It’s Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday time again! As you may recall, SFFS is a ring of authors who share some of their work each Saturday. Anyone is welcome. The idea is to feature a snippet of your work for others to enjoy.
Recently I completed the latest revisions of THE TENNOVA JOB which is starting to make the rounds in hopes of publication. This book is the first installment of THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES, the Space Opera series starring Bo Barron and Blade Devon.
This scene is Blade’s introduction to the series. During the course of this scene we learn that he is a man with many aliases. He is a deserter and a burn out. Tonight, Blade has donned the persona of Darien Roarke, a gambler, in order to play in a Five Point Tourney in a night club in the Third Sector, and he has no idea that events have been set into motion that are going to change his life forever.
***
He stopped at the edge of the balcony overlooking the establishment and patiently studied his surroundings. Surreal lights in shades of blues and reds cast odd shadows on the walls and floor. Mirrored surfaces reflected the lights and created a greater illusion of space. Tables scattered across the next level down huddled around a stage and a dance floor. Joy Babes and sky hoppers lounged on the stairs, on landings, benches, or leaned against railings and columns alongside amateurs looking for companionship, their next fix, or their next ride off planet.
Tucking his hands into the pockets of his long black coat, he slowly made his way down the curving stairs, carefully keeping to the middle, well away from the predatory females holding vigil as he passed. More than one gave him a speculative look or a welcoming smile. He was pragmatic enough to credit their interest to his expensive clothes and not any other particular allure he may possess. While there was some off chance he’d been recognized, he doubted any of them could put the correct name to his face. If they had, they would likely have been more aggressive in their approach.
***
Well, that’s the Saturday Snippet for this week! Please don’t forget to comment by clicking on either the blog title or the little quotation balloon in the upper right hand corner. Tell your friends. Stop back here next week for another!
If you want a little more of THE TENNOVA JOB, BARRON’S LAST STAND, or to learn more about THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES, just click on the links.
For past snippets click here:
Loving those last two lines – he’s trouble, isn’t he? 😀
Most assuredly… trouble and then some! 😉
“Joy Babes and sky hoppers lounged on the stairs, on landings, benches, or leaned against railings and columns alongside amateurs looking for companionship, their next fix, or their next ride off planet.
“Wow! Great intro and great descriptions – everything’s perfectly clear and vivid. Sweet!
Thanks, Cary.
Love this snippet…definitely gives a sense of Blade and his character.
Thanks, TM. I had to go to some snippets of Blade’s introduction because he wasn’t really coming across in the dialog I’d posted earlier.
Could really get a sense of the place from the snippet. Am intrigued about this character, very mysterious, indeed!
Thanks, Gayle. Blade is a mystery wrapped in an enigma.
I was right there with him…or maybe I was one of those predatory females watching him. 😉
Awesome imagery, and I learned about Blade’s character seeing the setting through his eyes.
I can’t wait to read this!!
Thanks, Heidi! Hopefully it won’t be too much longer. I’ve been looking at publishers’ catalogs, and I haven’t found any who are looking for anything quite like this right now. I am seriously considering self-publishing.
Good luck with your other book making the rounds. Keep me updated.
I loved your snippet. You did an excellent job of using the setting to illustrate Blade’s character traits. I loved “predatory females” and “He was pragmatic enough to credit their interest to his expensive clothes and not any other particular allure he may possess.” Awesome.
Thanks, Nicole, I’ll be posting information back here when I have release dates and information.
When it comes to Blade, you have no idea how MUCH of his character is revealed in those two lines. 😉
Predatory females…Yikes! This is getting better and better! Good stuff.
Thanks TK! Now I feel bad about taking the day off to play hooky! LOL!
Great intro and setting. Blade’s reaction to the females says a lot about his attitude and his reputation.
I loved this setting and your descriptive terminology. Blade seems to be quite comfortable and confident. I’m expecting trouble.
Thanks, Melisse!
Where Blade goes, trouble follows. If it doesn’t follow quickly enough, he hunts it down and pokes it with a stick!
I think you described the nightclub down the street from where I lived. 😉 Seriously, your descriptions are excellent, putting me right in the middle of the scene with the characters. I love it!
Well, gee-willikers, Patrick! Now you know where I’ve been doing my research!
The nightclub scene makes me think of Star Wars…in a very good way 🙂
Keep writing!
Thanks, Adrienne! I’ll take any Star Wars reference I can get!
Great scene, this. You really placed me in there, seeing everything that Darien sees. Awesome stuff. Next?
Thanks, Laurel! Ah, next? You’re going to have to wait until next week.
Aaaah – now that’s what I needed to hear 🙂
Somehow I have a feeling things aren’t going to stay this peaceful.
With a man like Blade, peaceful never lasts very long.
That says so much about his character, enjoyed that. 🙂
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