I like writing these as novellas instead of novels. Not because Javier doesn’t deserve a novel, but because I can write more of them if I don’t have to tell a grand story. Or as grand a story. This is book three, but it is not a trilogy, except in the counting at present. Like I said, I already have the title and villain for book four. There are at least eight, maybe twelve of these for Season One. And eventually we’ll get to Season Two.
So I get to tell lots of Javier stories because I can tell them faster this way.
I like that.
I do not, however, plan to turn it into any manner of love story, much to complaining chagrin of a few of you. Javier and Djamila are fire and gasoline. It’s not Juliet pining over Romeo. It is two powerfully angry people trapped by circumstances and forced to do their best, systematically thinking about how to make it look like an accident.
These are all complicated people: Javier, Djamila, Zakhar, Wilhelmina. They have been thrown together by circumstance, and must deal with it. None of them can just quit and walk away. But the hatred burns deep.
And this is a dark story. Javier’s usually a mouthy asshole at times, but I find his (eventual) nobility redeeming. But yeah, this one went dark.
I wanted to explore themes of identity, evil, revenge, and honor. And do so in the medium of flawed people. To think about what the real depths of space will be like in the future, when it’s not a happy, clean, exciting place, but a dingy, industrial place where shit goes wrong.
The result was The Gilded Cage. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.
Also by Blaze Ward
The Jessica Keller Chronicles
Auberon
Queen of the Pirates
Last of the Immortals
Javier Aritza Stories
The Science Officer
The Mind Field
The Gilded Cage
Additional Alexandria Station Stories
The Story Road
Greater Than The Gods Intended
The Librarian
Other Science Fiction Stories
Mymirdons
Moonshot
Earthquake Gun
Moscow Gold
The Collective Universe
Imposters
The Shipwrecked Mermaid
Collections
Beyond the Mirror: Volume 1 Fantastic Worlds
Beyond the Mirror: Volume 2 Fantastic Worlds
Beyond the Mirror: Volume 3 Alternate Worlds
About the Author
Blaze Ward writes science fiction in the Alexandria Station universe as well as The Collective. He also write fantasy stories with several characters and series, from an alternate Rome to epic high fantasy in the desert. You can find out more at his website www.blazeward.com, as well as Facebook, Goodreads, and other places.
Blaze’s works are available as ebooks, paper, and audio, and can be found at a variety of online vendors (Kobo, Amazon, and others). His newsletter comes out quarterly, and you can also follow his blog on his website. He really enjoys interacting with fans, and looks forward to any and all questions—even ones about his books!
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Table of Contents
The Gilded Cage (The Science Officer: Volume 3)
BOOK FIVE: WILHELMINA
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
BOOK SIX: NAVARRE
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
BOOK SEVEN: DJAMILA
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
BOOK EIGHT: PALADIN
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Author’s Note
Also by Blaze Ward
About the Author
About Knotted Road Press