Hug a Loved One

I'm going to take space on my blog to highlight an epidemic…Suicide. Unfortunately, this epidemic has peripherally touched my life twice in the last two months. A former co-worker died last month and an 11^th grade teenage daughter of a friend died this week. Now I don't know the circumstances behind any of these deaths and I will not speculate. But their tragic deaths made me stop and think. Now, I'm no doctor or psychiatrist, but it seems to me depression is not always the root cause. Life's daily pressures seem to be greater today than ever. It may be because I'm older, but it's true.

Responsibility of dealing with rent, mortgage, bills, medical, college tuition, job change, job loss, marriage, divorce and a whole host of other stressors, in a society where civility is a casualty of war and self-righteous indignation is ruler, can take its toll on the most level-headed person. These stressors may cause one to think they are better off not living, that they cannot ever get in front of the wave.

So my answer to combat this is to hug a loved one – not for them—but for you. Don't talk, don't complain – just hug someone. Hold them tight and let the world's stressors melt away for that one moment. Quiet appreciation can fuel the soul and feed the heart.

Then when you are finished hugging them, do me a favor, be civil to strangers. Don't rant about things like you are the master of the universe…listen…debate…talk. Because no human is perfect or has all the answers. So stop the self-righteous indignation. Treat others as you would have them treat you. You may save someone from making that fatal decision. You may even save yourself.

 

Just one man's opinion

Flying Death – The Vietnam Experience by Samuel K. Beamon

I will take a step back from my usual genre of interest-speculative fiction, and review the memoir "Flying Death- The Vietnam Experience" by Samuel K. Beamon. The author is a family friend, who has written an exceptional book about his experiences as a Marine in Vietnam. Samuel K. Beamon writes about joining the Marines, boot camp, his training as a helicopter mechanic and his combat experiences in Vietnam. He was a helicopter HMM-164 Crew Chief, responsible for the safety of the crew with a wrench or with a gun…sometimes both. One minute he is tinkering with the engines, hydraulics and cables to make sure the helicopter is flying smoothly and the next minute he is manning the machine guns spraying a path of death and destruction in a hot landing zone for the pilots to land.
This is not a typical "I went to war, I saw the bad guys, I did some bad things, now I'm a better person" memoir. Nor is it a how I applied new strategies of war type of memoir. No, it's better than that. It is a deep, soulful look at a proud Marine doing his job for the love of his country. Sam beautifully walks the reader through his emotions from the time he decided to join the Marines until he left the Marines, capped with memorable highlights from his squadron's reunion in Washington DC. You can feel the strings tugging at your heart when Sam describes the death of friends and colleagues. You understand the excitement and pride he felt about being a Marine, fighting for his country that he loves so much. You experience the fear and adrenaline associated with combat. But you also catch the anger pounding in your chest as you read about the disservice and indignity Sam suffers through just to be a good Marine.
War is tough, but for a teenager straight out of high school, spending 18 months at the height of the Vietnam War must have been hell. As a B-52 crewmember, I take my hat off to Sam Beamon and all the Vietnam Vets. Your blood and sacrifice paved the way for me and others, and I thank you sir.
I highly recommend this book as a must read, not only for the military buff or the war enthusiast; but for those looking for a story on how the human spirit can triumph over the most extreme obstacles.


Malcolm "RAGE" Petteway, Author
Owner, Rage Books LLC
www.ragebooks.net

The Antagonist in Science Fiction

I am a fan of science fiction. I wouldn't go as far as to say I am a fanatical fan; but I am a fan. Lately, I noticed that science fiction plots are becoming a little bit too familiar—especially when it comes to the antagonist.

It seems that the antagonist is usually one of or a compilation of the following:

1. Power Hungry, Corrupt Politician/Government Leader, planning on world, galactic or universal domination. I must admit, this person is intriguing and presents multiple facets to the storyline. But in the end, it is all about power, getting more of it, keeping it, or taking it away from someone else. This character is probably the most overused antagonist in literature and visual arts. This character is usually pitted against the protagonist in a good vs. evil battle.
   
2. Arrogant Military Leader. This character is probably the second most overused antagonist in literature and visual arts. This character deems everything they can't control, use or order around a threat, and then they want to destroy it. This character is usually pitted against the protagonist in a life and death battle.
   
3. Delusional Scientist: This character wants to know all there is about life, the universe and what makes it tick, and then this character wants to recreate it—usually in their own image. This character is so psychotic that they don't care about or so driven that they don't see the errors of their ways.
   
4. Greedy businessman: This character is motivated by wealth…accumulating at all cost, no matter what. This person's moral compass is broken. This character is a true blend of the first three. This person is evil, untrusting and psychotic. Add the broken moral compass and you get things like the economic down turn we are experiencing today.
   

The challenge for today's writer is to be fresh and build new adversarial relationships not seen before, or at least not seen often. Today's writer must create a perfect balance between the antagonist and the protagonist. A fantastic plot would have the reader feeling sympathetic for the antagonist. The reader should be able to understand the antagonist without condoning the characters action. At the same time the writer must get the reader to cheer on the protagonist to do the right thing, while scolding the character for doing something stupid. In other words, the antagonist can't be a devil and the protagonist can't be a saint. Demons should ride inside the main character and angels should haunt the bad guys.

