A quick and weary "hurrah!" -- finished first draft of Righteous Anger, the second book in the Okal Rel Universe, last weekend.

Some excerpts to whet appetites. (ETA for publication is Summer or Fall of 2006)

From the prologue

Vrellish clans had met on Cold Rock for a thousand years, coming from all across Red Reach to settle their differences by the sword, because swords were safer than space battles and habitat far, far more precious than any cause that might inspire battle. That was the great truth of Okal Rel, the religion that -- for a thousand years -- had made reality skimming a survivable technology through the substitution of duels for space wars. But Sword Law required shared courts of honor. Sometimes cultures diverged too far, and war--the enemy of souls--erupted, disease like, and raged as it had now.

A Family Outing on Fountain Court

"That's enough, all of you," said Hangst. "Branst, you will keep an eye on Horth. Is that understood? I promised your mother someone would, and I will need Zrenyl with me more often than you."      Without waiting for an answer, Hangst nodded to the family herald to open the doors at the end of the Entrance Hall, and led their party out.      "It's not fair," Branst complained, once he figured his father was no longer in earshot. "Just because Zrenyl is older, he gets to do what he wants."      "Nothing's fair in life except a witnessed duel," Hara told him. "And Zrenyl isn't merely older. He is better at most things than you are. But cheer up! With those good looks, you'll be popular with all the women, once you grow up."     "I don't want all the women," muttered Branst.     "Hush," Hara admonished him more harshly. "Stop sounding like a Nesak."

posted by Lynda at 19:43   comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments