Jason Werbeloff brings you Obsidian Worlds, 11 sci-fi shorts:

I have Jason Webeloff over 

with 11 mind-bending sci-fi shorts which will sell for only 

99 cents when it launches Nov 30th.

AND

he's giving away a $15 GC to one lucky person who enters the rafflecopter.

Obsidian Worlds

by Jason Werbeloff

GENRE:  Sci-Fi

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Jason Werbeloff’s short stories have been downloaded over 20,000 times. Obsidian Worlds brings together his 11 best-selling sci-fi shorts into a mind-bending philosophical anthology.

In Your Averaged Joe, a man’s headache is large enough to hold the multiverse. Q46F is an obsessive-compulsive android who finds love in a zombie-embroiled apocalypse. The end of the world isn’t all that bad – The Experience Machine will fulfil your every desire (and some you hadn’t considered). A sex bot dares to dream of freedom in Dinner with Flexi. But mind what you eat, because The Photons in the Cheese Are Lost. Don’t fret though: The Cryo Killer guarantees that your death will be painless, or your money back when you’re thawed. Unless, that is, you’re The Man with Two Legs.

Plug into Obsidian Worlds for these and other immersive stories, including the hilarious Time-Traveling Chicken Sexer. Your brain will never be the same again.

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(from The Cryo Killer):

“Inesa and Paul, good to meet you. Who referred you?”

“Mr. Camfrey’s wife.”

Paul’s hands are working. Picking at each other. At the cuticles.

“Ah yes, I was sorry to hear about his passing.”

“I think,” she lowers her voice, “that it was professionally done. Heart attack, I hear.”

I lean forward. “You’d like a similar package, ma’am?”

Paul speaks up for the first time. “Is it quick?”

If I had a penny for every time a client asked me that question. “Painless,” I say, “or your money back.”

Paul harrumphs.

“Excellent,” says Inesa, beaming. “You’ve been doing this a while?”

“Best in the business,” says Janet, striding over to us. She places a hand on my shoulder. “You’re safe with Barker.”

“So, you’re wanting the double package?”

Inesa squeezes her husband’s arm. Every carat on her ring finger catches the sunlight. His nod is miniscule.

“Yes,” she replies after a moment.

“Those are difficult.” I lean back in my chair, weighing the ring out of the corner of my eye. “Coroner looks closely at doubles. Need a plausible cause of death. Right now all I have in stock are gas leaks and home invasions. Invasions can get messy – brings down the property value. I suggest the gas leak. Although …” I glance at Paul. “Home invasions are on the rise.”

Paul scratches the skin over his knuckles. His lips have taken on a bluish tinge. I’ve seen all manner of manners displayed in the chairs on the other side of my desk. Clients respond to their impending deaths in all sorts of ways. Paul’s reaction isn’t unique.

“Gas leak,” says Inesa definitively.

Paul nods, a quick jerk up and down. “When’ll it happen?” He can’t meet my gaze.

“I could probably fit you in next week. Any preferences?”

“I’m writing an exam on Tuesday,” says Inesa. She looks to Paul, “And I’m sure you’d like to finalize that merger?”

He groans.

“Late next week?” she asks.

“Let’s see … Janet, check my availability, please.”

“Could do Friday next.”

“Excellent,” says Inesa.

“But …” Paul is fading to a paler blue by the minute. Droplets dot his forehead. “I just can’t live with the thought of this hanging over me for the next ten days. I just …” He swallows. “I just can’t.”

I reach out a hand and touch the man’s shoulder. His golf shirt is saturated. “Not to worry, sir. A memory wipe is included. You’ll never know you were here.” I offer him my warmest smile. Janet calls it the Big Daddy. “In fact, you may’ve been here before, and you wouldn’t know.”

Paul eyeballs me. “Have we been here before?”

“I couldn’t tell you.” I wink.

Review of Obsidian Worlds

11 highly disturbing Sci Fi shorts.

For me, the 11 shorts read more like a moments of the future, one reality tranforming into yet a worse reality at every stage. It was rather like the dark joke: A man noticed a bum sitting on the park bench, down in his luck and said, "Cheer up, things could be worse." So he cheered up and sure enough, things got worse.

