In this "prequel" to the highly regarded science-fiction novel, "The Survivors," Colonel Kendrick Landry and Major Will Adams return as the crew of the starcraft Aurora travel to Alpha Centauri B-III and learn that the descendants of the crew of The Green Horizon, Earth's first interstellar starcraft, are living in centuries-old enslavement to a lizard-like race. The First Intergalactic Alliance does not permit liberation of the human slaves because the planet is not a member of the Alliance and subject to Alliance law. Alliance law, however, would sanction the Aurora's defense--including even offensive action against the lizard government, permitting its overthrow by human resistance fighters on the planet--but only if the lizard government has first attacked the Aurora. Without knowledge or consent of Colonel Landry, Major Adams devises a scheme to provoke such an attack by the lizard command. The lizards attack the Aurora, in orbit about the planet, with devastating force. Now, the crew of the Aurora will be fortunate to ensure their own survival, let alone assist in liberation of the lizards' human slaves! The events of Lizard's Lair occur one solar year earlier than the central story of The Survivors and sets out in full narrative detail the plot of a story briefly summarized early in The Survivors.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN LIBERATING HUMAN SLAVES IS AGAINST THE LAW?
In this “prequel” to the highly regarded science-fiction novel, TheSurvivors, Colonel Kendrick Landry and Major Will Adams return as the crew of the starcraft Aurora travels to Alpha Centauri B-III and learns that the descendants of the crew of The Green Horizon, Earth’s first interstellar starcraft, are living in centuries-old enslavement to a lizard-like race. The lizards manage the humans with the help of renegade effete and decadent human council members that the author describes as wearing flowing robes reminiscent of ancient Roman emperors.
The First Intergalactic Alliance does not permit liberation of the human slaves because the planet is not a member of the Alliance and subject to Alliance law.
Alliance law, however, would sanction the Aurora’s defense—including even offensive action against the lizard government, permitting its overthrow by human resistance fighters on the planet—but only if the lizard government as first attacked the Aurora.
Without knowledge or consent of Colonel Landry, Major Adams devises a scheme to provoke such an attack by the lizard command. The lizards attack the Aurora, in orbit around the planet, with devastating force. Now, the crew of the Aurora will be fortunate to ensure their own survival, let alone assist in the liberation of the lizards’ human slaves!
The events of Lizard’s Lair occur one solar year earlier than the central story of The Survivors and sets out in full narrative detail the plot of a story briefly summarized early in TheSurvivors.
For those readers who might not take immediate notice, this dandy novel is not just about alien lizards! It is a modern satire on government overreaching and institutionalized slavery, and is a highly relevant moral parable of our time.
Excerpt
UPON RESPONDING TO A DISTRESS CALL TO ALPHA CENTAURI B-III, THE CREW OF THE STARCRAFT AURORA FIND A CIVILIZATION IN WHICH HUMANS HAVE LIVED FOR CENTURIES UNDER THE SLAVERY OF A LIZARD-LIKE RACE
THEN THE LIZARDS ATTACK THE AURORA IN PLANETARY ORBIT . . .
The first attack came in the Aurora’s simulated nighttime.
Adams was almost thrown out of bed during the course of a violent lurch of the mammoth starcraft. Landry was thrown to the deck in his own cabin, and stumbled to his feet just as the cabin became level again . . .
Then they were hit again. This time the energy bursts from the planet knocked out the Aurora’s internal lights. Landry and Andrea were enveloped in blackness on the control deck, and Landry saw that Andrea’s entire control console had gone completely dead. Landry and Andrea were abruptly thrown into each other by the impact, Landry thinking that under other circumstances that would not be such a bad spot to be in, the substantial swell of her breast brushing against him.
Then they were crouching, hands and knees on the deck, just as the craft’s power shifted first to emergency auxiliary mode--the control deck dimly lit--and then power sprang back to normal with all lights and previously dead instrument boards being fully restored. Andrea’s console was humming, active again.
They were both on their feet . . .
“You have to get us out of here,” Andrea was almost pleading with him . . .
“Tell me if am wrong,” said Landry. “Were you not on our side when we debated with General Edwards about offering rescue to the human slaves of the lizards?”
Andrea looked at him. “That was before our craft got pummeled by energy bursts that are beyond anything that even our technology can create. Don’t you get it, Colonel? The Aurora cannot keep taking direct hits like that. Much more and we will have major hull breach. If that happens, it is possible even that the fusion reactor will blow.”
“I think that under the present circumstances some calculated risk is justified,” Landry said. “Now that the lizards have attacked first, it is as much as we need to defend ourselves and maybe help free the human slaves in the process.”
“Calculated risk?” Andrea said heavily, appalled. “A risk that you are going to take for us all, right? You are the commanding officer and you don’t have to have majority vote. But, you know, you might consider the great risk that you are posing to your flight crew in trying to save some undeserving group of humans who have been slaves for generations. And--if I might add--at their own choice.”
“They did not choose,” said Landry. “Their corrupt leaders of four hundred years ago made that choice for them.”
“In the end, people have to be accountable for the actions of their government,” Andrea said evenly. “The people are responsible. They have had four hundred years and acquiesced in being slaves . . .”
“Not all of them have acquiesced,” said Landry. “In fact, only about one-half of them. The ruling privileged class. The workers, the slaves are resisting--at overwhelming odds. They need our help.”
“It might be different if there were not such a severe risk to us,” said Andrea. “Under the balance, between them and us, our own flight crew should take priority. Can’t you see that?”
“I can see only that there are humans in need,” said Landry. “We are now justified in self-defense, and if we can lend a hand to others at the same time, we will do it. I will be the judge of when the risk has become so significant to us that we must run.”
Professional Reviews
Press Release
FROM A JULY 2008 PRESS RELEASE TO THE SACRAMENTO BEE:
"Lizard's Lair is written in the paradigm form of a science-fiction "novella"—defined to have a word count of between 17,500 and 40,000 by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for Science Fiction. This novella is an original dandy science-fiction thriller and proves that indeed good things can come in small packages. A worthy complement to Derek Laurens' already getting noticed premier science-fiction novel, The Survivors . . . "
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Reviews for "Lizard Lair: A Novella Prequel to The Survivors"
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.
"The purpose of government is to serve the people, not the reverse. The states and America itself need to get that straight." Derek Laurens, Lizard's Lair, 2008.
MONSTROSITY n. 1. That which deviates greatly from the norm in appearance or structure. 2. The quality or character of being abnormal; hideous; frightful; shocking.
