“The Fallen” 4/4

And here’s a Machine Civilization first: an alien race. Recently, the stories have taken me places I never expected to go: for example, Fussy and Ed’s time slip in “Ice Inundation Intelligence” and me still not knowing what Kalí is. So, here are some aliens. Are they native to Mars or imports from somewhere else? Did they used to live on the surface then went underground as the atmosphere blew away? And, most importantly, are any still around? I have no idea.

Tiny cliff – or parapet – hanger as we go into the weekend. See everyone on Monday.

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“The Fallen” 3/11 (end pt3)

Here we close out Part 3. Each of these is longer than the previous, so I do wonder what kind of adventure Alicia will have.

For all of Anton Senior’s devotion to his wife, he’s still a guy and we guys will always look. Saras knows that full well, but chides him, anyway. It’s all in fun. I think her declaration at the end was a good way to wrap this up.

Next Monday: down the rabbit hole. Deus vult.

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Book 17. Epilogue. 1/2

Part one of two of the story’s end. This wraps up Bob’s side of things. I’m edging out of “hard SF” here, but that’s okay. Their world is Changed and we know a helluva lot less about ours than we think we do.

Off to Imaginarium in an hour. Four to six hour drive, depending on weather and traffic. Nothing on the schedule tonight, so I’ll see what I can do for Konev’s wrap up. Obviously, Reina will be there. She’s always there.

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Book 17. Part Three. 23

I had no idea Aurie could do this until a few days ago. The “how” took another day until I recalled just how very different her mother, Henge, is. So there you are.

Looks as if Part Three shall end on entry #25. That will come out right before I’m off to LibertyCon. I hope to be much older there. I’ll take Rory, my laptop, just in case I suddenly need to tap something out while at the con.

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Book 17. Part Two. 11

Could I have them wander around some more? Eat a last meal in Paradise-on-Mars? Yes, but as my regular readers know, I am all about dialog and personal interaction, no matter what the person is. So, having set the scene, as it were (“this place is perfect!”), I can now get to the problem: while Ed is having fun, he does miss his new wife. Fussy, it appears, is ready to walk away from it all until provoked by her two sons. Notice how Kalí stays quiet? This is not her fight so she stays out of it.

And then it comes out that there is a discrepancy in time. And no, what I know of the little klutz, I cannot imagine Livia not waiting for her husband. After all, her mother waited years… dang; I still need to wrap that part of the story up. Maybe in the summer.

About 1100 words because if this world is that corruptive to demi-humans, I don’t want any of my readers lost in some dream state; I value y’all too much.

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Book 17. Part Two. 2

Hope everyone is having a fine Easter. Below, we drill down on just what has happened – that they know – to the Empress and her son, Bob’s older brother. Aurelia prays for a miracle. Hey, it’s Easter… I’m not going to disappoint! A wild Kalí appears.

Not really sure where this is going, to be honest. Carryover from “Regent:” Bob does not like his cousin’s new man. I wonder why?

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Prophet (pt.6)

Snowing out there like dogs and cats in a come-from-behind home run. In my unfortunately increasingly normal “wake up at 0500” moment, I recalled something about “New Russia” I tried to forget: mysticism. I do not play that game well. I’ll try to get past that scene and have Russians start shooting Canucks.

Musician Pedro (modeled on Rudy Sarzo, if you can believe that), from “The Fourth Law,” finally owns up what little he knows but what a lot he suspects about Kalí. From “Crosses & Doublecroasses,” the surname Barrett leaves most Texans speechless as they do not want to talk about it. She comes back from… hell, I’ve no idea, for some pillow talk with her husband. And yes, for you pedants, they get married before God tomorrow.

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Prophet (pt.5)

A rare weekend update! We learn who here mortal father is and then she yanks reality – such as it is – out from under everyone.

Now with this and “Regent” in the hands of my copyeditor and cover designer, I’m taking the rest of the the weekend off. I think I’ve been alternating tea-wine a little too hard and fast and have near-constant headaches and trouble sleeping. A pause is called for.

Two more installments of Prophet before I have to find something else to keep y’all entertained.

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Prophet (pt1)

I had to tell this story from the perspective of the lead of the wildcatter team. While I can guess at the political machinations of gals such as Fussy and Aurie, there is no way, NONE, that I could ever “get inside” the head of Kalí. Even when she says what she is, I don’t fully understand; and here I am, the supposed author.

For those few, you happy few, who have read “The Fourth Law,” yes, the opening paragraph is a clean lift of its opening paragraph. I have my reasons.

This represents in the final piece of the puzzle which is “Imperial Entanglements.” I have some introductory paragraphs to write and an editing pass to make but hope to have it to my copyeditor in no more than 48 hours. It represents book two of three of my “Three Books in Three Months” challenge.

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Berserker, (pt4; end)

Rather pleased with how all of this turned out. There are still some things which might need addressing but real life is like that, too: loose ends are a way of life.

Was seriously “in the groove” yesterday and got down about 2500 words of “Culture Shock,” my next short. Hoping to wrap that one up today.

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