Starting the New Year with a new release!

After Wicked Nights folded, my series Forbidden, which was still in its infancy, was left rather stranded. But it has found a new home with Romance First Publishing! Just released today, in fact!

Blurb:

The year is 2056 AD. The place—the Alliance of States, once the United States of America. The country is struggling to come back after the Armageddon which took place in the year 2032, under the leadership of President Alistair Boothe. Life is hard but not impossible. The church and the state have been closely woven together, for the good of the people. Infant mortality has risen, the birth rate has declined. Recognizing the futility of imposing celibracy, the church now allows its priests to marry women. Homosexuality is still forbidden, and pedophilia is punishable by death.

Jerico James is handsome, spoiled and willful—a rich boy with too much time on his hands. When he steps out of line once too often, he finds himself sent to one of the nation’s help centers to serve his community service, under the guidance of its director, Father Sergio de Basco. The moment he sees Sergio, Jerico is struck by the priest’s beauty—and determined to have him, no matter what the cost.

Excerpt:

Jerico didn’t want to go to Sanctum.  He didn’t want to become no more than an unpaid overworked laborer, a servant of the state, toiling for the betterment of the poor and downtrodden, the huddled unwashed masses. But the alternative undoubtedly involved serving time in one of the federally mandated prisons. No one wanted that.  Conditions had become so harsh, at least from the stories which had been gleaned from former inmates, that the mere threat of penal incarceration had become an actual deterrent to crime. There were whispers of punishments carried out within the high prison walls that went far beyond any treatment ever mandated by civilized nations, of tortures not seen since the days of the Inquisition. But no proof existed, and the stories were denied as being the tales of criminals. It was better to play safe than sorry. Money did still have its privileges.

“Dru.” He changed tactics, switching to his wheedling voice, the one which usually got him anything he desired from any woman he desired it from, even his sister. When Jerico was little, he couldn’t quite manage to say Jerusha, and his childish lips had run all the syllables into one—Dru he’d called her, and Dru she stayed, especially in moments such as this. “Dru, can’t Micah do something about it? Isn’t that why I pay him all that money, to handle these things?”

“Father pays him all that money, you mean,” she replied without batting an eye or giving an inch, “and he’s doing what he can.” Micah Caulfield was Jerusha’s handsome older husband. A close associate of their father, he was one of the best attorneys working for the government of what was now known as the Alliance of States. Or more precisely for its President, Alistair Boothe. Micah was also the one that pulled Jerico out of the trouble he invariably got himself into.  His lifeline, as it were. But this time, Jerico had embroiled himself too far for even Micah to extract him.

They threaded their way through the roiling masses of humanity, too focused on their own destinations to pay attention to the brother and sister in their midst. Wherever they were heading, Jerico was pretty sure it wasn’t where he was going.  Not very likely, anyway.

It would be so easy to just skip out. To get on another bus, go to another place, and once there to lose himself in the crowds of that new city, become someone else and forget all this bullshit. But there were reasons why that couldn’t be. One was that he’d never supported himself in his entire life, and would be somewhat at a loss to do so. The second reason was that although he was walking side by side with Jerusha, he was more than aware that he had an escort just a few paces behind them. Someone whose sole purpose in being there was to make sure that Jerico James boarded the bus to Sanctum. The third reason was the chip which had been implanted in his left wrist by the court. If he were to go somewhere outside of the help center, he would set off alarms whenever he passed by any of the government sensors. And since no one knew exactly where those were located, just that there were an unknown number of them, the chances of being caught were pretty good.

All in all, Jerico had to admit he was pretty well screwed and without any choice in the matter—apparently he was going to Sanctum.

Sci Fi Sunday - Gail Carriger's Soulless

Good morning and welcome to Sci Fi Sunday! At least for now, Reality Check is done. It's been subbed and we're awaiting the results. In the meantime, we'd like to discuss Steampunk, and the new story we're working on. Never fear, you'll hear of Reno and Kay again, but we have new boys to bring you! And theirs is a Steampunk world.

My daughter Sarah wrote a review of Gail Carriger's novel Soulless, first in her Parasol Protectorate series. It's the first modern Steampunk I'd read, and I can directly attribute my reading it to my daughter's review, so here it is, and enjoy!

Soulless: Parasol Protectorate book 1  

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Orbit

American release date: October 1st 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Novel/Supernatural/357 pages

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Older Teen

Overall Personal Rating: C+

Similar series/titles to check out: Leviathan; Discworld; the Sookie Stackhouse novels

In an alternative Victorian-era England where werewolves and vampires are accepted occurrences and steampunk reigns supreme, it takes a young woman from high society who has no soul to cut through the nonsense and get to the important matters - like when the treacle tart is to be served.

Synopsis:

Alexia Tarabotti, half-Italian spinster with no soul who loves food, is greatly offended when she is attacked by a half-starved vampire during a social outing, a terrible breach of etiquette not to mention not very good for her health. She manages to kill the vampire with her parasol and a wooden stake/hair pin, thus bringing the attention of BUR (Bureau of Unnatural Registry) on her as well as the queen of a nearby vampire hive. Luckily one of BUR's top officials arrives in the form of the dashing upper crust rogue/werewolf Lord Maccon, who is ordered by the Queen herself to investigate the matter; he is already an acquaintance of Miss Tarabotti and swears to protect her from those who wish harm on her - well, if they could stop squabbling at each other and work together in peace. Accompanying him is Professor Lyall, second in command and the arguable voice of reason among BUR, who honestly thinks Alexia and His Lordship could be very close friends if they gave their silly games a break for just one minute.

