The conclusion to a medical crisis on Earth in a trilogy that introduces a new universe of adventures. Specialists from spaceship Chiron are working with alien scientists while furtively aiding a secret science society on the planet. However, that shortcut to solving Earth’s problem could endanger their relationship with planetary officials. Meanwhile, Chiron deals with aliens on nearby planets to gain more information and goodwill as they solve some of the neighbourhood’s problems. Armed with new information, they meet back at their new home base, but soon find their relationship with the planet’s government strained. Desperate to gain back the trust and aid of the innovative aliens, the crew of Chiron find themselves involved in interplanetary conflict as they strive to produce a vaccine to send home to Earth.
My fiction writing brings together years of science studies, work in heath care, and training and assistant teaching as a black belt in karate. After reading stacks of science fiction in my youth, I was inspired by space adventures such as Star Trek and medical thrillers by Dr. Robin Cook. Before publishing Earth and Beyond, I had articles on art and science fiction published in print and on-line magazines and served as editor for a newsletter/magazine for several years. Selling fantasy art and approved paintings and products related to the Canadian Musical Ride prepared me for doing some graphic design for fellow visual artists and for my own novel cover and ads.
In my town in New Brunswick, Canada, I run a writing group, am a literacy volunteer at school, and enjoys gardening, creative cooking, yoga, photography, kicking back to good movies and shows, and, of course, my family.
Dodge ball and Red Rover were fun. Swimming lessons were a habit. Music lessons inspirational. B+ in Fortran class seemed like it should be useful, but was never used. Track training reaped ribbons. As we grow up, we do many things, then wonder what it was all for as we carry out our adult lives. The speed training for track probably transferred to karate medals after I signed up with my son. Swimming gives confidence near bodies of water, and exercise at hotels. I’m sure brainpower was developed in all the class material I’ve never directly used . It’s all good. Great, even.
In this excerpt, Ramone finds unexpected use of skills he learned in his youth, and discovered on board deep spaceship Chiron. Would he have survived his mission of science in the remote wilderness of an alien planet without them? It seems nothing learned is for nothing.
Enjoy this tiny excerpt from the trilogy finale that opens a universe of further adventures.
(Click “View Profile” or my website to see my science fiction books available now.)
Book Excerpt
Shoot for Earth: MedSci Missions 3
Exhausted, Ramone lay for a time breathing heavily and wiping off the mucous. Eventually, he forced himself up, knowing he didn’t want to get caught in the wilds of the south at night. The south had bred the hunter race of baris, and dangerous flesh-eating creatures. It was quite a way to his personal pod, parked down in the flat rock at the base of the rocky volcanic mountain zone. The irregular crust that had slowly bubbled out of the earth for centuries was too lumpy for his landing skills. That had been his thinking when he’d headed out, anyway. Maybe he would have been better off risking a landing much higher up. He found going down harder than he’d hoped. After his draining experience of almost being eaten, he was shaking and grabbing every hold in remembered horror. His heart was racing at an uncomfortable rate. Get a hold of yourself, his brain told him. Back in Panama on Earth, he’d grown up hiking volcanoes. He could do this. Something moved in his peripheral vision between the naturally squared trunks next to the path, seemingly growing out of nothing. His nervous tension made him hum to himself gently as he tried to stave off a panic attack. To his surprise, an equine head peeked curiously at him from behind a tree. He’d never seen one in person, but he recognised the Fabarian version of a horse, called a snac. Automatically, he upped his voice to gentle singing, projecting now for his audience. He chose a ballad from his predecessor’s band, as it still came more naturally to him than his own creations that were much newer to his repertoire. The Snac responded, coming forward eagerly but stopping just out of reach to listen. Horse riding had been very much allowed by his parents, unlike playing music. There was a farm down the road from where he’d grown up, with some beauties that had needed tending and exercising. So, riding had grown into a pleasant job as a teen. One that might serve him well now.
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