Worlds of S. R. Brandt

By S. R. Brandt

Within are the introductory chapters of the major works of fiction by S. R. Brandt. They will introduce you stories of fantasy, science fiction, and a few that lie in that gray area in between. There are novels, anthologies, and even a novella.

Like all your favorite stories in sci-fi and fantasy, these tales will not only bring you fun and adventure but explore philosophical questions.

Looking for free books? Check out the last chapter, where options for obtaining them can be found.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9780359062850

Book preview

Brandt

WORLDS OF S. R. BRANDT

Story Version: Aug 17, 2018

This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2018 STEVEN R. BRANDT. All rights reserved.

To my future fans.

Table of Contents

How Can I Get Free Stuff?

The Turquiose Bones

Warriors of the Hollow World

The Emotional Turing Test

Superhero Comic Girl vs. the Litter Box

The Sweet Witches

Sword and Illusion

Twilight, Louisiana

How Can I Get Free Stuff?

This book is really a collection of first chapters from all my writing. As such, it will grow and change over time, so you should go back frequently and re-download the permanently free ebook.

Nearly all of my books can be obtained for free if (1) you're willing to review them, or (2) if you sign up for my email list at http://curioustomes.com and get lucky.

Another way to read my writing for free is to visit my wattpad site: https://www.wattpad.com/user/StevenBrandt

Often, I'll have stories in progress there. Remember that wattpad is social media, so if you read anything there, please be sure to comment and vote. Writers live on love.

The Turquiose Bones

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In a bronze age culture on an alien world live two teenagers.

Apjay speaks to the dead in dreams, and remembers words of a language forgotten long ago. He believes his gifts come from the invisible stars—lights that once ruled the night sky. The only person in his tribe who understands him, so he belives, is the beautiful Iota.

Iota is gifted healer who, as a child watched her father die of illness. While the messages Apjay brings from the dead comfort her, she has no trust for the stars whom she believes are to blame for her father's death.

When Apjay decides to go on a spiritual quest, Iota fears the past is repeating and he will suffer her father's fate. She will stop at nothing to save Apjay from the stars and himself. She'll even follow him to the dreaded city of the starstealers.

The setting sun glinted off the old hunter's white-bearded smile and made the red string of quasar teeth decorating his belt appear to glow.

Look, boys, he said, pointing at the ground. Treasure.

Apjay and Draconis panted as they closed the last few steps with the old hunter. It was always a struggle to catch up with Sol. Even in his forties, he had more endurance than Apjay and Draconis had at fifteen.

What's that smell? Draconis said.

An instant later, Apjay gagged on the odor.

Sol stepped down a rocky ledge and squatted near a tangle of wet green-brown ropes spanning twenty femurs in length. Quasar dung. The filth seeded the path cut by the creature's belly through the mud.

A tingle of alarm ran along Apjay's arms and the back of his neck as the hairs stood. He'd never seen a creature large enough to make a mess like this.

The other hunters might find a little bronze or even a soulstone, Sol said. But what we've found, boys, could be worth our lives.

Apjay glanced toward the ruins where Father and the others searched. Father will be angry when he finds you were looking for quasar sign.

Father tended to dislike any creative interpretation of his instructions, especially from Sol.

He meant for us to do this, Sol said. Your father would want us to think of the tribe's safety first.

Apjay couldn't convince himself Sol was right.

This dung is too thin, Sol said. The creature is sick. He took a stick and poked at the soft stools, revealing a small fragment of white bone.

Maneater, Draconis whispered.

Apjay's heart increased its tempo, and he took a step backward. He glanced around again at the bowl of the dried up Wasat river in which the tribe scavenged. Was the creature near? All he saw were blue, leafless limbs of the trees and the brown, shriveled, remnants of corona flowers over-baked by two months of drought.

While a quasar would eat almost anything, especially once the scent of blood was in the air, they seldom ate humans. Even if they tried, they usually vomited up the remains within hours,