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This month our web site features the following original
writings of:
Blood Trust
by Roderick Gladwish: The sequel to Soul Price (March 2005).
Be prepared to be entertained and frightened, very frightened,
as Roderick follows through with a tale that will keep you
thinking as you try to close your eyes only to find that you
are having an insomniac attack.
A Case for the King's
Hand by James Brian King: Here is a fantasy tale that
has all the hallmarks of becoming a continuing, classical
fantasy tale. Einar (Then King's Hand) and his "brother"
the redoubtable (at least in his own mind) halfling, Rumrik,
have a troubled relationship - and that may be the real humor
involved in this tale of "just desserts." A skilled
fantasy author to our website makes me positive that JBK will
have a follow-up story in the coming months. Welcome aboard
JBK.
The
Pretentious Twit (The Column That Rocks the Column)
by Michael Battaglia: Our esteemed critic tackles a critical
element in writing: Endings. How do you end a tale? Who does
he critique? Gabe Morales's Torment (our first and longest-running
fantasy tale). Is it a skewered critique? Judge for yourselves.
I am positive that Gabe will be fascinated and thrilled with
the manner by which Michael tackles "Endings."
Where Do You Go
When You're Not Here (an excerpt) by Michael Battaglia:
Here is part of Michael's on-going novel (17,000,000 pages
and counting - just kidding, it can't be more than 17,000
pages!) but I found it simply fascinating writing (and reading).
Michael's style is, quite simply, different, yet classical
in his professional writing skills. . His "voice"
is to be admired. I am sure it will receive a number of reviews.
Certainly Gabe Morales has been waiting for quite a while
to comment on Michael's style. If you are interested in learning
how to write, proper technique, read this excerpt. I am sure
you will be confused, enthused and interested in knowing how
a "character" thinks.
The Horrible Mile
by Laura Sanger Kelly: An original tale by a new author to
our web site. This story tells of the anguish of "Ty,"
a determined young man who suffered through his childhood
with taunts of "…There goes Tubby (Whale, Fatso,
Lard Butt…" But Ty is determined to put the past
behind him and settle the score with all of his detractors.
However his "not so traditional approach in training"
to his first marathon makes these 26 miles 385 yards quite
simply, "a horrible mile."
Twenty Twenty
by G. C. Dillon: Quite a change of pace for G. C. Dillon.
Our "regulars" know him to be an excellent fantasy
writer, but in this science fiction tale, we are introduced
to Josie Kelley and a world in the future - unfortunately
(for our society) it is not too far in the future and can,
eventually happen … what can happen? Well, read 20-20
and treasure the "good old days."
Saul and the Witch of Endor
by Wesley Lambert: Perhaps the strangest tale we've ever published
on Scribal Tales. Wesley Lambert has written a fantasy (or
is it) religious tale that has such a strong "ring of
truth" to it; it can only make you wonder if it really
did happen. The writing style is very strong and this story
could not be denied. I look forward to hearing comments on
this hybrid tale.
Strangers To The Valley
by Janice Jackson: Janice continues to introduce different
characters and settings to Talos Valley. Secrets are revealed,
friendships are developed and tested, there are clues about
that mythical scribe (who shall remain nameless - well not
really), teenage rebellion. Janice and I welcome all authors
to contribute to the shared world and join us, in what we
predict will be an adventure that takes off during the new
year (2006).
Our Feature Presentation is:
Harvest by Gabriel
Morales: For a time it appeared that Gabe was not going to
submit, for the first time, a short story. In the previous
edition of Scribal Tales Gabe brought Torment to an episodic
conclusion. So one day before our publishing deadline, Harvest,
appeared on my electronic desk and swept me off my editorial
perch. I was held mesmerized by Gabe's attention to story
detail and the history he presented to those who follow his
tales of derring-do. Here is the opportunity to visualize
the real impact of a society whose extended life depends upon
the vitality of one's life crystal.
Our heroine, the formidable sorceress, Sidria is featured
in this story. How did she get her power, her training. Her
mentor, Ulagarthio Rosin has violated a few of the rules and
regulations in his quest to master the spell "Immortalitas."
Unfortunately for both Sidria and Ulagarthio, the Council
of Wizardry is a bit offended by this transgression of moral
and divine law - and the Council's justice is swift and deadly.
If you love fantasy, you'll agree with me that Harvest
by Gabriel Morales deserves to be our feature presentation.
I will sign off now and wish you all a happy holiday season.
I hope to conclude 2005 with our traditional year-end edition
of Scribal Tales - Reflections - 2005.
Oops, I almost forgot: Chapter
3 of Odan the Scribe is respectfully submitted for your
reading pleasure. The tale represents a change in my writing
style, showing an unnamed scribe (human) trained as an experiment
by the mythical members of the scribal priesthood, who has
been trained from the moment he was brought to Angel Island,
the fortress of knowledge where the priesthood has stood for
untold centuries and given a quest.
The scribe as he is known hasn't got a chance to survive
this quest. His inner mind tells him it is a death quest
But "chance" is really the incalculable element
to survival and existence. So it is written.
Dan "O"
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