Stellar

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!

Cassie that's very sweet I think you are biased though

Well I'm naturally a bit of a cynic and not terribly social, so there has to be a good reason for me to stick around I first found gay fiction when I was 18, discovering Comicality and Iomfats during a bout of self-questioning. When Comsie migrated to GA, I had been through quite a weird patch in my life and was avoiding the related forums and community (for a number of years.) I eventually got over that bump and began lurking here for a long while and then made an account in 2010. This is all a very roundabout way of saying: the community was welcoming and for a person like me that does not tend to fit in anywhere, I didn't feel excluded! So you might say, I came for the fiction, but I stayed for the company.

Everyone wants to know about our beloved young heroes and all I can do is repeat the mantra: patience! You'll be rewarded! I cannot jump to their circumstances early or the buildup will be ruined I imagine Konstantin feels like a football that's being kicked around the pitch right about now. He's living in the moment until he can find some stable ground. Lucas 'Nikko' Thessaloniki rightly views him as a valuable person because he is one of only THREE people in recorded history to have returned from a ruined infested world only for the Yakutsk incident to happen. Nikko doesn't want to place all the eggs in one basket by letting Konstantin travel with Ayize and his merry men who are pursuing Shay and Mira's abductors. All I will say at this point about Yugan's role is that it will be *much* better understood after chapter 4. Uh, and, as for Mira's height! Check out my response to the Veil of Shadow thread (the link is in the end notes for chapter 3) where I have elaborated a little on my reasons for the question. While I did say that Mira was uh, "Significantly-Larger-Than-Average but slightly less than Porn-Star-Ridiculous" I believe the phrase was, it's been my (somewhat limited) experience that tall skinny guys are often built that way! So maybe there's some truth to your speculation

While I can't promise any interspecies loving going on (the Mishith really do NOT swing that way), what I can promise is that you are going to see them *soon*. Will that mean the very next chapter? Maybe, maybe not! The plot needs to reach the correct point before they can appear, but I do believe you will enjoy the results

Haha! Continuum! I know of it, but I haven't really watched it. Well, in this scenario there aren't really any innocent parties out of the three major ideological forces. Everyone is pushing in different directions. Shay and Mira are getting closer to appearing. I know readers are getting antsy about it, but I still caution patience. You'll see them at the right time, I promise you!

Politics never really changes, does it? Just like human nature. That same old crap. Bare in mind, he is taking Ayize at face value. The man could be trouble as far as Konstantin is aware, though at this point he has no clearer option and is willing to just go with it if there is a chance.

I've given some hints about Yugan here and there, but it is certainly clear that they are not human at all. He is Mishith, a very old alien race on a world somewhere else in our galaxy. Konstantin is having a rough time of things. More of his story is covered in chapter three. We will get to the boys!

Happy birthday Johnathan

So you all think he's probably 5'9 -- interesting. Incidentally, the average height for adult men in most countries is in the range 5'8 to 5'10. Naturally there's a bit of variation there dependent on ethnicity; i.e. Asian countries average on the shorter side, while northern Europe breeds them tall. Also worth noting is that this is for adults. Mira is physically around 15 years old, so he would probably end up taller than that. Granted, this could be accounted for by his Norweigan blood, as the Scandinavian countries fit on the higher end of the scale. The reason I asked this question was because of curiosity about reader perception. It was either that or to ask something equally ill-defined like: 'what colour is Shay's hair?' because I am fairly certain I did not mention it even once in Hidden Sunlight. I think it was only in the third chapter of Veil of Shadow that I even gave a hint. I was (and still am) fascinated by how people's minds connect information over the longer term; essentially how they fill the gaps when left with inconclusive data. The only reference for Mira's height is comparative; he's taller than Shay, but not as tall as Konstantin (who is definitely over six feet) or Carlos. However, given that Shay doesn't say much about his own height - and why on earth would he? - other than that he considers himself to be short, this is left quite open. There are several times in Hidden Sunlight where Shay notices physical differences between the two, and also where the text implies certain limitations one way or another. All in all, I know I leave details on some aspects of the story quite indistinct. That's often by design, but it has made me wonder just how the imaginations of other people see what I have written - and how that differs from the 'canon' in my head. You know what, I'm not even going to say the number. Well, maybe I will, but not yet. I'll see how many other people reply.

The atomic fireball flowered over Siberia, a deadly artificial bloom in the frigid darkness of the Russian night. It was far away, maybe dozens of kilometres from where they were. It seemed to Konstantin that it was close enough to touch, a giant symbol of invasive destruction. He stood staring, unable to process the sight. There was only a cruel knowledge that he had just witnessed a city of more than half a million people turned to dust. Yakutsk was no more. He could not comprehend it. All

Happy birthday!

Well that's lovely, but I hadn't read any news articles where Daley discussed his sexuality prior to this, so why wouldn't I be surprised? Heterosexuality is the 'assumed default' for most people. How is that amazing?

Just saw this on Facebook too and I want to say, in no particular order of importance: a] this is surprising! b] he is *damn* gorgeous and c] I'm really jealous of his boyfriend.

Happy birthday!!

As requested, I'll leave this to any other reader(s) who may care to explain. The floor is indeed open.

Of course, it is all interconnected The significance of the opening CS-Space expedition may not be obvious for quite some time. Konstantin is certainly having a rough time of things, too - poor Dimi's life has been full of dramatic happenings since he met Shay. Then, the Dagenith. Certainly their current culture lives a much more mundane existence than long ago. Their life has been the same, with those traditions and rustic simplicity being repeated indefinitely -- but then there's Yugan!

A teeny tiny hint? Well, you here's a hint: wherever they are and whomever has them, has not got their best interests at heart! I cannot prematurely reveal what's going on with those two because .. I simply can't! Trust me when I say that it will make sense this way. Some patience and faith is required - you will be rewarded I promise

Uh, thanks .. I think? Haha, that's a rather ambiguous review!

Their existence was alluded to in the epilogue of Hidden Sunlight, literally at the very end of it. These are indeed the same two from that final part of the first book. Just like Mira was, they are very new to the whole 'being human' thing, so their upcoming encounter with good old Mr. Charm so early in their lives will be quite a shock to the system. Konstantin was expecting Earth to be less than perfect, knowing all too well the sorts of human folly Lucere had, but he never quite expected anything like this.

A month! Well, this second chapter took approximately 2 weeks, and I will be trying to get new chapters out in less than one month in normal circumstances. So embrace that challenge with open arms Ah yes, I'm sure the questions are beginning to build. If there was doubt that Konstantin and his adopted boys were individuals in demand, there won't any of that doubt left now. Someone just let off a very large 'firecracker' over an urban area - you sure as hell don't do that when you're playing around! While it's safe to assume that Shay and Mira weren't caught up in *that* ... I can still here you cry: 'that's wonderful, but where the hell are they?! Just bring them on stage already!' Patience. Unfortunately, you may not be seeing them *quite* as soon as you'd like, though it will be soon. It's also going to be quite a ride when you do.