It soon becomes evident that the problem facing London's supernatural society is bigger than imagined as vampires unregistered and unrecognized start appearing around town, while registered vampires who are associated with known hives are disappearing without a trace. And it isn't just the vampires in a frenzy, as BUR's werewolves are finding out the hard way. Even Lord Akeldama, the foppish gossip king of London, doesn't know what's going on. As a soulless - someone who can drain the paranormal abilities of a vampire or werewolf with just a touch - Alexia becomes an unwilling target for all the blame, and she's not terribly pleased about it. As danger looms nearer, it's up to Alexia Tarabotti to unravel the mystery of these disappearances before her reputation is ruined forever and her status as a soulless is revealed - or worse, a painful and unbecoming death.

Commentary:

I must confess: I have not read much steampunk. I am also not the biggest fan of either werewolves or vampires. I also do not read a lot of Victorian lit, either from the era or inspired by it. Having said that, you would think I'd avoid a novel like Soulless by author Gail Carriger, which combines all of the above into one work. I picked the title up in the name of morbid curiosity, and found myself drawn into a solid story with some bumps in the road that kept it from being excellent. Not terrible, but not golden. Having said that, fans of the genre of fiction that centers around characters of the paranormal persuasion will love this book. Each race of fantastic creatures each have their own mythos that is slightly different than the ones paraded around in Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. Not to mention, they are all terribly polite to the point that it plagues the rules of their species - an amusing side-effect from being born in times of Victorian niceties. In an era of novels like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, it's nice to see someone play the bloody tropes straight and have their world of petticoats and hansom cabs accept the presence of werewolves and vampires without having to outright wage war on them.

Fans of steampunk, I'm sorry to say, should find their cogs and gears fix somewhere else. The most steampunk elements of the book are the interest in science running rampant through academia, an apparent interest in the steampunk aesthetic demonstrated by both vampires and werewolves, the dirigibles in the skies over London (which just remind this reviewer of the zeppelins in the alternate universe on Doctor Who), and Alexia's parasol, which is designed to protect her against unwholesome beasties. Aside from that, there are no grandiose steampunk-esque machines or experiments until the tail end of the book. Alexia, although an avid bookworm and thinker, never rolls up her sleeves and tinkers with machinery. Nothing about average Victorian society apart from the dirigibles suggest a steampunk atmosphere - and it confounds me that they would use it as a selling point when I can't really see it in the text. The bloody cover is more steampunk than the book itself.

(And as for the cover itself? Alexia Tarabotti looks slim and pale skinned, not the lightly tanned and curvy Rubenesque young woman described in the novel. Plus, she is wearing a stereotypically steampunk hat that isn't even hers. This isn't the kind of whitewashed cover that Justine Larbalestier's Liar got, not by a long shot, but it pretty much wipes out the fact that Alexia is half-Italian with a complexion to match and is not a 'perfect hourglass' figure.)

Having said all that, Soulless is not without its merits, despite it sounding like there are none. For example, it is obvious that Derriger did a metric ton's worth of research on the intricate details of Victorian era living, from the foods and clothing to the dining etiquette and social manners that were so prevalent during that period. Like any good English Victorian novel, it is packed with dry wit (which, as I hear from self-declared Brit John Oliver, is something the English invented themselves) and manages to make even the most simple social slip-ups remarkably hilarious. I love that when Alexia is in the face of mortal danger from a vampire her biggest worry is on the lines of how scandalous her untied hair must seem or that she really picked a bad day to wear her best evening gown.

Alexia Tarabotti herself is the perfect kind of main protagonist you want narrating a tale of supernatural going-ons in prim and proper London. She is a spinster with a dark complexion and curves to spare, a woman who loves to read and is far too intelligent for her own good - aka the kind of woman their mother despairs over because she'll never marry, and society pretty much dismisses her as a never-do-anything because of it. Does it bring her down? Of course not. She does what she wants, is capable of protecting herself thank you very much Lord Maccon, and once she sets her mind on something that something usually gets done no matter what. Alexia is stubborn and clever in a pinch and her constant snarky Victorian-era point of view as she straddles upholding social standards in all situations and navigating the waters of the vampire/werewolf realm brings a clarity to some of the more convoluted aspects of the time. Even the golden age of scientific discovery, it seems, can't stop society from upholding ridiculous moral and social attitudes that make things overly complicated, even for someone who was used to it.  It's a shame that, in ostracizing Alexia from society and thus making her a candidate for BUR's meddling, that they over-emphasize her Italian features and body shape. I understand that it is a Victorian viewpoint and it is Alexia herself telling the story, but there must be more subtle and better ways of separating one from the pack without resorting to overly describing her physical characteristics. (There's also the fact that the prose seems confused on whether she is barely tan or very much tan, but that could be another thing chalked up to the narrator's own self-perceived flaws.)

