Siege of Praetar

by David Kristoph

Overview

The red giant Saria is dying.

Praetar, a sand-blown planet, lies occupied. Its people are buried and beaten, forced to toil for the Melisao Empire that prepares to flee their star. Hyken, a Sentinel pilot in orbit around the planet, is faced with a moral dilemma that forces him to choose between his co-pilot and their mission. Mira, a factory worker on Praetar, struggles to make a better life for her daughters--using what little resources at her command. A slumlord named Bruno makes his own arrangements, gathering what meager power he can in the Empire's scramble to flee.

Caught up in the exodus, these people struggle to survive. Are they strangers, or do their decisions affect one-another in unexpected ways?

Product Details

BN ID:	2940152948653
Publisher:	David Kristoph
Publication date:	03/30/2016
Series:	Tales of a Dying Star
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

David Kristoph lives in Virginia with his wonderful wife and two not-quite German Shepherds. He's a fantastic reader, great videogamer, good chess player, average cyclist, and mediocre runner. He's also a member of the Planetary Society, patron of StarTalk Radio, amateur astronomer and general space enthusiast. He writes mostly Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Editorial Reviews

02/22/2016
This highly engaging debut takes place on the dying planet of Praetar, where the relentless sands and the dim light of its looming red giant sun force a slow exodus by those with the means. But the Praetarians don’t know that their flights off the planet are doomed to fail. Hyken, one of many pilots who serve the post-human Empire, follows instructions to destroy freighters leaving the surface, assuming they’re transporting weapons or are otherwise a threat. Hidebound Hyken is shocked to learn that his junior officer is letting ships sneak past. Down on the planet, Mira is desperate to save her two young girls from a future of perpetual sickness and starvation. The local gangster, Bruno, threatens to flex his power by denying them access to the next ship. Kristoph skillfully connects three independent perspectives to demonstrate how an individual choice, whether self-serving or for the greater good, can create a ripple of consequences in unexpected ways. (BookLife)

Publishers Weekly