I can’t say I actually enjoyed every stories, (some were too disturbing), but they are well written and compelling, so I read them all. The positioning of the stories didn’t seem random to me, but rather moving out to stranger and bleaker dystopian worlds where we go from technological advancements to mutations, the future constantly changing in ever more horrific manners.

For a mixture of horror, dystopia, and Sci-Fi, well written and cleverly assembled, 

I give Obsidian Worlds 5 stars.

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Buy the book for only $0.99: 

AMAZON 

Jason Werbeloff is a novelist and philosopher. He loves chocolate and his Labrador, Sunny.

He's interested in the nature of social groups, personal identity, freedom, and the nature of the mind. His passion is translating philosophical debate around these topics into works of science fiction, while gorging himself on chocolate.

Amazon Author Page – download all of Werbeloff's fiction from Amazon.

http://smarturl.it/AuthWerbeloff

Newsletter – subscribe to get 'The Solace Pill' free, as well as VIP access to Werbeloff's latest fiction.

http://smarturl.it/werbeloff

Goodreads – read reviews of Werbeloff’s fiction.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7340789

Facebook and Twitter – follow Werbeloff for release date information on upcoming shorts and novels.

http://www.facebook.com/solaceseries

https://twitter.com/JasonWerbeloff

Website - read about the author, and the philosophy behind his fiction.

http://www.jasonwerbeloff.com/

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Don't forget the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Thanksgiving!!! (Actually the day after. But you were having a crisis on 11/26)

"The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth" (1914) By Jennie A. Brownscombe

You probably won't be surprised that most sentients do NOT celebrate Thanksgiving. It's a rather specific situation in which, for a very short time, two different groups of people, one having crossed an ocean and the other having lived on the land for all their lives try to befriend one another.

Long term, the whole 'love thy neighbor' concept fell apart because the pale race thought they were smarter and felt they should be master of all. The redder of the two races had lived all their lives on this land and felt the pale creatures should be more respectful and grateful.

But supposedly, what occurred on that 'Thanksgiving Day' was a remarkable coming together of two races.

In Surviving Sojourn, something vaguely similar occurs. Sojourn, the Emperor's daughter, Shakana, whom he secretly loves, the crew and Shakana's guards land on Terranue for provisioning.

Sojourn introduces Shakana and her guards to colonists and the Sargons who have lived on the planet since the beginning of time. The law states that a planet with a sentient life form cannot be colonized by humans because we have proven over and over that we are NOT a well-behaving species.  We do NOT play well with others. Just ask those poor Indians of our past.

However, in this case, the prophecies foretell of a union that forms between Sargon and humans, so as long as the Path of Light reigns, the two are one.

After spending a whole day meeting and enjoying the company of the colonists and the Sargon, inexplicably Shakana's guards attempt to kill a Sargon as they leave that night.

Here's the scene: 

Everyone enjoyed fresh broiled fish seasoned with a tangy spice from roots collected by the pigs and a salt-like substance scraped from a hard fruit that resembled Earth’s coconut.

Drogan was especially pleased. “This is much like my food at home, except better. I enjoy the added flavors.”

“Is it possible for us to include this in our provisioning request?” Shakana whispered into Sojourn’s ear.

Sojourn silently passed the question to Tamara. She brought the serving plate to the princess. “Another fish? But do not eat so much you grow tired of it, because when you leave, your ship’s freezer will be full of them.”

Drogan looked as if he had died and gone to Heaven. “Praise be to the Gods!”

After the meal, Drogan stood and rubbed his swollen belly. “As much as I would like to stay and visit longer, I need to return to the ship and finish the repairs.” A few of the crew chose to go with him and help. Four soldiers, Princess Shakana, and Sojourn remained behind.

As the sun set, they entered the cave and joined his mother on a bench carved from native wood. Sojourn breathed in the smell of lilac again. “I must say, you’ve found a great air freshener.”

Saran smiled. “Air cleanser, to be more precise. The jocara bush does more than smell like sweet lilacs. It absorbs viruses. Shaman Soy discovered its abilities last New Life when the babies grew ill.” She sighed. “We lost two before he came upon the correct solution. Since then, no one has suffered any illnesses at all.”

Shakana leaned forward. “Would it be possible to take a plant on the ship with us?”

Saran laughed. “The plant is quite common here. The Sargon have always used it to settle their little ones’ stomachs. And it survives even in the dim light of the caves. We can give you five pots, and if you wish more I will teach you how to make cuttings. They will root in soil in less than a day.”

Shakana smiled. “If the plant can survive off the planet, this could be a lifesaver to colonists on other planets. Death from viruses is, unfortunately, common.” She placed her and on Sojourn’s arm. “You left here because if the virus, didn’t you?”

Sojourn grimaced as a few of the colonists heard her and stared their way in confusion.

Saran spoke more sharply than he’d ever recalled. “I gave my son up because the prophecies said many children would die if he did not leave.”

Shakana shook her head in confusion. “But these viruses have probably been here for millions of years…”

Saran spoke softly, so only Shakana could hear. “My son was different from other children. He was a man in a child’s body. Instead of looking for the truth, everyone would have blamed him. However, the colonists do not realize he left as an adult. They believe I gave Captain Longfellow my newborn baby. They do not know Sojourn is my son.”

Shakana nodded in understanding and then stroked Sojourn’s muscular arm. “I cannot imagine you being a child.”

Sojourn snorted. “I had barely left the womb before I detested my weak, useless body. I would have been a man in Hell had mother not sacrificed her need for a baby to give her son a life that is not only bearable but challenging and on occasion even fun.”

The princess leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Are you having fun now?”

He smiled at her. He wished he could kiss her, but he was certain that would cause an offense far worse than petting Blue had. “Yes, I am.”

General Bronson approached from behind and gently pushed them apart as he leaned down to speak. “Princess, we should return to the ship soon.”

Sojourn heard the message behind that firm shove: “Keep your distance, commoner.” Ignoring the warning, he stood and offered the Princess his hand as he mentally connected to his pilot, Davy, and asked him to return with the shuttle.

Tamara approached. “I will see you two safely to the ship. The bears can be pesky at night.”

That comment had the four soldiers a bit trigger-happy as they stepped outside. As one took aim at the form of a Sargon, Sojourn knocked his gun upward so the shot flew harmlessly into the sky. “That is a Sargon, you fool!”

The remaining guards pointed their guns at Sojourn.

Shakana interceded before the soldiers could respond. “Everyone calm down. Sojourn had every right to stop you from murdering a citizen of the colony. Since you are unable to differentiate between a bear and a bull, you will harness your rifles now!”

“Princess…” General Bronson said.

“My life cannot be valued more than the life of an innocent citizen. We will discuss this further once we return to the ship, but right now you will place your rifles in your scabbards and allow Tamara to keep us safe.”

Bronson looked at Sojourn for the final word, perhaps expecting him to take the blame for this incident.

He met the general’s steely stare-down. “Tamara can keep us safe in ways you cannot conceive.  Your men are not needed here.”

It turns out Xenophobia has infested Shakana's guards. What happens next will alter their destiny forever.

Hopefully, your Thanksgiving will be fun and loving....

Good luck on that.  As far as I can tell, we continue to be a troubled species.

If matters get too crazy, bury yourself in my often humorous Sci-Fi series.

Kevin Laymon shares Future Winds

Today, I have Kevin Laymon and Future Winds. Kevin will be giving away a $20 Gift Card from ThinkGeek.com to one lucky rafflecopter winner.

Let's check out his book.

Future Winds

by Kevin Laymon

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GENRE: Sci-Fi

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BLURB:

Set in a science fiction setting with elements of twisted horror, Future Winds is a strange yet wondrous tale of species self preservation and the all out moral cost of survival. Forced to leave earth, humanity discovers a planet capable of supporting life and hatches an audacious plan that will warp them across the universe to settle and begin anew. There is a darkness that resides below the planet's surface, but with no option to turn back, humanity must find a way forward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 4 excerpt

Here we have two brothers who are being transported to their new home. They are nervous and afraid.

Ness wasn’t sure of the correct answer, so he lied. Way he saw it, he had a fifty/fifty shot of getting it right anyway. “Na, we aren’t slaves Lucas. You think Ma would have let us get on this ship if that were the case?”

The younger boy began to quietly weep. “I miss Mom,” he reminded his older brother, just as he had the day before and the day before that.

“Yea me too buddy, but we will see her soon.” Ness lied once more.