Alexia's foil presents itself in the form of Lord Maccon, and the back blurb of the novel describes him perfectly: loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf. I often find that when a writer tries to integrate the wolf-aspects into the human form's personality, it doesn't end well and seems painfully forced, but for Lord Maccon his werewolfish tendencies while still looking very much a human are a delight to read. He is just as stubborn and snarky as Alexia, and every time they butt heads over BUR policy or a social disaster you can practically smell the romantic tension building up between them. I found myself cheering for their very dysfunctional romance, and I'm not the type to cheer for the main characters to become couples straight out of the gate. When Alexia learns via Professor Lyall that Lord Maccon has actually begun courting her werewolf-fashion, her responses to his advances from then on are some of the most amusing and titillating scenes in the book. Yes, things get very steamy between our Victorian heroine and her dashing rogue friend, but never does it become embarrassingly explicit or unnecessarily detailed. After all, it's not a smut book, it's a mostly-general supernatural fantasy set in steampunkish Victorian England, dang it! This is the era of the Brontë sisters and Wilkie Collins; fade to black or be gone with you!

The only other time that Soulless outright addresses sexuality is through Lord Akeldama, whom upon meeting him for the first time you'd be foolish not to notice that he is English, intelligent, and gayer than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide. It is never expressed in those words, but you'd have to be blind, living under a rock, and have never interacted with any sort of media to not realize Lord Akeldama prefers vampires his own gender - and probably those who share his extremely vibrant and garish taste in clothing. Reading Derriger's descriptions of his usual outfits, you can imagine how many times Alexia has to look away from the vastly technicolor nature of his design. But Lord Akeldama is also one of the most intelligent and clever people in the entire novel, someone who has ears practically everywhere in England and is a very useful informant when Alexia or BUR needs some intel on what's what. This is why, when Akeldama admits to Alexia that he doesn't know what is going on with the disappearances, you can feel that it's not right. Akeldama, the man who knows too much, knows nothing? The fact that this happens only briefly after first meeting him and yet has the power to affect the reader's perception of the problem at hand should highlight some of the skill in which author Derriger wields her control over the ongoing drama than runs through the main narrative; under all the English humor and romantic situations there is always a hint of danger on the horizon, a clue that something more sinister and dangerous is approaching for the cast that will test the lot of them in unthinkable ways. This is what kept me reading page after page despite its flaws: Derriger made me want to know what would happen next. An author who can effectively grab a reader's attention and then slowly pull them in like a sinkhole until the very end is one to be remembered with great respect.

The second book in the series, Changeless, is on my list of books to read. I think that as a second book, it will be more satisfying that the first as it will be a story with an already establish universe and therefore will not suffer from the growing pains that are evident in the world-building process that goes on throughout Soulless, at times reading more like mindless exposition than thoughtful background information. It's clear that Derriger took great pains to set up this alternate universe of machines and manners and beasties all meshed together, but the effort getting there seems to have seeped through the actual prose too well. I can't help but think that if she had laid off on revealing some of the information introduced in the first chapter until it didn't seem like such a pile of info that the entire process would have read a lot more smoothly.

In all, Soulless is a solid read for fans of the biologically strange and socially astute, and is a fascinating look into a world hopefully expanded upon in the following books of the series. I can't help but be intrigued and attracted to the character of Alexia Tarabotti, and as long as she is headlining this steampunk world of high society and secret magics, I will continue to follow her continuing adventures until their conceivable end.

Overall Grade:  C+

An intriguing tale of paranormal dilemmas in steampunk London, led by a fascinating main protag; not much steampunk to actually qualify the tag, descriptions of certain characters were jarring and at some points flat out unnecessary.

This review was just to whet your appetitite, there'll be more, I promise. Any questions? Any comments? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, take care! Don't forget to check out Sui Lynn's blog, 2 Cents, and our join blog, Backdoor Divas!

♥ Julie

Sci Fi Sunday - Reality Check Continues

Hello and Happy Sci Fi Sunday to you! Today we have more of Reality Check to offer you - can two men find love on a planet far far away when they appear to be so very different? Or are they more similar than they realize, at least in matters of the heart?  Don't forget to check out Sui Lynn's blog, 2 Cents, as well as our joint blog - Backdoor Divas!

As you'll recall from the last episode, Reno was supposed to come to the royal palace to pretend to court Kay's sister, Luci. But a family emergency has kept him at home, and Kay has come to find his beloved and see what the problem is.....

Reality Check

Chapter Five

Fear skitters across my spine. My Kay is here? Oh Guardian, we had an appointment. A chance to be together and I’ve blown it already. He’s a prince and certainly not the kind to take to being stood up lightly. Jaou places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

I marshal  my thoughts into some semblance of order. “Please go check on Dorian and I’ll go talk to Kay. I’ll try and get him into my rooms before Mother sees that he’s here.”

“Are you sure, Reno?” Jaou nervously shifts from foot to foot.

“I’m sure. If she’s out there too, I’ll be sure and get you. Now go check on Dorian!” I point in the direction of the door as an incentive.

“Fine!” Jaou stomps off in high dudgeon, but I can’t worry about him right now. I’ve other concerns.

