UPDATE: Contest open to international readers!
hi all! I’m Dave Williams, author of the Autumn Rain trilogy, which began with 2008′s THE MIRRORED HEAVENS and last year’s THE BURNING SKIES, and concludes this week with THE MACHINERY OF LIGHT. And I’ll be giving away three copies of the first book, and one copy of the entire #$# trilogy, so what more could you ask for?
And special thanks to Ilona for the opportunity to tell you more about the books, though she may not thank me when she hears the awful confession I have journeyed to her blog to make:
Feline Unit #1: Captain Zoom - Click for larger image
I am remote-controlled by my cats.
There are two of them–Ajax and Captain Zoom–and they vie for control of my teleoperated brain. They force me to run all over my apartment looking for stupid fake mice, and then they go and make me write blog posts like this one where I humiliate myself for all and sundry to see. I think it started with Ajax’s hacking of my computer. From there, it was only a matter of time till Zoom hacked my mind. Now I’m a pawn in their twisted little game.
But as I reflect on the pathetic fate I’ve been reduced to, I can’t help but note the similarities with the future to which we’re heading (that’d be the bit about the mind’s vulnerability, not necessarily the bit about the cats. . . )
Feline Unit #2: Ajax - Click for larger image
The world of the early 22nd century is one where people wear powered armor smarter than they are, and the razors — the hackers — have tiny fractions of a second to distinguish friend from foe. Foremost among those razors is Claire Haskell, who–subsequent to the terrorist group Autumn Rain’s nuking of the world’s space elevator–gets paired on assignment with her former lover Jason Marlowe. She hasn’t seen him in ten years. But they learn early in the book that their spymaster handlers are #$# with their memory. So . .. were they ever really lovers in the first place? This Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-meets-James Bond dynamic is what got me an agent, Jenny Rappaport; she then turned around and sold the whole trilogy to Bantam as “John LeCarre on sci-fi crack.” I’m not precisely sure what sci-fi crack is like, but I have spent much of the last several years looking for it. If I pretend it’s something like catnip, my cats might even let me find it.
But back to Claire. She’s verging on posthuman with her abilities, but she can’t trust anyone.. . certainly not that onetime lover of hers. But most of all, she can’t trust her own mind. Once it becomes clear that the terrorists Autumn Rain might have hacked her already, she’s forced to start writing stuff down on her own skin — the only surface that they might not have access to. And when she starts to get glimpses of the future… well, that’s when things get downright demented. There’s a trailer video for the third book that I think captures her predicament in a nutshell. . .
I can see my own future too, and it involves feeding my cats and scratching their damn bellies. It’s as though I have no will of my own. At any rate, it looks like the Feline Units did a nice job with THE MACHINERY OF LIGHT. I can’t wait to buy it and see how it all turns out.
To enter, please comment on this blog post by Friday, June 4th, 2010. Contest is open to US and international readers.
My cats like to jump onto my backpack on my back from trees in the night their names were Cockroach Killer and Hissy… but I change their names about once a week, so they ended up being called Your Brother and Your Sister more than anything… XD
Ohhh… sounds spiffy. Count me in!
i would like to get some of that scifi crack…maybe it can help me deal with my cat… i have to change her litter box today
Yeah, cats are smart like that. Spice has petting spots where we must pet her. Flop (the black kitty) flops on your lap, on top of the interfering book, and demands petting. Flit, well, she goes on the couch behind your head and grooms you until you pet her. And she meows really loud until you feed her.
The books sound cool. Count me in please.
Sounds very interesting. I would like to see more. Please enter me in the contest. Thanks, and congrats on the release!
The series looks really interesting, and your cats are cuties. I’m controlled by one of my own so I totally understand.
My dogs, Moose and Charlie, do not possess the power of direct mind control. However, they have been given the gift of human manipulation. Two sets of soulful puppy eyes direct me to enter your contest and to buy your books!
Ooh, been dying to read these books- winning them would be fab but will be buying them otherwise.
That Ajax is perhaps the funkiest moggy I have seen! Thanks for such a cool guest blog .
Your cats have combined their mind control energies and sent a beam straight to my brain. I have to get your books. Lucky for me, your books sound like they would be really interesting.
mom1248(at)att(dot)net
Sounds like an interesting series. Thanks for the contest.
I’m in for the cat nip. Thanks!
Thank you for opening the opportunities for international readers!
Count me in
Count me in!
Would love a chance for the book(s) – science fiction is what started me on a long and wonderful ride reading books.
Glad to know you are in good hands or, er, paws. Ajax definitely look like an alien creature. Your books sounds great, can’t wait to read ‘em. Greetings from Buffy and India, my keepers. Cheers!
Furr-babies rule the world, everyone recognizes it, most won’t admit it! I am now experiencing a strong urge to go brush my felines lol, thanks. Cool giveaway! I love getting names of authors that might have remained unknown to me from authors I read and admire. Thanks for chance to win!!
Oh, cute kitties…especially the little yellow kitty. Our psycho-kitty went to the kitty bed in the sky and now we share our humble abode with canines only. But the kitten there, I’m almost tempted. Except I think they’d terrify our cocker and she’s already a traumatized soul.
