Happy New Year everyone!
We have exciting news to share. Between the Covers has published its third book! It’s a bit different than the others. Wherein Thyre and Clockwork Caterpillar were steampunk fantasies occupying a shared world with marginal crossover, this next book is instead a speculative fiction/science fiction anthology!
Called Synthetic Landscapes: Science Fiction Anthology Volume 1 this collection of short stories explores the effects of near future technology on societal order and personal development. It represents a body of work done in recent years which I’m hoping will be the shape of releases to come. While I enjoy fantasy and have no intentions of leaving Felicity and her crew behind, I’ve been fascinated with the potentials that face us as we march forward into the great unknowns. I suppose there’s some overlap between The Red Sabre and these futuristic shorts in that regard.
But more than just a change in subject matter, there’s another reason to be excited for Synthetic Landscapes. This is the first publication of Kait’s work and she is the featured guest author! So if you’re wondering what her stuff looks like, be sure to pick up a copy!
Course, it would be remiss of me to not give some idea of what lies within Synthetic Landscapes. There’s The Thousand Faces of Buddha which follows a liberated clone in a futuristic Seattle mega-city as he investigates a peculiar murder. This story was inspired by the peculiar will of PETA’s president and looks at the idea of people being seen as little more than a commodity.
The Affairs of Catherine Hill is a little piece of spy fiction wherein the titular character Catherine Hill is charged with corporate espionage. Unfortunately for Catherine, corporations have replaced nations and employees are the new citizens. Catherine herself is unincorporated and so is left to the mercy of currying favours from the monolithic corporations that determine the policy of a central bank.
Then there’s Awaken, Hatshepsut! This is a story that revolves around the curious industry of cryogenics and the desire for some people to freeze themselves with the hopes of being resuscitated in a future where they can be cured of terminal illnesses or live forever. Unfortunately for these hopeful souls, Kian Pious has made a living breaking into their storage facilities and stealing their heads. Why? He hopes to utilize a one-of-a-kind device that will allow him to read their memories and access the funds these members have to live comfortably once their preferred future arrives.
These are just three of the stories that away in the anthology. Synthetic Landscapes can be found here on Amazon. It is available in digital and hard copy from all the usual printing options. If you pick up a copy, I would really appreciate – and it would go a very long way – if you could write a quick review and leave your thoughts!
Thank you so much for your love and support! I’ll see you lovely folks next time!