Monday, November 30, 2015

Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month for November 2015

Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month
It’s that time of the month again, time for “Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month”.

So what is “Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month”? It’s a round-up of speculative fiction by indie authors newly published this month, though some October books I missed the last time around snuck in as well. The books are arranged in alphabetical order by author. So far, most links only go to Amazon.com, though I may add other retailers for future editions.

Once again, we have new releases covering the whole broad spectrum of speculative fiction. We have space opera, military science fiction, paranormal romance, epic fantasy, urban fantasy, historical fantasy, Asian fantasy, weird westerns, cyberpunk, galactic revolutions, interplanetary wars, werewolves, were-rabbits, witches, dragons, aliens, telepaths, time travellers, supernatural detectives, feminist swordswomen, interdimensional inns, wild west mummies, bug-eyed monsters and much more.

As always, I know the authors at least vaguely, but I haven’t read all of the books, so Caveat emptor.

And now on to the books without further ado:

Sweep in Peace by Ilona AndrewsSweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews:
 
Dina DeMille doesn’t run your typical Bed and Breakfast. Her inn defies laws of physics, her fluffy dog is secretly a monster, and the only paying guest is a former Galactic tyrant with a price on her head. But the inn needs guests to thrive, and guests have been scarce, so when an Arbitrator shows up at Dina's door and asks her to host a peace summit between three warring species, she jumps on the chance.

Unfortunately, for Dina, keeping the peace between Space Vampires, the Hope-Crushing Horde, and the devious Merchants of Baha-char is much easier said than done. On top of keeping her guests from murdering each other, she must find a chef, remodel the inn...and risk everything, even her life, to save the man she might fall in love with. But then it's all in the day's work for an Innkeeper…

Bug-Eyed Monsters and the Women Who Love Them by Cora BuhlertBug-Eyed Monsters and the Women Who Love Them by Cora Buhlert:
 
Six short science fiction stories that subvert the tropes and clichés of the golden age and caricature the gender dynamics of classic science fiction.

In these pages, you'll travel from suburban America to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. You'll visit New Pluto City and Garrett's World. You'll encounter the terrors of the Brazilian jungle and the horrors of American suburbia. You'll meet phantom lovers and alien she-devils, devious man-eaters, unseen underwater monsters and the tentacled menace of the fearsome Eee'chuk-chi'up. You'll encounter dashing space heroes who don't get the girl and bug-eyed monsters that do. And you'll meet intergalactic heroines who know exactly what they want from a lover.

This is a collection of six satirical science fiction stories of 7700 words or approximately 26 print pages altogether.

The Vintages by Andrei CherascuThe Vintages by Andrei Cherascu:
 
Ten years after the doomed mission to Carthan, a terrible disease is turning human Mindguards into a threat to society. The Enforcement Unit, the ruthless, peace-keeping arm of the Interstellar Federation of Common Origin, has outlawed their activity and is keeping them under strict surveillance.

Forty-seven prototech Mindguards who call themselves the Vintages have fled to the Hando Desert and seized control of the territory's thoughtenhancing drug trade. Under the leadership of the mysterious Jaycen Nemeth, the Vintages are rapidly becoming a danger to the IFCO, bringing them into direct conflict with the Enforcers. As Nemeth’s influence grows among the Desert Dwellers, the prospect of a new Mindwar threatens the future of mankind.

This is the sequel to Mindguard.

51OgDdWlcNL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_Soulbreaker by Clara Coulson:
 
There’s a hideous monster on the loose, crushing heads and taking names.

But Detective Calvin Kinsey is on the case!

Two years ago, Cal Kinsey was an up-and-coming cop in the Aurora Police Department. But during a fateful nighttime stakeout in search of a prolific killer, Cal witnessed the darkest corner of his dreams come to life. A rogue vampire slaughtered his partner—to put it nicely—and introduced Cal to the supernatural world he never knew existed in the shadows.

Now, Cal is a newly minted detective at the often mocked Department of Supernatural Investigations. By day, the agents of DSI are called “Kooks” by local law enforcement. By night, they’re known as “Crows,” reviled by the supernatural underworld.

Mere weeks out of the academy, Cal catches his first real case, a vicious murder at a local college. An unknown sorcerer has summoned a powerful creature from the Eververse, a realm of magic and mayhem that borders Earth, and set it on a dangerous warpath through the city.

