Eternity Falls, by Kirk Outerbridge

First off, let me say that Eternity Falls was a fun read, a fast-paced cyberthriller that I could easily see running through my imagination as if it were a movie. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this sci-fi adventure to any guy looking for a good read. While this might not be a book that some of the ladies in my book club would prefer, it’s right up my alley. I love a good suspenseful story that will hold my attention and keep me turning the pages, one after another.

And yet, Eternity Falls goes beyond many suspenseful sci-fi adventures in that a couple of profound themes are woven deep into the plot. Themes of: self-righteous judgement; how difficult it can be sometimes to determine what God’s perfect will is; and when righteous anger is righteous versus when it is misdirected.

And one of my favorite quotes from Eternity Falls sums it all up: “It’s never too late–never, before eternity falls–to regain your soul.”

Kirk has been gracious enough to grant me an interview. Here goes:

What led you to write this particular story?

I think I wanted to reduce life down to its common denominator, death, and then speculate what would happen if that final boundary were ever removed. How would the world change if dying were no longer an issue? How would we see God? And of course, being a Sci-fi enthusiast, I just had to tell the story with a cyberpunk flair.

Who was your favorite character to write? Why?

I truly enjoyed writing Sheila. She’s an interesting character because I wrote her to first be immediately unlikable but then slowly grow on you as you get to know her. That gave me a challenge as a writer. Hope I managed to pull if off! <grin>

Did anything funny happen while writing this book?

Funny? I don’t think so. Amazing maybe, in the fact that I actually found a publisher willing to take a chance on my Christian cyberpunk novel!

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I don’t have a list of favorite authors really. It’s strange but I find I tend to read less when I’m writing. Maybe it’s something about me not wanting to have my creativity or writing influenced or something. But there is one exception: I am always inspired by anything produced by Masamune Shirow. He’s not an author but a Japanese Manga artist, famous for creating Ghost in the Shell, one of my favorites. His cyberpunk stories never cease to get me in the mood to write my own.

If you could be any character from a sci-fi book, who would it be and why?

Guess it’d be too easy for me to pick the main character in my own book, right? <grin> This is a hard one. I think I’d have to say Felix from John Steakley’s Armor. He was just such an awesome dude.

Where is your favorite place to write?

Since I still have a desktop I don’t have a favorite place so much as an only place. <grin> In my study at home.

What projects are you working on now?

I’m working on the next book in the Rick Macey series. Halfway done!

How can readers find you on the web?

They can find me on my author website www.kirkouterbridge.com and then follow the links to my book on Amazon or my Facebook fan page.

Eternity Falls is published by Marcher Lord Press, which was kind enough to send me a PDF file for review.

Marcher Lord Press Now on Scribd.com

Yes, Marcher Lord Press has another news flash. The publisher’s books are now available on Scribd.com, which describes itself as a social publishing company. Scribd.com is a website where anyone can publish any type of PDF, Word, PowerPoint or Excel file, thus making it a web document that can be accessed by any registered members.

To celebrate its launch on the Scribd.com website, Marcher Lord Press is offering the novel Starfire by Stuart Vaughn Stockton for only $5 until next Tuesday.

Here’s the official blurb on Starfire:

Rathe is a late-hatch saurn with something to prove. Someone born into such a low caste has no hope of achieving much of anything in this life–unless he can prove himself as a warrior. Through his own skill and a fortuitous encounter with a massive creature, Rathe seeks to rise through the trials to secure a position within the imperial army.

But larger forces are at work in the world, and Rathe has been chosen for a grand and terrible destiny. Through an enemy invasion, revitalized technology from an ancient civilization, and supernatural entities beyond his understanding, Rathe is presented with an unfathomable choice. No matter what he decides, it seems an empire–or a world–will be destroyed.

And the only things informing Rathe’s decision are affection for a small saurin under his care and the admonitions from the mystical representative of a god Rathe doesn’t believe in.

Stuart Vaughn Stockton’s website: http://www.ritersbloc.com

You can find Marcher Lord Press on Scribd at http://www.scribd.com/marcher%20lord%20press

Marcher Lord Press Announces Marcher Lord Select

Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction, has announced the debut of a revolution in fiction acquisitions.

“Marcher Lord Select is American Idol meets book acquisitions,” says publisher Jeff Gerke. “We’re presenting upwards of 40 completed manuscripts and letting ‘the people’ decide which one should be published.”

The contest will proceed in phases, Gerke explains, in each subsequent round of which the voters will receive larger glimpses of the competing manuscripts.

The first phase will consist of no more than the book’s title, genre, length, a 20-word premise, and a 100-word back cover copy teaser blurb. Voters will cut the entries from 40 to 20 based on these items alone.

“We want to show authors that getting published involves more than simply writing a great novel,” Gerke says. “There are marketing skills to be developed–and you’ve got to hook the reader with a good premise.”

Following rounds will provide voters with a 1-page synopsis, the first 500 words of the book, the first 30 pages of the book, and, in the final round, the first 60 pages of the book.

