I have many series and my most common question is… where do I start! So here’s the answer to that question.
Note: The Smashwords link will have ebook editions suitable for all current readers.
Major Settings
Kherishdar: Civilization and the Role of the Individual
The stories of the Ai-Naidar are sociological science fiction… about society, civilization and the balance between individual and community. The Ai-Naidar place more emphasis on the latter, and their caste-based empire makes for very different values. The Aphorisms was my first sustained effort at crowdfunding, and deals with the virtues of the empire of Kherishdar; the Admonishments, the companion volume, deals with its sins. Black Blossom is the third volume in the series. If you want something more meditative in tone, begin with the Aphorisms (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N ), proceed through the Admonishments (Amazon | Smashwords ) and continue to Black Blossom (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N ). You can read more about the Ai-Naidar and get a full reading order on their page.
The Jokka: Gender and Loss Among Aliens
The Jokka are aliens with three sexes—female, male and neuter—who also have a chance to turn from one sex to another at two separate puberties. Recent climate changes have been harsh on them, and the breeding sexes are particularly prone to strokes and other forms of stress-related disability. These stories deal with gender, identity and loss and are not light reading. They were among my first published pieces. If you want to travel to a completely different world and be immersed—there are no humans in these stories—try these. I recommend beginning with the short story collection Clays Beneath the Skies (Amazon | B&N), or if you prefer novel-length works, the first novel of the Stone Moon trilogy, The Worth of a Shell (Smashwords | Amazon | B&N). For a full list of stories, reading order, and art, check their page on this site.
The Eldritch: Space Elves and Space Opera in the Universe of the Pelted
Hiding among the gengineered races of my Paradox setting are the Eldritch, long-lived humanoid espers with the sensibilities (or so they think) of elves. The Eldritch feature prominently in several storylines and are best followed by character:
• Jahir and Vasiht’h: Jahir is a therapist working jointly with an centauroid alien; their stories are best begun with “The Case of the Poisoned House and Other Case Studies” (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N).
• Hirianthial: This wanderer prince is taken in by a young, feisty merchant captain, beginning with the novel Earthrise, currently being serialized on this blog.
• Lisinthir: The ambassador-turned-lover begins his story in the violent novel Even the Wingless (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N).
You can get more information and an expanded reading order at the Pelted setting page.
The Pelted SF: Adventure and Ethics, with Gengineered Furries
The Pelted’s relationship with humanity, who created them via genetic engineering centuries ago, is the subject of my non-military SF in the Paradox universe. Of those, “Broken Chains” (originally published as “A Distant Sun”) is the best introduction for new readers. The rest are lighter in tone, ranging from frankly humorous to happy-ending stories, all with humanity and their effect on the Pelted hanging in the background. If you want light biology-leaning sociological SF, or you like furries, try these, beginning with the collection Claws and Starships (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N). You can get more information and an expanded reading order at the Pelted setting page.
The Pelted Military SF: Action in Space, with Gengineered Furries
The Pelted developed their military based on hazy memories of Earth’s and came up with something a little softer-core in mission and behavior. In much the same way, my Pelted SF is a lot more relationship-based than typical. Nevertheless, it does have its share of explosions and space-based crises. Most of the Pelted military SF revolves around Alysha Forrest and the women who will eventually crew her battlecruiser, the UAV Stardancer. Begin with Alysha’s Fall (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N) if you want something dark, or skip to “Second” (Amazon) for something more typical. You can get more information and an expanded reading order at the Pelted setting page.
Standalone Novels
Spots the Space Marine: Military Science Fiction
For grit and fast-paced action with strong characters, try this novel. (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N)
A Rosary of Stones and Thorns: Urban Angel Fantasy
Can a Jesuit, a demon, an angel and two high school kids stop the Apocalypse? Urban fantasy with a Catholic flavor. (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N )
The Godkindred Saga: Epic Furry Fantasy
On the eve of her retirement, a tired griffin military commander is recalled and put to work pacifying a most unruly province. A duology starting with Flight of the Godkin Griffin. (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N)
Other Settings
The Tsipia: Serenity in the Face of Storms
The Tsipia-seekers (later Tsipia-aliens) were once called “bipedal Buddhist dinosaurs” by a friend reading them, and this description suits them as well as any. Their stories take place in two timelines: their historic time-period, on their homeworld, the setting for the first story, “Songs From a Conch Shell Whistle” (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N); and their high-technology post-human contact period, the setting for the story “Living the Moment” (Amazon | Smashwords ).
The Le’enle: To Be Immortal
The Le’enle are magical immortals, and so one would expect their stories to be full of epic-fantasy-like derring-do. Instead they end up as meditations on the limitations of power, relationships and the consequences of being almost omnipotent. These are mood pieces, some of them drifting into horror. If you want an anodyne to “super-powerful heroes solve everything,” begin with my favorite, “Breath Long as Years.” (Amazon | Smashwords | B&N )
