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The Tharassas Cycle #0
Tales From Tharassas
These three tales tell the story of Tharassas before the Tharassas Cycle, including the origin of the hencha queens, the ce’faine, and the colonization of the Highlands, essential companions for the four novels that make up the cycle:
The Fallen Angel
Charlie Fah, Cha’Fah to most of the world, has never fit in with the other citizens of Gully Town, thanks to his darker skin that sets him apart. But one day, an Angel arrives on a supply run from Earth, and what happens next sets Charlie on a new path that will turn his life upside down.
The Last Run
Sera is the last runner from Earth, bringing badly needed supplies to the Tharassas Colony across a twenty-five year gulf between the planets. Jas works on a hencha farm to make ends meet, harvesting berries from the semi-sentient plants. Neither one that knows their lives—and worlds—are about to change forever.
The Emp Test
Jey awakens to find himself in the care of a handsome stranger—a cheff from one of the mountain tribes. Afraid for his life, Jey has no choice but to let the man take care of him and his broken leg. Avain is on his Aud'ling—the coming-of-age test that requires him to spend a couple months away from his own people. The two of them will have to come to an understanding if they're going to help one another.
The Last Run and The Emp Test have been published before in previous stand-alone editions, but The Fallen Angel is a new story written exclusively for this collection.
The Fallen Angel
Charlie Fah, Cha’Fah to most of the world, has never fit in with the other citizens of Gully Town, thanks to his darker skin that sets him apart. But one day, an Angel arrives on a supply run from Earth, and what happens next sets Charlie on a new path that will turn his life upside down.
The Last Run
Sera is the last runner from Earth, bringing badly needed supplies to the Tharassas Colony across a twenty-five year gulf between the planets. Jas works on a hencha farm to make ends meet, harvesting berries from the semi-sentient plants. Neither one that knows their lives—and worlds—are about to change forever.
The Emp Test
Jey awakens to find himself in the care of a handsome stranger—a cheff from one of the mountain tribes. Afraid for his life, Jey has no choice but to let the man take care of him and his broken leg. Avain is on his Aud'ling—the coming-of-age test that requires him to spend a couple months away from his own people. The two of them will have to come to an understanding if they're going to help one another.
The Last Run and The Emp Test have been published before in previous stand-alone editions, but The Fallen Angel is a new story written exclusively for this collection.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2023
21 people want to read
About the author
J. Scott Coatsworth
90 books189 followersScott lives with his husband in a leafy Sacramento, California suburb, in a cute yellow house with a pair of pink flamingoes in the front yard.
He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.
When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with a diverse universe of characters. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.
Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.
Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, and is an associate member of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SFWA).
His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention.
He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.
When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with a diverse universe of characters. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.
Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.
Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, and is an associate member of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SFWA).
His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 29, 2024
Three enjoyable short stories that provide history and context for the books that follow, The Dragon Eater, The Gauntlet Runner, and The Hencha Queen. I’ve only read this and The Dragon Eater so far, but I wouldn’t say reading Tales From Tharassas is essential for understanding of the world though it is entertaining and I’m happy to have read it.
Edited to add 10% into The Gauntlet Runner:
Reading Tales From Tharassas definitely DOES give context and insight to small details I would have missed while reading The Gauntlet Runner. I like the insight, I think it’s giving me a deeper, more nuanced appreciation of certain characters and character interactions. So from that perspective, I would at least recommend reading Tales From Tharassas before book 2, The Gauntlet Runner.
February 13, 2026
I previously reviewed the J. Scott Coatsworth story “The Emp Test,” after reading it as a separate eBook. This collection includes “The Emp Test” and other stories set on Coatsworth’s fictional world of Tharassas.
As in real life, the people of Tharassas find that tradition can both connect them to the past and isolate them in the present. While they benefit from the wisdom of their ancestors, they can also become trapped in the confines of the small-minded thinking those ancestors often practiced. Coatsworth imbues his characters with a rich mythology and the weight of cultural history.
The stories benefit from an emphasis on strong character development and fast-paced changes. I can see why so many readers love Coatsworth’s books, including the other ones set in this thought-provoking world. The overall collection provides a framework for the Tharassas novels while also providing an enjoyable reading experience in and of itself.
As in real life, the people of Tharassas find that tradition can both connect them to the past and isolate them in the present. While they benefit from the wisdom of their ancestors, they can also become trapped in the confines of the small-minded thinking those ancestors often practiced. Coatsworth imbues his characters with a rich mythology and the weight of cultural history.
The stories benefit from an emphasis on strong character development and fast-paced changes. I can see why so many readers love Coatsworth’s books, including the other ones set in this thought-provoking world. The overall collection provides a framework for the Tharassas novels while also providing an enjoyable reading experience in and of itself.
April 8, 2023
Here find the back story of the Tharassas Cycle (The Dragon Eater, Book 1, just out): the history of Earth and its colony on Tharassas, the orgins of the Hencha Queen, and the mountain tribes in the Highlands.
And, here find love stories, gay and lesbian, parents and children, friends--human love stories. Here find a commentary of the evils of bigotry and racism, homophobia--alas, also human stories.
Here find well-written and engaging stories, that kept me reading.
A page turner.
Recommended.
And, here find love stories, gay and lesbian, parents and children, friends--human love stories. Here find a commentary of the evils of bigotry and racism, homophobia--alas, also human stories.
Here find well-written and engaging stories, that kept me reading.
A page turner.
Recommended.
October 5, 2023
A great book to introduce the Tharassas the series
This is a series of short stories showing how the Tharassas colony fell away from Earth. The inhabitants start to create their own identity. Soon Earth and the 'angels' from the sky fall into the category of myth. Each story shows a critical point in their history, driving a change as the Tharassans forge their new identities and cultures.
This is a series of short stories showing how the Tharassas colony fell away from Earth. The inhabitants start to create their own identity. Soon Earth and the 'angels' from the sky fall into the category of myth. Each story shows a critical point in their history, driving a change as the Tharassans forge their new identities and cultures.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews