Tag: writing

You should buy my book

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

Now, you might see this email (or blog post, if you came through that avenue) and think to yourself.

Self, this guy only wants money. He’s a dirty, money grubbing capitalist!! How dare he draw attention to himself.

You, sir, leave me no choice but to retort to your hypothetical (and dare I say, nonsensical) rant. I’ll have you know that I took a shower eight days ago! EIGHT DAYS! Back in the olden days that was like… a week and a day. It’s a tiny amount of time to not bathe. Plus, I did not carry on with a significant amount of manual labor during that week and a day…. A mere ditch, a foot deep and 45 feet long does not make one dirty. This accusation is pure poppycock!

As for money, well… I like it just fine and consider myself a capitalist, but I have never grubbed for it. The closest I came to money grubbed was an early season of Naked and Afraid where the only vehicle for eating a meal of fat and squishy grubs was a dollar bill I found in the mud. That doesn’t count.

What I want (you did ask, right) is for someone to notice that I spent seven years writing my first book, all while working full time and raising a family, in the snow, up hill both ways! I wrote it with my heart and my sweat and blood. I wung it…er I was winging it. To this day, I have lost a solid two handfuls of money writing this treasure of mine, and unlike a child that might some day allow me live in their garage while I glance longingly at the afterlife, the book will do no such thing.

Really though, being as I am so kind, I admit that I am doing this for you. You will enjoy it. If you like a tale about the injustices of life and a strong desire to exit the (solar) system, this book is for you. Also, I’m a couple hundred pages into the second book in the series which is tentatively titled “Into the Night” so… Ya know. If you enjoy the first, you might be curious what might happen on a 25 year journey from Earth to another planet, and in an ugly space ship shaped somewhat like the empire state building.

You’re welcome.

Check out Forsaking Home, It’s not perfect, but I’m proud of it. It’s also on sale between Nov 28th and Dec 5th, 2025.

Forsaking Home

Cupet (Caveman Chronicles)

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

The Index -|-

Zara sat with Viinox at a red console, that was one of many on a wall that gently curved away from the floor. There was a row of consoles in fact, all of them silent, with only the occasional blinking nub. From Viinox, she had received all of the necessary overrides and had added her and Kanta’s bio signatures into the Xi command structure.

She looked to her left at Viinox. It was a good friend and always had been. It was instrumental in her escape from Mangas and his Xih crew. It had been her right hand and it could certainly be trusted. With a smile, Zara patted Viinox’s shoulder.

It looked at her in askance.

“I appreciate you, Viinox,” she said. “You are good and loyal. Thank you for helping me and for being here with me. I know all of this hasn’t been easy for you.”

There was silence and Viinox’s neck slits fluttered rapidly before resuming their normal cadence. Finally, its bright blue eyes blinked. “Thank you, Zara. I am happy to help, and uh… I appreciate you as well.”

“Well,” said Zara with a grin, “I have been unable to obtain any decent information from this console despite all my efforts. Can you help me? There are two things I want. The location of Nidix and any information about the Xih.”

Viinox tilted its head down slightly as it appeared to consider. “History became legend. Legend became myth.” It sighed quietly. “Nidix will not be found.”

“I don’t believe you. I need your help. I need detailed maps of Xi space and lists of lore about Nidix. I need to figure out how to properly query this obtuse data system. It’s ridiculous.”

Viinox began with the basics of the Xi data architecture which stored everything in a letter-by-letter structure. What made it so difficult for Zara was that that the letters were related based on the tiny squiggles, called hea, on the lower left of the written character and the amount of neck slit airflow needed to properly accentuate the letter. Combined with the fact that there were several thousand letters, Zara found it very difficult to follow the logic. Viinox stayed with Zara for hours.

Though Zara was annoyed that Kanta seemed to understand the system quickly, eventually Zara pieced together her way of discovering data within the Xi system. Despite that, she was not as quick or efficient as any Xi could be. She broke down the search into separate tasks, searching for clues about Nidix first. There were clues, but all of them were fairy tales that ended in mere dead air. It seemed on the surface that Nidix was only a bedtime story and had no bearing in actual reality.

That evening when Zara and Kpleeb ate together, she brought up the situation. “Da,” she said, “Nidix is nowhere. It’s like the wind except you can at least feel the wind. There is no Nidix except in the kind of stories that are irrelevant.”

Kpleeb shrugged and shoved another spiced tuber into his mouth. “Dey hava be sowher,” he mumbled through his food. With a swallow he continued. “How can every Xi know about Nidix but none of them know where it is? There has to be a record somewhere, even if it’s five hundred years old.” He paused and raked his hair with his blunt fingers. “Have you looked at star maps?”

