Day Four of Four

¦ dialling in from the Sky Bunker ¦

19:02 GMT, 2nd December 2011.  It’s dark outside.  There’s an angry wind battering the roof that slopes above my head.  The room is bathed in the blood-red glow of a lava lamp.  Eerie sounds ooze through the large speakers placed on either corner of my desk, pointing inwards, towards me where I sit… unkempt, hairy, smelling of several days wearing the same crumpled clothes. I’ve only left the house once since Tuesday.  I’ve been awake since 3.40 this morning. Da Vinci method (polyphasic sleep patterns) in full effect. I’m in a dream where reality is a vague memory; I have a job but this week I left it all behind to focus on writing.

Day four of four.  Deep into reworking the Occult & Mythos chapter for Yellow Dawn  – The Age of Hastur.  It’s been horrible.  Like taking apart some vast and complex machine and then realising you have to put it all back together again.  Finally, today, I feel like it’s going well… but the past several days have been grim, stressful… yet necessary.  I needed this bubble of uninterrupted time to rework this part of Yellow Dawn.  So many years I’ve had niggling issues about bits of these rules.  Now it’s all coming together. Here’s a sneak preview of an overview of the Occult & Mythos chapter – and a definition of the Quantisphere.

Today there was a winter sun.  It filled the sky bunker with a strange burnished copper light and reminded me of days and months in 2007… when I first wrote Yellow Dawn after my father died.  During my regular breaks I’ve collapsed onto a bed in the next room, the cans of large headphones clamped to my skull and tales of cosmic horror playing on my MP3 device: H P Lovecraft’s  “The Moon Bog”, “Beyond the Wall of Sleep”, “Horror at Red Hook”, and “Celephais”.  Fifteen minute slots where I drift off towards sleep carried on words that create incredible scenery as I slide down into darkness.

Beep-beep-beep. The alarm always brings me back before I sink into real slumber. A brief fight with the urge to just lie there.

Right now I’m working on Demonology and I’ve found an unlikely ally in the realm of inspiration, mood and atmosphere. It’s the Official Soundtrack to a movie that came out this year.  Drive, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, it has some incredibly dark and moody soundscapes by Cliff Martinez.  As well as some less cinematic tracks by Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx, Desire and College… which initially come across as upbeat, but in the context of the movie, and in my context of where my imagination is feeding right now… they’re wonderfully, subtle in their darkness.

Here’s “Nightcall” by Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx.

.

Later tonight I’ll be sinking whisky and coke, soaking in a hot bath and scrubbing myself clean – becoming a little bit more human before I go and indulge in my new evening treat: Skyrim, possibly one of the best Playstation games I’ve ever played.

Skyrim: perfect engine for Yellow Dawn RPG if it were a console game

And I think I’ve finally found a game engine that would actually work with Yellow Dawn.  Bethesda Game Studios have produced a system for exploring a vast landscape, it could become the post-apocalyptic setting anywhere on Earth; likewise, the ability to scavenge and craft things, this is also part of Yellow Dawn.  Wouldn’t it be great to be approached by Bethesda Game Studios saying, “Hey, we want to make Yellow Dawn into a console game”. That would be nice.

.

See more posts like this – click

---

David J Rodger – DATA

Master of magic realism Harvey Stanbrough is offering a free short from his collection of Cantina Tales

Available on Amazon Kindle - click to view

Former US Marine and Arizonian, Harvey Stanbrough, has recently published a collection of short stories. Cantina Tales revolves around the life of young Maldito and the fictional village of Agua Rocosa: a place where magic meets realism.

Stanbrough is handing out a sweetner (free short) to everybody who subscribes to the blog that’s been created as a platform for the expanding world of Agua Rocosa and the many diverse and interesting characters that occupy it, plus you’ll get to enjoy periodic musings and short tales from the point-of-view of the storyteller: Juan-Carlos Salazár.

UPDATE (24th Nov)

Alternatively, send the author an email and he’ll bounce a story right back at you.

.

.

.

.

.

See more posts like this – click

---

David J Rodger – DATA

Kindle books from Amazon: super-slick jet assisted up-ramp for sales of my sci-fi & dark fantasy work?

Kindle books from Amazon: super-slick jet assisted up-ramp for sales of my sci-fi & dark fantasy work.

David J Rodger and friend

I first “got published” back in 2007 when I took all my manuscripts away from the table that I’d been using to pitch to literary agents  and publishers, and went and did it on my own.

I used a service called Print on Demand, this one provided by LULU.com, to connect myself directly to a new and rather exciting market.  This market wasn’t the people drifting between the snug shelves of Waterstones or Borders bookstores, browsing the dense clusters of spines all cunningly crafted to snag the attention and entice a pull-down, flick through and purchase.  This was the burgeoning online market.  But I wasn’t selling a digital product. I was selling paperbacks – just using the Internet as a place to pitch up my stall and shout “new fiction here, come get it!”

It’s 2007 – so it’s before iPads and Playbooks. But it’s around the time that iTunes and the whole concept of downloading music rather than buying in physical format exploded into the on-demand, vast choice, global phenomenon it is today.  I mean, when was the last time you walked into a store and bought a CD?  And if it was recently, how often do you actually do that?  The physical format still exists and will never go away (look at the tenacity of vinyl LPs) and with books, a vast majority still cherish (thankfully) the notion of a paperback.

So when I first started using LULU, and Print on Demand, a whole ton of people got what I was doing because buying stuff on the web was now common-place; Amazon and eBay being the retail and distribution hubs for physical products purchased in a digital space.

I built up a fan base through SEO and link-building strategies, I generated interest and I started selling books. Paperbacks.  Punters clicked on a link, went to LULU’s shopping portal, handed over a credit card or PayPal payment and a few days later, LULU sent them a bookstore quality, professionally printed, glossy bound paperback novel through the post.

