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Tellerine: A Future History Epic in the tradition of Dune and The Planet Buyer
A gripping new novella in the Empire of Time series, Tellerine is part of a sweeping cosmic history that evokes the atmosphere, epic story telling, larger than life characters, and lyric poetry of science fiction classics like Frank Herbert's Dune, Cordwainer Smith's The Planet Buyer, and A. E. Van Vogt's Weapon Shops of Isher.
We are thousands of years uptime, when humans have built a great empire across space, have fallen and risen multiple times, and have made peace with the many alien and humansh races of the galaxy. The rulers of humankind include dukes, kings, presidents, abbots, bishops, and corporate oligarchs, but at the pinnacle of power and glory is the Holy Mother, a Popess who rules a balanced society of spirit and capital, of charity for all and malice toward none, with sanctity and majesty. It is ManTime, an age of peace and fairness, of well-being and expansion--except for one horrifying fact.
Lurking at the edges of the known universe is an enemy so powerful, so implacable, so filled with hate, that its very name inspires chills: The Kaarrk Swarm, a militant hive culture whose only emotion is a relentless hunger to be vicious. It's said that a dying hive scorpion's only emotion is rage because it will no longer live to hate.
As the story opens, an ambitious, attractive young man (Renay) from a backwater planet attends a major university, and meets a beautiful, regal young woman (also a student) who does not take no for an answer. They fall in love--and he soon learns she is Zara Upholder, a secular crown princess of the rough and ready Upholder Clan of the Corduwaine System. One thing leads to a glorious other, and they marry on Corduwaine under the belligerent eyes of her dynastic father, Trask the Lord Upholder.
Just when everything seems perfect, the Kaarrk Swarm choose to attack with all that they have, including a behemoth mothership that almost literally eats planets. Tragedy and horror rip through the peaceful Corduwaine System. The situation is one of life and death, demanding courage and duty. Fighting alongside military priestesses, mystical abbesses, time-traveling HM Sacred Agents, and other amazing denizens of this future world, Ranay and Zara must confront their ultimate fates--and surprises beyond imagination.
The Empire of Time series has been in work for many years and now comprises at least half a dozen novels and several major short works. Details will appear at clocktowerbooks.com and elsewhere on the author's webplex. A special website is in development to fully list and support this unfolding future history that includes Mars the Divine, Time Train, Lantern Road, and Runners: Escape from Prison World or Die. This future history spans millions of years and many eras from human history dating from long before, during, and long after the Holocene Epoch in which we live.
The title Tellerine comes from a famous Turkish legend, expressed in a song from long ago, Telgrafin Tellerine, that is popular throughout the region. It expresses the sadness and relief of a young man from the countryside, who came to the big city (Galata, part of Istanbul). He loved and lost everything. Now he flees the city, marveling at the songs of birds on telegraph wires. Just as humans twitter in the wires, so the birds have a lot to say, but all of it has meaning only on an emotional level. This novel was inspired by the power and beauty of that universal theme.
We are thousands of years uptime, when humans have built a great empire across space, have fallen and risen multiple times, and have made peace with the many alien and humansh races of the galaxy. The rulers of humankind include dukes, kings, presidents, abbots, bishops, and corporate oligarchs, but at the pinnacle of power and glory is the Holy Mother, a Popess who rules a balanced society of spirit and capital, of charity for all and malice toward none, with sanctity and majesty. It is ManTime, an age of peace and fairness, of well-being and expansion--except for one horrifying fact.
Lurking at the edges of the known universe is an enemy so powerful, so implacable, so filled with hate, that its very name inspires chills: The Kaarrk Swarm, a militant hive culture whose only emotion is a relentless hunger to be vicious. It's said that a dying hive scorpion's only emotion is rage because it will no longer live to hate.
As the story opens, an ambitious, attractive young man (Renay) from a backwater planet attends a major university, and meets a beautiful, regal young woman (also a student) who does not take no for an answer. They fall in love--and he soon learns she is Zara Upholder, a secular crown princess of the rough and ready Upholder Clan of the Corduwaine System. One thing leads to a glorious other, and they marry on Corduwaine under the belligerent eyes of her dynastic father, Trask the Lord Upholder.
Just when everything seems perfect, the Kaarrk Swarm choose to attack with all that they have, including a behemoth mothership that almost literally eats planets. Tragedy and horror rip through the peaceful Corduwaine System. The situation is one of life and death, demanding courage and duty. Fighting alongside military priestesses, mystical abbesses, time-traveling HM Sacred Agents, and other amazing denizens of this future world, Ranay and Zara must confront their ultimate fates--and surprises beyond imagination.
The Empire of Time series has been in work for many years and now comprises at least half a dozen novels and several major short works. Details will appear at clocktowerbooks.com and elsewhere on the author's webplex. A special website is in development to fully list and support this unfolding future history that includes Mars the Divine, Time Train, Lantern Road, and Runners: Escape from Prison World or Die. This future history spans millions of years and many eras from human history dating from long before, during, and long after the Holocene Epoch in which we live.
The title Tellerine comes from a famous Turkish legend, expressed in a song from long ago, Telgrafin Tellerine, that is popular throughout the region. It expresses the sadness and relief of a young man from the countryside, who came to the big city (Galata, part of Istanbul). He loved and lost everything. Now he flees the city, marveling at the songs of birds on telegraph wires. Just as humans twitter in the wires, so the birds have a lot to say, but all of it has meaning only on an emotional level. This novel was inspired by the power and beauty of that universal theme.
63 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2015
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