 BUY LINK:

AMAZON

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

My name is Kevin Laymon. My passions are space exploration, music, sailing, snowboarding, wildlife, and of course writing. I have been writing for some time but the focus has been primarily on short stories and dark poems strictly for personal use. Future Winds is the first of a handful of novels I am working on for publication. I grew up in upstate New York and have lived up and down the east coast. New York is a location that holds a very special place in my heart. After working a wide range of jobs that I hated for far too long, Sara my significant other, and I decided earlier in 2015 to make some dramatic changes and travel. We scraped together some cash, I quit my job, and we moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where we live a libertarian life as vegetarians. We share our desertscape living quarters with an aquatic turtle named Taz and a rabbit named BunBear. On October 9th 2015 Sara & I got married in Las Vegas, Nevada. The sunshine in New Mexico has helped immensely in illuminating a greater perspective as to who I am and what I was placed on this planet to do; that is to teach and inspire. I have a hunger to awaken humanity so that we may break away from our programed way of thinking. Our minds are powerful and I encourage everyone to open them up, exercise them, and tap into the potential I know every living man woman and child has. Though my stories at times can be very dark there is a reason for everything I do. Perspective, perception, and relativity are everything in the world of literature.

Website:

AuthorKevinLaymon.com

Facebook:

Facebook.com/AuthorKevinLaymon

Twitter:

Twitter.com/Kevin_Laymon

  

 Don't forget to enter the rafflecopter!

 Kevin will be awarding a $20 gift card to Thinkgeek.com (international) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Rock star family: Rosetta, Philae and Kid Rock

Today, I'm talking about my favorite robots and the BIG Kid Rock: 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.

As you recall, Rosetta and Kid Rock had a baby robot called Philae. According to Kid Rock, the baby looked nothing like him and he moved on. (Asteroids tend to do that. I've no idea why Rosetta thought he'd stick.)

Instead of realizing her mistake and finding a nice scientist to settle down with, Rosetta grabs Philae and runs off after Kid Rock. It took her forever to track him down, but she did. She then sends her son, Philae down to Kid Rock and tells him she's tired and he needs to care for Philae.

You know this had to be traumatic for Philae. First, his dad wants nothing to do with him and runs off. Then his mom grabs Philae and chases after him. Then just dumps him on the rock. Nor does Kid Rock want him, which Philae discovered when he attempted to attach himself to the surface. "NO WAY! You aren't mine and you don't look a thing like me!"  He then shouted at Rosetta hanging above them filming it all. "You can ask for alimony 'til your gold turns to lead, but I'm  not giving you anything!"

Needless to say, Philae goes wandering off to cry in a dark dip, not realizing until it was too late, that the shade was not his friend.  

When Kid Rock moved closer to the Sun, Philae woke from his long sleep and called back to the humans on Earth. We were all so happy to hear from him. I even cried with happiness that against all odds, he was back. But not one earth person offered to fly out and rescue him, so soon he grew despondant and went silent again. He was tired of giving out data but never getting any in return.

And what was Rosetta doing all this time? Sniffing about Kid Rock, try to determine what he's made of. Seriously, Rosetta, you should have inquired about his composition when you first met him. Not after you've had baby Philae, chased your rock star down, and dumped the poor Philae in his lap. Kid Rock was getting ready to go on his Round the Sun tour. Tours are the life blood of rock bands! You know that!

 But like gum on a shoe, Kid Rock cannot get rid of Rosetta...or Philae for that matter.  If he even tried to invite some pretty rockett over to his space after a concert, Rosetta would be all over her in seconds, reporting everything back to Earth.  The paparazzis would have a field day!

So what is to become of our dysfunctional space family? Well, the Earthlings have decided they are going to get the family back together. Sounds sweet. We all love a happy ending....

OR NOT.

The earthlings have given Rosetta permission to CRASH into Kid Rock. During her descent she will measure and send back everything she can about the jerk. While she didn't know a great deal  when they made Philae, she does now. For example, he has a great deal of sweet smelling oxygen around him. The question she wants to know is: does his composition make him smell so sweet or is it the scent from some hussy rock that rubbed up against him some time before Rosetta caught up with her rock star. 

While the humans want her to CRASH softly, don't count on it.  Like any female who has been abandoned and ignored, she's going to end matters with a vengence.  

