http://www.sffworld.com/forums/blog.php?22697-hmhowes en Thu, 23 May 2013 12:09:10 GMT vBulletin 25 http://www.sffworld.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.sffworld.com/forums/blog.php?22697-hmhowes http://www.sffworld.com/forums/entry.php?2290-The-Mark-of-the-Gate-preface Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:05:02 GMT There is a window that sits between the world we all accept and that niggling something else we feel but can’t explain; the feeling that someone or something is waiting for you in the darkness. A movement in the corner of your eye or an anxious glance into an imaginary world you believe to be... There is a window that sits between the world we all accept and that niggling something else we feel but can’t explain; the feeling that someone or something is waiting for you in the darkness.
A movement in the corner of your eye or an anxious glance into an imaginary world you believe to be beneath your bed.
The tingle which bites into your nerves as you open the closet door giving an overwhelming and consuming fear that you are not alone!
In time you may find the strength to dismiss such thoughts, placing them behind the fragile bars of your subconscious to wait.
So do not turn away and refuse to read on for this is unlike any other tale. It is only through the turn of its pages and the openness of your mind that its true worth can be revealed. The story begins at a time when two diverse worlds did far more than tantalize each other with a suggestive touch. Instead they flowed beyond the guideline of reason, blurring the boundaries between the acceptable and unacceptable forever.
There were creatures unknown to you or me who would walk through the dark corners of our world; the guardians of the doorway between earth and Invoden, the keepers of the gate. From the beginning of time itself, at the birth of light and dark, two worlds were formed, one of evil held back by good and one of good tempted by evil. They both existed together in the same space but not time, in a never-ending balance. This was about to change.
One from the shadows would come to start the birth of a new order. His name was Phoebus, destined to become the father of hope. He was, in appearance manlike, lean but strong with wolf shaped features, eyes of compelling green, body wrapped in long furs and a mane of long black curls reaching down to the small of his back. Born of the clan Kippax in the province of Garj, he was a guardian to the Crystal of the staff, the Cryster, the power to maintain the balance between Invoden and earth. For centuries his kind had kept the Sprode from stepping from the shadows into the light of earth side and consuming all. The Sprode was bat like demons with the ability to feed on our darkest fears; cloaked in transparent flesh which draped in a veil of unrest over a heart of beating coldness. From the end of their fingertips came razor sharp claws of abandoned mercy and a presence which offered little in the way of remorse for their rightful victims. To allow a meeting of recognition would bring surrender of your humanity; for you would be left stripped down to your soul by eyes of blood red stone reflecting your worst nightmares. They wait in the caves which run beneath the swooping sands, the white plains of Invoden for their time to rise and Earthsiders to end. Devar was the high lord of such loathing beasts. This demon was no more than a dark shadow in form, yet still had such an evil presence that the most blinding good when stood beside him, would dim. He would never stop until all, from hope to faith, was gone. ]]> hmhowes http://www.sffworld.com/forums/entry.php?2290-The-Mark-of-the-Gate-preface http://www.sffworld.com/forums/entry.php?2257-Close-Encounters-of-the-Alien-Kind Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:30:42 GMT Have you ever met an alien? ‘What!’ you say whilst trying to disassociate yourself from me in case I’m dangerous. You’ll be fine, so calm down; anyway I’m not even in the same room as you so there is no need to panic. If I was you’d still be perfectly safe as my mouse and keyboard have no... Have you ever met an alien?

‘What!’ you say whilst trying to disassociate yourself from me in case I’m dangerous.

You’ll be fine, so calm down; anyway I’m not even in the same room as you so there is no need to panic. If I was you’d still be perfectly safe as my mouse and keyboard have no sharp edges. I am also not working for your estranged wife, who is planning to have you committed so she can sell both your car and your house to run off with her personal trainer Eduardo who she swore on her mother’s grave was gay! Neither am I working for your husband who, if that’s the case would see such an admission as a sign that your family’s history of mental illness is starting to surface in you. Did you even think about giving me the reply, ‘I don’t know’, because in truth you may well not? An alien could look like you, me or even your cousin. The one you always had your suspicions about with his beady little eyes and rather abnormally large ears. If they were living amongst us they would obviously be trying to keep the whereabouts of their hometown a secret. In normal circumstances they would not introduce themselves as coming from the clan Kippax in the province of Garj as a character in my novel ‘The Mark of the Gate’ does. I suggest if they did so, it would not be too long before a cell with white padded walls was their new address.

We, as a species, have an uncanny ability to close our minds to the things we cannot understand or are frightened of. Acceptance is not one of our greatest attributes in all areas of life not just extraterrestrial!

You’re in a bar, late at night with only the bartender and a drink or two for company. A man comes in; his arm unknowingly brushes against your back as he walks straight past you. An uneasy feeling now comes over your entire body; you turn around to see him taking a seat in a dark secluded corner. You lift your glass slowly towards your lips and on its arrival take a swallow. Curiosity gets the better of you and encourages a sly glance out the corner of one eye. The man himself is looking rather uncomfortable and very, very hot indeed. There are beads of sweat reflecting in numbers all across his brow. One suddenly breaks free and makes a run for it down the side of his face. Its escape however is soon cut short by the back of a hand. He makes no attempt to buy a drink although he is undoubtedly in great need of one. Then your eyes, for a small moment, meet his but just as quickly you deny any contact and take a sip from your glass once again. He stands up and walks towards you as these words in broken English fall from his tongue ‘Can you help me?’ Before you can reply two men in suits rush into the bar and tackle him down to the ground. After a short scuffle the man is lead away in handcuffs, slightly bruised and battered.

The bartender turns to you and says ‘That’s the forth this week. Illegal aliens, they are killing my business!’

[url]http://www.hmhowes.com[/url] ]]> hmhowes http://www.sffworld.com/forums/entry.php?2257-Close-Encounters-of-the-Alien-Kind