The Pendulum Breaks is Here!

I know this is a little out of the blue, but the fourth novel and the end to the series has arrived! I thought I’d have time to prep this space, but my cover art came back at the same time as edits and I put myself into overdrive to get it out and call the series done.

You guys have no idea (well, maybe some of y’all do) how it feels to have the whole story out there, all four books worth. I was blessed to be able to work with the incomparable Micaela Dawn as cover artist across all four novels, which added all sorts of big words like synchronicity, verisimilitude and uniformity to the whole set. And check out the back!

Normally, this is the part where I advertise the book but all of you who are up on the first three don’t really need me to sell it… it’s the dramatic conclusion that we’ve all been waiting for! And those of you have yet to check it out, what are you waiting for?!

The Pendulum Breaks is on sale in digital and paperback editions right now at Amazon here. For those of you who want an ebook from a different vendor, I’m afraid right now you can only preorder here. I set the publishing date for August 11th (my birthday) as an aspirational goal and it wound up being more future flung than the reality. But now that you know more of my vital stats, why not pick up a copy to celebrate my birthday?

Thanks to all of you who love the series and rock with it. I hope you enjoy the conclusion. The writer from the trenches is out!

The Pendulum War is HERE!

The title kinda says it all, right? Folks, I’m so happy that the third book of Pendulum Heroes is finally seeing the light of day. This novel took me a dog’s age to write only to be beset by the terrible production delays and setbacks that was 2020. Nevertheless, The Pendulum War is finally available for all of you wanting to see what comes next.

Since there’s not much else to say but I hope you check it out, as is my thing I like to show off the cover art, provided by the supremely talented Micaela Dawn.

Here’s the front:

And here’s the back:

And here’s the link to get The Pendulum War (digital only, print version coming in a day or two). Or if you haven’t gotten around to getting neck deep in adrenaline fueled fantasy adventure, here’s the link to start the series. Either way, I appreciate you riding with the writer in the trenches!

No Police = Know Future Virtual Launch Party!

No Police = Know Future: Stories of Alternative Futures of Alternative Justice is a truly special volume, both a visualization of the recent call to defund the police and a roadmap to navigate towards a true system of justice.  We over here at Amazing Stories want to celebrate its launch with the world.  We’re having a Book Release Virtual Launch Party and you’re invited.  The Editor-in-Chief James Beamon (yep, that’s me) will be there, chatting with several contributing authors which include:

PT Mackim

Bronte Christopher Wieland

Stewart C Baker

Holly Schofield

Jared Oliver Adams

Ira Nayman

Lettie Prell

Anatoly Belilovsky

Ryan Priest

The virtual launch party is scheduled for Sunday, December 27 at 4:00 PM EST (1:00 PM Pacific).  Join us via Zoom by clicking here. That’s tomorrow as of the time of this post… no it’s not short notice, like you really would’ve remembered if I said this before Christmas!

If you’re already read No Police = Know Future, come on by and talk about your favorite stories with the authors who thought them up.  Or maybe you’re curious about how a future without police might look, the processes of SF thought experiments or just want to spend some time with SF authors, editors and fans. The room is limited to 100 participants, so be sure to come early. 

No Police SF Anthology Open to Submissions

News everyone,

I’m working with Amazing Stories to bring to the world an anthology that realizes a future world without police.

SUBMISSION CALL: NO POLICE = KNOW FUTURE

After the brutal murder of George Floyd by the police, the world responded in righteous protest, with cries of “Black Lives Matter.” The police responded to these calls in large part with even more brutality, with video after video emerging that showed an assault on the public. And more cries came forth, with calls to defund the police.

But what’s that mean?

Science Fiction writers, this is your call to arms. Give us your potential (and hopefully positive) futures that involve alternatives to modern day policing. We want stories that replace the police entirely, dramatically reform them, or create parallel systems to refocus policing. We’re also seeking alternate concepts of rehabilitation and punishment as well, more emphasis on the carrot. In a world where police are perpetually brandishing their batons, I think we’ve all seen enough sticks.

I’ll be Amazing’s Editor-in-Chief for this submissions call.  Now, I know it may be difficult to think of a world without the police. They’ve been there all of our lives, in meticulous uniform, reinforced by countless movies. I recommend this article and this infographic for inspiration.  Search around, you’ll see the conversation is already happening and who better to join the discussion than the creative minds already thinking of how the future unfolds?

Story length is up to approximately 4,000 words for original fiction. We’re not going to reject something that stretches this limit out of hand, but know that the longer it gets, the harder a sell it becomes. Reprints can be up to 6,000 words. Most veins of SF welcome, with the exception of steampunk, dieselpunk or other SF that nestles us comfortably in a previous era. We are here now, in tumultuous times, and cannot go back. Let’s face a possible, achievable future bravely.

Payment: USD $0.08 per word for original fiction. USD $100 per story for reprint fiction. We are a SFWA qualifying market for original fiction.

Submit your stories using the Amazing Stories online submission system.  Make sure you check the “No Police = Know Future” box when you submit.  Submission window closes Sunday August 16, 2020.

Are you ready to give a beleaguered public your vision of a better tomorrow? We stand ready to listen.