"Pawn's Gambit," by Adam Heine

[Scott H. Andrews]

This thread is to discuss "Pawn's Gambit," by Adam Heine, which appears in BCS #41 (http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/forums/../toc.php?s=41) from Apr. 22, 2010.

Feel free to post a comment even if you haven't yet registered on the BCS Forums--you can reply to the thread as an unregistered Guest.

[mbrennan]

Fun! I definitely get the feeling there's more to Crys than this story is telling; she could have been pretty much any random bounty hunter and it wouldn't have changed the story's shape, so all the hints of her having an interesting past makes me wonder if there are more stories (or a novel) planned.

I don't know if this one's tagged for podcasting later on, but I'd be interested to hear it read aloud; patois often comes off more smoothly to the ear than the eye. I got hung up briefly on certain words here, but I suspect it would go just fine in speech.

[BrandonMarkham]

(Just quoting)"You are the devil's bitch". BEST. LINE. EVER!

Aside from that, the world was great and believable but at the same time fantastical. I've been wondering for a while about a pirate-themed world and story, and now my dreams have come rue. Thank you Adam!!!

[Scott H. Andrews]

I don't know if this one's tagged for podcasting later on, but I'd be interested to hear it read aloud ...
Actually, it is! :) "Pawn's Gambit" will be the BCS Podcast next week, with Issue #42.

I've been wondering for a while about a pirate-themed world and story, and now my dreams have come true.
We will have another pirate-themed world and story in June with Adam Corbin Fusco's "The Jewels of Montforte."

It's set in the same world as his story "Sails over Greensea" that was in Realms of Fantasy last year, the April issue IIRC. That was the last issue before the publisher sold the magazine, so they don't have any back issues, but you can find it on Ebay. Since you liked "Pawn's Gambit," I think it'd definitely be another one to give a read.

[BrandonMarkham]

We will have another pirate-themed world and story in June with Adam Corbin Fusco's "The Jewels of Montforte."

Since you liked "Pawn's Gambit," I think it'd definitely be another one to give a read.

Thank you Scott! Glad to see that Fantasy is moving forward.

[Unregistered]

From Donna Hole

This was an excellent read Adam. The vernacular was inventive, but not hard to follow at all. "Breezy" threw me the first couple times it was used, but I got it. Didn't throw me out of the story to learn a few terms. It was fun.

The setting here is clearly defined and easy to nestle into. No info dump; and the dialogue between Tarc and (shoot, the name escapes me) the MC where he explains what a knocker is was nicely eased into the world building.

Two very strong characters - and I liked they were both bad guys. You built both characters concisely and expertly. I had a distinct picture in my head of Jillian from her fathers musings; I really liked the twist that she brought on the knockers all by herself. Daddy's little darling wasn't so sweet anymore. Cool twist.

Crys (love the spelling) was also well developed. I could see a series of these short stories using her netter occupation as fuel. That was a cool trick with the harpoon - from both characters.

All in all a well rounded, entertaining story. I could see me reading more of this. Congratulations on your first publication.

.........dhole

[Unregistered]

It was Firefly meets Steampunk...like you wrote it especially for me!!