He must be here to tell me what I can do with my suit. I can feel depression setting into my soul, I can’t… I won’t let him get away. He’s just going to have to deal with my familial obligations. I mean, I know he’s a bit selfish, but surely he’ll see reason? It’s my brother’s life… I couldn’t just leave Dorian. I had to save him… Surely…

I know, I’m procrastinating. There’s no way of knowing what he’ll say unless I let him in. What choice do I have? I surely can’t leave him standing just outside my door.

I walk down the short hall and slide the door to the side in order to admit my love. The sight which meets my eyes is both terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time. Kay’s beauty and dishevelment are all rolled up into one lovely but grimy mess. His clothing, obviously once regal and probably quite expensive, is now dirtied and rather the worse for wear. Dust streaks his face, giving it an odd off-balance appearance, but he counters it by being so glorious it’s all I can do not to wrap him in my arms and spirit him away.

“My Prince, Welcome to my home.” Without thinking of what I do, I drop to one knee quickly before him, then regain my feet.

                                                             §§§§§

Am I foolish for thinking a serious question deserves an actual answer? Or did I hallucinate seeing someone at all, and am I simply addressing my question into thin air? Or perhaps I’ve hit my head harder than I imagined, though right now I can’t actually remember doing so. Does that make me dizzy, then?  Yes, that must be it, I’m dizzy with desire. Desire to see my Reno.

As if some provident god has heard my wish, the thin-ass door, which a mere kick would send sprawling without much trouble, opens, and I see him standing before me. My first thought is thank the stars I’m in the right place. The second one is please kiss me before I die.

I stumble toward him. Stumble being the operative word, as I seem to have lost the ability to walk. My legs have suddenly gone numb, and every muscle in my body aches. I feel like a damn baby, trying to take his first steps. The point is I’m going down, even as I reach my arms toward him. “Reno! You’re here!” Then the world goes momentarily black...

                                                                     §§§§§

Sandplats!! He’s falling! I make a quick and well-coordinated grab for him even as he heads in a definite downward spiral, and gather him into my arms just before he crumples to the floor. What can have happened to my princeling! I hold him against me, relishing the sensation of having him in my arms once more. His forehead seems a bit warm, and he appears flushed... Where’s Swy? Why isn’t he looking after him? I’m going to have to have words with my prince’s bodyguard. This is most definitely conduct unbecoming, and nothing I will tolerate. Not when his personage is so important to me.  I bend down and slip an arm beneath his legs, lifting him, enfolding him into myself, holding him tight against my chest. I really do need to get him out of here before Mother sees that he’s here.

I nudge the door; it slides gently closed. I turn and dash down the corridor with my prince snuggled against my chest like the treasure he is.

“What could’ve happened to you, my Prince?” I mumble into his ear. I push the door to my rooms open with my foot, making sure they close behind me before I take a seat on the bed, my Kay in my arms. I brush back the hair from his face. Only then do I realize what he’s done since last I’ve seen him. He’s colored his tresses the most beautiful hues—violets and blues that are most becoming with his gray eyes. If they would just open…

                                                                        
“Kay, my prince...” I gently brush my lips against his. How I ache for him.

                                                                         §§§§§

I hear his voice: it’s him, it’s Reno. I know I’m not imagining that. It’s his arms that hold me, his lap I’m resting so very comfortably in that I almost—but not quite—forget my aches and pains, the ones I’ve gained on my tortuous journey. A journey I shall most certainly have to tell him about in great lengths.

I make the effort to open my eyes, even though I feel that to do so might lead to a blinding headache, but no, it’s alright. Reno’s here. He’s here, but he looks so worried. Why? Is something wrong? Please don’t let anything be wrong.

His kiss. It’s his kiss I feel, how wonderful his lips, they give me life.

“I waited for you,” I murmur, my tongue feeling thick in my mouth for some reason. “You were supposed to come, to court me. I mean Luci. But you didn’t... and I was afraid...” I’ve never admitted fear to anyone in my life before, and yet I spill my heart’s contents as easily as a news reader might slip out the scandals of the day—without hesitation. I trust him, I love him, what else is there to say? “I was afraid you’d.... changed your mind.”

There. I’ve just admitted my biggest fear to Reno. Bared my soul to him. And right now, I just want to curl up against him, and never move. Ever.

                                                                §§§§§

He must have some story to tell, and I want to hear all the details but my first thoughts are to apologize to him for being so lacking , in manners and in punctuality, and in anything else I’m guilty of by not appearing when I was scheduled to be there for him.“I’m so sorry, Kay. I meant to be there... We meant to be there. But you see we’ve run into a bit of an emergency. My brother’s been hurt. Jaou and I were needed to help resuscitate him. Jaou’s in the garden with Dorian now.” I tremble slightly, not from fear of losing my brother... but from the proximity of this hot sexy man I’m holding in my arms. I want nothing more than to ravish his lips but he’s so delicate, I don’t want to hurt him. I lean in and gently kiss him, moaning into his open mouth as I slip my tongue between his lips, tasting my princeling.

It feels like it’s been forever since I last sampled those lips and tasted his sweet hot mouth. “If it wasn’t for my brother being at death’s door, I’d have been at your side, I swear it. Now tell me, my beauty, what has befallen you since last we met? Why do I find you here and in this alarming condition? And where is that miserable Swy?”

 What do you think of Reality Check so far? What would you like to see happen? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you!

Have a great week and we'll see you next week!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Sci Fi Sunday - Remembering Doctor Smith

Morning and welcome to another edition of Sci Fi Sunday! Reality Check should be back next week with  another exciting episode, but today I wanted to do something different. Today I want to do a brief retrospective of my favorite character in the sci fi classic series Lost in Space - tv series and film - Dr. Zachary Smith.




Now anyone who has talked to me for longer than, say, two minutes, is aware that my favorite actor in the world is Gary Oldman. So a logical supposition would be that he is why Dr. Smith is my favorite Lost in Space character. Not so. I was 8 years old when the original TV series began to air. I think I was hooked immediately, both by the show and by Dr. Smith. I can probably attribute that to the fact that for years and years I had crushes on and interest in men who were far older than myself. At 12, I crushed on Burt Lancaster and Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins from Dark Shadows) and many more. So picking Dr. Smith as my favorite character was not surprising.

Here's Jonathan Harris, who played Dr. Smith (a later pic, as the show originally began in black and white. Yes, I'm that old. Don't laugh). I had never heard of him as an actor, but I did notice that his name received special status in the cast credits at the opening of the show. Ironically, my 21 year old daughter Sarah had a crush on Dr. Smith herself. And even now she likes men who are too old for me. Go figure.

But I digress.

Let me show you my movie Dr. Smith too.  Isn't he adorable?  That's Gary Oldman, of course, from the 1998 movie. I saw it at the theatre a few times, took my kids to see it too. Did I love it? Not exactly. I watched it for Gary. The film is flawed, but I'll save that rant for another time. Today is just about Dr. Smith.

Let's talk about the character for a minute. Alright, the basic premise of both the show and the movie. It takes  place in a future time (well, it was back then), when mankind needed to explore other systems in order to help deal with some of the issues on earth. The nearest star to the Earth is Alpha Centauri. NASA decides to send a family into space to see how well they weather conditions in space, see if it's feasible to colonize other planets, etc etc. The Robinson family is composed of Dr. John Robinson, his wife Maureen, his daughters Judy and Penny and his son Will. Also going with them is Major Don West, who just happens to be Judy's fiance. And a super intelligent amazing robot named .... Robot.

As the series begins, the family is preparing to go, and they are on the ship when a stealthy figure scuttles onto the ship. Dr. Smith, of course. He seeks out the robot and messes with his circuitry (cause he's a genius that way) and overrides his programming, giving him different instructions.

Sounds simple enough, until the good Doctor finds himself trapped in the ship, unable to get off, so as it's blasting off he has no recourse but to hide himself and strap himself in for what is sure to be a bumpy ride. Especially once the robot begins to follow its new programming string!

At first the Robinsons accept Dr. Smith's explanation  for being on board the ship. There isn't a lot they can do after all. What, turn around and take him back? That would jeopardize the mission. But Major West is suspicious from the get-go, and rightly so. These two will never be friends.  Mark Goddard played West in the show, Matt LeBlanc acquitted himself well in the movie.

As the series continues, the characterization of Dr.  Smith changes (more so in the TV version than the film). The brilliant doctor becomes more of a comedic element in the story, revealing  a somewhat unpleasant nature at times. He's lazy, pompous, arrogant, full of himself, rather untrustworthy, and known to sell the Robinsons out just for the chance to get back to Earth. I guess he's forgotten that he's a foreign spy and likely to be incarcerated if he ever does make it back. Oh well, that's Dr. Smith for you!

Dr. Smith develops an almost paternal relationship with Will Robinson, something the boy is sorely in need of,  cause his scientist father (Guy Williams in the series, William Hurt in the film) is always busy with something, and doesn't seem to have time to deal with his young son. The girls don't seem to suffer from this lack of attention as much as Will does, although I can see where Penny does sometimes regard Dr. Smith as a father figure too.

Dr. Smith and the Robot is another matter. Although Will shows himself capable of programming him, the  Doctor is often used as the interface between the space travelers and the cybernetic being. It's a true love/hate relationship. The robot often gets his feelings hurt by Dr. Smith's callousness, and his name-calling. Will and the Robot are close too.

Dr. Smith often screams like a little girl. He has constant aches and pains that prevent him from doing his share of the work. He utters such memorable phrases as "Oh, the pain, the pain!" and "My aching back!" He is a shirker and a slacker, a conniver and a trickster. And yet we love him.  In one episode, he and Major West end up on a chain gang together.   Another involves a very interesting space pirate, whom Will develops a fondness for (played by veteran character actor Albert Salmi).

In another episode, a green girl who's discovered floating around outside the spaceship, the Jupiter II, crushes on Dr. Smith, and can be heard uttering the immortal words - "Pretty! Handsome!  Pretty Doctor Smith!"

Well, I could go on and on, and I do promise to talk about the show vs the film at another time.  But I'll leave you for now with a picture of my favorite guy.