Zara nodded as she chewed. “All of the maps I’ve found are spotless. No Nidix. It’s not like it was there and had been sanitized. It was simply never there.”

Kpleeb stayed silent and continued to chew.

Zara continued. “Da, I even looked at children’s songs about the Predominant hoping that there would be a treasure map of sorts in the words.”

Kpleeb nodded. “Good idea. What about looking in very old star maps? Maybe there was a time before Nidix was such a closely guarded secret.”

“Hmm. Maybe. I was unable to find any star maps that were old. I need to look in different places.” Zara shrugged. “Anyway, I haven’t spent a lot of time looking for the Xih, not yet anyway. Maybe tomorrow. How long do you want to stay here anyway?”

Kpleeb leaned back and stretched. “I think it will take another few days to get the Xi to accept the control I have over them. I was looking at the map, and I think we should jump to Cupet. It’s just far enough to make a successful jump and is in the right direction – toward the core.” He tapped a nearby console and a large star map burst into view above them. He squinted at the map for a few moments before pointing with his knuckle at a spot of light.

“Cupet is blue.” He drew an imaginary line with the same knuckle. “Oiitr says that Yefrtil is a very old and highly populated Xi orb. It’s the first orb we will encounter that is in the region of the core.” Kpleeb scratched his scraggly beard. “I think that I will find large ships there, but maybe the Xi will also have more defenses.”

“Are you worried?”

“Nope. We will have the new ships join us at Cupet with a full coat of kerflk.” He grinned. “The Xi aren’t ready for us. They have spent a thousand years and more without any real fight. By the time they realize the gravity of the Builder at their door, it will be too late.”

“I hope you’re right, Da.” Zara stood and sighed. “Time to sleep for now though. I have much to find and little time in which to search.”

###

Kpleeb gritted his teeth and blinked as Cupet flashed into view. The orb was grey with three enormous rusty red swirls spread across its surface. He could see storm clouds bunched up at its poles and a liquidy line at its equator.

“Oiitr, land four ships at the Iteek’s palace. It looks like the communications hub is nearby. The Greki and Hsstak should land there as well. Leave a few ships in orbit to protect against any Xi that may decide to appear.”

It took another hour for the Greki to settle in a large three-pointed city center that was surrounded by soaring and shiny spires. Kpleeb stood in the room where the external door began to open. “What’s the name of this city, Oiitr?”

Oiitr answered quietly. “Kiipir. The Xi settled here on Cupet almost four-hundred and twenty-six Ko in the past. It is a very old city, and I am grateful that it still stands.”

Kpleeb shook his head. “Over seven hundred fifty years by Phaedro’s clock.”

“737,” said Oiitr. “Some of the Xi relics here are quite exquisite. The Iteek will be particularly arrogant.”

Kpleeb turned his head and looked at Oiitr. He had never heard a Xi express this kind of opinion of anything. “Well,” he muttered gruffly, “it better not be too arrogant to me.”

Greki’s door began to retract, and four Ganix warriors wielding lightning spears jogged gracefully out into the city center. When Kpleeb stepped out onto the Greki’s ramp he staggered as a thin bolt of gray matter impacted the center of his torso.

“Get down!” he yelled. He rolled behind the two Ganix who had immediately placed their backs to him. The other two leapt into the crowd of Xi. The bounding warriors caused a commotion as they headed through straight as an arrow toward the distant spot where the bolt had erupted.

Kpleeb touched a pressure point on his bracelet and began to run. “Follow!” he bellowed.

The two remaining Ganix passed him almost instantly, and in a few seconds Kpleeb plowed into the Iteek with his right shoulder. He knew which one was the Iteek because its outfit was so extremely shiny. There was a muted clatter as several of the Xi were bowled over, and the warriors stood over the group like cats over a cowering mouse.

“You will pay for this!” Kpleeb said loudly, sweeping his hand toward the crowd. “I have been generous. I could have killed all of you from orbit, but I did not.”

At that moment, the remaining Ganix warriors returned from their task, one of them extending a small pouch toward Kpleeb’s waiting hands.

“Thank you.” Kpleeb turned toward the half-risen Iteek, upended the sack, and emptied a pile of glistening riiat onto the pavement before him. “Your assassin is no more. May it’s ancestors never know its presence.”

The Iteek flinched at the Xi remains dumped so callously before it, then steadied itself. “Barbaric,” it whispered.

“This wasn’t my choice,” Kpleeb’s voice roughened. “Next time you send death for me, ensure it succeeds.”

Visiting Wiag (Caveman Chronicles)

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

The Index -|-

Kpleeb paced in his room. The wall showed Niot below them, lines of fire, smoke, and ash spreading quickly across its surface. His hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly.

