Coming Soon: Winning Secrets!

Welcome back to the Wasteland!

I have a bit of a surprise to unveil for readers today. I don't usually post these sorts of things, except that one of the parties involved is Cirsova, the best NewPub publisher out there today, and one of the inspirations for getting me into the Pulp Revolution (as well as the man who wrote the foreword to The Last Fanatics), Jeffro Johnson.

As a consequence there is no way I could let this release go without highlighting and commenting a bit on it myself.

Jeffro and Cirsova's new work will be on Kickstarter next week, but you can look below for a preview of what to expect!

Longtime game blogger Jeffro Johnson earned Hugo nods for his in-depth analysis of AD&D’s Appendix N, in his book Appendix N: The Literary History of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as for the work he did as the editor-in-chief for the Castalia House blog.

During the COVID shutdowns of 2020, Jeffro and a group of friends gathered to explore a unique objective: explore the early D&D rulesets as thoroughly as possible. This was the birth of the nascent BrOSR movement, an effort that would take the implied goal of the Old School Revival (OSR) seriously.

The BrOSR coalesced as a group of Christian men who, through hearty ribbing and memes, encouraged one another to become better at playing Dungeons & Dragons and produce a better experience at the table.

The group’s principles included playing the game Rules As Written, eschewing homebrewing or house ruling, in an attempt to uncover what the game was truly like when taking author Gary Gygax’s prescriptions seriously. The game contained in the rules contrasts starkly with the “folk game” that D&D had become. While the OSR movement had largely been a vibe-based focus on the aesthetics of the older games, sometimes trying to rebuild them from the ground up, the Bros took an approach that centered on gathering a deep understanding and mastery of the foundational games of the hobby.

Members of this group radically changed the online discussion surrounding D&D, with a focus on RAW, use of 1:1 time, and re-incorporation of David Wesely’s Braunstein as seen in D&D co-creator Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor Campaign. In to providing extensive public-facing campaign reports, the Bros created Brozer: Island of War and Winter (out now through Cirsova Publishing), a Braunstein adventure product designed to teach other groups how to incorporate these elements, and offered it for free digitally and at-cost in print, moving nearly 2000 copies.

Cirsova Publishing is proud to present Winning Secrets, by Jeffro Johnson, RuleOfThule, and Bdubs1776. Originally conceived as the follow-up to Jeffro’s monograph, “How to Win at D&D,” published by Pilum Press in 2023, Winning Secrets collects the receipts for the style of play that Jeffro and the BrOSR championed. The book chronicles the sessions of Jeffro’s Trollopulous campaign, the first campaign of the BrOSR, and contains essays and commentaries offering insightful examinations of the definitive pillars of BrOSR-style play as well as illuminating the guiding values they champion. 

In Winning Secrets, you will join the Bros in their journey, uncovering the brilliant lost secrets of great campaigns which gave birth to the D&D game rules. You will see the complete story play out of how this arcane lore was won through Jeffro’s paradigm-shattering Trollopulous campaign.

In this landmark work, you will find:

    • A persuasive case for why contemporary approaches to RPGs cannot deliver on the game that was promised by the early D&D rule sets.

    • A thorough breakdown of the four pillars of Real D&D, lore from the dawn of RPGs that will elevate the excitement and engagement at YOUR table!

    • A detailed history of how Jeffro discovered these secrets and how he and his friends developed solutions to the challenges offered by high level play.

    • An explanation of why only Christian brotherhood could break down the barriers that were preventing all of us from experiencing the RPG campaign of our dreams.

    • The recreation of a lost artform and an entire world of gaming knowhow that Jeffro pulled out of complete oblivion.

This book will change the way you think about D&D forever. More importantly, it will show you how the game was intended to be played.

Praise for Jeffro Johnson’s "How to Win at D&D":

"These 30 or so pages of text in this book are the most impactful and important 30 pages I have ever read when it comes to tabletop roleplaying games and wargaming. It has changed the wayIi approach these games. This book put everything into focus for me, why I wasn’t having fun and didn’t feel good about the games I was running and how to run better games. I've bought five or six copies and have given them to each of my players and I recommend it to anyone I know who plays or wants to play D&D." -- Jon Asharan

"For the scholarly reader interested in the history of RPGs, this book is indispensable. It is thoroughly researched and, in my academic opinion, convincing." -- Gabe Mamola

Praise for Appendix N: The Literary History of Dungeons & Dragons:

"This book may be the most important thing to happen to science fiction, fantasy, and even horror in the past three decades" -- Jim Fear

"An absolute must-read for anyone wanting to rediscover the forgotten literary roots of fantasy in general, and role playing games in particular. I have already been blown away by some of the authors mentioned here, and look forward to a great deal more excitement as I progress." -- Sam Hart

Winning Secrets will be live on Kickstarter from February 25th through April 1st: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cirsova/winning-secrets

Cirsova Publishing:

www.cirsova.wordpress.com

X: x.com/@cirsova

Jeffro Johnson:

www.jeffro.wordpress.com

Psycho Mission is Go!

Find it Here!

Finally, it's begun!

The next instalment of the Phantom War series, Psycho Mission, is now starting on the Patreon. Join now and you can catch up with part 1, as well as get the full version of the track composed by one Jacob Calta, on top of the near 20 episodes of the podcast. Quite the bang for your $5. Right now, three chapters are up, and will be coming two a week until we reach the end by May. Join up now, because it's going to be wild!

