Stickmaker

Murder at the Shapeshifters' Ball by Rodford Edmiston now on Kindle

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Worlds where being different ISN'T your biggest problem!

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Murder at the Shapeshifters' Ball
by Rodford Edmiston
Buy it on Kindle

Stickmaker's collection of classic SciFi Transformation Tales leads off with a great detective yarn!

Everybody who can be anybody is at the party, including someone willing to kill a beautiful elf!

Thirteen stories set in about ten different worlds deliver mystery, suspense and adventure. With a few important transgender transformations among the furries, aliens and fantastic creatures!

There's a sample of the first story after the break!

Chaos Theory - Masks 18 - by Stickmaker on Kindle

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A hero's cape flaps in the breeze, half a continent away a villain hatches a fiercely stupid plan...

When the villains start tripping over their own feet, the heroes should be able to lean back and enjoy some slack time.
But it doesn't quite work that way...

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Masks - 16 - The Narrow Man by Stickmaker on Kindle!

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War is over and for the survivors that means it's time to cleanup and recover. Unfortunately recovery doesn't always mean rest as Energia and her team find out when they are tasked with investigating a newly discovered secret mountain hideout. Jelly turns to jam and they end up in the THICK of battle with...

The Narrow Man
Masks 16
by Stickmaker
Now on Kindle


For a skinny guy almost a century old, he can take a punch!

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Masks 14 - Vic, Continuing Education - Now on Kindle!

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"Well, it's official," said Energia, sourly, as she and the others managed to enter the upstairs hall at about the same time on the way to breakfast. "I'm a C-cup. Knew things were getting tight around the chest, so I measured, first thing this morning."

On Kindle!

Masks 14

Vic

Continuing Education
by
Rodford Edmiston

Masks 13 - Vic, The Other Half, on Kindle NOW!

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"Oh, you know you love it!" said his Mother, cheerfully. "Anyway, the doctor says you need to stay here longer than originally planned. The good news is, it's because they think you have powers!"

Maks 13 - Vic


Masks 13: The Other Half


by
Rodford Edmiston
Buy on Kindle NOW!

Masks 12 - Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Now on Kindle

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"The students from outside the mask community are a small but rapidly growing part of our campus," Eve added, nodding in turn. "The school wasn't really intended for them, though. Some of them never really fit in, there, since they weren't interested in becoming masks. They - or their parents - just wanted training in how to use their powers; not how to fight crime, wear a costume or maintain a private identity."

Maks 12


by
Rodford Edmiston

Masks 11 - Complicated Life - Now on Kindle

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The State Troopers waited at their roadblock. All other traffic was diverted. It was just them and the armed fugitives headed their way at high speed in a hot - in more ways than one - muscle car. The brigands could outrun the police ground vehicles, and even the helicopters, but not the radios. The Troopers stood in the afternoon sun, sweaty, tense and edgy, shotguns and assault rifles at the ready.


Masks 11


by
Rodford Edmiston

Now on Kindle from DopplerPress
Masks 11 on Kindle

Masks 10- Deepest Danger - Now on Kindle

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There's something in the water, no literally! Some THING huge and ugly with destruction on its mind.
It's a fight that's going to require the best the community of masks can muster -- a gathering of heroes like no one has seen before! The call goes out, the threat will be met -- for the world is in

Deepest Danger!

Masks 8 - Love is a Mask - Now on Kindle

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As I walked towards the deceptively simple cabin my hackles rose. There was a strange vehicle parked in front of it, a ridiculously oversized SUV. Before I could decide what to do about it, though, I saw someone. Someone familiar. I felt an odd mixture of relief and aggravation.

Masks 8 on Kindle


by
Rodford Edmiston

Masks 7 - A Super Summer Vacation featuring Energia on Kindle

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Interning with a real adult Superhero team for the summer? Sign me up, thought Energia. The Planetary Guardians have their own superbase hidden in a mountain and everything!

And one of her friends from the super-school she attended would be interning too. It would be the coolest summer ever!

A super special Masks adventure at a super special price! 99 cents!

Masks 7

Masks 7 on Kindle

Masks 6 - Some Assembly Required -- Now on Kindle!

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"I know, you were told to come here to see if I could help you with a problem," said Piano, gently ushering her into a chair. "I believe we can help you while you help us do something good for the world."


Some Assembly Required
by
Rodford Edmiston

 

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Click on the cover to buy!