For me it was win-win.  I don’t have to buy stock.  I don’t have to carry and store stock.  I don’t have to go through the hassle of shipping items to customers.  It is a seamless, direct route to market where everybody wins.  LULU take their cut for printing and shipping and I get a royalty payment every month – and you get a lovely book to read.

But back in 2007 what I also got was quite a bit of sneering from people when I told them how I was selling my books.  Print on Demand?  Isn’t that just vanity publishing? They would state, smirking at me where I stood with clenched jaw and gritted teeth.

It irritated me because they were missing the whole point.  I was selling books. My books.  A dream I’ve chased passionately for two decades, with much personal sacrifice, to make it as a writer.

And here I am, making it… in my own little way, and getting these cheap half-cocked face-slaps from people who only saw “quality” in the mass-produced offerings of major publishing houses and chain bookstores.  Where choice is defined by a handful of individuals across a vast industry – editorial choice versus the opinion of the marketeer and the ability of the publisher’s sales rep to get the books on the shelves.

That irritation was short-lived when I bought a car in 2009 from what I’d made through my writing, a nice little convertible with shark gills either side of the engine cowling:

Nice little convertible

It might sound stupid or vain but I grin most days driving around in that car when I think, I earned this.  I made this my reality through writing fiction.  Okay, it’s not a Bugatti Veyron but it makes me happy.  It reminds me, working in an industry where self-doubt can cripple the imagination,  that I’m good enough.  And makes me think: what can I achieve next?

Which brings me to the point of this article. Last month I took part in an unfolding zombie apocalypse – in Bristol – called 2.8 hours later. Amazing exciting fun (pics and vids here).  I met a lot of very interesting people in one night and I was stunned by a) how many knew who LULU were and what they did, without negative comment and b) how many of those same people asked if they could buy my work on Amazon Kindle.

The transformation of attitude since 2007 is significant.  People are now readily willing to accept that they have the choice to find new and exciting fiction through Print on Demand portals, like LULU, and have paperbacks shipped to their door. But the same notion behind downloading music is surging into the book industry via devices such as the Amazon Kindle or the iPad.

Just look at articles like this one from the BBC, “The rise of the indie author” by By Liam Allen – highlighting the one-million-Kindle-sales success of American author John Locke and talking to British authors Louise Voss and Mark Edwards about their entrance into the Kindle marketplace.

I want to be a part of this surge.  I want to see more people reading my work because I’m passionate about it.

So last week I went through the minor pain of converting my original novel manuscripts into filtered HTML,  adding meta data and getting the product ready for market.  A day or so later, my books are there on the Amazon Kindle shop front.  I write a wee article to celebrate and promote the fact, and to highlight fact that you can buy any of my novels  for just £2.90 (that’s about $3,99 US dollars or 3.50 euros).

They started to sell immediately.  Not vast quantities but enough to grab my interest.  Reasons could be many: fresh content picked up by Kindle-aficionados; good SEO for my work where people are searching the Internet for science fiction and dark fantasy or cyberpunk horror; or the fact the price is right… £2.90 for a recently launched novel that cost’s £13.99 in paperback…lovely, thank you very much!

So I guess it’s now about “watch this space”.  Could I ever sell a million on Kindle?  I don’t see why not.  And that’s the beauty of this business model.  When you’re presenting your work direct to market, the only obstacle to your success, is you.

Relevant Links:

• Showcase of my sci-fi & dark fantasy novels available on Kindle (this website) – click
• Amazon store front for my novels in Kindle format – for UK – or – for US

.

See more posts like this – click

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

.

Kindle books from Amazon: super-slick jet assisted up-ramp for sales of my sci-fi & dark fantasy work? http://wp.me/pTAKk-1m9—
David Rodger (@davidjrodger) June 25, 2011

Final day and last chance to grab a free novel, sci-fi & dark fantasy by David J Rodger

Morning folks

You just need to join my Facebook page for a chance to win one of my novels.  These are sci-fi & dark fantasy with a ton of great reviews; fast-paced and brutal, they cover a range of flavours from Lovecraft’s Mythos through Demonic possession to corporate espionage and warfare between private armies.

I’m giving away a novel of your choice at the end of May.

Join my Facebook page. That’s all you need to do.  No join, no chance to win.

 

One of these novels could be yours:

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

5 days left – grab your chance to win one or all of my novels and score a free short story: sci-fi & dark fantasy, cyberpunk

Join my Facebook Page for a Chance to Win

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

At the end of May I’ll be picking one lucky winner from the people who have “liked” my Facebook Fan Page.

All you need to do is “like” my Facebook page and you’re automatically in with a chance to win.

Plus!

All fans are sent a short story of their choice – absolutely free.

What’s not to LIKE?

Go on, do it now.  Go to my Facebook Fan Page. Hit that “like” button.  I’ll do the rest. :o)

.

One or ALL of these novels could be yours

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

Letters ¦ House of Heavenly Light – great feedback from Florida – worthy Mythos fiction

Great feedback from Florida about the short story House of Heavenly Light

Subject: Re: House of Heavenly Light
From: tad.xxxxxx@gmail.com
To: cl0venfeet(at)h0tmail(dot)com

Hi there

[...] Loving what I am reading, very much to my tastes the few stories so far,

[...]

This is from the Yellow Dawn setting, wow I want that book now for sure.

This is a worthy Mythos tale. Worthy.
The central character was fine. The Original Infected and the description of the insides and transformation was excellent, Lake Hali was just ‘right’ in so many ways it about made me smile.

I would personally prefer the ending letter have been left off. A little almost too explanatory.

Note: for what I would consider game oriented fiction, and a first view of Yellow Dawn, and not really being a zombies fan (despite also owning Unhallowed Metropolis) I really like it. It is not gaming fiction like some Magic: The Gathering can get, or the Eberron novels can get.

[...]

Thank You

.

---

You can download House of Heavenly Light  immediately or have a printed copy shipped to any address.

House of Heavenly Light is a short story (2,000 words) that fits into the post-apocalyptic world of the science fiction & dark fantasy RPG “YELLOW DAWN“. You can read the story as a stand alone, or use it to gain further insight into the influence of the Great Old One – Hastur – through the zombie infection.

.
BUY THIS TODAY

.

Join my Facebook Page & get a free short story

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

Letters ¦ Killing Candy – cyberpunk horror short story gets the creepy and disturbing thumbs-up

Some fan feedback about the science fiction fantasy short story, Killing Candy.

From: xxxxxxxxx@under-theoaktree.com
Subject: Re: Killing Candy
To: cl0venfeet(at)h0tmail(dot)com

You know, this is a reminder why I don’t like or trust many people! I think when I move out into my own apartment I’m going to have to hire a ninja assassin to deter the creepy scum of humanity trying to get close to me :P.

Another wonderful snapshot, creepy and disturbing, and again re-enforces distrust and loathing of the human race as a whole and what horrible atrocities we are capable of. If Oracle has got you creeped, I can’t even imagine what that one is going to be like when I read it after this one lol.

Sammi Jo

.

.

---

You can download the story immediately or have a printed copy shipped to any address.

Short story. (Sci-fi & dark fantasy; 4,500 words).
It’s not strangers you should worry about.  It’s their friends.
.

.

BUY THIS TODAY

.

.

Join my Facebook Page & get a free short story

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

Mayday! Mayday! Grab a free short story and score a chance to win the complete collection of novels by sci-fi and dark fantasy author David J Rodger

David J Rodger’s trademark unforgiving rendering of harsh reality, and relentless narrative pace, are here in palm-sweating abundance, delivered in a set of stand-alone novels that opens up a new universe of conflict, shocking truths and monstrous threats to sanity and life.

- Roberta Shock,  Network Zero

Join my Facebook Page & get FREE stuff!

Look what you get: a free short story sent to you  and a chance to win one of my science fiction & dark fantasy novels, or, if I can reach 700 Facebook fans by end of May 2011  then I’ll give away  a COMPLETE collection of my novels (worth £80 or $130). What’s not to like? :o)

Click here to view Facebook page.

.

What’s all this about?

I want to increase the number of fans on my Facebook page, so I’m giving away a free short story to everyone who joins.   And everyone who is a fan at the end of May 2011 stands a chance to win one of my sci-fi & dark fantasy novels.  Even better, if I reach my target of 700 fans by the end of May, I’ll give away a COMPLETE collection of novels to one lucky person.  It’s that simple really.  I’m giving stuff away; all you need to do is join my Facebook page.

One or ALL of these novels could be yours

Terms & Conditions

• “Complete collection” refers to God Seed, Dante’s Fool,  Iron Man Project, EDGE, and  Dog Eat Dog.
• As of May 2011 this is currently worth Worth up to £80 GBP (or $130 USD).
• If there are less than 700 fans listed on my Facebook fan page by 31st May 2011, I’ll only be giving away one novel to one winner.
• Winner will be selected randomly on 1st June 2011.

Do you want to win one novel or ALL my novels?

Send your friends this link and tell them to join. 700 fans is the magic number.  Everybody gets a little something sent their way. Help me reach my target.

.

.

Choose any one of these short stories – join my Facebook Fan page and I’ll send you one – free!

Arnos Vale: 3,900 words, full of dread and menace, set within the centuries old cemetery of Arnos Vale in Bristol, England. Arnos Vale is a portal to a world of mist and shadows, where the foolish can stumble upon terrors that should not be and glimpse Nature’s cruel and despicable secrets.

Cloudy Head: 5,000 words, illustrated (black & white). A fabulous tale of two-worlds co-existing and overlapping in secret, special places; populated with mysteries and dangerous entities that exist to help or hinder new dreamers crossing over normally unseen boundaries. Hauntingly engaging, spooky and intriguing, Cloudy Head will stay with you for days.

Corrupt Moon: (Yellow Dawn) 4,200 words. A survivor becomes obsessed by a church tower on a distant hill leading him to an mind-shattering encounter with the Outer Chaos of the Cthulhu Mythos.

Cypher: History has taught us the secrets of the past. But when an object is about to be unearthed after 4,000 years of silence, the revelations it threatens to unleash bring such risk as to draw the most ominous powers from the shadows to try and stop it. Powers that influence the very forces that govern our mundane lives. Cypher is a fast and brutal journey into a heart of darkness.

Dilemma: 6,700 words. Science fiction. A tense and fast-paced plot that plunges into the heart of our fear of the ‘monsters’ we make to serve us. Biological intolerance clashes with the vain attempt to rationalise cold-blooded murder.

Devil’s Spring: 5,000 words. A group of BASE jumpers travel to a remote rural location to enjoy an illicit exit-point; but the area cossets the corruptive remains of a site of worship, where an abominable entity fell from the Stars millennia ago and infected the earth, air and water.  Ignoring the warnings, a swift and brutal tale of cosmic horror unfolds.

Flinch: 5,800 words. Scifi & dark fantasy. Working as a ‘door skimmer’ for the best and most exclusive night clubs in the city has its perks and everyone, it seems, wants a piece of Raymond. Surgical implants give him an edge in the game of privacy and discretion; but not all new technology, he discovers, is designed to be good for the human soul. Flinch – would you let it inside your head?

House of Heavenly Light (Yellow Dawn): 2,000 words, explores the influence of Hastur on the world of Yellow Dawn through the zombie infection.

Killing Candy: 4,500 words. Cyberpunk horror. It’s not strangers you should worry about. It’s their friends.

Masters of Chaos: 3,800 words, Speculative fiction with Cthulhu Mythos undertone. A man contemplates the world around him, taking seemingly meticulous notes of certain random but repeating events. Can he influence the world through such observations? And to what end? When unseen things are scratching at the doors of perception.