 Did you like the show? What about the movie? Who was your favorite character? Your worst? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Sci Fi Sunday - Reality Check Continues

Another Sunday, another edition of Sci Fi Sunday from Sui Lynn and myself! This week we present you with another chapter of Reality Check. As you may recall from previously, Reno and Kay think they have a great solution to an otherwise insoluble problem. Can they make it work?  Enjoy finding out!

Reality Check

I stride with confidence, Swyddogh just behind me, into the throne room, which is also used as the reception room on days such as these. Already petitioners form a line to see my parents, waiting their turn to plead their case in one form or another. Clemency, leniency, munificence—everyone wants something from the King and Queen, that’s just a given. There is an order to the process, one that prevents chaos from ensuing. Nothing worse than chaos on an empty stomach.  But these have nothing to do with me, I’ve a mission all my own. I fix my smile upon my face, fix my arguments firmly in my mind, and make my way toward….

Oh great slithering bandicoots, there is something worse, and it stands before me now. Oily, greasy, and obsequious—in other words, Orm Schlangeleben, fucking vizier. I should’ve expected it, where’s my head? Oh yes, with Reno.

Never mind. I don’t intend to let him get to me. Not today. I’m feeling too good, my heart is full of Fellaxxian love songs, and Reno’s image fills my brain. I’ve a purpose in my life, a reason for being. Outside of my usual one, that is, which is simply because I’m me. But that’s beside the point.

Luci has yet to arrive; that’s a good thing. I think we can accomplish more without her bratty presence. She has this annoying habit of sticking in her opinion when it’s least wanted. Like ever. Seriously, women just need to shut the hell up most of the time, and… and do womanly things. Whatever. No, I don’t mean my mother. She’d wallop me good if she ever heard me say that. I’m not that dumb. Do I look that dumb? Forget I asked.

I approach my parents upon their royal thrones, make my usual filial bow of obeisance—no sense in pissing them off by being rebellious when I haven’t even gotten what I want yet. I can play the game with the best of them. Don’t forget who you’re dealing with here—Crown Prince Cailean, and none other.

“Good morning Mother, Father,” I greet them. Most kings and queens, at least in my experience, are content to hold their offspring at arm’s length, eyeball them now and then, pat them on the back, fund their higher education, and their extravagant lifestyles, and generally keep themselves aloof from most parental contact.

Not my parents.

Queen Kærlighed and King Liefde have these strange ideas about raising their children, one that favors interaction. I suppose I should be grateful; it’s probably made me the spoiled little princeling that I am today. No, that’s not my opinion, but I’ve heard it said about me, when people think I’m not paying attention. Some people are actually under the delusion that I’m some sort of an idiot. I’m sure they really mean idiot savant. I’m not sure if I like that word much better. Words. I know it’s two words, don’t tell me.

Alright, I’ll admit it, I do love my parents. There, I said it. Maybe Liusaidh too. When she’s not being incredibly bratty. Sometimes their hands-on methods are very beneficial to me. When they aren’t suffocating. Let’s hope today is one of those times.

As I was saying, my parents belong to the hug a child every day organization. No, it’s not a real group, that’s sarcasm on my part. As I reach their dais, they stand to meet me. My mother hugs me, then my father hugs me. Then we have a group hug. I glare at Swy, as if daring him to step closer, but he’s smart enough to maintain just the proper distance between himself and us, thus avoiding the dreaded hug.

When I manage to separate myself from them, I smooth down my skirt, and announce, “I would like a private audience if I may. Now.” Just in case they think I’m wanting to be put on the schedule somewhere, let there be no mistake that I mean at this very moment. I don’t intend to wait.

As if to illustrate the gravity of my intentions, I signal to Swy. “Tell the people to come back in an hour or so. And close the hall.” He nods gravely. I half hold my breath, but I hear no objections from my parents, so all must be well.

Unfortunately, Orm hasn’t taken the hint, and he’s giving me the evil vizier eye. I don’t press the point, for now. Perhaps I can think of some way to turn his presence to my advantage. We’ll see.

Of course I have a throne too. I’m the Prince, aren’t I? Luci has one too. I take my seat beside my parents, feeling a bit of one-upmanship because I know that Orm cannot sit in our presence. Score one for my side.

“Is there something you wished to discuss with us?” Father asks.

“Does it have to do with your university studies?” That from my mother.

“Yes. And no,” I answer them both. “Actually, it’s about Luci’s courtship by the… native….” I try to put my usual disdain into that one word, although I don’t actually feel it any more. Not after meeting Reno. My attitude seems to have turned itself inside out. Where once I wouldn’t deign to touch the hem of one of their garments, now I dream of touching a whole lot more than that. Well, of one native in particular. Reno.

Of course I don’t want them to know that, it’d spoil everything.

“What do you mean—”

“The arrangements have been made, permission has been given for Princess Liusaidh to be courted by Renophoatien Sameeleon—“

Two voices speaking at one time. My father. And him. The greasy odious one. I turn my attention to my father, ignoring the oily vizier.

“I understand that permission has been given, Father, and I’ve a proposal to make regarding that very thing. I wish to see that everything is done properly, and Luci is properly chaperoned during her courtship with… what was his name? Reno something? With him.” There, I think I’ve covered myself pretty well, and given no indication of just how familiar I really am with Reno’s name. Or how familiar I wish to become with his body.

