Taking Control

DOES POWER SHAPE THE USER, OR DOES THE USER SHAPE THE POWEREscaping Araxis and his Balandran forces has trapped Kaphri and the Geffitzi warriors in the South. For the warriors, the return to empty holds and caers while their people battle for survival in the North is a bitter triumph. Their only option is to help Kaphri confront the force that is ruthlessly driving her deeper into their lost lands in the hope that she, in turn, can take down the barrier Araxis created to divide their world But powerful forces are moving against them, some of which they are not even aware. The ancient Wyxa, who dwell in the vast swamp known as the Palenquemas, remember the history of the world, and they consider Araxis a minor threat compared to what is moving in the darkness at the edge of their existence. They certainly don't view Kaphri and the warriors as capable of defeating that threat. The Swampdwellers are only interested in maintaining things in their current state and they are willing to sacrifice the Geffitzi warriors, Gemma, and Kaphri to achieve that balance. Bobbie Falin wields magic, thwarts evil forces, pilots sleek ships through space, drinks and carouses with aliens in shabby station bars, and wanders the worlds of other writers with wide-eyed wonder-in her head. Here on Earth, well that's different. Here, she records Kaphri's adventures in the Starchild Series, stows away on the Thief's Hand, and complicates Gideon Rhue and Mei's life in Deformation. She still feeds the local stray cats who show up for breakfast and dinner every day, and, yes, it's unreservedly true; if there were a space program to explore the stars, She'd be first in line.