ReaderPaul

Geron, another great story. It might be interesting in a future story for Jewl and Friggy to recall how they met Mother.

I love the ideas you have put forward in these two most recent chapters!

So glad seeing this story popping up again, @Geron Kees. It is a great story, as is the sequel, "Never A Door Lost." And I look forward to the promised third story in the Doors sequence.

I have mixed feelings on trigger warnings. Overall, I think they can be good. But as some have already said, the content tags can give an idea of a story, while warnings may be placed on specific chapters. One of my favorite authors (who has not yet posted on GA) has used warnings on two chapters of his work (out of nearly 1,000 chapters posted on another site) and they were very appropriate. One was a description of a fourteen-year-old discovering that a classmate was attempting to suicide, and how he ended up saving his life. The other was a much more graphic and violent crime scene. His warning was something like, "A violent and gruesome crime scene is discovered three paragraphs below such-and-such point. If this might be a triggering event or you have a weak stomach, skip down to xxxx." Trigger warnings can be overused. I saw once a trigger warning about a person getting chewing gun in their hair by accident. While funny, I did not think it rose to being worthy of a warning.

Good analysis of the biblical verses, R. Eric. I am often mentally chuckling or snorting at the effort people put forth to justify what they want to do by using and/or twisting the Judao-Christian scriptures to "prove" something.

Fascinating, R. Eric. You are setting up many possibilities for future directions.

I am probably in the minority here, but I prefer chapters in the 20 to 25 thousand word range. I once read a story on Nifty (quite a few years ago) where the SHORTEST chapter was around 50 thousand words. The longest was something like 88 thousand words. Now my time is more split up, which is why I prefer the sizes I mentioned. (But if YOU put 100,000 words in one chapter, I will happily read it. About three other authors I will also do that.) Good story , Geron.

It is my understanding that the Copyright date on GA is the year that the story STARTED. Though the story is continuing into 2020, the original copyright date would still apply. If I am wrong, I would appreciate the GA staff correcting me. Good work, R. Eric.

I appreciate this story more as I read it again. Though not the story of the "heaviest" nature, it points out things about pressure parents can exert on their children, especially female children. In a way, this story could be considered a switch on the "gay for pay" term, with Jerry acting "straight for pay," though Jerry, Amanda, and Jack all know the truth. The story also touches on the subject of "what is rich" but also the pressures some subsets of society put upon people to act "high and mighty" while being magniloquent asses in their behavior. (If you don't know the word magniloquent, look it up on dictionary dot com.) While the story maintains a light tone, there are serious issues being discussed indirectly in it. Peer pressure, dating pressure, internal pressure in one's heart to find "someone special," comfort with oneself, financial status, and more. Well done, Geron.

@Myr -- I like having the "Top Recommended Stories" where it is now. Thank you.

Fascinating characters, Preston. By chance, might any characters from some of your other stories show up? You have produced many interesting people in your stories over the years.

The story, "Z is for Zombie," is another excellent one from Geron which I can heartily recommend. There were twists, turns, terminology, and more. I read both versions, the original and the revised, and both are very good. Geron's respect for life comes through well, as does respect for personal space. Every character has importance, even as some are featured more than others. Only one writer besides Geron has had zombies of any type that I like to read about. However, I like Geron's the best. @Geron Kees, when will you write a short sequel, "W is for Wake-Up," (and you are welcome to use that title IF you wish) about some of the parents and family of the group waking up to a very changed world? How will they react to their kids being about 3 or maybe 4 years older by the time their section of the world is ready to wake up?

Fascinating. I am not surprised that an observant reporter would notice that Mason said that Her Serene Highness would answer the question, but that Mason answered instead Now earth has another reason to be jealous of the Empire and the URPS, and will want to know how they can become telepathic. Do those with telepathic abilities have the ability to direct telepathy to only specific people, or is the telepathy non-directional? I suspect as the series continues, we will learn that. Has Oscar told his parents that he is telepathic?

