Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:
Michael M. Farnsworth
Title of book and/or
series:
HALADRAS
Brief summary of the
story:
When Skylar’s enigmatic uncle warns him to stay away from
the mysterious winged insects that have been sighted on other planets, he
thinks little of it; no one has seen the insects on their own planet of
Haladras. His uncle knows more than he’s telling, though. The creatures are not
insects, but machines. And they're hunting for Skylar. Only after Skylar
narrowly escapes capture and flees Haladras with his uncle does he learn the
whole truth. What his uncle reveals will shatter Skylar’s world. Torn from the
girl he loves and thrust into the center of a conflict that will consume the
empire, Skylar must fight for all he cares for, even as he struggles to know
who he can trust.
Brief description of
the world or location you created for this story:
Haladras is the principle planet for this story—hence the
name. It’s a small desert planet, whose entire economy is driven by teryleum
mining. Though small, because of its vast production of teryleum, it plays an
increasingly vital role in the empire of which it is a part.
If we were to visit Haladras
as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Haladras is a harsh place. Men do not go there to live long
comfortable lives. There is little time for leisure. Its mining units are
utilitarian. However, if given the chance to see it, the Gorge of Kaladra is a
spectacular sight when it’s lit up at night.
What dangers should
we avoid in Haladras?
The sun. The deep desert. Sand storms. Drake Blacksands.
Most of all, the Trackers.
Is there a distinct
or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Haladras?
Like their cities, the people’s food serves one purpose: to sustain
life. Food which spoils easily is of little use. They mostly eat grains,
legumes, and dried meats.
What types of
weaponry or fighting styles are common in Haladras?
The blaster is the most common and efficient weapon. But
there are some who still carry swords.
What types of
vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Haladras?
Few people on Haladras are wealthy enough to own a
spacecraft. Most buy passage on large spacecrafts to travel between planets. On
Haladras itself, sand rovers and transports are commonly used to get about the
desert. Among the younger citizenry, the personal flying devices called
jetwings are popular. If you find yourself on one of the planets with a more
habitable climate, you might end up riding on the back of a shaggy-haired
paqua.
What types of plants,
animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Haladras that we don’t see on
Earth?
Though you won’t find them on Haladras, paquas do make
several appearances in the story. Their most prominent feature is their long
shaggy hair, which is often shorn and woven into a coarse fabric. Primarily
used as beasts of burden, their gait is slow and lazy.
What role, if any,
does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Haladras?
None, practically. Though, the main character will have a
few brushes with the supernatural during his adventures.
Is there any advanced
or unusual technology in Haladras? If
you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Yes. Early in the book, synthetic osteoclasts—nanomolecular
agents—are used to rapidly mend a cracked skull.
The jetwing utilizes an invisible coupling link which acts
as a sort of wing between the two hand-held jet thrusters. This enables an
individual to fly with his arms outstretched, as if he were a plane or a
soaring eagle.
Tell us about any
sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Haladras.
Teenage boys love to play Orb Scram, a game involving
jetwings and a levitating sphere. There’s also sand sailing that can be done
out on the dunes on a windy evening.
Are the days of the
week and months of the year the same in Haladras as on Earth? What holidays or
special events are celebrated regularly there?
The measure of years is reckoned by the length of the
current monarch’s reign. Months are measured by the phases of its own moons.
Is there a particular
religion practiced in Haladras? Please
describe what it involves.
Under the current monarch’s reign, religion in the empire
has withered. Some still believe in a Spirit King, who rules over the dead.
Some believe he also has power in the mortal realm. But there is no active
religion practiced on Haladras. The largest contingency of believers are the
priests which live isolated on the frozen planet of Kyndoo Yavi.
What is the political
or government structure in Haladras? Who
is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The Ahlderion empire is ruled by a king. Each official
planet of the empire is governed directly by a lord. These lords pledge
fidelity to the king, but are bestowed a significant amount of discretion when
it comes to operating the affairs of their people. Haladras being a colonial
planet, is overseen by a viceroy, who has significantly less power than a lord.
The current viceroy of Haladras is Viceroy Aberforce. Generally, he is a
prudent leader. Proud, but spineless.
Has anything in your actual
life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
On Quoryn, one of the nearest planets to Haladras, there are
lush forests with towering moss-strewn trees. These were inspired by the
magnificent forests of the Pacific Northwest, where I live.
Author Autobiography.
Michael M. Farnsworth holds a B.S. in Computer Science from
Texas A&M University. A degree that comes in handy if you’re a software
engineer, which he is, but not so much if you’re a writer. As a native Texan, he
should know lots about riding horses and herding cattle—but he doesn’t. He
does, however, know a good deal about wrangling small children. He has four of
them. When he’s not wrangling children, writing code or writing books, he’s
probably building something. He lives with his wife and children in Seattle,
WA.
Where, and in what
formats, can we purchase your book?
Where can readers
connect with you online?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Haladras. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the Krillonian Empire (which is more of an alternate reality than a sci-fi or fantasy world), in Realm Explorers Part XXXXVI!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the Krillonian Empire (which is more of an alternate reality than a sci-fi or fantasy world), in Realm Explorers Part XXXXVI!
-Annie Douglass Lima
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