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| | <td style='padding: 5px;'><b>Publication Date:</b></td> | | <td style='padding: 5px;'><b>Publication Date:</b></td> |
| − | <td>TBA</td> | + | <td>July 2019</td> |
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| | <td style='padding: 5px;'><b>ISBN:</b></td> | | <td style='padding: 5px;'><b>ISBN:</b></td> |
| − | <td>TBA</td> | + | <td>978-0463970102 (ebook) |
| | + | TBA (print)</td> |
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| − | '''Gold Rush''' is the third novel in [[The Offworld Chronicles]] series and picks up the story of [[Simon Williams|Simon's Team]], [[The Dragons of Offworld]], [[The Syndicate]], and many others, while also adding a new team into the mix, lead by [[Arthur Holland]], and will become the greatest challenge that Simon and his friends have faced thus far. | + | '''Gold Rush''' is the third novel in [[The Offworld Chronicles]] series and picks up the story of [[Simon Williams|Simon's Team]], [[The Dragons of Offworld]], [[The Syndicate]], and many others, while also adding a new team into the mix, lead by [[Arthur Holland]], and discusses events that will likely become the greatest challenge that Simon and his friends have faced thus far. |
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| − | ===Summary=== | + | ===Back Cover Blurb=== |
| − | The book starts with a flashback to a hundred years earlier in a village to the east of [[Donville]]. It is here that a prophecy is given by Reverend [[Kinson]] telling of the future fulfillment of an earlier prophecy given 400 years earlier, and the signs that will indicate that they are closing on the end of the race and their eventual freedom. The story then returns to modern day Donville and the shop of [[Arthur Holland]], a master [[woodcrafter]] and artisan as he works on a special project made out of [[Mahoy]] wood for the city's mayor. He's soon joined by his best friend and business partner [[Dexter Dramond]], after which the two men talk about the project and the general lack of business they've been suffering lately, some of which is being caused by a bad economy, and some by the unusual calmness of [[The Reaping Sea]] over the past months. Deciding to seek out answers, Arthur heads down to the dockyards and meets Captain [[Ebenezer]] on his way. Arthur is surprised, yet happy to see him alive, given the rumors of his death on The Reaping Sea. Arthur then goes down and speaks with the dock master and asks if they've been withholding work from him, or giving it to another ship. The dock master informs him that they haven't. There just hasn't been anything to give him. The two part company with a friendly goodbye.
| + | Winter has come, and the race that once haunted Simon's team is now but a shadow and a fading memory. But as Simon and his team winter over in the Kestrel Weyr, resting from their travels, and sheltered by the dragons who have sworn to protect them from all harm and danger, greater events are unfolding behind them; consequences of their desperate struggle to survive the prior year that will in turn bring about the greatest gold rush of men and women the distant planet of Offworld has ever seen. |
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| − | Elsewhere [[Chester Westman]] meets with [[Adam]] and [[Martha]] and is brought up to speed on recent events in the area, including the fall of Ruby. [[Sheobaal]], and his master [[Azazel]] meanwhile look in on Simon's team, still bent on destroying them, but find that they're too well protected by a LARGE angel army, so they satisfy themselves with just watching them for now. As they do, Aria and Trevor spend a little time together on one of the many observation ledges on the side of [[Kestrel]] Weyr and talk about each other, but mostly about Trevor's past, some of what he owns, and some of what he has done, not all of which the young man is interested in talking about, and much of which he regrets. Back in Donville Arthur meets with the mayor, an annoying, penguin like man, and shows him his carved Mahoy commission that is to be the accent piece on a new bed he's recently had made. Afterwards Arthur goes for a walk for some fresh air. As he does, a local paper boy comes by shouting about the latest headline, which is about the fall of the [[Four Kingdoms]]. This in turn sparks a memory by Dexter of the previously mentioned Kinson prophecy. Realizing what this means, Arthur decides to go speak with the Mayor.
