The Prisoner of Valathia takes place after their escape from Tamerlane’s hi-tech
prison, and the defeat of Darius Drake's apocalyptic plans for the humanoid
home-worlds, Titanya the Pirate Queen joins Sylvan Silla Low in becoming an
agent of the Alliance.
Now partners, the brash, beautiful pirate queen, and the cowardly, chain-smoking elf, take on their first official mission together…investigate the hijack of a prototype military stealth craft and its connection to the mysterious owner of a small mining operation.
What begins as a simple undercover mission soon becomes something far more sinister as they find themselves caught up in one man’s obsession with ancient forces powerful enough to destroy them all.
Now partners, the brash, beautiful pirate queen, and the cowardly, chain-smoking elf, take on their first official mission together…investigate the hijack of a prototype military stealth craft and its connection to the mysterious owner of a small mining operation.
What begins as a simple undercover mission soon becomes something far more sinister as they find themselves caught up in one man’s obsession with ancient forces powerful enough to destroy them all.
There’s an added depth to
this fourth instalment.
Although still light-hearted,
action-based science fiction, the Prisoner
of Valathia explores Sillow’s character in a way never done before. His
personal demons, self-questioning, and also his existential angst provide major
elements in the story. Previous instalments all portrayed this restless misfit
from a clownish, external perspective. This novel looks at the tortured
character behind it. Sillow is an orphan who realises he must learn about his
own background if he is to ever fill the void inside him.
There is also a character
development that wasn’t possible before. Love, duty and an obsessive desire for
belonging all pull Sillow in different directions and it is up to him alone to
navigate his way along this tortuous maturational path.
EXCERPT:
Tall, raven
haired, with her femininely muscular frame squeezed into a red cocktail dress,
Titanya turned every male head as she made her way through the swarm of elite
guests. Many tried to think of ways they might meet this amazon and find out just
who she was. Even the artificial ruby eye and the silver strip across the cheek
just below merely added to her allure. These admirers, however, would have been
more than a little surprised to learn the object of their interest was once a
“pirate queen,” and the scourge of big corporation haulers everywhere. They
would have been equally shocked to discover she was also a fearsome
hand-to-hand fighter and one of the long gloves she wore covered a cybernetic
arm powerful enough to punch through solid steel.
Few noticed her
companion. Like most of the Sylvan race, Sillow was of smallish stature with
elfin features making him appear somewhat childlike compared to other humanoid
races. In contrast to Titanya’s easy grace, he looked awkward and faintly
ridiculous wearing a tuxedo a couple of sizes too big for him.
There was a scowl
on his light green features.
“This was really
the best you could do?” he complained, rolling his jacket cuffs up as he
hurried to keep up with the woman’s swaying strides.
Titanya smiled.
“It was the smallest they had.”
Sillow’s emerald
eyes swept the area. “This place makes me nervous.”
“Lots of things
make you nervous,” the woman told him.
The Sylvan
snatched up a couple of champagne glasses from a passing waiter and drank each
one down before replacing them.
“Listen,” he
protested, “these events are packed with high price assassins. It’s the perfect
chance for the elite psychopaths who come to these events to settle scores with
each other.”
“So, why do you
care?” the woman asked.
“Why? Because
sometimes things get out of hand and all hell breaks loose.”
Titanya stopped,
hands on her shapely hips. “Really, that could happen, could it? High class
parties can just end up as shooting galleries?”
Sillow nodded.
“Yep.”
“Give me one
example, date, and place.”
Sillow pulled at
one of his pointed ears.
“You can’t, can
you?” Titanya challenged.
“I heard
stories.”
The woman gave a
derisive snort. “Yeah, in a low-life bar or casino.”
“Well, actually,
it was in the pleasure quarters on Salem Tae when—”
“I don’t want to
know,” his companion stopped him. “Why are you even an agent anyway? I never
met anyone as easily spooked as you.”
The Sylvan threw
her an irritated look. “Hey, I don’t ask for these missions.”
“So why do they
send you?”
“Because I’m the
best pilot in known space, and I do sneaky well.” He gave a shrug. “What can I
say? It’s a gift.” He snatched up another couple of drinks from a tray. This
time he held one out to his companion. “Here, it helps the nerves.”
Titanya took the
glass. “My nerves are fine, pipsqueak, but I do like champagne.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
James Austin McCormick
is a college lecturer from Manchester, England and in his free time enjoys
writing speculative fiction, mostly science fiction, horror and a little sword
and sorcery fantasy. He is also a particular fan of classic Gothic and
Victorian horror tales and is currently in the process of writing updated
versions of these with a science fiction spin.
His novels include the trilogy Dragon (Dragon, Dragon: Smuggler Tales, Dragon: The Tower of Tamerlane), The Last Synn, a sword-and-sorcery
story, a SciFi novel, Sunfall, and a
horror novel, Balec. All are
available from Class Act Books.
Find out more about
James Austin McCormick at:
Class Act Books http://www.classactbooks.com/index.php/our-authors/manufacturers/james-austin-mccormick
DRAGON: The Prisoner of Valathia is available at amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Prisoner-James-Austin-McCormick-ebook/dp/B0721RR55Q/
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