Merchant of Oropas: 4,000 words. Science Fiction & Fantasy. In certain cultures, the possession of an object during magical ceremony can infuse it with qualities that cannot be measured or monitored by scientific means. They are said to become like beacons, within the Astral Planes, guiding or warding other worldly spirits with no restrictions of time, or space.

Oracle: 4,300 words. Cyberpunk Horror. A corporate head hunter plans a lucrative extraction job, assisted by an mysterious neural implant he has no memory of receiving. Meanwhile another kind of hunt is taking place – where a man acts upon a violent and disturbing urge.  Somewhere, within this fusion of damaged synapses and scarred nerve endings, there is a link.  Oracle knows.  Oracle sees. Oracle is the question mark and the key.

Pain: 5,400 words. Sci-fi & dark fantasy. A former military PARC pilot is suffering psychological trauma of flashbacks, relentless physical agony and symptoms associated with PTSD. A pariah since media coverage of an atrocity he was involved within, the man’s only salvation is a mysterious Mr Sovitch who wants to exonerate him and prove he is the victim of experiemental combat drugs. Although he’s aware of another agenda being played out the promise of the pain ending acts like a carrot on a stick.

Sim: 5,100 words. Sci-fi & dark fantasy. Sim-weave is a bioware implant that allows users to record, playback or share their own sim-stims. But what happens if you find one downloaded into your brain that has shocking scenes within it … and what if it’s been made to look like you did these things? Guilt and conscience collide with the horror of what lurks in the shadows of sick mind.

The Tainted Moor (Yellow Dawn):  6,700 words. In the North East of England is a place where something so terrible has occurred, that the locals dare only to speak of it as a warning to survivors thinking of going there.  The Tainted Moor.  Man has tried to penetrate the chaos of the Infection and brought such calamity upon the battered Earth that even the Angels weep in despair.  An indelible stain upon the bruised flesh of Mother Nature.

It’s easy – just join my Facebook Page

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

Click here to view Facebook page.

.

What’s that? You don’t like Facebook?

If you don’t like Facebook, don’t have an account and have no interest in becoming a fan of such then I think it’s unfair that you miss out on a chance to get a free short story and win my books.  So if you want to take part:

• just blog or tweet about my work promoting my official website (www.davidjrodger.com)
• then send me what you’ve done (@davidjrodger on Twitter) or email me: clovenfeet (at) hotmail (dot) com.
• I’ll send you a free short story of your choice and enter your name into the prize draw for novel(s).

.

.

Previous Winners

• 2011 – March: Enjoy the Ides of March. Andrew Corrieri . He chose Dante’s Fool as his prize.
• 2010 – December: Free Sci-Fi giveaway.  Peteofrepublic. He chose Dog Eat Dog as his prize.
• 2010- November: Free Sci-Fi giveaway. Alexandre Siegelin (Germany). He chose EDGE as his prize.
• 2009- July:  Free Sci-Fi giveaway. Christopher Clark Plambeck. He chose God Seed as his prize.

.

.

---

David J Rodger – DATA

Letters ¦ Killing Candy – cyberpunk horror short story gets comparison with Stephen King.

Some fan feedback about the science fiction fantasy short story, Killing Candy.

From: Adam Lee
Sent: 03 February 2011 11:00
To: David Rodger
Subject: Killing candy

Hi,

Killing Candy reminded me of some of the Stephen King short stories. Just a totally creepy atmosphere throughout building up to a shocking ending. I especially liked how Sabria’s character went from super confident when they first met, to very vulnerable when she though she had found someone to trust.

Looking forward to reading more!

Adam Lee

.

.

---

You can download the story immediately or have a printed copy shipped to any address.

Short story. (Sci-fi & dark fantasy; 4,500 words).
It’s not strangers you should worry about.  It’s their friends.
.

.

BUY THIS TODAY

.

.

Join my Facebook Page & get a free short story

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

End of March – last day of whopping 35% discount on all my work

Hey folks, today’s the day I pick somebody to win a novel (just join my Facebook page for a chance to win). I’ll be doing this before midnight GMT (UK time).

Jaw Dropping Stuff

Meanwhile, please note that today is the last day of the “Ides of March” 15% discount I’m running on all my work; it’s also the last day of LULU’s additional 20% discount (use SPLISH as a coupon at checkout). So if you’re looking to stock up on new fiction, now’s the time to grab a whopping 35% discount.

Like my FB Fan Page and get yourself a FREE short story

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

Letters ¦ Merchant of Oropas, science fiction fantasy with a slightly romantic touch – fan feedback

Some fan feedback about the science fiction fantasy short story, Merchant of Oropas.

.

Subject: Re: Weekend in the Catskills
From: xxxxxx@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 22:20:53 -0500
To: cl0venfeet@h0tmail.com

Just read “merchants” . Such a weird and wonderful tale , a nice break from your regular program of hellish beasts and demonic tech. :)

Quite romantic .  Felt a little dune-esque. Loved the squid.  Lovely story man.  A fucking xxxxxx  ending too.   You better have a lie down lol.

Really enjoyable. No criticism.

Oh. I liked the reason behind the monks keeping the xxxxxx  as opposed to xxxxxx – it reminds them of xxxxxx.  Cool.

Floyd.

.

###

.

Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:05:25 -0500
Subject: Re: Merchant of Oropas
From: tad.xxxxxx@gmail.com
To: cl0venfeet(at)h0tmail.com

Nice, very nice. I have occassionally wondered what another Dreamlands might be like.If I had ever imagined my own. Now I have a new dreamlands to contemplate and I like it. Not a bad story at all. It did end almost a little abruptly, I could not discern the root words for the Sea God’s name, seemed like you had used America and Europe as the root words for the two main lands. Good lead character there as well. Being an avid reader I liked him being a Librarian.

The ending was appropriate and fit in nicely. One thing I like about your stories, you do not always close all the loopholes or answer all the questions.

Thanks
Tad
.

###

.

---

You can download the story immediately or have a printed copy shipped to any address.

Short story (4,000 words) Science Fiction & Fantasy. In certain cultures, the possession of an object during magical ceremony can infuse it with qualities that cannot be measured or monitored by scientific means. They are said to become like beacons, within the Astral Planes, guiding or warding other worldly spirits with no restrictions of time, or space.

Buy This Today

.

.

Join my Facebook Page

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

Letters ¦ Flinch – diverse feedback on this scifi & dark fantasy short story

A slab of feedback from a few fans about this scifi & dark fantasy short, Flinch

Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:25:32 -0500
Subject: Re: Flinch – Review Copy
From: xxxx@xxxxxx.com
To: cl0venfeet(at)h0tmail.com

The idea of RANDMOMNESS, and perhaps how nothing really is, piqued my curiosity from the get-go. I love that the main character Raymond (whose name actually sounds a lot like the word random), is a “door skimmer”––someone who is in charge of cherry-picking the right kind and allowing them access to a place, has also unknowingly been hand-picked as well….

I also loved the subtle parallel between the purple velvet rope and the purple-cloak[...] xxxxxxxx  very graceful link to the two different types of thresholds, two different types of cross-overs, one definitely more deadlier than the other.

.

###

.

Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:17:47 -0500
Subject: Re: Tuesday 15:50 GMT
From: xxxxxxxxx@gmail.com
To: cl0venfeet(at)h0tmail.com

[...]

As I said before you have a great way with characters, that I can see very clearly
You still dont have exhausting descriptions of the leads, which is similar to a book I finished reading the other night.

Best line sticking out so far:

“any exposed flesh was oily with sweat and grime, covered in strange mosaics of old-ink tattoos; hair was greasy, tangled, and catching the half-light seemed to shimmer as if steaming in the frigid air.“

Not sure what you meant by NovaPunks, you got a lot of the Flash and Style feel to CP in it. Not so much the overall tech sense. You have hit on the core elements of communications and those with knowledge hold power, even to who gets into a club. However what the Finch does it unclear to me even down to page 14. No mention of where it resides in the brain, carbon tubes married to even smaller ones linked into the electrical impulses between neurons, translating the data and writing new data as it is uploaded into the meat of his mind, those sorts of touches.

I loved the parts about the figure in the xxxxx, [...], how it changed, etc. [...]. The XXXXX is kick ass and you should incorporate it into your RPG setting, as a tool or [Nyarlathotep] or some such, just because it is cool as heck.

[...]

[...]

Thank you once again for sharing it with me
Tad

.

###

.

From: Adam Lee
Sent: 03 February 2011 11:00
To: David Rodger
Subject: Flinch

Hi,

Flinch I though was really great. Instantly evocative of nights out in Bristol or London. I loved all the pretension and the glamour with the darkness lurking just below the surface. The carnival scene was probably my favourite. Reminded me of late night at some of the weirder areas of Glastonbury. Much more sinister though. My only criticism was that a lot of the exposition came in one paragraph at the end. I felt like there could have been more hints at the xxxxxx side of things earlier on but looking back on it now, there possibly were and I just didn’t pick up on it.

Looking forward to reading more!

Adam Lee

.

###

.
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2011 20:54:15 -0800
From: xxxxxx@under-theoaktree.com
Subject: Flinch
To: cl0venfeet(at)h0tmail.com

Again, you have created a tale in a universe I’d like to see more of! Virtually “flipped the pages” as quick as I could read them, soaking in the vast and lavish landscape created in just a short amount of time. Your genre of story-telling has such an original and captivating voice. Kudos on this one!

Sammi

 

 

---

You can download the story immediately or have a printed copy shipped to any address.

Short story. (5,800 words) Scifi & dark fantasy.  Working as a ‘door skimmer’ for the best and most exclusive night clubs in the city has its perks and everyone, it seems, wants a piece of Raymond.  Surgical implants give him an edge in the game of privacy and discretion; but not all new technology, he discovers, is designed to be good for the human soul.   Flinch – would you let it inside your head?

Buy This Today

.

.

Join my Facebook Page

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

Enjoy the Ides of March – Get your free short story and score a chance to win the complete collection of novels by sci-fi and dark fantasy author David J Rodger

Just join my Facebook Page during March (2011)

And you get: a free short story sent to you  and a chance to win one of my science fiction & dark fantasy novels, or, if I can reach 600 FB fans by end of March, then I’ll give away  a COMPLETE collection of my novels (worth £80 or $130). What’s not to like? :o)

.

What’s all this about?

Lulu (publisher) is giving 15% discount on all my work until 15th March.  Just enter IDES305 as discount coupon at checkout.

I’m matching LULU by slashing 15% off my prices until 15th March. That means you can get 30% off in total.

I’ve increased the discount on Dog Eat Dog (novel) to 30% for Facebook Fans – that means a total 45% discount before 15th March.

I’m giving away a free short story (PDF) to anybody who is a fan of my Facebook Page, just add yourself as a fan and say “hello” on my wall and I’ll send you a free short story for your trouble. :o)

.
Got any friends who would like a free sci-fi & dark fantasy, or cyberpunk horror short story?  Send the link for my Facebook Fan Page and tell them what to do: http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-J-Rodger/10090348898

Win the complete collection of novels written by David J Rodger:

So here’s the plan.

I want double the number of my facebook fans in March.
Currently hovering just below 300 (as of 27th Feb).

If I can reach 600 Facebook Fans by midnight (GMT) on 31st March I will pick one lucky winner to win the COMPLETE collection of my novels**. Worth up to £80 GBP (or $130 USD)

Even if I don’t reach 600 fans , I’ll still give away one novel to one lucky winner at the end of March.
What’s not to like!?

**Winners will be chosen randomly from the list of Facebook Fans.  You can swap out any novel for a copy of Yellow Dawn RPG or Shadows of the Quantinex. Novels will be printed and shipped by LULU to any address of the winner’s choice.

Choose any one of these short stories – join my Facebook Fan page and I’ll send you one (PDF) free

Arnos Vale: 3,900 words, full of dread and menace, set within the centuries old cemetery of Arnos Vale in Bristol, England. Arnos Vale is a portal to a world of mist and shadows, where the foolish can stumble upon terrors that should not be and glimpse Nature’s cruel and despicable secrets.

Cloudy Head: 5,000 words, illustrated (black & white). A fabulous tale of two-worlds co-existing and overlapping in secret, special places; populated with mysteries and dangerous entities that exist to help or hinder new dreamers crossing over normally unseen boundaries. Hauntingly engaging, spooky and intriguing, Cloudy Head will stay with you for days.

Corrupt Moon: (Yellow Dawn) 4,200 words. A survivor becomes obsessed by a church tower on a distant hill leading him to an mind-shattering encounter with the Outer Chaos of the Cthulhu Mythos.

Cypher: History has taught us the secrets of the past. But when an object is about to be unearthed after 4,000 years of silence, the revelations it threatens to unleash bring such risk as to draw the most ominous powers from the shadows to try and stop it. Powers that influence the very forces that govern our mundane lives. Cypher is a fast and brutal journey into a heart of darkness.

Dilemma: 6,700 words. Science fiction. A tense and fast-paced plot that plunges into the heart of our fear of the ‘monsters’ we make to serve us. Biological intolerance clashes with the vain attempt to rationalise cold-blooded murder.

Devil’s Spring: 5,000 words. A group of BASE jumpers travel to a remote rural location to enjoy an illicit exit-point; but the area cossets the corruptive remains of a site of worship, where an abominable entity fell from the Stars millennia ago and infected the earth, air and water.  Ignoring the warnings, a swift and brutal tale of cosmic horror unfolds.

Flinch: 5,800 words. Scifi & dark fantasy. Working as a ‘door skimmer’ for the best and most exclusive night clubs in the city has its perks and everyone, it seems, wants a piece of Raymond. Surgical implants give him an edge in the game of privacy and discretion; but not all new technology, he discovers, is designed to be good for the human soul. Flinch – would you let it inside your head?

House of Heavenly Light (Yellow Dawn): 2,000 words, explores the influence of Hastur on the world of Yellow Dawn through the zombie infection.

Killing Candy: 4,500 words. Cyberpunk horror. It’s not strangers you should worry about. It’s their friends.

Masters of Chaos: 3,800 words, Speculative fiction with Cthulhu Mythos undertone. A man contemplates the world around him, taking seemingly meticulous notes of certain random but repeating events. Can he influence the world through such observations? And to what end? When unseen things are scratching at the doors of perception.

Merchant of Oropas: 4,000 words. Science Fiction & Fantasy. In certain cultures, the possession of an object during magical ceremony can infuse it with qualities that cannot be measured or monitored by scientific means. They are said to become like beacons, within the Astral Planes, guiding or warding other worldly spirits with no restrictions of time, or space.

Oracle: 4,300 words. Cyberpunk Horror. A corporate head hunter plans a lucrative extraction job, assisted by an mysterious neural implant he has no memory of receiving. Meanwhile another kind of hunt is taking place – where a man acts upon a violent and disturbing urge.  Somewhere, within this fusion of damaged synapses and scarred nerve endings, there is a link.  Oracle knows.  Oracle sees. Oracle is the question mark and the key.

Pain: 5,400 words. Sci-fi & dark fantasy. A former military PARC pilot is suffering psychological trauma of flashbacks, relentless physical agony and symptoms associated with PTSD. A pariah since media coverage of an atrocity he was involved within, the man’s only salvation is a mysterious Mr Sovitch who wants to exonerate him and prove he is the victim of experiemental combat drugs. Although he’s aware of another agenda being played out the promise of the pain ending acts like a carrot on a stick.

Sim: 5,100 words. Sci-fi & dark fantasy. Sim-weave is a bioware implant that allows users to record, playback or share their own sim-stims. But what happens if you find one downloaded into your brain that has shocking scenes within it … and what if it’s been made to look like you did these things? Guilt and conscience collide with the horror of what lurks in the shadows of sick mind.

The Tainted Moor (Yellow Dawn):  6,700 words. In the North East of England is a place where something so terrible has occurred, that the locals dare only to speak of it as a warning to survivors thinking of going there.  The Tainted Moor.  Man has tried to penetrate the chaos of the Infection and brought such calamity upon the battered Earth that even the Angels weep in despair.  An indelible stain upon the bruised flesh of Mother Nature.

Finally, here’s the complete collection of my novels you can win if I reach 600 fans* on Facebook.

*By midnight (GMT) on 31st March 2011

It’s easy – just join my Facebook Page

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

New release: Sim, science fiction & dark fantasy – if we are defined by our memories, what happens when a bioware implant starts inserting horrific memories you should not have?

New release: Sim, science fiction & dark fantasy – if we are defined by our memories, what happens when a bioware implant starts inserting horrific memories you should not have?  How does your sense of ‘self’ fit in when your reality is no longer true to who you think ‘you’ are.

 

You can download the story immediately or have a printed copy shipped to any address.

Short story (5,100 words) Sci-fi & dark fantasy. Sim-weave is a bioware implant that allows users to record, playback or share their own sim-stims. But what happens if you find one downloaded into your brain that has shocking scenes within it … and what if it’s been made to look like you did these things? Guilt and conscience collide with the horror of what lurks in the shadows of sick minds.
.

Buy this today

.

.

