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Obsidian River Issue Number Two : Heartless in New Orleans

Heartless in New Orleans

By Pauline Creeden

Helen’s three days met their end. The feeble ticking of her heart slowed further, and she clenched her teeth, willing it to continue its clockwork beat. She looked through the rusty, wrought iron bars of Holt Cemetery, longing for the key which lay on the other side. The key to her freedom.

Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she wiped her palms on her black trousers. She pushed a loose tendril of her auburn hair under the tweed cap of her disguise. Any passerby might be fooled into thinking a boy rather than a woman stood before the graveyard fence. But it was unlikely that anyone would come. She could hear the continued revel of festivities on Bourbon Street, even though several blocks separated her from the crowd. The clock tower struck midnight. Continue Reading…

Pauline Creeden Author Profile

Pauline Creeden

Pauline Creeden is a horse trainer with a degree in English. Writing is her therapy. Her goal is to create worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions.

 

Stories Published in Obsidian River

Heartless in New Orleans – 8-10-2012

Obsidian River Issue Number One

Mechanical Animals

By Mike Brooks

Alistair, fourteenth Lord Thorne and secret operative for Her Majesty’s Office, leaned his head out of the window of the clockwork carriage that was carrying him up the winding road in the Austrian Alps. He blinked, took hold of his hat to prevent it from being swept away by the stiff, cold breeze funnelled down the valley, and drew his breath in sharply.

“I say Nenda, take a look at this, will you?” Continue Reading…

Mike Brooks Author Profile

Mike Brooks

Mike Brooks

Mike Brooks

Mike Brooks is 30, lives in Nottingham, UK with his wife, two cats and a variety of tropical fish, and works in a homeless hostel.

When not working or writing he enjoys going for long walks in the countryside, watching a strange mix of soccer, wildlife documentaries, MMA and appalling monster movies, playing guitar and singing in a punk band, and DJing wherever anyone will tolerate him.

Stories Published in Obsidian River

7/27/2012 – Mechanical Animals

First Issue Coming Soon

I’m pleased to announce our first issue is scheduled for publication on Friday July 27th, 2012.

I’m excited to bring you the first issue of Obsidian River brimming with quality Steampunk fiction. I can’t wait to share the fantastic works our authors have created for you. It promises to be a wild and entertaining ride.

Our publication schedule still has room for plenty of great Steampunk fiction. Keep your submissions coming. I can’t wait to read them.

Stay tuned for more information and our first issue next Friday the 27th.

Technical Difficulties!

We beg your pardon. It seems we’ve had some technical difficulties with our email system for the last two days. If you’ve emailed either Submissions@ObsidianRiver.com or Questions@ObsidianRiver.com your correspondence may have been lost. Please resend your mail to ensure it is properly delivered to us.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Escape to the World of Arcanum

I have to confess, I lost WAY too many hours playing Arcanum. From the very first scene it had me hooked. There’s something about strangers together on a dirigible that just screams mystery.

The plot moved along nicely with plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. I also appreciated the character development engine, where events in the game had a lasting impact on the eventual persona of my character.

There was an abundance of content: locations, characters, dungeons and subplots to keep me exploring and engaged for hours.

Even the ambiance of the game was engaging. Everything from the scenery to the background music helped me suspend disbelief and stay focused on the world of Arcanum.

I would recommend Arcanum to anyone wanting to experience a quality RPG. That it is set in a Steampunk themed world is an added, and enjoyable bonus.

This isn’t a game to rush through the story line. Take your time and explore the richly woven fabric of the game world. You will enjoy the escape to this new setting just as much as the plot of the game.

Arcanum was a pleasant surprise for me. I feared the treatment of the Steampunk genre would have been overdone. Instead it was crafted seamlessly into the game, adding a good flavor without overwhelming the experience.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Calling all Authors!

The call is out for submissions from authors for publication on Obsidian River.  We are looking for great Steampunk fiction.

Please see our guidelines for the specifics on what we offer and what we require and then send us your fiction.

Let’s get the fiction flowing!