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Wounded Planet: An Anthology of Stories
“Wounded Planet,” the principal story of this new science fiction anthology, is one of a planet that has suffered a catastrophic collision with another celestial body, which has shifted its center of gravity from the vertical to as much as 13 degrees in some latitudes. A recessive adaptive mutation has occurred in some of the sentient beings of the planet which allows them to fly, a significant advantage over those who can only walk. Nevertheless, encumbered by their wings, the Flyers are helpless to resist the oppression of the Walkers who enslave and revile them.
This is the story of the strongest, most honorable, and adventurous of the Flyers and his quest to free himself and his people from the Walkers. The story is one of love, betrayal, salvation, and a brave exploration of the unknown. As the narrative unfolds, the deepest and more familiar regions of the human psyche are plumbed.“Wounded Planet,” the principal story of this new science fiction anthology, is one of a planet that has suffered a catastrophic collision with another celestial body, which has shifted its center of gravity from the vertical to as much as 13 degrees in some latitudes. A recessive adaptive mutation has occurred in some of the sentient beings of the planet which allows them to fly, a significant advantage over those who can only walk. Nevertheless, encumbered by their wings, the Flyers are helpless to resist the oppression of the Walkers who enslave and revile them.
This is the story of the strongest, most honorable, and adventurous of the Flyers and his quest to free himself and his people from the Walkers. The story is one of love, betrayal, salvation, and a brave exploration of the unknown. As the narrative unfolds, the deepest and more familiar regions of the human psyche are plumbed.
These stories in this anthology range from the distant past to a near future and beyond our world.
These stories in this anthology range from the distant past to a near future and beyond our world.
This is the story of the strongest, most honorable, and adventurous of the Flyers and his quest to free himself and his people from the Walkers. The story is one of love, betrayal, salvation, and a brave exploration of the unknown. As the narrative unfolds, the deepest and more familiar regions of the human psyche are plumbed.“Wounded Planet,” the principal story of this new science fiction anthology, is one of a planet that has suffered a catastrophic collision with another celestial body, which has shifted its center of gravity from the vertical to as much as 13 degrees in some latitudes. A recessive adaptive mutation has occurred in some of the sentient beings of the planet which allows them to fly, a significant advantage over those who can only walk. Nevertheless, encumbered by their wings, the Flyers are helpless to resist the oppression of the Walkers who enslave and revile them.
This is the story of the strongest, most honorable, and adventurous of the Flyers and his quest to free himself and his people from the Walkers. The story is one of love, betrayal, salvation, and a brave exploration of the unknown. As the narrative unfolds, the deepest and more familiar regions of the human psyche are plumbed.
These stories in this anthology range from the distant past to a near future and beyond our world.
These stories in this anthology range from the distant past to a near future and beyond our world.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2021
3 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Larry Kelly-Mahaffey
2 books2 followersLarry Kelly-Mahaffey has recorded his dreams for over 40 years, and for the last 18 years has presented them for interpretation to Jungian dream groups. Most recently the group meets twice a month on first and third Mondays over Zoom. For 30 years, in his day job, he wrote software. After retirement, he thought he would try his hand at a medium that didn’t require as many semi-colons. He used the techniques he learned to elicit design specifications from customers when he wrote software, and interviewed the muse and discorporate characters for stories, often based on his recorded dreams. He took dictation from the muse and discorporate characters, transcribed, and edited what he wrote.
Larry lives with his wife Dian and two white cats, La Familia Blanca, Huni Buni, (a Manx), and Olivia, on the South side of Austin Texas. As long as the Covid pandemic persists, he only ventures out of his house and yard, with rare exceptions, to the Austin Veloway at twilight. There he peddles his bike at 14-15 miles per hour like the old man he is for 9 miles, where he enjoys the company of fat racoons, shy grey foxes, graceful, but muscular does, lugubrious possums, frenetic Road Runners, great swooping barn owls and small night hawks, banded multicolored snakes and hog snakes, (he hopes they are not Diamond Backed Rattlesnakes), the occasional rabbit, and the sound of the ever elusive Chuck-Will’s-Widow. But nary an armadillo, as Austin is not what it used to be.
Larry lives with his wife Dian and two white cats, La Familia Blanca, Huni Buni, (a Manx), and Olivia, on the South side of Austin Texas. As long as the Covid pandemic persists, he only ventures out of his house and yard, with rare exceptions, to the Austin Veloway at twilight. There he peddles his bike at 14-15 miles per hour like the old man he is for 9 miles, where he enjoys the company of fat racoons, shy grey foxes, graceful, but muscular does, lugubrious possums, frenetic Road Runners, great swooping barn owls and small night hawks, banded multicolored snakes and hog snakes, (he hopes they are not Diamond Backed Rattlesnakes), the occasional rabbit, and the sound of the ever elusive Chuck-Will’s-Widow. But nary an armadillo, as Austin is not what it used to be.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 2, 2021
Highly imaginative. Thoroughly enjoyable. This thin volume comprises two short stories and the title novella, although there's no way to tell from the title headings where the short stories end and the novella begins--a bit confusing at first. The novella, 'Wounded Planet,' is compelling, vivid, dreamlike, and richly described, drawing on primal story-archetypes and plot devices buried deep in collective memory to tell an exciting, unusual, brain- and heart-pleasing tale.
The glossary in the appendices is somewhat beside the point given the slimness of the volume, though it might have been helpful to have some guidance on pronunciations as well as a note or two regarding cultural background and character backstory. The author includes an extended technical note explaining the science behind the world of 'Wounded Planet,' which is interesting, albeit not altogether necessary for an appreciation of the story, which is not a "hard science" narrative after all. I'm left, not with a question about physics, but evolution: how did these two disparate humanoid strains (Flyers and Walkers) come to be, and how was it that one managed to enslave the other? Still, it's nice to see how well thought out the author's ideas were.
R
The glossary in the appendices is somewhat beside the point given the slimness of the volume, though it might have been helpful to have some guidance on pronunciations as well as a note or two regarding cultural background and character backstory. The author includes an extended technical note explaining the science behind the world of 'Wounded Planet,' which is interesting, albeit not altogether necessary for an appreciation of the story, which is not a "hard science" narrative after all. I'm left, not with a question about physics, but evolution: how did these two disparate humanoid strains (Flyers and Walkers) come to be, and how was it that one managed to enslave the other? Still, it's nice to see how well thought out the author's ideas were.
R
January 10, 2021
The Wounded Planet Anthology takes you on a creative and unpredictable journey through the mind of Larry Kelly-Mahaffey. Chock full of colorful and imaginative characters who live through the dilemmas and interactions we all face at some time. He will resurrect your own experiences with people you have met, emulated or avoided. The fantastical plot turns keep you reading to find out what new insight will be uncovered or what could possibly happen next. Ultimately, Wounded Planet will help you decide: Are you a Walker or a Flyer?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 8, 2021
A wonderful collection of three stories each in very different settings. From the evolution of the first Homo Sapiens to life on a very unique planet, each of these stories places the reader in a detailed world with characters whose journey captivates and immerses. In these story the author has demonstrated equal mastery of writing and imagination. I look forward to further efforts by this author.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews