Few cultures take gender inequality to the extent seen on the planet Bisbane. Brisbani women are city dwellers, enjoying high levels of education and technology. Males live in the wilderness, carefully enclosed in fenced preserves. The two sexes only interact when a woman wants a child, and even then she needs a sharp knife.
Hermione's ready for another child. Her first, a son, will soon be relocated to the wilderness. She's hoping for a daughter, a more permanent family member with whom to share her life. Without the money for a hunting license, however, Hermione can't access the preserves and hunt a male.
Help comes from an unexpected source—a human male hunting a fugitive from off world. The human's willing to pay for information leading to the criminal's capture.
Although Hermione finds dealing with an alien male distasteful, his money makes a hunting license possible, and his tracking technology makes locating a healthy Bisbani male easy. Even so, Hermione's not sure she's doing the right thing, and she might be right.
Jimm Grogan's tale of gender inequality, romance, and reproduction calls to mind the short stories of Robert Heinlein. Also included is a free sample from Grogan's new novel, Negative Zero.
Genre: FICTION / Science Fiction / GeneralThe word count of 12429 includes a sample chapter from my full sized novel 'Negative Zero'. It's only 8738 words if the Negative Zero advertisement is removed (which I am willing to do). This book could be free (as a marketing tool) if/after I have the same translator translate my two full-size novels. They are in the same series (or universe). I have a third novel coming out this year.
The ranking is shown on the amazon link below. The sales in English have been few, less than 100 a year.
Chapter 1: Opportunity Knocks
Hermione adjusted the incubator knob that was housing her egg to the ‘preserve’ setting. She had laid the seven-kilogram egg last night and was expecting it; it was the fourth year she had produced an egg, each time was this same season, just before winter. She was a late layer.
The second time it had happened, she was prepared. With the help of her mother, she had gone to an exotic island wilderness preserve, hunted down a nice male barbarian, harvested it, and brought back his gametes to fertilize her egg. The result was a healthy son.
Hermione wandered to her son’s room and went inside. Her son scampered around her excitedly on all six limbs, yapping. Its fur was thick and black, with a streak of white on his chest. He got the white streak from her, she guessed, and the black from his father.
“Hi, Baby. Are you happy? Are you happy?” she said. She caught him in her arms and gave him a warm hug. Then she rolled him onto his back, massaging his chest and abdomen. He kicked the air with all four feet, grabbed at her with both hands.
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Portuguese
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Translation in progress.
Translated by Maximiliano Silva
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by Judy Posadas
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Author review: Judy was quick and courteous. I enjoyed working with her. |