Have you read any new and interesting antagonist lately? Writers, have you created an adversarial relationship different than the norm? Please hit the blog and share your thoughts.

I will discuss this and other topics at my book signing for the Osguards: Guardians of the Universe, this Saturday at Borders Bookstore from 1 to 3 PM. Discussion to follow: http://prlog.org/10814933

 

MALCOLM "RAGE" PETTEWAY

RAGE BOOKS LLC

WWW.RAGEBOOKS.NET

What is Science Fiction

I read somewhere that science fiction was like the saying about pornography. You may not be able to completely define it, but you know it when you see it. However, from my conversations about my writing, I'm not too sure this is true.

When I tell people I write science fiction novels, I get one of three reactions. The reaction I get the most is I don't like science fiction. Then I ask them, what's the latest movie they seen or what is their favorite T.V. show?

They would say to me something like Avatar, Transformers II, or even Iron Man II. They would tell me their favorite T.V. show is Lost or Heroes. Then I tell them, you like science fiction…you just don't know it.

I would categorize Avatar, Transformers II an Iron Man II as science fiction. However Avatar is categorized as an Action Adventure Fantasy Sci Fi. Sci Fi is listed last. Transformers is listed as Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller. At least Sci Fi is listed second. Iron Man 2 is listed as Action Adventure Sci Fi. Here Sci Fi is listed last again.

Lost is listed as Adventure, Drama, Mystery and then Sci-Fi. Finally, Heroes is listed as Drama, Sci Fi.

The pattern here is Sci Fi is getting low billing as a genre with many of today's visual arts and entertainment. Why?

It appears science fiction has a bad connotation with the general public. I believe this is because they don't really understand what science fiction really is. I am a science fiction writer and I have a hard time defining science fiction.

To me science fiction is a cross cutting genre. What I mean by this is that any type of story…drama, adventure, action, thriller, and even romance can be a science fiction story. All you need is an element of plausible and or possible science and technological as a crucial element to the story.

Unfortunately to the mainstream audience, science fiction is all about space ships, aliens and ray guns. They are missing the point that science fiction is much more than that. Science fiction can tell a story with heart and soul. It can tell a mystery, it can spin a drama, it can encase a romance, it can be the backdrop of an adventure, it and breathe the excitement of action.

Pundits of Sci Fi argue about what is Sci Fi within the community. There are proponents of Hard Sci-Fi and advocates of Soft Sci Fi – again with the pornography reference.

From what I can tell, Hard Sci Fi is the stories with space ships, aliens and ray guns. The stories are base in the hard sciences with suspension of believe or better said, a leap of faith that the unknown will someday be known. Isaac Asimov and today, Larry Niven are best known for this.

While Soft Sci Fi uses science and technology to set the stage, pepper the environment and / or create the challenge. Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles, George Orwells' Ninety Eighty Four are excellent examples.

Then there are subgenres to science fiction. Cyberpunk, Time Travel, Alternate History, Military SF, Superhuman, Apocalyptic, Space Opera, Space Western.

Then there are the cousins to Science Fiction: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery and Superhero fiction. Many times stories blend these genres so much you can't tell what they really are. Sometimes, I think pieces that have this blend should be called Science Fantasy, Science Horror, and Science Mystery. Fortunately the term Superhero, already implies Science Fiction, so I don't think that name should change.

In summary, many of fiction literature touch on Science Fiction. Just because it's not labeled Science Fiction, doesn't mean it isn't Science Fiction.

This and much more will be topics of discussion at my upcoming Book Signing.

21 Aug 2010

Time: August 21, 2010  from 1pm to 3pm Location: Borders Street: 2904 Prince William Parkway City/Town: Woodbridge VA 22192 Phone: (703) 897-8100 Organized By: Ms. Jenn Stewart, Events Coordinator, Borders, Woodbridge VA

Please come out and join me if you are in the area.

 

Why Rage Books

My name is Malcolm D. Petteway, founder of Rage Books LLC. I started Rage Books in October 2009 as a family and friends operated small publisher of science fiction, fantasy and horror. Prior to starting the company and while I was still in the Air Force, I published three books from my exciting Osguards: Guardians of the Universe series through Iuniverse.com between 2001 and 2004. After retiring from the military, I began my writing career in earnest. In 2006, I collaborated with my dear friend, James Barnes, who came on board as the chief editor. Between the two of us, we saw Rage Books as a publisher for the new and struggling writers who had a unique story to tell. This led to our motto “Fighting for the Small Voice”.


Subsequently, I used my Osguards: Guardians of the Universe series, as the foundation to begin operations. I published the second editions of Homecoming and Revelations in February 2010, followed by the second edition of Armageddon in March 2010. I also published the fourth book in the series, Revenge in March 2010. Osguards is a new and fresh approach to science fiction. Seldom has science fiction detailed a space odyssey, framed in American History and peppered with intrigue, adventure and technical wizardry--UNTIL NOW! Osguards is a gripping ride through time and space detailing the horrors of antebellum south, the strife of the post reconstruction era, the grit of U.S. urban life at the turn of the century and ultimately the terror of an escalating war played out in the heavens above present day unsuspecting Earth—all surrounded by complex military and political stratagems for power.

