BlueMusings: Volume 07, Number 04, June 8, 2017
 

LJ Cohen
Science fiction, fantasy, assorted weirdness

• PARALLAX is available now!
• LJ Reads
• The Science of Science Fiction
• Miscellany

Even one-armed, with her face drawn and her skin sallow, swaying slightly in bare feet and barely covered by a thin knee-length gown, Gutierrez was an intimidating force. If Barre hadn’t exaggerated, she’d been half-dead on Charon’s little ship and still managed to pilot herself and Dev to safety.

“I don’t advise it, Lieutenant Commander.”

“Does it look like I’m asking for your advice?”

She looked exhausted and if this standoff didn’t end soon, Jem was worried she’d end up on the floor. But surely his father could see it, too.

“I could declare you a risk to yourself.”

She spoke so quietly, Jem had to strain to hear her reply. “You have no idea, Kristoff.”

Happy Book Birthday,
PARALLAX!

Halcyone Space, book 4

Halcyone's crew is drawn into a conspiracy threatening to reignite a galactic war when they discover the hidden power brokers who have been quietly manipulating the Commonwealth for decades.

Amazon (ebook, print)
BN Nook
Kobo
GooglePlay

Autographed copies available; contact me at lisa@ljcohen.net

The first few weeks after a book's release are critical for its success. I would be extremely grateful if you would consider:

• Adding PARALLAX to your Amazon wishlist
• Marking PARALLAX as 'to read' on Goodreads
• Forward this/talk it up to a friend
• Leaving an honest review for any of the Halcyone Space books

LJ Reads

I read widely, across genres and when I've found something I've enjoyed, I'll share it with you.

YMMV* because what we enjoy is almost always personal.

(*Your Mileage May Vary)

Mars Journey: Call to Action: Book 1 by Bill Hargenrader

If you like SF action/adventure, and enjoyed reading CONTACT, you might want to check out Mars Journey: Call to Action: Book 1 by Bill Hargenrader. The novella is short and fast paced and functions as a prequel/introduction to a series of novellas that make up his Mars Journey story. This episode poses more questions than it answers as it introduces the characters and conflicts surrounding a international effort for a Mars shot. It does end with many plot threads unresolved and others newly introduced, so be prepared for that.

Ghost Garages: A Boston Technowitch Novel by Erin M. Hartshorn

If you are a fan of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books and have been looking for a new modern day wizard, go forth and read Hartshorn's Ghost Garages.

I very much enjoyed this novel of magic in modern day Boston.  Pepper Karalis is an appealing hero who juggles the mundane - her parents' disappointment with her apparent lack of ambition and a joint custody arrangements for her school aged twins with the dangers of her power and her responsibility to keep her loved ones and her city safe from a rogue witch.

The Science of Science Fiction

In April, scientists in The Netherlands for the first time successfully attached a prosthesis that connects directly to the patient's own remaining nerves.

This is essentially a rudimentary version of the prosthesis Lieutenant Commander Gutierrez uses in the Halcyone Space books. In PARALLAX, she is recovering from injuries sustained rescuing Dev and needs Jem to help her reattach her artificial limb. Written months before this research came out, PARALLAX contains a scene in which Jem uses a microloupe and specialized tools to connect the limb's artificial nerves to Gutierrez's biologial ones.

The advantage of science fiction is that I can invent the neural implant mechanism to allow for significant pre-processing of the nerve signals from brain to limb to provide for much more skilled and nuanced use of a prosthesis than current tecchnology would permit.

I suspect that science will catch up with science fiction in my lifetime in this regard.

READERCON is just around the corner!

I'm looking forward to being on programming again for this literary focused Boston area SF&F convention.

July 13-16, 2017

THE BOURNE IDENTITY meets KILL BILL. . .

I'm taking a brief break from writing on a galactic scale with the drafting something new.

The #VitoNonce project is a futuristic thriller and a project I'm co-writing with my friend and colleague, and incredibly talented writer Rick Wayne.

This may  be the most fun I've ever had writing.

Halcyone Space Book 5 . . .
 

While I don't yet have a title for the next book, I do know the cover will feature Micah Rotherwood.

Halcyone's crew will have their hands full infiltrating [SPOILER REDACTED!] and searching for [SPOILER REDACTED!]

Stay tuned!

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