Between butting heads with his grumpy team captain, stirring up ill will with the local wizards and witches, and repeatedly getting the crap beaten out of himself, Cal must find a way to stop the Eververse monster and send it back to the hell it came from…

…preferably before Aurora, Michigan runs out of coffins for the dead.

Instinct by Annathesa Nikola DarksbaneInstinct by Annathesa Nikola Darksbane:
 
Instinct can save your life. Ignoring it can get you killed. And sometimes, it can uncover things perhaps best left alone.

After the escalating series of events on Urzra, Captain Branwen Hawke's crew is on leave, enjoying a vacation at the behest of the Kalaset itself. But for Branwen, the conflict on Urzra may have reawakened in her a desire for action that she fought for years to put down.

A chance encounter devolves into bloody violence, and without the support of her crew, the Captain ends up in a heated struggle for survival on her own as her instincts discover a danger hidden in the heart of Incarnum that may leave her dead, or worse.

Omega Trouchle by Eileen GlassOmega Trouble by Eileen Glass:
 
Alluring but barren, omega is an unfortunate affliction Skye is trying to outrun. He gets away with it for several years, fleeing to a new city whenever the wolves get too close, but his survival mechanism creates a terrible, unforeseen result. By dodging and ducking every rogue alpha to approach him, the one that finally keeps up is the size of a truck. Liam is not a wolf to be disrespected, and Skye is all too aware of his place in the pack. Natural selection has never been kind to him.

But, strangely, Liam sort of is.

Trouble is a novella of about 26,000 words.

The Lead Cloak by Erik HanbergThe Lead Cloak by Erik Hanberg:
 
Byron Shaw can track and find anyone on Earth. Except the people who tried to kill him.

By 2081, privacy no longer exists. The Lattice enables anyone to re-live any moment of your life. People can experience past and present events—or see into the mind of anyone, living or dead.
Most people love it. Some want to destroy it.

Colonel Byron Shaw has just saved the Lattice from the most dangerous attack in its history. Now he must find those responsible. But there’s a question nobody’s asking: does the Lattice deserve to be saved?
The answer may cost him his life.

The Dragon Prince by Patty JansenThe Dragon Prince by Patty Jansen:
 
The tyrant Alexandre is gone from Saardam, but a new menace has come: the eastern traders in a ship of metal that is said to have been forged with dragon magic. They bring a chest of gold to buy an office in the city.

The people don't want them in their town. The Church of the Triune, which forbids magic, has increased its hold on the population, despite the Red Baron's efforts to stamp it out.

Newly-crowned queen Johanna is staring into the empty coffers after the extravagant spending by her husband's father before his death. King Roald is off in the garden to catch frogs, and she faces condemnation by the church in the knowledge that Saarland will need both money and magic to defeat the Red Baron's army.

Flight to the Fort by Jim JohnsonFlight to the Fort by Jim Johnson:
 
The Scales Are Out of Balance

Tjety, an exiled Ranger of Mayat, and Ruia, a young fisherman’s daughter, team up to guide the survivors of a bandit attack through the dangerous and rugged Kekhmet frontier. Can they reach the safety of Fort Sekhmet before foul cultists and their horrible mummified creatures can capture them?

Flight to the Fort is the second episode in PISTOLS AND PYRAMIDS, an all-new monthly series best described as an ancient Egyptian-themed weird western with magic. And mummies. Lots of mummies.
This book contains some profanity and depictions of violence. Reader discretion is advised.

Dragon of Torik by Floyd LooneyDragon of Torik by Floyd Looney:
 
Short Story & Bonus Story

Four heroes run an errand for the Prince of Archlandia, heir to the throne, because the King is mad and cannot do the job himself. There is a report that the peppercorn workers of Torik are afraid to work because a dragon has appeared and people went missing. The prince has tasked the three large warriors and the slightly built archer to ferret out the truth of these reports. Alas, before they even arrive... trolls!

BONUS
Marwyn the dwarf has a tough life at the bottom of the ladder, except for gnomes, as a servant to a mean old witch. Until he is approached about a mission to save someone from the clutches of a dragon.

Preserving Eternity by Mercia McMahonPreserving Eternity by Mercia McMahon:
 
In an alternate Asia the Fumetsu are a Japanese-style culture of immortal beings, who live among mortal human races based on Sri Lankan, Ainu, and Korean style cultures. Life is tough in their city-state of Chieshi, which exists to protect the mountain on which the older Fumetsu live.

Mayu is a champion in the sport of women's sword fighting and a once in a generation talent. She is also a keen advocate of women's rights, who wants to cross over to the mountain and change society through politics. Then a rebellion happens and she has to decide how best to pursue her aims: by diplomacy or by the sword.

As the Fumetsu are eternally fertile relations between men and women are banned on the mountain, but compulsory in the city. Mayu's dilemma is complicated by the love of her life and fellow swordswoman Yaeko already living on the mountain, and the rebellion could separate them for ever.

The Blue Dragon by Salvador MercerThe Blue Dragon by Salvador Mercer:
 
A thousand years ago, on the world of Claire-Agon, a war raged between men and dragons.
After an expedition of elite warriors kills an ancient nemesis, Seth the Sword Slayer, one of Agon’s most feared assassins, finds himself in the middle of a mysterious string of killings targeting the members of his elite group.

As the Kesh wizards call a conclave of Agon’s most powerful realms to Balax, the capital of Balaria, Seth attempts to set a trap and kill the rouge assassin in his homeland with the help of the governor’s troops, the thieves’ guild and his own assassin’s order. Seth must not only save his city from a new threat of destruction, but also navigate the politically deadly waters of high intrigue from the gathered realms.

Seth soon discovers that, in the world of Claire-Agon, when dealing with a Blue Dragon, sometimes appearances can be deceiving.

Time Junkie by Nigel G. MitchellTime Junkie by Nigel G. Mitchell
 
"My name is Timothy McGill, and I'm a time travel addict."

Tim was just your usual frustrated and isolated teenager until he stumbled across krono, a new drug which sends him back in time while he trips out. From the moment he first tries it, Timothy begins a downward spiral into crime and corruption, all while living through the moments that led to his addiction. It's a strange and thoughtful journey as Tim explores his past while trying to grapple with the present and determine his future.

Ancient Relics by Jim RudnickAncient Relics by Jim Rudnick:
 
"Taking on a new Captaincy with the Barony means that our Captain Scott can now live a life of ease. His drinking will be tolerated, his hangovers ignored and he will be in charge of the newest fastest Supra Destroyer in the RIM Confederacy.

Life is good for Tanner who enjoys his new ship and the favors of the Lady St. August yet the PTSD he still suffers from the thwarted prison escape on Halberd still haunts him. He copes but needs support from loyal friends and that keeps him going.

Except he soon learns that the simple task of doing his shakedown cruise on the BN Atlas means that he inadvertently finds a discovery that will shake the very foundations of science all across the galaxy.

A Conflict of Orders by Ian SalesA Conflict of Orders by Ian Sales:
 
Casimir Ormuz and the Admiral, at the head of the biggest fleet the Empire has seen since its founding, are on their way to Geneza to meet the forces of the Serpent.

On Shuto, capital world of the Empire, the Serpent has begun his siege of the Imperial Palace.

Ormuz and the Admiral must win their battle on Geneza, and then travel to Shuto to save the Emperor, to save the Empire. But winning the fight and lifting the siege are only the beginning. Still complicating matters is the millennia-long conspiracy which seems to be driving the Serpent's rebellion.

So who is the real villain?

And when it all ends, who will be sitting on the Imperial Throne?

Rabbit Trails by Hollis ShilohRabbit Trails by Hollis Shiloh:
 
Logan is a lonely, nervous rabbit shifter — until he meets teasing, gentle Gabe. He's so drawn to Gabe that he's frightened about what that means for him. Gabe might be funny and sweet, but he's also friends with wolves, and he has his own sadness beneath the goofy surface. Can they make a relationship work? Do they even dare try?

31,000+ words
sweet gay romance
set in the same world as the "Shifters and Partners" series but can be read alone

Friday, November 27, 2015

Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for November 27, 2015


And here is our weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with best SFF of 2015 lists, lots of Star Wars discussion, the first trailer for Captain America: Civil War, comments on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2, the TV show The Expanse and the streaming video shows Jessica Jones and The Man in the High Castle (including a controversy about its ad campaign) as well as the ongoing controversery about the World Fantasy Award trophy.

Speculative fiction in general:

Comments on Jessica Jones

Comments on The Expanse

Comments on The Man in the High Castle:

Comments on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2:

Awards:

Writing, publishing and promotion:

Interviews:

Reviews:

Crowdfunding:

Con reports:

Science and technology:

Free online fiction:

Odds and ends: 

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Bug-Eyed Monsters and the Women Who Love Them by Cora Buhlert

Release date: November 6, 2015
Subgenre: Retro science fiction, short fiction collection

About Bug-Eyed Monsters and the Women Who Love Them:


Six short science fiction stories that subvert the tropes and clichés of the golden age and caricature the gender dynamics of classic science fiction.

In these pages, you'll travel from suburban America to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. You'll visit New Pluto City and Garrett's World. You'll encounter the terrors of the Brazilian jungle and the horrors of American suburbia. You'll meet phantom lovers and alien she-devils, devious man-eaters, unseen underwater monsters and the tentacled menace of the fearsome Eee'chuk-chi'up. You'll encounter dashing space heroes who don't get the girl and bug-eyed monsters that do. And you'll meet intergalactic heroines who know exactly what they want from a lover.

This is a collection of six satirical science fiction stories of 7700 words or approximately 26 print pages altogether. 

Excerpt:

 

Captain Crash Martigan of the rocket scout squad of New Pluto City was on patrol again, defending the domed city and its inhabitants from the bug-eyed monsters.
Of course, bug-eyed monsters wasn’t their real name. No, the primitive species native to New Pluto had a long and official Latinate name that no one could ever remember. So the colonists took to calling them bug-eyed monsters, because — well — that’s what they looked like.
For reasons only known to themselves, the bug-eyed monsters had taken to attacking New Pluto City and its inhabitants, killing the men and kidnapping the women. Of late, the attacks had gotten out of hand, which was where men like Crash, true heroes of the new frontier of space, came in.
The cockpit alarm chimed, telling Crash that a bug-eyed monster was near. So he landed his flyer, popped open the canopy and jumped out, looking very steely and manly in his gleaming silver spacesuit.
He took his electro-binoculars from his utility belt and scanned his surroundings. And indeed he spotted it. A bug-eyed monster — and a particularly ugly one at that with long, sucker-laden tentacles — was in the process of molesting a dame. And not just any old dame either — not that there were old dames in New Pluto City, considering the cut-off age for female colonists was twenty-six. No, this was a particularly fine specimen of a dame with long golden curls, luminous alabaster skin and a fine figure swathed in a clinging gown of red silk. A clinging gown that the bug-eyed monster was in the process of ripping off her shapely body.
Crash immediately activated his jet pack and raced to the rescue. For whenever there was a dame in danger, Crash would be there to save her like the dashing hero that he was.
As he approached the scene of the kidnapping, Crash noticed that the dame had swooned in the tentacled embrace of the monster. Well, Crash could hardly blame her. After all, women were known to be the weaker sex and this particular bug-eyed monster really was damn ugly.
He took a closer look at the scene through his electro-binoculars and realised that he knew the monster’s victim. Her name was Geraldine Carmichael, Miss Geraldine Carmichael, and she had been newly transferred from Earth to New Pluto City to work as a biologist or psychologist or nurse, some womanly profession at any rate.
Miss Geraldine had already caught Crash’s eye back in the domed city, for she was truly a looker. So far, she had studiously ignored Crash and rebuffed his advances, but all that would change once he’d saved her from the slimy embrace of the bug-eyed monster.
Crash landed on a rock outcropping overlooking the spot where the bug-eyed monster had dragged poor Geraldine.
“Let go off her, fiend,” he yelled and drew his atomic blaster.
“Eee-yip?” the bug-eyed monster said, which Crash decided to take as a challenge.
Miss Geraldine, of course, said nothing. She was unconscious, after all.
Crash fired his blaster, hitting the monster’s tentacle.
“Eeee-Yaaah,” the monster screamed and let go off Miss Geraldine, who promptly tumbled to the ground.
For a split-second, Crash feared that Miss Geraldine was a goner, which would truly be a pity, considering she was such a fine dame. But then she stirred and sat up, shaking her golden curls and pressing a slender hand to her fine sloping forehead.
“Uh, what… what’s going on?”
“You were attacked, Miss,” Crash exclaimed, “But have no fear, for Captain Crash Martigan is here to rescue you.”
Behind Geraldine, the bug-eyed monster was stirring again, its slimy tentacles reaching for the hapless girl.
“Eeee-yuuup,” the monster wailed.
Crash raised his blaster and aimed it at the monster. “Begone, blackguard,” he declared. He would have fired, too, if Geraldine hadn’t suddenly stumbled into his line of fire.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, clearly outraged, “Why are you threatening my boyfriend?”
“Your what?”
“My boyfriend,” Geraldine repeated, “This New Plutonian here is my boyfriend.”

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About Cora Buhlert:

Cora Buhlert was born and bred in North Germany, where she still lives today – after time spent in London, Singapore, Rotterdam and Mississippi. Cora holds an MA degree in English from the University of Bremen and is currently working towards her PhD. Cora has been writing since she was a teenager, and has published stories, articles and poetry in various international magazines. When she is not writing, she works as a translator and teacher.

Website | Mailing list | Twitter | Google+ | tsu

 


Monday, November 23, 2015

Flight to the Fort (Pistols and Pyramids, Episode 2) by Jim Johnson

Release date: November 20, 2015
Subgenre: Weird western

About Flight to the Fort


The Scales Are Out of Balance
Tjety, an exiled Ranger of Mayat, and Ruia, a young fisherman’s daughter, team up to guide the survivors of a bandit attack through the dangerous and rugged Kekhmet frontier. Can they reach the safety of Fort Sekhmet before foul cultists and their horrible mummified creatures can capture them?

Flight to the Fort is the second episode in PISTOLS AND PYRAMIDS, an all-new monthly series best described as an ancient Egyptian-themed weird western with magic. And mummies. Lots of mummies.

Excerpt:

 

The man in dark robes sat astride his black mare, holding the reins in one hand, with his other hand cocked on the pommel of his sheathed blade. His headcloth was looped around his mouth and neck. He offered an open-handed greeting and then lifted his hand to remove the folds of the headcloth from his face, revealing a white-toothed smile creasing a deeply tanned face. He had a thin black mustache and a regal, hooked nose.
"Well met, Ranger of the south."
Tjety kept his pistol aimed somewhere around the man’s chest. “Give me one good reason I shouldn’t shoot you dead right here and now.”
The man’s smile never wavered as he held his horse still in front of Tjety. “Despite recent events,” he glanced at the two bodies to either side of him, “I have no quarrel with you. My House and your order have never encountered each other. Until now, anyway.”
Tjety frowned. “You know my order but I don’t know shit about yours.”
The man smiled as he tucked loose folds of fabric back into his headcloth. "My house name would mean nothing to you, Ranger. We are neither Kekhmet nor Hesso. But as a form of introduction, my name is Zezago, Deshi of the House of Gintenka.”
“Nice title, but it means fuck-all to me.” Tjety’s gun hand started to shake. “Why are you here?”
"Reasons well beyond your understanding."
Tjety's frown deepened. "All I know is your men sow destruction and discontent. You destroyed a village and caused many unnecessary deaths." He licked his lips, uncertain how much longer he could hold up his gun. "I expect you're also responsible for the creation of those monstrous, unliving...things."
The smile on the man's face had broadened at each point, which made Tjety quail inside. The man flexed his hands, then after a moment staring at him, dismounted.
"I accept responsibility for all those things, and many more you can’t possibly know." He stepped to the left of his horse and rested a hand on his sword's pommel again.
A bright flash from the man’s ba told Tjety that the man had some skill with hekau, almost certainly stronger than his own. Tjety reached out and took hold of Heker’s reins, and slowly started to sidestep toward the tree line. Zezago kept smiling and sidestepped as well, toward the river, countering Tjety’s movements.
"What would you do, knowing that I am responsible for all those deaths?"
Tjety heard the mocking tone in the man's voice, and knew that this would not end well. In a burst of movement, he raised his pistol and fired his last two rounds.


Amazon


About Jim Johnson:

 Jim Johnson is the author of the Pistols and Pyramids series as well as other prose fiction series currently under development. He has written sundry other pieces of fiction, including several stories published in the Star Trek universe, and has freelanced for pen and paper roleplaying game companies, including Decipher and White Wolf. Please visit www.SCRIBEINETI.com for more information on Jim and his interests and writing.

Jim lives in historic Alexandria, VA with his wife, newborn son, and several crazy cats.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Author Central

Friday, November 20, 2015

Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for November 20, 2015


And here is our weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with best SFF of 2015 lists, lots of Star Wars and Star Trek discussion, comments on the TV show Into the Badlands and the streaming video shows Jessica Jones and The Man in the High Castle as well as the ongoing controversery about the World Fantasy Award trophy.

