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Science Fiction |
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Apr 17 2000 |
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Fiction |
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As of November 13th, 2006, Stasis my co-author and I have recovered all rights to the manuscript. It will be revised and submitted to a new publisher.
Before The Ted Williams Cryonics Controversy, There Was James Harris:
Just suppose the Pagan faiths are correct and reincarnation is a natural part of a soul's cycle on its quest for perfection. What happens to this cycle if a person, declared dead and placed in cryonic suspension, is brought back to life twenty years later? Would that person's soul return, or would someone, or something else take advantage of that empty vessel, something that was never meant to be human? In Stasis, the authors sought to explore one possible outcome cryonics technology could have.
(Note: The ancient Catholic Church included many of these beliefs and similar practices in its doctrine but over the centuries they were removed from the faith ever after termed Pagan.)
The Steed Zone
Illinois 2027: Brad Harris, a political science major, is shocked to learn that his grandfather, James, declared clinically dead twenty years ago, has been revived from cryonic suspension. James was the black sheep of the family and is a complete enigma to Brad, who was four when he died. James' death was caused by a brain tumor; but does cellular damage totally account for his strange behavior?
Brad discovers that the world is an infinitely more complex and dangerous place than his upbringing led him to believe. He finds himself immersed in the paranormal realm of ancient Pagan religions where problems were solved through complex rituals. He must put aside his fear of the unknown and unite with a parapsycholgist and an adept mage, risking his life and those of his friends, to stop a force that was never meant to be human or the Earth will forever be plunged into chaos.
AWARDS:
SECOND PLACE, FIRST PAGE NOVEL CONTEST 1997
NOMINATED IN THE PREDITORS & EDITORS READER'S POLL FOR BEST PRINT/ELECTRONIC NOVEL PUBLISHED IN 2001
KELLY STEED, HONORABLE MENTION THE BOOK REVIEW CAFE'S 2002 BEST AUTHOR AWARDS
Excerpt
Angela Stone looked at herself in the handheld mirror and marveled at the fact, that after all her body had been through, she still looked the same. Her permanent was still growing out of the back of her hair; she’d have to get her haircut to refresh it. Odd, to be considering something that she’d planned to get to before her untimely demise.
She had been enrolled in Lake Michigan University’s pre-med program and pushed herself to get good grades. When she came down with strep, she took over-the-counter meds and carried on. In time, the bacterial infection racked her body, finally going into pneumonia before she sought treatment. By then, Angela’s immune system was too weak to fight it off and she succumbed to respiratory failure a week after being admitted to the hospital. Her devastated father had her body immediately transferred to the Luyet Institute in the hope of one day being reunited with his Angel.
For twenty-two years, she had lain in her frozen tomb, while the world passed her by. It was like a bad joke played on a drunken partygoer. She had a second chance at life, only her father, who had given it to her, would not be part of it. Straker Stone had died in a shuttle accident five years ago. At least, she could comfort herself with the thought that he lost his life in the pursuit of his passion, flying.
Her father raised her to be independent so she was certain that she could make a life for herself somewhere. It was just difficult to start that life virtually alone. She had contacted her best friend, who seemed anxious to see her. Luyet had her specially flown in, but so much time had passed. Mary had a career, husband and children. Angela was really just beginning her life and could feel the gulf between them. She had to accept the fact that she’d have to make new friends. She tried amongst the other revived patients, since they were all going through the same difficult adjustment period, and discovered a gulf there as well. Angela had begun to exhibit some psychological difficulties. Treatment wasn’t helping, so she felt it was best, to keep to herself. This period of self-imposed loneliness had been good practice since she was due to be released in two days to the custody of her own apartment.
Copyright 2000 Kelly Steed & Colleen Elliott All Rights Reserved.
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Professional Reviews
Stasis Second Place Winner
Intriguing hook, well-defined original premise, good characterization and dialogue overall rating 4 out of 5. I'd like to read more of this entry of what appears to be a good read.
Judge's Comments, First Page Novel Contest, sponsored by G.E. Pierce Communications, 1997
Stasis Grabs Reader's Throats
Stasis grabs you by the throat and holds tight until the very last word of the very last page. The authors' ability to create a visual is intense, employing their formidable use of our language. The research apparent in this book is enough to make an enjoyable read, but easily stands alone to be applauded as well. Four stars for two new authors.
