Splinter Universe

Let’s all thank Marie Brennan, who has stepped forward to share her novelette “Welcome to Welton” with you here on Splinter Universe this week.  Marie’s been working with her universe for awhile — if you a fan of magic in the modern world, this one’s for you.

The new story this week is the novelette Riverweave, a fantasy by E.C. Ambrose.  You’ll find it under guest stories, along with and intro and a bio … and other guest stories if you’re new here. As always, the donation link at the bottom of the story goes direct to the author, while sidebar donation links help support the site overall.

 

We’ve had a busy few days here in the wilds of Maine.  For one thing, after some whirlwind discussion with our editor and agent we’re waiting for the contract to come in on Liaden Universe® Constellation Number Three. Yes! But, sorry, no publication date yet.

We’ve also got word that we can unveil a special, this week only, price on the popular Audible audiobook version of Fledgling. This special price is available to all comers — that means member or not, you can get Fledgling for just $3.95.  Or, if you join — you can get it absolutely free. Get one for you and tell your friends!

All this is happening now over  at the special Fledgling sales page at Audible

We’ve had a busy few days here in the wilds of Maine.  For one thing, after some whirlwind discussion with our editor and agent we’re waiting for the contract to come in on Liaden Universe® Constellation Number Three. Yes! But, sorry, no publication date yet.

We’ve also got word that we can unveil a special, this week only, price on the popular Audible audiobook version of Fledgling. This special price is available to all comers — that means member or not, you can get Fledgling for just $3.95.  Or, if you join — you can get it absolutely free. Get one for you and tell your friends!

All this is happening now over  at the special Fledgling sales page at Audible

 

The weekend approaches and this is the perfect time to unleash another Splinter Universe story upon the barely suspecting world.

This time around we’ve got a guest story by Chaz Brenchley  — who you may have read under another name if not under his own — and we think it’s one that has a special piquancy to it as the approaching summer threatens to unleash traveling shows, circuses, and carnivals. While we all seem to love the fragile extravagances of the traveling show, there’s always the feeling that something more is going on, something we can’t quite participate in … so enjoy!

Don’t forget to check out his bio under the Guest Stories dropdown, but by all means, please read 2 Pi to Live — another Splinter Universe original.

As always — remember that the donation link at the bottom of the story goes directly to the author.

Our long-time Friends of Liad — many who have been reading our stories for decades — often tell us they especially miss the halcyon days of Fledgling and Saltation when “Monday noon” was a thing. It meant a new chapter in the Liaden Universe® was up — or would be appearing momentarily. And there was a thrill on both sides over this, because the posting schedule not only gave you, our fans, something to look for, but it gave us a weekly focus as well.

While we aren’t currently sharing a new Liaden novel chapter-by-chapter, we do want to return to that Monday noon habit, get some of that “watch the skies” back into one of the drabbest days of the week.

So for the moment, watch for something new from Lee & Miller, or Miller, or Lee, on Mondays at noon. Toward the end of the week we’ll be adding other things for you to read — last week that was a story by Alma Alexander, and this week we’re scheduling a story by Chaz Brenchley.

No, the guest stories are not Liaden Universe® stories, and won’t be. Sometimes the Lee & Miller or Lee-or-Miller pieces we’ll share here may not be Liaden stories either.  What will be happening is more fiction, more reading. 

And for this week, here’s Sharon’s intro to “Code of Honor” … enjoy!

Here it is, almost May Day. and we’re pleased  to present Alma Alexander’s new story Leaving Via Callia, which should now be live for all viewers. Don’t forget to see Alma’s biography and her introduction — and be sure to share the story news with your friends. Like all the stories here at Splinter Universe you’re able to read for free — but we encourage you to support the author by making a donation using the button at the bottom of the page.

Coming a little later in May is another Liaden story — this one of about 6000 words — watch for it!

Writing fiction is an odd habit — some stories happen so fast that you’re surprised that you’re done and others keep saying “oh, shiny!’ and make you want to rush off in all directions at once.

In the past, that “rushing off in all directions” happened to us with a story that came to be known as Balance of Trade and that story went from very short story idea, to a published novella to novel to … several novels. You just never can tell.

Roving Gambler started off as a quick idea that grew. Instead of the short-short originally envisioned… it turned into close to 20% of a novel, and this delayed things considerably.  We don’t know that Roving Gambler will grow into something more under the same title, but we know that characters here – and incidents and information as well – will be reflected in the greater Liaden canon over time.

Oh, and yes, we’ll be having something else new for you here in Splinter Universe next month, if not before.

Steve and Sharon

 

 

Yes, we know that February is darned near over and we’ve yet to post the next, should-be-February story. The title for the next one is Roving Gambler; it should be up soon (as in the next few days) but is being delayed while we’re doing some behind the scenes site updates and rearrangements.

Please hang in with us!

 

The (mis)Management