[I’ve done it again.] He sighed and closed his eyes [But they deserved it. They took my Thoka from me. They stole me from my home. They kidnapped my daughter and tried to kill her as well. They rejected my attempts to play nice. Obviously, they are entirely evil.]

Despite reminding himself of all the reasons he had to take revenge on the Xi, his words sounded hollow. He forced the doubts from his head. [I need to discuss with Zara the next jump.] Just then, his console blooped at him.

“Da,” Zara said, appearing on his wall in place of Noit. Her eyes were wet and teary. “Da, you can’t keep doing this.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

Kpleeb knew the answer but decided to ask anyway. He shrugged half-heartedly. “Doing what?”

Zara scowled. “You know what! Bombing whole orbs full of Xi into oblivion.”

Kpleeb grimaced and felt frustration well up inside him. His voice rose with a growl. “They’ve taken or killed or tried to kill everything I love! What am I supposed to do, forgive? Forget?” He slammed his wall with his palm.

“I know, Da, but– we need them, and many of these Xi are innocent. They’re just Xi and don’t make the decisions.”

“There are no innocent Xi, Zara! Their riiat is on the Predominant’s hands, not mine. They made this choice and need I remind you that they did the same to countless other peoples. The tough decisions I make are a message to the Predominant.” He paused and shoved his fingers through his shaggy hair. “But believe it or not, I feel bad about it.”

“You don’t sound like it.”

“I really do feel bad. I do, but I also feel like it is necessary to make the Xi pay.”

Zara sighed. “Da, we need to change the approach. We need the Xi.”

Kpleeb was skeptical. “How do we need them?”

“We need to find the Predominant, and we have no idea where Nidix is located. I want to find out where the Xih come from and what kind of technology they have. I also want to know more about Qon. None of this information is going to come upon us without the Xi. They have such a large civilization and so many orbs. Surely there are records and other clues stored on their orbs.” Zara stopped and looked earnestly at Kpleeb. “Da, if you bomb every orb, we will never, ever find answers. We will never find the Predominant.”

Kpleeb pondered his daughter’s words. He tried hard to keep emotions from corrupting his thought processes. After a few long moments, he nodded. “You have a good point, Zara. We need to use Xi communications and records to find Nidix. We can always destroy the orbs after we search, unless we find an orb that builds Xi vessels.”

“No! Da, we will search and leave. We have some advantages, and we do not need to destroy everything we encounter! If we do that, it will come back to haunt us later. You need to promise me that you’ll only destroy the Predominant, and the ships and Xi that fight with us. Surely, revenge on the leaders who made these decisions will be enough satisfaction.”

Kpleeb finally nodded in agreement. “Okay Zara. Let me do the fighting and you do the searching. We will push toward the core together. First, we have to go to Wiag and see if there is a ship building facility there.”

“I’m ready when you are, Da.”

###

In an hour, Kpleeb’s fleet coalesced near the terminal at Wiag. Two small Xi ships were detected moving at a high rate of speed toward them from the Wiag’s orbit. Kpleeb sighed and tapped the nearest red-tiered console. “Xi vessel, we have come to meet your Iteek. If you attack us, we will destroy you.”

There was no response.

“Oiitr, prepare to fire, but hold off unless they shoot first. Let me know if you see any change in their status. Let’s approach Wiag quickly.”

Oiitr lifted its chin slightly and rapidly issued commands to the Greki.

In a few minutes, the two Xi ships became close and communicated a simple message. “The Iteek will see you on the platform.” The Xi ships slowed and began to follow them as they approached Wiag.

“What is this platform?” asked Kpleeb.

“It is the structure orbiting Wiag. Perhaps the Iteek wishes to risk only the platform and not the orb if you decide to ambush them.”

“Yes, I suppose every Xi has heard of me by now.” Kpleeb scratched his beard and remembered his conversation with Zara. “The fear it has instilled will be useful.”

Oiitr glanced at him and said nothing.

Kpleeb contacted Zara. “We are going to meet the Iteek on Wiag’s orbital platform. You will need to analyze everything there for ship building and conduct the searches we talked about.”

“I’m ready, Da. I’ll bring Viinox with me to assist.”

“Oiitr, the Greki and the Hsstak will dock with this platform. Instruct the remaining ships to remain nearby as guards.” He pointed at the platform. “Let’s go.”