Tracy Arnot- Editor/Author of Skinny Girl Stew
Great page turner! Keeps you going!
Lorena Hanks, author of The Synija
Stasis by Kelly Steed & Colleen Elliott
The writers have created a science fiction novel which deals with cryogenics, religion, and a metaphysical war taking place in the near future...The blend of science fiction and mysticism works well, although it was jarring sometimes to have one character's point of view and then suddenly it was someone else's point of view in the same chapter, sometimes even the same paragraph. The story is good, very imaginative and the characters are well drawn so that you get to care about them. I don't know a lot about cryonics myself, but the authors seem to have done their research in the sections explaining how the bodies were prepared for freezing. It's an interesting tale and an excellent moral fable on what can happen when science goes wrong. A good read.
Annette Gisby, Author of Silent Screams and Editor of Twisted Tales webzine
This chilling and imaginative novel explores a world, not too far hence, in which technology and the paranormal collide, with menacing results. The story begins with Brad Harris, an ordinary political science major at university, who is stunned to learn that his grandfather is alive. Revived from the deep-freeze of cryonics at Chicago’s Luyet Institute, James Harris wants to see his grandson, but Brad is less than eager for the meeting!
Angela is another cryonics patient at the Institute. Since her resurrection, she’s bothered by what seem to be hallucinations. She learns that re-animation has sensitized her to the spirit world, imparting an ability to read the personal auras of those around her. A human aura fluctuates with many colors, rather like the Northern Lights-so why do so many people at the Institute have a solid, unchanging color surrounding them?
As some “patients” develop gruesome habits, and bizarre deaths start to occur, Angela’s strange insight becomes a crucial key. Some of those returning to life aren’t human, and were never meant to be.
Stasis is fascinating and horrible at the same time. It’s filled with dangerous beings, disguised as people, and nerve-racking tension, as clues begin to fall into a terrifying pattern. If these malevolent entities have their way, the world of humanity will never again be safe.
Stasis has several strong points.
· Kelly Steed and Colleen Elliott concoct an extraordinary tale, full of suspense.
· The story line is unique, and the plot holds together throughout the book.
· The characters are vivid. I feel as though I know how each person looked and moved.
· The explanations of futuristic technology are convincing and thorough.
· The occult elements of the story are powerful and frightening, very realistic.
Good science fiction begins with the mundane and slowly pulls the reader off-balance. This book has that effect on me. Just as I begin to feel as though I’m in a familiar place, the recognizable elements start to disintegrate into alien spirits. The tension doesn’t relax until the ending, when the authors release me back into a world I’m not certain I can trust….
Stasis is an enthralling tale, well told.
Andrea M. Chester, Reviewer Absolute Write
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Reader Reviews for "Stasis"
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| Reviewed by Elliott |
9/25/2002 |
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| Stasis is a REAL page-turner in the classic science fiction sense! I can’t wait to see more from these authors! |
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| Reviewed by m j hollingshead |
7/30/2002 |
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| enjoyed the excerpt ...... ;0) ... m |
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| Reviewed by Joe McCarthy |
5/20/2002 |
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| Very, very interesting. |
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| Reviewed by Sarah Willis |
12/27/2001 |
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Stasis made my blood run as cold as liquid nitrogen! I'm a big collector of horror and this is definitely a keeper!
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| Reviewed by Jean |
12/26/2001 |
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| I have been reading your book. It is really great. Hope you sell a lot of them. |
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| Reviewed by J. Stocks |
12/13/2001 |
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| Alas, poor Rupert, disembowled for a sadistic's pleasure! James Harris is as fascinating and humorous as he is repulsive. An ancient being that makes a worthy adversary for a high-tech society. The detailed visual descriptions splayed across the literary canvas tantalized the senses and made me feel like I was reading a movie. Unlike some hard sci-fi, Stasis' science is written to be understandable to a general audience yet can be appreciated by professionals. I live close to an actual cryonics lab; Stasis has ensured that my nightmares will never be the same. |
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| Reviewed by Dennis OKeeffe |
11/22/2001 |
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| This is a well written and interesting book. It contains enough suspense to keep you reading, but is not overdone. I'd recommend it to both mystery and sci-fi lovers, but it's a good read for general topic readers, too! |
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| Reviewed by Victoria Murray |
10/28/2001 |
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A Very entertaining and enjoyable read!
Victoria Taylor Murray
'Thief Of Hearts'
'Forbidden' |
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