My father seems to be smirking at me now. What does he find so amusing? I huff a bit, turning to Swy, who immediately pulls out my mirror so that I may admire myself. Every hair in place, beautiful as ever. I nod to him and he quickly stashes it away once more.

“And how do you propose to do that?” Father asks. My mother’s wearing the same sappy smile he is, what’s with them? I’m beginning to think they’ve hit the happy juice a little early today. Very early.

“I’ve decided I shall offer myself as a chaperone. In fact, I’ll go farther than that. I’ll actually go to the native’s home and make all the arrangements. And I shall make sure that Luci is well looked after.”

“Oh you will, will you?”

“Yes, Mother, I will.” Why is this so hard to understand? Is no one else as concerned for my sister’s honor as I am? So maybe my concerns are a little lower, and are all aimed toward Reno. Minor difference.

Are they going to give me trouble? I feel a slight tremor of panic threaten to overtake me at the idea that I might fail, that they will approve of my idea of chaperonage but disapprove of me, appoint someone else in my place. And then we’ll be sunk indeed. And I’ll simply die….

“I think that’s an excellent idea, Kay.” My father again. Oh praise the stars, he approves. I begin to breathe again. Of course I show no indication that I was ever perturbed or disturbed in any way. I’m a prince, after all. And a damned good one at that.

My stomach is rumbling again. Normally, I’d listen to its less than dulcet tones and make some attempt to appease it, but I’m in a hurry. I want to see Reno. Very badly. I shall simply have him feed me there, once I arrive. I can’t believe that I’ve actually chosen to forego food. Who am I today?

I’ll tell you who I am—I’m a young prince in love.

Just thinking about Reno gives me pause, and I feel the same sappy smile my parents are wearing creep over my face. That means it’s time to go, before I give myself away in some manner.

I make my bows, and prepare to gracefully exit the room, and instruct Swy to see about transport to Reno’s house as quickly as humanly possible. Then the worst thing I can possibly imagine occurs—my sister walks into the room. She’s obviously not aware of the meaning of a closed door. Oh oh, she’s got that look in her eyes, the one that generally spells trouble for me. What is she up to now?

I’ve my back turned toward my parents, facing Luci, as I frantically try to signal to her to turn back, to stay away, and to generally get the hell out of here before she does something to spoil what I’ve just done. Without giving away the game, which took a great deal of finesse on my part.

She’s either blind, or oblivious, or both, barreling toward us with all the grace of a three-footed jintjant in heat. What do I have to do to get that damn girl’s attention?

Oh no, she’s opening her mouth, what is she doing?

“I have something to say,” she proclaims, as she gets too close for comfort—in other words, within earshot of our parents. “About this courtship thing, I want to….”

How very badly I wish to strangle my sister at this moment!

§§§§

How, how could I have… Of all the men at the reception, why’d I have to attract the most pompous of them all? His Highness Prince Cailean. I’ve gone and done it now, stirred the interest of the wrong royal and gotten my brother in as deeply as I am in the bargain. We’ve disobeyed our Mother, and our tribal leader, the First Mother. Which idea disturbs me the most—that I’ve attracted Kay, or that I’m attracted to Kay?

 I’m lying,  as I have all night long, staring blankly up at the ceiling. I try to sleep, but every time I close my eyes I see him—I can still feel him in my arms. Damn, he fits so nicely within my embrace. I shake my head and sigh. The Guardian has risen above the horizon. It’s early yet,  but I need to talk to Jaou. We’ve plans to make. If we’re to continue with this betrayal of our people, we need to be united before our parents, and especially our Mother.

I drag myself from my sleeping pallet, the soft rich soil having done nothing to ease my rest or my mood. I chose to sleep in my soil pallet instead of on a human mattress, which seems to be the current trend among our people. I’d hoped that the Earth Mother would grant me the respite that the mattress did not, but it mattered little where I lay my head as I still got no actual sleep.

I desire only Kay. My thoughts are filled with nothing but him. How beautifully annoying.

Jaou and I need to talk. We need to come up with a plan to fix things before our carefully built house of cards tumbles down around us. I step into my private bathing area and rinse my body in the shower. The cool water runs in trickles down my body; they feel refreshing against my fevered skin as visions of the handsome Kay float through my memory. I reach down and stroke my erection; my tender petals are tightly wrapped about my cock and haven’t opened. They won’t, of course, until I’m actually able to claim him—my chosen, my princeling, my Kay. How those very words tingle in my brain. My desire hardens and the need I have for him is almost painful, in an exquisite sort of way. I stroke my shaft and its sensitive petals, giving the three glans of the head a little twist as visions of my soon-to-be-lover dance through my mind. I can still smell him on my body; the cool water enhances his scent slightly before it rinses it away. My movements become more frantic, as I pant—the thought of his beautiful eyes, those long legs wrapped about my waist, and the wonder of his wood within my grasp… I moan as my seed splashes across the cool tiles. I lean forward, resting my forehead on my arm. The desire is no less, but the urgency presses less significantly against my libido, enough so I can safely seek out my brother and not be a cause for embarrassment, if  I’m seen. It wouldn’t do to walk around my family home in human dress, just to hide my enflamed state from them.