| + | ===Awards and Reviews=== |
| | + | Presently there are none. |
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| − | Back on Adam's farm, as he worries how they're going to survive the winter given that none of their crops have ripened, he discovers that God has blessed him and his farm by literally enlarging his barns to over twice their original size, then doubling, and sometimes even quadrupling his herds, and filling his now enlarged barns to the roof. While they're taking this in, [[Jack Lundy]] and [[Agent J]] take some time at a local pub to discuss current events on the [[race]] course, including God's seemingly miraculous intervention in recent events. Back at Kestrel Weyr, [[Garloond]] and [[Magendra Tallenon|Maggy]] take some time out during Garloond's busy day and go for a romantic flight and get to know each other better. And, while Garloond still doesn't consider Maggy to be a sufficient candidate to be his eventual mate, she does begin to slowly change his mind as she continues to grow on him, as does his interest in her. And, while she didn't turn out to be the amazing warrior she was touted by so many others to be, he is both surprised and greatly impressed with Maggy's incredible flying skills, much of which was learned from her Aunt [[Karuth]].
| + | [[Category:Books]] |
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| − | Back in Donville, Arthur takes the news about the Four Kingdoms to the mayor, who grows irate at this news for no apparent reason and throws Arthur out of his office. Elsewhere, [[Fallon]] appears to his grandfather, Weyr Master [[Zek]], and warns him that their master, the [[controllers]] are growing wise to his plans, and as such he needs to back off for a while until things blow over. Over in Donville Captain Ebenezer is greeted by an agent of [[Section 17]] and asked to begin working behind the scenes to get people moving because, with the Four Kingdoms gone, the path forward is clear, and it's the will of Section 17 and, their currently temporary partner, [[Section 9]] to get as many racers to resume the race as possible, of which Ebenezer agrees to do. In the former city of [[Ruby]], now called [[Renata]], Chester wakes up one morning to find its devastated, burned down buildings and raged streets filled with hundreds of tents as far as the eye can see. He learns that word has spread far and wide of Ruby's fall, drawing people up from the south to the former city of sin to take advantage of this opportunity for a new start, work, and possibly riches in the newly opened and accessible northern territories.
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| − | Over at [[Mongangro]] Weyr, Zek, [[Akhur]], [[Shuman]] and Fallon gather in a specially created room that hides their words, plans and actions from their masters. Once there, they discuss the current state of the race, Simon's team, their plans and more. They then decide they need to create a diversion to draw away the attention of their masters from [[Simon Williams|Simon's]] team, who they still trying to protect, despite recent setbacks. They will also need to become hands off with Simon's team for a while to remove the attention from them to keep them safe. Back in Donville, Arthur and Dexter realize that the mayor has begun taking steps to prevent and discourage anyone of the [[Generationals|1st generation]] from leaving his city. Realizing the situation, and the problems this creates, Arthur and Dexter begin forming a plan on how to defeat the mayor's efforts to trap them there. Over in Renata, Adam and Martha go into town and meet up with Chester and discuss doing business together, with Adam's farm being a primary provider of produce and resources for Chester's growing town. While there they pick up some workers for the farm.
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| − | Later on, in the village of Westland, several of Arthur's apprentices arrive in a printer's shop and drop off his order of new chairs, and also an envelope with some silver coins and a letter that talks about the fall of the Four Kingdoms, and encourages the printer to spread the word far and wide, which he does, setting in motion a chain reaction of good news all across the lands east of The Reaping Sea, much to the chagrin of the mayor of Donville. Back in Kestrel, Maggy comes to see Simon and the others and finds them planning the next stage of their journey come spring. Seeking more information, Maggy requests information from her masters (the controllers) about the seasons, and is given a picture book with encoded, hidden information that only their implants can unlock. So it's hidden to everyone else. Simon decides to take this odd book and use it to help them plan their departure. Over in Donville, Arthur arrives home after a hard day at work and shares the news of what's been happening with his wife and two kids. They all realize this will almost certain mean he'll be leaving soon, so they discuss his departure and encourage him to go, as it's in the best interests of everyone on the planet if he does.
