The Cyborg Next Door

Is he really just a heartless machine? When aliens attack, she’ll discover the cyborg secret… Chiron is a cyborg - a man who has been turned into a machine after tragedy. Common wisdom says he’s just a robot now, with no feelings and no memory of his past life, but his next-door neighbor, Roxy, is starting to suspect that’s not exactly true. He looks at her with desire in his eyes, and she knows there’s a man inside that muscular frame, who feels a very mutual attraction. She’s trying to earn enough as a mechanic for passage back to Earth, but it’s a long way home and war is on the horizon. When aliens attack the station, the leadership flees, leaving the cyborgs and a bunch of women and children to the not-so-tender mercies of the alien warriors. But the cyborgs have a crazy plan and they won’t leave the innocent behind. With Roxy’s help, they’ll try to fix the last viable ship and head out for parts unknown. Their journey is fraught with hazards, but if they work together, the humans and cyborgs might just find a way home. Roxy and Chiron will have to put it all on the line to save the others—their safety, their lives…and their hearts.

Being a female mechanic on a space station for eight years has taught Dawn a lot of tough life lessons that have hardened her heart. She's got a temper and a mouth to match her red hair and has never backed away from a challenge. Then she's kidnapped and blackmailed into agreeing to be a cyborg's personal sex slave. Iron is one big bastard with long, fiery red hair, intense, dark blue eyes and a stubborn streak as thick as his dense muscles. If Iron thinks he can tame her, he's about to learn that "meek" is not in Dawn's vocabulary. But with that handsome face, a body to die for, a wickedly talented tongue and those magical hands, the guy just doesn't fight fair. Dawn is intent on melting Iron's icy resolve to never fall in love with a human. He's winning her heart and she's determined to win his right back. These two redheads have just met their matches. Let the battle for love begin.

When a friend drags Agatha “Aggie” Bowles to a romance convention, all she wants to do is find some new authors and a quiet spot to read. Instead of relaxing with a book, she ends up kidnapped by a steampunk cyborg. Which is as exciting as it sounds. Except for the fact he’s more interested in the cog hanging around her neck than Aggie herself. He’ll do anything to get his hands on it. Problem is other people want it, too. Can this cyborg relinquish a priceless treasure for love? Genre: cyborg romance, steampunk romance, science fiction romance, abduction romance, alien contact, space opera

A cruel decision lies before Commander Daniel Ricdeau. No doubt it’s the hardest choice of his career, or rather his life. Ever since the mysterious cyborg known as Doctor Death became Ostark’s president, he remained out of reach. Most of his time he spent in secure military complexes. Even when a rare public appearance happened, intense security measures and disinformation campaigns meant the Nirnivian learned the fact too late to act. Now, however, a unique opportunity presents itself. A Nirnivian spy discovered the date of a public speech by the president. This makes assassinating him possible, though it would be a suicide mission. While ridding himself of his sworn enemy tempts Daniel, he remains reticent. An attempt on the cyborg’s life means war. The last one they waged against Ostark was a disaster for Nirnivia. They survived only through the cyborg’s apparent mercy. Nothing suggests they’d perform any better in a new conflict. And yet, can Daniel afford to wait any longer? Since Doctor Death took over Ostark, their military strength has grown exponentially. The more time passes, the greater the gap between the two countries becomes. Soon, the chances of a Nirnivian victory will go from improbable to impossible. But what if the mission fails? Then, they’d face a brutal war while the greatest tactical mind ever still led their opponent. Will Daniel go ahead with the assassination attempt? If so, will they succeed? Will the cyborg perish? In that case, what comes next? All the answers point to certain death. Book 4 of The Cyborg’s Crusade

A deadly circus competition. A tinkerer tasked with removing the losing cyborgs' implants. Who is she to protect when she falls for both the handsome ringleader and a beautiful acrobat?

"While representing the best of human endeavor, works of art have become ordinary features of our lives, familiar and reliably present," writes Richard Teleky. "They are, however, extraordinary. So extraordinary, in fact, that in themselves they are a kind of paradise." In Ordinary Paradise, acclaimed author, critic and editor Richard Teleky considers a variety of artistic forms—from novels and poems to paintings and sculptures to movies and musical compositions—in celebration of the creative achievements that surround us and affect our daily lives. He examines, as well, some of the challenges and tensions in any artist’s life. The essays in Ordinary Paradise challenge conventional wisdom and exemplify a dynamic and lively critical approach, pointing out troubling trends in contemporary appreciation of art and culture. They reveal the rewarding complexities of the demanding art of translation, the nostalgic power of re-reading in provoking self-assessment, and the fraught connection between language, silence and identity as they relate to marginalized voices. Teleky immerses himself into ideas of truth, beauty and humanity, and in so doing, provides a compelling exemplar for engaging with contemporary culture and learning the innumerable lessons that artistic accomplishments have to teach us.

I almost ripped my ears off. And yet, part of me wanted to listen to him. It’s like a horrible car crash. You try to look away, but you just can’t. No question James had a raw deal. Not only did he teleport to another universe, but he also had to live in a secure military complex named Valardir for protection. The only bright spot is that Rose Ricdeau, his winged benefactor, shares his living quarters. Her friendship makes his stay there tolerable. Just as James finds a sense of normalcy in his new existence, he receives a phone call from the mysterious cyborg the Nirnivians call Doctor Death. Without delay, the Doctor warns him not to trust Rose. James, however, refuses to listen and hangs up, quite certain that if his hosts discovered he talked to their enemy they’d be less than pleased. Deep down, James wonders if there’s truth to Doctor Death’s words. Should Rose not be the friend she appears to be, what did that imply for him? Still, he can’t risk antagonizing his only lifeline, so he reveals the cyborg’s call to Valardir’s authorities. Immediately, panic ensues. That the Doctor contacted James implies he breached Valardir’s security. This scenario spells doom and so a rush occurs to find out what happened. This puts more pressure on the already overworked technical staff, who considers rebellion. Did the cyborg breach Valardir security? If so, what does it mean for James’ and Rose’s safety? If not, how did he contact James? Either way, why did the president of another country bother calling an insignificant human from a different world? Perhaps more crucial for James, is Rose the benevolent figure she pretends to be? And what if she’s not? Book 2 of the Cyborg’s Crusade series.

"Steve Mann is a cyborg. He sees the entire world, including himself, through a video lens--the WearComp system. He can control what he sees, liberating his imaginative space from the visual stimuli-billboards and flashing neon signs--that threaten to overwhelm us. While recognizing the danger that human beings could be controlled by technology and the corporations that produce it for profit, Mann is also fascinated by the vast possibilities presented by the wearable computer"--Back cover