What do you think?
Rate this book
Sumire #1
Djinn: A short scifi romance
The planet Sumire's dry surface holds many surprises. Seona's academic background hasn't prepared her for what happens when her flitter crashes, and she nearly lands on top of Henry. Henry has his own secrets, but first, they have to survive...
27 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 10, 2024
This story released just after New Year’s, and I picked it up the day it released and read it as soon as I finished the book I had been working on. As soon as I started reading I knew I would love this story. It is an excellent. And I look forward to reading other works published by Cedar Sanderson as Lilania Begley.
The description of this volume states:
“The planet Sumire's dry surface holds many surprises. Seona's academic background hasn't prepared her for what happens when her flitter crashes, and she nearly lands on top of Henry. Henry has his own secrets, but first, they have to survive...”
We are informed about the author that:
“Lilania Begley is the open penname of Cedar Sanderson. The author has a long-held love for all things Western, having grown up in Oregon, Alaska, and finally settling in Texas after a lifetime of moving from coast to coast. As she is also a romantic soul, writing Western Romances came naturally to her pen. Now that she's inspired anew by the wide-open landscapes of North Texas with the horses and longhorns wandering the range, you can expect to see more from Lilania!”
And in the introduction Cedar lays the blame clearly at certain authors feet, when she states:
“To begin with, this is Dorothy’s fault.
And to go on with, it’s CV Walter’s fault, too.
Without them, I might never have become interested in writing romance again, at least, not seriously enough to start doing it again. But here it is, the third of the stories under my middle-and-married penname.
It is a short story (and for less money than a candy bar costs these days) and I don’t currently plan any novels. Maybe next year.
If you’d like to explore my work further, you will find much, much more under Cedar Sanderson. At least for now. Thanks to Dorothy and CV, I plan to make 2024 a year for love. Of a man for a woman, but also, for love of writing just to have fun again.
Enjoy!”
And enjoy it I did. It was an excellent read and I can easily recommend it to you. I went hunting and found that one is published as a short story like this one and one is in the Raconteur Press Anthology18 He Was Dead When I Got There. I had already picked up the anthology but had not read it yet, and the I grabbed the other story under this pen name. But back to this story.
This story was masterfully written. As soon as I finished it I wanted to give it another read. And I desperately hope we get more stories with these characters. It sort of feels like it could be a story in the Firefly universe or even Babylon 5. The characters are well written. The story fast paced and full or surprises. It is an exciting story with a bit of mystery and a bit of romance or mutual attraction. However the story does end leaving us with many unanswered question. So let’s hope there are more.
The cover by Sanderson has such a classic Science Fiction look and feel to it. Just looking at the cover took me back to learning to read 40 years ago and all the Sci-Fi I read back then.
This is an excellent short story. Writing short stories is a very different skill and craft than writing novels. From what I have read by Sanderson she is a master of both. I have greatly enjoyed everything from Sanderson’s pen that I have read and look forward to reading more offering by her under the name of Lilania Begley. A n excellent short story that I can easily recommend!
The description of this volume states:
“The planet Sumire's dry surface holds many surprises. Seona's academic background hasn't prepared her for what happens when her flitter crashes, and she nearly lands on top of Henry. Henry has his own secrets, but first, they have to survive...”
We are informed about the author that:
“Lilania Begley is the open penname of Cedar Sanderson. The author has a long-held love for all things Western, having grown up in Oregon, Alaska, and finally settling in Texas after a lifetime of moving from coast to coast. As she is also a romantic soul, writing Western Romances came naturally to her pen. Now that she's inspired anew by the wide-open landscapes of North Texas with the horses and longhorns wandering the range, you can expect to see more from Lilania!”
And in the introduction Cedar lays the blame clearly at certain authors feet, when she states:
“To begin with, this is Dorothy’s fault.
And to go on with, it’s CV Walter’s fault, too.
Without them, I might never have become interested in writing romance again, at least, not seriously enough to start doing it again. But here it is, the third of the stories under my middle-and-married penname.
It is a short story (and for less money than a candy bar costs these days) and I don’t currently plan any novels. Maybe next year.
If you’d like to explore my work further, you will find much, much more under Cedar Sanderson. At least for now. Thanks to Dorothy and CV, I plan to make 2024 a year for love. Of a man for a woman, but also, for love of writing just to have fun again.
Enjoy!”
And enjoy it I did. It was an excellent read and I can easily recommend it to you. I went hunting and found that one is published as a short story like this one and one is in the Raconteur Press Anthology18 He Was Dead When I Got There. I had already picked up the anthology but had not read it yet, and the I grabbed the other story under this pen name. But back to this story.
This story was masterfully written. As soon as I finished it I wanted to give it another read. And I desperately hope we get more stories with these characters. It sort of feels like it could be a story in the Firefly universe or even Babylon 5. The characters are well written. The story fast paced and full or surprises. It is an exciting story with a bit of mystery and a bit of romance or mutual attraction. However the story does end leaving us with many unanswered question. So let’s hope there are more.
The cover by Sanderson has such a classic Science Fiction look and feel to it. Just looking at the cover took me back to learning to read 40 years ago and all the Sci-Fi I read back then.
This is an excellent short story. Writing short stories is a very different skill and craft than writing novels. From what I have read by Sanderson she is a master of both. I have greatly enjoyed everything from Sanderson’s pen that I have read and look forward to reading more offering by her under the name of Lilania Begley. A n excellent short story that I can easily recommend!
January 4, 2025
Excellent romantic sci fi adventure short
I love it! It's too short! I read it in KU but will buy it to reread. The worldbuilding is awesome for such a short story, and the attraction between the two characters is believable. The planet Sumire is a fascinating character on its own.
