ROBOT OVERLORDS, UNICORNS, AND THE SPINELESS KINGDOM

I've been doing a lot of research lately into certain science fictional concepts*. Amazingly, many of them have tipped the innovation teeter totter and now are closer to reality than fiction.  I won't bore you with all the papers and discussions, but will share a few of my favorite links**.

SKYNET: JUST HOW CLOSE ARE WE???
This compilation of robots walking and performing commanded movements proves that we're just minutes away from total annihila... Sorry, I got carried away. We're safe from robot overlords for the moment, seeing as how they're apparently all slow toddlers. Or really drunk and trying to appear sober.

ROBOT TO ROBOT CHAT
What happens when two robots programmed to mimic human speech have a conversation? Unicorns, that's what. Have a listen at NPR.

And, in case you thought that all I do is watch and listen to robots, here is a gallery of pictures of THE SPINELESS KINGDOM (also known as pictures of cute octopi and fugly critters from the deep by Susan Middleton).

*Also a lot of gaming and reading, but I'm filing that under research.

**Later, if you're good, I might write a sweet essay or two on these. Because nothing says TOTALLY NOT BORING like an essay, amirite?

***

Regan Summers is the author of the romantic urban fantasy Night Runner series. As a native Alaskan, she’s used to long, cold nights but thinks they’re better with a helping of sexy vampires. Don’t Bite the Messenger, the first in the series, was a finalist for the 2013 EPIC eBook Awards in the paranormal category.

Find her here:

Website: http://regansummers.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Regan_Summers

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5350866.Regan_Summers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReganSummersAuthor

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/6nFaH

Tips for Writing Speculative Flash Fiction

I write flash fiction and novels. For whatever reason, I prefer to write stories under 1,000 words or over 50,000 words. I’m trying to get into writing longer short stories, but there have been many fits and starts in that realm. So, until then, I’ll stick with flash fiction. Some people may think it’s hard to flesh out speculative ideas with so few words, but it can be done! In fact, drabbles (100-word fiction) have their roots in science fiction.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you set out to write that super short speculative story.

·        Word choice is everything. You know not to use a fancy word when a simple word would do, and that’s still true. But, with so few tools to get the essence across, often a simple word won’t do. You need every word to pull its weight and add to the feel and exposition of the story.

·        Keep it to one scene. At least at first. Once you feel comfortable with the format, you may want to try more scenes to really challenge yourself.

·        Leverage common themes. If a two word phrase can pack an informational punch without being trite, then use it!

·        Solve the puzzle. I think flash fiction (and tweet writing) really appeal to me because word limitations make writing into a puzzle. What is the exact combination of words that is going to get this story across in only 1,000 words, 100 words, or 140 charecters!

If you’d like to see an example, I've included a drabble I wrote below. It appears in 100 Worlds: Lightning-Quick SF and Fantasy Tales. And if you want some quick feedback, I give free flash fiction critiques to my subscribers. 

Happy short writing!

Preferences

My toes curl over the edge of the wooden plank. Splinters snuggle. I wish for any other breed of execution.  

Give me the elves’ fatal pinpricks. Let my brain rattle into madness from the fearsome fairies’ devious conundrums. Please, hang me by the great spiders’ sinewy threads. Grant me the privilege of seeing the giants’ grins before their fists pummel me. 

I want anything but this.

They know that.

That is why a vat of vindictive vermin broils below. That is why hot droplets spew and slap my feet. 

That is why fingertips rest on my back, ready to push.

Jupiter Ascending

I know we talk more about fantasy here than science fiction, but I loved Jupiter Ascending so much that I had to talk about it!

It's not perfect and the critics panned it. Yes, the worldbuilding is a weird mishmash of several different tropes. The hero is part werewolf, used to have wings, and flies around in gravity-surfing boots (aka he rollerblades across the sky and it's awesome). He has pointy ears and he doesn't talk a lot.

But I don't care. He's still fantastic.  And no, it's not just because Caine's played by Channing Tatum. To be honest, I couldn't recall anything else I've seen him in (I didn't see Magic Mike).

It could use some editing. I would have trimmed down some of the story at the beginning (spoiler warning: there is a death at the beginning of the movie that greatly affects Jupiter's life) and lightened it up some. I had to replay a couple of the early scenes to make sure I understood what was going on (plus the kids were in and out on their way to the pool, which made it hard to concentrate). The first 10-15 mins are definitely slow. But if you can make it past that, the rest of the movie held my attention glued to the TV, and I immediately watched it again.

Even better:  I watched it again last night with Littlest (who'll be twelve this week) and she LOVED it. Watching it with her was priceless. Every time Caine rescued Jupiter, or tugged her behind him to protect her, Littlest squealed with delight. He was so protective, without ever diminishing Jupiter in any way. Granted at the beginning she didn't know what the hell was going on, and she needed some direction. But all too quickly, she's dealing with several-thousand-year-old vindictively powerful family she never knew and in the end...

SHE'S the one who saves Earth.

I want more fun and crazy movies like this, with a strong romance thread! An everyday heroine who takes charge and in the end saves the day! A sexy, strong hero who rescues the heroine--but also lets her stand on her own and supports her without getting his manly panties in a twist.

Me being a romance hound, I could have used even more relationship elements, but it was still really good, made me laugh, made me smile, and yes, swoon a little when Caine gets his wings back.

Have you seen Jupiter Ascending, or have a similar movie to recommend?

Here Be News

New Releases

A prank gone wrong throws three unlikely partners together: A demon. A dragon. And an egg.

In the ordinary world, forces are at work which keep the balance of the universe in order. Enter Eve Sinclair, a higher demon with a mission—to sway those souls on the brink of Decision, to push them toward hell, as they are meant to go.

After a prank played by her brothers, Eve finds herself holding the proverbial bag, accused of stealing a precious dragon egg. Worse, it’s a royal egg, as she learns from Ranton, the furious commander of the dragon legion.

Not a creature to have on one’s bad side, Ranton shifts between his human and dragon forms, keeping Eve off-balance and off her game. Normally a master at manipulating males, Eve finds that Ranton is more than a match for her…as is his brother, the new dragon king. In their arms, she’s mere putty.

And soon they’re not only molding her desires, but her heart as well.

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Wedding Scene from Mission to Mahjundar SciFi Romance

Continuing the Wedding Week theme at Here Be Magic, I offer up the wedding scene from my most recent award-winning science fiction romance Mission to Mahjundar. It's not really a spoiler because we all know my romances have Happily Ever After endings. I couldn't give you the entire scene, however, because then there would have been spoilers!

The chapel on the Andromeda was nondenominational, per Fleet regulations, suitable for the basic rituals and observanc­es of most of the thirty odd peoples found in the planetary systems making up the Sectors. As captain of the battleship, Nikolai was authorized to perform ceremonies from christenings to weddings to funerals.

Mike stood in his blue dress uniform, grinning from ear to ear, at the far bulkhead, beneath the stunning vista of the galactic star fields projected by the ship’s AI.

Feeling a little foolish, as if he’d stepped from a recruiting holo since he was wearing a dress uniform, he was flanked by his best man, Johnny, who had never—to the best of Mike’s recollection—worn a dress uniform before.

And we’re both as nervous as we were on day one at the Academy and boot camp. Mike took a deep breath, hoping to calm the butterflies in his gut. This is worse than any mission behind enemy lines. At least he could breathe, thanks to the rejuve regenerator treatment. Not even bruises left. And he’d have the strength to give his princess a proper wedding night. A bed on the Andromeda would be much more conducive to what he had in mind than the mat and furs on the cave floor had been. He nudged his best man in the ribs. “You're sure you've got the ring?”

“For the tenth time, I've got the ring,” Johnny whispered. He displayed the jewelry in question for a moment, before stowing it back in his pocket. “I won't drop it.”

Ignoring the small group of wedding guests, Mike gazed at the empty doorway, impatience making his stomach churn. “What could be taking so long? You're sure she was all right?”

“When they threw me out this afternoon so she could try on dresses, she was fine,” Johnny answered. “Calm down before you have an anxiety attack. Got no medkit on me right now.”

The guests were mostly from Nikolai's command staff. Everett was in attendance, thin, pale, but looking like a different person in his dress uniform. Mike hadn’t expected anything more than a bare bones civil ceremony, but a few minutes ago Nikolai confided that the Andromeda’s  Executive Officer’s deepest secret was her love for steamy romance novels from the holo serial library. “Don’t ask how I know,” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “But when I told her there was to be a wedding between a princess and a Special Forces officer, with her challenge being to provide the dress, she went all-out. I promise your bride will have all the necessary details for her special day, my friend.”

Now, the AI played a processional from the days of old Terra, which Mike's ancestors had carried with them to their new home world.

Shalira, walking alone, appeared in the doorway.

Her beauty took Mike's breath away.

