Stellar

That was almost exactly what I was going to say, word for word! Besides, there's always going to be a market for this stuff, so there's always going to be *someone* lining up to try for the incredibly lucrative enterprise of being the next Anointed One.

The first couple of chapters in particular do have parts to them that I would like to change. The start of the story had only my input (no betas or editors), and lacked a lot of polish. It did the job, but my style and how I wish the portrayal to continue was not fully formed and solidified in my mind. Retrospectively, there is plenty I would want to tweak in chapter one specifically, focused mostly around sentence structure and flow (and yes, also dialogue to a lesser extent.) Later chapters should have all the story elements better integrated! I started to feel more satisfied somewhere between chapters 3 to 5, so the later parts of the story should read properly. Thank you! I am flattered you are enjoying my work so much. I hope the rest of the fiction and first book's ending lives up to your expectations.

You're welcome! I hope you enjoy the plot. Take your time to read and enjoy.

Earth is definitely many layers of lies! The ideological war between the political factions for control of the government ensures plenty of distortion to go around. There is a very religious aspect to the arbiters. If you have ever watched Stargate SG1 (the original, not Atlantis or Universe), the arbiters fill a role somewhat similar to the Priors of the Ori from the show's final season. They are assisting a greater cause and possess enhanced power compared to the 'foot soldiers' of the same. This religiosity is also reflected in their naming of things (at least as it translates into human concepts) and more of that theme will be revealed as the antagonists' culture, such as it is, is revealed. As I write this, chapter 5 is in beta. You will not have long to wait for Shay's presence!

Oh god yes, I am so ready for this. The mid-season 4 finale was exactly what the ending of season 3 *should* have been, right down to the iconic scene from the comics with the Governor and the tank and the whole 'kill them all!' bit. It was fantastic and I cannot wait to see how they spin the second half.

Yugan was and still is a guiding conscience inside that kitten. In actuality, his real introduction was during Chapter One of Hidden Sunlight. He was connected to Shay well before Mira existed, regardless of sharpeling and human form. The long period of comfortable warm darkness in Yugan's 'night vision' was, of course, the 214 years that Shay was in stasis. Yes! You did read that correctly. Yugan's childhood and maturation was more than two centuries. The Mishith are a very stable, much longer lived race than humanity. Mikom, for example, is in her twilight years at the time of the events in Veil of Shadow, though she was born during Earth's 18th or 19th centuries. Wherever Shay is at and whomever has him, I'm sure his pet is with him. After all, it's just a kitten. What possible danger could it be to let him keep this tiny harmless animal? None at all .... right?

Absolutely reread if you feel you must. The truth is in the details, and there are often hints hidden. I trust you will leave that experience entertained and perhaps even enlightened.

I don't 'kill' my characters. They simply die if it happens and live if they live. Though, certain individuals are protected due to my own personal Law of Awesome.

Read on! There is more to come, my friend.

Read on! There is more to come, my friend.

Read on! There is more to come, my friend.

The arbiter is never something to be messed with. Yugan as a character was actually introduced in Hidden Sunlight.

The arbiter is never something to be messed with. Yugan as a character was actually introduced in Hidden Sunlight.

There was little to be found in this terrible place. It was a locker full of boxes, a prison composed of metal and walls. Anger too was hidden in many little crates, and neither of the girls wished to stay long. The damned spirits from their former lives were a dangerous sort, and the girls' exploration was quick, stopping only to ransack the uniform storage for something more comfortable and flexible to wear. Argus Fletcher's food supplies were similarly raided; the two furtively stuffing whate

Happy birthday Krista!

Certain areas of Earth are definitely pre-disposed to supporting a particular ideology. It won't just be the same approximate population-split in views wherever you go! Yugan is plenty important, though the progression of a non-human alien personality is interesting to write. As an author and a human, there are some elements of our perception that are difficult to jump beyond when embracing that character development. Seeing from the POV of someone who is physically and culturally different from us involves some changing of the mindframe. I do enjoy writing the other characters, but I am very much missing Shay's first person at this stage. Everyone is asking for it too! So I guess we are all a little eager for it at this point.

The holiday sale is an absolute &^%$#. I've bought so many games, it's sickening .. and I still haven't installed them all

Hey Mann! Thanks for reviewing me You know, it's funny because this piece came from so long ago when I was not really very focused/organised with my writing, but the detail around the smithing seems to shine through anyhow. I own a katana (always prepared for a zombie apocalypse! ) and the artistry that goes into Japanese swordmaking is amazing. It is an intricate process for a truly elegant weapon. I'd love for you to read Hidden Sunlight, though I would be the first to admit that my writing is not for everyone. I am well aware my style is quite different and may not be to everyone's taste, which is why I'm not offended if some aren't interested. Ultimately though, I'd like to think the writing will speak for itself and resonate with readers if given half a chance! I do hope you will give it a try.

