Welcome to Plexis!

PLEXIS, THE GIANT asteroid refinery turned shopping mall, was one of my happiest creations as a writer. I did it because an editor—not my beloved Sheila Gilbert of DAW Books—read my first book, A Thousand Words for Stranger, and felt there were too many planet stops.

Okay.

I took out one (Ettler’s Planet, so you know, too), then had a problem. A time and space problem. Worthy of a Time Lord, in fact. I’d used Ettler’s as a crucial meeting place. How was I to get Sira, Morgan, and Huido together at the same time without a planet? Well, there being only me to fix it, I envisioned their meeting point as traveling, too. It’s space, after all. Everything’s moving. Why not?

Plexis was born.

Bonus? Writing about a shopping mall in space was hilarious. I stuffed Plexis with everything from grand displays of the most exquisite art to fake boob-by-species salesbeings and whatever I could think of to fit between. With each new mention in the Trade Pact, Plexis grew and grew—still a great way to get around conundrums of hither and yon—but also taking on a life of its own.

As I concluded the Clan Chronicles series, the only place I wasn’t ready to leave? Plexis Supermarket. There were stories still to tell here. Backstory. New things. What about—

All at once I realized those stories didn’t have to be mine. With Sheila’s consent, DAW’s expertise, and sage advice from those who’ve done shared worlds such as the amazing Ed Greenwood (Hi, Ed!), I officially opened the air locks and invited in anyone who’d care to write a tale from Plexis. Or do the cover art. (Why, yes, that fabulous cover is by the talented Roger H. Czerneda, who also named the Silver Fox. Now you know that, too!) Erin Czerneda, expert in all things Clan, was my first reader, sounding board, and strong right everything throughout (And, yes, Captain Usuki Erin of the Wayfarer. Now you know!)

Readers, fans, friends. Your response was and is a sincere compliment to the characters, the setting, and your own wonderful creativity. Thank you—all of you—from the bottom of my heart.

Parked your starship? Got your airtag?

Welcome to a Plexis you haven’t seen before!

Julie E. Czerneda