Sneak Peak

Rather than drone on about how edits on The Unfinished Song: Sacrifice are going (except to say they are indeed ongoing), I thought I'd let you have a peak at my next project-in-progress. This is going to be a military hard sf series called STRAT.

On a hell world where feudal mech lords use memetic tech to imprint loyalty onto their vassals and thralls, all Charlie and his people ask is to be left alone, free to think for themselves.

Then, on his wedding day, Charlie's bride is kidnapped to be a thrall. As he fights for his life and her freedom, he discovers the war helm of an ancient and powerful lord. He needs the knowledge in the helm to bring the battle to his enemies. But if he uses it, he risks losing himself...




I'm going to release it in novella-lenth episodes of about 25,000-35,000 words each. Charlie is gonna fight in a lot of wars, and each episode will cover one war. I'll start with a trilogy and may expand from there.

Comments

Kris said…
Sounds awesome overall!
Tara Maya said…
Thanks, Kris. Of course, if I had really wanted to explore the dystoipic side of memes, I realize now should have included a toaster cat. But I don't write horror. ;)
Ban said…
Oh, yay :) Still waiting for my copy of installment #2 in Dindi's story but this sounds really interesting.

BTW - loved The Unfinished Song but I knew I would after having read your snippets!
Tara Maya said…
Ban, email me and I'll send you a copy of The Unfinished Song: Taboo (Book 2).
Unknown said…
Oooh, STRAT's concept sounds cool. And best of luck with your edits!
Krista said…
STRAT sounds cool. I love stories about fighting for freedom to think for ones self.

I am also excited to checkout your other work.

~Krista
I Take the Pen
Marc Davies said…
Looks cool Tara. I love the blurb. Just the kind of thing I like to read.
TheSFReader said…
Me Wants ! Great news. And can't wait for Sacrifice :)
Anonymous said…
Oh this sounds so enticing!
wannabuy said…
Oh...

Right STRAT is right up my ally!

Wait a second... Talk about a genre shift! Don't you know publishers don't allow that? ;)

Shouldn't you have to use a pen name like Titanic Mayan? ;)
(Where is the animated 'duck' icon to show that was meant as a friendly joke?)

I love the freedom of self publishing (for the authors, my writing skills wouldn't sell beyond immediate friends and family). :) Does this mean the painted tales stories are on hold?

Good luck!
Neil
Tara Maya said…
If I can pull it off, I have three different genre series I want to start this summer. The Unfinished Song (epic fantasy) is already rolling, of course; STRAT will be military sf, and I also have a kids' series. I'll post more about that when it's closer to completion.

I did think of using different pen names, and maybe under legacy publishing, I'd have to but I decided my readers could decide which series they wanted to follow. All three series do have something in common, in that they are broadly speculative fiction.

The Painted World novel might be a while in coming, sorry. A few more stories might pop up in anthologies here and about... I like to have many different projects ongoing at the same time. But I hope you do enjoy STRAT in the meantime.
That sounds fun! And what a great idea to do it in novella pieces!