The Great War of the Worlds

What happened after the Martian Attack chronicled in War of the Worlds ended?

The aliens succumbed to Earth's microbes, but left their weapons and war machines scattered across the globe.

Governments worked hard to assert control over these deadly technologies, so they could keep it out of the hands of the wrong people, while taking advantage of it for themselves.

Sometimes they failed.

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It's 1915, twenty years after the Martian invasion chronicled in H.G. Wells War of the Worlds failed. The aliens left behind advanced technology and weapons, and now humanity is on the brink of a catastrophic war. Caught in the middle of the chaos are two unlikely heroes: Emil Zimmerman, a young German soldier, and James Brogan, an introverted radio engineer.

Shadows of the Past is a science fiction, alternate history, survival adventure. Do you love War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells? Then this thrilling journey of humanity grappling with the legacy of Martian technology is the thrilling ride you're looking for.


Shadows of the Past is now available for sale in both eBook and paperback!

If you’re a Kindle user, or want to buy the paperback, you can buy Shadows here (The paperback will be available at Barnes and Noble’s website in a few days if you prefer to buy it there. They can be a little slow.)

Google reader? Walk this way.

Apple person? It’s over here.

If you prefer another store, there’s a universal book page with just about every store you can think of.

Also, the sequel is available for pre-order now, too! Here’s the universal link.

March 15, 2024 blog daily diary






Souvenir map of Paris circa 1915Souvenir map of Paris circa 1915

Starting to collect my various ideas into an outline for Clouds in the Future: The Great War of the Worlds Book #2. A big part of the story is set in a Paris already devastated by the return of the Martians.

On Deck: Outlining. Plotting. Saving the cat, if you know what I mean.

Inbox: Largely ignored.

Listening: Marillion’s Clutching at Straws. The rising tension in that album suits what I’m trying to do in the story.

Reading: Embers of War

Image credit: Unknown illustrator, Museums Victoria
https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/381865

March 12, 2024 blog daily diary






You’ve seen Henrique Alvim Corrêa’s illustrations for the 1906 edition of H.G. Wells War of the Worlds, but there’s a good chance you don’t know who he is. Like the famous novel, Corrêa’s drawings have reverted to the public domain. Unlike the novel, most folks don’t take the time to credit the artist.

Which is a shame. They may be the best depiction the story has even received. even Wells said Corrêa did more for my work with his brush than I with my pen”.

Corrêa’s work is dark and moody but at the same time startlingly dynamic. I’d love to see him illustrate a comic; he reminds of Klaus Janson and Gene Colan with just a dash of Bill Sienkiewicz.

You can read more about Corrêa and his work here

And please, if you use someone drawings for a blog post, credit the artist!

Possibly one of the reasons — certainly it’s one of the very big reasons Arrakis is so popular is the spice — they say it makes you smarter. You know, people ask me, they ask me Shaddam, why don’t you try the spice? You’re already very smart, you’d be even smarter.’ But I don’t-I’ve been talking about it for a long time, that would be unfair. They already think I’m too smart. Do you know about those machines on Ix? They say they have new machines on Ix. I’m related to a Ixian professor, that’s how smart I am.”

March 11, 2024 blog daily diary






Got sucked right into the grind yesterday and forgot to post. Today looks no different.

On Deck:  Posts. Novella.

Inbox: A mess

Listening: Applefish. (Google it.)

Reading:  The Embers of War by Gareth L. Powell

Last Watched: The Woman in the Wall.

March 6, 2024 blog daily diary






First outdoor bike ride of the year yesterday! It was warm, too warm even for full-fingered gloves. Felt good to get outside and even better to know that working on the trainer inside has kept me in reasonably good form.

Back back to the grind today…

On Deck:  Finish a post on data quality for a client. Update an outline for another. Finish up the novella so I can start outlining the next full-length novel.

Inbox: Zero unread!

Listening: It’s pretty quiet in here.

Reading:  Nearly finished with Pawn of Prophecy, first book in The Belgariad.

Last Watched: First episode of The Woman in the Wall. Creepy.

Condition: Not bad, all things considered.

March 4, 2024 blog daily diary






A busy day with an errand first thing at 9, doctor at noon, and then into the city in the evening for a dog training class.

At the same time, lots of writing due for the day job and time is running out on getting started on book #2 if I want t have it ready for the fall.

On Deck:  Everything. The entire world is on deck.

Inbox: 10 unread.

Listening: The wind outside.

Reading:  Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings.

Last Watched: New Shogun series. Good stuff.

Condition: Tired.

February 29, 2024 blog daily diary