Ron

It's hard to comment sometimes when the writing is this good. <-- Oh hey, I just did!

I highly suspected that Greg was going down in this chapter and that included by way of an automobile, just not exactly how it happened. That doesn't necessarily make me pleased with being right. I'm looking forward to reading how you will bring these characters out from the little hell in which they find themselves in this chapter. I am sure in your estimable style; you will not leave us disappointed.

It's the mention of sapient, or intelligent life, that is missing from the article, as Bill mentions. It is unlikely that anything humans will do that will remotely give us the capability of finding and initiating a first contact with intelligent life. It's also quite possible that no other species with intelligence is capable of interstellar travel, and no one will be contacting us. The biggest drawback to branching out into space and other planets is a lack of a cohesive and inclusive plan involving all the peoples of the earth. Without that, governments are duplicating each other's efforts and wasting money. At the end of the day, we are all earthlings and we have but one home, and we shouldn't lose sight of that through our diversity and squabbles. That's loosely the way I see it.

Another great interview Cia, and Mann--intertaining and interesting answers. It's nice to know a little of what it is that makes an author tick.

Hello Stacey. Read away, dig away.

It speaks well for the dad that he thinks the way that he does, but as a parent . . . I'm pretty sure the boy is in charge at this point.

Cole makes a good point, which leads me to ask - Is there another tale of the crew from the Santa Claus in the works, Mr. M. Ramblings? You hinted at it. What's kind of timetable are we looking at, huh?

I understand the reasoning but I have got to agree with Rustle, sometimes the purge can be a contrary end to an otherwise well meaning effort. In the end, only you can decide whether it was effective for you in the long run, but I do hope you gain some good perspective on things after having done it. I wish you good fortune and a settled heart, Wayne.

Happy Birthday Layla!!

Something that is always noticeable, and didn't seem to affect the story in an adverse way, is the voice that Abel III uses when telling his tale. In these last few chapters though, his matter-of-fact and somewhat dry tone is interfering with my ability to maintain empathy with him. It works when he is describing or analyzing things but when it comes to personal interaction . . . I hope that when he actually becomes truly emotionally invested in someone, Dennis or ?, the tone (voice) of his story telling will evolve along with him.

I for sure enjoyed the story and Joann did a fine review of it.

Welcome to GA zaf89. It's great to have another author on board.

I'm on the page with you. I just finished watching this and what you say is pretty much spot on. One thing that impresses me is that the love between the brothers is believable, although one would think that after all that time the kissing scenes would have come across a bit more polished. Still, the older brother Francisco - Joao Gabriel Vasconellos, and Thomas - Rafael Cordoso, are both beautiful men and lovely to watch in their movements. I do not get the whole bit with the woman either. It was almost like they created the relationship to be purposefully contrary, but for no good legitimate reason -- an attempt to be clever run afoul of itself. The incest aspect was handled remarkably well; it was almost a non-thing, if that can be imagined.

Ultimately this ended up being 'cute', and enjoyable, and I very much enjoyed your use of the word luxurious in the description on behalf of a part of the Colonel's rather hirsute anatomy. Well said.

Oh, I don't know . . . I think there's a lot to forgive on both sides. Sneaking, secret plans, jumping to conclusions and . . . ugly recliners - a lot of forgiving is needed!

Um . . . yeah! Dude, Demoncrest, ha-ha - welcome to GA!

Speculation. Pure speculation. I've never been able to figure out cats. Though I must say, I think you may have got it somewhat right.

Hello Bryce, welcome to GA. Yea, another author joins the site!

Hello Shahmaran, welcome to GA, it's nice to have you with us.

I'm pretty sure this is the first story I read when I purchased the Premium Access. I'm glad to see this up there. I have been considering reading it again, it's that good, along with the two companion books.

Hey, Billy Martin Happy Birthday!

What an enjoyable representation of your trip. Thanks for sharing.

Art has no definition, yet it can be defined. Art is subjective and expressive, beautiful and debase, literal and figurative, and still yet elusive. Conception can be the plan or intention and yet be the act, and communication and expression are not all that different. Art is a word that is expansive, in that it incompasses many forms, and it evolves over time. You cannot define it, truly, because it also changes with time and fashion--what is hot today, may not be hot tomorrow-- and yet again, there is junk-art and fine-art. Come on, enjoy, and be done with it.

And arguing for the sake of argument has been elevated to an art form in this thread, and nothing is gained by it. Yet still, it is pursued, and is amusing.

The shortest chapter yet but it captured a big event well. Some of the crew's thinking is understandable, on the one hand and on the other, pretty misguided considering its a stable crew having been with the ownership for many years. I do understand that the turbulence is basically unheard of in the transits but folks know, at least intellectually, that the ship is sound. Ah well, I guess it's just human nature to worry, even In the future, and even when worrying has no benefit. But this too is captured well in the writing Dave, kudos for that.