After the events of Phantom Mission, Menace Beach has only deteriorated further with the gangs now turning even more violent. A large group called the Dead Heads are now throwing their weight around, demanding loyalty from the others. They even arranged a big brawl to decide which gang gets to be king of the city!

But is that all there is to it?

Trash is a member of the 47th Street Psychos, a young man with no way out but through. With a collapsing city, a mysterious girl missing someone of her own, a detective with more guts than sense, and a creeping menace hiding in the shadows, can he fight against a world that wants to exterminate itself?

And why is the sky rumbling?

The Phantom Mission is over.

The Psycho Mission has begun.

Read it here today!

Chapter 2 is already up!

As you can tell, I haven't posted much recently because I was trying to get all of this together. After this instalment, there is one more book to go, Final Mission, which I have only begun outlining. In the meantime I am also planning for a crowdfund for a physical release of Phantom Mission. The plan for that is this summer. We'll see how it all shakes out!

In case you couldn't tell by the description, this series is my most bizarre one so far. There's a lot of action, a lot of weird, and odd turns I did not expect when I began this journey. As a consequence, the last book is probably going to end up longer than the first two. It's just unavoidable with how out of control it became.

I wanted to thank everyone here and on the Patreon for your support. It's been quite the journey over the years, and I never would have expected doing what I'm doing now without you.

At the same time, there are other surprises on the way. I have a book in the works with a publisher, a few short stories coming down the pipeline (and others still waiting for submissions to open), and of course the Phantom War serial. On top of it there is a big unannounced project I've hinted at before that is shaping up in crazy directions.

I've got a few more ideas for a serial after Phantom War is done, and there are many short stories I have to get to on top of it. you might wonder just what I could possibly do once that one finishes (Trust me, it gets nuts in ways I did not anticipate), but there is a plan. I might not always know what it is, but my muse seems to. Regardless, there's a lot of cool stuff coming up.

I hope you're having a fruitful 2025 so far. We're almost a third of the way through already. It's been a strange one, but it really does feel like we are in the midst of a shift. Who really knows what it'll be like when we come out the other side?

Anyway, have a good week and I will see you again soon enough. The next Psycho Mission chapter should also be released tomorrow, so look forward to that.

We've got a lot of surprises ahead! As OldPub crashes and burns, NewPub soars over the remains into a whole new world.

I 'm eager to see just where it ends up!

Read Psycho Mission (and more!) on the Patreon!

New Release ~ Cirsova #22!

Find it Here!

It's that time of year again: the new issue of Cirsova is out! Not only is it out, I'm in this issue myself, and it's for quite a doozy of a story.

Before we get into it, lets get the issue summary out front so you can see all the talented writers and their cool stories in greater detail. for those curious, the beautiful cover is also drawn by Wistmoor. It's quite a packed issue.

Now, lets get to the stories:

Flight From Reckoning
(Part 1)
By MICHAEL TIERNEY
The Wild Stars hope to find some sign of their distant cousins beyond the Milky Way, humanoid races descended from other extragalactics! Rather than friends or allies, however, an ancient enemy lies in wait at the scene of a long-ago bloodbath!

The American Dream
By RODICA BRETIN
Kayla Blackmoon’s life is about to be turned upside down when Russell Morgan, a mysterious huckster politician, appears in her town of Dartmouth ready to promise the stars…

Salt Roses
By JIM BREYFOGLE
After her family is killed by merfolk, Aelia, a young diver, seeks out a legendary sunken treasure that is said to have the power to restore both emperor and empire!

Waegnwyrhta
By WILLIAM SUBOSKI
Ill-thought out regulatory changes catch up with the new Principal Administrator Waegnwyrhta when she finds herself stranded and at the mercy of her rescue crew!

The Siege of Verisa
By RICHARD RUBIN
The evil cult of Dewi has kidnapped Burke Fletcher’s wife Llana, forcing her to aid them against Baron Amalrik… whose Alchemist Stone Llana and Burke stole!

Void Railway
By JD COWAN
Things may not be all they seem on a routine escort gig when a mysterious woman approaches Galactic Enforcer Stone with a glowing gem and an offer of a side job!

The Demacron
By GARY K. SHEPHERD
A Peacekeeper on the Demacron, a hollowed-out planetoid that is home to a dwindling population of myriad species, must find a repairman who has gone missing!

Machine Dreams for Wired People
By JAIME FAYE TORKELSON
A family infiltration team is hired to break into a cybernetic AI factory to rescure the itinerant daughter of a wealthy benefactor before her mind can be liquified!

Cracking the Cyber Ziggurat
By KEVAN LARSON
A band of cyber pirates has been given the job of a lifetime: breaking into the central databanks of Abraham Kursk, one of the wealthiest men on or off the Web!

Paying the Doctor’s Due
By WILLIAM DRELL
Mickey Vance is due for a tune-up on his illegal military-grade wetware, but his doctor is dead! Can he and his doctor’s assistant evade a bounty hunter on his trail?

In the Last Days
By JAMES HUTCHINGS

A lot of great stuff, as usual.

For my story, you might have been able to tell, but it is another Galactic Enforcer story. This time, however, you might have noticed the main character's name is a little different. This is because this story introduces a few new characters into the mix that will be important going forward. Well, if they survive, that is.