And what about Philae? Most earthings think he is truly dead now. The red marker shows where they think he is. But he's not talking.

And here is a close up: 

Poor Philae probably starved to death from a lack of nurturing from either of his parents. Seriously, some robots and rocks shouldn't be allowed to care for a field mouse.

Well, at least now have clear proof Philae was Kid Rock's. Here's a recent upload at the ESA site sharing Philae's sounds of science:

https://soundcloud.com/esaops/the-sound-of-philae-conducting-science2

Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom. For more humorous science, try my Multiverse series.

Matronly Duties by Melissa Kendall

Today, we have the very talented Melissa Kendall and her remarkable novel, Matronly Duties.

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Genre:  FICTION / Romance / General / Science Fiction

EBook available from: Amazon and ITunes

 Matronly Duties

by

Melissa Kendall

~~SUMMARY~~

Hundreds of years after an asteroid slammed into Earth and sent it into a new ice age, what remains of the human race lives on in underground sanctuaries. Now, as the bicentennial anniversary of the impact approaches, a new leader prepares to take her place at the head of the government. At least, that’s what she thinks.

Bethanie Greene’s life has been planned out for her since the age of thirteen. Beautiful and intelligent, she’s spent the last twelve years training to become the next Matron of the underground nation of Oceania. But when Bethanie is kidnapped by rogue extremists just six weeks shy of taking office, her world is turned upside down by the handsome stranger who rescues her.

Howard James’ life has been the polar opposite of Bethanie’s. Struggling to survive in a world where those in power wished he didn’t exist, he harbors a deep-seated resentment of the government and all its representatives. Together with his unconventional family, he shows Bethanie a life she never knew was possible, while at the same time, opening her eyes to the injustices of the government she is meant to lead.

But can she trust a stranger? And can a few days change everything she believes and desires? Against all odds, Bethanie must decide if her heart and her duties can coexist.

~~EXCERPT~~

A yawn creeps up my throat and I suddenly feel like I haven’t slept in weeks. The temptation to curl up and go to sleep is strong, but my body is telling me I need a trip to the bathroom first.

I head down the hall to the door at the end. It’s ajar, so I push the door open—and freeze. The bathroom is not empty.

Howard stands at the sink, naked from the waist up, cleaning his teeth. Without clothing, his shoulders look twice as wide as before and every curve and dip in his muscles is clearly visible. Down the middle of his back is what looks like a big, black T. I have this crazy inclination to trace it to see how it feels.

Howard clears his throat and my gaze shoots up to find him watching me in the mirror. “Do you mind?”

He winks at me.

Oh crap!

“Sorry.” I pull the door shut. I’m mortified to have been caught staring. I also have butterflies in my stomach again, stronger than ever, and my heart is pounding. I fan my face with my hands in an attempt to calm myself down.

Before I can get everything under control, the door opens and a still-shirtless Howard walks out.

“All yours.”

“Uh-huh.”

I mentally slap myself for such an inept reply, but the view of him from the front is even better than the back. He has one of those washboard stomachs I’ve heard Gail talk about. I never understood what she meant, but now I can see how apt the description is. Once again, I find myself unable to stop staring.

“Good night, Bethanie,” Howard says strolling down the hallway.

“Howard? What’s the T on your back?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

He stops and half turns towards me. “It’s a tattoo, and it isn’t a T, it’s a crucifix.”

“A crucifix?”

“Yeah, it’s the cross Christ was nailed to. It is a symbol of the weight I bare in the name of justice.”

“Huh. I’m sorry, I don’t really know what you’re talking about. It’s nice, though.”

“Thanks,” he says, “but I better get to bed if I’m going to be up early to take you to the post office.”

“Night,” I call after him.

“Sweet dreams,” he calls back.

I smile. They might just be.

EBook available from: Amazon and ITunes

~~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~~

Melissa Kendall is an almost forty-year-old mother of two from Perth, Western Australia, the second-most isolated capital city in the world. Predominantly a stay-at-home mum, she works a few hours a week as a software support consultant. She has always loved to read and write, and spent most of her teens writing poetry and short stories. Over the years, daily life got in the way and she lost the passion for it, but after the birth of her first child, Melissa discovered e-books and her interest in writing rekindled. She is now the author of two published short stories. Matronly Duties is her first full-length novel.

~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Website