When the Clock Strikes Zero: The Aalok Collins Pentalogy

By Glenn Turner and Angel Torres

Coming from the crystal city of Sherendot, Tenebris Puir has completed his final year of Secondary School and it should be cause for celebration. But his final test becomes more than a simple demonstration of the powers all in his clan have. He faces trials, betrayal, and conflict that shake the foundation of his world.

When the Clock Strikes Zero is a prequel short-story for the Aalok Collins Pentalogy. It is a Young Adult Fantasy in a Steampunk setting perfect for people who are looking for a fast-paced, well-thought-out series of relatable characters living in a bizarre flat world boasting of crystal, subterranean, and underwater cities, talking animals, and strange, forbidden technologies looming on the horizon.

"It's like Potter meets Narnia!"

 

Great first book in a series. Can't wait to read the next book. Easy read with some subtle humor that keeps you on your toes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Turner & torres
• Release date: Aug 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201154851

Glenn Turner and Angel Torres

Glenn & Angel met in the early 2010's working at a doctor's office together. During their lunch breaks they decided to begin writing together, and created the Aalok Collins Pentalogy.  They both live in the Tampa Bay area with their families. 

Book preview

Chapter One

BOLLOCKS! I CRIED as my bottom hit the ground. I hated the dirt; I hated getting hit, too.

Who talks like that, Blake?

I scrambled away in a sort of backwards-crawl in case he followed his first punch with something more, but the Dullard didn’t.

I don’t know, Merrick, Dullard number two, or Blake, replied. Both boys were stocky, and it was hard for me to tell the difference between them. You know how it is, all ‘erets look alike. "Well, kid, we were having a fine day up here on the Clocktower, and your ‘owr hide had to interrupt it."

I sneezed. "Sorry, lads. The smell up here is terrible. Is that you or the sativa you’re smoking? Dullard number one and Dullard number two looked at each other, confused. I mean, that’s pretty impressive. We’re five hundred feet in the air with wind all around us, and you two still managed to stink up the lovely view."

I could sense Blake’s aggression mount as he took time to interpret my words. I mean, true, he had just punched me and knocked me to the floor – that already showed a bit of aggression – but it was getting worse. He had just paused, content with having knocked me flat. But then my logger-headed mouth got me in trouble. 

"The Clocktower is an ‘erets place, ‘owr," he declared, pointing to the brick surrounding us. You don’t belong here. Now git, before I make you git.

Where’d the light come from, then, you gorbellied, lust-breathed pimple? I pointed to the lights all around us. Obviously light was the province of the ‘owr. I continued to back away from him until I reached the railing dividing us from about five hundred feet of empty air. I had no place left to go.

So, I had to decide amongst three choices. Running would be smartest. The two Dullards were bigger than me, and I wasn’t exactly the greatest of physical specimens, but I was quick and could probably get to the stairs before them. Going down would give me a few seconds lead, and if I was fortunate, I would escape.

Option two, reasoning, was less likely. To reason with someone, the other party must possess a capacity for comprehension, a characteristic I was skeptical either of the two ‘erets possessed. No, we would not be reasoning.

The most foolish option would be option three: correct their ignorance. They had already made one obviously erroneous statement, and it should be easy to help them see their error. I would face similar obstacles to option two considering their lubberly intelligence, but perhaps, just maybe, I could enlighten them, being a gifted instructor.

Option three it would be.

"Gentlemen, and I use the colloquial loosely, though it is true this structure is partly of ‘erets construction, it is in no way primarily so." I had stood as I began, waving my arms at the evidence of ‘owr and shamayim work. The Clocktower is the result of cooperation between the clans.

What are you even saying, nerd? I couldn’t tell if it was Blake or Merrick who spoke. They were so similar, it was hard to tell, and I realized my head was spinning a bit as I stood up after being knocked down. I