Brechalon is the novella-length prequel to The Voyage of the Minotaur and the books which follow in the story of Senta and the Steel Dragon. Meet the people who will change a world-- the Dechantagnes, wealthy siblings from a disgraced aristocratic family who plot their revenge; the imprisoned sorceress Zurfina; and Senta, the orphan girl who will one day rise to great fame and power.Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 0: Brechalon is the novella-length preview to The Voyage of the Minotaur, The Dark and Forbidding Land, The Drache Girl, and the other books which make up the Senta and the Steel Dragon series. Set two years before the events in The Voyage of the Minotaur, Brechalon tells the story of the Kingdom of Greater Brechalon in a world that is not quite like our own Victorian Age. The Dechantagne siblings; Iolanthe, Augie, and Terrence plan an expedition to a distant land, hoping the colony they build will restore their family to the position of wealth and power it once had. Meanwhile the powerful sorceress Zurfina rots in an anti-magic prison, guilty of not serving the interests of the kingdom, and the orphan girl Senta Bly lives her life without the knowledge that she will one day grow up to be the sorceress’s apprentice. Senta and the Steel Dragon is a tale of adventure in a world of rifles and steam power, where magic and dragons have not been forgotten.

(If you can leave a review, please do. I'd appreciate any feedback I can get.) Yin, a member of the cat-like race named the Meregals, is abandoned by her human father. After searching the house, she finds tickets to the Meregal city, Jasper, giving her the chance to start over again.A member of the Meregals, a race of cat-like humanoids, is abandoned by her father. Leaving her a ticket to the Meregal city, Jasper, Yin is given the opportunity to start over.

A short story celebrating the power of the human imagination in a dystopian future setting. Uldar, a political prisoner, receives a visit from a psychologist, which does not go at all according to the official plan.A short story celebrating the power of the human imagination in a dystopian future setting. Uldar, a political prisoner, receives a visit from a psychologist intent on convincing him that his "heterodoxy" (which takes the form of an interest in ancient languages) is dangerous to society. But the psychologist gets considerably more than he bargained for when Uldar starts to show him the collection of imaginary eggs which, paradoxically, helps to keep him sane.

"Eponym" is a short story about eusocial insectoids. It paints a vivid picture, albeit gory and violent, of an advanced society of insectoid creatures on an inhospitable alien world.The number 28 has great meaning to me and when I was going through a difficult emotional time I wrote most of the content in here. It is personal, and some of it may not be poetic so to speak, but I wanted to share these thoughts with whoever would like to read them. I have included a monologue in here that was due to be performed until I lost my nerve and I have added some photographs, all taken by me, in location such as Brighton and Greatstone. I hope you enjoy this brief look inside my emotions.

This is the seminal novel of a young man's education as a member of an elite, paternalistic non-military organization of leaders dedicated to preserving human civilization, the Solar Patrol, a provocative parallel to Heinlein's famous later novel, Starship Troopers. Only the best and brightest--the strongest and the most courageous--ever manage to become Space Cadets, at the Space Academy. They are in training to be come part of the elite guard of the solar system, accepting missions others fear, taking risks no others dare, and upholding the peace of the solar system for the benefit of all. But before Matt Dodson can earn his rightful place in the ranks, his mettle is to be tested in the most severe and extraordinary ways--ways that change him forever, from the midwestern American boy into a man of the Solar Patrol.

WELCOME TO HELL The prison ship Perdition, a floating city where the Conglomerate’s most dangerous criminals are confined for life, orbits endlessly around a barren asteroid. Life inside is even more bleak. Hailed as the Dread Queen, inmate Dresdemona “Dred” Devos controls one of Perdition’s six territories, bordered on both sides by would-be kings eager to challenge her claim. Keeping them at bay requires constant vigilance, as well as a steady influx of new recruits to replace the fallen. Survival is a constant battle, and death is the only escape. Of the newest convicts, only one is worth Dred’s attention. The mercenary Jael, with his deadly gaze and attitude, may be the most dangerous criminal onboard. His combat skill could give her the edge she needs, if he doesn’t betray her first. Unfortunately, that’s what he does best. Winning Jael’s allegiance will be a challenge, but failure could be worse than death…