Rage Books is dedicated to publishing great stories, like Osguards in a quality way. Our mission is to shine a light on new talented authors, by allowing them to be artists first. We want to nurture authors’ imaginations and creativity to write fantastic, wonderful and unique stories with a new and exciting voice. We want to sign fresh, innovative and stimulating authors. Rage Books’ goal is to grow and eventually contend with other trade publishers of science fiction, fantasy and horror, like Tor, DAW and Baen.

But Rage Books will be different. Many traditional publishing companies have settled into a rut. They market safe books that follow an aged formula that uses a checklist. This checklist is too rigid and inflexible and not visionary enough to recognize new voices…different voices, cutting down the ivory pillars holding up the old institutional thought. Today, most traditional authors write the same story, just with a twist, because the industry stifles imagination. Rage Books captures the reader’s imagination, and challenges the industry. There is a quiet revolution taking place in the reading world. There is a new generation of readers, touched by advanced technology. Today, technological hunger, personal experience and raw attraction are what define this audience. People will be attracted to Rage Books because they are avid readers who can relate to the characters using advanced technology as they push through electrifying adventures. These characters are normal people pushed into extraordinary circumstances.

Rage Books Presents The Osguards Series

Rage Books LLC is a family and friends operated independent small new start publishing company, with the goal to shine a light on new speculative fiction authors. At Rage Books, authors are artists first. We are proud to announce the reprint of the complete and updated exciting science fiction series, Osguards: Guardians of the Universe.


1. Homecoming     2. Armageddon

3. Revelations        4. Revenge

The Osguards series is the flagship launching Rage Books as an independent publishing company. We are now scheduling book signings, readings and author discussions at bookstores for the Osguards series in the Northern Virginia, Southern Maryland and Washington DC areas.

Osguards: Guardians of the Universe offers a new and fresh approach to science fiction. Seldom has science fiction detailed a space odyssey, framed in American History and peppered with intrigue, adventure and technical wizardry--UNTIL NOW! Osguards is a gripping ride through time and space detailing the horrors of American slavery, the rise of racism during the post reconstruction era, the grit of U.S. urban life at the turn of the century and ultimately the terror of an escalating war played out in the heavens—all surrounded by complex military and political stratagems for power. Osguards is soaked in flash, technical wizardry, thrilling suspense, and historical intrigue.

June special Sale at Rage Books LLC

Rage Books is celebrating the publishing of the complete series of Osguards: Guardians of the Universe. In doing so, we are offering a June Special on the Series. Rage Books is offering not 1, not 2, but 3 package deals.




Package 1 is the first two books in the series for $25.00 (savings of $4.00)

Package 2 is the first three books in the series for $35.00 (savings of $9.50)

Package 3 is the entire series for $40.00 (savings of $18.50)



This package deal is only at www.osguards.com. click on or go to:



http://osguards.com/catalog.2.html to order.

Review of Imaro by Charles SaundersPosted by D K Gaston

Imaro’s mother surrendered her five year old son so that he could become a great warrior of the Ilyassai tribe. His mother’s people treated him with disdain and ridicule. Through it all, Imaro grew to be the biggest and strongest of the Ilyassai children. When he reached manhood and the time had come for him to truly become an Ilyassai warrior and be accepted by his mother’s people, an evil magician strip him of that reward, spiraling Imaro’s life into a world of slavery, murderous thieves, and black magic.

Charles R. Saunders takes the reader through an Africa untainted by Europeans influences, whose history is quite different than the one we have always known. Imaro is to become a great warrior in a world he doesn’t feel he is apart of. Through his adventures, Imaro becomes a threat to enemies who work within the shadows and manipulates the weak willed and innocent to do their bidding. Imaro soon realizes if he is to survive, he must take the battle directly to the evil that plagues him.

Imaro is a must read novel and is the first book in a series. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the sequels and continuing with the further adventures of Imaro.

Imaro IVPosted by Ronald T. Jones on April 6, 2010 at 11:51pm

Take the best elements of heroic fantasy as exemplified by Conan the Barbarian, combine it with the high fantasy ingredients that made Tolkien's Ring trilogy popular to this day and what you have is an epic work that is truly a classic for the ages. What work am I referring to? The Imaro series. Imaro 1through 3 introduced us to the hulking, brooding title character, revealed to us his destiny and took us on a journey fraught with peril and passion toward the fulfillment of that destiny. Imaro IV brings everything to a head in a confrontation that will decide the fate of the continent of Nyumbani while catapulting Imaro from the degradation he suffered as a youth to a celebrated hero.

After reading Imaro IV I had to struggle a bit to gain my equilibrium, as if I had just completed a roller coaster ride...or finished spinning in place. There is struggle in this book. Struggle on a mass scale with armies of men fighting creatures straight out of the realm of nightmares. Individual struggles between heroes and villains. Gods struggling to exert their will on men. And then there's Imaro, a tortured, troubled, reluctant hero locked in a perpetual struggle to find a place for himself in a world he hasn't quite come to terms with. Some of his problems are self inflicted, others imposed by circumstance.