The Story:

An attempted assassination left Princess Shalira blind as a child and, now that she’s of marriageable age, her prospects are not good because of her disability. She’s resigned herself to an arranged marriage rather than face life under the thumb of her cold stepmother. But then she meets Mike Varone, a Sectors Special Forces officer sent to Mahjundar by the intergalactic government to retrieve a ship lost in her planet’s mountains. After Mike saves Shalira from another assassination attempt, she arranges for him to escort her across the planet to her future husband. She’s already falling hard for the deadly offworlder and knows she should deny herself the temptation he represents, but taking Mike along to protect her is the only way she’ll live long enough to escape her ruthless stepmother.

But what should have been an easy trek through Mahjundar’s peaceful lands swiftly turns into an ambush with danger around every turn. Shalira’s marriage begins to seem less like an arranged union and more like yet another planned assassination. The more they work together to survive, the harder it becomes to stop themselves from falling in love. Caught in a race against time, can they escape the hostile forces hunting them and make it off the planet?

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Wedding Week - Impending Joyousness

I thought it would be fun to do a bit of flash fiction on the theme of futuristic weddings. This isn’t set in any particular universe, but I hope you enjoy it!

---

Tas smiled as he spotted the couple nervously edging past the front door of MariBliss Marital Bliss Emporium. A moment later, he caught movement across the shop out of the corner of his eye that flattened the smile into a scowl. Oh hell no, New Guy was not stealing this commission from him!

Walking—not running, because that would not be cool—Tas beat out New Guy by seconds. He ignored his coworker and turned a brilliant smile on the couple, who were holding hands as though their lives depended on it. He didn’t blame them—all the promotional holos and flashing lights could be a little overwhelming at first.

“Welcome!” Tas said, throwing his arms wide. “We’re so happy you’ve chosen MariBliss for your impending joyousness. I’m Tas, and I’ll personally make sure that your day is absolutely perfect.”

The taller woman of the two smiled back, but the expression was hesitant, as though she wasn’t sure what she had gotten herself and her fiancée into when they stepped through the door. Clearly she needed some convincing that she’d gotten them into pure awesomeness. “Uh, hi. I’m Mosan and this is Awny. We want to get married?”

“Doesn’t everyone on Dove 9? MariBliss offers the best experience on the planet. Whatever you want, whatever you need, whatever you desire.” Considering that Dove 9’s main draw was its destination weddings, that was saying something. Tas waggled his brows and swept an arm toward the showroom behind him, just narrowly missing New Guy—who was still hovering like a dog looking for scraps. Pathetic. “Do you have any ideas about what you’re looking for?”

“It will be a small ceremony,” Awny said, her voice soft but melodious. “Our families couldn’t make it.”

“That’s a shame. We—”

“We can connect them with holos,” New Guy piped up.

Tas glared at him, then turned a smile back to the couple. “Yes. We can connect them with holos, that’s not a problem.”

“And I’d like something…I don’t know…” Mosan waved the hand not clutched in her fiancée’s death grip.  “Magical.”

New Guy snapped his fingers. “Flutterbirds! They’d be perfect—they’ve got gossamer wings, they’re small, and they shift colour—”

Tas clenched his jaw, about to tell New Guy to go do something else, when Mosan nodded. “They sound wonderful!”

“Flutterbirds it is,” Tas said, trying to recover his smile. “When do you want the ceremony?”

Awny grinned at her fiancée. “By the end of the week would be perfect. That would give us time to have a honeymoon, too.”

“We have packages for that as well—”

“Crystal Lake and Gardens is available!” New Guy said, looking up from the tablet he’d used to access venue availability. “Oh, the flutterbirds with the crystals and the lighting—magical doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

No, magical described what Tas was going to do to New Guy for stealing his freaking commission. “Why don’t you go ahead and book that, then? Make sure you use my name.”

“I found it.”

“These are my customers.”

New Guy glared. “Only because you have longer legs than I do.”

“That’s not my fault, is it?” Tas’s smile widened as he regarded the happy couple again. “Now, what colours are you considering?”

“Pastels would be perfect with your colouring,” New Guy said.

Tas gritted his teeth. “I think vibrant hues would be more suitable.”

“But with the flutter—”

“Vibrant. Hues. Make a note.”

“I’m not your assistant!”

Tas whirled on New Guy. “No, you’re a would-be thief who—”

“Aw, crap, Tas, you scared them off!”

Tas turned to see Mosan and Awny skittering out the door, taking the credits that could have been his with them. “That’s your fault.”

New Guy set his tablet on homing mode so it would hover back to its charging cradle. “My fault? You’re the one who was yelling…”

“Oh, for crying out loud, will the two of you just get a room, already?” one of their co-workers shouted across the showroom.

