“One of Three,” the third novel in the Cercians series, is available on Amazon U.S. in ebook. 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: Conclave warships fended off four enemy fleets intent on attacking the Malia system. No one believes the fighting is finished. As anticipated, a fifth fleet of more sophisticated warships arrives. Information provided by the previously defeated races, makes it more difficult for the conclave to defend Cercia.
Once again, the saga builds and gets better. This chapter is another great one. I particularly enjoy how some of the threads from the other parts of the saga keep getting woven into this series. And even better is knowing that there are an almost unlimited number of directions to go, much like the domes. You really don’t know where you are going until you get there. You keep writing, i will keep reading.
Thanks for the comments, Bob. What’s ironic is that sometimes I don’t know which way I’m going to turn. I try to remain true to my characters’ personalities. When I place them in difficult circumstances, they often direct the story.
Hello, Mr. Jucha and Bob,
Bob, you said everything that I was going to say. I just finished reading One of Three and I couldn’t put it down.
I am a reader and admirer of Scott from book nr1 of the silver ships. What I especially like about his books is the positivity of his vision of a future besides his enormous amazing imagination. In all his books he constantly surprises his,readers with unexpected and novel twists. He certainly will find his spot in the GOAT list of SF writers. Also his definition of AI in the form of SADE’s is hopefully a guideline for our real future.
I cannot enough invite SF readers to travel his universe. You will like it immensely. Almost wish it to become reality
I will keep buying the fruit of his imagination as long as he produces it.
My heartfelt thanks Scott and please keep writing. I am waiting for book 4 of Cersians, Tom
Tom, you and other readers/listeners have been so generous with your comments about my work that, like now, I’m left without words. I’m pleased that you’ve focused on the key things that I strive to deliver. While I try to be optimistic about the future, I know that the path forward will be difficult. For some of us, we can only try.
I agree with Tom in the comments above, wonderful books. Just a thought, perhaps re-release the Silver Ships etc as a compendium of four sets of five. I think new readers will enjoy getting sets of the books. Thanks again for great books
That concept is in the planning, Ronnie, but it won’t begin until I finish the Earthers saga. Furthermore, it will encompass the entire arc of novels.
What can I say about this book? When you first said you were going to write about the Messinants, I was super excited. I thought it would be the Conclave meets them, engages with them and all is well. This is far better than what I ever had imagined. I love the thrill of the chase with Miranda and Z. I love the new character and story development. My heart skipped a beat during the battle with Cordelia. This book has so much to offer and I guarantee I will reread in a couple of weeks. I can’t wait for Beyond the Gate!
I thought we were going to lose Cordelia.
I’ve spent time imagining the nature of the Messinants, Jessica. As an older race, who dabbled in genetic manipulation and could build quantum-coupled gates, I believed they would take extensive precautions against the new races entering their dominion.
That’s why the Messinants fascinate me. They are a superior technologically advanced ancient race who used their science, talents and gifts as a means for experimentation rather than helping other races. They are the opposite of the Conclave but still probably the greatest challenge since Artifice (In my opinion). The Messinants are not just your average run of the mill technologically advanced ancient race. There’s layers to them. You wrote them quite well and far better than what I could have imagined. I look forward to seeing more layers peeled away offering a deeper look into their reason for being and how the Conclave rises to the occasion.
Good summary of the perspectives and challenges, Jessica.
Wow. These just keep getting better and better. While I bought One of Three the day it was released I was about three books in on rereading Gate Ghosts and wanted to finish that series first.
One of Three answered one of my unasked questions from Clash of Wills – why didn’t the SADES use the console’s ability to find members of a species based on their speech. The consoles are filled with Messinant speech. Now I suspect they did but with the Messinants using that deep space gate they’re probably not anywhere near their gate system.
How long would it take to travel from Cercia to Pyre using just the Messinants’ gates (not the Conclave additions)? There has to be a link or having human DNA enter the gate system in Cercia wouldn’t result in it being recognized at the Triton gate in the Crimsa system. Or did the Messinants disconnect that link when the Colony entered the gate system?
Mike, in the Earthers saga, anything a Messinant console records is instantly transferred to all active domes, as they are quantum-coupled. Cercia’s dome and every alliance dome were built by the Messinants. The conclave did not replace these domes or co-opt them. Therefore, Janet’s DNA signature was shared throughout the Messinant dome web the instant the Cercian console recorded her. The Pyre console would have received this information before the Jatouche were forced to truncate the console’s power supply in their war with the planet’s previous race.
Hello, Mr. Jucha,
I want to repeat everything that has been said in the comments. I have enjoyed the four series so very, VERY much. I love how you bring back the previous characters so we can remember them and enjoy them again. And all the new characters and their personalities. Just really appreciate your time and your ideas. Can’t wait for the next book. Keep writing!!!
Thank you, Lucy, for your generous compliments. I’m glad you’re enjoying the new series.