Jacqueline Lichtenberg – författare

n Damien Broderick’s haunting tale, “The Meek,” the survivors of humanity’s drive toward racial suicide must pay an awful price for their continued survival. John Glasby’s “Innsmouth Bane” tells how the alien entity Dagon first came to nineteenth-century America. In “Helen’s Last Will,” James C. Glass shows us that death may not always be “the end.” Charles Allen Gramlich’s “I Can Spend You” is a futuristic western which puts prospecting in a whole new light! “The Voice of the Dolphin in Air,” by Howard V. Hendrix, is a poignant tale of life and death on Mars and the LaGrange space stations. In Philip E. High’s “This World Is Ours,” David Hacket is given the task of revitalizing a declining city (and world), and finds himself facing an alien invasion. James B. Johnson’s “The Last American” is fighting to preserve the memory of the old U.S. of A.—in a last stand at the Alamo! In “Small World: A Small Story,” by Michael Kurland, Vanspeepe invents a new transportation device, hoping to change the world—and he does! “The Channel Exemption: A Sime~Gen Story,” by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, focuses on the tensions between Sime and Gen when a mixed party of humans is stranded on an alien planet. Gary Lovisi’s tale, “My Guardian,” tells how mankind is finally able to put an end to wars and mass killings. “Black Mist,” by Richard A. Lupoff, is a stunning mystery set at a Japanese research station on the Martian moon, Phobos. Don Webb, in his fascinating tale, “The Five Biographies of General Gerrhan,” demonstrates how easy it is for the professional writer to (mis)interpret, deliberately or otherwise, the story of a space hero. Twelve great reads by a dozen great writers!

Welcome to the first Sime~Gen Anthology written by the fans. This Anthology is a compilation of stories and poetry written by people who have been influenced by the published works of Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah, in such a powerful way that they felt compelled to explore this universe in their own writing. Here are:

Forewords, by Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah"Moonlight Sonata," by Mary Lou Mendum"A Mother’s Choice," by Donna Fernstrom"Obsession," by Eliza Leahy"How Far Must I Go?", by William Long"A Journey Into Demonland," by Mary Lou Mendum and M. Alexis Pakulak"The Legend of the Creeping Need," by Zoe Farris"Be Not Afraid," by Marjorie Robbins"Running on Selyn Alone," by D.H. Aire"Blood Taint," by Katherine X. Rylien"More Than Meets the Eye," by R. K. Hageman"The Box," by Laurie Pollack"Prelude and Fugue in Four Choices," by Mary Lou Mendum"Shadows," by Zoe Farris"Vincent of the Gate," by R. K. Hageman"Destiny," by N. Eileen O’Neill"Three Milestones in the Founding of Cordona Territory," by Mary Lou Mendum"A Short Life," by Eliza ambrov Halwyn"Controller’s Dilemma," by Marjorie Robbins and K. L. Schaefer"The Gift of Alauno Light," by Andrea Alton

What is Sime~Gen? For those of you who are reading this book without previous experience of this expansive universe here is a brief introduction:

Sime~Gen is a series of novels written by Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah. It is set in a future where humans have mutated into two subspecies. Simes, who go through a brief but dramatic change at puberty and Gens, whose change, while just as dramatic, is invisible to the naked eye.

The outward sign of the Simes'' change is development of tentacles on their forearms, four strong and flexible "handling" tentacles and two smaller tentacles just for selyn transfer, called "laterals." Gens produce life energy called "selyn" which Simes require once a month to live. Unfortunately, the result in obtaining this energy is usually the death of the Gen.

This physical transformation happens just prior to puberty. There is no way of knowing, before that, if a person will be Sime or Gen.

At the chronological beginning of the published novels by Jacqueline, and Jean, a second mutation of Sime emerges. These "channels" are able to keep Simes from Killing Gens, thus saving mankind from self-annihilation. The stories that you find here, and the published books by Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah, explore the role of these new Simes, and the Gens who live side by side with them as humankind struggles to become one again.

This volume was edited by Zoe Farris and Karen L. MacLeod

Den Milnan, a Tecton Donor, accompanies his cousin, channel Rital Madz, to an experimental Sime Center in the town of Clear Springs, deep in hostile Gen Territory. Rital plans to offer selyn technology to the Gens in trade for selyn, the energy that only Gens can produce.

Selyn is the fuel that could power a new revival of civilization, as fossil fuels did for humanity of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Den Milnan dreams of turning his horse-and-buggy existence into a world of rapid transportation with his design for heavier than air flight.

In Clear Springs, an implacable enemy awaits them, determined to stop selyn collection by fanning old fears of killer Simes. Unless Den can find a way to calm those fears, his dream of powered flight will never be realized.

Den Milnan, a Tecton Donor, accompanies his cousin, channel Rital Madz, to an experimental Sime Center in the town of Clear Springs, deep in hostile Gen Territory. Rital plans to offer selyn technology to the Gens in trade for selyn, the energy that only Gens can produce.

Selyn is the fuel that could power a new revival of civilization, as fossil fuels did for humanity of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Den Milnan dreams of turning his horse-and-buggy existence into a world of rapid transportation with his design for heavier than air flight.

In Clear Springs, an implacable enemy awaits them, determined to stop selyn collection by fanning old fears of killer Simes. Unless Den can find a way to calm those fears, his dream of powered flight will never be realized.