A Science Fiction Adventure
by
“A major voice not only in American literature but also in the LGBTQ genre. Highly recommended.” –Grady Harp, Top 100 Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer.
We thought the aliens wouldn’t find us. We thought we could trust the Maintainers. We were wrong.
The Iroquois scientist Taldra became Leader of our world a year before the alien shapeshifters attacked. Her twin gay sons, Telius and Argen, will rally to her side.
Telius, a former time traveler, wants to marry his boyfriend, a former spy. Argen, a prodigy with a troubled past, modifies a handsome captain’s vessel for the battle.
Our world’s other protectors hold dark secrets that might pose an even greater threat than the invaders.
- 3 To Be Read lists
Publisher: Independently Published
Genres:
Pairings: F-F, M-F, M-M
Heat Level: 1
Romantic Content: 3
Protagonist 1 Age: 18-25
Protagonist 2 Age: 18-25
Protagonist 3 Age: 36-45
Setting: The planet Valchondria, which is the Earth of an alternate reality.
Languages Available: English
Telius stepped through the sliding doors, into their two-story home. The aroma of docle bread wafted through the house and led him into the kitchen. A few white petals remained on the cutting board, but the smell came from the oven, now set on “Warm.” His famished stomach tightened even more, but he hoped his favorite dish signaled an even bigger surprise, one he really couldn’t call a surprise.
Multi-colored artwork in synthetic wood frames covered the bland plastic walls of the front entry way. Telius had insisted on displaying the abstract paintings Argen had created during the early phases of his addiction recovery program, during the time the twins got to know each other.
READ MORETelius stepped through a holographic mural of Valchondria and approached the wallscreen room’s long brown couch. Its only occupant used voice commands to channel glide the giant screen he faced. Ebony skin showed through his close-cropped hair. Dark brown eyes lit up from his smile when he turned around.
“You’re finally home!” Jase-Dawn said, jumping up from the couch. He gave his boyfriend one of his big hugs, the ones that meant he wanted to share something, followed by an even bigger kiss. “I expected you in sooner.”
“Forgiveness. After class, I spent some extra time in the undermall. The priests were distributing food packages to as many of the walkway people there as possible, and I wanted to help out.”
Jase-Dawn stepped back a little, leaving his hands on Telius’s shoulders. “You didn’t eat, though, did you?”
Telius laughed. “No, I didn’t eat one of those food packages. I’m hardly a walkway person, living here.” He spun his pointed finger around at the oversized house Taldra’s predecessor had commissioned for her, the house that Telius, Argen, and Jase-Dawn now shared. Taldra had moved to Valcine Plaza a year earlier, after accepting her predecessor’s appointment of her as Leader.
Jase-Dawn’s arm moved up and over like a Maintainer directing crowd control. “Don’t start complaining about how easy we have it here! You’ve saved the world enough for today, or should I say tonight? Not that you should have gone to the undermall after dark anyway. It’s dangerous and full of crime, and you’re—”
“One of Leader’s sons? I won’t start if you don’t.” He grinned a little, then returned to the scent that made his stomach growl. “Who baked docle bread?”
“Me.”
“You?” Telius narrowed his eyes.
Jase rubbed his partner’s shoulders. “I’m learning new things. Argen gave me a video chip of your father’s recipes.”
“That was nice of him. Where is Argen, anyway?”
“Finishing something. He knew we needed some time alone.” Jase-Dawn led Telius to the couch, and they sat close together, arms entangled.
“He had a seizure today, from the confidence pills. He’s fine, though. Forgiveness, I didn’t mean to spoil the moment.”
Jase smiled again. “You didn’t, love. Argen told me all about it, while we were programming the tonal androids to help me teach my music class. Actually, though, I wanted to talk about something else.”
“Like what?”
“Like us. Over the past year, I’ve thought constantly about the day I’ll gain Valchondrian citizenship, and no longer be considered a Degran spy. Now that day is almost here.”
“I kind of remember that, considering you wrote it on the holo-calendar…with sparkle font.” Telius winked, his nose still trying to pull him to the kitchen. But he wondered if Jase-Dawn was about to ask a question that involved one of the benefits of becoming Valchondrian.
“Telius, will you become married with me?”
“I knew it!” Telius said, wide eyed.
Jase scrunched his nose. “That was actually a yes or no question.”
“And you already knew the answer. Of course I’ll become married with you! How many people find the perfect spouse, the person they always want to be with?”
Telius leaned forward and kissed him.
COLLAPSEGrady Harp on GoodReads wrote:"I particularly like that this world has openly gay characters that did not have to hide their identities." (Read more at the site.)
Kristen on GoodReads wrote:"A major voice not only in American literature but also in the LGBTQ genre. Highly recommended." (Read more at the site.)
Sebastian J. Brook on Doctor Who Online wrote:"The Sons of Taldra take you on an adventure that combines fantasy with real life struggles, allowing the reader to seamlessly connect with the content but also feel like they have entered an entirely different world. " (Read more at the site.)
Refreshingly different, and at its beating heart is some much needed diversity that slots in effortlessly and with purpose. (Read more at the site.)
