by blake | Jun 1, 2012 | Uncategorized
Chapter 15 : Tempus Fugit
This week’s instalment of the Threshold Bookcast takes place in Hasania, the so-called artificial state governed by Omar Malaki.
As the chapter begins, we find Richard Ramsay, the legendary Conservative leader, entertaining himself around the estate of his wealthy hosts, while he waits to meet the patriarch of the dynasty.
« The veteran statesman had never interested himself in the process by which artificial islands were brought into existence, or rather, not more than superficially anyhow. His agenda was usually too crowded for him to take the time and learn about the details of such realizations. He preferred to focus elsewhere, content to simply know that the enterprises were achievable. After all, particulars were the concerns of the specialists, the engineers, architects, ecologists, builders, and whoever else were involved in the operations. Yet, as he strolled around the area, surrounded by the astonishingly diverse variety of floras that had been selected to complement the extravagantly landscaped terrain, he had to admit that the creation was bordering on the miraculous. If he had visited the paradisiacal place just a few years earlier, of all this amazing collection of beautiful objects, not a single item, not even the smallest grain of sand, none of it would have been there to be seen. The vista would have comprised only the sky, the thin distant coastline, and, as if one had travelled to a desert of water, the undulating dunes of the ocean. »
The experienced politician eventually joins the influential Middle Westerner at a nearby pond, where they will hold a crucial conversation.
The fifteenth episode of The Threshold Series, « Tempus Fugit, » follows below. I wish you all an enjoyable reading !
★
★
On a background of environmental and financial crises, and religious influences intertwining with political manoeuvres to determine the fate of an overpopulated planet, The Threshold Series chronicles the saga of the Ovelian civilization, a society very similar to our own, as it heads towards one of the most dramatic chain of events of its history.
The first book, « 2206 : Window Onto A New World, » focuses on the end of the year 2206, which culminates on an important federal election that will be impacted by the discovery of an anomaly in the nearby outer space.
Each episode of The Threshold Bookcast consists in a complete chapter of the series, made available for free online reading.
For more details about the series and the bookcast, please see the introduction.
The previous chapters are available here :
by blake | May 25, 2012 | Uncategorized
Chapter 14 : Silent Talking
The fourteenth episode of The Threshold Series focuses on Olivia Romero, the Chief Environmental Adviser of Neo Apollonia.
At the beginning of the chapter, the former activist is walking towards the church of the Community, all the while pondering the circumstances which have led her to spend most of her life on Ovel.
« Such preoccupations wouldn’t have crossed her mind back when she had first set foot in the megapolis, the quinquagenarian fondly recollected. It had been almost forty years already. She was among the original generation of Ovelians born aboard a space station. She had not even visited the homeland before making the bold decision of moving down there as a young adult. Settling in Neo Delphi, a neighbouring city, to attend Parnassus University, she had immediately fallen in love with the planet, its impossibly vast, seemingly unlimited outdoors, and its incredible biodiversity. In fact, the attraction had been so overwhelming that, after only minimal consideration, she had altered her plans and chosen to study ecology, of all subjects for an off-worlder, eager to deepen her knowledge of the apparently inexhaustible source of amazement. »
The public figure hastens to the religious building where she will join Aeira for a private meeting. Their conversation will allow us to discover some of the undisclosed concerns of the two women.
I hope you enjoy « Silent Talking, » this week’s instalment of the Threshold Bookcast !
★
★
On a background of environmental and financial crises, and religious influences intertwining with political manoeuvres to determine the fate of an overpopulated planet, The Threshold Series chronicles the saga of the Ovelian civilization, a society very similar to our own, as it heads towards one of the most dramatic chain of events of its history.
The first book, « 2206 : Window Onto A New World, » focuses on the end of the year 2206, which culminates on an important federal election that will be impacted by the discovery of an anomaly in the nearby outer space.
Each episode of The Threshold Bookcast consists in a complete chapter of the series, made available for free online reading.
For more details about the series and the bookcast, please see the introduction.
The previous chapters are available here :
by blake | May 19, 2012 | Uncategorized
Chapter 13 : Keys To Ascension
Rahu Lüli, the teenage monk from Kõrgus, is once again the central character of the weekly instalment of the Threshold Bookcast.
This time, we find the novice reminiscing as he explores unknown territory uphill, following a hunch that has occurred to him prior to the morning ritual.
