Update: "The Corsean Encounter" Now on Paperback

 

 

It was a few days ago that yours truly announced his novel "The Corsean Encounter" was finally published and up on Kindle. The paperback wasn't available then. But as of a couple days ago, it now is. So now you can get the sci-fi tale done by the editor of the Newser on both Kindle and paperback on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRT58H37/ 

So what's next? Yours truly has been working on a sequel: "The Corsean Encounter: Prelude to War." I've also been working on a fantasy tale, "Tales of a Metamorph." 

But writing those won't stop me from doing stories for the Newser, and as always will continue to write about the people, places, and events of this virtual world.

Bixyl Shuftan

"The Corsean Encounter" Up On Kindle

 

 

I don't normally post about my activities outside Second Life, but this has been a project decades in the making, and is finally up.

 

Those who know me well recall that besides having a longtime interest in current events, I've also been reading science-fiction and history. Most science-fiction stories involve aliens with either advanced or tribal technology. Technology in a Medieval or Colonial Age state? Not so much. 

So introducing my first published story: The Corsean Encounter.

Theadore Smith, sentenced to a Soviet gulag, gets a second chance when the train he's on has a wreck in Central Asia. Making his way south with his companion Leonid Kakanov, they're ambushed by Muslim tribesmen, and have to seek shelter in a cave they stumble upon. Finding a strange machine, it teleports them to another cave. They emerge not on Earth, but another world. Running into some of its not quite human inhabitants, whom live under Medieval conditions, the initially friendly encounter turns hostile when they're captured by a local lord, whom turns them over to his superior.

After a period of time in which Theadore learns the local language, the overlord takes the two humans to his Emperor as a gift. At the Imperial Palace, they learn more about the land and it's people. They get attention from some people who see value in their knowledge. They also run into the ambassador of a nearby land which is somewhat more advanced and not an empire but a republic, Gideon. But some consider the humans little more than monsters, whose lives are of no real value. Can Theadore and Leonid convince enough people of importance that they deserve more than a lifetime in a dungeon, or worse? And what can they do for the Gideon Republic, which many in the Empire want to settle old scores with?

For now, the story is available only on the kindle version, though kindle apps can be used on computers, tablets, and some smartphones. The paperback version will be available soon. 

You can find the story on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRDZSTHC

And stay tuned for the sequel: "Prelude to War."

Update: "The Corsean Encounter" is now available on both Kindle and paperback.

Bixyl Shuftan

It Came From Bellisseria Chat: UFO Sighting

Chats in the Bellisseria group are often interesting. You might hear a joke from a Linden or Mole. You might hear some useful information, especially if you're after a Linden home. Often, there's a lot of joking around. Like on the afternoon of Thursday August 25 when one resident reported a spacecraft sighting, with photo evidence. 

 

Read the chatter in People. 

 

Meeting Lindens at the SL14B

You'll come across many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of different people going about the SL14B. One I came across was a newcomer here on day one, whom I talked to some and gave her a landmark to "The Shelter." And among those there were some Lindens. One I found skipping down the path: April Linden. She stopped to chat with me and a couple friends at the Second Life Coast Guard exhibit.

The "Gridbun" as she called herself was happy to pose for a picture with Skylark Lefavre, the manager of the Happy Vixen club. Skylark is a big bunny fan and happy to see the furry Linden going about as one.

 A chance to meet more Lindens was at the Masquerade Ball on Monday June 19, which ran from 11AM to 1PM at the Cake Stage. Yours truly showed up as an avatar with it's own built-in mask.

Unfortunately for me, and presumably a number of others, the large number of avatars present (and perhaps some of what they were wearing) kept causing my viewer to overload and crash. The pictures I managed to take were mostly of crowds half-rezzed, half-naked, or both. This was the best picture I could get of Xiola Linden, who organized the event, before my Firestorm quit on me again. There was at least one other Linden at the event, Simon Linden, but I never did see him with my crashy viewer.

There was a 5000 Linden dollar prize, which was won by Polly Ellsmere.

There will be one other event in which you can expect Lindens to show up, the "Come As You Were" party, also at the Cake Stage, today from 6-8PM SL time.

Bixyl Shuftan

A Little Music With DJ Pilot, And Friend

On Thursday August 18, I ran into DJ Pilot. Although known for her "Sunday Riot" at Devon Dream, she DJs at a few other places. Here, she entertained a small crowd.

Among those there was Any1 Gynoid, who wrote for James and Dana's SL Newspaper and the Second Life Newser in it's early days. It was a happy chance encounter.

See more of DJ Pilot at her "Sunday Riot" at Devon Dream (207/31/3992)

Cartoon of the Day

This punch line of this kind of encounter was used several years ago in Second Life Newspaper, but couldn't resist. ;-)

By Bixyl Shuftan