Updates From The End of the World. And Drugs.

Book updates and lore from Author H.S. Gilchrist's series, the PRIMORDIAL ENGINE

Excerpt from THE END OF THE WORLD

The elder cackled and leaned forward, handing Mica a tiny golden thimble. Her breath stank of decaying teeth and candy sticks. “A parting gift for you. Something new. It’s called euphoria. You’ll like it,” she said with a too-wide smile. “And tell that handsome brother of yours to come himself next time. I don’t care how sick he is.” Lady Fang snapped her fingers, and the two youths beside her lifted her to her feet. It was a wonder she could move at all. Years of using tech to extend her body past its expiration date had culminated in a bad spinal implant, leaving her partially paralyzed.

When the old woman and her escort were gone, Mica sagged against the wall in relief. Not that she was stupid enough to trust Lady Fang or the many eyes that kept watch in this derelict place. Before tomorrow morning, the worst elements of the undercity would know that she was back, and then the debt collectors would come for her.

Would Sam hear of her return too?

Would he even care?

The thimble sat there, filled with a silver-colored dust. Euphoria, huh? Lady Fang knew her customers, alright. Just a quick snort might make it easier to face the danger ahead. Wasn’t that reason enough to indulge?

Just one shot, she promised herself, leaning her face forward to inhale it. Fine silver powder dusted her nose and glittered on her palm as the room shifted and shimmered around her like a mirage, everything taking on a faint rainbow aura. Every breath she took was a tickle crawling through her nostrils and unbidden giggles rose from her throat and popped at her lips like tiny bubbles.

A siren song generated by a band of rusty automatons beguiled all five senses, turning sound into sensation as she wove her way through the den of drug addicts, the raw aching vocals of a solitary singer piercing her heart and seducing her will. There were no chairs or tables in this place. Large pillows lay against the walls and the guests lounged on them like reptiles sunning themselves, their mouths gaped and their unblinking golden eyes staring upward at the cluster of colored lights flickering overhead.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! Only six weeks left before THE END OF THE WORLD releases on February 5th! Am I stressed? Maybe a little!

Next week, I’ll guide you through setting up an author’s newsletter using MailerLite, but this week let’s dive into the lore of my PRIMORDIAL ENGINE series. Before that, let’s talk about some book updates…

Book Updates

New Author “Fan Club” Newsletter (Sign Up!)

Starting March 2024, I'm excited to offer a free “fan club” style newsletter. It will be shorter than my Substack posts and focused exclusively on my "Primordial Engine" series — you'll get the latest book news, teasers, and member-only deals.

Sign up on the Home page of my website: hsgilchrist.com.

ARC (Advance Reader Copy) Reviews Update!

I've previously discussed submitting ARCs to reviewers in Navigating the ARC Site Frontier: Part One. Most reviewers will wait until until the book’s go-live day to post their reviews (because Amazon doesn’t allow reviews on pre-orders). However, I’ve now received a total three five-star reviews posted (two on Goodreads, one on Netgalley), and a nice encouraging email. While I brace for the inevitable mix of reviews, these early positive ones are keeping my spirits high.

To save you a click, here are the newest ones:

Also, Netgalley reviewers have also been rating my cover art, and it’s currently at 46 thumbs up and 2 thumbs down. I guess not everyone’s a fan of 90s-influenced cover art, haha!

In my ongoing quest for more reviews, I arranged for an eBlast via Netgalley to their American audience on December 20th. This resulted in 200 additional potential reviewers, so hopefully that nets me a few more reviews. I’m pretty excited!

Paperback Pre-Order Nonsense

After a brief, tantalizing appearance on Amazon Canada, my paperback pre-order vanished from all Amazon sites (despite calls to both Amazon and IngramSpark support). Fortunately, they are still appearing on other bookseller sites (for links, see my website: hsgilchrist.com). And, once I go live on February 5th, Amazon’s live paperback will override the IngramSpark pre-order!

Wait, what does IngramSpark have to do with all this? Isn’t Amazon in charge? For those new to publishing, IngramSpark—like Amazon—provides publishing and book distribution services. Libraries, schools, and many booksellers will only purchase books through IngramSpark, so I couldn’t use Amazon alone for book distribution. Amazon doesn’t do paperback and hardcover pre-orders, so my IngramSpark pre-orders fill in the gap until I publish my Amazon books live. Once I “go live”, my Amazon books will take the place of the IngramSpark pre-orders.

Cover for Book 2: Separate Worlds — A Teaser!

Full reveal will be coming out in the March 2024 edition of my “fan club” newsletter, but here’s the teaser!

Today’s Lore: Undercity Drugs

In the Undercity, life is tough. Registered citizens get a living allowance in exchange for having a mite embedded in their bodies—a device used by the Technocrats for monitoring and control. Those rejecting this system live precariously, vulnerable to the whims of the cartels running the undercity.

Many seek escape. Some connect to the black psy network “Paradise.” Others turn to drugs. Here are a few:

Angel breath

Angel breath is a potent inhalant, revered for its deeply sedative and euphoric properties. Upon inhalation, it envelops users in a blissful, serene state, akin to drifting through a tranquil dream. The aroma is distinct — a blend of slightly overripe oranges and synthetic cinnamon. Its effects are as soothing as they are addictive, offering a temporary but powerful escape from reality. However, its seduction comes at a price, as users often find themselves ensnared in its grasp, chasing the tranquility it promises.

Dream-dust

Dream-dust, akin to opium in its seductive allure, is a golden-hued hallucinogenic dust. When inhaled or injected, it induces a state of dreamlike euphoria. Prolonged usage, however, leaves a telltale mark: the user's eyes turn a striking gold, a permanent reminder of the irreversible neurological damage it inflicts.

Zombie

Zombie is a rare and powerful drug that alters the user's mind, making them highly suggestible to others' commands. It employs genetically engineered viruses capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier—a near-impregnable defense against most substances. Once inside, these viruses rewire specific neural pathways, rendering the brain compliant and responsive to explicitly programmed conditions. For instance, scientists can tailor the drug to ensure its users are physically incapable of harming a designated individual.

Each dose of Zombie is custom-engineered with a particular intent. This not only makes it incredibly expense, but cements its reputation as a deeply feared agent in the world of mind control.

Wraith Root

Wraith root is a unique plant native to the Witherlands (former Canada), and absent from the Technocracy (former United States). It's a potent hallucinogen, typically consumed through smoking. The people of the Witherlands use it to induce vivid visions, enabling them to commune with their ancestors in the spirit realm. Strangely, there are no records of the plant existing prior to the Sundering. What a strange coincidence…

Euphoria

Euphoria is a mysterious new drug, derived from ground wraith root, and infused with nether, an energy source employed in government technology but with a hidden supernatural origin.

Like dream-dust it can be inhaled in powder form or injected. Unlike dream-dust, however, the hallucinations are real: Euphoria connects the user’s soul to the Other World. As the connection takes hold, it saps the user's vitality, all the while intensifying their addiction to the beguiling dreamscapes it conjures.

Conclusion

As I wrap up this week's edition, I want to thank you for diving into the depths of my upcoming release with me! Don't forget to join me next week for insights on setting up an author's newsletter. Until then, keep the spirit of adventure alive, and feel free to reach out with your thoughts and stories. Happy reading and writing!