Back in the days when Usenet was the largest discussion forum on the Net, there was a discussion of all the things that an EFFECTIVE Evil Overlord had to do -- and NOT do -- that were often overlooked, or directly worked AGAINST, in many works of fiction. It became a thread of discussion titled "If I Am Ever the Evil Overlord...", and various people (including myself) contributed to it as it grew. Eventually it (and its successors/companion pieces such as If I Am Ever the Hero, If I Am Ever the Sidekick, etc.) was gathered together and [ Continue reading... ]
Women and the Adventurer’s Census (Kicking Ass and Taking Names)
August 19, 2013 By 9 Comments
I've on occasion been asked "what made you decide to have a woman as your main action character?", or something to that effect. Honestly, I don't really work that way. I don't sit down and say "Hey, I should write a story with a character that is X". I think of some neat story idea, and the characters I create are the ones that fit the story. That said, I suppose the fact is that it would never have occurred to me NOT to have at least some of my stories with truly kickass heroines. Looking over my books published thus [ Continue reading... ]
Spheres of Influence: Chapter 29
August 16, 2013 By 34 Comments
And we reach the end of the snippets that I'm doing for this book! Wu Kung's doing his bodyguard thing with Ariane out and about... ----- Chapter 29. A smell of caution and deviousness preceded the voice, so Wu was already turning in that direction when Oscar Naraj, dressed in one of his more conservative white suits, spoke. "Good morning, Captain Austin. You seem to be going out early." "Ambassador." Ariane nodded to him. She smells a lot less cautious around him these days. I really have [ Continue reading... ]
Spheres of Influence: Chapter 28
August 14, 2013 By 4 Comments
Sometimes even the Leader of Humanity just wants to get Out and About by herself... ----- Chapter 28. "So, Captain Austin, how do you find the Arena, now that you have returned and had some time to accustom yourself?" Ariane felt that she did quite well not to visibly jump at the deep, sonorous voice that she associated with the most severe beating she had ever taken. True, she'd emerged victorious, but despite that great and dramatic victory, what she remembered most about her battle with [ Continue reading... ]
Spheres of Influence: Chapter 27
August 12, 2013 By 1 Comment
Well, they weren't on board Zounin-Ginjou just as travellers; they had somewhere to *go*... ----- Chapter 27. Impressive, DuQuesne thought. Not quite up to the standards Seaton and I set, but then, this is real. As he'd guessed, Zounin-Ginjou was a luxuriously-appointed battleship, a warship with an admittedly thick coat of ocean-liner paint. The fact that Orphan was the lone member of the Liberated had obviously driven him to push the limits of automation in the Arena – and had drastically [ Continue reading... ]
Spheres of Influence: Chapter 26
August 9, 2013 By 11 Comments
Finally, Orphan gets to show off one of his favorite toys... ----- Chapter 26. "And finally," Orphan said, with a dramatic bow and sweeping gesture, "I shall complete the introduction so rudely interrupted these many months ago. My friends and allies, the flagship of the Liberated, the Zounin-Ginjou." Compared to the many kilometers-long dock extending from Nexus Arena, the Zounin-Ginjou might have seemed small, but at this range Ariane realized that the ship was huge – and beautiful. The [ Continue reading... ]
Spheres of Influence: Chapter 25
August 7, 2013 By 14 Comments
There was a little promise DuQuesne and Wu made to Orphan earlier... ------ Chapter 25. Ariane rose slowly to her feet, favoring her side. "Okay, I think I know when I'm beaten," she said, bowing to her opponent, Orphan. Wu Kung had been expecting her to yield earlier. But she's a real fighter, he thought with admiration. Won't give up even in a play fight without showing what she's got in guts. Orphan leaned back on his tail with a buzzing chuckle. "Oh, now that I [ Continue reading... ]
Spheres of Influence: Chapter 24
August 5, 2013 By 9 Comments
It had been mentioned that they needed more people... ------ Chapter 24. "I know it's only thirty people, but that's a hell of a crowd compared to us," DuQuesne murmured. He glanced in the direction of the group that was waiting, mostly patiently, outside the entrance to the Guardhouse area, then looked back down at the cable he was rigging. Going to need a lot more power here. Carl Edlund paused in the middle of fixing the last brace for the table. "I don't think they even outnumber you," [ Continue reading... ]
Spheres of Influence: Chapter 23
August 2, 2013 By 17 Comments
Simon may be on his way, but Ariane has other problems to deal with... ----- Chapter 23. "I shall not waste more of your time this day," Selpa said, and rose from the cradle-like seat that his species used. "And I will assuredly tell you of our decision when it is reached, so that you need not wonder what has happened. If you have not heard from us, then we have not yet decided." "I guess I can't ask for more than that. Thank you, Selpa'a'At. May your course be ever your [ Continue reading... ]
Spheres of Influence: Chapter 22
July 31, 2013 By 2 Comments
We've mentioned Simon several times earlier, let's see what he's up to... ------ Chapter 22. "Simon!" Laila Canning said, and there was honest surprise in her voice. "What in the world… or worlds, I suppose… are you doing here?" Simon looked around at the soaring lines of the Faith's great hall, and the lines of people of all species filing in. "Well, partly I have never been here before,and I admit to a great curiosity as to the workings of a faith which is held by members of almost [ Continue reading... ]
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