I love it! It's too short! I read it in KU but will buy it to reread. The worldbuilding is awesome for such a short story, and the attraction between the two characters is believable. The planet Sumire is a fascinating character on its own.
April 18, 2024
Intriguing start
Alternate universe, SF, survival, romance
Great cover art. It was definitely what made me read the blurb.
The author does a lot in the short space to introduce the characters and show a spark.
My concern is she recognized his academic credentials, and then we're told he's also a pilot and an MD? Just how much of an age difference is there? I have no issues with May-December romances; he's obviously older than her. The question is, by how much? He obviously also doesn't appear that much older (based on the cover art), so does this civilization have regeneration tech? Or a means of speed learning? Add to the above facts that he told the unnamed radio speaker to make an arrest, and then had to confirm his instructions? He has some authority as well. Usually one gets that from years in service. Again, implying he's older than he looks.
Emotions can get tangled during and after a rescue. While great on film and to read, historically, those relationships don't have a great track record. Yes, there have been studies. Maybe he lets her eat crackers in bed, but he also never puts down the lid on the loo. Or worse, splashes the seat. Just saying, someone who's willing to rescue you isn't necessarily a good lifetime companion.
Could use better editing, though it's mostly punctuation issues. Otherwise, good start, leaving me wanting to know more.
Alternate universe, SF, survival, romance
Great cover art. It was definitely what made me read the blurb.
The author does a lot in the short space to introduce the characters and show a spark.
My concern is she recognized his academic credentials, and then we're told he's also a pilot and an MD? Just how much of an age difference is there? I have no issues with May-December romances; he's obviously older than her. The question is, by how much? He obviously also doesn't appear that much older (based on the cover art), so does this civilization have regeneration tech? Or a means of speed learning? Add to the above facts that he told the unnamed radio speaker to make an arrest, and then had to confirm his instructions? He has some authority as well. Usually one gets that from years in service. Again, implying he's older than he looks.
Emotions can get tangled during and after a rescue. While great on film and to read, historically, those relationships don't have a great track record. Yes, there have been studies. Maybe he lets her eat crackers in bed, but he also never puts down the lid on the loo. Or worse, splashes the seat. Just saying, someone who's willing to rescue you isn't necessarily a good lifetime companion.
Could use better editing, though it's mostly punctuation issues. Otherwise, good start, leaving me wanting to know more.
April 1, 2024
Anyone who thinks that academia means peace has never been involved in academia. True; it's not likely that a professor will steal your lunch money; after all, the winnowing effect of requiring advanced degrees results in competition with a higher quality dirtbag.
However, you MIGHT find that your application for admission to the President Lounge, where the elite meet to eat, has been turned down for unknown reasons. And who gets the rare-wood craftsman constructed filing cabinets? It's the sort of thing careers founder upon.
You can't plead ignorance, in order to avoid the conflicts, either. Under certain circumstances, you find yourself either With Us or Against Us, with only the slightest clue as to who US really is.
That's the situation Seona finds herself in, as she is passing innocently through the sandy wastes of Sumire. A combination of bad luck, bad information, crowned with sabotage, have left her in a wrecked vehicle with no prospects of escape...except for Henry.
His understanding of the ecology of Sumire is as practical as hers is theoretical, and he also has enough different background to understand that a cut air hose isn't, and can't be, just an accident. He's a nice guy, too. And kind of cute.
Wonder what happens next?
However, you MIGHT find that your application for admission to the President Lounge, where the elite meet to eat, has been turned down for unknown reasons. And who gets the rare-wood craftsman constructed filing cabinets? It's the sort of thing careers founder upon.
You can't plead ignorance, in order to avoid the conflicts, either. Under certain circumstances, you find yourself either With Us or Against Us, with only the slightest clue as to who US really is.
That's the situation Seona finds herself in, as she is passing innocently through the sandy wastes of Sumire. A combination of bad luck, bad information, crowned with sabotage, have left her in a wrecked vehicle with no prospects of escape...except for Henry.
His understanding of the ecology of Sumire is as practical as hers is theoretical, and he also has enough different background to understand that a cut air hose isn't, and can't be, just an accident. He's a nice guy, too. And kind of cute.
Wonder what happens next?
March 1, 2024
I'm liking this collection of short stories, although it feels like too short :-).
I've already finish the second story and I'm halfway through the third. This first is the shorter one, and it feels a bit rushed, the story and world has me hooked, but at the same time, while reading this first one specially, I'm left with the sensation of "wait, can't you explain this a bit more?"
Well, this is better than nothing to read from this author, and I hope that she continues writing.
I've already finish the second story and I'm halfway through the third. This first is the shorter one, and it feels a bit rushed, the story and world has me hooked, but at the same time, while reading this first one specially, I'm left with the sensation of "wait, can't you explain this a bit more?"
Well, this is better than nothing to read from this author, and I hope that she continues writing.
January 12, 2025
This was a fun little scifi romance. A biologist gets caught in a deadly sandstorm--caused by a deadly alien. She gets rescued by a pilot and the adventure begins.
For a short story it had plenty of little twists and good description.
Romance fans and scifi fans will like this one.
For a short story it had plenty of little twists and good description.
Romance fans and scifi fans will like this one.
February 7, 2024
Intriguing
I enjoyed this short mystery read. Nice to have something you can finish in one sitting.
I would definitely want to see where these characters go from here.
I enjoyed this short mystery read. Nice to have something you can finish in one sitting.
I would definitely want to see where these characters go from here.
March 6, 2024
Nice
Nice short read but it hits all the good points for you to understand what's going on. Will read the next one .
Nice short read but it hits all the good points for you to understand what's going on. Will read the next one .
May 21, 2025
Djinn is a short story installment with an intriguing setting. I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the rest of the stories as I didn’t really care for the characters, Henry and Seona.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews