Raymund Eich

Science fiction and fantasy - from Middle America to the ends of the Universe

Spring News for my Readers Club

Hi ,

Raymund Eich here. Spring has arrived in Houston. Nights in the upper 60s, daytime highs in the 80s, and not too humid yet. We've washed the last of the live oak pollen off our cars. Summer is only a few weeks away. We're trying to enjoy the pleasant weather while we can. How about you?

Publishing News

In case you missed the news, my latest novel, Azureseas: Cantrell's War, was published January 28, 2021. An anthropological first contact action adventure novel, I enjoyed writing it and I hope you'll enjoy reading it.

One reviewer, Matt Seniff, did:

This book was a true joy to read. The characters are three dimensional and developed to serve the storyline. The world building is first rate. The plot had enough twists to keep me wanting to read....

Want to learn more about the novel? Including where to buy it? Keep reading and scroll down for bookstore links.

Azureseas

A world of sandy beaches under a yellow-orange sun. Human developers could turn it into the next great tourist world of the Consortia... except for its large, dangerous native animals.

Ross Cantrell joined the animal control mission on Azureseas to earn the money he needed to marry and start a life together with his girlfriend. Dirty work, but necessary to keep people safe. Like plinking tree cats back home.

Then Ross discovers the truth about the planet's "animals."

Cantrell's War

His former plans no longer matter. Against high-tech soldiers, illicit brain-hackers, and the billionaires backing them both, he puts everything at risk. Money. Love. Even his own life. All to do the right thing for humans and aliens alike.

Ebook $2.99 (or comparable outside the US)

Trade paperback $16.99.

Available at these and more booksellers worldwide.

Other Stores

Prefer to order the trade paperback from your local bookstore? Tell them ISBN 978-1-952220-05-0.

Patently Curious

I've read thousands of patents in my career. Some are more memorable than others.

Science fiction readers may have heard of Murray Leinster, an author active for half a century, from the pulp era into the 1960s. He was the first writer to come up with a universal translator (regarding which his heirs sued Paramount Pictures, the studio behind Star Trek); was the first writer to use the phrase "First Contact" in a 1945 short story by that title; and his short story "Sidewise in Time" is the namesake of the Sidewise Award for Alternate History. He won a Hugo in 1956 and a Retro Hugo forty years later.

More than a writer, "Murray Leinster" was a pseudonym for William F. Jenkins, who was also a prolific tinkerer and inventor. A quote attributed to Leinster/Jenkins is

If I try to invent something and it works, I patent it. If it doesn't work, I write a science fiction story about it.

One thing he never wrote a science fiction story about is front projection special effects in movies and television, US 2,727,427, issued December 20, 1955.

Other books you might like

Because you can read them faster than I can write them.

Sci-fi and Fantasy Giveaway

Ends April 30!

Dozens of books, ranging from space opera and military science fiction to dark and epic fantasy. Serious, humorous, there's bound to be something you'll like. Best of all, each one is FREE if you sign up for the author's newsletter. Includes my military sci fi novel Take the Shilling (The Confederated Worlds, Book 1) if you haven't gotten your copy of it yet. For that and many more books, click here and scroll. Don't delay. The promo ends Friday, April 30!

Before I go, one last thing: are my emails giving you what you want? If they aren't, email me at [email protected] or take a short online survey to tell me what you'd like to hear more about.

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I hope you, your family, and your loved ones have a Happy New Year.

I'll be back in a couple of months with more news. And I'll bring you a special bulletin when publishing news breaks.

Happy reading!

Spring into books with my Readers Club