Clarke County, Space
Published on 19. May 2015
235 pages
978-1-4804-7595-3 (ISBN)
Description
The future of an orbiting space colony is threatened by a fugitive and the assassin on her trail in this science fiction adventure from three-time Hugo Award winner Allen Steele
Skycorp has always expected the near-Earth space colony Clarke County to serve as a cash cow, bringing the corporate behemoth a substantial return on its investment through food production and tourism. Now that the Church of Elvis is planning a major revival meeting on the colony, the execs anticipate that the devout and the curious alike will be rocketing to Clarke County in droves. Its residents, however, would prefer to be left alone, and there has even been some dangerous talk of freedom and independence from Earth.
It's Sheriff John Bigthorn's job to keep the peace on the colony, but his work may prove more difficult than usual in the upcoming days-especially following the unexpected arrival of a frightened young woman carrying money and important data she's stolen from her gangster ex-boyfriend. With an ice-cold assassin called the Golem on the runaway's tail, the holy "Living Elvis" stirring up the faithful, and revolution in the wind, Bigthorn will have to lay off the peyote and stay particularly sharp if he hopes to prevent total chaos and bloodshed... and perhaps even save his floating artificial world.
Skycorp has always expected the near-Earth space colony Clarke County to serve as a cash cow, bringing the corporate behemoth a substantial return on its investment through food production and tourism. Now that the Church of Elvis is planning a major revival meeting on the colony, the execs anticipate that the devout and the curious alike will be rocketing to Clarke County in droves. Its residents, however, would prefer to be left alone, and there has even been some dangerous talk of freedom and independence from Earth.
It's Sheriff John Bigthorn's job to keep the peace on the colony, but his work may prove more difficult than usual in the upcoming days-especially following the unexpected arrival of a frightened young woman carrying money and important data she's stolen from her gangster ex-boyfriend. With an ice-cold assassin called the Golem on the runaway's tail, the holy "Living Elvis" stirring up the faithful, and revolution in the wind, Bigthorn will have to lay off the peyote and stay particularly sharp if he hopes to prevent total chaos and bloodshed... and perhaps even save his floating artificial world.
More details
Person
Before becoming a science fiction writer, Allen Steele was a journalist for newspapers and magazines in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Missouri, and his home state of Tennessee. But science fiction was his first love, so he eventually ditched journalism and began producing that which had made him decide to become a writer in the first place.
Since then, Steele has published eighteen novels and nearly one hundred short stories. His work has received numerous accolades, including three Hugo Awards, and has been translated worldwide, mainly into languages he can't read. He serves on the board of advisors for the Space Frontier Foundation and is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He also belongs to Sigma, a group of science fiction writers who frequently serve as unpaid consultants on matters regarding technology and security.
Allen Steele is a lifelong space buff, and this interest has not only influenced his writing, it has taken him to some interesting places. He has witnessed numerous space shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center and has flown NASA's shuttle cockpit simulator at the Johnson Space Center. In 2001, he testified before the US House of Representatives in hearings regarding the future of space exploration. He would like very much to go into orbit, and hopes that one day he'll be able to afford to do so.
Steele lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Linda, and a continual procession of adopted dogs. He collects vintage science fiction books and magazines, spacecraft model kits, and dreams.
Since then, Steele has published eighteen novels and nearly one hundred short stories. His work has received numerous accolades, including three Hugo Awards, and has been translated worldwide, mainly into languages he can't read. He serves on the board of advisors for the Space Frontier Foundation and is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He also belongs to Sigma, a group of science fiction writers who frequently serve as unpaid consultants on matters regarding technology and security.
Allen Steele is a lifelong space buff, and this interest has not only influenced his writing, it has taken him to some interesting places. He has witnessed numerous space shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center and has flown NASA's shuttle cockpit simulator at the Johnson Space Center. In 2001, he testified before the US House of Representatives in hearings regarding the future of space exploration. He would like very much to go into orbit, and hopes that one day he'll be able to afford to do so.
Steele lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Linda, and a continual procession of adopted dogs. He collects vintage science fiction books and magazines, spacecraft model kits, and dreams.
Content
- Cover Page
- Praise for the Writing of Allen Steele
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Introduction
- 1 Departure (Wednesday: 11:15 P.M.)
- 2 The Coyote Dream (Friday: 6:59 P.M.)
- 3 Her Declaration of Independence (Saturday. 9:23 A.M.)
- 4 Final Approach (Saturday: 10:17 A.M.)
- 5 Elvis Has Risen From The Crave (Saturday: 11:05 A.M.)
- 6 Blind Boy Grunt Strikes Again (Saturday: 11:47 P.M.)
- 7 Conversation with the Golem (Saturday: 12:34 P.M.)
- 8 Macy Drops Out (Saturday: 12:45 P.M.)
- 9 A Free Country (Saturday: 4:21 P.M.)
- 10 The Strip Shuffle (Saturday: 9:45 P.M.)
- 11 Elvis in Space (Saturday: 10:05 P.M.)
- 12 Midnight Rendezvous (Sunday: 12:05 A.M.)
- 13 The Brides of Elvis (Sunday: 12:55 A.M.)
- 14 The Golem Dream (Sunday: 7:42 A.M.)
- 15 Live From Larry Bird Memorial Stadium (Sunday: 9:45 A.M.)
- 16 Above the Bamboo Farm (Sunday: 11:54 A.M.)
- 17 Elvis Gets A Nuke (Sunday: 3:05 P.M.)
- 18 Out of Hiding (Sunday: 5:40 P.M.)
- 19 The Town Meeting (Sunday: 7:07 P.M.)
- 20 The Hour of the Golem (Sunday: 8:17 P.M.)
- 21 Eve of Destruction (Sunday: 9:00 P.M.)
- 22 Bigthorn's Last Stand (Sunday: 9:35 P.M.)
- 23 Elvis EX Machina (Sunday: 10:42 P.M.)
- 24 Arrival (Monday: 11:01 A.M.)
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Copyright Page