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| − | Over at [[Hollow Manor]], they too receive word of the fall of the Four Kingdoms, which [[Jeremy]] brings to the attention of the Baroness. However, they're both suspicious of this message and decide to verify if it's true or not. However, this also brings up the fact that The Baroness (whose real name is [[Susan Wheaton]]) has been feeling a longing to go west again for a long time, and resume the race. Back in Donville, the mayor gets his hands on one of the original letters sent out by Dexter, and they come to realize the danger that it presents them and their plans to keep the 1st Generation racers locked in Donville and unable to continue. The mayor wants immediate action to crush the uprising of hope and excitement that these letters are bringing. But the council wisely advises him to hold off until spring as there's no risk anyone will set out now while winter is raging outside. He agrees and sets this aside for a time. Meanwhile, the owners of a local bakery, while preparing their daily wares for sale, discuss the sad state of affairs in Donville, the prophecy give a century earlier by Reverend Kinson, and its seeming effects on the economy and food supply. As they do this, Ebenezer enters the shop to order supplies for his ship and crew. While there he craftily sows the seeds of dissent against the mayor in their minds, to begin turning the hearts and minds of the people of the city against the mayor and his plans.
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| − | As he's doing this, Councilman [[Zander]] comes to Dexter and warns him that the mayor is getting wise to their plans, and he (Dexter) risks being hung if he's not careful. This causes Dexter to change his plans to account for this new development. As Simon and Trevor are continuing their work to plan their departure and the next part of their journey, Zek calls another meeting of the Weyr Masters at Mongangro, this time including [[Narond]] in his discussions, despite the elder dragon's frail condition. Once there they further discuss their plans to draw away the eyes of their masters from Simon's team, as well as other elements of the plan as it stands currently. Back at Hollow Manor, the Baroness briefs her senior staff on the letter she received, and what it means for the future of the manor, and the staff. After everyone leaves, Jeremy and the Baroness discuss the letter and what she will do. Knowing that, deep down she's already decided, Jeremy leaves her to think about this. Over in Kestrel Weyr, having just come off their recent meeting at Mongangro, Zek, Akhur, Fallon, Shuman and Narond gather in the hall of meeting (all of whom attend by hologram, save only for Akhur) and play a game of charades, pretending to be discussing something in an effort to determine their next move.
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| − | However, this is merely a well planned and practiced stage play done with the intention of deceiving their masters, while secretly informing Garloond, and a few other choice individuals, of their plans and the things that they need them to know, without revealing the same to their masters. Garloond does eventually catch on and receives the message loud and clear, while at the same time [[Sheobaal]] is blinded to the truth, as are the other controllers. Back in Donville, a group of men all gather in a house, summoned there to discuss something that is reported to be of great importance. However, it's a well orchestrated trap, setup by Dexter, to trap the mayor and turn the hearts of the city against him when he comes down hard on the men who were tricked into attending the meeting. Down in the stables of Kestrel Weyr, Simon and Birash talk about Tiny and the need for a new horse for Birash, one that is more his size, which foreshadows some of what is coming up in regards to Birash and Tiny. Meanwhile, at Hollow Manor, Lord Trig and Lord Camton, two allies of the Baroness, arrive and spend some time talking with her, eventually providing her with the last bit of reassurance and convincing she needs to finally agree to rejoin the trail and continue her journey west. They will, in turn, work with Jeremy and the other members of her house to keep things going in her absence.
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| − | Back at Kestrel, Maggy learns that she is not to go with Simon's team when they set out in the spring. She is saddened by this, not realizing it's part of Zek's plans to draw attention away from Simon's team. She then breaks the bad news to Simon. He is sad, but understands. However, as she's talking and spending time with him, Garloond and [[Pehkek]] stand nearby and watch her, concerned that she might do something wrong. It's also shown Garloond's growing love for her, even though he denies it, despite it being bluntly obvious to Pehkek.
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| − | (be patient, this entry is a work in progress)
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