Orbital

Orbital

Bill Zhao

Bill Zhao

Centuries in the future, Private Military Corporations control the solar system. Derek Ragston, the son of a disgraced space pirate is forced to ally with his father's forces and travel across the solar system to clear his name, meeting many friends, foes and weapons of mass destruction along the way.Five hundred years in the future, the government is nothing more than a puppet by Private Military Corporations pulling the strings. Deadly interstellar ships and weapons are readily available. Derek Ragston, the son of a disgraced galactic pirate is forced to unravel the truth behind his ship (The Icarus), his military and goals. Interacting with the remnants of his father's forces, Derek is taken on a journey across the solar system to clear his father's name and learn the secrets of his past. The dominant military force in the solar system, USOC (United Space Order Control) however will stop at nothing to capture Derek and erase the secrets of The Icarus. Pulled into a secret mission to get to the Icarus, Derek is thrown around by the factions while slowly learning his situation.
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To the crusher

To the crusher

Quelli di ZEd

Quelli di ZEd

Warning: experimental translation (hybrid)Behind the old crusher, on top of the country hill, it consumes the revenge of a man that, at distance of few days, discovers to have completed a well more serious crime of that that believed to have put into effect.I point out the error of Thomas Hobbes in equating the prince with Leviathan and of parliaments with Behemoth. It is the other way around. Autocratic administration of the state is clearly the logical condition of good governance and true democracy. World history is dominated by the war between prince and shaman. Parliaments, courts, capital cities and stock exchanges are ruses behind which the shaman and his witch consort hide. I explain the true purpose of the state as a commonwealth, that is to say, a generator of wealth. I offer ways to keep the human family unit strong and to eliminate the corruption of nationalism. The nations are of the fruit of the tree of Babel and so evil like the tree that generated them. I suggest that the military should take on the role of hunter/warrior, as was the state of the warrior in the past (energy in place of meat, minerals in place of hides.) This is the best way to stay militarily secure and economically prosperous. I briefly point out that the stubborn refusal to accept the existence of witchcraft in modern life is a grievous error. These misers of the mind encourage ignorance at every turn to exalt their relative position in society.
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The State & Statecraft: An Essay

The State & Statecraft: An Essay

Edward E. Rochon

Edward E. Rochon

Offers the proposition that the generation of wealth is the primary purpose of the state, public order simply a necessary prerequisite to this goal. Views social strife as war between prince and shaman.I point out the error of Thomas Hobbes in equating the prince with Leviathan and of parliaments with Behemoth. It is the other way around. Autocratic administration of the state is clearly the logical condition of good governance and true democracy. World history is dominated by the war between prince and shaman. Parliaments, courts, capital cities and stock exchanges are ruses behind which the shaman and his witch consort hide. I explain the true purpose of the state as a commonwealth, that is to say, a generator of wealth. I offer ways to keep the human family unit strong and to eliminate the corruption of nationalism. The nations are of the fruit of the tree of Babel and so evil like the tree that generated them. I suggest that the military should take on the role of hunter/warrior, as was the state of the warrior in the past (energy in place of meat, minerals in place of hides.) This is the best way to stay militarily secure and economically prosperous. I briefly point out that the stubborn refusal to accept the existence of witchcraft in modern life is a grievous error. These misers of the mind encourage ignorance at every turn to exalt their relative position in society.
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366 Squared Volume 1: January

366 Squared Volume 1: January

Michel Clasquin-Johnson

Science Fiction / Nonfiction / Religion

One day, one story, at exactly 366 words each, that is the promise of 366 SQUARED, the short-short story/flash fiction collection that raises the question "In the age of multi-novel book series, is this guy for real?" Yes he is, and 366 SQUARED is the launch of a new era in literature for busy people. Volume 1 contains 31 stories, vignettes or mini-essays, each at precisely 366 words.One day, one story, at exactly 366 words each, that is the promise of 366 SQUARED, the short-short story / flash fiction collection that raises the question "In the age of multi-novel book series, is this guy for real?" Yes, he is, and 366 SQUARED is the launch of a new era in literature for busy people. If you are tired of reading for an entire day, only to end up with yet another cliffhanger and an invitation to buy another book. 366 SQUARED is the book series for you! Dip into it, read a few days' worth, then get on with your life until you are ready for more. For January, we examine some historical events, with special attention to the weird and wacky. Highlights include (1)The dangers of technology to the moral fibre of the nation, as represented by the introduction of the electric wristwatch, (2) Why planetoids should never be named after sexy TV characters, (3) The futility of trying to change history, and (4) Equal rights for super-villains! What else have we got? A conspiracy theory here, a toe-dip into Singularity fiction / cyberpunk there … Yes, I'd say January turned out to be a good month. Volume 1: January contains 31 stories, vignettes or mini-essays, each at precisely 366 words. Buy now, before they run out of electrons!
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Speechless Thoughts

Speechless Thoughts

Sruthi Ramaraju

Sruthi Ramaraju

This book brings together those unspoken and consequently speechless thoughts that everyone thinks through the frustrations and happiness in life. It reflects on some of the most prominent and troubling problems in society, including child slavery, wars and moral and ethical issues. As well as defects, this book aims to emphasize the positive aspects of everyday routines, such as hope and love.Some of the poems have won competitions internationally and nationally, but they are published here on Smashwords for the sake of messages about poverty and other such things being heard.
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Dead Man's Chair

Dead Man's Chair

Kimberly A Bettes

Literature & Fiction / Mystery & Thrillers

An old man at a bar warns Adam Davis that his girlfriend is going to die. Adam ignores the man, figuring his words to be nothing more than the drunken ramblings of a crazed stranger. But Adam soon finds himself back at the bar, searching for the old man and the answer to the question…Why did his girlfriend die?Science FictionContains both Pyramid Knights novels:Consensus RebellionUnder the Pall305,000 wordsParanormal elementContains relationships which may offend some readersIn Animal Farm, Orwell iterated the predictability of an elitist oligarchy in an isolated society, if all external communication and asset trade is controlled by a comparatively small group, with a perceived social difference. And that control is one.Gradeload:Internal Security wanted a secret weapon. They didn't want any witnesses. They abducted the student they thought had made a discovery and bombed the university physics lab. That didn't work well, either. IS was very displeased. The student they'd abducted was convicted of attempting to murder the others. It was standard procedure.No one got out of Horgen Field prison alive, but if Bard was right, there was a way. The six, who IS had intended to kill, began to search for what he was sure existed. The assassin could teach him to stay alive.Read as fast as you can to get the story. Read it again to see and hear them speak.
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L'Gem

L'Gem

Sharon L Reddy

Science Fiction & Fantasy / Fantasy / Philosophy

Internal Security wanted a secret weapon. They didn't want witnesses. They abducted the student they thought had made a discovery and bombed the university physics lab. That didn't work well, either. The student they'd abducted was convicted of attempting to murder the others. It was standard procedure.No one got out of Horgen Field prison alive, but if Bard was right, there was a way.Science FictionContains both Pyramid Knights novels:Consensus RebellionUnder the Pall305,000 wordsParanormal elementContains relationships which may offend some readersIn Animal Farm, Orwell iterated the predictability of an elitist oligarchy in an isolated society, if all external communication and asset trade is controlled by a comparatively small group, with a perceived social difference. And that control is one.Gradeload:Internal Security wanted a secret weapon. They didn't want any witnesses. They abducted the student they thought had made a discovery and bombed the university physics lab. That didn't work well, either. IS was very displeased. The student they'd abducted was convicted of attempting to murder the others. It was standard procedure.No one got out of Horgen Field prison alive, but if Bard was right, there was a way. The six, who IS had intended to kill, began to search for what he was sure existed. The assassin could teach him to stay alive.Read as fast as you can to get the story. Read it again to see and hear them speak.
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Humans Still

Humans Still

Atlas

Romance / Contemporary

A hostile frozen planet. A bunch of colonists have to survive on scarce resources and watch their every step to stay alive. They'll never have children and never see Earth again - that's the contract they've signed. When every connection to normal life is broken, can you still remain human?Remember what they say about revenge?They were once on a jury together, forty years ago, when a man was executed for killing his wife. Now three of the four are dead, amid personal vendettas and accusations of pornography, and the last man standing is arrested for the murders. It’s up to Sasha Stace QC to secure his conviction. But the case is circumstantial, the trial sensational, and nothing is as it seems. In her fight for justice, Sasha embarks on a course that imperils her life and endangers those she loves. Best Served Cold is a fast-moving and gripping legal thriller with more twists than the rope that strangles its victims. Be warned.
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Best Served Cold

Best Served Cold

Mark McGinn

Science Fiction / Space / Space Opera

In this legal thriller, Sasha Stace follows in the footsteps of a father she never knew, reluctantly becoming a Queen's Counsel and, like her father, unwittingly guiding the prosecution of a man that ends with disasterous consequences.Remember what they say about revenge?They were once on a jury together, forty years ago, when a man was executed for killing his wife. Now three of the four are dead, amid personal vendettas and accusations of pornography, and the last man standing is arrested for the murders. It’s up to Sasha Stace QC to secure his conviction. But the case is circumstantial, the trial sensational, and nothing is as it seems. In her fight for justice, Sasha embarks on a course that imperils her life and endangers those she loves. Best Served Cold is a fast-moving and gripping legal thriller with more twists than the rope that strangles its victims. Be warned.
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Africa

Africa

Wilson Ayinbangya Amooro

Wilson Ayinbangya Amooro

Africa is a must read!!! Wilson Amooro is a needed voice in the true world of pure poetry. A soul blessed with the rare gift of interpretations. I am impressed with the heart and art of Author Wilson Amooro, and I am honored to call him, my brother. Published Poet Ronnie Lee Daise, USAAfrica is a book of poems where each poem reads like a short story. Fascinated and intrigued by every word, I found that when I thought I had found a favorite, the next poem was even better! Imaginative and inspiring, Author Wilson Ayinbangya Amooro displays a refreshing and unique literary style that is indicative to his Ghanaian roots and global experiences. Once I started reading "Africa" I couldn't put it down. "Africa" gives you a colorful vision, uniquely seen through the eyes of a poet.Zakiya Penny, Founder/Director Sabayet FoundationMy friend Wilson Amooro: Siphosihle that is a suitable name for you, and it means “a beautiful or precious gift’’ from the Xhosa tribe of South AfricaBulawa Zukiswa, South Africa
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"Holy Crap!" — Religion, in a small town, and other tales of The Great American Westerly Midwest

"Holy Crap!" — Religion, in a small town, and other tales of The Great American Westerly Midwest

Mike Palecek

Mike Palecek

Again we join the adventures of Tommy, Nona The Waitress and Robert S. Thompson in The Great American Westerly Midwest. This time we follow Tommy around town as he and his friend, Johnny, try to solve the great mysteries of religion; whether God exists, and if so, where is He? In the park? In the drug store? The cafe? Nona doesn't believe in God, she says, and Robert is just glad to be alive.But Kora sat unmoving, in great magic. The walls, her home, faded about her. Warmth went; all alone and on a freezing plain, dressed in a tunic, sharp knife in her belt, bow on her shoulder, arrows in a quiver behind. Her eyes gleamed; a pale cold light, ˈlɪmpɪd ɪn ˈdʌlnəsShe looked around. Away, at vision’s limit, a dark shape rose above the plain: a Tower, the only thing in all this barren place: no bird flew, no grass grew. Despite the wool she shivered. Breath-clouds hung in the raw air, ˈsləʊli dɪˈzɒlvɪŋThen in eye’s corner something moved. She turned to gaze across the Waste and saw a Cloud. Far, almost straight behind her as she faced the Tower, it too reared up black and sheer. Unlike the Tower, moving, whirling, wisps trailing their tentacles around a core, ˈtwɪstɪŋ ɪnˈseɪnli
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  • 668
Time Doesn't Wait

