Ice Age Europe, 40,000 years ago. Two species of human, Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis, clash in a desperate battle for ownership of the future. Bran, an alien probe sent by a distant intelligence to join human society, is caught in the middle of the first world war and finds himself alongside Etaa the Ugly, the woman cast out from both sides. A searing tale of hatred and love, "First World War" explores what makes one truly human, and the fates of vastly different societies once they confront each other.
Genre: FICTION / Science Fiction / Short Stories"First World War" is available as an individual story on Amazon, or as part of the original science fiction anthology The Prometheus Saga. The collected anthology has just been released in softcover and ebook editions. The ebook, which is also available on other sites, has so far been ranked between 50,000 and 150,000 on Amazon.
The first time you die is always the hardest.
Bran didn’t know that yet. He wouldn’t until the next time he died, or perhaps even a few times beyond that. Nor did he know if there would even be a next time. He only knew that this was dying.
He stared at the broken shaft of wood protruding from his abdomen. Blood seeped from the wound, slipping and slithering down his legs and onto the cold ground, to join the black, viscous mud of the earth.
Sounds of fury and battle carried over the windswept meadow. Shouts, screams. The sharp strike of wood against wood, stone against stone. The dull thud and crunch of flesh and bone. Death, dying.
Bran touched the shaft of the spear, felt it, tugged at it. His knowledge of human anatomy—of his anatomy—had grown over time, beyond what he had always known, since the first day he’d known anything. He sensed the depth of the spear deep inside him, its mass and pressure against his torn organs. He knew the damage within him would kill. He knew of pain; he’d witnessed it among the People almost daily, and knew that it caused suffering. But pain existed for him as an abstraction. He felt no pain.
He reached around behind his back, and felt the tip of the stone spear point protruding through his skin. The wetness confirmed that the blood was spilling from that wound as well.
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Italian
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Already translated.
Translated by Andrea Partiti
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Author review: Andrea does excellent, thorough, and conscientious work. On top of that, she is a joy to work with and communicate with. |
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Portuguese
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Already translated.
Translated by Aline Fernandes
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Author review: Aline is thorough and a hard worker. Really appreciated the effort and expertise! |
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by RN Andrews
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