I wrote this novella and published it in August 2023. It is available for purchase on Amazon.
Book Link: A Slice of French Bread
Book Description:
There were occasional raids—attacks on the smaller and weaker settlements farther away from the cities and centers of power. The enemy is a strange and alien lifeform. It was born here in our world. It was not an experiment of any kind. We had nothing to do with its creation. It was simply another step in the type of life our world could produce. The nuisance they presented was small for a long time, and the war started slowly, but it has grown in scale. Now, there is no escaping it. Escalation has been inevitable, and we have been able to match their power and ferocity. We were evenly matched for many years, but the time has come when the war has been going badly for us. This is not a genocide. It is something worse. Conquest and eradication of all other life are their only motivation. We had come to fear complete annihilation until someone with a key unexpectedly arrived. We have little time to do something with it. Will any of us survive?
This is the story of Maximilien, who has found himself transported against his will to another world. What do you do when you discover a previously unknown civilization? What do you do if you are removed from your surroundings and at the mercy of other people? They do not know if you are a friend or a foe. Do you help them? Do you allow yourself to be pulled into fighting a war against your will? Do you have a choice?
Characters:
Maximilien Proust - The main protagonist of the story who is transported to another world.
General Alistair - Military leader defending the cities and organizing military operations and defense.
Dr. Catherine Franklin - Lead scientist of the recently discovered civilization.
John Guilbert - Lead religious figure of the discovered civilization.
Gabriel - A farmer.
Carl - A bar and restaurant owner.
Topics Include:
War, refugees, immigration, invasion, understanding of the natural world filtered through the lens of science or creation stories, international cooperation, news stories, indifference or apathy, unreality, fear, ecosystem collapse, science fiction, first contact, and alien life forms.
Settings: France. A microscopic world.
Several chapters of the novel were posted on my Substack pages and are available to members who have a paid subscription. Here is a link to the page.
Available here:
If you wish to purchase the novella, here is the link to the book on Amazon:
Book Link: A Slice of French Bread