The protagonist of "Void Railway" is Detective Brandon Stone, a giant lummox of a man who does not seem to take his job as seriously as our usual protagonist, Detective Renfield, and in fact has rumors going on about him. This is what causes him to be approached by the mysterious woman at the story's start and his personality clash against hired merc Shiro. But when the chips are down and the safety of the Railway and the passengers becomes in doubt, can he rise to the challenge, or is that Renfield guy really just full of hot air about things like this? You'll have to read it to find out!

The stories I've written in the Galactic Enforcer series so far have been more or less standalone adventures that have little relation to each other, though there is some carryover. The ones written since Star Wanderers, however, are more tightly connected, even though they can still be read standalone. Void Railway's events actually does have direct repercussions for later stories, though it might not be in obvious ways. At least, not at first. 

I also wanted to expand the world around Detective Renfield more while still keeping the encroaching darkness that exists around the corner due to the nature of his job. You might have remembered the introduction of Dana from Star Wanderers working to lighten up his life when he's outside the fray, well, there are others now dealing with what he has run into out in the abyss away from the safe roads of home, and it might be more than any of them can handle.

In other words, if you enjoyed Star Wanderers, you really should check out "Void Railway" in the new issue. It is the next step forward for the series. There will still be standalone adventures, as there always are with this series, I'm hoping to drastically expand the scope with the next batch of stories going forward. You might have seen hints of that before, but now we're really going into it going forward. It's a wild galaxy out there: how can you possibly tame what can't be tamed?

The goal of the Galactic Enforcer series has always been the quest to explore the idea of enforcing law against the Unknown, and we're about to see just how that can be done so far from home. How do we hold our ground with no firm base to stand on? The Green Hills of Earth are far away from here, after all . . . 

You can read all about it, as well as many other exciting tales of adventure and wonder, in the new issue of Cirsova! Check it out today!

It should also be mentioned that this is the tenth(!) anniversary of Cirsova. They've been in operation as a publisher for a decade now, and with no signs of stopping. I could highlight the many releases other than my own they've put out, but I would be here for ages. Suffice to say, head to their website and check them all out for yourself after picking up the new issue. There is no shortage of great stuff to dig into.

That's it for today! Thank you for checking out the blog and supporting my work. It makes all of this a lot more fun than it would be otherwise. And I've got a few more surprises up ahead! I can't wait to show you what's coming . . . but it'll have to wait for now. They aren't all just my secret to divulge, after all.

Once again, you can find the new issue of Cirsova here. I'll see you next time!

For more Galactic Enforcer tales, check out Star Wanderers! This is where they started!

Early 2025 Surprise!

Coming out next month!

Just got word of this, so wanted to put it out before the year wraps up! This is the cover reveal for the first issue of Cirsova for 2025. Notice a familiar name on there? That is because my story, "Void Railway", is in the issue. 

For those curious, it is a Galactic Enforcer story that is a bit different from the previous ones you might have read. For one, though he is in it, Ronan Renfield is not the main character. Instead we follow a gruffer more violent Enforcer named Brandon Stone as an escort mission goes awry. Just what is waiting out there in the gap between the stars?

I had a lot of fun writing this story, and Alex from Cirsova himself told me it was his favorite of the ones I've written for him, so please be sure to check it out when the Spring issue releases in January. Throw in the other great authors above and you've got a lot of bang for your buck. As always, you can never go wrong with an issue of Cirsova.

Once the preorder link goes live I will be sure to post it on Wasteland & Sky as always. I've got plenty of other things ahead for 2025, but this was one last surprise needed to be shown. Just look at that cool cover by Wistmoor Studio! It's fantastic stuff.

Thanks for reading and I'll be back soon with one last update for the year!

Until then, be sure to check out the last Cirsova issue of 2024! It's a banger!

Down in Miami II

In the distant future, Earth is trapped in ruin from excessive decadence. The only thing that can break it out is discovering a truth long buried and forgotten. What are the Phantoms, and what do they really want? What is the secret to this state of decay?

Find out today!

What you are looking at is the trailer for my current serialized story, Phantom Mission. The music was composed by one Jacob Calta of 365 Infantry fame, who did a killer job. I wanted to get the vibe of the story off in a small minute and a half preview, and this is what came out. The full version of the track is available to backers on the Patreon, so if you want more you get it here. Trust me, the whole thing is a banger.

We are rounding the bend on the conclusion of the first part of what is looking to be three in the overall serialized Phantom War story. If you want to back to read Phantom Mission, which is the opening act, you can join the Patreon right now and have access not only to that, but also exclusive updates and podcast episodes you can't get anywhere else. While I'll still be posting here, backers will get more on top of what is usually released to the public.

If you want to read this ongoing epic before anyone else (because it will be a long time before I can get it out to the public), then be sure to back the Patreon today! It'll really help me in getting more material out faster for everyone involved.

In other news, as recently revealed to backers, I just passed 30 written short stories. That's a crazy number to reach, and I've still got more on the way.

As for any new news on that front, my story "Mirage Carousal" will be in the next issue of Cirsova coming out in September!

Here is the cover:

Preorder it here!

The description of "Mirage Carousal":

Mirage Carousal
By JD COWAN
When a coven of witches all but ushers in the end of the world, Nick seeks the one dissenter in an illusory wasteland of violence and degeneracy, offering redemption!

