Some of us have already been to Mars…
…at least in our imaginations. Here is my Second Skin series which begins with asteroid mining in the belt between Mars and Jupiter but certainly becomes a bit more complicated as the story unfolds and the Tavern on the Edge of Time comes into focus. See below for short synopses. Peter Darrach was my nom de plume at the time.
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Second Skin
In 2125 mankind populates Mars, harvests the metallic riches of the asteroid belt, and flings the ore-bearing asteroids back to smelters near Mars for processing. Mars’ economic might grows daily as mining on Earth becomes uneconomic. The Martian Republic wins autonomy and begins to look to the stars — all the more so as Martian scientists on Phobos have developed the first practical teleportation technology, albeit with one major drawback. While preparing an asteroid for its trip in-system, Max Cody is wounded and repaired by aliens from another continuum. His repair brings him exotic capabilities, which he employs desperately as renegade ice pirates threaten the embryonic Martian Republic while their allies on the inside plot to take both Mars and Earth hostage. The only upside may be Max’s budding relationship with his alluring navigator and colleague, Elaine Zhou. Can Max thwart the murderous plans of Suicide Sam, uncover the plot in time, and still protect his new love? Max wonders, too, whether he is up to this challenge.
Second Skin, Too
In 2125 Earth grows weary of Mars' economic might and threatens a war to gain access to the mineral wealth of the asteroid belt, but even more importantly to Mars' promising teleportation technology. Fresh from resolving the highjacked Mars Orbital Smelter Array crisis, Max Cody is confronted with new challenges as he and his amour Elaine join the diplomatic mission to Earth aimed at preventing war. Damaged and repaired by aliens, Max brings special capabilities to the table which he will desperately need as diplomacy stumbles. Earth's forces threaten to launch a powerful strike at the tiny Martian colony, driven by the relentless ambition of Xanthus Rex, the billionaire arms merchant. Imprisoned on Mauritius, Max and Elaine are helpless to prevent the war between worlds unfolding overhead. How will they escape, and what can even they do to forestall catastrophe for their friends near Mars? Frankly, Max and Elaine wonder, too.
Tavern on the Edge of Time
During the year 2125, former asteroid miners Max Cody and Elaine Zhou never get a moment’s rest. No sooner have they doused the flames of war between Earth and Mars or returned from their first trip to the Tavern on the Edge of Time when they are called upon to help fit out the fledging Martian colony orbiting Jupiter’s moon Callisto. In parallel, Earth extradites the war’s fomenter, ex-billionaire arms merchant Xanthus Rex, hoping to gain from his insights into Martian teleportation technology, but he manages to turn Earth’s resources toward private revenge against Max, Mars, and the Callisto Colony. In the meantime aliens are leaking into the Earth-Mars continuum from the Tavern, whose proprietor repaired and upgraded Max after accidentally injuring him during an asteroid mining expedition. Max’s enhancements help, of course, but when strange beings with the power to animate matter—the Assemblers—find their way to Earth, Max, Mars, and humanity are sorely beset. Worse yet, the Tavern itself is becoming unstable, its acquisitive host having overstretched his considerable powers. His prospecting for collapsed neutron matter has also opened portals between continua, inadvertently adding still more aliens to the mix. That’s when the Assemblers’ overlord arrives and Max finally meets his match. Oh, and Elaine is expecting their hybrid baby. Yes, you might say these are difficult times at the Tavern on the Edge of Time.