Inflicted with amnesia, Yumiko Ume Moth has managed to discover the identity of the lost love whom she cannot remember. And she has learned the truth of her mother's murder. The party responsible for the absence of the one and the death of the other appears to be the same: the Supreme Council of Anarchists. Now she hopes to rescue the brilliant young man who may or may not be her fiance while seeking vengeance for her mother, the Grail Queen. But her only allies are a scatter-brained fairy and the Last Crusade, which consists of a young knight and his dog. Nevertheless, the Foxmaiden will not turn from her path, though all the dark forces of Tartarus stand in her way. John C. Wright is one of the living grandmasters of science fiction and the author of THE GOLDEN AGE, AWAKE IN THE NIGHT LAND, and IRON CHAMBER OF MEMORY, to name just three of his exceptional books. He has been nominated for both the Nebula and Hugo Awards, and his novel SOMEWHITHER won the 2016 Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction Novel at Dragoncon. The first book in the Moth & Cobweb series, SWAN KNIGHT'S SWORD, was a finalist for the 2017 Dragon Award for Best Young Adult Novel.

Evan Gabriel wasn’t always a feared and respected North American Federation Navy Commander. Before dangerous missions to the ice-bound planet of Poliahu, the deadly jungle world of Eden, and politically corrupt Mars, he was a simple recruit, fighting to make his mark in the elite Naval Special Forces…and was part of a top-secret military experiment that would change his life forever.GABRIEL: ZERO POINTPrequel Novella to the Evan Gabriel TrilogyEvan Gabriel wasn’t always a feared and respected North American Federation Navy Commander. Before dangerous missions to the ice-bound planet of Poliahu, the deadly jungle world of Eden, and politically corrupt Mars, he was a simple recruit, fighting to make his mark in the elite Naval Special Forces…and was part of a top-secret military experiment that would change his life forever.Zero Point tells the tale before the science fiction/adventure trilogy, a tale of a young man faced with difficult choices and dangerous trials. Fans of the series will see part of the mysterious past Evan Gabriel carries with him, while readers new to the series get a preview of what is to come in a military man’s haunted life.Zero Point is the true beginning of Evan Gabriel, and his story is just getting started.Also available: Gabriel's Redemption (Book 1), Gabriel's Return (Book 2), Gabriel's Revenge (Book 3), Gabriel's Journey (complete collection) Approximately 22,000 words (88 pages printed). Includes sneak preview of Gabriel’s Redemption (not included in word count).WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE GABRIEL TRILOGY~” Umstead can write an action-packed adventure story better than most. He is an artist in designing a high-tech battlefield and weaving in the human element with his character's depth and color. If you like action in a science fiction setting then you really need to pick this up from book one and give it a shot." - Tom Clementson, The Kindle Book Review~ "If John Scalzi and Tom Clancy got combined in a transporter accident a la The Fly....and I mean that in a good way."~ "This series brings me back to the old days when Sci-Fi was about ass kicking, great friends, loyalty and action."~ "Umstead has a way of putting you right into the scene, whether it be on a Jamaican beach, a rundown apartment or the icy surface of a distant planet." ~ “Character-rich story, non-stop adventure (think Jason Bourne travels the stars). Completely immersive read."~"...the military fiction of Tom Clancy, the hardware of Heinlein's Starship Troopers, and the intrigue of Dan Brown." ~ "The detail of the world-building pulled me in and made everything utterly believable." ~ "Well-thought-out universe with a tightly woven history, timeline, and culture." ~ "The author's imagination is amazing...he has knowledge of combat tactics, both with squads and hand-to-hand." ~ "Umstead's writing is solid, as good as it gets, not only in the genre, but in general." ~ "Umstead deals with issues like honor, responsibility and human nature. While deep in thematic content the forward thrust of the story never stops.”

A short story from my Fantasy in Space series.The elven assassin, Taliesin, is set up on a blind date with the female embodiment of every romcom heroine cliche one can think of.Will he escape with his pride and limbs intact?In mere moments they will arrive. His neck is strapped to the altar. His hands and feet chained. The villagers can only watch on in fear as the devils draw closer. Even if he wanted to scream for help, he couldn't. But his haunted fate has led him to this moment. He just doesn't know it.These savage creatures have reduced the village to a blackened, broken shell. But a catalyst is coming.The Silent Harbinger will reveal all to the people of Avelline.

They call it... "The Red Centre." Locals have their stories. Many claim to have seen ominous lights in the night sky. While backpacking in the Red Centre, Shawn Marshall suddenly vanishes during a cell phone conversation with his father. Devastated, distraught father Chris Marshall, sets out on a desperate journey to find his son. What he finds shocks him to the core.In The Middle Of Nowhere, You're Not Always Alone!They call it... "The Red Centre." Deep in the heart of the Australian Outback.Locals have their stories. Many claim to have seen ominous lights in the night sky. Considered crazy, some even testify of loved ones being taken.While backpacking in the Red Centre, Shawn Marshall from Colorado suddenly vanishes during a cell phone conversation with his father.Devastated—and with little help from authorities—distraught father Chris Marshall, sets out on a desperate journey to Australia to find his 18 year old son. What he finds shocks him to the core. A nonstop chain of events forces him to question if he will ever see his son again.And what took him.