Charles Saunders has given us a hero who is the world's best kept secret. Imaro is strong, complex, valiant and honorable. Imaro IV is a thrilling conclusion to a breath taking four part saga. Fortunately, there is no evidence, judging by the ending, that this will be the final chapter. If anything, Charles has left the door wide open for more Imaro adventures.

Keep it coming, Charles!!

Recommended Reading List

There is a small community of unknown writers that push the envelope of science fiction, speculative fiction, and fantasy & horror. These writers fight to get their voice heard over the noise of big business and marketing schemes, but sometimes fall short. These writers are talented, intelligent and extremely thought provoking artists. Their writing styles vary, but their love for the art is strong. New sub-genres like Sword and Soul are born from these writers. New characters that you can fall in love, with or learn to hate, spring from their fertile imaginations. I have written reviews on some of these authors in this blog. Now I am trying to lend a voice. Click HERE to visit Rage Books LLC Bookstore for a highly recommended list of some of these writers. If you want to read a book from an author who is an artist first, pick-up a copy of one of these books. Then let me know what you think here on this blog.

Thank you,

Malcolm "RAGE" Petteway
http://www.ragebooks.net/

Waterbury native re-releases books via own publishing firm

A Waterbury native who recently started a small publishing company with friends and family has re-released two science fiction chronicles he wrote as part of a series as its first two projects. The Virginia-based Rage Books LLC was founded by Waterbury native Malcolm Dylan Petteway. Petteway grew up in Waterbury before going on to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy and California State University. A 20-year veteran of the Air Force, Petteway flew B-52s, logging more than 3,000 flight hours and 300 combat hours. A military analyst who received a Meritorious Service Medal and other awards including some for Operation Enduring Freedom, Petteway's, new company released "Homecoming" and "Revelations" ($14.50 each, Rage Books), from his science fiction series "Osguards: Guardians of the Universe." "Homecoming" tells the story of the battle between the planets of Kulusk and Chaktun and two Chaktun princesses who fled Earth to lead a universal peacekeeping organization. "Revelations" also delves into related plots of interplanetary war and conflict unfolding across planets and eras that entangles characters from FBI agents to inhabitants of other worlds.

— Brynn Mande -- Waterbury American-Republican

When Does the Artist End and the Businessman Begin?

Writing in today's fast pace world has lost the art of the science or should I say the science of the art. When I began writing, I did so because I had a story I needed to tell. The story was a part of my imagination that I opened up for the world to see, touch and feel. I bore my soul and heart to strangers in hopes that something I wrote stirred them…moved them…provoked them…or just plain entertained them. But somewhere along the way, the artist that put words to paper has to become someone else in order to get the story out.
The artist must decipher demographics, marketing strategies and business plans. The artist must learn how to promote, sale and spin words and ideas into 30 second sound bites. The artist must tailor the work for another purpose. In short, the artist must stop being an artist and become a businessman.
Becoming something other than an artist is something that most artists cannot do without pain. Under a traditional publishing arrangement, the artist gives up control to the businessman. That businessman changes, edits and reshapes the artist project…normally after much consternation; but now the project sells. The artist may lose part of his or her voice in the process, but royalty checks can soothe the hurt somewhat of a lost voice.
What about the self-publisher? Can the lack of another person running the business end of your project hurt your chances to push your project? There are people cut out to sale and there are people cut out to create. Self-publishers must do both, and they must do both extraordinarily well.
For the self-publishers out there…how is your journey from artist to businessman?


Malcolm Dylan Petteway
Rage Books LLC
WWW.RAGEBOOKS.NET

Why Science Fiction

In life we all need role models, someone that shines the light of inspiration to fuel our aspirations. The entertainment media, like books, usually provide that inspiration through strong characters doing the right thing during difficult situations. I am using science fiction to interject positive African American role models into an entertainment media that is bombarded with negative characters that somehow have become role models.


As a child I watched many action adventures, read comic books of superheroes and was captivated by science fiction television shows. However in the seventies, as I entered my teen years I noticed that the role models on television shows and in movies as well as in books were white. Upon further review, I concluded that in the entertainment media African Americans were portrayed as comic relief characters, sidekicks, pimps, hustlers or thieves. I remember having an argument with my friends over who was better, "Shaft" or "Superfly." Needless to say, I was in the minority. Then I noticed most of my peers who feared they would not go to college aspired...actually aspired...to become pimps, hustlers and drug dealers. Unfortunately, about ninety percent succeeded. I attribute this to the lack of role models and the bombardment of negative stereotyping in the entertainment media. So as a teenager, I created my own role models through story form.

In my English and Creative Writing classes, I wrote police dramas, adventure and science fiction stories, with African American protagonists. The story of the Osguards is my science fiction creation that began as an honors English class writing assignment in 1978. It garnered laughs from both white and black students in the class because they could not fathom African Americans as leaders, especially commanders of complex and intricate spaceships. But I received praise from the teacher for a bold effort.
Several years ago, due to a professional setback in my career, I resolved to focus my frustration in a positive manner. So I decided to write. I chose science fiction because of the freedom of imagination the genre allows. It also allows me to inject other genres like mystery, crime, love or adventure stories into it.

My question to you...why do you read science fiction?

Malcolm "Rage" Petteway

http://osguards.com/
http://ragebooks.net/

Book Review on Shadow Valley

Author: Steven Barnes

Publisher: Del Rey Books

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Del Rey (May 5, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345459032
ISBN-13: 978-0345459039
Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 1 inches


Steven Barnes is probably one of the best science fiction writers of our time. His poetic mastery of the written word paints a beautiful worlds and characters that charge a story for the reader into a fantastic fantasy. Mr. Barnes has ignited African folklore with his Great Sky Woman, into the main stream and continued the explosion with his book Shadow Valley.


Shadow Valley picks up where Great Sky Woman left off. A majority of the Ibandi people wander north from Mount Kilimanjaro, hoping to escape the mighty spear of the Mk*tk. They are led by Great Sky Woman and Frog Hopping, the two people who survived the climb up the mountain to speak with their god. The trek is trek is long, perilous and very arduous. Many turn back, and some of those that remain, are full of doubt. Meanwhile, a new leader rises from those who remained in the shadow of the Great Mountain…a leader full of anger and power, just the right potent mixture for revenge. What he believes he brings to the Mk*tk is death, but in reality, he brings the devastation to what is left of the Ibandi people left at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Eventually, the two strands of Ibandi survivors meet and a struggle for power consumes them, while their enemy the Mk*tk approach. The survival of their people rests on their decisions and actions. Do they fight amongst themselves and let the victor lead, or do they band together to fight a common foe?


Mr. Barnes writes with such vivid realistic detail that the reader feels they are there, witnessing history unfold in front of their eyes. Mr. Barnes makes the Ibandi become family, pushing buttons of fear, love and hate. I have become a fan of African folklore science fiction.


I recommend Shadow Valley as a must read. But you must start with Great Sky Woman to really appreciate this read.


Malcolm "RAGE" Petteway
Rage Books LLC

Rage Books LLC presents the Osguard Series

HOMECOMING

OSGUARDS: GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE

($14.50)

6 x 9 (300 PAGES)

AVAILABLE NOW at

http://www.ragebooks.net/ AND http://www.amazon.com/

For centuries the planets of Kulusk and Chaktun have battled in the heavens above Earth. In 1860, twin Chaktun princesses, laurona and Nausona Osguard, fled to Earth and were beaten and raped as slaves in the United States' antebellum south. Unbeknownst to the people of the 21st century Earth, their descendants, the Osguards now govern a universal peacekeeping organization called the Universal Science, Security and Trad Association of Planets -- USSTAP. the First Osguard, Michae Genesis leads the Osguards in protecting the 60 known galaxies of the universe from Kulusk tyranny. Now Earth has become an unwitting pawn in the Kulusk Empire's thirst for revenge against the people of Chaktun, forcing Michael to prepare USSTAP, for the first time, to go on the offensive and wage an all out universal war. If he is successful, many people will die, and if he is not, Earth will be destroyed.

"Great story! This is one of the best science fiction novels I've read in a long time..."
-- Writer's Digest 10th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards

"Petteway is a veteran Air Force Officer and uses his knowledge to bring a very believable description of battle techniques and strategies. This is a very readable and enjoyable novel..."
-- Barry Hunter, Editor, Baryon Magazine

"Like a good play, it captivates its audience!"
-- Tom Johnson, Editor; Fading Shadows Magazine

"It is a fascinating story that can be enjoyed by everyone, including those who are not huge fans of science fiction. I highly recommend this book."
-- Alice Holman, Reviewer; RAWSISTAZ Book Review

REVELATIONS

OSGUARDS: GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE

($14.50)

6 x 9 (302 Pages)

AVAILABLE NOW at

http://www.ragebooks.net/ AND WWW.AMAZON.COM

Descendants of a great king will rise from an uncivilized world and destroy the Kulusks. Whether prophecy or folklore, it compels Kie Ritchen, the Kulusk Maxum to release the deadly Terinolice Virus onto Millmum Capitol Station. The Osguards and all of Millmum Capitol Station are dying. Their only hope is Osguard 55, Juanita Genesis-Clark. She must leave her family on Earth and travel across the galaxy to get the one man who has the cure for the virus. Just one catch, he's on Kulusk. To further complicate matters, a deadly secret, born on Earth during the turn of the 20th Century, forces Juanita to take sides in a Kulusk civil war in order to save the legitimate heir to the Kulusk throne. Meanwhile on Earth, USSTAP's Stelana Rican and FBI Special Agent Anthony Musoto must track down the killer of Juanita's 5-year old cousin, unaware of the biological terror playing out in the heavens above them.