###

Kpleeb was impressed. The platform was the largest structure he had ever seen. It was reminiscent of the Xi ships in its design, yet on a far larger scale. The walls were lightly textured and colored in a muted tan, and its ceilings were more than to arm’s length above his head. He stepped out of the doorway and saw many Xi standing at various distances. Clouds peppering the surface of Wiag were visible through a large viewport. The Iteek and his attendants stood closer in a small group, and they started toward Kpleeb immediately as a half-dozen Ganix warriors filed in behind Zara.

“Greetings,” said Kpleeb carefully. He knew that Zara held them in a shield that would probably protect them from attacks. “I am Kpleeb, also called The Builder. This is Zara,” he said gesturing. “And this is Viinox.”

“Hello Kpleeb. I am Iteek Oliat.” The Xi that stepped forward was much like the other Xi Kpleeb had met. It gazed at the group with emotionless, blue eyes that analyzed the visitors and finally rested on Kpleeb’s face. “Why have you come to Wiag? We are but an insignificant orb. We have no quarrel with you.”

Kpleeb smiled and spread his hands. “I have come to use this facility to repair my ships and to obtain organic supplies. We mean you no harm unless you attack us first.”

There was a short pause while the Iteek slowly looked around as if considering its options. Its long, grey robes shifted and Kpleeb caught a tinge of green embedded within the fabric. “While we have no quarrel with you, use of this facility is not allowed. We are loyal Xi, and we cannot aid the enemy.”

With a sigh, Kpleeb turned to Viinox. “Is this true?”

Viinox lifted its chin slightly. “This statement rings true. I believe so.”

Zara turned away.

Kpleeb turned and lifted his lightning spear. “Alright.” With a whine and a sharp crack, the spear bucked in Kpleeb’s grip. The Iteek was blasted backward and fell in a crumpled heap.

Kpleeb shook his head slowly and opened his eyes again. “I don’t know who the Iteek will be now, but the terms of surrender have changed. I will take this platform and all the vessels in the Wiag system.” He raised his voice slightly. “You will not fight me. In return, you will live in peace on Wiag.” He turned to Viinox. “Make it happen and destroy anyone who resists.”

The Xi on the platform stood silent until Kpleeb commanded them to board shuttles back to the surface. Viinox selected a technical representative to remain and then worked with the Ganix warriors to start the evacuation. After the shuttles departed, Kpleeb and Zara took a tour of the facility with Viinox and the Xi named Foawii.

If Foawii was offended, Kpleeb could not say. It strolled stiffly through the ship building section pointing out the various pieces and systems that transformed the stockpiled materials into functional vessels. There were three ships in partially assembled state, and Foawii explained the Xi personnel that conducted the work and the amount of time needed for each one. Zara remained alert but silent during the tour.

###

Hours later, Kpleeb stretched out on the floor in his room aboard the Greki and smiled.

[I guess today went well. Better than expected really. Zara was right. She was so right! There is no need to punish entire orbs full of Xi just because of what their leadership has done. I got everything I wanted from Wiag and only had to turn the Iteek into riiat. It’s a good day.]

[She turned away when I jolted it with the lightning. I’m surprised. I haven’t really noticed how sensitive she is? She is so young, but in a way, she seems so much older and wiser. She is certainly wiser. It’s a good sign that she is concerned about harming others. I’m proud of her for that… but what does that say about me?]

Kpleeb sighed. [Am I heartless? Maybe I am callous, but the Xi have really hurt me. They deserve payback. Yeah, I am a little cold-blooded. Far too callous.]

Planning the next jump (Caveman Chronicles)

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

The Index -|-

Zara sighed and pushed away the cluster of glowing dots. The map of Xi space collapsed into nothing.

[The terminals must be intentionally spaced out to use their power to jump between prominent colonies. It’s the only logical explanation. The distances are not equal, and some of them are not in direct vicinity of a star.]

With a few more moments of poking and prodding, she was able to scan the nearest terminal. It was almost invisible to the visible spectrum, and her sensors did not register any significant source of power. Yet, the pyramid shaped object did appear on her active scans. It showed minimal heat and no aji, yet when she prodded with a thread of Qon, it came alive.

[Clearly this device is a combination of multiple power types with aji being one of them.]

Zara stood and made her way to the command center.

“Viinox,” she said. “What is the source of power for the terminals?”

“Our instructional documents tell us that power was fed into the system when it was created. The records indicate that an entire star was drained of energy, and a second star was drained to sixty percent as well. The energy is contained in a mesh and does not need to be recharged.”

“Thank you. Can we use the terminal to jump directly to the core?”

Viinox tilted its head downward slightly. “No. That distance is far too great for a single jump. The network is intended to be used node-to-node.”

“So, what is the maximum distance that a jump can traverse?”

Viinox tapped a few times and then spoke. “The system’s theoretical maximum is around fifty kitrond, but in practical terms the distance falls to around forty-six.”