 

Join my Facebook Page

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

Letters ¦ Devil’s Spring, positive feedback on this cyberpunk horror that centres around a group of BASE jumpers who go somewhere they shouldn’t

Some great feedback about this cyberpunk horror short story, Devil’s Spring.

Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 13:30:52 -0800
From: xxxxxx@under-theoaktree.com
Subject: Re: Devil’s Spring
To: cl0venfeet(at)h0tmail.c0m

You have such a way of making any setting and environment Real and believable. Fast paced while still retaining strong characters that have their own little history to insinuate without ever having to relay the nitty gritty details. I could imagine the rush of falling alongside the waterfall, flushed from the adrenaline matched with the chill of the moisture and rushing air. It seems like a story that could have more to tell, although it is wrapped up very neatly. I’d like to see more like this one, that’s for certain.

Another job well done! :)

 

 

---

You can download the story immediately or have a printed copy shipped to any address.

Short story (5,000 words). A bunch of BASE jumpers travel to a remote rural location to enjoy an illicit exit-point; but the area cossets the corruptive remains of a site of worship, where an abomniable entity fell from the Stars millenia ago and infected the earth, air and water. Ignoring the warnings, a swift and brutal tale of cosmic horror unfolds.

 

 

Join my Facebook Page

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

 

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

 

New Release: Merchant of Oropas, sci-fi & fantasy, short story download

New Release: Merchant of Oropas, sci-fi & fantasy, short story download

 

You can download the story immediately or have a printed copy shipped to any address.

Short story (4,000 words) Science Fiction & Fantasy. In certain cultures, the possession of an object during magical ceremony can infuse it with qualities that cannot be measured or monitored by scientific means. They are said to become like beacons, within the Astral Planes, guiding or warding other worldly spirits with no restrictions of time, or space.
.

.

BUY THIS TODAY

.

.

Comments & Feedback

Merchant of Oropas, utterly exquisite! Love the setting of the tale, strong enough for a universe of its own. Reminds me fondly of Greg Keyes “The Waterborn” and “The Blackgod” – Sammi R, Arizona

Such a weird and wonderful tale. - Floyd, New York

Join my Facebook Page

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

Walking in the rain and 14 short stories in 41 days

¦ dialling in from the Sky Bunker ¦

13:53 GMT, Sunday 13th Feb 2011.  Life support is blowing warm air across me; a cold dampness is clinging to my skin, my jeans are wet around the thighs and knees – haven’t bothered to change out of them yet; I’m a little bit shivery, but I love it.

Decided not to risk frying my brain this weekend with writing, so have been taking it easy today after finishing PAIN yesterday (now in review stage).

It’s been an insane few weeks. Since Christmas I’ve finished 14 short stories (in 48 days, although you can take off 7 days for last week after my brain blew a fuse and I could barely write my name never mind compose narrative).  This is a list of what I’ve done.

---

Arnos Vale: 3,900 words, full of dread and menace, set within the centuries old cemetery of Arnos Vale in Bristol, England. Arnos Vale is a portal to a world of mist and shadows, where the foolish can stumble upon terrors that should not be and glimpse Nature’s cruel and despicable secrets.

Corrupt Moon: (Yellow Dawn) 4,200 words. A survivor becomes obsessed by a church tower on a distant hill leading him to an mind-shattering encounter with the Outer Chaos of the Cthulhu Mythos.

Cypher: History has taught us the secrets of the past. But when an object is about to be unearthed after 4,000 years of silence, the revelations it threatens to unleash bring such risk as to draw the most ominous powers from the shadows to try and stop it. Powers that influence the very forces that govern our mundane lives. Cypher is a fast and brutal journey into a heart of darkness.

Dilemma: 6,700 words. Science fiction. A tense and fast-paced plot that plunges into the heart of our fear of the ‘monsters’ we make to serve us. Biological intolerance clashes with the vain attempt to rationalise cold-blooded murder.

Devil’s Spring: 5,000 words. A group of BASE jumpers travel to a remote rural location to enjoy an illicit exit-point; but the area cossets the corruptive remains of a site of worship, where an abominable entity fell from the Stars millennia ago and infected the earth, air and water.  Ignoring the warnings, a swift and brutal tale of cosmic horror unfolds.

Flinch: 5,800 words. Scifi & dark fantasy. Working as a ‘door skimmer’ for the best and most exclusive night clubs in the city has its perks and everyone, it seems, wants a piece of Raymond. Surgical implants give him an edge in the game of privacy and discretion; but not all new technology, he discovers, is designed to be good for the human soul. Flinch – would you let it inside your head?

House of Heavenly Light (Yellow Dawn): 2,000 words, explores the influence of Hastur on the world of Yellow Dawn through the zombie infection.

Killing Candy: 4,500 words. Cyberpunk horror. It’s not strangers you should worry about. It’s their friends.

Masters of Chaos: 3,800 words, Speculative fiction with Cthulhu Mythos undertone. A man contemplates the world around him, taking seemingly meticulous notes of certain random but repeating events. Can he influence the world through such observations? And to what end? When unseen things are scratching at the doors of perception.

The Tainted Moor (Yellow Dawn):  6,700 words. In the North East of England is a place where something so terrible has occurred, that the locals dare only to speak of it as a warning to survivors thinking of going there.  The Tainted Moor.  Man has tried to penetrate the chaos of the Infection and brought such calamity upon the battered Earth that even the Angels weep in despair.  An indelible stain upon the bruised flesh of Mother Nature.

Merchant of Oropas: still going through review

My Bloody Valentine: still going through review

Oracle: still going through review

Pain: still going through review

PS: if you would like a copy (PDF) of any of the stories going through review, just ping me a note via my Facebook Fan Page or send me an email with a hello to: clovenfeet (at) hotmail.com

---

Seeing the rain lashing against the windows this morning I decided to drive into town and down the big harbour circuit walk. 3 mile loop.  Piled on my Scott-of-the-Antarctic coat, overlaid with a plastic kagoogul, my Russian tank hat and my Oakley snood. The wind hit me as I rounded a corner and I just grinned as the horizontal rain failed to get through to me.

