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David McLeod

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  1. David McLeod
    Ricky, Please do not be sorry: I value your candor and insight. The error is mine. To me, "GED" and "at least 18 years old" go together. That is obviously not correct. Once again, I make assumptions. I've added a clarifying sentence: "Arthur was not a child; he was an eighteen-year-old high school dropout living on the streets. " Thank you, again. David
  2. David McLeod
    Wow, you've read it more than once? Greater praise there is not. (I return to it, too, on occasion.) Thank you for your constancy!
  3. David McLeod
    There is a sequel in the works, but it's very slow going. Lots of gaps that need much imagination to fill in. Thank you for reading this one.
  4. David McLeod

    Reunion

    David McLeod commented on David McLeod's story chapter in Reunion

    Good catch; thank you. I'll fix the original manuscript for republication.
  5. David McLeod

    Best Friends

    David McLeod commented on David McLeod's story chapter in Best Friends

    It's always a good thing when bullies get their "comeuppance," as we say in the South. If it can be done in a way that doesn't shame or belittle them, it's more likely to "stick," I think. Thank you for your thoughts. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
  6. David McLeod
    Thank you; hope you'll find others to enjoy, as well.
  7. David McLeod
    Vignette 1: Children in Slavery Barry Stern, EdD, PhD, pressed the remote controller. The last slide faded from the screen. The audience seemed restless, but he asked, “Are there any questions?” There were none. Was it because his presentation was the last one before the lunch break? Was it because his presentation was of no interest? Was it because his presentation was too disturbing to be believed even by the people who were attending this United Nations conference? Barry pressed the but
  8. David McLeod
    A continuation of the events in "Prometheus Wakens." Please see the Story Note for more.
  9. David McLeod