Zara nodded and thought for a few long moments. “I don’t suppose there is any way to increase that distance? What about using a smaller vessel?”

Tiirw spoke up. “The terminal network has been in existence for 641.6 ko, or just over 1,110 years as defined by the length of time it takes for Phaedro to orbit its star. There has been no known extension of the terminal transmit distance, but one must assume it is being researched. I was never informed that a smaller vessel would transmit farther, but I have been a part of fleets with larger ships that have used the terminals to travel the maximum distance.”

“If the XC vessels can travel the same forty-six while being more than twice the size of the XF-” said Zara slowly. “So, mass has no effect on the distance. Thank you.”

###

“I have something of a plan, Da,” Zara said pulling up the Xi empire map. She could see her Da peering at the map as it was shown to him within his room the Greki. “Viinox tells me that the terminals can transmit a vessel up to fifty kitrond. I’ve placed a radius mark on each of the terminals.”

Kpleeb nodded slowly. “It looks like almost every terminal can transmit to its immediate neighbor, and in some rare cases it may be able to reach a closer second neighbor.”

“Right. From here at Iriop we can move directly to Wieh or Giale.”

“That leaves the Xi with the choice of defending both which helps us. Clearly, we will have more directions to go once we are further into the Xi space.” Kpleeb frowned slightly. “I really don’t see much of a plan though.”

Zara smiled. “I’ve poked the terminal and have found some useful information. When I introduce a thin stream of Qon here,” she pointed, “the terminal power is amplified. Viinox has verified that the terminal at Noit responded despite that being fifty-one kitrond from here, and I am not done testing so it may even go a bit further.”

“Okay, your plan is to go farther than they expect?” Kpleeb scratched his head. “This advantage will help us in the short term, but they will discover the new limit soon enough.”

“It is enough for now, Da. We must move forward in a way that leave the Xi in confusion. Noit is a good test for us. Erit, Hioma, and Foir are all within range, but Kiep is not.” Zara paused and sighed. “I feel like we need to discuss our motivations and let these guide our path.”

Kpleeb shrugged as if it was obvious. “I plan to kill all the Xi I find on the way to Nidix, and then wipe out the Predominant there. It’s simple.”

It’s not as simple as you think since we don’t actually know where Nidix is,” said Zara. “I am more concerned with the Xih. They seem to have a significant technological advantage over the Xi. What’s worse is that every Xi I’ve spoken to believes the Xih as a myth.”

“Not Viinox, Tiirw, and Oiitr,” scoffed Kpleeb.

“Okay, every Xi except for those working on Xih ships believes the Xih are a myth. This kind of secrecy and technology is very powerful, and the Xih may be very hard to find. There are other things to consider, Da. We need more vessels, and Jorqu is incredibly far from where we are now, especially with the terminal at Juma being destroyed. We cannot rely on Jorqu as a repair base. We need to capture Wiag without destroying it, because Oiitr has stated that there is a ship manufacturing station there.”

Kpleeb nodded. “Fine, we can send one of the biggest ships back to Jorqu now and pick up all of the Ganix trainees along with the last ship being rebuilt. After that, we move to Noit and then to Wiag.”

“Another complication is that the kerflk needs time to grow, and these instant terminal jumps don’t give us time for that. I’m certain that the kerflk is giving us an upper hand that we desperately need. We need to take enough time to search for Nidix and the Xih.”

“Well, what should we do?” Kpleeb threw his hands up in frustration. “Fly around flapping our hands like little Rog wings and hope to live through the battles?”

“I know, Da. We can’t just take the slow path to the core, but we can’t win by just punching a hole straight through either.”

“Maybe we can partially though.” Kpleeb ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. “We can send every new ship on the slow path to the next terminal. We’ll lose the benefit of those ships in the moment, but it will give the kerflk time to grow. The random arrivals will sow confusion with the Xi. I would hope our terminal strategy will give us enough cover for the short term.”

“I guess that might work,” said Zara. “I have not found a way to make kerflk grow any faster. We’re agreed then. We will send the four new ships to Giale while they grow kerflk. It should take them about fifty days to arrive fully kerflkized. Meanwhile, we can jump straight to Noit with the rest of the fleet.”

Kpleeb nodded. “This sounds like a plan. After Noit, then Wiag.”

Zara nodded. “Okay. I need some sleep, then we’ll make the jump.

“I’m proud of you, Zara.” Her Da’s face crinkled into a rare smile. “You are so smart, and I rely on you so much.” He sighed.

Zara grinned at him. “Thank you, Da. I love you. I’m going to sleep now.”

The connection dissipated.