I’m psyched to announce a new short story set in the Avery Cates universe, The Drum Trial:
“New York is burning.
After the assassination of Dennis Squalor came the Monk Riots: Thousands of cyborgs, released from their digital prisons, expressing rage and suffering and insanity through violence and bloodshed. The System Security Force mobilizes with brutal efficiency to restore order, but they take losses—and they’ve been ordered not to go after the man they blame: A young Gunner named Avery Cates.
But the System Police aren’t used to being told that someone is untouchable. And they have no intention of obeying this particular order.
Also contains the bonus Cates story, ‘A Small, Red-headed Problem'”
People on the mailing list might know ‘A Small, Red-headed Problem’ as the story sent out as a prize to our last contest.
I really enjoy being able to just take an idea for Cates, bang it out, and publish it. As usual with these stories I’m trying something a little different; the POV in this story is not, for the first time ever, Cates himself. I hope you enjoy the shift in perspective as I fill in some of the gaps between the novels.