#dsupdate

It’s that time of year!  Below is my playlist for Book 3 of the Extropian Cycle, Scion of Extropia.  Some of these are atmospheric, but many speak directly to the characters.  Enjoy!

Rock Is Dead - Marilyn Manson

Wash It All Away - Five Finger Death Punch

Penance - Device

Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy) - Rob Zombie

Enemy - Blue Stahli

Super Villian - Powerman 5000

Now That We’re Dead - Metallica

Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown - Rob Zombie

Stigmata - Ministry

Open Your Eyes - Disturbed

The Seven Sisters - Celldweller

Prey - Parkway Drive

Rats - Ghost

Throne - Bring Me The Horizon

Waydown - Catherine Wheel

You’re Going Down - Sick Puppies

 The Playlist for Book 3:

 https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1i4ObpjNkxNoRPaKeWqeXA

The Playlist for Book 1:

https://open.spotify.com/user/fvq6im4btcqzvhfjomxqcv3gn/playlist/0lPAjWuEBeimpEsAKb42YL?si=GYpAYFpvRlunC1azNZmSNg

The Playlist for Book 2:

https://open.spotify.com/user/fvq6im4btcqzvhfjomxqcv3gn/playlist/2luJLhwRlTVHx2JJrFpdNV?si=6zlYgxjTSIe_ZfFJJtwe7A

Scion of Extropia can be purchased at:

As per usual, the crystal ball was ablaze with news of the miscreants that fill this city. It seems that one vampire has learned what it means to become a celebrity. Bit off a bit more than you could chew, Malachi? 

To recap for all my lost souls:

The eternal lovers decided to pay a visit to one of the many overprices local night life hideaways for a snack. Two lovely victims chosen to dine on like a fine wine. Only, things began to so south when Malachi Brötzmann                            ( @painxintheneck ) couldn’t fight the premature jitters at his treat. It was too easy to just eat his prey, though, he wanted a chase. To make a long story short, shots were fired and the poor girl was left bleeding to death in a dirty alley way. What other option did the vampire have than to save her with a few drops of his blood? I’m sure the cameras and eyes on him had no influence on his decision what so ever! 

In the true backwards fuckery that is this mess of a city, the ruthless and blood thirsty Malachi Brötzmann became the hero. 

What will become of the twisted lovers? Will @barczaks be able stick around with his lover’s new fame? Will Malachi embrace his new heroic ways or prove to the world his soul is as tainted as the rest? I could tell you my predictions, but what’s the fun in that?

Book Two is available now!

The World is saved.

 The Cyberprophet released Unlink, the nano-platform that ended the scourge of the alien drug, Uplink.  Humanity was now safe from control by the extradimensional Fremd, thanks to their new personal cloud prostheses – bestowed without the recipients’ knowledge or consent.

 But, is it possible that for some victims, the cure could be worse than the affliction? Does not any new protective platform offer new opportunity for exploitation?  And, who might wish to exploit it?

The Extropian Acceleration is the second book of the Extropian Cycle, in which new heroes face the consequences of these great social and technological changes.  It is a story of action and humor, pitting the forces of greed and complacency against those of determination, friendship, and love.  Can a man gain all of Realspace, and reclaim his soul?  Perhaps, but it takes slick engineering, persistence, and the devotion of family.

 The works of Dietrich Storr can be purchased at:  https://www.amazon.com/Dietrich-Storr/e/B07FQZPZFR

 Dietrich Storr on Goodreads:  

1. The best kind of animosity takes decades to build up

2. Never buy your boss a big pointy hat

3. Hire someone to keep score during your arguments

4. You can’t commit crimes if you aren’t cute

5. Spending all night talking to lawyers is bad for digestion

Gigi led a simple, happy life.  She was a family girl, splitting her time between playing virtual reality games with her siblings and manhunting dangerous fugitives for the bounties. She really botched it though, when she accepted a lucrative but unusual offer: locate a fabled and elusive hacker - just to deliver a job offer.