« « Gazing up, the apprentice had detected an odd detail. Something was decidedly wrong about the view, and it couldn’t but have a meaning. Over the years, the pitch black walls of the cylindrical hole had obviously been darkened by the combustion fumes rising from the cauldrons of scented oil. Yet, the fact that there was no light at all coming from its high end seemed rather singular. The sun had already appeared above the horizon, and so the sky had been bright enough to be visible. And, as the smoke wasn’t accumulating under the dome, there couldn’t have been some unidentified obstacle blocking its passage. { Something doesn’t add up } he ruminated, still feeling compelled to investigate as he advanced upwards. » »
Eventually reaching his intended destination, the young cenobite makes a surprising encounter. The unexpected meeting will provide him the perfect opportunity to elucidate some of the mysteries of the Tähtsaim, and obtain answers to some of his own questions.
Here’s « Keys To Ascension, » the thirteenth chapter of The Threshold Series. Wishing you a most pleasant reading !
★
★
On a background of environmental and financial crises, and religious influences intertwining with political manoeuvres to determine the fate of an overpopulated planet, The Threshold Series chronicles the saga of the Ovelian civilization, a society very similar to our own, as it heads towards one of the most dramatic chain of events of its history.
The first book, « 2206 : Window Onto A New World, » focuses on the end of the year 2206, which culminates on an important federal election that will be impacted by the discovery of an anomaly in the nearby outer space.
Each episode of The Threshold Bookcast consists in a complete chapter of the series, made available for free online reading.
For more details about the series and the bookcast, please see the introduction.
The previous chapters are available here :
by blake | May 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
Click on artwork for full details…
In The Last Waking Moments by Edison’s Children
“UTTERLY BRILLIANT!”… “Staggeringly good and must be heard by every prog rock fan at least ones in their lives”. “Five Stars for a masterpiece of Modern Progressive Rock!”
Prog Archives
– Lazland
Lost And Gone Forever by Dream The Electric Sleep
Dream The Electric Sleep (DTES) is a progressive, concept-rock band from Lexington, KY.
Drawing from a variety of influences that include Genesis, Rush, Killing Joke, Philip Glass, Neurosis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, U2, and Black Sabbath, DTES present an abnormally eclectic mix of genres and musicality.
Animals Like Us by The Aaron English Band
All Region DVDIn Dolby Digital Stereo or Dolby Digital 5.1 Surroundsound
The Marriage of the Sun and the Moon by Aaron English
Named among the ‘Best Albums of 2007’ in two American music blogs: the indie music community The Pop League and Ryan’s Smashing Life, a rock music blog in the newspaper The Boston Globe.
“For those who enjoyed Paul Simon’s foray into African and Brazilian music…or Robert Plant’s latter day Middle Eastern inspired recordings, “Sun and Moon” is a must…More exposure could make English a household name.” – Tom Semioli,
minor7th.com
All the Waters of This World by Aaron English
“English’s album caught our attention – more like snapped our heads back…With a self-produced debut like this, we’re sure we’ll be seeing Aaron English’s profile rising higher and higher.” -Ken Hughes, Keyboard Magazine
Click on artwork for full details…
by blake | May 11, 2012 | Uncategorized
Chapter 12 : No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed
The twelfth chapter of « 2206 : Window Onto A New World » features Aaren Mayr, the Treasurer of the Alliance of Sovereign Nations.
Flying back to Milagenia, the secessionist reflects on how his official functions have increased the frequency of his travellings.
« The observation obliquely reminded the economist of one of the manners in which he could pass the hours more efficiently. He had developed the peculiar habit of systematically archiving all of his electronic conversations, that he could save automatically thanks to the native communication application of his uDev. In view of his professional activities, he had deemed it an additional safety, and it had proved invaluable in quite a few instances. His transits afforded him the time to manage his collection and rewatch some of the chats, and in this fashion he had fished many pearls among the dregs, bits of information that, in hindsight, suddenly gained significance. Now was the perfect moment to peruse the ever increasing heap, and recapitulate the recent evolutions of his attempt at establishing a collaboration between the Community and the Alliance. »
As the episode unfolds, the quadragenarian reminisces one particular weekend in Triton Aeolus, providing us with an alternative perspective on some of the events of those determining few days.
This week’s edition of the Threshold Bookcast, « No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed, » follows below. Wishing you an enjoyable reading !
★
★
On a background of environmental and financial crises, and religious influences intertwining with political manoeuvres to determine the fate of an overpopulated planet, The Threshold Series chronicles the saga of the Ovelian civilization, a society very similar to our own, as it heads towards one of the most dramatic chain of events of its history.
The first book, « 2206 : Window Onto A New World, » focuses on the end of the year 2206, which culminates on an important federal election that will be impacted by the discovery of an anomaly in the nearby outer space.
Each episode of The Threshold Bookcast consists in a complete chapter of the series, made available for free online reading.
For more details about the series and the bookcast, please see the introduction.
The previous chapters are available here :
