Introducing the LCC Edition, Future of SciFi/Fantasy Publishing

The future of Science Fiction/Fantasy publishing is available now! The LCC Edition of Book #1, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 1: The Death of Innocents" is available today. What does LCC Edition mean? It means 22 Full Color Illustrations and colored text, all printed in crisp high definition (HD) at the incredible price of $13.99. It means a large format book, 8.5" x 11", which provides total immersion into the new world yet is as thin as a coloring book. 

 Here you see a comparison of the LCC Edition next to a standard trade paperback edition. The large format is not heavy or cumbersome because the book is very thin in this format.

As you can see, the LCC Edition is much thinner than a trade paperback. Yet it is a full length Science Fiction/Fantasy novel.The LCC Edition of "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 1: The Death of Innocents" is the inaugural book of the new Children of Sophista Imprint.

If you have never heard of this book before, here is the description of the book: 


Magic is an advanced science that humans don't understand. Two young people are betrothed at birth and forced by alien races to serve as the secret King and Queen of contemporary Earth: from the UK, Stefan, a seventh-grade artistic prodigy and from the US, Tova, a nineteen-year-old life sciences genius. Both were raised as humans and left to discover that they will be immortal at age nineteen. Using their emerging magic, they must protect the kingdom of Earth from unwanted alien intrusions. Shy, reclusive Stefan is ripped from his childhood and has eight weeks to learn to rule. Tova must do more than love Stefan — she must keep him sane or kill him to protect humans from his irrational use of his powers.



In this first part of the four part serial storyline, Elof, an abused Tibetan-American science wizard must teach the magical children, Ty and Tyco, to use their talents ethically. Otherwise, Tova will destroy them to protect Earth. Ty, the mysterious, fearful third-grade son of a British Prime Ministerial aid, has an ancient knowledge given to him by ‘ghosts’. Tyco, who is the fifth-grade son of a Mayan astronomer, must learn to keep his warrior impulses in check and protect his friend, Ty, from harm. While teaching these kids, Elof reconciles his own childhood with his sociopath father. Does he have a magical inheritance he has yet to discover? Far grittier than Harry Potter, this story is an intellectual puzzle of mysteries and surprises for readers ready to meet the challenge.

 Try the book in this exciting new format. Click HERE to order.

Ty's Turning Point

The Saeshells are one of the most evolved races in known space. They have the ability to alter the way people think and their views on things via whispers. Here, Neshalia, the Saeshell Nanny, appears to be doing more than just whispering. One of the things you learn in book #4, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 4: The Ceremony of Life", is that sometimes the Saeshells can take a more active role in modifying the Earth to suit their needs. 

 Neshalia appears to be altering Ty in a major way with the approval of Queen Anishavalia. What is Neshalia doing to Ty and why is the queen just standing by and letting it happen. When you read book #4, you will find out!

These illustrations were done by the Series Illustrator, Matt Curtis and are from book #4.

First Try at Book #4's Description (Jacket Copy)

Here is the first try at Book #4's, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 4: The Ceremony of Life's" description or "Jacket Copy". 

True horror: a teen with the power to destroy whole planets? No, Stefan can do more than that. The Ceremony of Life reveals who everyone truly is: they are Stefan’s toys. Tyco was born with a genetic flaw that must be fixed by the Lizards— creatures with no primate love who torture Tyco. Tova2 must help Stefan overcome his fears so he may use his Saeshell powers to rescue Tyco. How can Stefan and Tova2 fully use their talents to protect Earth without terrorizing the humans? Magic—magic is advanced science that humans don’t understand. Yet what does the rule of the wizards of Sophista portend for the Children of Sophista, the Fairies, the Saeshells, the Federation of the Twenty, and the humans—all those from which Stefan’s corporeal form was derived? Everyone fears the coming of the Sun Gods. Yet, Stefan and Aleah know something — something about the Sun Gods and Tova2.

 

Ender, Talents, and The Death of Individuality and Thought

Ender's Game and the 1970's Tomorrow People series were major inspirations for my book series. I saw the Ender's Game movie last night and I have to say that it was, "inspirational", though the movie felt a bit rushed. The scene's which depicted some of the formative parts of Ender's life were hurried along so that there would be time for the dramatic ending. Another interesting thing was that some of the preview scenes did not appear in the movie. I suspect the movie was chopped to death and that we'll have to wait for the "extended cut" DVD to see the real movie. I think we have become action sequence junkies and we ignore the subtleties of life where the real shaping of our lives occurs. Lately I've noticed that consumers of the arts really want the answers to questions raised in a movie or novel plot rather quickly, not wanting to solve the puzzle themselves. People used to consider solving puzzles entertaining and would spend time on puzzle like pursuits. This new cultural idiom has even progressed to schools, where the imperative of regurgitating answers as opposed to figuring out the answer is at an all-time high.

That's one thing that makes Ender's Game so timely. Here we have a kid who has a number of special talents that are truly a wonder. Yet, developing those talents that can serve the needs of the moment rather than developing the entire Ender becomes the priority. Ender is a war tool and people feel his justification for existence is solely for that purpose — his human and broader intellectual needs are largely ignored as irrelevant. This can be seen in school testing of talented people, where the capability of talents of particular interest to industry are tested and any other talents or learning differences are ignored. 

Book #4, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 4: The Ceremony of Life” has a subtle quote that addresses this nicely: “For now and forever, the Nexus you will be. Forever will you be tied to the Saeshell family tree. Such is the fate for all Children of Sophista. For as soon as they see how good life can be, they no longer control their destiny.”