Time Doesn't Wait

Kc Wheeler

Kc Wheeler

I wished desperately to be happy in the present, but the present is nothing more than a moment; then that moment is already gone.But Kora sat unmoving, in great magic. The walls, her home, faded about her. Warmth went; all alone and on a freezing plain, dressed in a tunic, sharp knife in her belt, bow on her shoulder, arrows in a quiver behind. Her eyes gleamed; a pale cold light, ˈlɪmpɪd ɪn ˈdʌlnəsShe looked around. Away, at vision’s limit, a dark shape rose above the plain: a Tower, the only thing in all this barren place: no bird flew, no grass grew. Despite the wool she shivered. Breath-clouds hung in the raw air, ˈsləʊli dɪˈzɒlvɪŋThen in eye’s corner something moved. She turned to gaze across the Waste and saw a Cloud. Far, almost straight behind her as she faced the Tower, it too reared up black and sheer. Unlike the Tower, moving, whirling, wisps trailing their tentacles around a core, ˈtwɪstɪŋ ɪnˈseɪnli
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Cosmic Dissonances

Cosmic Dissonances

Owen Bittner

Owen Bittner

A collect of poetry, prose, and short story/poem. Mostly my mindless ramblings and observations of the world and the people which inhabit it.But Kora sat unmoving, in great magic. The walls, her home, faded about her. Warmth went; all alone and on a freezing plain, dressed in a tunic, sharp knife in her belt, bow on her shoulder, arrows in a quiver behind. Her eyes gleamed; a pale cold light, ˈlɪmpɪd ɪn ˈdʌlnəsShe looked around. Away, at vision’s limit, a dark shape rose above the plain: a Tower, the only thing in all this barren place: no bird flew, no grass grew. Despite the wool she shivered. Breath-clouds hung in the raw air, ˈsləʊli dɪˈzɒlvɪŋThen in eye’s corner something moved. She turned to gaze across the Waste and saw a Cloud. Far, almost straight behind her as she faced the Tower, it too reared up black and sheer. Unlike the Tower, moving, whirling, wisps trailing their tentacles around a core, ˈtwɪstɪŋ ɪnˈseɪnli
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Shadow of Hope

Shadow of Hope

Elsye Harwood

Elsye Harwood

A simple shepherd in ancient Greece, Cimon struggles to deal with the aftermath of being torn from his home and wife by a wandering Rabisu. As he changes in ways he could never have imagined, it seems that the gods may not have finished with him yet. Might there be a chance for him to regain his former life and love, a shadow of hope?But Kora sat unmoving, in great magic. The walls, her home, faded about her. Warmth went; all alone and on a freezing plain, dressed in a tunic, sharp knife in her belt, bow on her shoulder, arrows in a quiver behind. Her eyes gleamed; a pale cold light, ˈlɪmpɪd ɪn ˈdʌlnəsShe looked around. Away, at vision’s limit, a dark shape rose above the plain: a Tower, the only thing in all this barren place: no bird flew, no grass grew. Despite the wool she shivered. Breath-clouds hung in the raw air, ˈsləʊli dɪˈzɒlvɪŋThen in eye’s corner something moved. She turned to gaze across the Waste and saw a Cloud. Far, almost straight behind her as she faced the Tower, it too reared up black and sheer. Unlike the Tower, moving, whirling, wisps trailing their tentacles around a core, ˈtwɪstɪŋ ɪnˈseɪnli
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The Songstone

The Songstone

Simon Hunter

Simon Hunter

Kora is put under a spell, and finds herself trapped on the Waste. A Tower before her, and something terrible behind...But Kora sat unmoving, in great magic. The walls, her home, faded about her. Warmth went; all alone and on a freezing plain, dressed in a tunic, sharp knife in her belt, bow on her shoulder, arrows in a quiver behind. Her eyes gleamed; a pale cold light, ˈlɪmpɪd ɪn ˈdʌlnəsShe looked around. Away, at vision’s limit, a dark shape rose above the plain: a Tower, the only thing in all this barren place: no bird flew, no grass grew. Despite the wool she shivered. Breath-clouds hung in the raw air, ˈsləʊli dɪˈzɒlvɪŋThen in eye’s corner something moved. She turned to gaze across the Waste and saw a Cloud. Far, almost straight behind her as she faced the Tower, it too reared up black and sheer. Unlike the Tower, moving, whirling, wisps trailing their tentacles around a core, ˈtwɪstɪŋ ɪnˈseɪnli
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