From the pages of Analog to your ereader
Feb 23, 2023 11:56 am
Raymund Eich
Science fiction and fantasy - from Middle America to the ends of the Universe
Hi ,
First, in case you missed my previous post, my Mardi Gras-themed historical dark fantasy short story "Carnival in Sorgenbach" is free at every major ebook retailer. US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, and Germany. But only through March 10. Click the link above if that description tickles your fancy.
If that story doesn't sound interesting, no problem. I assume most of you read science fiction, skewing toward the nuts-and-bolts or blasters-and-spaceships side of the genre.
Luckily, that's most of what I write.
Although Analog magazine has grown less nuts-and-bolts during Trevor Quachri's time as its editor, it still publishes plenty of stories featuring blasters, spaceships, or both. Including one of mine that appeared there last year. No blasters in it, though a low-tech but still lethal weapon is a major plot point. And the spaceship is a threat hanging over the main character's head and not something taking center stage....
I'm talking about my story Return Blessing, for which Analog's exclusivity window has expired, and which I've now published in standalone ebook and print editions.
Jeffrey just wants to have a good time, drinking and partying in the human zone near the city of the low-tech, insectoid aliens native to the planet Valoduria.
His dad disapproves his lifestyle, but the old man is willing to pay for it. As long as Jeffrey transmits amateur xenology videos home every week.
Jeffrey gets along fine with the Valodurians. Sure, they all look alike to him, but humans all look the same to them, right? They give him gifts. They don't even care he can't tell a religious icon from a sex toy, or a brimless hat from a floppy drinking cup.
Now, if only Jeffrey could tell what one particular Valodurian, with unreadable eyes and sharp mouthparts, wants when it asks him to "return blessing."
Return Blessing is available now! You can find your copy at any of these stores:
(FYI, Return Blessing is set in the same universe as my novel Azureseas: Cantrell's War. If you like reading about human-alien encounters, check it out).
That's it for now. I'll be back in a couple of weeks, with some sort of publishing news.
Till next time,
Happy reading!
Raymund