Arnolfini Cafe

Stopped off at the Arnolfini cafe – big hellos to the staff who now know me. Strong coffee and I sat down, squelching a little, and drafted some ideas in pen and paper notepad.

Working on a loose structure for a novel I’ll probably not write until after 2012: working title, “The Camaraderie of Wolves”. About a private investigator and a talent scout agent working against each other in the cutthroat entertainment world of the sim-stim industry. Will be a character driven story, with undercurrent of cyberpunk and thriller.

Also mapped out idea for a new short that looks to explore the Changed (also called Orcs – derogatory) within the world of Yellow Dawn; those unfortunate victims of the 1st wave pathogen who weren’t killed, but were left altered at a genetic level.

Also worked on today’s current short story project – a quick thriller about the Sim-Stim technology and snuff-stim (black jack) market. Death and mutilation for those that want to pay to experience it.  Grim.

Left the Arnolfini with my mind buzzing on caffeine and new ideas.  Drove home in Rocket.

There’s that delicious moment when you get into your house; grey subdued light flooding through windows, everything quiet apart from the wind battering the glass and eaves of the roof. You peel off wet layers down to the dampness against your flesh.  Brew a mug of tea and that first divine sip.  I put on a slice of toast, smeared in a thick layer of Philadelphia, a sprinkling of coarse-ground black pepper and a few slices of smoked trout. Yum.

Wherever you’re reading this from, hope you’re having a great Sunday.

Djr

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

Writing interrupted by phone call from good friend, long time no see Chris H. First sunshine weekend for me this year so drove into town…

Image via Wikipedia

.

…with roof down. Surreal moments: traffic cop waved at me smiling (when does that ever happen?) and then some stoned dude tried to get into my car whilst waiting at lights; all happy and rubbing the door, drooling, saying “nice ride man, can I get in? It’s my birthday. Oh, I guess you’re going the other way.” I nodded, grinned and shook the hand he offered. Lights change and away I roar. Nice day. Devoured a Pieminster pie. OMG. These folks are the Willy Wonka of the Pie World.  Matador with gravy for me.  Then did the harbourside walk. 3 miles squinting in lovely sunlight.  Now I’m back. 3,800 words into the latest short story. Going good.

New Release: Killing Candy, cyberpunk horror short story download

New Release: Killing Candy, cyberpunk horror short story download written by sci-fi & dark fantasy author, David J Rodger.

This story is based on an actual real-life, bizarre and somewhat disturbing encounter I had in a cafe in Newcastle back in the 1990s.  Boy meets girl.  Girl has friend.  Friend has secret desires and strange interests.  Everything goes weird.

.

You can download the story immediately or have a printed copy shipped to any address.

Short story. (Sci-fi & dark fantasy; 4,500 words).
It’s not strangers you should worry about.  It’s their friends.
.

.

BUY THIS TODAY

.

.

Join my Facebook Page

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---

Letters ¦ Masters of Chaos, collection of feedback on this short story of speculative fiction with a Cthulhu Mythos hue

Several messages from folk who’ve enjoyed the short story Masters of Chaos

> Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 09:15:51 -0500
> Subject: Masters of Chaos
> From: xxx@xxxxxx.com
> To: clovenfeet@hotmail.com
>
> I can’t find anything critical to say about this one. The piercing,
> staccato-style rhythm of the short story, the way you begin again, each time
> building momentum and pressure is very good. It’s interesting, the reader
> feels somewhat lulled when reading MoC (because of the subtle repetitions
> that come with the start of a new day) but then there is also this
> uneasiness which keeps growing….it’s a great parallel for the overall
> message of the story. Well done.
>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From: xxxxxxx@hotmail.com
To: clovenfeet(at)h0tmail.c0m
Subject: RE: Masters of Chaos – review copy
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:28:05 +0000

Not quite sure what to say. An extremely creative story that highlights [...] your own style and a fantastic opportunity to explore your long-term creative direction. 2011 a year of change? abso-bloody-lutely. [...]

Where Dog Eat Dog is an excellent book because [...], this short story shows that you have ability beyond that of your own, a distinct authorial voice :)

[...]

Simon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:19:41 -0800
From: xxxxxxx@under-theoaktree.com
Subject: Re: Masters of Chaos
To: cl0venfeet(at)h0tmail.c0m

Elan Path Troy. Nice! Little Crawling Chaos action. This one just draws you into the spiraling towards madness, subtle and brilliant. Nice to be shown the story instead of told the story, refreshing perspective. Once I clicked what Elan Path Troy was I had to go back through a read it again, since the context of understanding deepened. I like the character in this one, his eagerness of tripping towards power once xxxxxxxx only to find xxxxxxxxx.

The imagery of “Night is pouring into the space where XXXXXXXXX” is the stuff of nightmares. Bravissimo!

Sammi

---

You can download the story immediately or have a printed copy shipped to any address.

Short story. (3,800 words) Speculative fiction. A man contemplates the world around him, taking seemingly meticulous notes of certain random but repeating events. Can he influence the world through such observations? And to what end? When unseen things are scratching at the doors of perception.

 

 

Join my Facebook Page

Get involved, keep up to date: enjoy early notice of new releases and updates about work-in-progress; grab free review copies of short stories when I put out invites and save a few bucks with special discount links “for fans only”. Guaranteed Spam-Free.

.

 

---

David J. Rodger (born 1970 in Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a British science fiction & fantasy author and game designer best known for his novels set in a near-future world of corporate and political intrigue. So far he has published five novels; four that are set in the same world: God Seed; Dante’s Fool; Iron Man Project and Edge, and one, Dog Eat Dog, set within the post-apocalyptic world of Yellow Dawn.

---