Masks 5 - Energia - Out of Template's Shadow - Now on Kindle

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The Leader narrowed its pupils, just a bit... the equivalent of a slight smile for its species. The most important of the group were already supporting the plan. The others would go along, eventually. It sat back and let them plot and scheme, only occasionally asking a question or making a suggestion. Yes, this would work well...

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Masks 5

Energia

Out of Template's Shadow


by
Rodford Edmiston

Masks 3 - Template and Energia - published on Kindle

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A school for superheroes seemed like a good idea at the time. Template is on the faculty and her niece, Energia, is a student when they find out that not everyone agrees on the wonderfulness of education.

High level conspiracy? Alien technology? Is someone trying to kill off the superschool? And the supers with it?

It all started with someone launching a killer missile at Template's secret identity, Jenny’s aunt-er-uncle, Randy...

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Now on KIndle...

Masks 2 - Template The Intrepid: A Learning Experience - Kindle Edition

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A school for superpowered children seemed like a good idea and definitely a change from fighting mad geniuses and superhuman brutes. But who knew that helping set up a school for super-powered teenagers would be so challenging? Not to mention dangerous and exciting...


Masks 27: Tales Old and New, Part 8

Part Eight

Ike Kenniman was hosting a holographic conference among supers. Since many people were involved, teams had only their current leader - in most cases a chairperson - displayed. The participants were all established super teams - among them Tricorne and the Assembly - and a few individuals.

Masks 27: Tales Old and New, Part 6

Part Six

"Be wary of any politician who supports a position by claiming it's a matter of 'common sense,'" said Drake, wryly.

He and Vic were in his office at the Detroit Federal Building. He had called her in without explanation, and opened with that after she was seated.

"Is that appropriate to anything in particular or just a general bit of shared wisdom?" said Vic.

Masks 27: Tales Old and New, Part 5

Part Five

This particular Friday was turning out to be a bad day for Vic. Though not as bad as the early morning had been for some of Detroit's female, late teen inhabitants. Vic arrived at work to find a note already on her desk to see her boss.

"Tell me about your late night call, yesterday," said Drake.

"I was in bed, sound asleep, when I got an emergency call. The night manager of a bar downtown called 911 to say that a mind-controlling super was having his way with young women, and since supers were suspected to be involved the cops called me.

Masks 27: Tales Old and New, Part 4

Part Four

At the next Monday's weekly briefing the main topic was the current dearth of known hero supers available in most of the US. The explanations were valid, if annoying.

"The earthquake in Morocco is occupying supers who operate internationally, and storms in North America are keeping most of the teams who focus on the US busy," said Special Agent in Charge Drake. "We can make requests of Bureau headquarters for help, but the fact is that unless we have a major emergency, we're on our own."

"So, no change from the usual," said Cal Pavolin, sourly.

Masks 27: Tales Old and New, Part 3

Part Three

One of the more interesting - because the responses of those affected were so variable - tasks for members of the Bureau was delivering powers testing results to someone. Policy stated that the results of tests given by Bureau personnel or someone certified by the Bureau, and were not to be sent through the mail if there was a Bureau of Special Resources office within a three hour drive of the person. Further away and the test results would be mailed. They were never given over the phone or by e-mail.

Masks 27: Tales Old and New, Part 2

Part Two

When Vic arrived in her boss' office a few days later, responding to a summons, she was surprised to find Lady Green already there. Vic had assumed this meeting would be in regard to the recent discovery of the Operators' lair, but that turned out not to be the case.

Masks 27: Tales Old and New, Part 1

Masks XXVII: Tales Old and New

by

Rodford Edmiston

Part One

The domestic bliss of the Peltior household was disturbed by a muffled exclamation from the kitchen.

"You all right in there?" asked Michelle, concerned, from their couch in the living room.

"I broke another garlic press," said Vic, sourly.

"It's all those fingertip pushups," said Michelle, laughing. "I've shown you how to smack the flat of a knife blade to crush garlic."

"Yeah, but the last time I tried that I... well, let's just say I used too much focus."

What, Again?!

About forty minutes after I went to bed last night, the power went off again. This time just the once. I wasn't sound asleep, and the emergency light in the hall coming on woke me. I checked everything, then went back to bed. My calico was a bit upset, presumably due to the UPSes beeping, but was easily calmed. I managed to doze some, but didn't get soundly to sleep. About three hours later the power came back on. This time it was off long enough that the UPS keeping the video recorder alive ran down. I was wide awake, so I set the clock and reprogrammed it.