Speculative fiction in general:

Comments on Into the Badlands:

Comments on Jessica Jones:

Comments on The Man in the High Castle

Awards and World Fantasy Award controversy:

Writing, Publishing and Promotion:

Interviews:

Reviews:

Crowdfunding:

Con reports:

Science and technology: 

Free online fiction:

Odds and ends:

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Preserving Eternity (Book 1 of the Fumetsu Cycle) by Mercia McMahon

Release date: November 6, 2015
Subgenre: Epic fantasy, Asian fantasy

 About Preserving Eternity:

 

In an alternate Asia the Fumetsu are a Japanese-style culture of immortal beings, who live among mortal human races based on Sri Lankan, Ainu, and Korean style cultures. Life is tough in their city-state of Chieshi, which exists to protect the mountain on which the older Fumetsu live.

Mayu is a champion in the sport of women's sword fighting and a once in a generation talent. She is also a keen advocate of women's rights, who wants to cross over to the mountain and change society through politics. Then a rebellion happens and she has to decide how best to pursue her aims: by diplomacy or by the sword.

As the Fumetsu are eternally fertile relations between men and women are banned on the mountain, but compulsory in the city. Mayu's dilemma is complicated by the love of her life and fellow swordswoman Yaeko already living on the mountain, and the rebellion could separate them for ever.

Excerpt:

 

 I’ve invited Shinya to meet me for a conversation at my favourite fighting hall. We’ll take tea and hold a constructive conversation and if that
doesn’t convince him I’ll challenge him to step inside and let our swords make the decision for us.
“Greetings, Mayu. I shouldn’t be surprised to find you at a fighting hall.
Especially this one. Remind me why it’s your favourite.”
“You know that not only is this where they serve the best tea in Chieshi, but also where Yaeko and I moved from friendship to relationship.”
“Just checking I’d remembered the location correctly. Why bring me here?
We’re divorced and once peace is restored you’ll be restored to Yaeko.”
“I brought you here to discuss that restoration to Yaeko. I want to be among those who storm the Inner Gate.”
“No. This is not a walking party. This is a major battle and we can’t place untrained civilians in danger.”
“Others can do the storming and I’ll do the walking once they’ve won.”
“Storming the gate is only the start of the danger. You aren’t a warrior and you’ll get in the way.”
“I’m the best swordswoman in Chieshi and have the respect of many warriors. You should pity whoever gets in the way of my blade.”
“You’re a sportswoman and you worry about drawing blood on a fellow-competitor. Flash your blade in battle and you might remove someone’s head from their shoulders. You’ll feel a lot more guilty about that. Assuming you live to tell the tale, which given your lack of battle  experience or training is highly unlikely.”
“My sport grew out of the tradition of Fumetsu women being trained in sword fighting.”
“Yes, to protect your dignity and your children if your home is attacked. Trying to conquer a mountain against superior numbers is very different.”
“What would you know? You’re an archer. For other warriors the battlefield is a sequence of one on one battles, which makes it little different from
a woman using a sword against a male intruder in her home.”
“It’s different because you’re going up against one man after another. As a woman you’ll tire against the men’s superior strength and once tired you’ll be killed.”
“Nonsense. You’re going into war with the Kirigesh, who have women warriors alongside the men. They don’t tire and ask a man to do the fighting for them.”
“I’m not arguing any more. You’re not going into battle.”
“You’re not my husband. You don’t get to decide what I do.”
“You’re a woman, you’re not allowed to enter battle. That’s why you’re asking for my help, but I refuse to give it.”
“To prove I can fight, I’ll fight you.”
“In the hall? That’s sport and you only ask because you know I’m not much of a swordsman. The battlefield will be full of excellent swordsmen, including emissaries.”
“So if you admit I’d win, save yourself the embarrassment of defeat by a woman and accept my victory. Then tell Junji I’ll go in with one of the Kirigesh women’s units.”
“You can’t fight.”
“Prove it. Pit your weak warrior sword craft against my strong sporting sword craft.”
“Swords are too dangerous to settle a dispute between Hotaru’s parents.”
“Training woods then.”
“Okay training woods and each of us have a second to observe justice.”


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About Mercia McMahon:

Mercia McMahon is a fiction and non-fiction author, as well as being a poet. She was born, bred and battered in Belfast, but now lives in London, when not travelling to research a book.

Mercia's fiction work is sometimes darkly serious, sometimes quirky, sometimes serious and quirky and always deeply political. She ignores all rules especially the rule that she always ignores rules. One rule she definitely ignores is that an author should not hop from genre to genre. Her work includes both literary fiction and speculative fiction (alternative history, fantasy, and science fiction).

In her non-fiction work Mercia writes in the areas of history, philosophy, religion, gender studies, and creative writing. Again, the political angle is never far from the surface.

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