Publishers Weekly

Read about #Batman, #TheAcornStories, #TheGlassCastle, #BruceCampbell, and more in the July 31, 2017 issue of Publishers Weekly.

Science Fiction Book Review: Read About "A highly-imaginative sci-fi adventure."

Simolke’s alternate universe hits all the right notes between the fantastic and the believable. There is a dizzying and impressive array of ideas that permeate this novel. Taldra is a great sci-fi read, especially for those who enjoy history and religion mixed in with technology. This is one story where all three blend seamlessly into one." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★ Read the SciFi Book Review.

Fire and Ice: Free or Discounted Books, by Genre

Fire and Ice: "Over the years we've featured hundreds of books, so readers of all genres will be able to find new authors and e-books to read!"

$1.99 Fiction Feature and Author Interview: The Acorn Stories by Duane Simolke

$1.99 Fiction Feature and Author Interview: The Acorn Stories by Duane Simolke. An interview and excerpt at Fire and Ice Books. I also discuss Degranon and more of my work.

From romantic comedy to razor-sharp satire to moments of quiet reflection, The Acorn Stories transform a fictional West Texas town into a tapestry of human experiences. “A lush tangle of small-town life branches out in this engrossing collection of short stories.” –Kirkus Reviews. “There are people that you like, some that you can’t wait to see if they get theirs.” –Joe Wright, StoneWall Society. “A well-crafted collection of short stories.” –L. L. Lee, author of Taxing Tallula.

Book Review of Gay Science Fiction Adventure

Sons of Taldra Review at Enas Reviews

Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.

Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure
By Duane Simolke
Winner, Pride in the Arts Award
On the planet Valchondria, no illness exists, gay marriage is legal, and everyone is a person of color. However, a group called “the Maintainers” carefully monitors everyone’s speech, actions, and weight; the Maintainers also force so-called “colorsighted” people to hide their ability to see in color.

The brilliant scientist Taldra loves her twin gay sons and thinks of them as the hope for Valchondria’s future, but one of them becomes entangled in the cult of Degranon, and the other becomes stranded on the other side of a doorway through time. Can they find their way home and help Taldra save their world?

• “This is an incredible book about the human condition and how one person striving for the good can, in the end, be a source of change.” –Rainbow Reviews
• “So for those who want a thought provoking and fun sci-fi read, then I would highly recommend Degranon; so hover on over to the bookstore and check this one out.”—Blogger Girls
• “In Degranon, author Duane Simolke establishes his voice in gay genre writing by combining current concerns revolving around queer culture with a world of dimensional doorways, advanced technology, and distant planets.” –X-Factor, October 1, 2004 issue
• “It's a very good story.” –HomoMojo.Com and I Must Be Dreaming
• “A must read.” – Joe Wright, for StoneWall Society
• “A reminder of the danger of fanaticism.” –Mark Kendrick, author of Stealing Some Time
• “Duane Simolke's latest offering is a fascinating scifi excursion into a world as unique as his singular vision.” –Ronald L. Donaghe, author of Cinátis
• “I recommend DEGRANON for its exciting, well-constructed narrative, its often intriguing characters, and its wealth of ideas both political and philosophical.” –J. Clark
• “DEGRANON is sci-fi that warrants the attention of any serious aficionado, gay or straight, fascinated by alien worlds that mirror our own world.” –William Maltese, author of Beyond Machu

New! Revised third edition eBook released in 2016. Nook and Kindle.

Both Taldra #SciFi Adventure Novels in One EBook.

Join the Degranon discussions at Goodreads, Shelfari, and Black Caviar Book Club.

Though it takes place on other worlds, all the characters in this book are people we might call Native American, African American, Hispanic, Asian, or Middle Eastern. Some of them are also gay. Degranon deals with themes of diversity, censorship, and religious violence. It takes place in an alternate dimension, with some of our prejudices and other problems looked at from unusual angles. More importantly for most scifi fans, though, it delivers fast-paced action and constant twists.

Excerpt: We’re Glad Our Son Is Gay.

Excerpt: The Maintainers Arrive.

Degranon: Reading Group Questions.

Book Trailer 1, Book Trailer 2, Book Trailer 3.

Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure discussed in Encyclopedia of Contemporary LGBTQ Literature of the United States.

A glossary for Degranon and its upcoming sequel, Sons of Taldra.

Sons of Taldra: GoodReads Preview, Book Teaser/Spoiler Alert, Writing a Novel.

Nook, Fishpond.co.nz, Fishpond.co.au, Degranon: Kindle eBook, Kindle Germany, Gay Science Fiction Worlds, Gay Science Fiction for Canadian Readers, Gay Science Fiction for the UK, SciFi/Fantasy Adventure, Gay Science Fiction at bn.com, Fantasy Adventure at bn.com, Gay Fantasy at bn.com, Science Fiction Adventure at bn.com.

Featured Web Site: StopHomophobia.Com

StopHomophobia.Com is a site dedicated to educating LGBT people, their allies, and everyone else about the damages of homophobia. It features many resources, such as related history, coming out, gay myths, how to combat prejudice, and how to prevent such problems as suicide and domestic violence.

It’s a vast site with many ways to get involved. Readers can find many more resources, and some inspiring pics, via Twitter: WipeHomophobia and Facebook: STOP-Homophobia.com.

Please also see Holding Me Together and Reactions to Homophobia.

Discover Me, and Many Other Writers, On Indie Book Discovery

Taldra: Science Fiction Adventures with Diversity

Taldra: #SciFi Adventures

Set in an alternate reality, the Taldra novels focus on gays, people of color, and powerful women. Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure flings an Iroquois family into a battle across time and space. In Sons of Taldra: A Science Fiction Adventure, alien shapeshifters and dark secrets threaten humanity. Both works appear in this specially priced eBook.

These novels take place in the present, in an alternate dimension. Valchondria (Earth) had advanced to space travel but then banned it and stopped advancing. Degranon was a Valchondrian colony, and part of the reason for the ban.

"A highly-imaginative sci-fi adventure. Simolke’s alternate universe hits all the right notes between the fantastic and the believable. There is a dizzying and impressive array of ideas that permeate this novel. Taldra is a great sci-fi read, especially for those who enjoy history and religion mixed in with technology. This is one story where all three blend seamlessly into one." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★ Read the SciFi Book Review.

Keywords: gay marriage, love is love, LGBT, queer, POC, People of Color, Native American, Iroquois, Navajo, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latino, Latina, Asian, Middle Eastern, religion, faith, atheism, cults, diversity, DiversityInSFF, strong females, powerful women, women, alternate reality, space epic, romance, free speech, individuality, scifi, SyFy.

Tweets about taldra

Featured Blog: Science Fiction/Fantasy Exploration with Our Epic Worlds.

Our Epic Worlds, from the “About” page: “blog devoted to the vibrant universe of speculative fiction, dedicated to the art and craft of world-building. We intend to publish engaging author interviews and articles about the vibrant worlds our favorite characters inhabit, rage against, and defend against apocalypse.”

The use of “vibrant” fits the blog, with its bright colors, reader-friendly layout, engaging interviews, and insight into science fiction and fantasy writing. Please read my Interview about Valchondria at Our Epic Worlds, but don’t stop there. Our Epic Worlds is a fun read and an interesting resource for readers and writers.

The Our Epic Worlds twitter account includes links to the latest posts.

Author M.L. Spencer manages Our Epic Worlds.