QSFer Erik Schubach has a new FF sci fi book out: “Worldship Files: Cityships.”
When the Earth is threatened by a slowly expanding sun, mankind embarks upon a mission to send a mammoth Worldship to settle a new planet across the stars. The preternatural races step out of hiding to work with the humans to save what they can from their dying world. With the aid of the Fae, shape shifters, Vampires, and other creatures of supernatural lore, the Worldship, Leviathan, is complete one thousand years later.
The one thing about interstellar space is that it is vast on a scale that is almost incomprehensible. Yet the Worlsdhip Leviathan finds that there are two herculean vessels approaching on an intercept course from the Earth they left behind five thousand years ago.
Conditions are dire on the Cityships, and an advance team is sent to evaluate the ships and the people on board. Knith Shade, Brigade Enforcer is put in charge of the humanitarian mission.
Upon the conclusion of the mission, Knith finds herself and the very world itself, fighting for their lives in a battle that will decide the fate of the twelve million souls aboard the Leviathan.
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Excerpt
Chapter 1 – Proximity
I bent back under the incoming pike blade, feeling the magic it was imbued with as I spun away, lashing out with a butterfly kick. Even with my Scatter Armor enhanced strength, it was like kicking a ceramic-alloy wall when I impacted under the Greater Fae’s arm, where it wasn’t protected by that infernal Mithreal armor.
Delphine of House Kryn, captain of the Queen’s Guard rolled her shoulder then narrowed her eyes at me. Good, she felt that one. She just shrugged off the last three blows, including the one where I almost shattered my fist on her jaw in a glancing blow as she pulled back out of the way.
Growing up on the world… the Worldship, Leviathan, us humans learn all about the Fae and the other preternatural species of people who populate the ring stacks. We humans being among the most fragile of species need to be aware of the differences between us and the others.
But what we are taught I have found is woefully understated. As an Enforcer in the Brigade, I’ve had more exposure to more races than most, and it is my experience that we humans are woefully weak and breakable compared to even the delicate-looking Fauns.
And when it comes to the Greater Fae, not much is known except what is in the history files in the databases and what is taught in school, since it is rare for a Greater Fae to venture below the A or B rings to interact with the rest of the world.
One thing I found out the hard way when I was almost killed by a rogue Fae Lord, is that when they taught us that Fae are stronger than Humans, it was the understatement of the eon. Their grips are powerful enough to snap bones like twigs. I, unfortunately, learned that fact first hand. And Lord Sindri hadn’t even tried when he did that, I’d hate to test just what an enraged Fae was truly capable of.
Delphine smirked, her long silver and purple tresses flowing behind her as she circled me. “Not bad, Shade. That is four unanswered touches for you.”
“Touches? I’ve been going all out here. That last one was my best shot.”
She cocked an eyebrow and attempted to sound genuine as she said, “An admirable strike. I’ve never been hit so forcefully by a human.” But it sounded like an adult telling a child their scribble art looked good, even though the Greater Fae could not lie. Not to mention the fact she’s never been hit by a human before as she guarded Queen Mab’s palace, Ha’Real, where humans were generally not allowed… so it was true no matter what.
I said blandly, “Gee, thanks.”
She slid her hands to the very base of the pike as she performed a whirling, sweeping attack, extending her reach by six feet, the blade slashing past in a blur, alternating high and low as she spun toward me.
I leapt over the first strike and then ducked the second. The third I just dove at her spinning like a corkscrew, the blade grazing my SAs and sparks flew from the magic scattering charms built-in, and just as my outstretched fists were about to strike her throat, I stopped moving.
Her pike clattered on the flagstones of Ha’Real’s courtyard as I dangled in her grip. She actually looked semi-impressed as she said while placing me down in front of her. “I hadn’t expected you to turn your retreat into an attack. Your reaction speed is improbable for a Human. Is it your armor using some sort of predictive algorithms?”
Shaking my head and sighing as I tried to not pant from all the exertion, I supplied, “It’s all me, Fae-girl. One hundred percent, grade-A Human.”
Author Bio
I got my start writing novels by accident. I have always been drawn to strong female characters in books, like Honor Harrington. And I also believe that there is a lack of LGBT characters in media. So one day I came up with a story idea that combines the two… two days later I completed the manuscript for Music of the Soul.
Each of my books features strong likable female characters that are flawed. I think that flaws and emotional or physical scars make us human and give us more character than simply conforming to some “social norm”.
I write in many genres including romance, scifi, fantasy, paranormal, dystopian, and even cozy mysteries.
| Author Website | https://www.ErikSchubach.com |
| Author Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/erikschubachauthor/ |
| Author Twitter | https://twitter.com/erikschubach |