Harvest Chapter 3
“You caught another rut!” Trysk’s father called out as he walked along beside the juddering combine. “On it!” Trysk yelled and she turned the wheel. The combine bounced high once, then settled back into a smooth forward motion across the field. The full-grown Klep pulling the grain cart alongside...
Harvest Chapter 2
Little Klep “Over here, Brem!” Trysk called out to her twin brother as she pushed her way through the shoulder-high filkseed grass towards a thick copse of fernweed bushes. “Just the one?” Brem replied. “Yes.” “Any more out here?” “No.” Trysk shook her head as she stopped in front...
Harvest Chapter 1
Harvest Boarding Party The airlock door opened with a squeal of tortured metal. Alarms blared, and then fell silent when sensors determined there was no drop in pressure. Armour-suited figures floated along the flexible boarding tube connecting the two ships, then heavy boots clanged down against the deck as...
Interview by Nikky Lee – 10 Questions with J J Mathews
I was delighted to be interviewed by Nikky Lee from SpecFic NZ after the wrap-up of CoNZealand, the 78th world science fiction convention. Due to COVID, it was also the first virtual WorldCon, but still hosted by New Zealand. Nikky has interviewed a wide range of Speculative Fiction authors,...
Releasing August 1, 2020 – ICARUS
Coming August 1, 2020 – Icarus – Book #4 in the Taylor Neeran Chronicles. Pre-order a copy today! AD 3487 Taylor Neeran, Star-Killer. That’s what she was being called throughout the Xathen dominion. Turn the minor star of the Franath binary system into a black hole, and they gave...
JJ’s Galactic Musings – GeyserCon and Stranger Things
Welcome to the galaxy! I’m J J Mathews, New Zealand science fiction author and dreamer of alien worlds. Whoop! I’m headed to GeyserCon at the end of May! What is GeyserCon? It’s the 40th annual NZ Science Fiction and Fantasy convention, which is being held in Rotorua this year between May 31-June...
JJ’s Galactic Musings – A note on Taylor Neeran
Excerpt from the postscript of Illiya – Taylor Neeran Chronicles #1. Insights into the creation of the book series, and the development of Taylor’s character. Taylor Alice Neeran. That girl has been no end of trouble for me. With the first review draft, Taylor was unbearable. Annoying, selfish, childish...
JJ’s Galactic Musings – What makes a story readable?
Welcome to the galaxy! I’m J J Mathews, New Zealand science fiction author and dreamer of alien worlds. This month we’re doing some Time Travel – with reflections on books, from shiny and new to very old: what makes a story readable – or not? The following is a...
JJ’s Galactic Musings – Expressions of support and solidarity after the March 15 Christchurch massacre
Welcome to the galaxy! I’m J J Mathews, New Zealand science fiction author and dreamer of alien worlds. It has been a long week after a very dark day last Friday, but it has also been a week full of promise and hope. Today, March 22nd (NZT) at 1:32pm, people...
JJ’s Galactic Musings – Terrorist attacks in Christchurch (not fiction)
Welcome to the galaxy! I’m J J Mathews, New Zealand science fiction author and dreamer of alien worlds. This unplanned newsletter brings us heart-wrenchingly back from the enjoyable mental explorations of science fiction to a very real, senseless human tragedy that struck all too close to home. New Zealand has long prided itself...