Too bad they were not at Ricky's house. Then Ricky's little brother or little sister could have found the communicator! Does either of Ricky's siblings ever snoop in Ricky's room? They might find Ricky's vibratory dagger. Does Ricky's mother ever get the urge to clean Ricky's room? Or is he such a neat freak she is not tempted?

I figured out quickly to click on the "Latest Story Updates" to see more stories. But I had already been clicking on the "Stories" tab to see a fuller list of updates to stories.. The link to "Latest Story Updates" is in the same color as the other links normally are. In certain light conditions, however, it can be difficult to see.

I am guessing they ran into a submarine? Or possibly a small island or upward sea-bottom projection, just below the surface? Good chapter. Glad to see Oscar developing telepathy. Hopefully, Anthony and Micah will also start to develop as well. When will a protector team be assigned for Sam? After all, as Mason's brother, someone will figure out that if something happens to Mason, Sam would become the Crown Prince.

A really good chapter, Preston. I am eager to see what the training for Anthony will involve. I hope Her Serine Highness will allow language training for Anthony. Anthony and Isaac could help each other with the other's language. BTW (By The Way) in one dictionary I consulted, "serine" was listed as an ancient spelling for "serene." Further, since serine is a crystalline substance, and crystals are sometimes seen as a symbol of both power and peace, "Serine" would also fit well in a title. Sam might be an early developer of telepathy. Further, since Sam and Mason are half-earthling, as is Isaac, they might be better able to communicate by telepathy with earthlings than a full-blooded native of Sahndrol. Please continue the good work, Quokka/Preston.

Quokka, do some earthlings have telepathy in this story? I know in real life, instances of telepathy do happen, and I have had a very few incidents myself. My guess would be some earth people in the story could do telepathy, but of course it is your call, since it is your story.

Regarding Ricky and Charlie and their eventually revealed powers, I feel that Ricky will eventually develop powers of movement, similar to what Max, Pacha, Frit, Pip, Keerby, and others have demonstrated. His reflexes will keep getting faster and faster, as well, as demonstrated in a previous Charlie Boone tale where Ricky successfully and quickly defended Adrian against the many-tentacled servants of the Beltracians. Charlie seems to have a burgeoning talent for making right decisions. But there is something else, as well ─ I just have not yet put my finger on it. Speaking of developing and learning, thanks for pointing out something Max has learned from Pacha. (Yes, I know, that is technically in the next chapter.) Well done.

You have a coffee mug as tall as a two-liter bottle, with a screw-on lid and straw?? Or did you want that in microscopic print?

People we care about and and respect CAN be stubborn, but more often we consider them determined ─ steadfast ─ gifted with perseverance ─ plotting their own path ─ marching to the drumsticks of a different chicken, and so on. And include me as a co-author with ColumbusGuy and Ivor Slipper on our book, "How to Twist the English Language into Mind-Bending Curves, Donuts, Möbius Strips, Amazing Intersections, Tangents, and Tongue-Twisters in Thirteen Easy Lessons!

"With Geron as the author, I'm not even going to speculate as his mental pathways are truly labyrinthine in complexity and ingenuity!" I wish I had said that, but I would have worded it as ─ "With Geron as the author, I'm not even going to speculate as his mental pathways are truly labyrinthine, fascinating in the way things are woven together in a harmonious whole as the story progresses on with innovativeness in complexity, yet sometimes including humor and ingenuity along with delightful surprises!"

Did you possibly mean Casper, instead of Keerby?

By the way, the name of the ship, Ishkatar, translates to "Winter" in Bengali-Hindi, according to Google Translate (translate dot google dot com).

It is so good to see Keerby again! He is one of my favorite 50 or so elves. But what he and Casper have done and are doing, involving Max ─ and bringing Max to the shuttle ─ brings up a new question: Did Keerby add to the elven guidebook of elven travel places quickly so Max could avoid having to use the telzee route to get there, or does Casper know of a third way besides the telzee route and the guidebook to get Max there? What might Casper teach Max and Keerby and Pacha'Ka about power use they do not already know, and so on? I like the crew of the ship they are on. I also am fascinated by the direction the story is headed. Good work, Geron.