If you read my piece in Sidearm & Sorcery Volume 3 then you might recognize the name of the main character here! There is a good reason for that. If you have not read either I would recommend starting with Mirage Carousal first then moving onto What's it Like in There? in S&S3. The reason for that will become clearer once you read them both.

Related to new stories, I've also got a few more completed and submitted to different markets, but have no idea of their current status, so I will keep you posted when I am able to. At the same time, I'm also working my way through other pieces, as well as the sequel to Phantom Mission. There's quite a bit on the way.

And I've got even more on the way.

I guess it was little more than a small update today, but I think it's a solid one worth sharing. The year's not done yet, so keep an eye out! You're bound to see a few more surprises before it's up.

Don't forget Star Wanderers is out! 8 Tales of sorcery, bullets, and fighting back the dark!

Star Wanderers is Out!

Out on Amazon Here!

In case you missed the Kickstarter campaign, Star Wanderers is now available wide! You can find it on Amazon right now. You can find it here!

This is a collection of eight stories featuring two protagonists wandering the far future where the cracks in reality are far more pronounced. What actually lies out there in the dark? Find out in Star Wanderers today!

The description:

Detective Ronan Renfield is a Galactic Enforcer sworn to protect the innocent and bring evil-doers to justice to maintain order throughout the stars.

The Agent is a nameless knight errant tasked with hunting the most brazenly wicked and blasphemous who threaten order and nature across the cosmos.

Alone, they face strange and diabolical horrors on backwater worlds and the corrupt and dangerous criminals who threaten civilization.

Together, they are the Star Wanderers!

This collection features eight thrilling tales of raygun adventure, swashbuckling sword fights, and cyberpunk mystery, including four never-before published adventures!

You can find Star Wanderers here!

The Star Wanderers soundtrack by Jacob Calta is also available if you missed it! Find that here! Check it out. He did a fantastic job.

In other writing news, I've already writing some new Ronan Renfield stories since Star Wanderers was published, so you can expect a sequel in the future. I've also got a few others in the can which officially means I've passed 30 total short stories completed. I know, I'm a bit stunned myself.

In regards to the next book, Phantom Mission is currently serializing on the Patreon and we're about 2/3 of the way there. Join and get yourself first in line to read new chapters! Chapter 10 released yesterday and the next one will be out next week.

As an aside, I've also recorded a new podcast episode, and this one will also be for free members as well. It's a good chance to see if the podcast is for you, because we talk about subjects like this quite often.

Anyway, that's a short update on what's been going on. 

In related news, Cirsova, who helped put out Star Wanderers is in the final stretch of their Wild Stars Kickstarter to both put out the next installment in the series as well as help fund for next year's stories. So jump in on that if you have yet to. There's not really much time left and they're about $300 away from the last stretch goal. You can find that here!

That's all for today! I'll see you this weekend for the usual. Until then, thank you for all your support and have a good rest of your week!

Join the Patreon to get access to exclusive stories and podcasts as well as future content! We'd be glad to have you!

Letters from the Wasteland is Go!

Hello, all! It's a short update this time. The reason for that is that I have an entire podcast episode to share with you today!

It's also completely free to give you an idea of what the podcast included in the Patreon will be about. So give it a listen and let me know what you think.

You can hear the premiere podcast episode for free on the Patreon here!

I'll also take this time to mention when of the things announced in the podcast regarding the next book, since it pertains to here as well. It's no big secret, but it's coming out this week.

On Friday, July 5th, the first chapter of Phantom Mission, my next work will be put up for serialization on Patreon. Every week after that, for all of July, there will be two chapters a week. Really getting into that summer spirit for a book that is very summer influenced. It will then drop down to one chapter a week until we reach the end. All of this is beginning this week! So you can see why I've been so quiet around here recently.

That's all for today, I hope you had a great fourth of July and I will see you again very soon!

Don't forget that Sidearm & Sorcery Volume 3 is out! Classic action in a modern setting!

Sidearm & Sorcery III

Find it Here!

Welcome back to the Wasteland! I've got one more surprise for you before we exit June. I promise, it's a great one.

The good news is just in time for the start of summer is the third volume in StoryHack's Sidearm & Sorcery anthology series! It's quite the release. For those looking for a fun read, you won't get much better than this.

In case you are unaware, Sidearm & Sorcery is an anthology series framed around the concept of classic Sword & Sorcery anthologies like Flashing Swords or Swords Against Darkness, but set in a modern context of guns, social media, and cars. Instead of the typical shell of classic S&S framework and setting wrapped around modern storytelling tropes, these tales instead are built in the classic mode but connected to our modern times. The only difference is the setting. This approach is not about correcting the past, but connecting ourselves to it.

Before we go any further, I would like to first give the description of Volume 3 as well as the list of stories contained in this new release.

Evil hides is the shadows of modern life. Mythic monsters lurk among the refuse of city streets. Wizards that peep and mutter seek unholy power in the present-day. Unfortunately, there aren't enough kindly sorcerers, children of prophecy, or battlesuit-powered billionaires to go around. So when average people are swallowed up in supernatural trouble, sometimes they have to stand against the darkness by themselves.

Included in this volume are twelve new stories of regular people facing the worst the paranormal world as to offer. These heroes may not have powers, but they refuse to be powerless.

This is Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Three.

