Serpent's Gift, Book Four of the series, will be out in mid1991. It's a book centered around StarBridge Academy itself. The school is in trouble--big-time. Will the Academy have to shut down because the school's radonium supply is inexorably altering, turning the entire asteroid into a gigantic time bomb? Or will the entire StarBridge project go bankrupt before it can explode?
Rob Gable, Kkintha ch'aait, Dr. Blanket and Esteemed Ssoriszs all have their hands (or equivalents!) full, trying to save the school, as well as a valuable archaeological site recently discovered beneath the Lament Cliffs.
The relics buried there may provide a clue to the fate of the mysterious Mizari Lost
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Colony--but only if the lethal radonium-2 doesn't destroy them first... .
Book Five is Silent Songs, where Kathy O'Malley and I return you to Trinity.
Most of our old friends are back-- Tesa, Lightning, Thunder, Meg and Bruce--
with some new additions. Jib is Tesa's former StarBridge roommate, trying his wings as an interrelator trainee. Kheera is a Simiu who has been sent by the Harkk'ett clan (under the prodding of Ambassador Dhurrrkk', of course, after the events of Silent Dances), to make reparation to the people of Trinity.
Only problem is, she doesn't want to be there. (Angry, resentful Simiu make wonderful companions, as we've just seen in this volume!)
Tesa has enough headaches just trying to keep the peace between Kheera and the others, but, before long, her life becomes even more complicated.
Our deaf interrelator has to contend with two more First Contacts--a telepathic race of creatures native to Trinity, plus an aggressive, technologically advanced species determined to conquer the planet!
Here's hoping you'll enjoy those books, as well as the ones you've already read.
Before I close, a couple of quick acknowledgments. First of all, for help on Shadow World, I would like to thank Dr. Gary Weaver of the School for International Service at the American University, Washington, D.C., campus.
He provided invaluable information and insights into hostage situations and how negotiators are trained to handle them.
And, finally, the biggest thanks of all goes to you-- the StarBridge readers.
Getting this series off the ground has meant the hardest, longest stint of work I've ever done (anyone who doesn't believe writing is hard work should try it!), as well as the most rewarding experience of my career.
Many of you have written to tell me you're enjoying Star- Bridge and are looking forward to the next book. A number of you have posed thoughtful, insightful questions that have sparked ideas for additional novels, if the series is extended beyond the initial five books. Reading these letters has been incredibly gratifying--it makes all that hard work worthwhile. I answer each letter personally (just a reminder, a stamped,
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self-addressed envelope is a BIG help!), and the warmth and
encouragement expressed has been wonderful. Thank you all so very much!
--Ann C. Crispin June, 1990
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Shadow World Page 31