I forgot I never replied to this review! I have never planned to continue this, but maybe some day after Hidden Sunlight and the sequel are done, I will. It was always a favourite short story of mine.

I'm not sure whether people assume the average or just simply fill in the blanks with what they would *like* to see. Perhaps a combination of the two. I did touch on his physical build here and there in third person, but as to what he looks like, facial shape, hair and eye colour, etc; you would have a much clearer view of Shay's personality than his looks. I refuse to be one of those writers who inserts self-descriptive character references to physical attributes. I'm positive I've said this before multiple times but what Shay looks like has little-to-no impact on the story. Apart from serving as a point of reference to what Mira finds attractive, which so far can be summarised as: a shorter, slighter build with dark brown hair, a somewhat 'pretty-boy' face as considered by others ... and a really nice ass. A comparison to Daniel Radcliffe in Goblet of Fire wouldn't be completely off, though I would say Shay has a softer slightly-feminine androgynous quality to him. If you recall Carlos and what he said of his brother Esteban (who was 'delicate' and looked like his mother, contrasted with Carlos' genes drawing on his father's masculinity), that description was transferred to Shay and very much cements the 'pretty' image. It is something that tends to bother him when other people notice it because he doesn't like being considered 'girly' or that he's less of a male because of how he looks. During his earlier life on Earth and due to his introspective nature, he never really understood how others viewed him though. It only became noticed during the plot of Hidden Sunlight when he was forced out of his shell (and catapulted head-first into romance.) Of course, Mira managed to counter that gender-sex insecurity in his own typical way. With reference to the chamber, the physical alterations that took place were mostly *not* visible things; they were cellular/molecular or things within the body's deeper structure; i.e. Shay didn't look that much different after it was done. Internally, a lot of things were fixed/changed and his body was strengthened too, but on the outside, he still appeared (more or less) the same. I've tried to avoid the discussion over arbiters-sharpelings as knotme requested, but I will say this: you've got it fairly accurate. The relationship between them is probably closest described as a master to slave situation. In chapter 16 when he encounters an arbiter, Mira retrospectively considers that when he was a sharpeling, he was a slave. As a sharpeling, any individual willingly does what the arbiter tells it to do, though this willingness is artificially compelled. The sharpelings want to serve and it is their purpose to do so, but this is brought about by the Sharpe virus. The mutation itself is the bond of slavery, the means by which manipulation and control is enforced.

Well, that's a shame, I was just about to actually answer your first question ... but if you were kidding. Nevermind then On GA, when I'm looking for some fiction with gay characters in it, I've always had a weakness for Comicality's brand of teen angst, which is strange because it's so at odds with the kind of fiction I write myself. Part of that may be nostalgia though. I don't know, I pick and choose what I like from GA, it's so very hard to choose favourites. In general outside of GA, I read science fiction mostly and fantasy sometimes - I love a good bit of epic fiction. I've occasionally delved into historical fiction based in places like ancient Rome/Greece and Asia. See Cassie's question above for a few authors! The author that has influenced my thinking most would also be Tolkien. The man was a genius as far as I'm concerned. He had this amazing complex and hugely detailed world, full of beautiful concepts and characters. He's the grandmaster and originator of modern high-fantasy. Peter Hamilton and Dan Simmons both created vast scenarios and history surrounding their respective fictions and that is truly impressive to me. Personal likes for a story comes down to believability and emotion. It needs to seem real and it needs to invest me, the reader, in it. That's why when a reader says that to me about *my* fiction, I am extraordinarily pleased because I feel like I've hit my goal as an author. Disliking would be when something has poor spelling/grammar, a lack of context and inaccuracies, excessive dialogue or description ... I don't know! There are a lot of things one can nitpick about! As to your last question: yes. I would.

I'm a Tolkien geek, amongst other things, so I have an enduring fondness for his work. In the past though I've greatly enjoyed Peter Hamilton, Dan Simmons, Neil Asher, Douglas Adams (RIP ) and the venerable George R R Martin (back in 2003 before most of the world knew what Game of Thrones was!) I'm quite fickle about what I enjoy and what I don't, so it's hard to find interesting fiction.

Also: other?!

Boxers *AND* briefs. Seriously, I own and wear both. Er, just not at the same time, of course. Though during winter ... hmmm, there's an idea.

Feedback means a *lot* to me. In the end I'd be writing regardless of reader feedback, because it's my chosen art form. However, regardless, that engagement with people is so helpful to put me in the right headspace. I suppose it's more of a motivational boost than anything, but it's healthy mentally!