Included in this volume:

• What's It Like in There? by JD Cowan
• Hell is in These Hills by Jason McCuiston
• Mixed Mystic Arts by Niko Haapala
• Vagrant Vigilante by Josh VanZile
• Acts of Contrition by Daniel Minucci
• Shrinkage by Misha Burnett
• Abandonment and Possession by Dale W. Glaser
• The Devouring Mother of Appalachia by Carl Brown
• Red Wine, Books, and Ammunition by Julie Frost
• Supernatural Survival Merit Badge by Jason Akinaka
• Yahoo Cafe by Jay Barnson
• Werewolf of the Redmoss Apartments by Bryce Beattie

You might have noticed a few familiar names in the list, including yours truly! My piece is not only in volume 3, but it is also the lead story! That is a first for me, but it is especially nice to see when you consider this is probably my longest short story so far, just under novella length. The reason for this will be explained below.

Aside from myself, you can see for yourself some of the great names that have contributed to both this book as well as past volumes, as well. I'd go through each of them but the titles pretty much say it all for me. You know you're in good with those writers.

Regardless, this a fun release with a lot of wild tales by great authors to get the blood pumping. You can find Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Three here!

Now that the basics are out of the way, let us get to my tale.

You might have remembered this earlier AI art from my video

Now, you might be asking, what is the deal with "What's It Like in There?" and what is it about? Surely, it can be any weirder than any of my past work. Well, you might be surprised because this is a strange one.

The story behind the story is that after I wrote the tale "City Eater" (which, funnily enough, released in Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Two) I realized that there was much to the "event" described in that story than I lead on. The obvious reason for that being that it was about a small family dealing with abject madness, but readers clearly noticed that the described event affected a lot more people than just them. Not only that, but it had happened more than once. So the question came, what happened during a similar one of these events where escape wasn't an option? In fact, this story was my attempt to understand the series of happenings that would lead to the sort of disaster that swallows the modern world so seemingly easy.

To go into it in greater detail would be to lean a bit esoteric and, even if that is much more acceptable these days, I much prefer being clear in my meanings when I write stories. Obscurity isn't what I try to do. I put a lot in here you can probably drag out yourself, but at the core is a story about a boy lost in a storm much older, and also younger, than he is. This whirlwind he finds himself a part of was always inevitable, but no one wanted to see it coming even when all the signs were there. As a result, well, the only thing that comes from it is disaster.

In truth, this is the final story in a small cycle of shorts I wrote about the end of the modern world. There are a few others, a couple of really short pieces I have on the side, the aforementioned "City Eater" as well as the upcoming "Mirage Carousal" in Cirsova's fall issue (which should help bridge some of the gap), and then there is this one. There is also a short epilogue story I'm currently working on between other projects, but that one's also a bit out there. On top of all that, I suppose with this I should have to state that this is all also related to Y Signal, as well. Take whatever you want from that last piece of knowledge.

That said, as always, each story stands on its own merits and tells its own tale. You only need to read them all if you want a more full picture of where they stand in relation to each other and the grander scheme of things. If you just want to read one on its own, you can still do that.

But how about this particular tale? Let us now go into it a bit.

Without going into spoiler territory, "What's It Like in There?" is the end result of many social and societal trends allowed to go on unchecked by those who refuse to look at the bigger picture, leading to an end worse than mere collapse. The strange vampirism everyone today seems to have in regards to everyone else and the smashing of a high trust society can only really lead in one direction. Doubly so if you have no vision for the future beyond leaving everyone alone to kill themselves. Out of sight, out of mind. That sort of destruction will only ever fold back in on itself as much as it folds out and flattens everything else around it in the process. No one wins.

The main protagonist is not only the viewpoint character for the reader but also representative of anyone coming across this madness out of context. I once said that if someone outside of the small window of the small cultural context actually watched the movie SLC Punk they would see nothing but madness and be puzzled that anyone would let this happen. That was part of the goal here, too. None of this really makes sense, and yet it's still not only being allowed to happen, it's encouraged. What possible end can come of this mentality?

In case you were wondering, the title of this tale is indeed a reference to the above Edmond Hamilton story about space exploration and how detached it is from reality. If you haven't read it, the piece stars a psychologically wounded space war vet that has to go around telling families their loved ones have died and he has to contrast it with how different space is from all those old pulp stories they dreamed it would be.

It's a rather dark and dreary story, different than Hamilton's usual and one of the few he could sell in a market that didn't want what he actually loved to write. So of course it is looked at highly by fans of the "genre" and not remembered by anyone else today. That's not to say anything about the story's quality, we are talking about Edmond Hamilton after all, but it's not what Hamilton is remembered for anymore, if he is remembered by the industry at all. I'm also fairly certain it's not the sort of thing he would want to be remembered for.

Regardless, the concept of misunderstanding space and the possibilities out there in the Unknown was funny to me. The idea of charging out into the Unknown Up There when we have spent all of modernity ignoring the Unknown Down Here is interesting. Forget what it might be like out there. How about what it's like in here? We can have arguments about how many dwarf planets we have to admit in so we can get Pluto back (all of them, who cares), but most of us no longer can even give the first names of any of the neighbors who live on our own streets. A link is missing here. We're leapfrogging over everything for the promised gold prize of progress that doesn't exist.

"What's It Like in There?" is a trip through a dead end with little more than a shotgun, a prayer, and friends in unlikely places. You can't get out if you don't even know what it is you're trying to escape. What awaits on the other end? You'll have to read and find out.