Waking up with no recollection of his life before becoming a Jumper recruit, he falls in love, joins a rebellion, and focuses his efforts on overthrowing a government.Remember when?Commander Rafian VCA the most gifted Space Marine in the Anstractor Alliance remembers nothing.Waking up with no recollection of his life before becoming a Jumper recruit, he falls in love, joins a rebellion, and focuses his efforts on overthrowing a government. But as his memory slowly returns, he recalls his original mission. Rafian now has a new goal: find his way home, make things right with the love of his life, and avenge the aliens who invaded his planet. But first, the Jumpers must pay, pay for ruining his life.

Ever get the feeling your being watched, Ted and Ralf find the truth behind the latest star wars saga.Yolanda returns to a Planet Earth she no longer recognise, after a successful 2-week NASA space mission from the Black Hole. Space control doesn’t recognise her and the spacecraft. Citizens are suspicious about who she claims to be. They think she’s an extra-terrestrial. She reckons this is all a prank, until authorities detain and place her in a quarantine. 500 BILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY — GABRIEL, a Xapien Warrior and new chief at Planet Gadju is faced with a make or break challenge as the leader of the tribe. For centuries, Xapien armies fought a losing war against Hakas — cannibalistic aliens every year. The Xapien population is almost extinct. Gabriel contemplates searching for a new and safe colony outside Planet Gadju, but doesn’t know how and where to start.The Girl from Space is an extraordinary 80 000-word post- apocalyptic sci-fi story set in the Y10K era about a young amateur astronaut, Yolanda and a young Xapien warrior, Gabriel whose paths collide in a mysterious portal as both try to survive the devastation of mass extinction of human and Xapien race respectively.

The six stories in Consider Her Ways: And Others, the second collecton of John Wyndham's short tales, continue his exploration of the science fiction staple - what if? In the title story we are introduced to a world where all the men have been killed by a virus and women continue to survive in a strict caste system - bottom of the heap are the mothers. In others we meet the man who accidentally summons a devil and then has to find a way of getting rid of him without losing his immortal soul, as well as the woman who, thanks to an experiment in time, discovers why her lover abandoned her. Oh Where, Now, is Peggy MacRafferty? is a social satire on Hollywood glamour in which a bright, individual young Irish woman becomes part of the celebrity circuit, and loses all that makes her special in the process of becoming a star. Random Quest combines romance and parallel universes. A Long Spoon is the story of how a demon is summoned by mistake and the lengths the couple that invoked him have to go to get rid of him without losing their souls in the bargain.

When Ariel mentions another human holiday, the women get excited. They aren’t the only ones, though. The Dragon Lords, Vox, and Ha’ven decide they want to be part of the planning this time. Things get a little out of hand when the men begin competing with each other to create the best Christmas ever for the Dragonlings, Roam, and Alice. Fuelled with tales of St. Nick, Rudolph, Frosty, and the newest tale of the Old Dragon of the Mountain, they are determined to light up the palace like never before and turn it into the new North Pole. Just when the women think they have everything under control, panic ignites when the Dragonlings, Roam, and Alice suddenly disappear just days before Christmas. What no one expects is for the children to take it upon themselves to go search for the legendary dragon who has threatened to steal the Magic of Christmas. Now, their parents are in a race to find the Dragonlings before they lose them forever. Will they be able to find them and celebrate the magic of the season or will the Dragon of the Mountain keep them hidden forever?

Green is back in Copper Downs. Purchased from her father in sunny Selistan when she was four years old, she was harshly raised to be a courtesan, companion, and bedmate of the Immortal Duke of Copper Downs. But Green rebelled. Green killed the Duke, and many others, and won her freedom. Yet she is still claimed by the gods and goddesses of her world, and they still require her service. Their demands are greater than any duke&’s could have been. Godslayers have come to the Stone Coast, magicians whose cult is dedicated to destroying the many gods of Green’s world. In the turmoil following the Immortal Duke’s murder, Green made a God out of her power and her memories. Now the gods turn to her to protect them from the Slayers. Jay Lake brings us an epic fantasy not “in the tradition of Tolkien,” but, instead, sensual, ominous, shot through with the sweat of fear and the intoxication of power.