The manuscript receiving the most votes in the final round will be published by Marcher Lord Press in its Spring 2010 release list.

No portion of any contestant’s mss. will be posted online, as MLP works to preserve the non-publication status of all contestants and entries.

Participating entrants have been contacted personally by Marcher Lord Press and are included in Marcher Lord Select by invitation only.

“We’re also running a secondary contest,” Gerke says. “The ‘premise contest’ is for those authors who have completed a Christian speculative fiction manuscript that fits within MLP guidelines and who have submitted their proposals to me through the Marcher Lord Press acquisitions portal before October 29, 2009.”

The premise contest will allow voters to select the books that sound the best based on a 20-word premise, a 100-word back cover copy teaser blurb, and (possibly) the first 500 words of the book.

The premise contest entrants receiving the top three vote totals will receive priority acquisitions reading by MLP publisher Jeff Gerke.

“It’s a way for virtually everyone to play, even those folks who didn’t receive an invitation to compete in the primary Marcher Lord Select contest.”

The premise contest is open to anyone with a completed Christian speculative fiction manuscript that meets MLP guidelines for length, content, genre, worldview, audience, etc. To enter, authors must complete the acquisitions form found at the Marcher Lord Press site and supply all the components listed below on or before October 29, 2009.

Marcher Lord Select officially begins on November 1, 2009, and runs until completion in January or February 2010. All voting and discussions and Marcher Lord Select activities will take place at The Anomaly forums in the Marcher Lord Select subforum. Free registration is required.

“In order for this to work as we’re envisioning,” Gerke says, “we need lots and lots of voters. So even if you’re not a fan of Christian science fiction or fantasy, I’m sure you love letting your voice be heard about what constitutes good Christian fiction. So come on out and join the fun!”

Marcher Lord Press is a Colorado Springs-based independent publisher producing Christian speculative fiction exclusively. MLP was launched in fall of 2008 and is privately owned. Contact: Jeff Gerke; www.marcherlordpress.com.

Hero, Second Class, by Mitchell Bonds

Ok, I admit I’m a little behind in reading this one. I had hoped to read it sooner than now, but…well, let’s just say there are so many good books out there it’s hard to choose sometimes. But Hero, Second Class was so intriguing I never forgot it and now, a year after it was published, I finally got around to reading it.

First, let me say that Hero, Second Class is 600 pages of hilarious satire. It reminds me of a cross between The Princess Bride and Monty Python. It took me longer than usual to work through this book because I kept going back, thinking “Did I read that right?” Then I’d find out that, yes, that’s what I thought it said. If you don’t like corny puns, by all means don’t read this book. At times it almost became too much for me, but I stuck with it, pressed on, and finally finished it with a smile.

Overall, I have to say that it was worth it to me. I can see where some wouldn’t like this book, decrying it as simply too silly, but to me, that was the fun of it. Think of all the most popular fantasy novels, take them to an extreme level of stereotypic situations and plot, throw in some really bad puns, and you have Hero, Second Class. And, I might add, there is a serious element that runs through the book as the main character refuses to acknowledge the existence of the Creator, but in the end must acknowledge that there is indeed a Creator that can and will bend reality to His will when it is for the best, a Creator who loves us and pursues us, even when we run from Him.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I give Hero, Second Class 3.75 stars.

Hero, Second Class is published by Marcher Lord Press. You can read the prologue here.

The Marcher Lord Press website is: http://www.marcherlordpress.com

Marcher Lord Press Releases 3 SciFi Titles

Today is the day Marcher Lord Press releases three new Christian-based science fiction titles. From October 1 through October 4, special bundles are available, including free shipping, wall posters and t-shirts. The new titles are:

“A Star Curiously Singing”
By Kerry Nietz

Sandfly is a debugger. He is property. Bought and paid for by his master, a relatively benign lord in a future Earth living under sharia law. All other faiths but Islam have been banned. And the word of the great Imam is law. Sandfly just wants to debug his master’s robots and avoid the mental pain shocks sent from the remote triggers owned by all the masters. But now he’s been called into Earth orbit. Apparently the masters have a new spacecraft–one capable of interstellar flight. And on its maiden voyage, the only robot on board went mad and tore itself limb from limb. Why? Better question: does it pose any risk to humans? When Sandfly reviews the bot’s files and replays its last moments, he hears something strange playing in the bot’s ears as they orbit Betelgeuse. He hears singing. Is it just solar winds interfering with the robot’s wiring? Or is it something else? As Sandfly pieces together the clues, the masters spread the trap before his feet. Everyone is racing to the same conclusion, but only one side welcomes what that singing represents. It’s I, Robot meets Muhammad in space. Read a sample chapter and an interview with the author here.

“Eternity Falls”
By Kirk Outerbridge

Rick Macey is former military, and he’s got the bionic enhancements to show for it. Now he’s a detective specializing in religious counter-terrorism. Which is ironic, because Macey long ago lost his faith. Now the company that produces “the miracle treatment,” an expensive elixir that causes people to halt the decay of their DNA (and thus halt aging indefinitely) has come calling for Macey–by name. It seems that the miracle cure’s primary spokesperson has just died–of natural causes. So much for living forever. Billions of dollars are at stake if word of this gets out to the public. They have to keep believing that the cure works. A beautiful executive at the corporation believes there is something sinister behind the spokesperson’s death, and that it is religiously motivated. Macey has been recommended to her–but they don’t have much time to prove her theory before the press gets wind of what’s going on. Especially since Macey wants no part in anything that would cause people to be cursed with living forever. He knows all too much about that. Before it’s over, Macey will find enemies of friends, brothers of enemies, and romance and faith in the midst of high-stakes combat at the edge of human ability. Read a sample chapter and an interview with the author here.

“The Word Reclaimed”
By Steve Rzasa

Far in the future, the five colonized systems have finally been freed of the curse of religion. By mandating tolerance across all colonies, no one can bring religious persecution upon anyone else. Things have been this way for a generation. Long enough for most of those living to have never known a Torah, Koran, or New Testament, except in stories. And the Kesek secret police work hard to keep it so. So what happens when a bitter teenage discovers a holy book that has been earmarked for destruction? What happens when it begins speaking to him. And now that Kesek is coming for him and his father and anyone else who gets in his way, what is he going to do with this troublesome book? The Word Reclaimed is epic space opera amidst civil war, treachery, and  political alliances as sifting as Martian sand. Read a sample chapter and an interview with the author here.

I hope to be able to offer reviews of these books soon, so keep you eyes open for that. Meanwhile, you can visit the Marcher Lord Press online store here.

Marcher Lord Press Announces Three New SciFi Titles

Jeff Gerke, the brains behind Marcher Lord Press, has announced this year’s new book list – three new science fiction titles due out October 2009. Because there is no substitute for the quirkiness of Jeff’s original announcement, I’ll quote him here and you can read it for yourself:

Marcher Lord Press has been kidnapped. Alas, it’s true. Strange beings from outer space have apprehended MLP leadership while the authorities slept.

The fiends knew exactly how to hurt us. First, they disabled our defenses. Knocked the silly cat right out. Then they overhwelmed our proximity alarms with vastly advanced weaponry that MLP scientists are only now beginning to study. Finally, they attacked MLP leadership in the first wave. Without command instructions from the top, the loyal MLP defenders were paralyzed. It was classic shock and awe.

The morning after the attack dawned on a Marcher Lord Press materially different from what had been. Witnesses emerged from the rubble of their homes to behold three otherworldly vehicles cooling on the landscape.

The first was a futuristic-looking craft that appeared to be constructed half of terrestrial composites and half of strange metallic alloys. From this vehicle popped a superhuman warrior who told a tale of cyborgs, massacres, and autonomous battle tanks. In his world, a miracle anti-aging elixer has been developed–but something terrible has gone wrong, and the powers that be will do anything to keep the populace from finding out.

This cybernetically augmented human told us that his name was Kirk Outerbridge and that his ship was called The Miracle Cure. Though apparently ship names in his galaxy are subject to change.

No sooner had Outerbridge concluded his tale than a bald cyberpunk exited the second vehicle and began to speak. This vessel was even more advanced than the first. It was seemingly capable of deep-space–perhaps even interstellar–flight. The bald man spun a yarn of a future Earth in which Islam has conquered all, and privately owned debuggers, like him, must do the work that keeps this Imam-ordered civilization running smoothly.

Unfortunately, one of the bots has malfunctioned. On this ship’s maiden voyage to a star curiously singing (which is, he said, also the name of his vessel), something happened to the main servbot on the crew. It seemed to go crazy and tear itself apart limb from limb. Our man has been called in to find out what happend. The debugger, who calls himself Kerry Nietz, says his tale is something akin to I, Robot meets Muhammed–in space.

The third vessel is the most advanced of the three. It sits confidentaly atop monstrous landing struts, towering over the battlefield. A young man leaps from an open portal and lands on the ruined street. He carries an odd white box at his hip. His ship is capable of many leaps between stars and has seen galaxies the other two could not begin to guess at.

In his world, the Act of Religious Tolerance has outlawed all but the state religion, and the holy books from all belief systems are banned. The galaxy is held in uneasy alliance and all the colonized worlds are at peace–or so goes the official story. The truth is that the secret military is about to stage a coup, a powerful warrior family is about to be shredded, and the forbidden item in the young man’s white box can tear the empire apart. Or save it.

Our youth offers his name, Steve Rzasa, and utters an enigmatic whisper: The Word Reclaimed.

Whether or not these three vessels of war and their mysterious captains mean us further harm is yet to be determined. Possibly they pose no further danger and the destruction they wrought was merely the result of their interdimensional rifting into our dimension. Perhaps their stories are something we must and shall hear.

All we can say with any assurance is that the future–that future beginning October 2009–has been claimed by men from the future and their tales of wonder, woe, and awe.

You can find Marcher Lord Press at: http://www.marcherlordpress.com