All that aside, I want to thank you for reading. These stories are always a blast to write and put out there and it's always a pleasure hearing about others' enjoyment of them. Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Three is sure to be a blast as will the upcoming Cirsova #20 in the fall. I would recommend them even if I didn't have a story in them. (Which reminds me, Cirsova's summer issue is now out! Be sure to grab it here!)

But I also have a pretty big surprise to share with you in the very near future. It will have to wait until July, but rest assured it's a big one that will change how I operate. I've got more stories on the way and you're about to be able to access them far more easily. I only want to wait a bit longer to let these things breathe before I go into yet another project with you.

Lastly, in Star Wanderers news, I gave the okay on the proofs and Cirsova is now collecting surveys and readying to ship them out! If you haven't filled yours in yet, now is the time. You'll be getting that awesome package very, very shortly!

That's all for this week! Thank you for all your support and I will see you next time. You never just what is out there waiting!

12 tales of guns, explosions, and the supernatural!

Star Wanderers Kickstarter is Go!

Today is the day!

For those who have been waiting for the moment, Star Wanderers, a project long in the making is now finally making its way out to readers. You can find it in the new project launched by Cirsova here today!

I am beyond excited to finally get this one out and available to readers. It's been a long time coming. Join in for some adventures of action and intrigue!

As the campaign description states:

Detective Ronan Renfield is a Galactic Enforcer sworn to protect the innocent and bring evil-doers to justice to maintain order throughout the stars.

The Agent is a nameless knight errant tasked with hunting the most brazenly wicked and blasphemous who threaten order and nature across the cosmos.

Alone, they face strange and diabolical horrors on backwater worlds and the corrupt and dangerous criminals who threaten civilization.

Together, they are the Star Wanderers!

This collection features eight thrilling tales of raygun adventure, swashbuckling sword fights, and cyberpunk mystery, including four never-before published adventures!

Of course that's just the general gist of what's going on. I'll bet you want to know what stories are included!

Back this project and you will get 8 tales of mind-bending mayhem and weird action across different planets, realms, and even slipped between reality itself!

Here are the stories:

• Dead Planet Drifter - Ronan Renfield lands on a swampy world that has been overtaken by death and decay-worshiping cultists! [First Published in Cirsova Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense, Vol. 2 Issue 11, 2022]
• Cold Heart of Ouranos - The Agent travels to the ice planet Ouranos in pursuit of a genocidal mad scientist who has holed up in a lost city! [First Published in Planetary Anthology Uranus, 2020]
• Golden Echoes - Ronan faces down a diabolical terrorist leader who uses illegal technology to carve a mystical paradise out of reality itself! [First Published in Storyhack Action and Adventure, issue 7, 2021]
• Armageddon Spring - A cursed sorceress queen is doomed to conquer and seek revenge her wrongs, driven by a mysterious entity known as the Artisan! [All New Story!]
• Cold Finger Girl - A young woman barely escapes the twisted human experimentation of the supposedly peaceful Plateau and it is up to Ronan to keep her alive! [All New Story!]
• Judgement Sun - The Agent fights to protect a wayward prince from the undead cyborg minions of a necromancer intent on breaking the royal line and dooming a world by fulfilling an ancient prophecy! [First Published in Planetary Anthology Sol, 2020]
• Midnight Machineguns - Ronan investigates a series of terrorist attacks carried out by exploding cyborgs, and the trail leads him to an apocalyptic transhumanist cult! [All New Story!]
• Slow Death on San Sebastian - Detective Ronan Renfield and the Agent team up in an epic clash against a rogue elemental Knight who desires to warp the soul of an entire planet! [All New Novella!]

You might recognize some of those titles, but you definitely haven't seen them all! There's a lot more to see that has never seen the light of day before now.

This project was in the making for ages and I'm more than happy to finally be able to fully unveil it to you all today. All this exists on top of the add-on for Jacob Calta's original music for Star Wanderers. Be sure to check it out today.

These eight tales are the culmination of a lot of wandering, pondering, and cranking out high octane action, to try and best fit a niche I didn't really know existed before or not. Whether you like space cops, sword and planet, cyberpunk, sword and sorcery, weird horror, or just plain straight-out blood-soaked knock-down fighting, then you will find something here you've never quite seen before.

Trust me, it get strange, and that's the way I like it.

Once again, you can back Star Wanderers here today!

Quick Update: More Pocket Paperbacks!

It's been long enough, ladies and gentlemen. Now is the moment you have been waiting for. It's time for more pocket paperbacks!

That's right, I've finally got more newer editions out on the Lulu store. I recently told you all that I was working on a way to get both Someone is Aiming for You & Other Adventures and The Last Fanatics out in pocket paperback format, which I have finally done. I had to work on these for awhile because they were longer books than the others I've published so far without making them unreadable in the format. Well, I've finally solved that conundrum. I did it by splitting the larger books up into smaller volumes.

I did this because it helps contribute to the convenience of the smaller size. This way it makes the books portable without having to compromise on form factor. This also makes the books in question easier to share with loved ones and friends you want to pass the books on to them, or maybe you want to leave them in a used book store or waiting room for others to find. It's all up to you. This is, after all, what makes pocket paperback so unique.

Anyway, let's get on with it.

