“Clash of Wills,” the first novel in the Cercians series, is available on Amazon U.S. in ebook. Due to my error, the softcover print will be delayed two to three days. A glossary (PDF) will be available on my website before the audiobook is released.
I recommend reading the previous three series of the Earthers’ saga, The Silver Ships, Pyreans, and Gate Ghosts, to understand some of the nuances in this fourth series.
Summary: SADEs Hector and Trixie discover the colonists of the Terminus, the fifth colony ship. Unfortunately, their Trident squadrons arrive at the worst possible time and catastrophe strikes. The three powerful fleets are fighting for possession of the beatific world, Cercia.
Aargh – I read faster than you write, Scott. Thanks for another wonderful journey.
I would hate to think that you would take three months to read my novels, Mike. That would work out to about 1.3K words a day! That strange thought aside, I appreciate that you enjoyed the story. Cheers, Mike! 🙂
I guess the SADEs can ask Luminance for the translator orb tech so they can integrate them into the implants for Seppans and similar telepathic races. Or they can get a better implant tech to drop the need for Meridien based implants. Or at least be able to reproduce those translator orbs.
Looks like the Woot Sisters get to setup trading hubs in the old Krackus territories since everyone is busy with the last human colony group. It would have been a little bit ironic to have the Radag ply as traders with the sisters on Radagul and help from the Woot Sisters. Imperium’s Demise left a few thing hanging if it is the last one in Gate Ghosts series. Things like that last rando wormhole that went somewhere unknown.
K, for me, some things in a complex series, such as Gate Ghosts, might be interesting to investigate (i.e. the unknown anomaly). Unfortunately, items like that don’t have enough weight to develop another novel unless I produce an offshoot story. As it was, I felt Gate Ghosts had reached a natural conclusion.
SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read if you haven’t read this book.
It appears the Messanant Q-Gate system is huge if Cercia is where human DNA was first introduced to the gate system. This implies there is a gate pathway between Cercia and the Alliance.
Why didn’t the SADES just ask the Cercian gate to tell them where the Messanants are located? Remember, Rules figured out how to use a voice sample to find both the location and pathway to representatives of the race. This of course, assumes the Messanants are still using their gate system.
While I can’t reveal any plot lines yet to develop, Mike, I can offer you some rhetorical questions. If you were an ancient civilization that developed dome technology and quantum-coupled gates, where would you place your first domes relative to your worlds? Next, if you began tinkering with biological species, would you keep your civilization’s domes active, if you feared your successes and failures could reach you? Finally, if your opportunities for uplift were spread far and wide among the stars, what would your web of domes look like? Just some food for thought, Mike. 🙂
Yeah! And the first little tidbit about how human stuff got someplace… You rock, so happy right now! (Generalized to avoid spoilers)
That little twist made quite a few readers happy, Randall.
Great start to the new series, took me a couple of days to finish. Enjoyed every minute.
Glad you enjoyed the story, Stian.
Oh dear, oh dear. I took my time with this book. Now I am sad the book is done. There is so much about this book that I love. Far too much to put down. Great job! I can’t wait for the next one.
P.S I have absolute faith in Adrian. I know he will find his way. He is in the best company!
I’m happy you liked the novel, Jessica. That my work stirs emotions is one of the key reasons that I tell the stories that I do. I agree with you about Adrian. Centuries of isolation aboard a Trident have done him no good. Now he’s got an opportunity to develop.
I would image centuries of only SADES as company has done none of them any good. SADES need their creators.
Adrian has the same problem Teague had – dad’s shadow. I’m hoping Claire can play the role of Rene and Ginny did for Teague’s development.
I agree with you, Mike. You can see an echo of Adrian in Jerome, as he visualizes his role with Sadie.
I just started the book and WOW. I love your stories and enjoy reading them over and over. You have sparked my imagination. I can’t wait for the next book. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Colleen. The ebook of “Enemy at Bay,” the second novel in the Cercian series, should be released by early March.
Again you’ve started an incredibly series with the first Cercian book, I just finished it and am thoroughly enjoying myself with the adventure especially getting to know again different worlds and species. You have a vivid and very positive imagination. Since I am used to your SADE’s I have no fear of AI…but who knows?? mankind is a strange species and prone to take a long time to get it right. Crossing my fingers…
Keep writing Scott I have plenty of room for more of your books.
Thanks for your posting, Tom. I wrestled for a few years with the concept of the “SADES” novel. Having listened to so many warnings about AI, I wanted to incorporate a means that would point to a difference in the outcome. I borrowed from child rearing books and interviews with parents. It seemed to me that if there a child wasn’t given a moral underpinning, while being raised, there was little of chance of him or her developing into an upstanding citizen who cared about others. I sought to blend this concept into the development of the SADEs by the selection of selecting appropriate candidates from retirement individuals.
Scott, I’m jonesing for Enemy at Bay. Just finished rereading the Pyreans again and starting on The Silver Ships.
“Enemy at Bay,” the second novel in the Cercian series, should be released in late February or early March, Mike.
Thanks.