You can see this quite clearly demonstrated in Book #1, “The Saeshell Book of Time Part 1: The Death of Innocents”, which is where the article illustration came from. As Stefan’s talents emerge, the concern of Professor Kettil, who really cares about Stefan, is that Stefan not stand out among his peers. Suddenly, his talents have caused him to lose his cherished, peaceful home life where he develops his own talents and to be thrust into a strange environment. Professor Kettil explains to Stefan that “stretching” is beneficial yet the stretching results in the death of “innocent, creative Stefan”. This has a nice analog in Ender’s Game where Ender’s connection to his family and to people he depends on are systematically destroyed. All that is left is Ender, the strategist, whose feelings are required to be deeply submerged. Ender, the complete person, is irrelevant.

Tyco's Dad

This an illustration from Book #4, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 4: The Ceremony of Life". It shows a close-up of Tyco's dad, when he was a child, writing poetry. He always wears a medal passed down from his family's ancestors. It is a medal they were given by the Sun Gods. He was a Mayan who grew up in Mexico.

Tyco's dad would sit out under the stars and write poetry. He would give it away to people. The poetry caught the Saeshells attention and they traced the poetry's source and eventually found him.  When they found him, they made plans of what they would do to him over his lifetime. They had a use for him....but so did the Sun Gods....

Matt Curtis is the series illustrator. 

Aleah's True Form

Here is new illustration from Book #4, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 4: The Ceremony of Life". Aleah is a little girl who likes show off her talents! Well, perhaps slightly more than just a little girl.

Mean Boy

“Why do you hate me, mean boy? Is it my poetry? Do you not like it? I know first graders are not supposed to write poetry. But my teacher likes it. I could teach you to draw. It’s fun to draw. You could draw my freaky hair — make fun of it in your drawing. I wouldn’t mind. I can show you how to draw aliens. I know you don’t believe me, but I can make you see lots of pictures of aliens in your mind. They are wonderful to draw — all life is wonderful to draw. If I show you, it will be like you could always draw. You would draw like a high school person, not a third-grader. Your teacher would be proud and show your artwork to everyone. Just stop hurting me! My mummy scares me. She checks my head every day. I am scared for you, mean boy, scared of what my mummy will do. I haven’t seen the last boy who was mean to me in a long time. I’m so scared. Don’t make me cry. Let me touch your head and I can take away your pain. I don’t know why, but it works, I promise. Please mean boy. Please!”

 This character monologue is an expansion of the story surrounding this illustration. This illustration, by Matt Curtis, is from book #1, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 1: The Death of Innocents."

Cover Reveal Book #4

(Click Image to Enlarge)

"Magic is advanced science that humans can't understand." "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 4: The Ceremony of Life" is the final part of the serial story "The Saeshell Book of Time" but it is not the end of the Children of Sophista Book Series. The characters in the serial storyline return in book #5, "The Owl from Oblivion". 

In Part 4, you will learn of Tyco's origin and why his talents are largely not from the Great Sophistan, but another pair of races: The Lizards and The Sun Gods. That sun logo Tyco wears on his shirts is not just for decoration! 

Stefan, like a child growing older with the universe as his sandbox makes some pretty whopping mistakes. But because living creatures are like the sand, some pay the price. Tova2 pays a price too, learning perhaps, because of the interconnectedness of humanity, that killing is not the best way to affect change. And Stefan's mom finds who she thinks will be the best person to teach her gentle, artistic prodigy of a son how to be a king --- one of the best Earth assassins. 

Are You a Child of Sophista?

Click image to enlarge for reading.

 

Kirkus Review of Book #3

This is the Kirkus Review of Book #3, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 3: Paradise Lost". The review sounds a little overly harsh in some ways about how challenging the book is. Still, it is correct in that it is not "beach reading" --- it is a very thoughtful read which will leave you contemplating the possibilities afterwards. Here is the review:

THE SAESHELL BOOK OF TIME PART 3: PARADISE LOST
Biesele, Rusty
Illus. by Curtis, Matt
CreateSpace (330 pp.)
$14.99 paperback, $3.99 e-book
ISBN: 978-1470100346; October 1, 2013

BOOK REVIEW

In the third installment of Biesele’s (The Saeshell Book of Time: Part 2: Rebirth of Innocents, 2013, etc.) sci-fi/fantasy series, two Earthlings embrace their destinies as allies and enemies complicate their path.

The story picks up on the planet Sophista, where evolutionarily advanced non-corporeal energy creatures live symbiotically with telepathic humans. The Sophistan collective is testing Stefan and Tova2—a powerful, mated pair of human hybrids, born on Earth, who have evolved into “new and unique life forms” and are fated to rule Earth and protect its telepaths. The Sophistans are ruthlessly logical and expect Stefan and Tova2 to rule rationally, but their own
motivations are murky. Tova2 is forced to create and destroy a helpless life form, and, later, she and Stefan confront a nightmarish creature that has caused a Sophistan energy-matter hybrid to become sinister and violent. Later, Tova2 and Stefan find out that they, along with Stefan’s gifted younger sister, Aleah, are part of a creature called Atreyeu that exists outside of time. Stefan and Tova2’s future unborn son, who travels through time with Atreyeu’s offspring, also visits them at significant moments, watching as they negotiate challenges and locate telepaths on Earth, including the young Tyco and Ty. Along the way, author Biesele also provides substantive commentary on rationalism versus empathy, aggression versus passivity, and time paradoxes. Given the story’s vast complexity, the first two installments are required reading. Even then, this book’s many secretive characters, cacophonous telepathic conversations, ambiguous innuendos and non-sequential events will likely make the book quite difficult for casual readers to enjoy. It’s a dense amalgam of drama and philosophy that, even for aficionados, may require another installment to fully clarify.

A dense sci-fi tale that will likely appeal primarily to fans of previous books in the series.