Author: Lettie Prell
Price: $15.95
Genre: Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-9795889-6-9
Publisher: Flying Pen Press
Point of Sale: Amazon
I met Lettie Prell at Wiscon, which is billed as the “world’s leading feminist science fiction convention.” She was selling copies of her first novel, Dragon Ring, at a launch party for the book. I’m a sucker for authors selling their books, so I took a flyer and bought a copy. I’m glad I did.
Dragon Ring is the story of Nadine Xitumul-Washington, a half-Guatemalan, half-American girl. She lives with her family in Guatemala, which has become a corporate-owned country, and quite prosperous. Nadine’s mother is attuned to native spirituality, specifically Mayan, and Nadine shows some tendencies as well. However, Nadine is more interested in modern technology and virtual reality.
The story starts a bit slowly at first, as Nadine explores then rejects her Mayan sprit powers, but do pay attention to the story told to Nadine in Chapter 1. It starts to pick up when her father, Cypress, is killed. He had become involved, to the point of being an absentee father, in a somewhat mysterious US-based company called AEI, developing a free-energy device. When Nadine graduates from college, she applies for a job at the same company, and starts investigating what they are really up to.
This is where the story gets good, and picks up a lot. Since the plot is basically a science fiction mystery, I can’t discuss it further, other than to say there’s a cameo by Nikola Tesla. Ms. Prell weaves together an interesting tale of magic, science and aliens, creating if you will a unified theory of these three items.
As far as I can tell, this is the first book by Flying Pen Press, based in Denver, Colorado. They are using print-on-demand as their production medium. The various technical aspects of the book are very professional, including editing and production. I truly enjoyed Dragon Ring, and look forward to more works from Ms. Prell.
Chris Gerrib is a resident of Villa Park, IL and Director of Technology for a Chicago-area bank. Chris is the author of the science fiction novel The Mars Run. He holds degrees from the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University and is president-elect of the Rotary Club of Darien, IL.
1 comment:
Thank you for the review. I am glad you liked our edition of Lettie Prell's Dragon Ring.
For the record, this is not Flying Pen Press's first book. This is the sixth book we've published, and the fifth science fiction title. We have four more awaiting publication on August 1, 2008, in time for WorldCon here in Denver, where our headquarters are located.
Flying Pen Press is an ambitious new press, which began publishing titles in June 2007. Our philosophy is to be respectful of authors, publish quality books (thank you for noticing), reducing upfront capital and carbon footprint, and providing bookstores with purchase terms and practices they have come to expect.
Our current title list includes:
Looking Glass by James R. Strickland (ISBN 978-0-9795889-0-7) A highly acclaimed cyberpunk murder mystery.
The Feral World series by Gaddy Bergmann:
Migration of the Kamishi (book 1)(978-0-9795889-1-4)
Trials of the Warmland (book 2) (978-0-9795889-4-5)
An odyssey across America set 3000 years after an asteroid has destroyed all of civilization.
The Game Day Poker Almanac Official Rules of Poker (Game Day imprint) (978-0-9795889-2-1) One of the best poker rulebooks on the market.
Seventh Daughter by Ronnie Seagren (978-0-9795889-7-6). A high adventure set in the Peruvian Andes of 1937, in a race against the total solar eclipse. Perfect for Indiana Jones fans.
Dragon Ring by Lettie Prell (978-0-9795889-6-9) Reviewed here.
Our new titles coming out August 1 in time for WorldCon:
She Murdered Me with Science by David Boop (978-0-9795889-9-0) A discredited scientist turned gumshoe detective investigating bizarre murders. Set in 1953, with a real 1950's pulp feel.
Space Pirates edited by David Lee Summers, editor of Tales of the Talisman (978-0-9818957-0-3) Full-Throttle Space Tales #1: An anthology space pirate stories by established and rising authors.
Irreconcilable Differences by James R. Strickland (978-0-9818957-1-0) Strickland returns with another exciting cyberpunk murder mystery.
Of Dice & Pen edited by Fred Poutre (978-0-9818957-2-7) An anthology of short stories by notable game designers, including the last work of fiction from the late E. Gary Gygax.
And later this year:
The Feral World series, book 3: Riders of the Mapinguari by Gaddy Bergmann (978-0-9795889-5-2) The latest installment in the thoughtful post-apocalyptic series. Available September 1, 2008.
Space Sirens edited by Carol Hightshoe (978-0-9798957-3-4) Full-Throttle Space Tales #2: An anthology of short stories with the theme of women in space, by established and rising authors.
All of our titles are available wherever great books are sold.
Our contact information:
Flying Pen Press
20000 Mitchell Place
Suite 25
Denver, CO 80249
Publisher@FlyingPenPress.com
www.FlyingPenPress.com
If you would like to review any of these titles, Mr. Gerrib, please let me know.
Keep 'em Flying,
David A. Rozansky
Publisher
Flying Pen Press
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