writing.
This is not a bad book and this is not a bad review - It is simply a fan saying that they expect more from a great author.
For anyone new reading this then I really recommend Marks books but start with one of his longer books before coming back this one.
But I feel that those expectations never came through. This book had such potential but it was just to short to really develop any of its features.
The characters were interesting but not enough back story and relationship developement happened, it was to easy for them to fall into a dependent relationship. Yes I know its biological with the shifter needing someone to ground him but really - it was all just to hurried. Another 10-15,000 words could of turned this story into an awesome book.
The one thing that Mark's previous books did really well - was the world building and the descriptive writing. But again in this case it felt almost rushed. With the action scene during the end I felt that it was a bit trite (almost like when the blonde busty bimbo trips in every horror movie).
For those that are already fans of Mark's then I suggest reading this book. There is going to be others in the series and I trust that the next book will see the return of Mark's awesome writing.
This is not a bad book and this is not a bad review - It is simply a fan saying that they expect more from a great author.
For anyone new reading this then I really recommend Marks books but start with one of his longer books before coming back this one.
March 8, 2012
Full Review: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
Mr. Alders has done it again. Mouse in the Wainscott is a fantastic, unique and sexy novel. He has more wonderful one-liners. His descriptions are almost poetic and really pulls the reader in. This ship was well detailed, the hot men even more so but without any dragging. Naru is the stowaway who’s actually a shifter. His background story is very interesting and deep. I loved reading about his world, why he’s being hunted and why he considers himself a murderer. David’s only companion has been a female computer, Miranda. She’s fantastic and witty, although she didn’t sound like a normal AI, it was still a fun character.
Mr. Alders has done it again. Mouse in the Wainscott is a fantastic, unique and sexy novel. He has more wonderful one-liners. His descriptions are almost poetic and really pulls the reader in. This ship was well detailed, the hot men even more so but without any dragging. Naru is the stowaway who’s actually a shifter. His background story is very interesting and deep. I loved reading about his world, why he’s being hunted and why he considers himself a murderer. David’s only companion has been a female computer, Miranda. She’s fantastic and witty, although she didn’t sound like a normal AI, it was still a fun character.
January 11, 2012
I was really liking this in the beginning; it was dirty and funny and I couldn't stop laughing at the banter between David and Miranda. But when Naru came into the picture, it got too crazy and I got confused with all the spaceship stuff.
May 4, 2011
David was very sweet and lonely, Miranda was a bitch but I loved her anyway and Naru was a lovely surprise.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews