These stories, fragments, and poems are set in the Fremont’s Children universe. This is the first world that I created, and the setting for my first three solo science fiction novels as well as all of the stories and poems in this book. It’s enjoying a renewal. The original series was always meant to be four books, but only three came out since the great recession ate book two in the series. But that’s a story for another time, and maybe I’ll tell it when the last book comes out. The books have been releasing in beautiful 10th Anniversary editions, and this set of stories is designed to complement the books. But if you’ve come to this on its own, don’t worry; the words here will stand alone fine.
The Silver Ship and the Sea was drafted during the run-up to the Iraq war. It’s meant to show the costs of war. It’s also about belonging and family. Reading the Wind is about the people we may become, people who can change their looks and strength and abilities, and who can create life. Wings of Creation continues that theme, looking more closely at how the creations of others might be taken advantage of. The Making War is about finding a moral peace when you have too damned much power. Throughout these books, the heart of the story is about six people who are rejected as children for being different, and yet who find a way to grow up and change the course of history for five worlds.
These poems, stories, and fragments of data are pulled from the time before The Silver ship and the Sea begins through the end of the timeline in Wings of Creation. They are set on three different planets.
I’m not much for overly long introductions. After all, in the end, fiction either works for you or it doesn’t. I hope you enjoy these words.
Brenda Cooper