"Riveting, An enjoyable read from beginning to end..."
-- Tom Johnson, Editor; Fading Shadow, Inc

"Incredibly suspenseful!"
-- Writer's Digest 11th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards

"The story, while science fiction, feels so real, you must keep checking to make sure you remember it is only a story."
-- Alice Holman, Reviewer; RAWSISTAZ Book Reviews

ARMAGEDDON

OSGUARDS: GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE

($15.50)

6 x 9 (328 Pages)

AVAILABLE SOON

There is a thin line between justice and vengeance. In a vast universe of advanced weaponry and superior technology, a century-old dispute causes two powerful armies to speed past that line in furor. With the defeat of the Kulusk Empire, the First Osguard, Michael Genesis, and the Universal Science, Security Trade Association of Planets -- USSTAP face their greatest military challenge ever -- the Tuit Consortium. In the name of justice, the Tuits introduce a new era of war fighting, employing a planet killing weapon, which obliterates entire solar systems within minutes. USSTAP is outnumbered and outgunned. With the association disintegrating; the continuing rise in the USSTAP body count; and Osguard 11, Jarod Stone missing and presumed killed in action, Michael forms a daring military plan and forges unlikely allies to combat the Tuits and end the Universal War once and for all.


"Malcolm Dylan Petteway has done it again. He has written a futuristic saga of revenge and redemption that boggles the mind and keeps you turning those pages."

-- Alice Holman, Reviewer; RAWSISTAZ Book Reviews

REVENGE

OSGUARDS: GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE

($14.00)

6 x 9 (262 Pages)

AVAILABLE SOON

Everyone has a defining gift. For Michael Genesis, the First Osguard of the Universal Science, Security and Trade Association of Planets -- USSTAP, that gift is vision. Similarly, Billy Red, the street thug, murderer, pimp and drug dealer, that gift is ingenuity. When their paths cross as teenagers, Michael and Belly become embroiled in a rivalry that leads Michael to becoming the First Osguard. and Billy dying by his hands. However, eight years after the Tuit War and on the eve of the birth of a new USSTAP, where Michael planned to design a new universe and lay out a path for humanity to begin its journey to another level, he is attacked. During the attack, Michael is accidentally transported to another reality where USSTAP and the Osguards don't exist. Now Michael has to fight his way back to his reality or be trapped in a reality of living in an economically poor, crime and drug infested neighborhood, while beign chased by his old enemy -- Billy Red.

"...entertaining and begs for more stories of the magnificent Genesis family and their desire to unite the universe and tame Earth."

-- Alice Holman, Reviewer; RAWSISTAZ Book Reviews

Osguards: Homecoming! The very essence of adventure science fiction!Posted by Ronald T. Jones on January 21, 2010 at 9:02pm in Books

I just finished reading Osguards: Homecoming, written by distinguished BSFS member Malcolm Dylan Petteway. Osguards has all the elements that has always attracted me to science fiction, specifically, that subcategory of the genre called Space Opera. Enormous space ships equipped with planet-smashing arsenols, far flung interstellar civilizations, evil empires, super advanced technology, and weapons of such lethality Earth's most powerful weapons systems would come across as slingshots in comparison.

Malcolm takes these elements and creates an epic story that spans across space and time. Nausona and Laurona are princesses who flee their planet, Chakun, after it is overrun by the expansionist Kulusks. The sisters discover what they think is refuge on an obsure, barbaric world called Earth. But the part of Earth they find themselves in is no safe haven for the African-appearing girls. Nausona and Laurona have the misfortune of being in the southern region of a pre Civil War United States. Though they are afforded a measure of protection in the company of a kindly widow, the girls are still brutalized and threatened by a neighboring slaveowning family.

Nausona's and Laurona's hardbitten determination to survive and return to their home lays the groundwork for the role their descendants will play as leaders of a mulitgalaxy alliance.

Osguards: Homecoming is a compelling drama in addition to being a fast paced adventure. The characters are written with depth and feeling. There is a lot of internal perspective along with a healthy dose of political intrigue. I have one word to sum up the climatic space battle: spectacular! With Osguards: Homecoming, Malcolm has created a winner. Thankfully this book is the first in a series.

Keep 'em coming, Malcolm!!!!

Book Review: Great Sky Woman

Great Sky Woman By Steven Barnes
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Del Rey; Reprint edition (March 24, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345459024
ISBN-13: 978-0345459022
Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches


Steven Barnes is one of my favorite science fiction authors. His mastery of story telling is phenomenal. Mr. Barnes has the noteworthy skill and the poise to write about a myriad of subject matters and plots, creating in them specific and believable worlds in which readers can throw themselves into. He has done this with his Aubrey Knight series, his Bilalistan Series, as well as with Blood Brothers, Iron Shadow and Charisma, just to name a few. And though I’m late to read, what he has done with Great Sky Woman (first published in 2006), raises the bar once again.

Great Sky Woman is set in the heart of the African continent, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, before recorded history. There, the Ibandi live as hunters and gatherers unaware of the manmade and natural disasters approaching their way.

Great Sky Woman follows the story of two Ibandi members, T’Cori (the nameless one), an abandoned girl who was raised by the chief dream dancer; and Frog Hopping, a boy raised by his uncle to be a hunter and warrior. T’Cori, gifted with superior abilities than the other dream dancers, searches desperately for acceptance from the one who raises her as well as her sister dream dancers. Conversely, Frog, who isn’t the strongest or fastest amongst his age, competes with his brothers to be a man amongst the Ibandi. Their search for their own identity and place amongst the Ibandi ultimately brings them together in life and death struggles that eventually decide the fate of all the Ibandi.