 Now, everyone wants a piece of Gigi.  The hacker wants her body - to fill out the roster of his tier one professional VR sports team.  Her employer wants her soul, because that is apparently how demonic sorcerers get ahead in this world.  Worst of all, the hacker's partner wants her heart.  Afflicted by an unprecedented syndrome of physical, psychological, and nanotechnological ailments - he has decided that the tough love of a woman like Gigi is the only thing that can sustain his life until he is cured.

Benjamin stopped briefly in the waiting lobby.  It was an extremely comfortable and well-appointed space, but not that large.  The ‘ward’ that Catalina was on had only six patients; those who were the most demanding and had the biggest checkbooks.  The waiting area seemed unusually crowded, with several people, hospital and civilian alike, standing around watching a video feed.  Benjamin moved to where he could see the screen.

There was somebody on the screen reporting from the street in a large city.  Below his image was a banner declaring ‘Skyline Bank trouble yields violence.’ As Benjamin moved in the reporter was saying, “Still no resolution to the account holders’ predicament, nor any explanation of the widespread reports that the Skyline situation has impacted other financial institutions – but late yesterday there were dramatic developments at the regional office of Skyline Bank, in New York City.  The building itself has been closed for a few days, with no sign of people coming or going.  Late yesterday, however, the remains of a variety of drones and at least one human body literally fell from the sky, to impact the street right here outside of Skyline. Neither Skyline nor local authorities have commented on these disturbing occurrences…”

“That’s pretty fucked up, hunh?”

Benjamin turned, catching the coffee that nearly spilled on him. Benjamin got control of the cup and said, “Thank you.”  The person was shorter than he was and wrapped in blue scrubs, with other medical trappings.  It took him a few seconds to register.  “Patches?”

She looked at him sternly and turned away, waving for him to follow.  He did, and she led him to one of the side doors labeled ‘Consultation.’  She looked briefly around to see if anyone was paying attention to them before opening the door and leading him inside.

This smaller room, of course, was just meant to host private conversations comfortably.  “Patches, why are you here? Why are you dressed like a doctor?”

“Because it’s comfortable and inconspicuous, of course.”

“Why are you here?”

“Because you are! You mentioned that one of your girlfriends was having surgery here, so I knew you would be by this morning.”

“You have to impersonate a doctor and come out here to talk to me?”

“This is one of the best places in the city for a private conversation.  Do you know how much E&M and nano are blasting around this building? And, this is a room designed for privacy. I guarantee that nobody is eavesdropping on us.”

“Who would be eavesdropping on us? And if we used C2C, nobody could anyway!” Benjamin flashed back to the robbery and Patches’ retribution. He then thought about the strange C2C activity he saw in Dani’s head last night.  Patches just shot him an annoyed look.

“So,” said Patches, “Dani came back really late; I don’t suppose that was your doing?”

“No,” he said.  “She ditched me right after dinner. She said it was work.”

“That figures,” she said.  “I had some desperate hope that you sealed the deal, but that was pretty unlikely.”

“Thanks! And, what the Hell!? Dani told me she really considers you family, and you act like she is,” Benjamin gestured at the room around them. “But, you also act like we should be afraid of her!”

“We should! What did I tell you about forbidden knowledge? Don’t tell me that you bought the routine that this was just my niece showing up for a long-overdue visit?”

“At first, I did,” he admitted.  “Until I talked to her last night. She pumped me for information about those thugs in your shop.”

“That’s what I like about you, Benjamin. You have a trait that is pretty rare in people these days. You can learn. Did you stick to the story?”

“Yes.”

“Did she believe you?”

“I did a pretty good job of selling it.”

“Don’t give me that shit! You’re a blink, the next best thing to a telepath! Don’t play innocent with me. I know you; you couldn’t keep your eyes off of her cloud!”

“Yes! Ok, Yes. She bought it. She thinks that I bought the FUBAR story, and believes that I won’t talk about any of it. Which I won’t!”

