-A cosmic romance of millennia-spanning galactic civilization; love and loss, war, adventure, tragedy and catastrophe, indistinguishable-from-magic sword-and-sorcery ... and a thread of hope. Three characters' fates intertwine, from Earth to the furthest Worlds of humanity-
In the Sol System...
Humanity reaches into the void; Luna has peacefully achieved its independence, Mars colonization is well underway and Catherine Russo is ready to assume her first command, captain of an aging interplanetary Earth-Mars nuclear cruise liner.
"The past does have a way of coming back to haunt us. Maybe we can stay ahead of it-for a little while, at least-if we run fast enough and far enough."
"Do you think Mars is far enough?"
"Dear, I don't think Andromeda would be far enough, when it comes down to it. We can't escape ourselves."
Catherine gave up everything to achieve her starry dreams, and the day she walked away from her last Earthly restraint was also the intended day of her ascent into the Black, destination Luna, and then on to Mars.
She will arrive, weeks late, carrying a woman's dying wish in the form of a mysterious briefcase.
...and something terrible works in the shadows.
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On Leaf World 642...
Following a decades-long temporal maintenance cycle, LW642's singular Bridge is soon to reopen, and a grand celebration is planned to commemorate the World's reunion with the Great Tree of Many Worlds and Bridges.
"I've got an idea for the performance tonight. It's going to really pull the work together; they'll love it, but I need time to run a few checks."
"Changes? Can you get that approved in time?"
"It's a small change. Inconsequential. Anyway, it doesn't affect the main loops or any of the critical paths. It'll be fine-I'm just adding one little thing to make it perfect."
The Lady Qona Itarte, World-renowned Isema-Script prodigy and sovereign of the expansive Itarte Estate, regarded as the most promising member of the To'Anji in centuries, has been selected by her superiors to produce the inaugural performance that will welcome new Otherworlders to Leaf World 642.
...but something strange seems to be happening to the all-encompassing Isema System.
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Amid the Goddess's Demise mountains...
A yearly Gathering is occurring at the grand stone shelf of Sedhari's Grief, where youths of the Northern, Southern and Central People will make their wedded pairings, each having successfully made the journey from their villages without elder guidance. When the sun sets a Story will be told, and the girls will dance and choose each their favored boy.
"I swear to the Goddess that no matter how far you go, or how long it takes me or what spines or thorns I have to push through-I will follow you."
Shamefully arriving with his master, Storykeeper's Apprentice Pon er Lugal of Angel Bay will not take part in the boys' games, nor be the chosen of any girl; but if he could he would wish to be chosen by only one, his only friend and love: Lilia esc Radhi, secluded in the Place of Her Repose and selected as the Gathering's ritual Goddess-and thus bound to leave Angel Bay, and Pon, forever.
Encouraged by a beautiful woman from his past, Pon decides to climb to the Mount of Endings, where the Repose and Lilia await.
...yet what is it that she wants?
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BRIDGEHOUSE, the first published novel by J. Sebastian King, is the opening of an epic science-fictional cycle, a cosmic romance of millennia-spanning galactic civilization.