Mr. Barnes builds a world full of African folklore, legend and mysticism in such vivid realistic detail that the reader is sucked in wanting more. The characters are so strong and brilliant that they resonate in the readers mind long after completing the book. The power of this story opens the door for a growing new type of fiction that beckons for more.

I recommend Great Sky Woman as a must read. I can not wait to read the follow on story Shadow Valley.

Malcolm “RAGE” Petteway
Rage Books LLC

Chronicle of the Liberator (Paperback)

Chronicle of the Liberator (Paperback)
By Ronald T. Jones
August 15, 2004
Iuniverse$12.95
Ronald T. Jones' Chronicle of the Liberator is a thrilling science fiction read. Ronald definitely captured the true essence of a military sci-fi story with this story.
Chronicle of the Liberator is about Thomas Richard Jackson, a mild-manner man living a boring life, who breathes the spirit of low self-esteem. One day, during a horrific episode, which highlights his meekness, he is snatched from Earth and transported across the universe onto a ship. There he befriends an alien, Likir, and Likir's servant, Coowald. Likir tells Thomas that he is destined to save Earth. However to do it, Thomas must assassinate a great and powerful leader of an interstellar empire. Together, in order to build his mind, body and spirit into a warrior, Likir and Coowald train Thomas in military fighting, leadership and strategic planning. Soon after, Likir tests Thomas in a live-fire exercise, which stresses Thomas to the breaking point. The knowledge that he must survive so he can save Earth, fuels him to keep going.
Chronicle of the Liberator is a self-awakening story, showing playing it safe in the journey of life isn't really living. Ronald lightly seeds Thomas' character with internal and external prominence and like a master, magnificently steers the reader through ebbs, swirls and surges of his growth. Ronald designs a powerful backdrop of believable military campaigns, battles and techniques in which Thomas thrives and eventually leads to his rebirth as a battle-tested combat-forged leader. Watching this unfold in the pages of this book was both enjoyable and heart-wrenching at times.
I enjoyed reading the battle scenes and compared the combat strategies to present day teachings. As a military veteran, experience in military planning and strategy, I found this book to be on target. I recommend this book to all sci-fi enthusiasts, but especially those with a penchant for military sci-fi.




Malcolm "RAGE" Petteway
http://malpetteway.blogspot.com/
http://osguards.com/








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Traditional vs Self-Publish

Last week I became embroiled in a hot debate over whether it was prudent for authors to self-publish vs. going through the traditional publishing route. The debate was spirited, but it did bring to light the prevailing thought among many why self-publishers are loathed in the writing community. First of all, many I debated referred to the self-publishing business as vanity press and not small press or even self-publishing. This in itself indicates their position that those who self-publish do so just to see their name on a book. In fairness this is probably true for some of the people that take the self-publishing approach, but not all.

Those I debated made many compelling arguments against self-publishing. However, I will boil down their arguments into one issue. The opposing issue I took from the debate is that there is no policing in the self-publishing field. What do I mean? Well, it is simple. Policing assures quality, or at least adherence to the standards of writing. What I call the gatekeepers (e.g. agents, publishers and editors) are conspicuously missing in the self-publishing industry. There is no one to offer critical critique or check your grammar and spelling. To compound the issue, the advent of the computer has given false security to writers that they are producing quality work.

I've learned the hard way, computers and word processing applications can cause more harm than good; especially the auto correct function on most processors. All in all, the lesson learned is, writers cannot rely on the computer or themselves to edit/proofread manuscripts. Unfortunately, many self-published products are a result of self-editing efforts. Thus, those I debated last week concluded, the quality of work of "all" self-published writers could not withstand the scrutiny of the traditional publisher.

My argument is with the scrutiny the gatekeepers are applying. I forward the idea, the gatekeepers of the traditional publishing community use the explosion of the computer as an excuse not to delve into an author's submission and really examine if the story is marketable or not. As soon as they see one spelling or grammatical error in a manuscript, it goes into the reject pile. When I started out writing my manuscripts, I read that the gatekeepers were not looking for pristine work, but for marketable stories written by authors with high potential. Granted the author has to exhibit sufficient writing skills in the manuscript so not to detract from the story. But I think a few misused words, misspelled words, or grammar errors should not kill a manuscripts chance for acceptance. Today's gatekeepers only accept a flawed manuscript when it comes from famous people. Because the famous people have marketable stories, they are willing to attach a slew of editors to those projects. No, I am not advocating that each manuscript that comes through can be riddled with mistakes as long as it is a marketable story. I'm just saying manuscripts should be judged on the story and not on a few…catch what I write here…a few errors. Don't get me wrong, quality is appreciated and warranted by the system. The writer still needs to make every effort to present his best product to the gatekeepers.