Tas eyed New Guy, lips set into a thin, firm line. He crossed his arms and fidgeted, still annoyed that they’d lost out on that commission. But maybe they could still salvage something from the day. “Usual spot?”

New G—Ralik’s eyes sparkled. “Yeah.”

---

Lonely Shore, the second book in my male/male science fiction romance series (co-written with Kelly Jensen) is now available!

The Sacred Marriage in Fantasy

Fantasy novels often include a marriage somewhere along the way, typically at the end of the book, and one can cite many reasons why this might be the case.  In fantasy romance, of course, the reader expects the characters to get together at the end, and few things say ‘together’ like marriage vows.  But the wedding bells are a-ringing in other fantasy novels in which the romance is a very minor subplot.  The Lord of the Rings, for example, could hardly be called a romance, but the long denouement includes both the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen and mentions the wedding of Sam and Rosie as well.  (A lovely bit of parallelism between the high-born and the low, by the way, but that’s the subject for another blog.) 

Another book that comes to mind is The Silver Sun by Nancy Springer, a fantasy written in the late seventies/early eighties that still has a small but loyal group of devotees.  (I tried to look up the exact publication date, but could only find the date for the most recent imprint, and my copy is in storage somewhere.)  The Silver Sun actually ends with a double wedding of two brother kings, after the healer-king (another archetype) wins his throne and brings peace to a troubled land.  (I could write a whole separate blog on Nancy Springer’s pagan archetypes.  This particular novel is chock-full of them, so if you, like me, just love that sort of fantasy you’ll enjoy it even though her prose is not as accomplished as it is in the brilliant contemporary fantasies of her later career.)

Now cynics might point out the grand finale wedding as a patriarchal cliché.  The hero ‘gets the girl’ as a reward for his heroism.  And yes, sometimes, the story is that shallow.  But I think more often you will find a resonance, intended or not, with the sacred marriage that heals the land.

Let’s talk a bit about the concept of the sacred marriage, at its heart a pagan concept.  It symbolizes the union of the male and the female, the sun and the moon, the wild god of the hunt and the gentle lady of the grain fields, the summer and the winter, the darkness and the light.  When the opposites are harmoniously balanced, symbolized by the marriage of the two contrary forces, all is well for the people.  In some traditions, the sacred marriage is equated with the marriage of the king and queen.  If their union is joyous and fertile, the land will prosper.  If it is not, it bodes ill for their kingdom. Compare the fate of Gondor under Aragorn and Arwen with that of Camelot after the star-crossed triangle of Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot.

(There is debate as to how literally the ancient people associated the sacred marriage with real-life kingship; but that is for more learned scholars than I to argue.)

Although in modern times June is the month for weddings, pagans associate the sacred marriage with Beltane, or May Day.  (You can read more about this festival in my blog here.)This is why I chose Beltane as the night my protagonist and his love reunite after an absence Raven's Wing, the second book of my Ravensblood urban fantasy series.  Though they have been lovers for a few years by this point, this is the first time the reader sees them together intimately, and so I wanted it to be a special moment.

My forthcoming novel, Where Light Meets Shadow, begins with two kindred elven races sundered by a broken engagement between the queen of the Scathlan (dark elves) and the king of the Leas (the elves of the light.), a sort of failed sacred marriage.  In the uneasy détente, the Leas have prospered and the Scathlan begun to fail.  The genre is male/male fantasy romance, and yet I manage to use the idea of a new sacred marriage healing the land in a way that readers may not expect!

--Shawna Reppert

www.Shawna-Reppert.com

Raven's Wing: (now available)

Raven struggled to escape the world of dark magic he’d committed to as a bitter young man. Now he must come to terms with both his past and his ancestry. What will be his place in the Three Communities? When he finds himself on the run, trying to find the stolen Ravensblood, the task grows much harder. He must protect the people he has come to care about from the danger of this powerful artifact in the wrong hands, and at the same time prove he is not the thief!

Where Light Meets Shadow (August 8, 2015)

The Scathlan elf Kieran  journeys through mortal lands in search of new songs and tales to renew his people’s dying culture. His most cherished, most impossible hope is to rediscover the powers of bards from legend in order to wake the queen, in a stupor since the end of the war between his own people and the Leas elves.

  

Kieran accidentally wanders into Leas lands, and a fall from his horse leaves him injured and at the mercy of his enemies.

He discovers that the Leas are not entirely as he believed them to be.  He develops a friendship with the Leas healer-prince, and the two work together to recreate an ancient technique for melding bardic and healing magic, a technique he secretly hopes will wake his queen.

As friendship deepens into love, will they find a way to heal the rift between Leas and Scathlan, or will the old enmity destroy them?