Aliens: the best Halloween costume

Oct 25, 2021 9:44 pm

Raymund Eich

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

Of Halloween and Aliens

Hi ,

Raymund Eich here. Do you have kids? What are they dressing up as for Halloween? (Assuming that's a holiday you celebrate). If they haven't decided yet, may I suggest aliens? Human beings disguised as aliens is something I've been thinking about for a while now. Which is a great segue into my lead publishing news, about book 1 of a new hard science fiction/space opera series, The False Flag War.

Publishing News

Exploration 2127

The False Flag War - Book 1

Concordia’s mission reflected the best of the human race. Crew and scientists from both of Earth’s rival factions, Humanists and Traditionalists, journeyed for years at relativistic speeds to reach Bravo Charlie, a life-bearing planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B, to expand the frontiers of knowledge for all.

Concordia’s mission also reflected humanity at its worst. Corrupt bureaucrats and ambitious political leaders in both factions maintained a status quo backed by weapons of mass destruction. The faction commanders on the mission each sought to seize advantages for their side alone.

Then the ship received transmissions. Signs of an ancient, powerful alien presence on the planet below.

Sent to explore: Jaeger and McIlroy, born and raised in a Texas divided by razor wire and minefields. Men torn between the mission's ideals and orders from their respective faction commanders.

Then Jaeger and McIlroy discover how to force Earth's factions to work together... using knowledge given by aliens dead over a million years.

Ebook $4.99

Paperback $16.99

Prices vary outside the US.

Amazon

Other Stores

Azureseas: Cantrell's War, now in Audio

In other publishing news, the audiobook edition of Azureseas: Cantrell's War is now available. Narrator Dan McCrae did a great job bringing the story to audio.

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.

Audiobook Stores

Amazon

Or if you prefer to read the old-fashioned way, with your eyes, it's still available in ebook and print editions.

Bookstore Links

Amazon Kindle

Other Stores

Patently Curious

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

This is from the you-can-get-a-patent-on-anything department. Including ornamental designs of Halloween masks. Even Halloween masks that don't make a whole lot of sense at first glance, like this one, D931,574, designed by Marlene Lloret of San Diego, and assigned to Jakks Pacific. It issued about a month ago, so there's a chance you can find it on the shelves of your pop-up Halloween store right now.

As far as I can tell, it's a blank box with ears. The dashed-line rectangles are where the eye holes are. Maybe a robot head? A bobblehead like a Funko Pop doll or something you can get at your local baseball stadium? (Aside: Go Astros!).

If you've got a guess about this mask, let me know.

From the Vault

The Reincarnation Run

Smuggle the "reborn" spiritual leader of an oppressed people past their conquerors.

What could go wrong?

Skeptical spacejock Landry Krieger is about to find out when the priests of Tao Pacem approach him. He's had enough of religious leaders in his life (read to find out why), and is minded to say no.... until he discovers he hates an arrogant agent of the conquerors much more.

Looking back

The faster-than-light (FTL) travel used here resembles the one mentioned in New California. That novel and this one aren't in the same future history. Yet.
The Settled Galaxy is a big enough place that more novels might take place here. For one, there might be a novel in Landry's previous passenger.
I turned to a friend, an Ivy League linguistics prof with a deep grasp of Latin, for the fictional constellation names "Picis Pineae" and "Simulacri Plagae." The people who named those constellations were aficionados of American sports history, especially the Pine Tar Game and the Phantom Punch.

The Reincarnation Run is available in ebook ($2.99) and trade paperback ($15.99). US prices. Click the buttons below to lbuy now.

Other books you might like

The Halden Army

by Keyla Damaer

The Halden Army

Short stories can be a great way to dip your toes in a new series or a new-to-you author. Free stories are even better.

A space fleet cadet faces graduation - or expulsion - in this intro to Keyla Damaer's Sehnsucht Series. Read for free, just click this link and Get the Story by joining Keyla Damaer's mailing list.

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

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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!

Raymund Eich

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