With that said many authors with quality projects do become frustrated trying to get passed the gatekeepers and decide to go the self-publishing route. Although, this affords the author more control, it also increases the risks. The author has to act as agent, editor, publisher, advertiser and owner of his own business. With so many hats to wear and probably working only part-time on the book, many errors, problems and mistakes insidiously slip into the final product. This is where those I debated have a solid argument against self-published work. Until there is a mechanism to assure quality work, the self-publishing industry will continue to be spat upon by the so called "writing community" as frustrated no-talent hacks that couldn't withstand the scrutiny of the traditional publishing process. As an independent author, I reject the notion that all that use the small press/self-publishing process are frustrated no-talent hacks. I just believe the gatekeepers of the traditional publishing industry sometimes get it wrong.

They get it wrong because they have a checklist to follow. This checklist is too rigid and inflexible and not visionary enough to recognize a new voice…a different voice…cutting down the ivory pillars of what the book industry believes is necessary to make a good novel. Today, artists write the same old story, just with a twist, because the gatekeepers stifle imagination. There is a formula and no one can alter it. The formula is (known writer + publisher defined audience = success). Emerging stories do not see the light; new ideas never get to grow; and young writers never mature because of this formula. I promote the formula should be changed to (creative writer + dynamic audience = success). In other words the writer needs to be able to capture the reader's imagination and that the publisher's paradigm of who the audience is, needs to be challenged. The old way of defining an audience by just demographics is outdated. Demographics only work in census taking. Today, reading habits, personal experience and raw attraction is what should define an author's audience.

For example, the gatekeepers regulated my manuscripts/novels, Osguards: Guardians of the Universe, to black readers only, which in their opinion are only attracted to multi-cultural, exotic romance novels. They are wrong on both counts. First, just because my books have black protagonists, doesn't mean I'm writing for a black audience. The audience I'm writing for love to read military adventures, have experience with disciplined organizations, and are attracted to science fiction. Second, regulating the reading habits of one group of people without consideration for anything other than demographics is somewhat offensive. Now, I admit this is not always the case. Steve Barnes, Octavia Butler, Samuel Delany, Tananarive Due, Walter Mosley, Jewell Gomez and Ishmael Reed, to name a few have been very successful in crossing the gatekeepers' threshold. So I have hope that my forage into the writing community was met by an anomaly from the gatekeepers rather than the rule. I may once again make that journey to push my work through the traditional means. But for now I remain an independent author.

However, independent authors like me are at a disadvantage. Because of this notion of being frustrated no-talent hacks, it is difficult to get wholesalers and distributors to carry our work. Foremost it is impossible to attract book reviews from media outlets. To fix this, independent authors need a dedicated book review process embedded in main stream marketing. The industry needs a review process that is able to dive into the trenches and weed the chaff from the wheat. There are reviewers that do so, but they do not stand on the same level as those reviewers that critique traditionally published works. Until this happens, marketing a "quality" self-published book will be like pushing a wet noodle up the hill with your nose.

Finally, I understand the reluctance of many to disregard anything tagged with small press/self-published stink on it, but I feel they are losing out on some of the best contemporary works in writing today. The question I have yet to sufficiently answer is with the stigma surrounding the self-publishing industry how can independent authors assure their quality novels get fair attention in marketing and distribution.

 

 

CreateSpace.com Report Card

Bottom line Up Front (BLUF): I released the first book, Homecoming, of my science fiction series Osguards: Guardians of the Universe on 8 Oct 09 through CreateSpace.com. This blog is to respond to a question on how I liked dealing with CreateSpace.com.


I have published three of the four books prior with Iuniverse.com. I thank Iuniverse for extending the opportunity to me, but I felt like I was doing all the work and they were reaping all the benefits. Even though I have severed my relationship with them, I still see my books trading, although slow, on-line. Therefore, I decided to branch out on my own and start my own small print publishing for my books.

A few months ago, I asked the group about CreateSpace.com as a business to produce my books. Responses were mixed, but I decided to go with them anyway. CreateSpace allowed me to publish under my own brand, so I decided to publish my Osguard series under Rage Books.

The process was long, due to my pace. I didn't want to rush into things. I really had only one problem. That was the production of the book cover. I initially was going to use their cover program (which was quick and easy), but since I'm paying for both my daughters to go to college to learn how to do things like that (one is a digital animator and the other is in graphic communication) I charged them with doing the cover. That took more time. Unfortunately, the instructions on how to use their template for self-produced covers were not clear when it came to the bleed zone. It took me five attempts and even after that three proofs to get it right.

Other than that, excellent knowledge of Microsoft word and how to set up a page was most helpful. The interior was accepted on the first try.

However, I must tell you, there is something exciting about putting your book together from all perspectives, rather than just handing someone the manuscript. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

So I would have to say I give CreateSpace.com a four out of five so far. Now, let's see how their support will be during marketing. Today, I placed the book live on my websites: www.osguards.com and www.ragebooks.net. The book is also available on the CreateSpace.com website. It will take a few weeks before it gets to www.Amazon.com. The beauty of that is I will also try to market the books on the kindle application.

Oh yeah, if you do it all yourself (writing, production, art etc) it is free. However, I paid about $40 for the pro plan which allowed me to keep more of the sale price as royalty. So if you are a perfectionist...this is the way to go. It can’t do you any harm to check out createspace.com.

Malcolm “RAGE” Petteway
http://www.ragebooks.net/