David Stroup on The Engines of Dusk trilogy

Guest post by David Stroup ...

The publication of Engines of Dusk Book 3: The Darwinian Sum marks a big milestone for me.

Although this completes my series The Engines of Dusk, this was actually my first novel -- my previous work were all short stories. I originally wrote The Engines of Dusk as a single rather unwieldy volume; the excellent folk at JMS Books have helped me turn it into a more manageable trilogy.

This was my “everything and the kitchen sink” novel, my attempt to throw everything I enjoy into one book. Aliens! Dinosaurs! Murder mysteries! It’s been rewarding to see a largely positive response.

Publication also comes at a rather chaotic time for me. After a long career in journalism (two decades) and copywriting, I’m back in school, working to become a science teacher. That’s made it hard to keep on track with my writing, though I’m maintaining a discipline of working a little every day. It’s also given me plenty of experience and material for my next work.

Visit my blog (below), where I’ll be posting updates and excerpts for my works in progress and updates on giveaways and any promotional events.

David Stroup
http://davidstroup.wordpress.com

Engines of Dusk Book 3: The Darwinian Sum by David Stroup

Engines of Dusk Book 3: The Darwinian Sum by David Stroup is now available in e-book format!

As war threatens to break out between civilizations, two women -- one a shipwrecked human, the other a freelance warrior of the sexually-dimorphic Makers -- close in on the kidnapped human consul at the heart of the crisis. But for Aly Castillos and A’thiathialae, finding the missing diplomat is only the start of a lethal end-game.

Meanwhile, in deep space, a young artificial intelligence named Hawkens DuPree enters into a deadly dance with terrorists and political extremists ... including her ex-lover. Each deception reveals new questions -- and a fatal rendezvous with the agents of an unseen enemy.

For freelance journalist Temple Argent and scientist Kathryn Tamashio, time may already have run out, as the trail of a killer leads only to cold death among the stars.

Across known space, humans and A.I.'s struggle to put together the pieces of a vast conspiracy before it’s too late. Behind the scenes, intelligences older and far more powerful than any human or Maker brood in the cold darkness between the stars. When the Engines of Dusk make their move, two civilizations may fall, and something new will be born ... because the first move in an interstellar war may be just one step toward something far greater.

Read an excerpt or buy a copy today!

Engines of Dusk Book 2: A Thunder in Heaven by David Stroup

TITLE: Engines of Dusk Book 2: A Thunder in Heaven
AUTHOR: David Stroup

GENRE: Action/Adventure • Fiction • Science Fiction
LENGTH: 81,870 words
PRICE: $6.99

PURCHASE EBOOK

In deep space, a young artificial intelligence named Hawkens DuPree is fighting for her life, pursued by the agents of an unknown enemy. Run to ground in a lawless station, she joins with an unlikely ally to follow the clues -- but will the truth hit too close to home?

Meanwhile, on the edge of human civilization, freelance journalist Temple Argent and scientist Kathryn Tamashio lay a trap for a murderer. En route from a planet-wide laboratory to a rugged frontier world, they find themselves fighting for their lives.

And deep within the territory of the alien Makers -- an advanced, sexually dimorphic civilization that was at war with humanity a generation ago -- a shipwrecked human pilot and an alien hired gun join forces to rescue a kidnapped consul. But as Aly Castillos and A’thiathialae grow closer, the man they seek becomes a pawn in a conspiracy that could shake two civilizations to their roots.

The drumbeat of war builds, and a handful of humans, aliens, and artificial intelligences race against time ... but as the Engines of Dusk move new pieces onto the board of their deadly game, it may already be too late.

Engines of Dusk Book 1: Machine Code by David Stroup

TITLE: Engines of Dusk Book 1: Machine Code
AUTHOR: David Stroup

GENRE: Action/Adventure • Fiction • Science Fiction
LENGTH: 64,632 words
PRICE: $6.99

PURCHASE EBOOK

On the distant planet Longlast, freelance journalist Temple Argent joins a team of scientists with plans to reconstruct the Cretaceous ecosystem. When one of the scientists is bizarrely murdered, Temple teams up with Kathryn Tamashio to investigate. They find themselves in danger ... and falling in love.

Meanwhile, in the orbital habitat of Ophiuchi, a young artificial intelligence named Hawkens DuPree considers buying her freedom from the AI who owns her. To complicate matters, her ex-boyfriend Benedictine Thrace pitches up to ask for a small favour. Suddenly her ordered life takes a wild turn and she meets the Spider Lady Ariadne, a woman so integrated with station systems that she lives in permanent free fall.

Elsewhere in space, shuttle pilot Aly Castillos crashes her freighter on an alien planet populated by Makers who hold her captive. When human consul Loren Macke arrives to negotiate her freedom, he finds himself kidnapped, as well. Aly escapes with the help of her guard A’thiathialae, and despite their differences, they team up to rescue Loren.

As the Human and Maker worlds converge, unseen forces conspire to shift interplanetary alliances. The fate of civilizations hangs in the balance. Will these scattered individuals be able to survive the machinations of the Engines of Dusk?