You might conclude that pure science fiction requires no research--this is an absolutely wrong idea.  Good science fiction requires a basis of the real world with a projection of authentic science overlaying it.  If the world does not match the proper sense of the reader, the story is ruined.  If the science is not convincing and logical, the unique feel of the future is gone--the novelty of the science part of the fiction has been lost.  For me, writing science fiction is like developing a new idea in engineering.  I can see it in my mind, and I try to describe both its effects and its design.  The research is through constant immersion in engineering and in fiction.  This way, the imagined worlds are real and the science comes alive. 

The world of the Dragon and the Fox is a projection based on the idea that genetic manipulation was required for humankind to conquer the worlds they discovered when they traveled into space.  The genetic manipulation was used to create great doctors, technicians, scientists, and leaders.  Eventually the society became moribund and turned into something akin to feudalism--the Human Galactic Empire.  Against this backdrop, the Dragon and the Fox fight for honor while their world and civilization is falling around them.

The technology of the Dragon and the Fox is also a projection.  All of the concepts described are potential technological solutions.  The big idea isn't the technology or the changes to the human species.  The big concept is how little technology and human changes have really affected the fabric of human interaction.  The one specific change that is very evident in the world of the Dragon and the Fox is the differentiation between men and women.  This change in human culture historically reverses itself based on the organization of society and the identification of the differences between men and women.  The world of the Dragon and the Fox highlights this differentiation based on the feudal and genetic leadership base of their society.  I don't advocate these roles or this type of society--the ideas come out of the question that brought about the world of the Dragon and the Fox.       

The Question: 

The End of Honor asks a unique question:  what can be the ramifications of personal relationships when they are ultimately based on political ends? 

The Characters: 

We applaud Prince John-Mark and the Lady Lyral.  We applaud their happiness, love, and pleasant agreement.  However, this agreement results in the death of John-Mark's father, Lyral herself, and provides the tipping point for the entire Human Galactic Empire.  We love the characters.  We see the honor in their actions and lives.  But when we reflect on the harm they have caused, we wonder if honor is enough.  Good intentions and good people are often the cause of much suffering.  That is more akin to the theme.

The Theme: 

The theme of The End of Honor is that responsibility and humility are the greatest human virtues and the basis of true honor.  We see good intentions and seeking honor ultimately cause untold hardship and pain.  The result of John-Mark and Lyral's apparently honorable actions is a universe at war and friends dead.  John-Mark must give up everything to return the Human Galactic Empire to peace and political balance.  In the end, we find honor is the willingness to give up everything for the good of others.   

Teaser:

Length of Novel:

61,720 words

Keywords and Market Focus:

Science fiction, space, adventure, intrigue, space ships; will appeal to adults and young adults interested in science fiction/adventure

Genre:

Science Fiction

Synopsis: 

Den and Natana Protania are blessed and cursed.  Both are psyonic masters and experts in the operation and management of Family Trader spacecraft.  They are newly and happily married with a stellar future on the Family Trading Ship, Twilight Lamb.  But both share horrible secrets, and a potentially deadly future.

A standard year ago, the Twilight Lamb salvaged an ancient Imperial courier ship, the Athelstan Cying.  Onboard, Den Protania broke protocol and mortally injured himself.  As he died, Den encountered a spirit who tried to save him.  The being could not save Den’s spirit, but he stabilized his body and was trapped as Den Protania.  Natana Kern shared Den’s secret and helped the new Den reclaim his place in the Twilight Lamb.  They wove a friendship that soon became something more. 

In his ancient past, Den had been a psyonic master.  Natana learned everything she could from him.  On the planet, Neuterra, Natana and Den stumbled on a group, the Athenian Charter that used psyonic tools for political and criminal activity.  The group kidnapped and experimented on Den and Natana.  While Den and Natana were captives, the Athenian Charter introduced a super computer symbiot into Natana’s brain.  The Athenian Charter hoped to use the device to control Natana. Instead, coupled with Natana’s intellect, it became a powerful tool that Den and Natana used to escape their captors.  Den and Natana share a second secret: Natana’s computational capabilities and their source.             

Den and Natana discovered a worthy enemy—the Athenian Charter is accumulating the power to enslave millions.  They have raided ancient archeological sites for psyonic equipment from the Human Galactic Empire and the Reps.  To have any hope of countering the Athenian Charter, Den and Natana must recover as much information as possible about them.  While still on Neuterra, they execute a foray on the Athenian Charter and the Neuterran archeological sites.  Den is injured, but fortunately, the security of the Twilight Lamb recovers them.  Their actions are seen as revenge for their kidnapping and luckily little comes of it.

Den has gained more trust from the ship’s council and is made the leader of an Emergency Procedures and Special Capabilities team.  Den trains his team well, and when the Twilight Lamb receives a distress call from the new space liner, Regia Anglorum, his team is sent to stabilize the reactors and get the ship back under control.  While Den’s team works, the passengers are shuttled over to the Twilight Lamb.  Unfortunately, the Regia Anglorum is a pirated ship.  The Athenian Charter is using the Regia Anglorum as a decoy to take over the Twilight Lamb.  In this age, the key to control of the Confederation of Human Space is the Family Trading Ships.  Some of the passengers are pirates who use modern weapons and ancient military psyonic control devices to take over the Twilight Lamb.  Now, Den, Natana, and their team must use every resource they have to recapture the Twilight Lamb—before their families are slaughtered.

Author's reviewers' quotes:

“Brilliant continuation of Athelstan Cying.  Den and Natana are a mix of gasoline and air.  Their explosive adventures drive Twilight Lamb.”

“Filled with enough spaceships and planets to capture the heart of any science fiction fan, enough action and suspense to please the adventure crowd, and lots of real human interaction for the rest of us.”

“Continues the psychological depth of the first novel.  The characters continue to grow and enlighten us. ”

Short descriptive teasers:

Ghost: Twilight Lamb continues the adventures of Den and Natana on the Twilight Lamb as they determine their purpose and build their destiny.

With the help of Natana Kern, Den Protania redeemed himself in the eyes of the Family Trading Ship, Twilight Lamb—now, he must come to grips with an enemy outside the Family Trading Ships that is arming itself with psyonic weapons.    

The Athenian Charter is an interstellar political and criminal organization that is accumulating psyonic military equipment to take over the Confederation of Human Space—Den and Natana Protania must use their unique abilities to fight this new foe and save their families and ship.    

Further Information:

Ghost: Twilight Lamb is the second novel in the Ghost Ship Chronicles.