    Chapter 12

    David McLeod commented on David McLeod's story chapter in Chapter 12

    Thank you, sir. I've learned a great deal from you and your reviews. Please, don't stop! David
  10. David McLeod
    Most authors would, I think, agree that feedback from readers is important, not just to one's self-image, but also to guide and direct our writing. Over the years, I've received some outstanding feedback (including that which pointed out flaws in a story or in my writing). It's all valuable. Thank you for taking the time to review. David
  11. David McLeod
    Chapter 12: Barrone and Beyond The Village of Questa, En Route to Barrone “Come on, guys,” Javari said. “We’re all overdue for a hot bath.” “You, especially,” his little brother Maranon said. “Have you been sleeping with your horse?” “No,” Javari retorted, “as you well know.” The companions had ridden cross-country, detouring around hills that were too steep, trying to keep close both to water for themselves and their horses, and to the mountains that Zosa required for food and conceal
  12. David McLeod
    Ricky,Thank you for your thoughts, and your candor. You're correct: this story lacks an arc. I hope that the conclusion to this story, in "Translator III," to be published (I hope) next week brings some closure. Both "Pilots II" and "Translator III" were rushed to publication some time ago, and were pretty awful. I "unpublished" them and have agonized over how to make them "work." There was, in the rewrite, some attempt to flesh out the stories, create an arc, and make them conclude gracefully. I didn't make that goal. I'm sorry to disappoint you and others, and, again, appreciate your candor. It's worth a great deal to me. Hugs back at you. David
  13. David McLeod
    Chapter 14: War in the East Green lightning played among orange clouds that hung over stygian mountains. Paul was rapt until he heard, “This is not normal.” He woke and sat up abruptly, waking Larry. “What?” Phillip said. “What? Oh . . .” His voice woke Maranon. Both boys felt it: their dragons’ voices, not words this time, but images blossomed in their heads. The images were much as had been in their dreams: flashes of primary-colored light illuminated clouds, mountains, and dragons. * *
  14. David McLeod
    Ricky,This is another of those "I hope it's going to work out" stories. So far (and it's into Chapter 4) there's nothing unusual "down there." Most of what they face is "up here." Please let me know what you think of Ch 2, just posted. David
  15. David McLeod
    Chapter 2: “If I had a Trillion Hammers” Anconia compound, the next day The clouds that mother had seen piling over the mountains brought a blizzard of wet, heavy snow: the highways were closed to all but emergency traffic. The triplets were devastated that they’d not get to use their snowboards right away, but allowed me to talk them into a game of Marco Polo in the basement pool. I seemed to be “it” more often than not, but I chalked it up to the triplets ganging up on me rather than any
  16. David McLeod
    Chapter 11: Dragon Fortress The elven king assembled his privy council in a tent on a barren plain in an inhospitable mountain range far from the pomp—and comfort—of the court. That they traveled there by dragon-back, mollified most of them, a little. “It’s been a long time since I ate army rations,” the Masterguildmaster Smith said. He patted his small paunch. “Perhaps I should remain for a few weeks.” “I’m sure they could find something for you to do,” Mistressguildmistress Stonemason said.
  17. David McLeod
    Chapter 1: Microscopic Carbon and a Big Ship Anconia Corporate Headquarters, Fairfax, Virginia. Early 21st Century. Earth Analogue IX. “Mr. Anconia? Geneva is on the line. There is a wire transfer pending to the Newport News Shipyard. The amount is four billion dollars. It was initiated by Alexander Anconia.” Francisco Anconia lifted a finger to acknowledge his senior accountant’s words, and then picked up the telephone handset. The caller ID showed a secure call from his son. “Hello, Ale
  18. David McLeod
    On the Global Explorer, science, espionage, and environmental activism meet Sea Cadets enrolled in a United Nations science program. The goal of the Explorer’s crew? To save the world from global warming, widespread hunger, pollution, post-Soviet Russian thuggery, and a myriad things adults created but that their children must solve.
  19. David McLeod
    Chapter 10: We are Not Alone Night was falling. Justin was waiting in the gloaming when I left his father’s tent. I could not see his eyes, but I felt tears—and smelled cornflowers—when he hugged me. He was trembling. He’s 1,000 years old. He’s a prince. But he’s still a boy, I thought, and pulled him tightly against me. “Phillip, you and Zosa saved me. My friends said Zosa almost fell down the cliff, and that Farengeld plummeted, as well. All because I was stupid and selfish. I’m sorry. W
  20. David McLeod
    Ricky,You know that even though I don't always respond timely, I appreciate, nay, treasure your reviews. On the other hand, you do tend to raise the bar. I say that in a good way. Appreciate not only your thoughts, but also the challenge you set for me. I'm afraid, however, that at the moment the shaman is about to be written out of the story. Maybe... we'll see. David
  21. David McLeod
    Chapter 13: The Leader “The rules seldom got broken because the ruler was too subtle. Any rebel trying to strike back at the power structure would have a hard time figuring out where to land his punches.” —William Zinsser, describing the Headmaster of his boarding school, in Writing About Your Life I felt that Rudy was about to peak when I sensed through Larry his and Mark’s nearly simultaneous orgasms. My link with Rudy was tenuous—this was the first time we’d been together—but it
  22. David McLeod
    Chapter 12: Mad King Tenebarum The two riders who were to carry Darin and Petrus from their desert home to the Valley of Valeus had taken the two boys aside. The riders who were to carry the second pair of boys from the Desert People likewise were talking privately to their charges. I didn’t need empathy to know what the conversations were about. “We know that you are boyfriends,” Colin said. He then gestured to his fellow dragon rider. “Dion and I are boyfriends, too. And, we’re boyfriends
  23. David McLeod
    Ricky, I really think Zosa's comment about horses was "tongue in cheek." (A very large tongue in a very large cheek.) We'll see. David
  24. David McLeod
    Good time of day, It may be slow, but this story will play out. Thank you for reading. David
  25. David McLeod
    Chapter 9: Translator Phillip’s Journal I have been so engaged with Zosa and the war that I have forgotten my first calling: to be a translator. It was forcefully brought back to me when the male dragon told me that we did not share the words to explain why the dragons are said sometimes to kill boys who were unworthy of becoming dragon riders. I realized, only as I thought this, that Zosa and now this new dragon, were speaking to me in Elvish. I asked Zosa why this was, and she told me that i
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