I have divided The Last Fanatics into three pocket paperback volumes. Volume 1 contains the original foreword and the first two parts, Volume 2 contains Part III: Science Fiction Doesn't Exist, which is the longest part of the entire book on its own, and Volume 3 contains the rest of the material as well as the afterword.

Here is the overall description for The Last Fanatics:

Once upon a time, there was a tradition of storytelling that went back into the Gothic romances all the way through the fairy tales into the classics. It was a world without genre boundaries, checked boxes, and corporate writing workshops. This tradition created all the things you grew up with, the stories and ideas you hold dear, and the beating heart of adventure that has sustained us since the beginning of recorded history. 

And then it was destroyed. 

Learn how a gaggle of Fanatics poisoned the well of discourse and imagination by turning storytelling into mechanical formulas with rules and boundaries that never existed before. Who gave them this power, and how much of their garbage still taints discourse and the industry today? In The Last Fanatics, all will be laid bare. 

It is time for the truth to be shouted out loud! 

*Contains the collected and edited series of Fandom essays from Wasteland & Sky*

Pocket Paperback available Here!

Pocket Paperback available Here!

Pocket Paperback available Here!

Considering the entire work was over 500 pages in trade paperback/hardcover, the individual volumes are shorter, just under 200 pages each.

On top of The Last Fanatics, as mentioned above, I have also split my short story collection Someone is Aiming for You & Other Adventures into two volumes. This one was much easier to divide up since they are short stories linked together into one long piece and can be easily jumped between should the reader desire to.

How I worked it out was that Volume One contains the first four stories in the larger collection. That would be: Someone is Aiming for You," "Endless Nights in Villain City," "Under Suspicion in Summerside," and "Knives in the Night," as the main feature.

Volume Two contains "Last Exit to Shadow City," "Lucky Spider's Last Stand," and "When the Sunset Turns Red," as the story contents.

Here is the overall description for Someone is Aiming for You & Other Adventures:

Vigilantes fight from the shadows. In Summerside, Dark Magic poisons the dying city of cultists and gangsters. This is where heroes are made. 

A man with a deadly touch, an ex-hitman, a concrete teenager, an invisible myth, and an indestructible knight, are but a few of those who stalk the midnight hour. 

In these seven stories you will meet those fighting for the soul of the city, and those hoping to bring it to a brighter future. But is there anything left worth saving in a world of death? 

Powers or Magic. Only one will win this war.

Pocket Paperback Volume One is Here!

Pocket Paperback Volume Two is Here!

With that, almost all of my books have made the jump to the pocket paperback format. I say almost all, because as you are probably aware, there is still one four book series remaining. 

That's right, I still have to transfer the Gemini Man series to pocket paperback. Because they are a bit longer than my usual books, but not long enough to be broken up like the above two, I still have to work on the formatting and send out test versions to tweak, which will take longer. Until then, of course, you can still get them in omnibus format on Amazon, which I recommend, since the entire story is contained in one mega volume there.

Now, that's all I've got for you today. I'm still working on new material and still considering new options to distribute them to readers in unique ways in the future. Those options will be weighed a little longer as I try to figure that out, but my newest book will probably show up sooner than you might think. Keep an eye out--you're definitely not going to want to miss that one!

I've been waiting to put that out for ages.

Until next time, have a great week!

Two Adventures Across Eternity is available for $0.99 in eBook form or as an exclusive Pocket Paperback edition on Lulu!

New Release ~ Two Adventures Across Eternity + An End of Year Surprise!

Find it Here!

Today is the day! I promised one last treat for readers before 2024 hits, and here it is. Today, for only a dollar you can get yourself not just one, but two, entire stories! Not only that, but you can get them in multiple formats.

Two Adventures Across Eternity is available as an eBook on amazon, as well as a special pocket paperback edition on Lulu! That's right, there is physical version of this one. This is also the first time I've ever offered such a thing, so be sure to check it out for yourself and pick the format you prefer the most.

The description:

TWO ENDS OF ETERNITY

The past and the future are at different ends of the spectrum of existence. But what about that which lies underneath it all? Some things do not age, no matter the era.

Here are two stories where eternity lies just out of sight.

In Duel on Dalpha, the future of another world lies in uncertainty. Sheriff Simon Gareth answers a distress call in the wilds. There he finds a rogue military force in search of an ancient artifact and, despite his failing health, he is their only opposition. But what will he do when his very blood is the key to it all?

The Demon Eye scours the Black Lands in Three Gifts of the White Wolf. There in the Nameless Kingdom lies the exile Sagest, a man as dulled out as his axe. As he lies dying he is visited by a white wolf who directs him deeper into the darkness. Can he rescue lost innocents, or are they all doomed to be consumed like all else in this evil land?

*This collection contains two stories: Duel on Dalpha and Three Gifts of the White Wolf!*

You can find Two Adventures Across Eternity here!

Remember, it's only one buck for two great adventures from across the boundaries of eternity itself. In this package you get both the futuristic and the mythic, along with plenty of wonder and adventure. Check it out today!

At the same time, as mentioned above, Two Adventures Across Eternity is being made available in a special pocket paperback edition available only on the Lulu store. This will be the only place these stories will be available in print for the foreseeable future.

As a reminder, you can find the pocket paperback edition here! I've made sure that this edition is definitely one you can carry around in your back pocket and hand out to anyone you wish. What else are adventures stories for if not sharing the fun?