I emerge from the waters of the shower and I’m drying my skin when I hear the knock on my bedroom door.

“Enter,” I call from the bathing area as I finish my morning routine.

“Reno?” Jaou calls as he comes in and looks around.

“I’ll be right out. Make yourself comfortable. I was just about to come to you.” I chuckle as Jaou sits heavily on the made bed in the middle of the room.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Jaou asks.

“Slept in my earth pallet, not that it mattered… No, I didn’t sleep well.  How about you?”

“Not a bit. All I could think of was how sweet she smelled and …” Jaou sighs

“Shhh… You know better than that. It’s not like the walls here are made of stone like the castle,” I fairly snap at Jaou.

“I know but… Reno, what are we going to do?”

“I’ll go to Father one more time and beg him to speak to Mother. I can’t believe they’d force this on us. I’ll tell him that we all got along well enough but that there isn’t any attraction between us and see if it makes any difference.” I step from the bathing area back into my room to see Jaou lying back on the bed, his head in his hands.

“It won’t matter. I’ve already approached him this morning, while he was doing his Guardian salutations in the garden. I told him that the Prince seemed to be attracted to you and although the Princess was cordial, that I wouldn’t expect any declarations to be made.” Jaou’s hands thumped to his sides on the mattress.

“What did he say?” I catch my breath as I sit beside my brother. From the dismal discouraged look on his face, I already know the answer, of course.

“He told me to stay out of it and be a good chaperone, guard the family’s honor and keep you in sight. That you know your place and will do as the First Mother bids and mate with the female.”

“Smatherrats!” My head falls forward into my hands, my hair hiding my eyes as well as the shame of my overwrought emotions from my brother. “Then we go with Kay’s plan and for the time being we play the game. I’ll approach the First Mother and ask what our next step in courtship is expected to be. You’ve been named chaperone so you might as well come with. I apologize now brother, if I seem forward with your chosen, but I may have to touch her to make this game realistic. I’ve no desire for her, I assure you. I only want Kay. Just so you know.”

“I know brother. I know…” Jaou’s voice sounds tired. And our game has barely begun.

We’re both startled from our reveries by the sound of shouting in the hallway. Together we bolt for the door. The commotion comes from the front of the house. Someone has arrived. For a moment I think it might be Kay, but from the distraught screaming of Mother and the keening sound of Father in distress, I know that can’t be the case.

Jaou and I burst through the front door to see two men leading a horse. Behind the horse, upon a litter our brother Dorianianetah lies unconscious, cradled between the poles in a layer of soil. His color’s grey, none of the natural green of our people’s natural pallor can be seen in his skin. If not for the faint rise and fall of his breathing, I’d have thought he was gone from this world.

“What’s going on here!” I ask the two men—they look almost as sickly as my brother. I run forward and take my brother’s hand as Jaou takes the reins of the horse;  it’s begun to spook as a direct result of my father’s 

keening.

“We were in the wastes,” one man replies. “Dorian decided he wanted to try and find out what was at the center, see what was creating the wastes. I told him not to. I tried to convince him it was a bad idea, but he refused to listen to reason,” The telling of this awful tale seems to draw the last of the man’s energy from him. When I look up from my brother to him, I realize the man is my little brother’s best friend, Thom. Only he looks so much older than his few years, that I almost didn’t recognize him.

“My brother can be very stubborn, Thom. You know that,” I try to sooth him as I lace my fingers with my brother’s, sending him as much restorative energy as I can, before Mother shoves me unceremoniously away.

“You will lose your coloring. I’ll do it!” she snaps, lacing her own fingers with her son’s, pouring her energy into him. I bite my tongue, knowing that Dorian’s body would’ve accepted the energy from me—his brother and another male—easier than from the body of a female, even that of his mother. But I can’t disobey her.

“Thom, what happened next?” I ask since Mother’s concentrating on healing Dorian.

“We waited for him for two days, but when he didn’t show last evening, Zeph and I went in after him and found him unconscious on the ground. Everything around him was dead. The very plant life about him sacrificed to keep him alive.” Thom starts to waver on his feet. Zeph, his older brother wraps an arm around him and braces him.

“We put him in a litter and headed home. When we were clear of the wastes we put clean soil around him and bared as much of his skin to the guardian as we could, hoping it would help purify him. We gave him an energy infusion, but we’re almost as contaminated as he is.” Zeph shakes his head, exhaustion flooding him.

I watch Jaou unhitch the horse from the litter and help Zeph put Thom atop the horse, then climb behind him. “I’m going to take them home,” Jaou says. “They need help. I’ll make sure they get to their families.”

“Yes, thank you, Jaou,” Mother offers my brother a grateful smile. “Reno, I’m sorry I snapped at you. Will you assist me and your father to get Dorian to the gardens? We’ll see to his energy infusion, but he’ll do better with you there also. The light of the Guardian will refresh your colors as well.”

“Yes Mother, as you wish.” I scoop my brother up in my arms and run for the garden before she can protest the skin to skin contact and the energy I send to my baby brother, without her permission.

to be continued

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♥ Julie and Sui