Wow, this sounds pretty cool! Thanks for this chance of winning your books.
I have not read any of your books but these look like awesome reads. Thanks for the giveaway. I have added you to my new author list. I have just started back reading science fiction and should I win, this would keep me busy reading for a while.
Your Captain Zoom looks like my silver gray persian, Miss Kallie, who just turned 12. She loves to hiss and spit at every one, including me. The other two cats just stay out of her way if possible. They think she is crazy. lol
Ajax looks a lot like my Garfield but he has the long hair like a persian, he is almost 7. He is such a sweetheart.
Then I have Bootsie, she is 6 1/2 yrs old, black and white short hair with a loud voice and uses it constantly. I have threatened to tape her mouth shut but the tape would really hurt when pulled off so I shelved that idea for now. lol
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by shiloh walker, Ilona Andrews. Ilona Andrews said: Giveaway: Dave Williams, SF, military, awesomeness, cat overlords, now open to International readers. http://bit.ly/9Jz8Kx [...]
These books sound lovely. Thank you for stopping by and introducing yourself and your furry masters.
I’ve never read it before, but I want to now.
Please enter me! These look amazing.
Does an 18 month old child who thinks he is a monkey count ?
I’m very glad I’m a dog person. No cats trying to take control. Just a fuzzy dog curled up next me with some licking for good measure.
Your series sounds very interesting.
Hello there! Sounds good! Want!
My cats have run an analysis and confirmed that you are deep litter-box territory with your felines. My condolences. Don’t try to run. It only makes them hungrier.
I would love a chance to check out your books. Thank goodness I am a U.S. or international reader!
John LeCarre on sci-fi crack? Must have!
My cats aren’t interested enough in me to want to take control, and as long as I keep them fed I’m hoping they’ll stay that way.
I’d love to win a copy of The Mirror Heavens or the whole trilogy, that would be great. If I don’t win, I’ll be sure to check out the series next time I’m book shopping.
As I type this my sister is bringing me a grey kitten to keep me company. I hope it doesn’t try to take over my brain. I am on disability for a broken back and read tons to keep my mind from dwelling on it. I would love to add your books to my collection, they sound great .
Ajax and Captain Zoom are so cute, yet cleverly diabolical! And somehow I feel as though Ajax may hack my brain. Determined little booger isn’t he!
Good for you for dealing so honestly with the fact that your cats are remote-controlling you! I find people who refuse to acknowledge that have a so much harder time of it.
Also, thank you for being so #$# reasonable and giving away your first book! So many writers give away newer books, which is a bit lame. Don’t get me wrong, it’s lovely and generous, and I will enter the competition anyway, if it’s an author I like. But if you don’t know the beginning of a series, you waste so much time going “WTF? A shape-shifting, time-travelling baboon? Where did he come from?” And then he turns out to be the earthly vessel of the heroines soul or something. Only you didn’t get huge bits of the plot, because you lacked the basics.
So, thank you for giving away copies of the first book; and obviously giving away the whole trilogy is even better.
Yup, sounds like scifi crack. Count me in.
A synergy of Spy and SF? What’s not to like? I’d love to give it a try.
Wow, a new series to read!
Love the pictures of the Captain Zoom and Ajax. We are a household of four controlled by three feline units. (It must be mind control if you put off a trip to the bathroom as long as possible so as not to disturb the cat sleeping in your lap.)
anything described as scifi on crack sounds like a good read!
Hi Dave, your cats are so cute! What a fun way to introduce yourself! I’ll def check out your books. Welcome to IA blog.
Btw, my bf is also from Hertfordshire!
Aww cute kitty pics, Ajax reminds me of my kitten. I have recently returned back to reading after a very long break so will have to check these books out.
Growing up in a family where there were always more cats than humans running around the house I completely understand being controlled by them!!!
The books sound interesting and so does sci-fi crack!
Thanks!
Cool, i’d be happy to read your books. Count me in.
I have a confession to make – I have never heard of you! Partly because of the appalling state of SF in NZ
Anyway your books sound awesome and I will ask my local library to get the first one and see what happens!
Yes I am remote controlled (more likely meow controlled) by two birmans
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebluerose/sets/72157594301751503/
I am now fully trained to get up at 5am and put kibble in dishes with only the merest of licks on ones closed eyelids LOL
Loved your introduction to you and your cats and your books! Thanks much!
sounds really intriguing, I’d love to be entered to win either prize, thanks!
Hello and Welcome
I also am remote controlled by cats and oddly one is called Zoomie {cue scary musc} The books sound interesting 
count me in.
Your books looks really interesting and your cats are too cute, haha.
Super cute cat!
OMG! Love scifi! I’m adding these books to my ‘to read’ list regardless. : P
My mind is controlled by my dogs as well as my cat. Actually, I think they control my whole life.
I’m in for the comp too!
Would love to win something for once…and your books sound interesting, great opportunity.
Thanks!!
Awesome guest blog, sign me up for the contest!