7 Reasons to Pre-Order Elegant Threat aka The M-Brane Double

My publisher described Elegant Threat in this way...  [It is] "the story of people who wrangle aquatic fauna from the harrowing tides of the moon Shanama against a backdrop of imminent conflict with the mysterious Post-humans and sectarian strife within their own ranks."

Here's a list of reasons to pre-order it now:

1. This is a story in which none of the major characters are Anglo, and the dominant cultural threads descend more from Mideast & East than West.  That said, there are strains of western influence, most notably the pop-cultural relics of The United States of Texas.  Desi Space Western, anyone?  Sunni Space Opera?  Spanglish Pirates in Outer Space?  Diversity is an important aspect of my writing, not out of a sense of political correctness, but because three of my daughters are mixed race and I want the dreams I leave behind to reflect that part of them.  I'm also partial to the idea that the kids (and we're all kids in my mind!) who never get to be the heroes can have main characters in my story that look a bit more like them.    
2. Strong female characters rule the day in Elegant Threat.  There is no exception.  We have the regal and sophisticated ships mum, Pristina, the hardened slick Boski, and the daughters Cancer and Toro, one an angry and longing for home and the other a child who wants nothing other than to be a slick like her parents... providing she can play the occasional tune on her violin.
3. If you're like me, there's nothing more satisfying than a good space adventure.  Love the stories that change how we see the world, the tales of dark, dank horror, or the second world fantasies that surprise us with their invention.  But a story of outer space, exploration, danger, and dangerous creatures: that's the stuff!  Unfortunately, these tales often insult our intelligence with cardboard characters and a lack of verisimilitude for their more fantastic elements.  Elegant Threat takes a single Sfnal trope, anti-gravity, and extrapolates from there.   Behind these settlers in the Rigel Kent system (Alpha Centauri) lies an entire history of human conflict.
4. The story takes place across eight easy-to-read 4k chapters.  If you're reading this blog, chances are you are a bookish sort (I consider that a compliment!) and among all the other things going on in your life, it can be hard to fit in another book.  This is easy to fit in, and when you are done, flip it over and you'll have The New People, another easy read at about the same length.  It has been suggested that the novella is the perfect length for the science fiction story.  The benefits of the novella length is in the depth of character development and world-building while still retaining short-story-like focus on a plot arc.  The problem with the novella is that does not fit well in the 'normal spaces.'  Too long for most story collections, too short for publication by itself.  Oh sure, you can grab a copy of Legends or its ilk, filled with great stories by publishing superstars.  But discover a new writer at this length?  Hard to find outside of the small press.  Ah, the small press: filling the niche once again. ;)
5. If you enjoy the story, you can find more in this universe right now.  Hadley Rille's Return to Luna features the first story in this timeline, Best Gift.  M-Brane SF #5 has my 'Abraham' story set in Sol system in between these two.  Forthcoming is a short story, tentatively titled, Nilay, Among Mermen.  Last, for now, I'm working on the triptych's second part, called Bakhara.  
6. I'm always interested in writing in a certain mode, in this case the classic SFnal planet story, but for the reader who 'doesn't read that sort of thing.'  The tale of people in extremis is a form too, and another lens that I used.  Why do we strive, labor, and live?  What does it mean to be brave, courageous, to have valor?  What use honor?  And can we ask these questions without all the military SF 'liberals/civilians/women/et al don't get it and don't understand' mumbo jumbo?  Oh, yes we can.  And I suggest the answers come with added clarity.
7. Print books are... not going anywhere.  And, the small press is the perfect place to find that special something which justifies the print medium.  Presented in the a style that honors the old Ace Doubles, with each novella back to back and upside down to each other with dedicated covers, The M-Brane Double, featuring both The New People by Alex Jeffers and Elegant Threat by Brandon H. Bell, is something that with current technology is only able to be presented as intended in print format.  From the novella length, to the retro art and form, you just won't find anything else like this in 2011 featuring new work by fresh writers.  

Ok, there's my list, and I hope it is enough to convince you to click through and order your copy today!  I've focussed on my own story in this list, but make no mistake, the Big BIG reason to order the Double is because you get Alex's story too.  Take care and hope you'll snag a copy.  :)

BB