However, that is not all.

On top of Two Adventures Across Eternity, I have created pocket paperback versions of Grey Cat Blues, Brutal Dreams, Y Signal, Knights of the End, and The Pulp Mindset, all available on Lulu! That's right, you can now buy six of my books in the pocket paperback format!

Some of the covers are even tweaked

It's hard to believe it myself, but you can now also get yourself physical versions of my books in the author's preferred physical format. They may cost a bit more than on amazon, but the print quality is improved and it is also far more portable and easy to pass on to others!

You can see the entire listing of available pocket paperback editions here. I am more than pleased to finally offer these to readers just before the end of the year.

Are these the only books coming to the more compact format? Well, despite some of the books being a bit longer I have looked into it. Let's just say there will be an update as we cross into 2024 concerning The Last Fanatics, Someone is Aiming for You & Other Adventures, and the Gemini Man series. We're not done yet.

For now, enjoy around half of my books being released in the author's preferred physical format, finally! Now you can finally see for yourself why I prefer such a form and why it is the best one for adventures stories.

I hope you consider that a big note to end 2023 on as far as publishing goes. Exporting half of my catalog into a new format on a new store as well as giving readers one last book feels like a fine way to end the year, especially one as crazy as this one was.

That's all for now! I will see you next time. I'm just glad that I was able to bow out  of this year in style with a gift to you all.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Don't forget that the Gemini Man series is currently out in both eBook and omnibus form!

New Release ~ Gemini Outsider is Out!

Find it Here!

You have no idea how excited I am to release this, the third book in the Gemini Man series today! It's been years trying to get these works out to readers and I am glad to say that all three are finally out. The third book, Gemini Outsider can be found here!

Kickstarter backers have already received this one, as well as the two previous books, but it can now be purchased by everyone who missed out on the campaign. As a reminder, unlike Gemini Warrior (and Gemini Drifter, to an extent), Gemini Outsider was completed post-Silver Empire after I was given back the final draft to be edited. This is the first time it has ever been properly available, and with a cover commissioned by me from the extremely talented Manuel Guzman.

It is nice to finally have this out there for all the readers to dig into.

Here is the description:

HOME SWEET HOME

Matthew and Jason have finally escaped the forces on their tail. But all is not what it seems in the quaint town of Riverview. Hidden monsters and psycho killers emerge from the shadows to drag them back into the void. A madman closes in! But can they even fight back without their powers?

The final test begins for the Gemini Man in the third book in the Gemini Man Trilogy, Gemini Outsider! What does it mean to live in peace? Read on and find out!

Originally I had said this was the conclusion of the series, and it more or less still is. Book Three completes the story began in Gemini Warrior and continued through Gemini Drifter of Jason and Matthew finding a place for themselves. This is basically the end of their story, one of wanted to give to readers for ages.

However, as backers of the campaign know, two more short stories were commissioned due to the stretch goals. These are both novella length and do not star either Jason or Matthew, but do feature the same central conflict from the main series. This is because I wanted to give readers not just the end of their tale, but the conclusion of the overall conflict as well. With these two bonus stories (which will be released in a package once they are finished and edited) the Gemini Man will be completed and readers will have the final ending. Though that does not mean Gemini Outsider does not have a very satisfying conclusion of its own. It very much does, and it is my favorite overall book in the series. You'll have to read it to see what I mean.

Speaking of campaign backers, I have two chapters left to write in the second story before I give it the once over twice for editing. Then I will send it off to my editor who hopefully is not too busy. Once I complete the final edit, I will send them out to backers in both digital form and in place them in the omnibus for complete series backers. After which they will be put on Amazon for the public. Then I can finally bid the series goodbye as it will then be complete.

As it is, you can see the series page here on Amazon in case you missed anything or have yet to jump on. I would really appreciate more reviews. I've heard good word from backers and readers so I would be really appreciate if you could leave a review yourself. They really do help reach more readers and give the series more exposure. It's been quite the experience writing and putting the Gemini Man out. Thank you for reading!

Also, if you are hoping for a physical edition and didn't back the campaign, you will have to wait a bit longer. After finishing up the bonus stories, I will be focusing on the omnibus edition first and foremost and sending that out to backers. If you want the books individually, it will take quite some time. Until then, I thank you for your patience.

That's all for this time. I'm once again sorry activity on the blog has been so slow. I've been focusing on finishing this series more than anything else, and its taken up a lot of online time. When you consider the bonus stories, I'm basically putting out four books this year, double my previous record. It's not something I'll probably ever do again, but it's quite an experience either way. It isn't every day that your publisher unfortunately folds and leaves you with three books to put out on your own. Though I am grateful to have had the chance to work with them in the first place.

It is sad that Silver Empire is gone now, but if it wasn't for them I never would have written this to begin with. If anything, I hope this series helps contributes to their legacy as a publisher different from the rest. If you enjoyed the books, please check out other works they previously published. You won't be let down.

Thank you for reading and enjoying the Gemini Man series! Once again I would appreciate some reviews, even if it is a sentence or two long for potential readers to get an idea of what you felt when going through it. Art is connection, so showing what it meant to other readers helps us all out just a little more.

Again, thank you for giving the series a chance, and I will see you next time!

A gang of psycho cultists torture a small town into submission! Only the Gemini Man can put a stop to them!