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Who Is Kasumi 9?
Those reading “Among Bright Stars…” will notice I throw out a mystery when I introduce the double gun wielding envoy Kasumi 9, who is a Synthicon, which is sort of an artificial shell for a human mind. Synthicons, though complex machines are considerably less advanced than are Morningstars.
The mystery I put out is, who was Kasumi 9 before the desolation of America? I’ll tell you here. Kasumi 9‘s identity is that of a real-world political figure. Those who know me will probably leap to the wrong conclusion, even though I do make an offhand reference to the person who they might first assume (knowing me) I intend Kasumi to be.
I’ll probably resolve her identity by book 3, though I’d be pleased to read speculation.
The Budjah Monks
Though I kind of want to talk about “Among Bright Stars…” I don’t want to spoil anything for a few people. So I’ll talk about Bishop Styx and his Budjah Monks.
The monks are not supposed to be bad guys, though they are however supposed to be a nuisance and, or obstacle at times within the Neo-human universe. Lets recall it was they who kicked off the events of the first book! 
Bishop Styx in fact is based on a person I once knew, he was always swinging back and forth between Paganism (Asatru) and his Catholicism with a bit of Eastern Mysticism thrown in for good measure. Much of that is reflected in the monks truly ‘universal theology’ as envisioned by Bishop Styx and presented in their holy book. In the context of the Neo-human ‘Verse, Styx (a name he chose because he exists between life and death) is equal in stature to a pope, only he prefers to not use that title.
As I’ve said, the monks can largely be considered a meddlesome nuisance but they have a greater role to play in the destiny of what is to come as well. I hint at what their greater role will be in “Among Bright Stars…“
Arshira, Hatched (Censored)
Just a matter of a few well placed shell fragments, I didn’t want to overdo it. Plus I must admit, the shell fragments drive home that’s a giant green egg there in the background.
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Under A Raptor’s Wings Book Cover II
As I’ve been editing the second story this image entered my mind, so I remade the book cover.
Why Venus, and not Mars? Well, I knew the ships (which aren’t Raptor-class…) would be red, and I feared they might get lost in the orbit of the red planet. Also Venus plays a role in the mythology of the universe.
OK, I try to depict Falcanians biology as accurate (as I describe them in these stories anyhow) as I am able to, but I have to tell you, Falcanian wings are a pain in the neck, having three extra limbs on the humanoid form is difficult to fit together in an elegant manner on a picture. They’re a bit like filming the Enterprise — It only looks right from certain angles.
As you can see, this is Princess Sitara in her armada uniform, which probably should be black, but I didn’t want the details to get lost in all the stars, so its navy blue instead. And yes, the membranes on some Falcanian wings are indeed translucent, which is lucky as otherwise I’d have lost all that detail in her body. Sitara, and her twin sister actually have “glassy rose-colored wings”.
Her hair helped me obscure some things best left to the imagination. In a lot of ways, this picture is all about the long brown hair!
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Merlin, Son Of The Devil…
Yeah, OK I am going to do this as kindly as possible…
I really think people’s notions of what, or who Merlin is have become skewed by that awful BBC show, as well as the rather New Age Marion Zimmer Bradley notion of Arthurian Legend which seems to have become for too many people, a touchstone for this topic.
But yes, many sources such as here, for example, tell the tale of how Merlin’s mother was seduced by the Devil. Simply Googling the phrase “Merlin son of the Devil” provides many hits on this topic. In fact that is the source I used for the first part of The First Technomancer. All I did was move it out of Europe, and back even further in time.
I’m more amazed that more people don’t seem to be aware of it…
Does it not then make sense that um, matters of Biblical import would come into play within a story dealing with who, or what “Merlin” truly is? Surely The One God (and his shade) might have some interest in Merlin, as well as his purpose? I mean being the son of an expelled archangel and all surely might motivate God to keep an eye on him… just saying…
I’m not gonna say anything more than this, as I can’t be responsible for other people’s limited view of history or legend. Though, once again, this has proven to me that I should remain true to my instincts when it comes to my own writing, and storytelling.
Oh, never mind the whole Holy Grail aspect of Arthurian Legend… naturally these things will crossover into Biblical ideas. How could they not?
Links of interest…
Faster – Final Scene…
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“Faster…”
It all rushed forward, darkness that encompassed the stars became albescent. Complete white space fractured, turned into fiber-optic streams, infinite points of colored light, the rainbow overcame her and Arshira sighed under its soothing warmth.
Guyrin’Rla vanished, to leave Arshira alone, afloat in the ocean of streaming color.
“Welcome home Frederika.”
Arshira’s lips parted, before her stood a figure enshrouded in a robe of light vestments. The luminescent outline removed its hood, she beheld a bearded Sharr. “Are you… are you Sharr?”
The being smiled, shook its head and said: “No, this avatar is just one I’m very fond of, and I knew you would enjoy seeing it one final time.”
“So, I’m dead.” Arshira fanned her opalescent wings, angelic and airy, for the first time in her life she felt unburdened, at rest. “Are you God?”
A twinkle in the figures blue-grey right eye became a starburst, the being of light mirthfully roared, all around the two individuals, Wyrd’s candescent threads sung a song that resounded across space-time.
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