Patches grinned and said, “Good job!”  She grasped him on either side of the head and kissed his face. After releasing him, she said, “You’re not going to charge me for that, are you?”

Benjamin frowned in disgust.  “Yes, it is going to cost you. You’re going to have to tell me more about what the fuck is going on! Why are we scared of Dani?”

Patches sighed.  “She has a very tough job. Huge responsibility.”

“Middle management in Texan tech industry development?” Patches shot him the look.

“OK, so she watches over – secrets,” he said.

“Yes.”

“And, she came to determine how much we know?”

“She came to determine how much you know. She knows what I know.”

“And then what?”

“If she sees a problem, she fixes it.”

That statement sat out in the air between them.

“Are you telling me she came here to consider if she should kill us?”

“No. I’m saying that she came out to consider if she should kill you. If she were going to kill me, she would have brought a team.”

“Why would Dani do that?!”

“Because the secrets she’s protecting are that important! More important than you can imagine! And if she didn’t, it could result in a global catastrophe!”

“What the fuck is going on in Texas?!”

“Nothing! In fact, you don’t ever need to say another word about Texas!”

Benjamin put up his hands in surrender.

“Ok. All I’m saying is that you pushed hard to set me up with your potentially homicidal niece.”

“Look,” said Patches, “she was going to meet you, one way or another. I just tried to define the terms. Give you a bit of a leg up. Plus, I provided an outside chance that you would score. And you did well.”

“Shit, Patches! I have enough trouble with women! I need the pressure of being a good enough date to not be killed?”

“Benjamin. We made it through. We’re Ok.”

Benjamin nodded.  “Look, I guess you have to make your escape - or walk your rounds. I need to be ready when my bank opens. I still can’t access my funds.”

“Your bank has a realspace presence?”

“They have realspace right here in Vegas. I figured with innovation like that, they would be better than a big player like Skyline.”

“You weaseled your way into a bank for rich, old people.”

Benjamin shrugged.

“At any rate, you didn’t see enough of those news reports. The damage is so broad; people are so scared that many banks have shut everything down anyway. They don’t want a run while they check their security.”

“Damn! Well, maybe my problems were just the bank being overly cautious.”

“Oh, yeah,” said Patches mildly.  “I’m sure that’s it. So when did you lose…”

“Last night.”

“So, I pressed you to show Dani the really good life in Vegas, and I bragged about rich you are.”

“Yes.”

“Before what was, literally, the most important date of your life! And then you couldn’t pay?”

“No.”

“That - is - hilarious!”

“That is entirely a matter of perspective!”

I wanted to catch up with everyone; it’s been a while. I am staying busy - on all fronts - but I wanted to give you all an update on the one that really matters, my writing!

Most excitingly, I am finally ready to release Book 4 of the Extropian Cycle:  Legacy of Extropia.  I am very pleased with the way this offering expands my world and continues the discussions of technology and society in entertaining ways.  Stay on the lookout right here for the release announcement, to be expected in the time frame of the next two weeks.

Also, I am continuing to work diligently on Book 5, Extropian Redoubt.  This book may turn out to be a bit longer than my previous works, but I am closing in on the finish.  There is still a considerable editing effort left, but the release will be in the next year.

Beyond that, I am developing ideas for future stories both inside the Extropian Cycle and in new settings.  I hope to make great progress in all of these efforts over the holidays.

With that, I send my personal well wishes and greetings for the season, whatever your personal traditions are.  And, as always, you have my tremendous gratitude for reading my work and sharing it with others! 

Greg Comes Home is now available in the Kindle Store:  

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGR1GPY/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

This short story takes place at the end of the third book of The Extropian Cycle, Scion of Extropia.  For those who thought Greg’s journey got short shrift - here it is – a tale of bittersweet homecomings, justice, and blood-thirsty monsters.

The works of Dietrich Storr can be found at:  

https://www.amazon.com/Dietrich-Storr/e/B07FQZPZFR

Dietrich Storr on Goodreads: