“But wait a minute—” said someone down at the end of the table. “That sounds like we’re going to be a party to a genocide—”
“Oh, yes it does, doesn’t it. But the contract is only for training, it guarantees nothing else. Of course, the Ki! don’t dare say what they want to train the humans to do; that would be illegal.”
“But we’re not going to do it, are we?!!”
“Of course not. We have a second contract on that planet. We’re going to be the new gardeners for the Fn-rr. Caretakers. Protectors of the dreams. Call it what you will. It’s a very attractive contract. Within ten years, the Fn-rr should have incredible forests on every continent.”
“But what about the Ki!? Won’t they figure it out quickly enough?”
“Oh, I’m sure they will; but they’re going to have some other problems to worry about. It seems that Fn-rr have discovered a very interesting fact; the alternate larval beast that the Ki! use is very susceptible to the measles. To be very fair to our Ki!Lakken employers, we will have to make very very sure that anyone sent to the planet is appropriately inoculated. Otherwise, it may turn out that the Ki!Lakken will not be able to continue into the next generation; and the Ki! have very short generations. Only five to seven years.” Yake let that sink in, then continued, “So, here’s how it works out. We’re getting paid by the Ki! to eat the Fn-rr. We’re getting paid by the Fn-rr to retard the breeding of the Ki!. If we decide to honor both those contracts, we can have our lost colony world back. We’re getting part of the deposit forfeited by the Dhroo. Furthermore, because the Dhroo were responsible for stealing the planet from us in the first place and selling it to both the Fn-rr and the Ki!, they are heavily invested in both those species. Now that they’ve lost the rights to our indenture, they are no longer in a position to further exploit the Ki! and the Fn-rr, so they may not be able to meet the payments on their own indenture. So—if this forces an early retirement of the Dhroo, then the Rh/attes will pay us a bonus equal to one-tenth of their indenture to the Dhroo. Does everybody follow that?”
Everybody did. And this time, the applause went on and on and on.
Even after Yake left the room.
But there was still, as Yake had promised, one more thing to do.
Endgame
Yake Singh Browne had a promise to keep. The Dragon was resting on the top of a brown hill. It looked up as Yake approached. It had been eating something wet and gray and slithery. Something that still bubbled and frothed. Pieces of glass and plastic crunched beneath its teeth; sea water dripped from its jaws. “Yesss?” it asked.
Yake bowed. “I came to keep a promise.”
“You came to tell me how it all worked out?” the Dragon asked.
“Yes,” said Yake. “I always keep my word.”
“So. Now I will tell you,” said the Dragon.
“It worked out deliciously. Thank you for an amusing game. I hope it was interesting for you.”
“Yes. It was very interesting. Very very interesting.”
“I am pleased. Perhaps you would like to play again soon?”
“Ah . . . if you insist.” Yake sweated his answer. How do you say no to a Dragon?
“Yes, perhaps, we shall,” said the Dragon. “Perhaps next time it will be more interesting for me as well.”
The Dragon yawned and lowered its head to its feast again.
Yake ran like hell.
More from the David Gerrold eBook Series
THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES
The Story Behind Star Trek’s Most Popular Episode
9781939529565
The complete story of one of Star Trek’s most popular episodes:
•From first draft to final shooting script
•The how and why of TV writing
•Three previously unpublished episodes
•Working on the Star Trek lot
•Personal stories of the stars
•32 pages of photos
•Original illustrations by Tim Kirk
•MORE! MORE! MORE!
THE VOYAGE OF THE STAR WOLF
Star Wolf Trilogy, Book One
9781935251514
The first work in David Gerrold’s Star Wolf trilogy, this tale pits the human members of the Star Wolf space vessel against the superhuman Morthan crew. Captain Jonathan Korie, hampered by the loss of most of the human fleet to the Morthans and a nearly disabled ship of his own, faces the Morthan threat driven by the need for survival and the desire for revenge. A classic of military science fiction, the Star Wolf trilogy combines rapid action with powerful studies of military character.
THE MAN WHO FOLDED HIMSELF
9781935618720
This classic work of science fiction is widely considered to be the ultimate time-travel novel. When Daniel Eakins inherits a time machine, he soon realizes that he has enormous power to shape the course of history. He can foil terrorists, prevent assassinations, or just make some fast money at the racetrack. And if he doesn’t like the results of the change, he can simply go back in time and talk himself out of making it! But Dan soon finds that there are limits to his powers and forces beyond his control.
UNDER THE EYE OF GOD
Trackers, Book One
9781939529541
David Gerrold’s classic space opera Under the Eye of God tells the story of a group of unlikely rebels on a mission to reclaim the galaxy from ruthless vampire overlords known as the Phaestor.
The dark, burnt world of Thoska-Roole, infamous for its harsh climate and equally callous inhabitants, might be the last place in the galaxy anyone would turn for aid in times of crisis. But the small, orange planet is home to the band of rebels who hold the fate of the entire galaxy in their hands.
The Phaestor were once humanity’s last hope, but these genetically engineered predators and their deadly army of Moktar Dragons have since seized control of the galaxy and subjugated all lesser species to feed their appetite for chaos and blood. Standing in their way is the ragtag alliance of malcontents from Thoska-Roole, including two bounty hunters, a mercenary ship captain, and a disgraced reptilian warrior. Together, they make a last desperate stand against the Phaestor and their reign of unprecedented terror.
A COVENANT OF JUSTICE
Trackers, Book Two
9781940363134
In this sequel to Under the Eye of God, David Gerrold’s classic space opera continues.
The bloodthirsty Phaestor, genetically engineered to fight in defense of the galaxy, have since turned against their creators and established a reign of terror and chaos.
Lead by a cunning war queen, her ambitious suitor, and a Dragon Lord, the Phaestor continue to strive for complete enslavement of the galaxy. But a growing band of rebels from Thoska-Roole fights for the galaxy, standing against the merciless vampire overlords.
As other humans, bioforms, and androids from worlds across the galaxy join their cause, the outnumbered rebels fight for freedom and the future of the stars.
STARHUNT
A Star Wolf Novel
9781939529497
Only an endless space war could have produced the Roger Burlingame. A war that had caused Earth to turn starships into instruments of total destruction. A war that had so drained Earth of resources that the Roger Burlingame was kept in service long after it should have been scrapped.
Now, light years from Earth, the great starship had sighted a quarry almost certain to defeat it in a fair fight. The captain’s nerve was gone; the crew were on the verge of mutiny. And command had passed to a fanatical young first officer hungry for his first kill.
War had turned into hell—and this was a voyage of the damned . . .
Originally published as Yesterday’s Children.
THE WORLD OF STAR TREK
9781939529572
They said it couldn’t be done! A science fiction show on national television? The network didn’t believe it would work. It was the 1960s. Would the public accept a non-human hero with demonic pointed e
ars? A black female lieutenant? Impossible!
BUT STAR TREK LIVES!
This is the story of a phenomenon—a story as strange and wonderful, in its way, as the Enterprise’s trip through space. Even the power of the networks couldn’t stop it. And so Star Trek went on to make entertainment history. Here is the complete inside story of what happened behind the scenes of the Star Trek universe, from scriptwriters’ memos to special effects, plus revealing personal interviews with the series’ legendary stars.
The legend of Star Trek lives in the hearts of millions—now, discover the truth behind the fiction. Writer David Gerrold was on the set, watching it happen: the feuds, the fun, the love—the magic that is Star Trek. A must-have for “Trekkies” of all ages, The World of Star Trek includes more than 50 pages of photos from your favorite episodes and stills from all three movies.
ALTERNATE GERROLDS
An Assortment of Fictitious Lives
9781935618959
David Gerrold takes you on a tour of alternate universes . . . universes where Santa Claus isn’t nice and the best man is actually elected president; where Ronald Reagan and Gregory Peck command the plane carrying the first atomic bomb and John F. Kennedy stars in the hit show Star Track, where Franz Kafka doesn’t write fiction and the Devil holds educational seminars. Introduction by Mike Resnick.
WHEN HARLIE WAS ONE
Release 2.0
9781939529466
HARLIE is the first self-aware intelligence engine. But instead of answers, he has questions—too many questions, and most of his questions have no answers at all.
First published in 1972, When HARLIE Was One was immediately hailed as a groundbreaking debut novel, examining the most fundamental question of all: What does it mean to be human?
Revised by the author in 1988, this expanded edition is available again. Despite all the progress in computer technology since then, When HARLIE Was One still has extraordinary power to touch the human heart.
Nominated for the Hugo and Nebula awards for Best Novel of the Year, its themes of love and discovery are even more important today than when first published.
Read. Enjoy. Be inspired.
CHILD OF EARTH
Sea of Grass, Book One
9781935618713
Want to visit another world? It might not be as easy as you think.
When Kaer’s extended family signs up to emigrate to Linnea, a planet known for horses as large as houses and dangerously mistrustful natives, Kaer is certain the move will bring the divided household closer together. What none of them are prepared for is the grueling emigration training in the Linnean dome, a makeshift environment designed to be like Linnea in every possible way, from the long, brutally harsh winters to the deadly kacks—wolf-like creatures as tall as men. The training is tough, but Kaer’s family is up to the challenge. Soon they begin working like Linneans, thinking like Linneans, even accepting Linnean gods as their own. The family’s emigration seems to be just around the corner.
But then, a disaster on Linnea itself changes everything.
CHILD OF GRASS
Sea of Grass, Book Two
9781939529589
In the first installment of David Gerrold’s Sea of Grass trilogy, Child of Earth, Kaer’s family expected to assimilate into Linnean society undetected after becoming accustomed to the harsh climate and relatively primitive culture in the training dome—a synthetic Linnean environment designed to prepare Earthlings for emigration to the new world. But a sudden uprising on Linnea changed everything. After a band of religious zealots known as the Hale-Stones, former Earth residents living on Linnea, began outing other Earthlings and disrupting Linnean society in order to convert them to Earth’s Christianity in place of the Linnean religion, Kaer’s family was stuck in limbo.
Now, in Child of Grass, Kaer and Lorrin, Kaer’s father, venture away from the training dome as part of a secret mission to restore peace to Linnea and free the hostage Earthlings from captivity. Defeating the Hale-Stones means using every available resource to preserve the Linnean way of life, from advanced technology, to natural disasters, and even the Hale-Stones’ own religious teachings.
Through the struggle for peace, young Kaer is forced to confront issues about morality, loyalty, the bond of family, and the nature of intelligent life.
THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
Star Wolf Trilogy, Book Two
9781935618737
The Morthans were physically and mentally superior. Descended from humans, they were now, literally, “more-than” human . . . and considered the human race to be little better than animals. They would stop at nothing to conquer the remaining human-controlled worlds.
Docked for repairs after a harrowing battle with a Morthan ship, Jonathan Korie and his crew discover they have a Morthan imp aboard—a Morthan weapon so quick they have no chance of catching it, so clever they have no hope of outsmarting it, and so deadly they have no choice but to try.
Includes introduction by Spider Robinson.
BLOOD AND FIRE
Star Wolf Trilogy, Book Three
9781935618690
The Morthans were physically and mentally superior. Descended from humans, they were now, literally, “more-than” human . . . and considered the human race to be little better than animals. They would stop at nothing to conquer the remaining human-controlled worlds.
Formerly a never-filmed script for Star Trek: The Next Generation, this conclusion to the Star Wolf trilogy finds Executive Officer Korie and the crew of the Star Wolf answering a distress call from a mysteriously lifeless ship. On board the Norway, they discover half-wave, half-particle clusters of golden light—and a dead man. The lights are the energy form of bloodworms, a fatal infestation that feeds off the energy of living bodies, which scientists on the Norway have developed for use in the Alliance’s war against the Morthans. Officer Korie’s struggle between his conscience and his desire for vengeance will determine not only the safety of the Star Wolf, but the fate of the enemies he’s sworn to destroy.
Includes introduction by D.C. Fontana.
SPACE SKIMMER
Book One
9781939529510
Mass is humanoid, but genetically evolved to cope with greater pressures, stronger gravity, and heavier densities than those of an ancient planet he never knew, nor probably ever would. For Mass, Earth is millennia in the past.
His companions are equally diverse, differently evolved, and most unsuitable—to him and to one another. Each live on a separate plane—they had grown on separate worlds.
Yet survival might depend on communication. To live, they must find a way to come together as they’re faced with intense pressure, clashing perspectives, and unfamiliar circumstances.
CHESS WITH A DRAGON
9781939529633
The Galactic InterChange is the greatest discovery in history. Through the InterChange, humanity gains access to the combined knowledge of all the worlds and all the races of the galaxy. For librarians, scientists, doctors, teachers, and anybody interested in the spread of knowledge, it’s a field day. Just find something intriguing on the menu and request a copy—so simple, so exciting!
Until the bill arrives.
It’s the greatest bill in history, and humanity has no way of paying it off. No way except one—indenture. Being slaves to aliens doesn’t sound like much fun.
Yake Singh Brown is the man who has to negotiate the deal for humanity. It’s the toughest assignment he’s ever faced, like playing chess with a dragon—all he has to do is figure out the rules of the game before being eaten.
In the tradition of Douglas Adams and Piers Anthony, David Gerrold, the writer who created The Trouble with Tribbles, pits Earth’s most daring diplomat against the scheming—and hungry—races of the rest of the galaxy, with hysterical results.
BOARDING THE ENTERPRISE
Transporters, Tribbles, and the Vulcan Death Grip in Gene Rodenberry’s Star Trek
9781935618706
; Trekkies and Trekkers alike will get starry eyed over this eclectic mix of essays on the groundbreaking original Star Trek series. Star Trek writers D.C. Fontana and David Gerrold, science-fiction authors such as Howard Weinstein, and various academics share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, discuss the show’s enduring appeal and influence, and examine some of the classic features of the show, including Spock’s irrationality, Scotty’s pessimism, and the lack of seatbelts on the Enterprise. The impact of the cultural phenomenon on subsequent science-fiction television programs is explored, as well as how the show laid the foundation for the science-fiction genre to break into the television medium.
Edited by David Gerrold and Robert J. Sawyer.
DEATHBEAST
9781939529534
TIMEBEAM TO DANGER
Six hunters and two official guides are going on the trip of their lifetime.
Their destination? Earth as it was a hundred million years ago, long before human dominion, when the great hot-blooded dinosaurs ruled supreme.
Each of the time travelers has a different motive. Some are on the strange safari for pay. Others are taking a psychological and sexual holiday from civilization. There are women who wanted to show themselves the equal of men—and men out to test and prove their manhood.
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