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It's a Conspiracy to Rob Me of Sleep

So much for sleeping in this morning. I was awakened about a quarter after 7 (yes, AM) by a series of muffled bangs, and the Shark AI repeatedly telling me it was charging (there's a distinctive set of chimes). I looked at the alarm clock, and it was dead. Power was off, and after several attempts to come back on was staying off. For a large part of Frankfort. After waiting a while with no restoration, I walked to the end of my street and could see that the traffic signal at the intersection of US 60/US 421 was not only out, there was a city police van parked there with its blue lights on.

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Menace of the Mechanical Master -Masks 20- by Stickmaker on Kindle

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Vic is in for a fight!

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Menace of the Mechanical Master
Masks 20
by Stickmaker
Now on Kindle!

In a world with masterminds and mad inventors, sometimes the merely brilliant get overlooked. Is a gadgeteer less impressive because their work was for theme parks and entertainments, rather than to aid some grandiose criminal plan?

Busy Times

I upgraded my iMac to Sonora about two weeks ago. I immediately had several problems, some of which turned out to not be fixable. I had to wipe the hard drive and reinstall the previous OS (Ventura) then restore my Apps and data from backup. First thing the iMac does after successfully booting is tell me I need to upgrade to Sonoma. Yeah, not gonna happen for a while.

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Masks 19 - Keeping the Peace - A Disturbance of the Peace on Kindle

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The world turned upside down!? Famous superheroine accused of murder! Lawrence Hawthorne and his lovely, talented, and dangerous assistant/bodyguard, Sally, must use their skills, powers and experience to track down and stop the real murderers (and the people who hired them) before a mysterious doomsday weapon can be unleashed.

All this amid a backstory of alien invasions, political, corruption, and corporate wrongdoing at the highest levels.

This latest in Rodford Edmiston's intriguing Masks saga combines science fiction, superheroes, swords, noir detectives, cyber sleuthing, and transgender shapeshifting with intricate plotting and tense action!

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Keeping the Peace
Masks 19 - A Disturbance in the Peace
By Rodford Edmiston
Buy on Kindle

Angel of Europe Part 9

Part Nine

Sutter threw the bow rope to the deck crew of the submarine. Reynard tossed them the stern rope. The sailors held the small boat steady against the sub's hull while the commando team scampered aboard.

Once on the wet foredeck of the sub the commandos were quietly but enthusiastically welcomed by the crew. They were surprised when their rum runner boat was also pulled aboard, and maneuvered onto the cradle and back into the hangar.

Angel of Europe Part 8

Part Eight

"The Nazis have sponsored multiple expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic and several mountain ranges," said The Solution, frowning. "Including the Himalayas. Could they have found something here, closer to home?"

"Viking hacksilver," guessed The Infiltrator. Being pragmatic, or perhaps merely hopeful.

Angel of Europe Part 7

Part Seven

The team found a small clearing near the beach, and settled in for a well-deserved rest. They had another uncomfortable day to pass, the enforced idleness weighing heavily on them. To their surprise, though, most managed to get plenty of sleep. They were all tired, even though they all had more than human physical traits. This was largely because of the combined stress of their mission and the relief of accomplishing their mission, rather than because of any actual exertion. Now, they only needed to escape.

Angel of Europe Part 6

Part Six

After a quiet if uncomfortable day the team was more than ready for some activity. As they moved into position for their night's work, the commandos were making their way cautiously through the darkness of a heavily wooded section northwest of the camp. However, they soon noticed something in the distance.

Angel of Europe Part 5

Part Five

The lights in the conning tower of the submarine were currently red. This to preserve the night vision of the team of commandos, the crew members guiding the sub and those preparing the small vessel the team would use to reach the shore. Bedsides operating without lights, they were all being very quiet. They were also dressed warmly.

"The water is pretty cold, even this time of year," said the First Mate.

"So don't fall in," said Reynard, wryly.

"Exactly."

Angel of Europe Part 3

Part Three

They had lunch in the commissary, afterwards. Lieutenant Lee and Aaron sat across from each other. To the confoundment of the other team members, the two men entertained themselves as they ate by conversing in several different languages.

The days following this briefing blurred together in an intense haze of training with little respite. Small wonder that when the opportunity came for a break that some of the members of the commando team took advantage of it. Even if they weren't supposed to.

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